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TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — The school closures, stay-at-home mandates and curfews that Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine imposed early in the pandemic still infuriate Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters. His dismissal of the former president’s stolen election lieand criticism that Trump “poured gas on the fire” before the U.S. Capitol riot put him at odds with many GOP voters.
But that may not be enough to topple DeWine in the state’s upcoming May 3 primary.
Despite some notable splits with Trump, he is entering the final stretch of the campaign in a strong position to win the GOP’s nomination for another four-year term. He’s facing challenges from three lesser-known conservatives who could essentially split the far-right faithful, with DeWine potentially emerging as a Republican who crossed Trump’s base and managed to survive.
“Whatever happens in the election happens, but this was a crucial time in our history,” DeWine, 75, said in an interview, referring to his management of the pandemic.
The dynamics harken back to an era when Ohio prized middle-of-the-road candidates, making it a bellwether for presidential elections for decades. But that reputation for moderation eroded under Trump, who won the state in the 2016 and 2020 campaigns. The higher-profile race for an open U.S. Senate seat is perhaps more reflective of Ohio’s rightward shift as candidates have spent months trying to out-Trump one another as they seek his coveted endorsement.
So far, the former president has stayed quiet in the governor’s race, a credit to DeWine’s ability to walk a fine line of expressing support for Trump while also keeping him at a distance. Despite their different approach to the pandemic, which Trump sought to minimize, there was only one hint of a genuine rift between the two men.
That was when DeWine suggested in November 2020 that it was time for Trump to acknowledge that Joe Biden had won the White House. Trump’s response was a tweet wondering who would challenge DeWine in this year’s primary. “Will be hotly contested!” Trump predicted.
Trump announced this week he’ll be in Ohio for an April 23 rally ahead of the GOP primary. DeWine said on Thursday that he’s not sure if he’ll be able to make it because he already committed to attending a 200th birthday celebration for another ex-president, Ohio native Ulysses S. Grant.
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, who served four terms in Congress, was thought to be DeWine’s biggest threat, especially if he could win an endorsement from Trump after getting his backing four years ago in a failed U.S. Senate bid. But some recent polls show Renacci splitting the anti-DeWine vote with Joe Blystone, a farmer who jumped in the race early and built a following in rural Ohio.
Much of the frustration toward DeWine has bubbled up in Republican-dominated rural counties where mask mandates and school shutdowns were met with resistance. Those areas hold the fewest votes yet carry significant weight because Republicans often pile up big enough margins to negate the strong Democratic turnout in the state’s big cities.
“They say in politics people forget things. Down here they haven’t forgotten,” said Dennis Cooper, a member of the Clermont County Republican Party, which overwhelmingly endorsed Renacci over DeWine earlier this year. “It wasn’t just one thing. It was one thing on top of another that made no sense.”
Still, DeWine has a huge fundraising advantage and a network of supporters built from a political career spanning more than 40 years. Both are why more prominent Republicans in the state decided against challenging him even as dissatisfaction grew.
Ryan Stubenrauch, a former DeWine policy adviser who’s now a GOP consultant, thinks the anger is coming from a vocal minority.
“There’s a whole lot of people mad at a lot of things. The last two years have been really rough on people,” he said. “I don’t know if the party has changed or all of our politics have shifted over the last two years.”
One thing that hasn’t changed, he said, is DeWine. “He values life just about over everything,” Stubenrauch said.
He’s an old-school conservative who just months into his first term as governor signed into law what at the time was one of the most stringent abortion restrictionsin the nation.
DeWine has leaned on his pro-life stance to explain why that also includes protecting people from COVID-19. He was widely praised early in 2020 for not downplaying the pandemic when he became the first governor to shut down schools statewide.
But the mood soured among Republicans who quickly tired of mask mandates and health orders that closed many small businesses but allowed large retailers to remain open. They saw him putting in restrictions that ran counter to what they were hearing from Trump and conservative governors such as Ron DeSantis in Florida and South Dakota’s Kristi Noem.
A hostile state Legislature dominated by DeWine’s own party overrode his veto of a bill weakening the governor’s ability to respond to public health emergencies.
Renacci said DeWine prioritized “fear over freedom.”
Some conservatives have vowed never to vote for DeWine again, according to a handful of county GOP chairs, even if that means sitting out in November.
The winner of the Republican primary will face the Democratic nominee, either former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley or ex-Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.
“They’re not going to vote again for someone who has disappointed them and not represented them well,” said Shelby County Republican Chairwoman Theresa Kerg. “I think people are frustrated and tired of just accepting whoever is given to them.”
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Associated Press writer Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ohios-gop-governor-aims-to-overcome-anger-in-party-base/ | 2022-04-14T19:37:33 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ohios-gop-governor-aims-to-overcome-anger-in-party-base/ |
DENVER (AP) — The online marketplace Letgo is facing a wrongful death lawsuit after the parents of five children were fatally shot and robbed while using the app to try to buy a used SUV in suburban Denver in 2020.
The lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday on behalf of the victims’ family claims Letgo, which has been acquired by OfferUp, was negligent because it allowed the alleged shooter to become a “verified seller” using a fake name and despite his criminal history.
The lawsuit, which also names OfferUp as a defendant, argues that while Letgo advertises working with law enforcement agencies to keep its tens of millions of users safe, the only requirement to become a “verified seller” is a working email address.
“The Letgo App provides an illusion that these alleged ‘verified’ accounts can and should be trusted above their online ‘marketplace’ competition,” according to the lawsuit. “However, it has become increasingly clear that Letgo falsely advertises itself as a safe online marketplace for verified sellers without having any sort of legitimate verification process.”
A spokesman for OfferUp, based in Bellevue, Washington, said Thursday he was looking into the lawsuit but did not immediately comment.
The Letgo app was incorporated into a similar OfferUp app shortly after the Colorado shooting but still exists independently outside the U.S.
In August 2020, Joseph Roland was looking for a vehicle for his teenage daughter and found a Toyota RAV4 advertised by a “verified seller” on Letgo named James Worthy, who was really an 18-year-old named Kyree Brown. Roland agreed to meet Brown in a parking lot near a mall in the Denver suburb of Aurora.
“What was supposed to be a brief and safe transaction through Letgo — turned into a tragic nightmare,” according to the lawsuit.
When Roland and his wife, Jossline, arrived, Brown told them he had accidentally brought the wrong vehicle title and asked the couple to meet him elsewhere, according to the lawsuit.
They agreed and followed the man to the address, “unsuspecting of any danger, since James Worthy was a Letgo ‘verified seller,’” the lawsuit said.
Brown is accused of pulling a handgun and shooting the couple to death after Joseph Roland tried to wrestle the weapon away. Investigators say the teen then fled with the $3,000 in cash the Rolands had brought with them to pay for the SUV, which had been reported stolen a few days before the Aug. 14, 2020, encounter.
Brown was arrested about two weeks after the shooting and is awaiting trial on two counts of first-degree murder.
“It is outrageous conduct that Letgo led customers to believe the App had any legitimate verification process when, any user, (let alone Mr. Brown – who had a criminal record), could use fictitious names and sell stolen vehicles as ‘verified’ by simply providing an e-mail address,” the lawsuit says.
It also contends that had Letgo implemented stricter verification policies, it would not have taken police two weeks to track down the suspect.
In addition to negligence, the lawsuit accuses Letgo and OfferUp of fraud, misrepresentation and deceptive and unfair trade practices. It is seeking damages to be determined by a jury.
Jossline Roland used to work for the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya in Denver. The office filed the lawsuit along with another firm based in Los Angeles. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/online-marketplace-letgo-sued-after-denver-area-slayings/ | 2022-04-14T19:37:40 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/online-marketplace-letgo-sued-after-denver-area-slayings/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Frank James posted dozens of videos ranting about race, violence and his struggles with mental illness. One stands out for its relative calm: A silent shot of a packed New York City subway car in which he raises his finger to point out passengers, one by one.
Even as police arrested James on Wednesday in the Brooklyn subway shooting that wounded 10 people, they were still searching for a motive from a flood of details about the 62-year-old Black man’s life.
An erratic work history. Arrests for a string of mostly low-level crimes. A storage locker with more ammo. And hours of rambling, bigoted, profanity-laced videos on his YouTube channel that point to a deep, simmering anger.
“This nation was born in violence, it’s kept alive by violence or the threat thereof, and it’s going to die a violent death,” says James in a video where he takes on the moniker “Prophet of Doom.”
After a 30-hour manhunt, James was arrested without incident after a tipster — thought by police to be James himself — said he could be found near a McDonald’s on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Mayor Eric Adams triumphantly proclaimed “We got him!” Police said their top priority was getting the suspect, now charged with a federal terrorism offense, off the streets as they investigate their biggest unanswered question: Why?
A prime trove of evidence, they said, is his YouTube videos. He seems to have opinions about nearly everything — racism in America, New York City’s new mayor, the state of mental health services, 9/11, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Black women.
A federal criminal complaint cited one in which James ranted about too many homeless people on the subway and put the blame on New York City’s mayor.
“What are you doing, brother?” he said in the video posted March 27. “Every car I went to was loaded with homeless people. It was so bad, I couldn’t even stand.”
James then railed about the treatment of Black people in an April 6 video cited in the complaint, saying, “And so the message to me is: I should have gotten a gun, and just started shooting.”
In a video posted a day before the attack, James criticizes crime against Black people and says things would only change if certain people were “stomped, kicked and tortured” out of their “comfort zone.”
Surveillance cameras spotted James entering the subway system turnstiles Tuesday morning, dressed as a maintenance or construction worker in a yellow hard hat and orange working jacket with reflective tape.
Police say fellow riders heard him say only “oops” as he set off one smoke grenade in a crowded subway car as it rolled into a station. He then set off a second smoke grenade and started firing, police said. In the smoke and chaos that ensued, police say James made his getaway by slipping into a train that pulled in across the platform and exited after the first stop.
Left behind at the scene was the gun, extended magazines, a hatchet, detonated and undetonated smoke grenades, a black garbage can, a rolling cart, gasoline and the key to a U-Haul van, police said.
That key led investigators to James, and clues to a life of setbacks and anger as he bounced among factory and maintenance jobs, got fired at least twice, moved among Milwaukee, Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York.
Investigators said James had 12 prior arrests in New York and New Jersey from 1990 to 2007, including for possession of burglary tools, criminal sex act, trespassing, larceny and disorderly conduct.
James had no felony convictions and was not prohibited from purchasing or owning a firearm. Police said the gun used in the attack was legally purchased at an Ohio pawn shop in 2011. A search of James’ Philadelphia storage unit and apartment turned up at least two types of ammunition, including the kind used with an AR-15 assault-style rifle, a taser and a blue smoke cannister.
Police said James was born and raised in New York City. In his videos, he said he finished a machine shop course in 1983 then worked as a gear machinist at Curtiss-Wright, an aerospace manufacturer in New Jersey, until 1991 when he was he was hit by a one-two punch of bad news: He was fired from his job and, soon after, his father — with whom he had lived in New Jersey — died.
Records show James filed a complaint against the aerospace company in federal court, soon after he lost his job, alleging racial discrimination, but it was dismissed a year later by a judge. He says in one video, without offering specifics, that he “couldn’t get any justice for what I went through.”
A spokesperson for Curtiss-Wright didn’t immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
James describes going in and out of several mental health facilities, including two in the Bronx borough of New York City in the 1970s.
“Mr. Mayor, let me say to you I’m a victim of your mental health program in New York City,” James says in a video earlier this year, adding he is “full of hate, full anger and bitterness.”
James says he later was a patient at Bridgeway House, a mental health facility in New Jersey, although that could not be immediately confirmed. Messages left with the facility were not returned.
“My goal at Bridgeway in 1997 was to get off Social Security and go back to f—— work,” he says in a video, adding that he enrolled in a college and took a course in computer-aided design and manufacturing.
James says he eventually got a job at telecommunications giant Lucent Technologies in Parsippany, New Jersey, but says he ended up getting fired and returned to Bridgeway House, this time not as a patient but as an employee on the maintenance staff. A message seeking comment was sent to Lucent Technologies.
“I just want to work. I want to be a person that’s productive,” he said.
Touches of that earnest, struggling man showed up after James’ parked car was hit in Milwaukee. Eugene Yarbrough, pastor of Mt. Zion Wings of Glory Church of God in Christ next door to James’ apartment, said James was impressed that the pastor owned up to hitting the car. Neither James nor anyone else was there to see the accident. And James called him up to say so.
“I just couldn’t believe it would be him,” Yarbrough said. “But who knows what people will do?”
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AP reporters Michael Balsamo in Washington, Deepti Hajela in New York, Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia, Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin, and Carrie Antlfinger in Milwaukee contributed to this report.
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On Twitter, follow Bernard Condon at twitter.com/bernardfcondon, Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Michael Kunzelman at twitter.com/Kunzelman75 and send confidential news tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/police-search-for-motive-in-brooklyn-subway-suspects-videos/ | 2022-04-14T19:37:46 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/police-search-for-motive-in-brooklyn-subway-suspects-videos/ |
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis washed the feet of a dozen inmates at a prison near Rome in a Holy Thursday ritual that symbolizes humility and service and highlights his papacy’s attention to those on society’s margins.
He arrived in a motorcade that included Italian police cars at the prison in Civitavecchia, a port city, 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Rome. The ritual was closed to the public for security reasons and to protect the privacy of the inmates.
But afterwards, the Vatican said the pope performed the foot-washing, following Jesus’ example, “in a sign of love inspired by love” aimed at service and humility. The 12 inmates included men and women of various ages and of different nationalities, it said.
Symbolizing the number of Jesus’ apostles, the twelve sat on chairs on a raised platform. The pontiff washed, dried, then kissed the feet of each of the inmates, all who were wearing masks against the spread of COVID-19. Some inmates leaned over to kiss the pope’s hands in gratitude.
In the prison chapel, the pope celebrated a Mass attended by inmates, some prison staff and Italy’s justice minister, the Vatican said in a statement.
The Vatican did not say what accommodations might have been made to enable the pope, who has been hobbled of late by a knee-ligament problem, to perform the foot-washing ceremony. For years, Francis has also suffered from sciatica, a nerve inflammation that can cause back and leg pain.
Earlier, during a Holy Thursday Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Francis advised the 1,800 priests in attendance not to focus on worldly concerns such as power or status but exhorted them to “serve, with a clear conscience, the holy and faithful people of God.”
Francis made no reference to decades of scandals involving Catholic priests who sexually abused children and were often transferred from parish to parish by bishops who tried to avoid embarrassment rather than protect minors.
During the Holy Thursday Mass, large urns of oil are blessed for use in ceremonies in churches in the Rome area. When Francis went to bless the oil by breathing into it, an aide helped him rise from his chair and walk toward the silver urn. At the end of the ceremony, Francis descended the steps down from the altar clinging to an aide’s arm, and even while assisted limped his way out of the basilica.
Holy Week, which draws hundreds of thousands of faithful to the Vatican, began with Palm Sunday Mass on April 10 in St. Peter’s Square and culminates this Sunday at Easter, when the faithful mark the resurrection of Jesus.
This year, the Good Friday torch-lit Way of the Cross procession in Rome returns to its traditional venue at the ancient Colosseum after a two-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Vatican has invited a Russian woman and a Ukrainian woman, who work together at a Rome hospital, to carry a cross together during the procession. That has angered some Ukrainians, including the country’s ambassador to the Holy See and the archbishop of Kyiv. Their objections center on whether such a gesture, implying reconciliation, is suitable, given Russia’s invasion of its neighbor and its ongoing war against the country’s people.
The Vatican is still going ahead with the procession’s lineup of participants, who take turns carrying a lightweight cross during the procession, which is presided over by the pontiff and recalls Jesus’ death by crucifixion. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/pope-marks-holy-thursday-ahead-of-prison-feet-washing-ritual/ | 2022-04-14T19:37:53 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/pope-marks-holy-thursday-ahead-of-prison-feet-washing-ritual/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Even after two men were found dead in his California apartment, Ed Buck did not stop injecting gay men with walloping doses of methamphetamine.
Federal prosecutors said Buck’s unrelenting fervor to satisfy a fetish by preying on vulnerable men, often young and Black, is reason enough to keep him behind bars for the rest of his life.
Buck, 67, a big dollar donor to Democratic, LGBTQ and animal rights causes, faces sentencing Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles for providing fatal doses of drugs, operating a drug den and enticing men to travel for prostitution.
“Buck used his money and privilege to exploit the wealth and power imbalances between himself and his victims, who were unhoused, destitute, and/or struggling with addiction,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Norell said in a court filing. “He spent thousands of dollars on drugs and party and play sessions that destroyed lives and bred insidious addictions.”
Defense lawyers are asking a judge to be more lenient because Buck was sexually abused as a child and developed his drug addiction as the result of a medical condition.
Attorneys Mark Werksman and Elizabeth Little said the judge should go below the 25-year sentence recommended by probation officials that would allow rehabilitation and treatment and “would be much preferable to relegating him to death in prison.”
Probation officials also recommended a $1 million fine, though prosecutors said it should be $400,000 to leave money for lawsuits filed by the families of his survivors.
Buck, a wealthy white man who worked as a male model and then made a small fortune selling an Arizona company he rescued from bankruptcy, helped lead a 1987 campaign to recall Republican Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham, who was ultimately convicted in an impeachment trial and kicked out of office.
Buck retired at 32 to the city of West Hollywood, known for its large LGBTQ community, where he lived in a rent-controlled apartment and donated over $500,000 to mostly Democratic causes since 2000.
His troubles began when Gemmel Moore was found dead in his apartment on July 27, 2017. Buck had flown Moore from Texas that morning for drug use and he was dead by sunset.
Moore’s mother, LaTisha Nixon, said in a letter to the court that she hoped Buck would get the maximum term for ruining her life and the hurt it has caused her family. Nixon, a certified nursing assistant, said she could not comfort her son the way she has for countless dying people.
“All I can think about is how my son died naked on a mattress with no love around him,” Nixon said. “No one to hold his hand or tell him good things.”
Community members and activists rallied outside Buck’s apartment, calling for his arrest, but he remained free. Family members and Jasmyne Cannick, a political strategist, complained that Buck escaped prosecution because of wealth, political ties and race.
While he was under investigation in Moore’s death, Buck continued to pay men so he could inject them. He texted one man, Timothy Dean, to express his annoyance over the investigation.
About 18 months after Moore’s death, deputies were called to Buck’s apartment on Jan. 7, 2019, to investigate Dean’s death.
Even after Dean’s death, Buck was not arrested.
“Buck’s lack of remorse is aptly captured in one image: As he was hiding out in a hotel, evading arrest for Gemmel Moore’s death, he was injecting Dane Brown, another young Black man, with back-to-back slams of methamphetamine,” Norell said.
Brown was homeless and later moved into Buck’s apartment, where he was injected with meth most days and often several times a day.
He was hospitalized Sept. 4, 2019, after Buck shot him up three times with back-to-back doses. He had five times the meth in his system that Moore and Dean had when they died, prosecutors said.
Brown returned less than a week later and felt himself overdosing after Buck injected him three times with meth. Like other victims who testified against Buck at trial last summer, Brown was nearly immobilized. He said Buck wouldn’t help him.
“Brown sat on the couch, resigned to the same fate as Moore and Dean, when he heard his deceased mother cry out to him, ‘Get up, Dane,’” Norell said.
Brown managed to get out of the apartment and made it to a nearby gas station, where he called for help and was taken to a hospital. His harrowing account of being revived twice finally led to Buck’s arrest. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/prosecutors-seek-life-for-political-donors-fatal-fetish/ | 2022-04-14T19:38:00 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/prosecutors-seek-life-for-political-donors-fatal-fetish/ |
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A delegation of six U.S. lawmakers led by Republican Lindsey Graham from South Carolina arrived in Taiwan on Thursday for a two-day visit that has already been denounced by China.
The U.S. lawmakers are to meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and the island’s defense minister. The visit is “again a demonstration of the U.S.’s ‘rock solid’ support and commitment to Taiwan” amid a “severe” situation in Ukraine, the island’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Graham is joined by Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Sen. Robert Portman of Ohio, Sen. Benjamin Sasse of Nebraska, and Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas.
The visit follows an announcement last week that U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi would visit Taiwan. However, Pelosi’s trip was postponed after she tested positive for COVID-19.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian denounced the visit on Thursday, saying “China is firmly opposed to any form of official exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan.”
Taiwan is a self-ruled island claimed by China as part of its territory. China’s People’s Liberation Army sends fighter jets flying toward the island on a near-daily basis.
“Relevant U.S. lawmakers should abide by the one-China policy upheld by the U.S. government. The U.S. should … stop official contacts with Taiwan, and avoid going further down the dangerous path,” Zhao said at a daily briefing.
“We will continue to take strong measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zhao said. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/senior-us-lawmakers-arrive-in-taiwan-for-visit/ | 2022-04-14T19:38:06 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/senior-us-lawmakers-arrive-in-taiwan-for-visit/ |
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia on Thursday inaugurated 290 new lawmakers, bringing the country a step closer to completing a prolonged electoral process marred by alleged corruption and irregularities.
The swearing-in ceremony was held in the capital’s heavily fortified Halane military camp, protected by sandbagged fences and high concrete walls. Somali police and African Union troops were deployed to the surrounding areas, putting Mogadishu under lockdown.
Dozens more legislators are yet to be selected and sworn in.
Later the lawmakers will elect speakers and deputies for both parliamentary chambers before they sit to choose a new president.
“We are observing a new set of parliamentarians taking over from others. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate parliamentarians who have been sworn in today. This is a huge responsibility assigned on you by your constituents, and it is a vote of confidence,” said Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble.
Hussein Sheikh Ali of the Mogadishu-based research group Hiraal Institute said the inauguration of lawmakers “marks a great relief day for all Somalis and (the) international community who invested in Somalia to move forward.”
Somalia’s parliamentary and presidential polls were delayed for more than a year amid political turmoil after President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s mandate expired in Feb. 2021 without a successor in place.
The delay raised political tensions and the threat of violence in a country prone to attacks by Islamic extremists who oppose the federal government.
Al-Shabaab claimed to have thrown mortar shells targeting the area where the lawmakers were being sworn in on Thursday. Authorities didn’t say if anyone was hurt. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/somalia-swears-in-lawmakers-in-step-to-choosing-new-leader/ | 2022-04-14T19:38:13 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/somalia-swears-in-lawmakers-in-step-to-choosing-new-leader/ |
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankans shared milk rice and oil cakes to celebrate their traditional new year on Thursday opposite President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office, where they camped out for a sixth day demanding his resignation over the worst economic crisis in memory.
Soldiers who were disabled in the island nation’s civil war lit a hearth, Buddhist monks chanted religious verses and others set off firecrackers amid chants of: “Victory to the people’s struggle!”
Protesters are occupying the entrance and surroundings of Rajapaksa’s office, holding him responsible for the economic situation. They also are calling for his powerful family to leave power, accusing them of corruption and misrule.
“Other days our children go to their grandparents to celebrate the new year, but today we brought them here to show them the real situation in the country,” said Dilani Niranjala, who attended the protest with her husband and two sons aged 10 and 8.
“We don’t want to lie to them about what’s going on in the country and go to our village to celebrate the new year. From their younger days, they should see the truth and live with the truth,” she added.
Niranjala’s husband, Usitha Gamage, who works as a taxi driver, said he had been discouraged watching the news every morning about skyrocketing living costs.
“I am so happy that this struggle is taking place and it gives me new hope and energy,” he said.
“The new year — after we chase them out — is going to be great for us. This is what I have told my children,” he added.
Sri Lankans in recent months have endured fuel and food shortages and daily power outages. Most of those items are paid for in hard currency, but Sri Lanka is on the brink of bankruptcy, saddled with dwindling foreign reserves and $25 billion in foreign debt due for repayment over the next five years. Nearly $7 billion is due this year.
They have been forced to wait in long lines to buy cooking gas, fuel and milk powder, and doctors have warned there is a potentially catastrophic shortage of essential medicines in government hospitals.
Tharushi Nirmani, a 23-year-old student who was helping distribute food to protesters, said the movement was uniting Sri Lankans from different backgrounds.
“All these years, the new year was celebrated by only two ethnic groups — Sinhalese and Tamils — but most of the people who were with us last night were Muslims,” she said, referring to her fellow volunteers. “There is an amazing togetherness.”
The government announced Tuesday that it is suspending repayments of foreign debt, including bonds and government-to-government borrowing, pending the completion of a loan restructuring program with the International Monetary Fund.
The government says the World Bank has provided $10 million to buy essential medicine and equipment and the health ministry is in discussions with the World Health Organization and Asian Development Bank for additional funding. The government has also appealed to Sri Lankans living and working overseas to donate medicines or money to purchase them.
The World Bank said Wednesday that it is concerned about the uncertain economic outlook in Sri Lanka and is working to provide emergency support for poor and vulnerable households to help them weather the economic crisis.
Much of the anger expressed in weeks of protests has been directed at the Rajapaksa family, which has held power for most of the past two decades. Critics accuse the family of having the government borrow heavily to finance projects that have earned no money, such as a port facility built with Chinese loans.
The president and his older brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, continue to hold power, despite their politically powerful family being the focus of public ire. The Rajapaksas have refused to resign but the crisis and ongoing protests have prompted many Cabinet members to quit. Four ministers were sworn in as caretakers, but many key government portfolios are vacant.
Parliament has failed to reach a consensus on how to deal with the crisis after nearly 40 governing coalition lawmakers said they would no longer vote according to coalition instructions, significantly weakening the government.
But with opposition parties divided, they have been incapable of forming a majority to take control of Parliament. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/sri-lankan-protesters-mark-new-year-near-presidents-office/ | 2022-04-14T19:38:21 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/sri-lankan-protesters-mark-new-year-near-presidents-office/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Mayor Eric Adams, a former New York City police captain, took office this year with a central focus on making the city feel safe and trying to return it to some sense of normalcy post-pandemic.
But the first 3 1/2 months of his administration have been beset by a string of high-profile violent incidents, with Tuesday’s shooting on a subway train the most terrifying and public of all.
The morning rush-hour attack, in which 10 people were shot on a system that serves as the arteries of New York, complicates Adams’ push to address crime and persuade people that the city of nearly 9 million is safe. It also occurred amid a broader, multi-year debate about policing and crime, and how the city should respond.
In New York City, like many places around the country, violent crime rates have climbed since the pandemic, though they remain far below rates seen three decades ago during the city’s notoriously grittier era, or even just a decade ago.
The mayor has been among Democrats who’ve pushed back on calls from liberals to cut police budgets and instead route resources to social services, and he has sought to bring back some controversial policing tactics, saying they can be employed as useful tools without a return to past abuses.
Adams has a unique perspective. He’s not only a former New York City police captain and transit officer, but is a Black man who in the past has criticized his own department’s unjust practices, and he is someone who was brutally beaten by police as a teenager.
Since he took office Jan. 1, he’s been speaking about policing and crime frequently, as the list of frightening incidents piled up quickly.
The city saw a rash of random shootings, the killing of two police officers and attacks that included a woman shoved to her death in front of a train by a stranger.
“This has been particularly brutal. And I feel for him. I think he’s done a fine job, especially as he’s just getting used to it,” said Adams’ predecessor and fellow Democrat, Bill de Blasio.
Most of the violence the city has experienced has not been in the subways but in neighborhoods, particularly in communities of color. But attacks on the subway, a vital sprawling network millions of New Yorkers rely upon, loom large in public perceptions of safety.
Adams rode the subway to City Hall on his first day as mayor, calling 911 to report a fight near the train platform before he even boarded the train. He admitted later that he didn’t feel safe on the train after encountering a yelling passenger and several homeless people, and said the city needs to tackle “actual crime” and “the perception of crime.”
Adams had already announced plans earlier this year to boost the number of police officers on subway platforms and trains and to address crime generally. He has brought back a controversial police anti-gun unit, called for help from the federal government cracking down on ghost guns and pushed for changes to New York’s bail laws.
Critics contend that focusing just on beefing up police isn’t a solution to making the city safe, but more investment is needed in mental health programs and other social services.
Frank James, the 62-year-old suspect in the Brooklyn subway shooting, spoke of his own mental health struggles in a series of YouTube videos in which he described going in and out of mental health facilities, including some in New York City.
Before Tuesday’s attack, Adams had started sending out social work teams to try to connect people on the streets with mental health help and other services. The mayor also announced plans to significantly expand a summer youth job program designed to put young people in paid jobs when school is on break, with the aim of diverting them from activities that could lead to arrest or violence.
After this week’s subway shooting, Adams, in a series of interviews, discussed plans to increase the number of police officers patrolling the subways and suggested metal detectors could be installed in stations — a decision that ultimately would rest with the transit authority, which falls under state control.
Danny Pearlstein, a spokesman for the nonprofit Riders Alliance representing New York City bus and subway passengers, said that despite a high-profile incident like the shooting, the subway is still the safest way to get around the city, with traffic accidents and pedestrians being struck by cars a far more likely hazard.
Rather than explore metal detectors and other ways to scrutinize passengers, he said New York needs a better transit system overall that gets more people on board and provides safety with strength in numbers.
“By having transit that is faster and more reliable and gets to more places that people want to go is a way to boost ridership,” he said.
De Blasio praised Adams’ attempts to address both crime and perceptions of crime, and said public safety experts recommend the best way to make the city feel safe is “more normalcy, more recovery from COVID.”
Getting people back on trains and back in the city is not just a reminder of New York’s resiliency, but also an added layer of eyes and ears to compliment the police, the former mayor said.
“The overall reality is NYPD has actually done a very good job over the years of making the subway safer and safer,” he said. “Police can do so much, but they can’t do it alone. They need eyes and ears — and cooperation of the public.”
Former City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said it’s difficult to have a discussion about how to prevent Tuesday’s shooting without knowing more about the alleged perpetrator and his motivation and mental health, and that makes it difficult to link it to a broader examination of other violent crime in New York.
“One of the challenges with crime is you can get three people shot in one night and they’re all shot for different reasons that have different solutions and different responses,” Quinn said.
She said Adams, with his law enforcement background, understands that crime and criminals are not one-size-fits-all. And while guns may be involved in a lot of crimes and more illegal guns need to be taken off the street, other incidents can stem from gang issues, mental health issues or other factors.
Confronting crime generally requires a multi-faceted response, she said, and help from many layers of government.
“There are very few things that one elected official can fix alone,” she said. “Even in a big city like New York, a lot of what exists here is also controlled by the state and the feds.”
“But there is no bigger bully pulpit and convening power—short of the president of the United States—than that of the mayor of the city of New York. And we know Eric Adams is not afraid to use that,” she said. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/subway-shooting-heightens-nyc-mayors-focus-on-rising-crime/ | 2022-04-14T19:38:27 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/subway-shooting-heightens-nyc-mayors-focus-on-rising-crime/ |
BERLIN (AP) — A man who allegedly launched a grenade into a crowd of civilians waiting for food in Damascus in 2014, killing at least seven people, has been charged in Germany with war crimes and murder, prosecutors said Thursday.
The stateless man, identified only as Moafak D. in line with German privacy rules, was a member of the Free Palestine Movement, one of the groups that at the time controlled the Yarmouk district of the Syrian capital on behalf of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government, federal prosecutors said in a statement.
They said that, on March 23, 2014, the suspect launched a grenade from an anti-tank weapon into a crowd in the district’s Rejeh Square who were waiting for food aid from UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. At least seven people were killed and three wounded, including a 6-year-old child.
The Yarmouk district, which grew out of a Palestinian refugee camp, was cordoned off by the Syrian government from July 2013 to April 2015, causing shortages of food, water and medical supplies.
The suspect was arrested in Berlin on Aug. 4. Prosecutors didn’t say how or when he came to Germany. He has been charged at a regional court in the German capital with war crimes, seven counts of murder, three of attempted murder and three of bodily harm.
Germany’s application of the rule of “universal jurisdiction,” allowing the prosecution of serious crimes committed abroad, led in January to the first conviction of a senior Syrian official for crimes against humanity.
The Berlin court will now have to decide whether to bring Moafak D.’s case to trial. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/suspect-in-syria-killings-faces-german-war-crimes-charges/ | 2022-04-14T19:38:34 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/suspect-in-syria-killings-faces-german-war-crimes-charges/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are deeply divided over how much children in K-12 schools should be taught about racism and sexuality, according to a new poll released as Republicans across the country aim to make parental involvement in education a central campaign theme this election year.
Overall, Americans lean slightly toward expanding — not cutting back — discussions of racism and sexuality, but roughly 4 in 10 say the current approach is about right, including similar percentages across party lines. Still, the poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows stark differences between Republicans and Democrats who want to see schools make adjustments.
About 4 in 10 Republicans say teachers in local public schools discuss issues related to sexuality too much, while only about 1 in 10 say too little. Among Democrats, those numbers are reversed.
The findings reflect a sharply politicized national debate that has consumed local school boards and, increasingly, state capitols. Republicans see the fight over school curriculum as a winning culture war issue that will motivate their voters in the midterm elections.
In the meantime, a flurry of new state laws has been introduced, meant to curtail teaching about racism and sexuality and to establish a “parents’ bill of rights” that would champion curriculum transparency and allow parents to file complaints against teachers.
The push for legislation grew out of an elevated focus on K-12 schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, when angry parents crowded school board meetings to voice opposition to school closures, mask mandates and other restrictive measures intended to prevent the spread of illness.
“All that that’s happening these days kind of goes against the longer history of school boards being relatively low salience government institutions and, in a lot of cases, they are nonpartisan offices,” said Adam Zelizer, a professor at the University of Chicago Harris School researching school board legislation.
What distinguishes this moment, Zelizer said, is the “grassroots anger” in response to school policies and the national, coordinated effort to recruit partisan candidates for school boards and local offices.
What started as parents’ concern about virtual learning and mask wearing has morphed into something larger, said Republican pollster Robert Blizzard, describing parents as thinking: “OK, now that we have the schools open, what are these kids learning in school?”
The poll shows 50% of Americans say parents have too little influence on curriculum, while 20% say they have too much and 27% say it’s about right. About half also say teachers have too little influence.
Kendra Schultz said she and her husband have decided their 1-year-old daughter will be homeschooled, at least initially, because of what friends have told them about their experiences with schools in Columbia, Missouri.
Most recently, she said, one 4-year-old’s pre-K class talked about gender pronouns. Schultz offered that and mask requirements as examples of how the public school system “doesn’t align with what we believe or how we would like to see our children educated.”
“I’m just like, you’re a little kid, you should be learning your ABCs and your numbers and things like that,” said Schultz, a 30-year-old conservative. “That’s just not something that me and my husband would be interested in having teachers share with our children.”
In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in March signed into law a bill barring instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Opponents, including the White House, have dubbed it the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
The poll shows Americans are slightly more likely to say the focus on sex and sexuality in local schools is too little rather than too much, 31% to 23%, but 40% say it’s about right. The poll didn’t ask about specific grade levels.
Blizzard, who has been working with a group called N2 America to help GOP candidates in suburbs, said the schools issue resonates with the Republican base and can motivate voters.
In the Virginia governor’s race last year, Republican Glenn Youngkin won after campaigning on boosting parental involvement in schools and banning critical race theory, an academic framework about systemic racism that has become a catch-all phrase for teaching about race in U.S. history. His Democratic opponent, Terry McAuliffe, had said in a debate that parents shouldn’t tell schools what to teach.
The poll also shows Americans have mixed views about schools’ focus on racism in the U.S.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said parents and teachers alike are frustrated after pandemic disruptions and should partner to help kids recover. The efforts to predetermine curriculum and restrict teaching are getting in the way, she said.
“The people who are proposing them, they’ve been pretty clear … they just want to sow doubt and distrust because they want to end public education as we know it,” Weingarten said.
Parents of school-age children aren’t more likely than other adults to say parents have too little influence in schools. But there is a wide partisan gap, with 65% of Republicans saying that, compared with 38% of Democrats.
Michael Henry, a father of three in Dacula, Georgia, says he’s wrestled over what the right level of involvement is. It didn’t sit right with him, for example, that his 6-year-old was taught about Christopher Columbus in an entirely positive light. He says he’s reflected on “some of the lies” and “glorifications of history” in his own public school education and thinks race needs to be talked about more.
But ultimately, school curriculum is “outside my area of expertise,” said Henry, 31, an actuary who is also the acting president of the Gwinnett County Young Democrats.
“I have to do a lot of studying and work to be able to make informed decisions, and I don’t feel like parents generally have that kind of skill set” for curriculum, he said. “I think professionals should mostly be determining what the curriculum should be.”
Henry worries that new restrictions are “adding extra hassle for teachers, who already have a lot on their plate, to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.”
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AP Education Writer Collin Binkley in Boston contributed to this report.
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The AP-NORC poll of 1,082 adults was conducted March 17-21 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4 percentage points. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/talk-of-race-sex-in-schools-divides-americans-ap-norc-poll/ | 2022-04-14T19:38:41 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/talk-of-race-sex-in-schools-divides-americans-ap-norc-poll/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — With his sweeping domestic agenda on hold and images of horror in Ukraine dominating headlines, President Joe Biden is scrounging for ways to demonstrate that he’s still making progress for Americans at a time when many feel the country is heading in the wrong direction.
Six months out from the midterm elections, Biden’s team is betting that smaller, discrete announcements can break through to voters better than talk of transformational plans that are so far only aspirational. And as the global focus is on Ukraine, the White House is eager for Americans to see Biden tackling the kitchen table issues important to them –- none more so than the searing inflation exacerbated by the Russian invasion.
Last week, that meant aides positioned big rigs outside the White House so Biden could talk about efforts to get more truck drivers on the road. A day later, he welcomed back former President Barack Obama for the signing of an executive order updating the Affordable Care Act. And after that, he signed bipartisan legislation intended to safeguard the U.S. Postal Service’s financial future.
This week, he’s notching his heaviest domestic travel in months. On Thursday, he is to visit Greensboro, North Carolina, to highlight his plans to boost domestic supply chains and high-tech workforces. It comes after a Tuesday stop in Iowa to announce that his administration was granting a waiver to allow more ethanol in gasoline year-round, a move that officials estimated would shave 10 cents per gallon off gasoline prices — but at just 2,300 gas stations out of the nation’s more than 100,000.
The White House says the public focus on the war in Ukraine is “understandable” and it’s realistic about the challenges facing Biden in breaking through.
“While the world needs to understand and see how he is leading on the war, the country needs to see how he is continuing to lead on the economy,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. “Being able to continue to speak to our domestic audience about that is a huge priority. And his schedule tells the story of how much of a priority it is.”
All of the policies Biden is touting will have direct impact on American lives — but they also fall far short of the goals that Biden set for himself when taking office. Taken together, they show how the White House is trying to regain momentum at a time when Biden is under pressure to recalibrate his ambitions.
“I think it makes good strategic sense that, if you’re going to be stymied by Congress, you take matters into your own hands,” said Eric Schultz, a communications official in the Obama White House.
It’s a dynamic that Obama himself confronted, particularly in his second term in office, when he used his executive authority to push forward his agenda as much as possible.
“It’s not a coincidence that this strategy emerged when Republicans threw up their hands and decided they didn’t want to be governing partners,” Schultz said.
Schultz said Democrats need to demonstrate they’re making progress even if they’re not passing the sweeping legislation they promised.
“Did we accomplish everything we wanted to? No,” he said. “But did we roll up our sleeves every day and push the needle forward? Yes.”
While there have been successes, notably the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, much of Biden’s agenda remains stalemated — or worse.
Lawmakers are struggling to hash out a bipartisan compromise on legislation that’s intended to help the U.S. compete economically with China. Biden’s sweeping Build Back Better legislation is dead in the water, waiting for Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin to decide what, if anything, he’ll support. Immigration reform, gun control legislation and voting reform have fallen out of the national conversation.
That’s left Biden touting the benefits of infrastructure legislation that passed last year — old bridges slated for replacement are a staple of his domestic travels — and looking for other, small policies that can be advanced.
Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said smaller initiatives are only going to help if they “lay the groundwork for passing much bigger policies.”
“Singles are fine if they’re a prelude to a grand slam,” he said, adding that Democrats face “a motivation challenge” ahead of the midterms. “Democrats are not going to get people to the polls with a lot of singles.”
William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said Biden is trying to make the most of a difficult situation.
“He’s doing what he can now that some of his grander plans have been sidetracked,” he said.
Galston recalled a similar strategy when he worked on domestic policy for President Bill Clinton. Before the midterms in 1994, the White House worked on “running up the score” with policy proposals that were less controversial.
“It was just what happened when the White House conceded defeat on its central agenda item,” which was health care reform for Clinton.
“Those smaller victories made absolutely no difference in the midterms. The fact that they were below the radar screen was good news for passing legislation, but bad news for their political effectiveness,” he said. For Biden, “that’s likely to be the case this time, too.” | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/thinking-small-biden-scrounges-for-ways-to-break-through/ | 2022-04-14T19:38:48 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/thinking-small-biden-scrounges-for-ways-to-break-through/ |
LONDON (AP) — Britain announced a deal with Rwanda on Thursday to send some asylum-seekers thousands of miles to the East African country — a plan it said would stop people-smugglers sending desperate migrants on treacherous journeys across the English Channel.
U.K. opposition politicians and refugee groups condemned the move as inhumane, unworkable and a waste of public money, and the United Nations said it raised “a number of human rights concerns.”
The plan would see some people who arrive in Britain as stowaways on trucks or in small boats picked up by the U.K. government and flown 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) to Rwanda, apparently for good.
Critics accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of using the issue to distract attention from a scandal over government gatherings that breached pandemic lockdown rules. Johnson is resisting calls to resign after being fined by police this week over the parties.
Migrants have long used northern France as a launching point to reach Britain, either by hiding on trucks or ferries, or — increasingly since the coronavirus pandemic shut down other routes in 2020 — in small boats organized by smugglers. More than 28,000 people entered the U.K. in boats last year, up from 8,500 in 2020. Dozens have died, including 27 people in November when a single boat capsized.
On Thursday, dozens of men, women and children were picked up by British lifeboats and brought ashore at the Channel port of Dover as Johnson, speaking just a few miles away, outlined the plan.
“Anyone entering the U.K. illegally … may now be relocated to Rwanda,” Johnson said in a speech to troops and coast guard members at an airport near Dover. Action, he said, was needed to stop “vile people smugglers (who) are abusing the vulnerable and turning the Channel into a watery graveyard.”
The Rwandan government said the agreement would initially last for five years, and Britain had paid 120 million pounds ($158 million) up front to pay for housing and integrating the migrants.
Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister Vincent Biruta said the agreement “is about ensuring that people are protected, respected, and empowered to further their own ambitions and settle permanently in Rwanda if they choose.”
He said his country is already home to more than 130,000 refugees from countries including Burundi, Congo, Libya and Pakistan.
Johnson denied the plan was “lacking in compassion” but acknowledged it would inevitably face legal challenges and would not take effect immediately.
Rwanda is the most densely populated nation in Africa, and competition for land and resources there fueled decades of ethnic and political tensions that culminated in the 1994 genocide in which more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis, and Hutus who tried to protect them, were killed.
Johnson insisted that Rwanda had “totally transformed” in the last two decades. But human rights groups have repeatedly criticized President Paul Kagame’s current government as repressive.
Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said the claim Rwanda was a safe country “is not grounded in reality.”
“Arbitrary detention, ill-treatment, and torture in official and unofficial detention facilities is commonplace, and fair trial standards are flouted in many cases,” Mudge said.
Britain says relocation decisions will not be based on migrants’ country of origin but on whether they used “illegal or dangerous routes” to reach the U.K. from a safe country such as France. Not all such arrivals will be considered suitable to be sent to Rwanda; it was unclear what the criteria for making the decisions would be, though the British government said children would not be sent to the African country.
The United Nations’ human rights office said it had raised its “concerns directly with the U.K. authorities.”
A spokeswoman for the office said the U.K. was “shifting … its responsibilities and obligations under international human rights and refugee law onto a country which is already taking great asylum responsibilities.”
Previous policies of sending refugee applicants abroad have been highly controversial.
In 2013, Australia began sending asylum-seekers attempting to reach the country by boat to Papua New Guinea and the tiny atoll of Nauru, vowing that none would be allowed to settle in Australia. The policy all but ended the people-smuggling ocean route from Southeast Asia, but was widely criticized as a cruel abrogation of Australia’s international obligations.
Israel sent several thousand people to Rwanda and Uganda under a contentious and secretive “voluntary” scheme between 2014 and 2017. Few are believed to have remained there, with many trying to reach Europe.
Steve Valdez-Symonds, refugee director at Amnesty International U.K., said the British government’s “shockingly ill-conceived idea will go far further in inflicting suffering while wasting huge amounts of public money.”
The chief executive of the U.K.-based Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, called it “dangerous, cruel and inhumane.”
Rwandan opposition figure Victoire Ingabire told the AP that her government’s decision to take in migrants was questionable, given that the country is also a source of refugees.
The British and French governments have worked for years to stop the cross-Channel journeys, without much success, often swapping accusations about who is to blame for the failure.
Britain’s Conservative government has floated myriad proposals, not all of them workable, including building a wave machine in the Channel to drive boats back. Johnson said Thursday that the Royal Navy would take charge of responding to small-boat crossings, but that the idea of pushing vessels back towards France had been rejected as too dangerous.
Several earlier proposed locations for the U.K. to send migrants — including the remote Ascension Island, Albania and Gibraltar — were rejected, at times angrily, by the nations in question.
The Rwanda plan faces hurdles both in Britain’s Parliament and in the courts. Johnson’s Conservative government has introduced a tough new immigration bill that would make it more difficult for people who enter the country by unauthorized routes to claim asylum and would allow asylum-seekers to be screened abroad. It has not yet been approved by Parliament, with the House of Lords seeking to dilute some of its most draconian provisions.
Labour Party lawmaker Lucy Powell said the Rwanda plan might please some Conservative supporters and grab headlines, but was “unworkable, expensive and unethical.”
“I think this is less about dealing with small boats and more about dealing with the prime minister’s own sinking boat,” Powell told the BBC.
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Ignatius Ssuuna in Kigali, Rwanda, and Andrew Meldrum in Johannesburg, South Africa, contributed to this story.
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Follow AP’s coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/uk-plan-to-send-asylum-seekers-to-rwanda-draws-criticism/ | 2022-04-14T19:38:55 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/uk-plan-to-send-asylum-seekers-to-rwanda-draws-criticism/ |
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Peter Lyoya took his six children from Congo in 2014 to escape violence. Now he fears he brought them to the U.S. to die.
A Michigan police officer fatally shot his eldest son, 26-year-old Patrick, in the head this month following a traffic stop in Grand Rapids. Video shows a brief foot chase and struggle over the officer’s Taser before the white officer shoots Patrick Lyoya as the Black man is face down on the ground.
Peter Lyoya talked with The Associated Press in his Lansing apartment on Thursday, a day after police released video of the fatal encounter. Patrick’s cousin Ben served as an interpreter.
Peter said he came to the U.S. to get away from prolonged civil unrest in which several rebel groups have vied for control of territories in mineral-rich eastern Congo. Patrick, who has two young children of his own, worked at an auto parts factory in Grand Rapids and would visit his siblings in Lansing on weekends, his dad said.
“Patrick never had a problem with anybody,” his dad said.
In the April 4 encounter, the officer repeatedly ordered Lyoya to “let go” of his Taser, at one point demanding: “Drop the Taser!”
Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom cited a need for transparency when releasing video collected from a passenger in Lyoya car, the officer’s body camera, the officer’s patrol car and a doorbell camera. Winstrom didn’t identify the officer, a seven-year veteran who is on paid leave during the investigation.
“I view it as a tragedy. … It was a progression of sadness for me,” said Winstrom, a former high-ranking Chicago police commander who became Grand Rapids chief in March. The city of about 200,000 people is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.
Peter Lyoya asked for justice for his son and for the police to release the officer’s name. He said Patrick’s brothers and sisters want to know who killed him and would like to see his picture so they can know “this is the person that took our beloved one.”
Video shows Patrick Lyoya running from the officer who stopped him for driving with a license plate that didn’t belong to the vehicle. They struggled in front of several homes while Lyoya’s passenger got out and watched.
Winstrom said the fight over the Taser lasted about 90 seconds. In the final moments, the officer was on top of Lyoya, kneeling on his back at times to subdue him.
“From my view of the video, Taser was deployed twice. Taser did not make contact,” Winstrom told reporters. “And Mr. Lyoya was shot in the head. However, that’s the only information that I have.”
State police are investigating. Kent County’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Stephen Cohle, said he completed the autopsy but toxicology tests haven’t been finished.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she had spoken with the family.
“He arrived in the United States as a refugee with his family fleeing violence. He had his whole life ahead of him,” Whitmer, a Democrat, said.
The traffic stop was tense from the start. Video shows Lyoya getting out of the car before the officer approached. He ordered Lyoya to get back in the vehicle, but the man declined.
The officer asked him if he spoke English and demanded his driver’s license. The foot chase began soon after, video shows.
Prosecutor Chris Becker will decide whether any charges are warranted but said the public shouldn’t expect a quick decision. While the videos “are an important piece of evidence, they are not all of the evidence,” he added.
The officer’s body camera was turned off before the shooting, which happens when a button is pushed for three seconds, Winstrom said. He said it appears it was deactivated unintentionally due to body pressure during the struggle, but he would not discuss any officer statements about it.
“That will come out once the investigation’s complete,” Winstrom said.
Several hundred protesters gathered outside the Grand Rapids Police Department following the release of the videos, with some cursing and shouting from behind barricades. The group demanded that officials make public the name of the officer in the shooting. The demonstration remained nonviolent.
Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump,speaking on behalf of Lyoya’s family, called for the officer to be fired and prosecuted.
“It should be noted that Patrick never used violence against this officer even though the officer used violence against him in several instances for what was a misdemeanor traffic stop,” Crump said in a news release.
As in many U.S. cities, Grand Rapids police have been occasionally criticized over the use of force, particularly against Black people, who make up 18% of the population.
In November, the Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments in a lawsuit over the practice of photographing and fingerprinting people who were never charged with a crime. Grand Rapids said the policy changed in 2015.
A downtown street has been designated Breonna Taylor Way, named for the Black woman and Grand Rapids native who was killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky, during a botched drug raid in 2020.
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AP reporters Ed White in Detroit, Corey Williams in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan, contributed to this story. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/video-shows-patrick-lyoya-shot-in-head-by-michigan-officer/ | 2022-04-14T19:39:02 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/video-shows-patrick-lyoya-shot-in-head-by-michigan-officer/ |
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Africa have dropped to their lowest levels since the pandemic began, marking the longest decline yet seen in the disease, according to the World Health Organization.
In a statement on Thursday, the U.N. health agency said COVID-19 infections due to the omicron surge had “tanked” from a peak of more than 308,000 weekly cases to fewer than 20,000 last week. Cases and deaths fell by 29% and 37% respectively in the last week; deaths decreased to 239 from the previous week.
“This low level of infection has not been seen since April 2020 in the early stages of the pandemic in Africa,” WHO said, noting that no country in the region is currently seeing an increase of COVID-19 cases.
The agency warned, however, that with winter approaching for Southern Hemisphere countries, “there is a high risk of another wave of new infections.” The coronavirus spreads more easily in cooler temperatures when people are more likely to gather in larger numbers indoors.
“With the virus still circulating, the risk of new and potentially more deadly variants emerging remains, and the pandemic control measures are pivotal to effective response to a surge in infections,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Africa director.
The decline in Africa is consistent with falling COVID-19 numbers globally, although in China officials fear the country still doesn’t have its latest surge in omicron-involved cases under control despite a “zero-tolerance” approach that has triggered a three-week lockdown in Shanghai,where at least 15 million people are still barred from going outside.
The measures have led to frustration among Shanghai residents about running out of food and medicines. This week, government authorities also closed off access to Guangzhou, an industrial center of 19 million people near Hong Kong and other cities are cutting their outside links or closing factories and schools.
Meanwhile, scientists in the U.S. warn the country may be about to see a wave of cases fueled by the omicron subvariant BA.2, which has already peaked across Europe. The country expects to soon mark the deaths of at least 1 million Americans killed by COVID.
Earlier this week, WHO said scientists in Botswana and South Africa have detected new forms of the omicron variant, labeled as BA.4 and BA.5, but aren’t sure yet if they might be more transmissible or dangerous.
To date, the new versions of omicron have been detected in four people in Botswana and 23 people in South Africa. Beyond Africa, scientists have confirmed cases in Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom. WHO said there was so far no evidence the new sub-variants spread any differently than the original omicron variant.
Despite repeated warnings from WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus that the coronavirus would devastate Africa, the continent has been among the least affected by the pandemic.
In an analysis released last week, WHO estimated that up to 65% of people in Africa have been infected with the coronavirus and said unlike many other regions, most people infected on the continent didn’t show any symptoms.
Scientists at WHO and elsewhere have speculated that factors including Africa’s young population, the lower incidence of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes and warmer weather, may have helped it avoid a bigger wave of disease. Still, some countries have seen significant increases in the numbers of unexplained deaths, suggesting authorities were missing numerous COVID-19 cases.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/who-covid-cases-deaths-in-africa-drop-to-lowest-levels-yet/ | 2022-04-14T19:39:09 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/who-covid-cases-deaths-in-africa-drop-to-lowest-levels-yet/ |
BOSTON (AP) — A California-based finance company has agreed to pay more than $900,000 to settle allegations that it was illegally leasing dogs in Massachusetts, the state attorney general’s office said.
As part of the agreement entered in Suffolk Superior Court on Wednesday, Monterey Financial Services LLC will stop collecting on active leases, cancel about $700,000 in outstanding consumer debt on the leases, and transfer full ownership of the dogs to Massachusetts residents, authorities said.
The company will also provide $175,000 in restitution to consumers and pay $50,000 to the state.
Leasing dogs is illegal in Massachusetts, and can often be an expensive way to own a pet because of high finance charges, according to the attorney general.
Authorities had alleged that the Oceanside, California, firm violated Massachusetts consumer protection laws by purchasing and collecting on leases for dogs, and engaged in illegal practices to collect outstanding balances on those leases.
Monterey in a statement Thursday said it stood by its record of “high levels of performance for our clients, low consumer complaint ratios, and a deep-rooted dedication to customer service.”
“While we disagree with the state’s findings, we have elected to come to an agreement to move away from this issue to best serve our clients,” the statement said. “Monterey has and continues to strive to employ business practices in full accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.”
Leasing a dog is much like leasing a car, the attorney general’s office said. The consumer must make monthly payments for the duration of the lease, plus an additional payment at the end of the lease to ultimately own the dog. Missed payments can result in the dog being repossessed, the office said.
“Families in Massachusetts looking to get a dog should not be trapped in leasing agreements that are harmful, expensive, and illegal,” Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement.
The attorney general’s office learned of Monterey’s dog leasing practices while it was investigating another financial company, Nevada-based Credova Financial, which agreed to waive more than $126,000 in consumer debt. | https://www.wric.com/news/weird-news/company-settles-dog-leasing-allegations-for-more-than-900k/ | 2022-04-14T19:39:16 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/weird-news/company-settles-dog-leasing-allegations-for-more-than-900k/ |
8 top-rated body sunscreens at Sephora
Summer is just around the corner, so it’ll soon be time to put on your favorite bathing suit for a beach or pool day. Going to the beach or a pool on a hot summer day is fun, but it can turn into a dreadful experience if you don’t wear sunscreen to protect yourself.
To avoid getting a nasty sunburn, using an effective sunscreen is a must, and Sephora has got you covered with plenty of terrific products.
What to look for in quality sunscreen at Sephora
Sephora offers high-quality beauty and personal care products, so you can rest assured that almost any sunscreen in their catalog is safe and effective. Nevertheless, it’s best to consider a few things before you run out and buy sunscreen.
Broad-spectrum
The sun’s rays are classified as either Ultraviolet A or Ultraviolet B. UVB rays cause sunburns, but UVA rays penetrate the skin and affect deeper tissue, which can cause long-term health issues. Look for a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection to get complete protection.
Sun protection factor
SPF relates directly to UVB ray protection and indicates how long you can stay in direct sunlight before getting sunburned. For example, if you can sit under the sun for 15 minutes before getting sunburned, wearing a layer of sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 would provide 450 minutes of protection.
It’s the consensus that a 30 SPF sunscreen is adequate for most skin types. However, it’s important to note that although it can protect you for several hours, sunscreen tends to wear off quickly due to skin cells constantly shedding and other external factors. For that reason, experts recommend applying sunscreen every two to three hours.
Water-resistance
You’ll most likely wear sunscreen when on vacation or for a pool day, so there’s a good chance you’ll get wet at some point. Even if you wear it on a typical summer day, the heat from the sun will cause you to sweat, which will wash away the layer of sunscreen you’ve applied.
That’s why it’s crucial to get a water-resistant body sunscreen, so you don’t have to reapply it every time you get wet. When you’re on vacation or at the beach, you don’t want the hassle of having to have it close by because it washed off.
Application method
Body sunscreens are usually available in squeeze tubes or pumps, but some come in spray bottles. Spray-on sunscreens are convenient and easy to apply, but tubes and pumps let you use the right amount.
Ingredients
Many body sunscreens use natural ingredients to make them suitable for those with sensitive skin. You don’t have to worry about harmful toxins with products offered at Sephora, but it’s still a good idea to check the label before buying. Also, many body sunscreens are fortified with minerals and botanicals that can be beneficial, so look around and see what catches your eye.
Price
Most sunscreens are inexpensive and, on average, cost anywhere between $8-$15, but it depends on the size of the bottle. So, be mindful of how much sunscreen you’re getting at a specific price point.
Sephora offers some high-end lotions, usually formulated with quality ingredients, that can cost up to $60 for a standard-size bottle. However, if you’re working with a budget, you can find an effective and suitable sunscreen for under $20.
8 most popular sunscreens at Sephora
Top sunscreens with 50 SPF or higher
Supergoop! Play Everyday Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 PA
This hydrating sunscreen is made with a vegan formula and is both fast-absorbing and non-greasy. It can be used on the body and face and is suitable for various skin types, including normal, dry and oily.
Sold by Sephora
Supergoop! Mini Glow Oil Body Sunscreen SPF 50 PA
This oil-based body sunscreen has a radiant finish, but it isn’t greasy and gives the skin a vibrant glow. It’s made with ingredients that leave the skin nourished, such as meadowfoam seed oil, marigold extract and grape seed oil.
Sold by Sephora
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50 Sunscreen
If you want to stay well-protected under intense heat and sunlight, this sunscreen is what you want. It is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, and it uses HeatForce and WetForce technology to get stronger when exposed to heat and moisture.
Sold by Sephora
Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA
This newer product is already a customer favorite, thanks to its high SPF rating and quality ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. It is hydrating with a smooth, silky texture and is also reef-friendly.
Sold by Sephora
Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50
This sunscreen boasts a matte finish and a hypoallergenic zinc-oxide formula, and it is best suited for normal, combo and dry skin types. It is a thorough cream but still lightweight and also fragrance-free, which is a plus for those with sensitive skin.
Sold by Sephora
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50
This sunscreen incorporates several minerals — including vitamins A, C and E — into its formula to create a hydrating and gentle product. It uses quality ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, aloe and niacinamide, to soothe and nourish the skin over time.
Sold by Sephora
Top sunscreens under 50 SPF
Biossance Squalane and Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 PA
This sunscreen is ideal for sensitive skin types and incorporates an effective anti-aging formula that’s great for treating fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes. It’s lightweight, and the water lily creates a soothing effect on the skin.
Sold by Sephora
Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 36
It’s not as expensive as other products, but this sunscreen offers adequate broad-spectrum protection with its 36 SPF rating. It’s a lightweight cream suitable for normal, dry and combo skin types.
Sold by Sephora
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Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which Clinique perfume is best?
One of the most influential senses when meeting new people is the sense of smell. Smell is also intimately linked to memory, so it’s no surprise that you want to smell your best. However, department-store perfume can be frustratingly expensive. Clinique brand perfumes break that trend, offering wonderful fragrances at affordable prices.
The best Clinique perfume is Clinique Happy. It has a crisp, fresh and lightly fruity and floral scent that’s delicately feminine without being too strong. It also has a wear time of several hours.
What to know before you buy a Clinique perfume
Types of Clinique perfume
Technically, perfume is a catchall term for one of four types of formula. Any given Clinique perfume may use one of these formulas.
- Eau de cologne is the lightest and most affordable scent. No more than 5% of its formula is centered around its fragrances, meaning it lasts no longer than four hours at best.
- Eau de toilette is the most common formula. It’s stronger, with up to 15% fragrance-focused ingredients, and it can last for up to six hours.
- Eau de parfum is a little bit stronger to last a little bit longer. Specifically, it’s up to 20% fragrance-focused ingredients and lasts up to eight hours.
- Parfum is what you wear if you have a long day ahead. It can last for up to 12 hours and can be up to 40% fragrance-focused ingredients.
Notes
Clinique perfumes have three layers of scents, called notes.
- Top notes are what you smell immediately after application and they can fade just as fast.
- Middle notes are the main scent of a perfume, lasting all throughout the day.
- Bottom notes are the last thing you smell before the scent wears off. “Scent wearing off” here refers to what you and others smell moments after you’ve left the room.
Size
Clinique perfumes typically come in one of three sizes. The smallest is usually 1 fluid ounce. These bottles are good for trying out a new fragrance. Next is 1.7 fluid ounces. These bottles are perfect for those who only wear perfume on occasion and know they like the scent. Finally, there are 3.4 fluid ounce bottles that are meant for those who wear perfume daily.
What to look for in a quality Clinique perfume
Applicator
Most Clinique perfumes use spray applicators as they are the easiest to use. Smaller bottles may use rollerball applicators that work exactly like a ballpoint pen. In rare cases, such as single dose samples or slightly larger, there may be no applicator at all — the perfume drips out of a small hole. This can be quite messy.
Chemistry
This aspect has more to do with you than the perfume. Everyone’s body has its own unique chemistry. This chemistry interacts just as uniquely with any given perfume, Clinique or otherwise. So, Clinique Happy may smell divine when applied to you but sour when applied to another. For this reason, it’s important to always trial run a new Clinique perfume before purchasing a full bottle to ensure that it’s a quality perfume for you.
How much you can expect to spend on a Clinique perfume
The average 1-fluid-ounce bottle of Clinique perfume costs roughly $30-$50, a 1.7-fluid-ounce bottle costs roughly $50-$70 and a 3.4-fluid-ounce bottle costs no more than $100.
Clinique perfume FAQ
Where should I apply Clinique perfume?
A. The traditional zones to apply perfume to are the neck and chest area, behind the ears and at the wrists. Other places people commonly apply touches of perfume include the inner elbow and behind the knee. Any stretch of skin with a concentration of veins will do. The only exception is if you’ll be in humid environments, as your sweat will cause the concentration of perfume to deteriorate rapidly. In this case, apply a light spritz directly to your clothing.
How long does a Clinique perfume last in the bottle?
A. That depends on the perfume, how often you use it and where you store it. Clinique perfume can last for several years on average, in some cases as long as five years or a touch more. Thus, there’s no need to worry about it expiring if you’re using it semi-often. In order to make it last as long as possible, you’ll need to keep it in a cool, dry place.
What’s the best Clinique perfume to buy?
Top Clinique perfume
What you need to know: This is one of Clinique’s bestsellers.
What you’ll love: It’s long-lasting with a fresh and lightly floral scent. It has top notes of grapefruit, middle layers of Hawaiian wedding flower and bottom notes of honeysuckle. Other ingredients are boysenberry, moss, freesia, lemon and bushflower. It comes in 1-, 1.7- and 3.4-fluid-ounce bottles.
What you should consider: Some consumers were concerned that the online bottles weren’t the same as the department store bottles. Once the bottle is open it can’t be returned.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Macy’s, Sephora and Ulta Beauty
Top Clinique perfume for the money
What you need to know: This is less floral than the base Happy fragrance.
What you’ll love: The only floral notes are middle layers of primrose and water hyacinth. It has top notes of mandarin orange and cucumber with bottom notes of blondewood and sandalwood for a slightly citrusy and woody scent. Other ingredients include cassia and carrot.
What you should consider: A few consumers were unhappy with the lightness of the scent and the wear time. Others described the scent as soap-like.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Macy’s, Sephora and Ulta Beauty
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This is more floral than the base Happy fragrance.
What you’ll love: It has top notes of yellow plum and touches of watery green with middle layers of freesia and lily of the valley and bottom notes of amber and white wood — all of which conjure up memories of springtime.
What you should consider: It’s only available in 1- or 1.7-fluid-ounce bottles, making it a little pricey. A few consumers were concerned about receiving fakes.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Macy’s and Ulta Beauty
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/best-clinique-perfume/ | 2022-04-14T19:39:28 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/best-clinique-perfume/ |
Which surge protector is best?
Most people have numerous electronic devices plugged in every room in their house. TVs, gaming consoles, computers and appliances are expensive and must be protected. A quality surge protector acts as a line of defense from electrical surges that can fry your electronics.
If you’re looking for a quality surge protector, the APC Surge Protector Power Strip is an excellent choice offering both AC and USB outlets.
What to know before you buy a surge protector
How surge protectors work
Many people buy surge protectors because they let you plug multiple devices into a single outlet. Still, the most critical surge protector function is protecting your electronics from spikes in voltage. Most devices aren’t built to withstand electrical surges on their own. Surge protectors divert the extra electricity to the outlet’s grounding wire when the voltage spikes above an acceptable level.
How surges happen
The most common causes of electrical surges are high-power devices such as air conditioners, refrigerators and dehumidifiers. These require large amounts of energy to turn on, which can upset the voltage flow. Faulty wiring is another common source of electrical surges.
Although less common, lightning can cause surges. When lightning strikes near power lines, the electrical energy can boost voltage significantly.
Power strip vs. surge protector
Power strips look identical to surge protectors, but they don’t offer protection against voltage surges. It’s essential to read the product’s description, as most surge protectors list their joule rating in the description.
Surge protector safety
Surge protectors can be dangerous if misused. Plug your surge protector directly into an outlet and never into an extension cord or another surge protector. In most cases, manufacturers won’t honor your warranty if they determine you’ve misused your surge protector.
What to look for in a quality surge protector
Joule rating
Joule ratings indicate how much energy the surge protector can absorb before failing. Higher joule ratings mean the device will protect your electronics against larger surges. For expensive electronics, choose a surge protector with at least 2,200 joules of protection.
Clamping voltage
Clamping voltage is the amount of “over-voltage” before the device begins to work. The three most common levels of protection are 330 volts, 400 volts and 500 volts. Lower clamping voltages are better, and in most cases, anything with a clamping voltage over 400 won’t protect your electronics.
Outlet variety
Some surge protectors feature USB outlets that eliminate the need for power blocks. Older and cheaper ones typically only feature AC outlets. Choosing a model with various outlets ensures you get more functionality out of your purchase.
Size
Many of the most effective surge protectors are large. Size may not be an issue if you have space, thinner models are worth considering if you’re low on space.
How much you can expect to spend on a surge protector
You can buy cheap surge protectors with low joule ratings for less than $15. If you want a unit that will adequately protect your electronics, you’ll likely spend between $20-$40.
Surge protector FAQ
Do I really need a surge protector?
A. Surge protectors are excellent safety devices when used correctly. Simple devices such as lamps and fans don’t need a surge protector. On the other hand, expensive devices with numerous electrical components such as computers, TVs and gaming consoles should be plugged into a surge protector. For the best outcome, you should expect to change your surge protector every three to five years.
Do surge protectors use a lot of electricity?
A. Surge protectors don’t drain any additional energy. They simply monitor the energy passing through them and divert that energy when needed.
Do phone chargers have surge protection?
A. Phone chargers don’t feature built-in surge protection. You’ll need to buy a surge protector separately to protect your phone from surges. If you plan on plugging your phone into a surge protector, consider buying one with USB outlets.
Should I turn off my surge protector at night?
A. Regularly turning off your surge protector will extend its life. They don’t protect against lightning strikes, so it’s best to turn them off at night if you expect a storm.
What’s the best surge protector to buy?
Top surge protector
APC Surge Protector Power Strip
What you need to know: This features a massive joule rating of 4,320 joules.
What you’ll love: It has 10 AC outlets and two USB outlets. The 6-foot power cord makes it easier to place this where you want it. Although the product description isn’t clear on the clamping voltage, most buyers suggest it’s between 330-400 volts.
What you should consider: Though it offers a lot of outlets, this model is bulky.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top surge protector for the money
Tripp Lite 7-Outlet Surge Protector
What you need to know: This surge protector is available in numerous configurations with an adequate joule rating.
What you’ll love: It has 2,160 joules of protection and seven AC outlets. LEDs tell you when it is properly grounded and protected. The narrow design is ideal for those without a ton of space.
What you should consider: This model doesn’t come with USB outlets.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Dell
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This model offers a slim design and eight AC outlets.
What you’ll love: It has 3,420 joules of surge protection. Three of the outlets have extra space between them for larger plugs. The clamping voltage is 330-400. It features a durable design.
What you should consider: There are several reports of people receiving defective units.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Cody Stewart writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/best-surge-protector/ | 2022-04-14T19:39:36 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/best-surge-protector/ |
What do you need for spring showers?
Spring brings sunshine, blooms and plenty of rain. If you live in one of many areas experiencing drizzles — or downpours — right now, it’s a good idea to invest in rain gear to deal with spring showers.
It’s no surprise that umbrellas, raincoats and other protective accessories come in handy in springtime, especially when they’re kept nearby in the event of unexpected showers. They’re not the only items worth buying during the rainy season, though. A few convenient products can make the difference between staying dry and getting soaked this season.
Levels of water-resistance
Before you shop around for rain gear, it’s important to understand the difference between waterproof and water-resistant materials.
Waterproof materials, which offer the most protection, prevent moisture from penetrating and soaking the inner layers. Water-resistant materials repel water and make it bead off the surface, but with enough exposure, inner layers will get wet. Most rain gear indicates its water resistance on tags so you know exactly how much protection they offer.
How to stay dry during the rainy season
Invest in basic rain gear
One of the easiest ways to stay dry during spring showers is by investing in quintessential rain gear, including rain jackets and rain boots.
Rain jackets are available in various lengths, but longer styles — ideally those cut at the midthigh — protect your lower back and waist from moisture and drafts. It’s wise to choose rain jackets with hoods in order to prevent hair from getting soaked, especially after you’ve blow-dried or styled it.
Rain boots are usually made with rubber or plastic, both of which are waterproof. Quality styles also have sealed seams that prevent rain and cold air from entering. However, comfort is hit or miss with rain boots. Generally, these lightweight styles lack cushioning, support and warmth, and they’re not suitable for extended walking periods.
Opt for travel rain accessories
Even if you pay close attention to weather reports, it’s still hard to predict spring showers. For that reason, it’s a good idea to invest in travel rain accessories that you can keep nearby in the event of unexpected storms.
- Travel umbrellas: Travel or mini umbrellas are often preferred to full-size umbrellas because they’re small enough to fit inside handbags, office desk drawers and lockers. They’re popular for kids because they are lightweight and fit inside backpacks.
- Ponchos: Ponchos might not take the place of rain jackets, but they do a decent job of keeping you somewhat dry in a pinch. Some ponchos are disposable, whereas others are reusable and even machine-washable.
- Stroller covers: Stroller covers, also called weather shields, keep kids dry when you’re walking in inclement weather. There are some universal covers, but they may be ill-fitting or leave gaps. Most stroller manufacturers sell covers that fit specific models.
- Hats and bonnets: Many water-resistant hats are packable, including bucket hats and traditional rain hats. Folded hats may even fit inside rain jacket pockets. Other people opt to wear rain bonnets, which offer more protection than most hats.
Protect your vehicle
Besides keeping yourself dry, you probably want to prevent your car or truck interior from getting soaked or covered in mud.
- Seat covers: Water-resistant seat covers can be placed on cloth seats so they don’t absorb moisture.
- Cargo covers: If you have pets, waterproof cargo covers are easy to wipe down with a damp cloth when they’re covered with muddy paw prints.
- Rain guards: For those who like leaving windows cracked while they drive, rain guards allow fresh air to enter while keeping out droplets.
Top products to help you deal with spring showers
Lands’ End Women’s Hooded Packable Raincoat
In addition to being travel-friendly, waterproof and windproof, this raincoat also folds inside its own pocket for quick, convenient storage.
Sold by Kohl’s
Columbia Kids’ Glennaker Rain Jacket
This best-selling Columbia jacket has a waterproof nylon shell and full-coverage hood. The lightweight style packs easily inside kids’ backpacks and luggage.
Sold by Amazon, Kohl’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Vera Bradley Mini Travel Umbrella
If you’re looking for a stylish mini umbrella, this Vera Bradley option is available in five chic designs, including springtime florals.
Sold by Amazon
London Fog Piccadilly Women’s Waterproof Rain Boots
Available in several colors and designs, these London Fog rain boots are a contemporary spin on the classic style with elastic sides and a streamlined silhouette.
Sold by Kohl’s
Bulldogology Premium SUV Cargo Liner
Even if your dogs are wet and have muddy paws, this cargo liner has you covered — literally. It’s made with waterproof materials that can be wiped down for easy cleaning.
Sold by Amazon
Angela & William Waterproof Bucket Hat
This classic bucket hat offers maximum protection with waterproof materials and a 2-inch brim. The lightweight style can be rolled up and placed inside coat pockets.
Sold by Amazon
Not only is this rain poncho waterproof and breathable, it’s one of few styles that comes in attractive designs.
Sold by Amazon
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Sian Babish writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/outerwear-br/everything-you-need-to-deal-with-spring-showers/ | 2022-04-14T19:39:43 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/outerwear-br/everything-you-need-to-deal-with-spring-showers/ |
Tips for contouring your face
Good contouring can enhance your face’s natural lines, make your favorite features stand out, define your cheekbones and eyes, and refine your proportions. It can be daunting to start, and it may seem difficult to contour without looking overly made up. But with the right products and some practice, you will soon be contouring like an Instagram influencer.
Prep your face
Cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize
Good contouring begins with good preparation. You’ll get a smoother palette for your contouring when your face is clean and free of flakes, oily patches or dead skin. A good cleanser for your skin type will reveal a brighter, smoother surface. Exfoliation will make sure you’ve turned over any sluggish, dead cells.
Lastly, following a regular regimen of adding skin-friendly hydration such as hyaluronic acid or emollients will ensure skin looks healthy and glowy. Ideally, let moisturizers soak into the skin about a half-hour before makeup application.
Apply your base
The first step in contouring is to give yourself a base of primer, concealer and foundation to even out your tone and hide any blemishes or dark circles. Match your skin tone and color as closely as possible to give your contouring products the smoothest natural base. Oil-based foundation is a good choice for dry skin, while water-based products offer less coverage but are also less likely to cause breakouts in skin prone to them.
Choose the right products
Pay attention to skin tone
Choosing the right contour products depends heavily on skin tone, even more than your choice of foundation does. If you’ve ever seen contouring that looked harsh or unnatural, chances are that the tone of the product used was wrong for the skin it was being applied to.
Choose a shade two shades darker than your natural skin color at the jawline. Warm contour is right for warm skin tones that tan instead of burn. If your skin tends to look pink or burns easily, you’ll do better sticking to cooler contour shades.
Decide between liquid and powder
The choice is partially based on your comfort. If you have more experience applying powdered blushes, powder may be a good choice for your contour as well. If you’ve applied heavier, oil-based foundation, you may want a creamy, smooth contour color for easier application. Note that powder applied over oil-based foundation can look chalky or patchy, so apply with care.
Contour with confidence
Apply shadows
Contour is, at its essence, a heightening of the natural shadows that fall on your face due to your bone structure. Look at yourself in natural overhead light. Where are the shadows? For most people, they’re under the cheekbones and the jaw. You may also want to apply a base of your contour product in the crease of the eye before eyeshadow application to create color cohesion on your face.
Suck in your cheeks. With an upward-sweeping, gentle touch, apply your contour product in the hollow created naturally, plus slightly above it to emphasize your cheekbones. Apply a touch at your hairline about two inches above your temples to draw attention to your eyes, and slim down your jawline by applying contour along it and in long strokes along the sides, down toward your Adam’s apple.
Apply highlighters
Now look at yourself in overhead lighting again. Where does the light sit brightest? For most of us, this is at the top of the cheekbones, above the eyebrows and along the jawline. If you’ve got mature skin, go lightly around the eyes with powdered highlighter, as it can settle into fine lines and draw attention to them.
Consider color
Once you’ve achieved the right level of shadow and light, which may take several passes, you may want to add a wash of color where the highlight meets the contour to add a rosy, healthy glow. Go lightly and continue to consider skin tone. Pink-toned blushes look good on lighter, cooler skin, while peach-infused ones work best for warmer skin tones.
Set the look
If you need your look to make it through a long day or a night full of dancing, you may want to apply setting spray to extend its life. A spritz of setting spray will lock in your look, making it transfer-free, smudge-proof and fresh.
What you need to buy to contour your face
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit
This is a perfect all-in-one kit that contains both warm and cool contour colors, as well as an assortment of highlighting colors in both matte and shimmery varieties.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora
Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder
Created by the renowned makeup artist credited with introducing the idea of contouring into the mainstream in the 1990s, this versatile sculpting powder looks great on many skin tones, although it’s best for cooler ones. Blendable and flattering, it gives you perfect sculpting without being harsh or obvious.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour
This creamy contouring stick gives you the glide-on versatility of a cream with the pigmentation you expect from a powder. If you have skin that tends to the drier side, consider a creamy sculpting contour like this product that’s free of parabens and phthalates, which may disrupt your hormones.
Where to buy: Sold by Ulta Beauty
E.L.F. Cosmetics Contouring Brush
Inexpensive and effective, this is the perfect brush for applying contour precisely where you want it. The flat edge and short bristles give you precision, while turning it on its wide part helps you blend your products for a seamless, natural look.
Where to buy: Sold by Ulta Beauty
Urban Decay Cosmetics All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
This long-lasting spray is a favorite when you want your contouring and general makeup application to last through a long night out or a full day. It makes your look fade-proof and helps it last for up to 16 hours while keeping it seeming fresh.
Where to buy: Sold by Ulta Beauty
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Maria Andreu writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/face-makeup-br/how-to-contour-your-face/ | 2022-04-14T19:39:50 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/face-makeup-br/how-to-contour-your-face/ |
What are the 16 most popular liquid lipsticks at Sephora?
Between drinking your morning coffee, eating a sandwich at lunch and sipping from your water bottle all day, it’s nearly impossible to keep your lip color in place — unless you find a high-quality liquid lipstick.
Despite their thin formula, liquid lipsticks dry down to a nearly budge-proof finish that stays on your lips even when eating and drinking. Once dry, they won’t transfer to your clothing or anyone you might kiss. Not all liquid lipsticks are created equal, though, so you want to keep an eye out for formulas that last longer and feel more comfortable than others.
Are you looking for a top-notch liquid lipstick that looks and feels good? Here are the most popular formulas you can find at Sephora for smooth, beautiful lip color that lasts through the longest days.
16 most popular liquid lipsticks at Sephora
Most popular liquid lipsticks at Sephora for $20 and under
Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Ultra-Comfort Transfer-proof Lipstick
This liquid lipstick delivers rich pigmentation in a single swipe. It contains olive oil, vitamin A, vitamin E and essential fatty acids to help keep your lips hydrated, so it also feels extremely comfortable. The formula is vegan and cruelty-free too.
Sold by Sephora
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick
A cult-favorite formula, this liquid lipstick provides full coverage and intense color that lasts for hours. Its rounded sponge applicator also makes application quick and easy. You can choose from 18 shades, ranging from soft nudes to bold reds — the shades can even be mixed together to create a custom color.
Sold by Sephora
Kaja LOVE SWIPE Lightweight Cushiony Lip Mousse
With its velvety texture, this air-whipped liquid lipstick is a highly comfortable option that still lasts all day. It features cottonseed oil, raspberry seed oil and vitamin E to hydrate and nourish, but the formula feels weightless on the lips. It also comes in adorable heart-shaped packaging that you’ll love pulling out for touch-ups.
Sold by Sephora
Rare Beauty Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick
This hydrating liquid lipstick glides over the lips for smooth, easy application. It has a lightweight feel and isn’t prone to caking. The formula is paraben- and phthalate-free too.
Sold by Sephora
Sephora Collection Clean Liquid Lip Mousse
Boasting a clean formula, this affordable liquid lip offers highly pigmented color that doesn’t feather or bleed. It has a comfortable, lightweight feel and helps blur the look of lines. Best of all, it’s fragrance-free, making it an ideal option for sensitive skin.
Sold by Sephora
Most popular liquid lipsticks at Sephora for $20-$30
Nars Air Matte Liquid Lipstick
With its classic matte finish, this lipstick offers the wear time you’d expect, but the unique formula has a soft, weightless feel that’s more comfortable than traditional liquid lipsticks. Its color has a diffused look too, providing an extremely flattering soft-focus effect.
Sold by Sephora
Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lipstick
Despite its liquid formula, this lipstick feels more like a balm and has a slight sheen that works especially well for dry lips. The formula contains superfruits — including cranberry, blueberry and raspberry extracts — that give it an emollient, easy-to-apply texture. You can choose from 12 rich shades that work for most skin tones.
Sold by Sephora
KVD Everlasting Longwear Liquid Lipstick
Thanks to high pigment formula, this vegan liquid lipstick has been a fan favorite for years. Its creamy formula glides on easily but sets quickly. It also contains moisturizers, such as vitamin E and sunflower seed wax, to prevent drying the lips. It’s available in 19 shades, including a bold purple and an intense black.
Sold by Sephora
Patrick Ta Monochrome Moment Silky Lip Creme
This liquid lipstick offers a satin-matte finish, making it an excellent option if you aren’t a fan of dry matte formulas. It provides full coverage in a single coat and can last for hours. The formula also contains a cross-polymer blend that lets the lipstick move easily with the lips.
Sold by Sephora
Smashbox Always On Longwear Matte Liquid Lipstick
With a waterproof formula, this liquid lipstick lasts all day, even through drinking and eating. It contains a primer oil complex that keeps it from drying out your lips and reduces feathering, bleeding or caking. It’s available in more than 22 shades too.
Sold by Sephora
Too Faced Melted Matte Liquid Lipstick
This lipstick features vitamin E, avocado oil and hyaluronic filling spheres, so it never looks or feels dry on the lips. It still has a long-wearing matte finish, though, and can last for up to eight hours. It’s transfer-resistant too.
Sold by Sephora
Most popular liquid lipsticks at Sephora for more than $30
Armani beauty Lip Maestro Liquid Matte Lipstick
One of the best-selling liquid lipsticks in the U.S., this formula offers bold color and a velvety finish. It also provides hydration that lasts for hours, so it doesn’t feel dry or sticky on the lips. You can choose from over 36 flattering shades.
Sold by Sephora
Dior Rouge Dior Forever Liquid Transfer-Proof Lipstick
If you’re tired of smudges on your clothing, this transfer-proof lipstick is a perfect option. It doesn’t settle in lip lines or bleed around the mouth and has an extremely comfortable, lightweight formula. It also lasts for up to 12 hours.
Sold by Sephora
Yves Saint Laurent Vinyl Cream Lip Stain
Unlike other liquid lipsticks with a matte finish, this formula offers a glossy look that’s comfortable and hydrating. It still provides full-coverage color, though, and lasts for up to 10 hours. Its diamond-shaped applicator allows for precise application too.
Sold by Sephora
Hourglass Velvet Story Lip Cream
This lipstick has a whipped texture that feels weightless and soft on the lips. It helps blur the look of lines and contains vitamin E to condition and protect your lips. You can also get full color in a single swipe.
Sold by Sephora
Available in both matte and high-shine finishes, this liquid lipstick delivers rich, intense color. It contains daikon radish oil to help hydrate and cushion the lips for comfortable wear. The formula is also gluten-free.
Sold by Sephora
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Jennifer Blair writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/lip-makeup-br/16-most-popular-liquid-lipsticks-at-sephora/ | 2022-04-14T19:39:56 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/lip-makeup-br/16-most-popular-liquid-lipsticks-at-sephora/ |
Limor Suss shared some Easter and Spring Brunch essentials for the season!
Synonymous with Easter, the iconic Lindt GOLD BUNNY is the centerpiece for building the best Easter baskets, turning moments into magical celebrations.
Cupcake Vineyards newest collection, Signature Sweets includes wines that are bright, 5.5% ABV and feature juicy flavors with an effervescent & delightfully sweet finish.
NuTrail offers a tasty high quality, Blueberry Cinnamon keto-friendly nut granola with just 3 grams of net carbs per serving and no added sugar that makes your health journey easier
Palmolive’s NEW Shake & Clean Eco-Friendly Dish Soap Starter Kit.
Learn more here. | https://www.wmar2news.com/middaymaryland/limor-suss-easter-essentials | 2022-04-14T19:40:01 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/middaymaryland/limor-suss-easter-essentials |
Which electric blanket is best?
When the wind is howling outside, you might feel a chill in your bones that no amount of blankets can chase away. If you live in a cold climate, have a hard time sleeping in cold weather or just want more warmth at night, an electric blanket can help. Electric blankets provide warmth without causing your home heating bill to jump, and they are an easy solution to a chilly problem.
The Westinghouse Electric Blanket is beautiful, comfortable and provides ample heat for the coldest winter nights.
What to know before you buy an electric blanket
Size
As with their nonelectric counterparts, electric blankets come in sizes to fit standard beds (e.g., twin, full, queen and king). If you have an oversized mattress, make sure the blanket you choose is large enough for it.
Materials
Electric blankets in the past were made of a thin, poorly insulated material that was not naturally warm. These days, electric blankets made of thick, comfy fabrics like fleece, flannel and wool are warm even when not plugged in.
Once you determine what you want your blanket fabric to feel like, check the grams per square meter. That number tells you how much insulation your blanket has, and a higher GSM means more warmth even when the blanket’s not turned on.
Number of settings
Some electric blankets come with three heat settings — low, medium and high — while others come with 10 or more. Although it’s nice to precisely dial in your perfect temperature, consider whether you really need all 10 settings (and want to pay for them). Five are enough for most people.
What to look for in a quality electric blanket
Dual controls
When two people share a bed, chances are good they will need different levels of warmth throughout the night. If this sounds like you, look for a blanket with dual controls to customize the heating level on either side of the bed.
Easy care
While it may seem crazy to throw an electric blanket into a washing machine, these days that’s not outside the realm of possibility. Look for machine-washable and dryer-safe blankets for easy care.
If your electric blanket is not machine-washable, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to keep it clean.
Automatic shut-off
An automatic shut-off protects your blanket from overheating and saves energy. Because our core body temperature drops at night, most blankets with this feature turn off automatically after three hours, improving your chance of a perfect night of sleep.
Reversible
The last thing you want is an electric blanket that looks like an electric blanket. With reversible ones, not only can you change the look of your bed instantly, but you also have a piece of bed linen that looks elegant, not wired.
How much you can expect to spend on an electric blanket
The price depends on its size and the material from which it’s made. Expect to spend $40-$80 on a queen-size blanket.
Electric blanket FAQ
Are electric blankets safe?
A. They’re remarkably safe, but there are a few precautions you should take.
- Do not use a blanket that has wires that are cut or damaged.
- Do not sit or lie on top of the blanket, and don’t let pets lie on it either. This extra weight can damage the blanket’s wires.
- Don’t use your blanket on its maximum setting at all times. Use just enough heat to get the warmth you need.
- Avoid buying used or vintage electric blankets. It can be difficult to tell whether they have been damaged, and older blankets are not manufactured to the same level of safety.
Can you use an electric blanket on a memory foam mattress?
A. Because there is a slight chance that the blanket’s hidden wires can melt memory foam, stick to regular blankets if you sleep on foam. This also includes memory-foam mattress toppers.
Are electric blankets cheaper than space heaters?
A. Yes. Depending on size, space heaters take 500-1,000 watts of electricity to run, while an electric blanket takes no more than 200 watts, even on the highest setting.
Electric blankets also heat just the space you need — the bed you’re lying in — instead of heating the entire room.
What’s the best electric blanket to buy?
Top electric blanket
What you need to know: It’s easy to operate and customize.
What you’ll love: With a 220 GSM and a thick Sherpa lining, this blanket is warm and cozy. It is reversible and uses a digital control to personalize heating. It has 10 heat settings, features protection against overheating and is fully machine-washable and dryer-safe.
What you should consider: If you plan on using this with a generator or power bank, look for another blanket. It is not compatible with this type of off-grid power supply.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Macy’s
Top electric blanket for the money
What you need to know: It is a lightweight blanket that is not bulky and works well under regular bedding for extreme cold.
What you’ll love: It has three heat settings and an automatic shut-off after three hours of use. ThermoFine technology distributes heat evenly, and this blanket is machine-washable and dryer-safe.
What you should consider: Some reviewers found it too thin for use as their primary blanket.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: It looks elegant and heats well.
What you’ll love: It reaches the temperature you want in less than 20 minutes. It has five heat settings and is made from sherpa fabric. The heating wires are thin and barely perceptible.
What you should consider: The power cord is short, and it does not always heat up evenly.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/bedding-br/best-electric-blanket/ | 2022-04-14T19:40:02 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/bedding-br/best-electric-blanket/ |
BALTIMORE — Baltimore Police will be adding new civilian positions to the department in an effort to build staffing capacity and maximize the department's resources.
New civilian investigative specialist positions will increase the current detective force and allow civilian investigators to manage low-level property crimes, cold cases, background checks, intelligence gathering and internal affair matters.
The BPD civilianization proposal for FY2023 calls for:
- 35 Investigative Specialists to be hired in FY2023, with more than 135 additional positions identified for future civilianization efforts scheduled for FY2024-FY2026
- Redeployment of Property Officers to Patrol and hiring ten civilian positions to perform facilities and fleet maintenance duties
- 12 civilian support positions to enhance capacity at the Telephone Reporting Unit (TRU)
- Restoring civilian positions cut from the 2021 budget
Some additional areas that civilians may staff include:
- Crime Scene Technicians
- District Detective Unit
- Cold Case Unit
- Internal Affairs
- Forensics Unit
- Executive Secretaries
- Fleet Support
- Recruitment/Human Resources
- Academy Instructors
- IT Specialists and Support
- Fiscal Services
- Background Investigators
- Crime Analytics
- Public Relations
- Records Management
- 911 Dispatchers
“This plan is not about taking away jobs from sworn members of the department. It is about growing the department and creating additional civilian capacity while being smart about how we deploy officers,” said Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison. “We are aligning our staffing plan and our budget resources to bring qualified professional staff to work alongside our officers to prevent, deter and reduce crime more effectively.” | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/baltimore-police-adding-new-civilian-positions-to-the-department | 2022-04-14T19:40:07 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/baltimore-police-adding-new-civilian-positions-to-the-department |
Amazon Alexa Speaker review
Many of the most visible and accessible smart home tools today are the home speakers that house advanced voice assistants. For example, if you’re getting ready to go out, a few quick commands can pull up the weather forecast, so you know what to wear.
Amazon and its voice assistant Alexa are the industry leaders for smart home speakers. They claim that their latest high-end smart speaker, the Amazon Echo Studio, is the most powerful and easiest to use option on the market. We used it along extensively for about a week to determine just how helpful they truly are, and it turns out it’s as helpful and convenient as Amazon claims.
Testing the Amazon Echo Studio
The entire Echo lineup has exploded in popularity recently, so we were familiar with the device going into testing. The space where we conducted the review wasn’t outfitted with any other smart home devices, so we could judge the Echo Studio on its own merits alone.
We were mostly excited to see how well it streamlined daily activities like playing music, checking the weather and listening to the news. For the most part, our testing took place in the kitchen because that’s where we found ourselves most active and in need of hands-free control.
During testing, we made sure to focus on not just the overall functionality, but also the little things you might overlook initially. How accurately it picks up voice commands, how loud you have to speak and how prominent the LED is all contribute to the user experience, especially for consumers who aren’t particularly well-versed in electronics.
What is the Amazon Echo Studio?
Much like the speakers from Sonos, the Amazon Echo Studio is a high-fidelity smart speaker that promises studio-quality sound and claims to adapt to any room. Our initial impressions were that it’s an unassuming device that, while not as compact as other smart speakers like the Sonos One, isn’t overly large. It came in good-quality packaging, complete with a fabric carrying case.
Unlike other Echo smart speakers, Amazon makes a big deal about the Studio’s premium sound quality. This was one of the claims we were most excited to investigate. Most smart home speakers are middling to subpar when it comes to music playback, so an Alexa-enabled speaker that could also stream our favorite tunes was a welcome addition to the kitchen.
We’re also aware that Amazon has gone to great lengths to refine the microphone array within the Echo Studio. To that end, we were impressed with how well it was able to adapt to the wide range of sounds that happen in a busy home daily.
Amazon Echo Studio price and where to buy
The Echo Studio is available from Amazon for $200. You can also get it bundled with the Echo Sub for $330.
How to use Amazon Echo Studio
We expected a straightforward setup process, but we were still surprised at how easy it was to get started. Immediately after plugging it in, Alexa spoke up and instructed us to install the Alexa app on a smartphone. We did so and were then walked clearly through setting up the Echo Dot that we were testing alongside the Studio. The whole process was incredibly intuitive, taking less than 5 minutes.
Using the device wasn’t any more difficult. We simply called out to Alexa, and she heard us clearly and accurately the first time. In most cases, the speaker even heard us clearly when we were in the next room.
Amazon Echo Studio benefits
After a week with the Echo Studio, it’s safe to say that Amazon isn’t exaggerating when they boast about the device’s pristine sound quality. At low volumes, it sounded OK, but once we turned it up, we were pleasantly surprised at how rich the audio was.
No matter what genre of music we threw at it, the Studio handled it well, with no distortion or static and clear instrumentation throughout all but the lowest end of the sound spectrum. We suspect that part of this premium sound experience comes from the Studio’s automatic acoustic analysis, which tailors the speaker’s output to sound as good as possible, no matter what room it’s in.
Our success with voice command accuracy was just as pronounced. We tested it in nearly silent environments and while vacuuming. It performed at the same level no matter what. The only times we had to repeat voice commands, we were so far away that it was surprising the microphone picked up our voices at all.
Aside from the basic music and voice command functionality, there were other features we loved about the Studio. There was a dedicated button to turn the microphone off, which provided privacy and peace of mind. The integrated LED lit up when it actively listened to us, so we didn’t have to worry about unintended recordings. We also appreciated how easy it was to pull up the Alexa app and manage the recordings we’d made throughout the day.
Amazon Echo Studio drawbacks
While we didn’t have any glaring issues with it, we did notice a little room for improvement. For example, sound quality dropped noticeably when we placed it on a shelf with some small trinkets and books around it. A 360-degree speaker shouldn’t normally see a huge change in output in that case, and we have a hunch the difference was again due to the Studio’s automatic spatial analysis. Other objects nearby could conceivably mess up the algorithm and make the speaker think it’s in a much smaller room.
Also, while the LED light was convenient and reassuring, it was pretty recessed and not visible from all angles, especially when the Studio was placed near eye level. Finally, it would be nice if Amazon designed a portable, battery-powered version that we could take to events or gatherings outdoors or at a friend’s house.
Should you get the Amazon Echo Studio?
The Amazon Echo Studio is the best-sounding smart speaker available today. Its microphones are the most sensitive and its voice recognition and spatial analysis algorithms are as good as they get. If you enjoy using voice assistants to listen to music, make calls or shop, there’s no better smart speaker.
Consider other products
If you’re looking for a little more versatility and don’t mind sacrificing some sound quality, this smart speaker is an impressive piece of equipment. Its 10-inch touchscreen can display a wide variety of useful information and it even follows you around the room automatically, so you never lose sight of what you’re doing.
Sold by Amazon
As great as the Echo Studio sounds, it’s still missing something in terms of bass. This subwoofer can fix that, and it works great with most Echo devices.
Sold by Amazon
In terms of sound quality during music playback, the Sonos One is the only significant competitor to the Echo Studio. It is a bit more expensive, but some owners argue it offers even better quality. You can even pair multiple Sonos One smart speakers for stereo playback in one room or simultaneous playback in different rooms.
Sold by Amazon
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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/audio-video-accessories-br/amazon-echo-studio-review-can-this-sonos-competitor-deliver-on-sound-quality-ease-of-use/ | 2022-04-14T19:40:10 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/audio-video-accessories-br/amazon-echo-studio-review-can-this-sonos-competitor-deliver-on-sound-quality-ease-of-use/ |
BALTIMORE — Not all hero’s wear capes, sometimes they wear a firefighter uniform. Racheal Wilson was the first female firefighter to die in the line of duty in Maryland.
To honor her bravery and dedication to saving lives, people gathered to attend a special ribbon cutting on Thursday.
"I'm the daughter of Racheal Wilson. It is an honor to build her this playground and show her how much I do love her as her child," said Princess Davis, daughter of Racheal Wilson.
Fifteen years ago, Wilson lost her life in a fire training exercise in Baltimore. She was the first African American female firefighter in Maryland to die on duty.
Her death broke many people's hearts, but through community support her legacy now lives on. The lot where the training fire occurred, is now the Racheal Wilson Memorial Park and Playground.
"It took me fifteen years to get it off the ground. When this young lady died, it took everything out of me because I can't believe that she died in a house that was empty," said Jerlene Boyd, creator of Wilson Park.
The park is designed as a fire truck with a memorial of Racheal Wilson behind it. Organizers say they wanted to give children a safe place to play and also allow them to see an influential woman of color who risked her life for others.
"I want children to come here and play. I hope they get off the street and leave the bad things alone," said Boyd.
Organizers say they plan to do other initiatives like this to honor other firefighters who may have lost their lives in duty. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/baltimore-to-honor-first-fallen-female-firefighter-in-maryland-with-new-playground | 2022-04-14T19:40:13 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/baltimore-to-honor-first-fallen-female-firefighter-in-maryland-with-new-playground |
Which healthy cookware is best?
Now more than ever, it’s crucial to pay attention to everything that goes into your body — and not just the food you eat. With some nonstick surfaces getting negative attention for their use of potentially dangerous chemicals, it may be time to re-evaluate what’s in your kitchen cabinets, too.
When you’re ready to replace your old pots and pans with healthy cookware, you’ll need a set that’s safe and functional. The GreenPan Hard Anodized Healthy Ceramic Nonstick Set uses a material derived from sand to create a smooth, nonstick interior surface.
What to know before you buy healthy cookware
Full set vs. individual pots and pans
Whether you are swapping over to healthy cookware or stocking a kitchen from scratch, you’ll need to consider if you’d like to purchase pans individually or start with a set. If your budget is tight, you might lean toward purchasing one or two pans at a time. This also allows you to focus only on the cookware that you use most.
However, a full set of pans is often cheaper than buying each pan individually. This also allows you to instantly build your cookware collection. On the other hand, some cooks purchase a set and then realize that they only use one or two pans. Consider your cooking style and your needs before deciding between a full set or individual pots and pans.
Cook surface
While people with gas and electric stoves take it for granted that every pot or pan that they encounter will work on their cooktop, those with an induction stove know better. Induction stoves use magnets to heat magnetic metals in the pots and pans. For this reason, not every type of cookware will work on an induction cooktop.
Aluminum, glass and copper cookware will not work on an induction stove. If your heart is set on these materials, make sure that they are combined with some sort of magnetic material or they will not heat.
What to look for in quality healthy cookware
Nontoxic
All surfaces should be free of PFAS, PFOA, lead and cadmium. These poisonous coatings can leach into food as it’s cooking. Healthy cookware manufactured without these chemicals is safe even if pans are heated above their oven-safe threshold.
Oven safe
If you typically move from stovetop to oven, you want to make sure your pans are safe to the temperatures you need. Look for oven-safe temperatures to at least 500 degrees.
Lids
While not all pans will come with lids, they are very helpful when cooking food that splatters and splutters on your stove. Some lids are glass for easy viewing, while others are made of stainless steel.
Regardless of the material you choose, check to be sure that they are oven-safe. Many are, but they may not be safe to the same temperature as the pan they cover.
Accessories
Some healthy cookware sets include accessories, too. These might include:
- Slotted spoons
- Serving pieces
- Steamer baskets
- Strainers
Look for accessories that are stainless steel (or labeled as BPA-free if plastic).
How much you can expect to spend on healthy cookware
The price tag depends on the number of pieces you purchase. For a set of 10 or more pots and pans (and accessories), expect to spend $150-$200.
Healthy cookware FAQ
Can’t you just use cast iron?
A. When it comes to healthy cookware, cast iron is one of the best. The main issue with this durable material is that it can be difficult to care for. Pots and pans require occasional seasoning to restore a fading nonstick surface.
Additionally, even the smallest cast-iron pans are very heavy. For cooks with hand pain or difficulty lifting, just getting the pan out of the cabinet can be challenging.
Modern healthy cookware is lightweight and just as safe as cast iron.
How do you care for healthy cookware?
A. Care and maintenance will vary depending on the material of your cookware. Check with the manufacturer’s directions.
In general, most cookware should be hand-washed in hot, soapy water with mild detergent. A gentle plastic scrubbing sponge can be used to remove stubborn dried food, or allow the pan to soak in hot water before cleaning.
Unless the pan is specifically marked, do not clean it in the dishwasher. Hand-washing prolongs the life of your pots and pans and protects the nonstick surface.
What’s the best healthy cookware to buy?
Top healthy cookware
GreenPan Hard Anodized Healthy Ceramic Nonstick Set
What you need to know: This is a great starter set for the beginning home cook.
What you’ll love: It has 11 pieces, including 1- and 2-quart saucepans with covers, a 5-quart covered casserole, two frying pans, a 3-quart covered skillet and a steamer basket. The cookware is safe to 600 degrees (lids to 425) and it’s free of PFAS, PFOA, lead, and cadmium.
What you should consider: These do not work on induction stoves.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top healthy cookware for the money
Farberware Go Healthy Nonstick Cookware
What you need to know: This is a durable set for everyday use.
What you’ll love: QuiltSmart nonstick coating means less fat is needed for food to release easily. It’s free from all toxic coatings and chemicals. This 14-piece set includes not only pots and pans but also cooking utensils like slotted spoons, ladles and grill pans. The lids are glass with riveted handles.
What you should consider: The pots and pans are only oven safe to 350 degrees.
Where to buy: Sold by Macy’s
Worth checking out
Homichef Nickel-Free Stainless Steel Cookware Set
What you need to know: This set is beautiful, functional and affordable.
What you’ll love: This set of 10 pans includes some of the most commonly used pieces, including two covered saucepans, one 7-quart covered stockpot, two covered frying pans and a covered saute pan. It heats evenly and is safe for every type of stove top — including induction burners.
What you should consider: Because they have no nonstick coating, pots and pans need to be seasoned.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Suzannah Kolbeck writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/cookware-br/best-healthy-cookware/ | 2022-04-14T19:40:17 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/cookware-br/best-healthy-cookware/ |
BALTIMORE — It's been almost six years since 9-year-old Amirah Kinlaw was struck and killed after leaving school in southwest Baltimore, by a 14-year-old boy in a stolen Jeep.
The accident devastated the Union Square community, and prompted some traffic-control measures - but residents say crashes and destruction have continued.
Jim Kennedy's security camera captured a hit-and-run on Lombard Street at Stricker Street Tuesday evening. The crash destroyed his neighbor's vehicle; the video shows a sedan flying into the parked car, then three people running away from the scene. (City police said both vehicles were towed to the city yard and there were no injuries reported.)
Kennedy said after Amirah's death, concrete circles were put in at the Stricker/Lombard and Stricker/Baltimore intersections.
He notes: "There were initially a lot of accidents at both (because they're not really traffic circles, just concrete circles plopped down in the middle of a square intersection). More crashes at Stricker-Baltimore, so that circle was removed about two and a half years ago. This one remains in place, but stupidly they added stop signs on Stricker Street and yield signs on Lombard Street."
The street was closed for more than a year for a BGE project and just reopened last week.
He said: "There have been non-stop accidents in the two affected blocks ever since. We also have video of previous traffic circle crashes from before the BGE street closure. Big mess."
Earlier this year, Kennedy noted sarcastically that it was nice to get a (brief) reprieve from crashes. He said: "People drive like maniacs. Our street is temporarily blocked off, but when it opens, the demolition derby will begin anew. We've had numerous crashes like the one on the video over the past few years and I don't see it stopping unless Baltimore stops setting up streets like speedways and starts setting them up like what they are: Front yards for the people who live here."
Meanwhile, Amirah Kinlaw's family settled with Baltimore police for $30,000 in 2018. A tree was planted on her behalf at Steuart Hill Academic Academy and a dedication for a memorial was held there recently - but the school will be closing permanently at the end of the next school year, after the city school board voted to surplus the building in 2023. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/demolition-derby-baltimore-neighborhood-frustrated-by-frequent-crashes | 2022-04-14T19:40:19 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/demolition-derby-baltimore-neighborhood-frustrated-by-frequent-crashes |
Best barbecue grills that don’t use gas
Now that gas prices are reaching record levels, there’s never been a better time to invest in a non-gas grill. A large majority of options use charcoal as a heating source, which results in better flavor than gas, especially if you’re cooking meat. You’re not limited to charcoal, though. If you’re willing to spend a little longer cooking, pellet grills are also a viable option, although they work differently than charcoal grills.
Why is charcoal good for grilling?
All grills use both radiant heat and convection for cooking food, but charcoal grills rely on radiant heat more than gas grills do. When you’re grilling meat, the juices absorb the flavor of the meat itself as well as any seasonings on it. As those juices escape the steak, chicken or burger, they drip down onto the layer of red-hot charcoal. Those coals are considerably hotter than the burners and deflectors in gas grills, leading to instant vaporization of the flavorful and aromatic compounds in the juices. Those aromatic vapors then circulate around the meat, imparting their complex flavors.
How to make sure you get the most flavor possible
First, use self-lighting coals or lighter fluid and make sure every coal is fully lit and the flames are completely out.
For best results, give the flavorful vapors plenty of time to get to know the food on the grill. To do this, place the meat on the grill, let it sear lightly and keep the lid closed for a decent amount of the cooking time. The exception to this rule is if you’re cooking for a large group and plan to pack the entire grill with meat. In that case, the full spread of meat helps to trap the smoke all on its own.
Are non-gas grills good for smoking meat?
Charcoal grills and pellet grills are perfect for smoking meat, fish and other foods. To impart wonderfully smoky flavors using a standard charcoal grill, all you need is a smoker box and some wood chips. Just put some high-quality wood in the smoker box, and place it on top of the coals.
Because wood burns so quickly, it’s better to put the smoker box on a slightly cooler section of coals. Don’t put it directly on the bottom of the grill, or it won’t smoke. Contrary to one popular belief, soaking wood chips in water does nothing whatsoever to increase smoke volume or flavor. All the water does is slow down the wood’s combustion. Since the combustion is where the flavor comes from, all soaking wood chips does is slow down the process.
If you’re new to smoking and not familiar with specific wood flavors, consider a variety pack of wood chips to get used to the different flavor profiles.
How do pellet grills work?
A pellet grill consists of a cooking space complete with one or two grilles and a separate smoker box that uses an electric heating element to burn compacted wood pellets. Unlike charcoal grills, pellet grills work almost exclusively with convection instead of radiant heat.
Pellet grills take much of the guesswork out of smoking because their temperature is easy to regulate. However, they don’t get nearly as hot as charcoal grills, so you’ll likely need to sear your meats before or after smoking. Pellet grills also take considerably longer. However, that added time means the end result is usually far more flavorful and tender.
Best non-gas grills
It’s one of the most recognizable, straightforward and affordable options. With proper care, it should last for years.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
This is the premium version of the Weber classic. It has a slightly sturdier build plus better ash management and significantly improved ventilation.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Char-Griller E1416 King-Griller
If you don’t need a ton of volume, this compact model lets you make the most out of your coals and wood chips by concentrating the aromatic smoke in a small barrel.
Sold by Amazon
Kamado grills like this one sport thick walls that retain a significant amount of heat and a tightly sealing lid that ensures you don’t lose any valuable flavor.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
This kamado grill offers great performance at a reasonable price. It also has a decent amount of workspace for prepping and plating meats.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
With 450 square inches of cooking space and surprisingly good build quality, this pellet grill is as good as the ones from more well-known brand names but doesn’t cost as much.
Sold by Amazon
From the original pellet grill manufacturer, this massive smoker is perfect for big parties and boasts the most advanced features available.
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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/patio-br/grilling-outdoor-cooking-br/non-gas-grills-to-fuel-your-backyard-barbecue-as-pump-prices-soar/ | 2022-04-14T19:40:23 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/br/patio-br/grilling-outdoor-cooking-br/non-gas-grills-to-fuel-your-backyard-barbecue-as-pump-prices-soar/ |
BALTIMORE — One day before the deadline, Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby officially filed for reelection with the Maryland State Board of Elections.
On Tuesday Mosby announced her intent to run by releasing a video on her revamped campaign website. YouTube took it down less than 24-hours later due to a music copyright complaint, but it can still be watched on Instagram.
The two-term incumbent, joins a Democratic primary race that already includes defense attorney Ivan Bates, and former Mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah.
Both men unsuccessfully challenged Mosby in 2018, after splitting the vote.
Mosby still has the cloud of a federal indictment over her. Last week, a federal judge pushed the beginning of her trial back until after the primary.
Her office also faces a new Maryland Public Information Act lawsuit filed by the Roya Hanna campaign.
Hanna, who is running for State's Attorney as an Independent in the General Election, alleges that Mosby is withholding data on the release of violent repeat offenders from voters.
During her time in office, Mosby claims to have a 92 percent conviction rate for violent repeat offenders. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/marilyn-mosby-officially-files-for-reelection-setting-up-2018-primary-rematch | 2022-04-14T19:40:26 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/marilyn-mosby-officially-files-for-reelection-setting-up-2018-primary-rematch |
Choosing the best air mattress for guests
When guests come to stay, finding a good spot for them to sleep can be a challenge. A quality air mattress offers more comfort and support than they’d get sleeping on a couch, plus there’s more flexibility over where you set it up.
You want your guests to have a comfortable stay, which is why it’s all the more important to choose a decent air bed. Ample support is vital for stays of more than a night or two, and picking one that doesn’t leak air significantly will keep your guests from waking up on the floor.
Do you need an air mattress for guests?
It’s a great option for anyone who wants to host guests but doesn’t have a spare room. Even if you do have a spare room, there may be times when you have more guests than beds, for instance, if your whole family descends on you at Thanksgiving. While adults can certainly sleep on air beds, they’re also ideal for kids’ sleepovers.
If you don’t feel comfortable asking guests to sleep on an inflatable mattress, you can always be the one to sleep on it, relinquishing your bed to your guest. That said, quality mattresses of this kind are comfortable.
Air mattress features
- Single-height vs. double-height: Single-height mattresses measure around 9 inches tall, while double-height ones measure roughly 16 to 24 inches tall. Single-height versions are affordable and quick to inflate. Double-height versions are more comfortable, especially for anyone who finds it hard to get down to and up from the floor, and you aren’t left touching the floor if they deflate a little during the night.
- Built-in pump: Many air beds meant for home use have built-in pumps. These pumps have power cords that you simply plug into an outlet for quick and easy inflation. Some even monitor air levels and top the mattress up during the night if necessary when you leave them plugged in.
- Size: You can choose sizes from twin to king. Twin and full sizes are great for people sleeping alone, while queen and king sizes are best for two adults sleeping in the same bed. Full mattresses can just about accommodate two adults if they don’t mind getting cozy, but it’s a better choice for a single adult or a couple of kids.
- Air coils: Air coils or air beams are reinforced areas inside the mattress that help provide even support. They’re especially important in double-height versions, as they’re prone to sagging in the center without air coils.
Best air mattresses for guests
Top single-height air mattresses
Intex Dura Beam Pillow Rest Classic Air Mattress
A great choice for tight spots or people without much storage space, this compact twin air bed packs down small and is quick to inflate with its built-in pump. The flocked top and raised pillow rest end create a comfortable sleeping surface.
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Active Era Luxury Air Mattress
While this one doesn’t have a built-in pump, an electric pump is included for quick and easy inflation. It’s available in either twin or queen sizes.
Sold by Amazon
Aria Queen Inflatable Air Mattress
Thanks to the built-in battery pump, this inflatable mattress is just as well-suited to camping as it is to providing a bed for guests. It also has inflatable pillows. The flocked top is not only comfortable if your guest sleeps directly on it, but it also keeps sheets from slipping if you choose to use them.
Sold by Amazon
Coleman EasyStay 4-N-1 Air Bed
This air bed straddles the line between single-height and double-height. You can use it in single-height mode as two twin mattresses or one king mattress. You can also configure it as a single twin double-height mattress.
Sold by Amazon
Intex Dura-Beam Standard Single-High Air Bed Series
With its internal contoured support system, this mattress will keep guests comfortable for short to medium-length stays. It comes in twin, full and queen sizes. You can buy it without a pump, with a battery pump or with a built-in foot pump.
Sold by Amazon
EnerPlex Never-Leak Inflatable Mattress
Using the included air pump, this mattress takes roughly two minutes to inflate, so tired guests won’t need to wait long to hit the hay. It comes in twin and queen sizes with internal air coils for added support.
Sold by Amazon
Top double-height air mattresses
Intex Dura-Beam Series Pillow Rest Raised Air Bed
From a big name in inflatable mattresses, you can trust that this one is durable and supportive. You can choose between twin and queen sizes in both standard and deluxe versions.
Sold by Amazon
SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress
Measuring 19 inches tall, this mattress is comfortable and easy to get on and off of. It comes in five sizes, and all of them have internal air coils for additional support, helping your guests get a good night’s sleep.
Sold by Amazon
SleepLux Durable Inflatable Air Mattress
This durable queen mattress has internal air coils for support and a pillow rest at one end. At a generous 22 inches tall, you’ll be pleased to know it comes with a built-in electric pump that inflates it in around five minutes, so you won’t have to spend hours with a foot pump blowing it up.
Sold by Amazon
King Koil Luxury California King Air Mattress
Thanks to its advanced air coil technology, this mattress is highly supportive. You can choose from three sizes: twin, queen and California king. There are also three height options: 13, 16 and 20 inches.
Sold by Amazon
Intex Dura Beam Elevated Fiber Tech Air Mattress
The inflatable headboard makes this mattress stand out from similar models. It is easy to inflate and deflate with the built-in pump and has Fiber Tech technology for added durability.
Sold by Amazon
Englander Luxury Double High Inflatable Bed
Made with a microfiber material, it’s thermoregulated so guests won’t get too hot at night. It inflates in less than three minutes and comes in twin, queen and California king sizes.
Sold by Amazon
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wric.com/reviews/which-air-mattress-is-best-for-guests/ | 2022-04-14T19:40:30 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/reviews/which-air-mattress-is-best-for-guests/ |
TOWSON, Md. — We are learning more about another suspect allegedly involved in the January murder of Baltimore restaurant manager, Chesley Patterson.
Charging documents do not mention Shamal Scott by name, but Baltimore Police confirmed to WMAR on Wednesday that he was considered a suspect in Patterson's death.
That was until April 3, when he was shot to death in the City on Cedley Street.
Just over a week before he was killed, on March 24, Scott was arrested and charged in Baltimore County for the murder of Ty Stone.
Scott and two others reportedly shot Stone to death on January 26. That was just three days after Patterson was killed outside a Fells Point liquor store.
He was never officially charged in the Patterson case, however.
So how and why was Scott let out of jail between his March 24 arrest, and his death on April 3?
According to Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger, there wasn't enough evidence linking Scott to Stone's murder to keep him behind bars pending trial.
Scott was initially tied to the Stone case after prosecutors saw what they believed was his vehicle on camera around the time and place of the murder.
It turns out that vehicle did not belong to Scott. Despite not dropping the murder charges against Scott, prosecutors made the decision to release him from custody on April 1 pending further investigation. Scott was killed two days after his release.
MORE: Man arrested for January murder of beloved Baltimore restaurant manager
As for the Patterson case, Baltimore City Police have since charged Samuel Wise, after uncovering text messages and finger prints linking him to the murder. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/second-suspect-in-chesley-patterson-case-was-accused-of-another-murder-just-three-days-later-in-baltimore-county | 2022-04-14T19:40:32 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/second-suspect-in-chesley-patterson-case-was-accused-of-another-murder-just-three-days-later-in-baltimore-county |
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates and All-Star center fielder Bryan Reynolds have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a two-year deal worth $13.5 million.
The agreement, announced Thursday, will pay Reynolds $6.75 million per season.
Reynolds and the Pirates were scheduled to go to arbitration after failing to come to an agreement on a one-year deal for 2022. Reynolds asked for $4.9 million, with Pittsburgh countering with $4.25 million.
The 27-year-old Reynolds has blossomed with the Pirates after coming over in the January 2018 trade that sent center fielder Andrew McCutchen to San Francisco. Reynolds reached the majors in 2019 and moved to center field in 2021, hitting .302 with 24 homers and 90 RBIs and becoming a finalist for a Gold Glove.
Reynolds is batting .227 with one home run in five games so far this season for Pittsburgh. The Pirates are off to a 2-3 start heading into Thursday night’s game against Washington.
The agreement comes two days after Pittsburgh signed third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to an eight-year, $70 million contract.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/ap-source-pirates-agree-to-2-year-deal-with-cf-reynolds/ | 2022-04-14T19:40:36 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/ap-source-pirates-agree-to-2-year-deal-with-cf-reynolds/ |
MILLERSVILLE, Md. — Officers responded to the firearm retailer, Worth a Shot, for a side glass burglary alarm early Wednesday morning.
When the first officer arrived on the scene, they saw a vehicle crashed through the side of the business. The officer then encountered three suspects inside trying to steal firearms from the display cases.
One person was taken into custody as the other two ran. When more officers arrived, the other two suspects were found a short distance away and taken into custody. One of the suspects was carrying a loaded handgun.
Two of the suspects were 16 and the one carrying the loaded weapon was 15.
The vehicle that crashed through the business was also used in an armed carjacking just hours before this burglary. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/three-teenagers-arrested-after-stolen-vehicle-crashes-through-local-business | 2022-04-14T19:40:38 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/three-teenagers-arrested-after-stolen-vehicle-crashes-through-local-business |
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A British militant accused of being part of an ISIS hostage-taking scheme was convicted on Thursday.
A jury in Virginia found El Shafee Elsheikh guilty on eight charges, including four counts of hostage-taking resulting in death, murder conspiracy and conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
As part of an extradition negotiation with the UK, Elsheikh will not face the death penalty.
Instead, he will face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Four Americans, including James Foley, Peter Kassig, Kayla Mueller and Steven Sotloff, died after being captured.
Prosecutors said the Americans were beheaded by one of Elsheikh’s associates in 2014.
Elsheikh was part of an Islamic cell known as the “Beatles” for their British accents.
Another member of the cell said Elsheikh played a critical role in the kidnapping and negotiations of Western prisoners. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/british-militant-convicted-in-islamic-state-beheadings-trial | 2022-04-14T19:40:44 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/british-militant-convicted-in-islamic-state-beheadings-trial |
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — CJ McCollum got New Orleans going early and Brandon Ingram took over late to send the Pelicans to Los Angeles for a chance at the final playoff spot.
McCollum scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half to carry the young Pelicans to a 113-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. New Orleans will face the LA Clippers on Friday night for the eighth playoff seed.
“He was great,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said of McCollum. “He set the tone early. He understood the moment, and it sort of calmed the rest of the guys down. We just got the ball to him and he made play after play, score after score, and then the rest of the guys that just started to feed off CJ.”
Playing in his 57th playoff game, McCollum displayed a calming presence to his younger teammates. Rookies Herb Jones, José Alvarado and Trey Murphy played large chunks of the fourth quarter.
“I was just trying to be locked in and aggressive early,” McCollum said. “The playoffs is a lot of antics, a lot of momentum plays, a lot of back and forth. You’ve got to be stable and mentally locked in to withstand a certain level of (chaos). … There’s going to be a lot of winning in our future.”
McCollum wasn’t alone. Ingram shook foul trouble to add 27 points and center Jonas Valanciunas added 22 points and 14 rebounds as the Pelicans’ stars delivered under pressure of New Orleans’ first postseason game since 2018.
“The three best players for New Orleans all played great, and if that happens, you’re going to lose,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of his team’s inability to contain McCollum, Ingram and Valanciunas. “We stayed in it and got back in it, but then we made the same mistakes as we did in the first three quarters – non physical defense.”
“We’re just playing for each other,” Valanciunas said of combining for 81 points with McCollum and Ingram. “When things struggle, we need somebody to slow the game down, which (CJ) does. Next step is on Friday.”
Popovich said his young team, which averages 25 years in age, learned a lesson the hard way.
“It’s the playoffs, and you’ve got to be into people,” Popovich said. “The grunt is important. Ingram scored two in a row right in the middle of the lane with no one even touching him. It’s a great lesson for our guys.”
The Pelicans, who finished ninth in the West after starting the season 3-16, will play at the Clippers with the winner facing the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round. New Orleans beat Los Angeles in three of four meetings this season.
The Pelicans seemed headed to a rout, leading 96-75, with 10:39 left, but the 10th-seeded Spurs used a 16-1 run over the next 5:25 to cut it to 97-91. The Pelicans missed seven consecutive shots during the run.
Ingram hit a pair of soft jumpers in the lane and Valanciunas added a short jumper to put New Orleans back on top, 103-91.
Devin Vassell led San Antonio with 23 points. Dejounte Murray had 16 points, but he went just 5 of 19 from the floor while being shadowed by Pelicans rookie defensive stopper Herb Jones.
“You have to take the good and bad and learn from it,” Murray said. “We had guys not shoot well, starting with myself. They were physical. I ain’t making no excuses.”
After Ingram went to the bench with three fouls 5:17 before halftime, McCollum carried the Pelicans offensively. In a 14-4 run over the final 3:36 of the half, McCollum made two 3-pointers and pierced the San Antonio defense for two finger-roll layups on strong drives into the lane as New Orleans built a 61-50 lead.
McCollum made 10 of his first 12 shots, including 2 of 3 from long range, despite drawing consistent double teams.
TIP INS
Spurs: After eight years as a San Antonio assistant, Becky Hammon officially assumed her new position as head coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces. Coach Gregg Popovich said he would miss Hammon’s contributions. “She’s been wonderful for a while,” Popovich said. “I just wish her well, and I just wish she was here.” … G Dejounte Murray had two of his 13 triple-doubles against the Pelicans in the regular season.
Pelicans: While F Zion Williamson missed the entire regular season with a fractured right metatarsal, the former No. 1 overall pick was doing 360-degree dunks in pregame before sliding back into his street clothes. Coach Willie Green said he was not looking for Williamson to return until the beginning of next season. | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/cj-mccollum-leads-pelicans-past-spurs-in-play-in-game/ | 2022-04-14T19:40:43 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/cj-mccollum-leads-pelicans-past-spurs-in-play-in-game/ |
Autism is often diagnosed at a young age.
The average age listed by the CDC is 4.5 years old.
Because of that, many people in the autism community feel it is viewed as a children's condition.
It's something that has contributed to challenges and bias in the workplace.
“The majority of autistic adults are either unemployed or underemployed in the United States today. So, we definitely need to do a better job because there's so many talented autistic adults out there if given the opportunity they'll really succeed in the workforce,” said Kerry Magro.
He has been diagnosed with autism and has built a career in public speaking, advocating for autism acceptance.
“We need to change the narrative from what a company can do for an autistic person and instead say what an autistic person can do for that company,” he said.
Magro says one of the biggest challenges can be saying the right things in an interview. He’s encouraging more companies to forgo that process and instead give people with autism a one-day work trial. But for those with autism who are non-verbal, there is another set of challenges.
Kellie Roberts’ son, Chad is 30 years old and is non-verbal and splits his time working four jobs.
“He was always considered the worst, the hardest, any label you could put on him to make him sound as bad as they could make him sound. Chad’s a really active person, so sitting in a day program somewhere just that wouldn't be something that Chad would enjoy,” Roberts said.
Chad communicates at work and at home using a device called Tobii Dynavox, which Kellie says has helped eliminate some of the negative labels.
“They see Chad as a person, they see Chad as a co-worker, and then they might see Chad as somebody with autism but it's really given him a voice and puts him at an equal platform with other people,” said Roberts.
Marleah Herman-Umpleby is a speech language pathologist at Tobii Dynavox.
She says, “I think that everyone wins when we have a more diverse workplace and the kind of color and variety of people that come together in a workplace makes everyone have a better experience there.”
Tobii Dynavox offers a number of services for people with disabilities to help navigate work and school.
Kellie says another resource Chad has had success with is Briggs and Associates.
The company helps match people with disabilities to jobs. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/device-helps-people-with-autism-navigate-and-communicate-in-the-workplace | 2022-04-14T19:40:50 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/device-helps-people-with-autism-navigate-and-communicate-in-the-workplace |
A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
___
GASHED GUERRERO
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays wrap up their four-game series at Yankee Stadium, a day after the slugger hit three home runs and a double despite a nasty gash in his right hand.
Accidentally spiked while playing first base, Guerrero got two stitches after a 6-4 win and said his hand felt fine. He anticipated some soreness might set in.
“It’s not that bad,” he said through a translator.
The AL MVP runner-up homered off Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the first inning, then seemed like he’d have to leave an inning later when his bare throwing hand was stepped on by baserunner Aaron Hicks.
Guerrero had to reach across his body for infielder Bo Bichette’s throw and placed his right hand down behind the first base bag to balance. Hicks stomped on it running out an infield single.
The 23-year-old Guerrero immediately began waving the hand around, then walked toward Toronto’s dugout as blood dripped onto his uniform and the turf. A trainer taped up the digit in the dugout, and after a couple of minutes, Guerrero jogged back to first base and the game continued.
With a bloody stain on the right thigh of his pants, Guerrero hit a two-run homer in his next at-bat. He then lined a double and hit another homer.
TRAVELING CHAMPS
The World Series champion Atlanta Braves begin their first road series of the season when Charlie Morton (1-0, 3.38 ERA) starts at San Diego. Morton is 6-1 with a 2.09 ERA in nine career starts against the Padres.
Atlanta will be without reliever Luke Jackson this season after he had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas. The Braves said shortly before opening day that Jackson had damage to the ligament in his right elbow.
Jackson was 2-2 with a career-best 1.98 ERA in 71 games last year. He had a 0.00 ERA in three World Series games against Houston.
NEEDS RELIEF
The Mariners will be minus reliever Sergio Romo after putting him on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.
The move was made retroactive to Tuesday, a day after he pitched a scoreless inning at Minnesota in his 800th major league appearance. The 39-year-old righty also tossed a scoreless inning against the Twins in his Mariners debut on Saturday.
Romo finalized a $2 million, one-year contract with Seattle last month.
NICE WHILE IT LASTED
Closer Corey Knebel’s return from the COVID-related injured list meant the end of 28-year-old journeyman reliever Jeff Singer’s brief time with his hometown Phillies.
The South Jersey native, who was working with his father at a Northeast Philadelphia car dealership in 2016 when the team signed him, got to sit in the bullpen at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night for the game against the Mets. He and had dozens of friends and family in attendance for his first game in a major league uniform.
“He got to fulfill a lifetime dream, and I think that was a special day for him,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “It could be just the start of things to come.”
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/leading-off-vlad-takes-his-cuts-braves-hit-the-road-2/ | 2022-04-14T19:40:50 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/leading-off-vlad-takes-his-cuts-braves-hit-the-road-2/ |
The racial reckoning the U.S. has been experiencing for years is having an impact on how people look at themselves. More people than ever before are now identifying as multiracial.
According to the 2020 census, released in August 2021, 33 million Americans identified as more than one race. That's an increase of 25 million from the 2010 census.
“This increase is astounding,” said Reginald Daniel, a University of California at Santa Barbara sociology professor who identifies as multiracial. “What will happen if we have large numbers of people no longer saying they’re monoracial but multiracial?”
It is a question that experts like Daniel have been trying to explore. He says there is no anticipation for what this increase could mean, but there are areas of thought; one of which is theorizing whether the increase could lead to more racial harmony in the United States.
“There’s a tendency to think that,” said Daniel. “But it comes with its own challenges. We may have an increase in interracial marriages but that won’t change the larger-scale issues like systemic racism.”
On a more personal level, however, people who identify as mixed-race see the increase as moving in the right direction.
“I remember being in a predominantly Black high school freshman year and everyone knew me as Justin Timberlake,” said Demetrius Nelson, a 30-year-old music artist who identifies as Black and white. “Not even a year later I moved from inner-city Buffalo to Syracuse, New York, and everyone called me Lil’ Bow Wow. It was intense but funny.”
Growing up, Nelson said he was able to fit in with groups of children of both races seamlessly, but that is not the experience for everyone as some multiracial individuals feel excluded from both groups because they are not perceived as “Black enough” or “white enough.”
“I definitely get asked, ‘What are you?’ a lot,” said Dani Joseph, Nelson’s girlfriend of three years who is both Black and Chinese.
Daniel postulates that the dramatic rise in multiracial Americans could come from ‘white guilt,’ brought on by the national discussion surrounding race in America.
“One of the arguments is that people identified as multiracial because they don’t want to be associated with a white agency,” he said.
Daniel, agrees, however, the rise in multiracial Americans could increase equity in certain areas of society.
“There are significant implications in terms of earning capacity, educational outcomes for people of lighter skin within communities of color as well as in the larger society,” he said.
For those who are living the experience, they look forward to what the future holds.
“Mixed people are beautiful people," said Nelson. "America 2050 is going to be beautiful."
The Census Bureau projects sometime between 2040 and 2050 the U.S. will be a majority-minority country. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/more-people-are-now-identifying-as-multiracial | 2022-04-14T19:40:56 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/more-people-are-now-identifying-as-multiracial |
DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had three goals and two assists, Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored twice in a dominant first period and the Colorado Avalanche set a franchise record with their 53rd win by routing the Los Angeles Kings 9-3 on Wednesday night.
Valeri Nichushkin added two goals, Cale Makar had a goal and three assists, Andre Burakovsky also scored and Darcy Kuemper made 29 saves for the Avalanche, who led 4-0 before the game was 11 minutes old.
Colorado won its seventh straight and improved to 53-14-6, besting the 2013-14 and 2000-01 teams for most victories. The Avalanche also moved two points ahead of Florida for the best record in the NHL and are a franchise-best 29-4-3 at home.
“The crowd was chanting before the anthem even started,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “You can feel that when you go on the bench as a coach, as a player, that they’re into it and they were going to be energized. And we wanted to make sure we came out and played a really good game after having a couple of off games in Winnipeg and Edmonton.
“I think our guys feel that and that’s why our record is so good at home.”
Adrian Kempe, Alex Iafallo and Phillip Danault scored for the Kings, who have dropped four of five. Jonathan Quick allowed three goals on 10 shots before he was pulled while starting on consecutive nights for the first time in over four years. Cal Petersen allowed six more goals on 25 shots.
LA remained in a playoff spot in third place in the Pacific Division, but sits only three points ahead of Vegas, which has two games in hand.
“Definitely not the performance you want tonight, especially at this time of year,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar said. “But we’ve got to look at this one and correct stuff and make sure this is not going to repeat, because it is crunch time for our team.”
The schedule did the Kings no favors. They won in Chicago 5-2 on Tuesday night and got into Denver early Wednesday to play at altitude while the Avalanche had been off since Saturday.
And Colorado opened with relentless pressure and crisp passing that overwhelmed weary LA. Aube-Kubel scored 2:54 in and Nichushkin tallied 39 seconds later. MacKinnon scored on the power play and Aube-Kubel scored 41 seconds after that to make it 4-0 with 9:04 left in the first period.
“We can put earrings on a pig if we want, but it’s not going to make it any better,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said in a 55-second postgame media session. “That was awful and we move on. We get an opportunity to play more games, so good for us and we have to be better.”
Kempe scored his 33rd goal early in the second and and Iafallo made it 4-2 with a slap shot just inside the blue line at 10:40 of the second. But the Avs steadied things when MacKinnon fed Burakovsky in the high slot at 13:05.
MacKinnon scored on a breakaway on a stretch pass from Makar early in the third period and picked up his third career hat trick with 10:08 left to make it 9-2.
Fans chanted “We want 10!” over the final minutes, but had to settle for a Colorado season-high nine goals.
“I didn’t want to score,” Aube-Kubel said with a smile. “There were no hats left.”
Added MacKinnon: “Nine’s enough, I think.”
NOTES: Avs rookie Bowen Byram assisted on the first two goals in his fourth game back after being on personal leave for nearly three months with concussion issues. … Makar’s goal was the 60th for Colorado defensemen, the most in the NHL since Washington (62) in 1993-94. … Avs coach Jared Bednar hopes captain Gabriel Landeskog (knee surgery) will return for a game or two before the playoffs. … Quick started back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 18-19, 2018. He last played on consecutive nights Feb. 9-10 that same season. … Nichushkin became the seventh Colorado player with 20 goals. … The Avs signed undrafted college free agents Ben Meyers (Minnesota) and Wyatt Aamodt (Minnesota State).
UP NEXT
Kings: Host Columbus on Saturday night in the first of five straight games against teams out of playoff contention.
Avalanche: Home on Thursday night vs. New Jersey, whose 24 regulation road losses are the most in the NHL. The Avs are 7-1-1 in the second game of back-to-backs.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/mackinnons-hat-trick-leads-avs-to-53rd-win-9-3-over-kings/ | 2022-04-14T19:40:57 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/mackinnons-hat-trick-leads-avs-to-53rd-win-9-3-over-kings/ |
A popular popcorn snack sold in more than a dozen states is being recalled due to possible allergen concerns.
In a recall notice, the US Food and Drug Administration said Snak King voluntarily recalled five-ounce packages of O Organics Sea Salt Organic Popcorn "due to the potential presence of an undeclared milk allergen."
The recalled products have a “best if used by” dates of 9/24/2022 and 9/25/2022, the agency said.
They were sold in stores including ACME, Safeway, King's, Balducci's, Jewel-Osco, Andronico's Community Markets, Vons, Pak 'N Save, Albertsons, Eagle, Carrs-Safeway, Haggen, and Pavilions.
The agency said the stores are in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Idaho.
The recalled items' UPC number is 079893 403038.
There have been no reports of illness.
Consumers who may have purchased the recalled products are advised not to eat them and can return them to the store it was bought at for a full refund. | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/popcorn-sold-in-18-states-recalled-over-allergen-concerns | 2022-04-14T19:41:02 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/news/national/popcorn-sold-in-18-states-recalled-over-allergen-concerns |
DENVER (AP) — When former members of the U.S. snowboarding team wanted to report sex-abuse allegations against a longtime coach, they received conflicting information that left them unsure of where to turn — or whether they wanted to pursue the cases at all.
An Instagram post during the Olympics by a former U.S. team member led to allegations that coach Peter Foley had molested them, coerced them into taking naked pictures, crawled into bed with them and nurtured an atmosphere in which women were treated as sex objects.
The episode has raised questions as to whether the reporting system for sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports, redesigned in the wake of former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar’s abuse of hundreds of athletes, is working the way it should some five years since the overhaul.
Foley has denied wrongdoing. His attorney, Howard Jacobs, said that as of March 30 — 10 days after Foley was fired by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard federation and more than seven weeks after the allegations began surfacing — the 56-year-old coach had not been contacted by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the organization formed to investigate claims such as those involving Foley.
“We only received the allegations from the U.S. Center for SafeSport after I emailed them to request that they provide them,” Jacobs said.
The Associated Press reviewed a series of emails between the athletes, an attorney at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard federation and employees at the U.S. Center for SafeSport that ensued after the initial social-media post by snowboarder Callan Chythlook-Sifsof. The correspondence painted a picture of athletes who didn’t trust their own sports federation to handle the cases appropriately and a SafeSport center that had received information on the case but would not pursue it unless it heard from the accusers themselves.
One email to USSS attorney Alison Pitt sent by a SafeSport intake coordinator said athletes “need to be educated that if they are not willing to come forward, be named and participate in the process, they are in effect choosing to participate in a self-fulfilling prophecy, in that nothing can or will be done to the accused.”
The email continued by saying accusers “seem to believe they can throw out allegations and Foley will be removed.”
That correspondence conflicts with the center’s own bylaws, which state “nothing in this Code shall be construed to require a victim of child abuse or other misconduct to self-report.” The bylaws also warn that anonymous reports can limit the center’s ability to respond.
Asked for details about this and other emails, spokeswoman Annie Skinner said the center does not comment about particular cases “to protect the integrity of the process and the confidentiality of affected individuals.”
“Correspondence with an NGB about a particular matter should not be considered a comprehensive representation of the center’s information or investigative intentions,” Skinner said.
While the SafeSport Center asked, and waited, for victims to come forward, Pitt, the USSS lawyer, might have had a potentially chilling effect on one athlete’s decision about whether to contact the center. An ESPN report that detailed the allegations quoted an unnamed Olympic medalist as saying the attorney described an “extensive and challenging” reporting process.
“It did make me question whether I wanted to go through with that process,” the athlete said.
USSS CEO Sophie Goldschmidt told AP that Pitt was “transparent that the process may take time” in her discussion with the athlete, but assured her that reporting to the SafeSport Center was the only way for the case to be resolved.
It took more than five weeks for either oversight organization to take decisive action against Foley: U.S. Ski & Snowboard fired him as a result of its own workplace investigation on March 20, two days after the SafeSport Center put him on temporary suspension pending its abuse investigation.
The SafeSport Center was formed after dozens of athletes across several sports detailed decades of abuse allegations that were not handled properly by U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the sports organizations it oversaw. One reason it was formed was to prevent conflicts of interest that arose when executives or employees of a sports organization tried to resolve sex-abuse disputes involving athletes in their sport.
What happened between Chythlook-Sifsof’s initial accusations and the now-current investigation into Foley drew the attention of Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who sent USSS a letter suggesting it was skirting rules that call for the center to have exclusive jurisdiction in investigating sex-abuse complaints.
In his letter, Grassley said USSS interfered by conducting its own investigation instead of filtering the entire process through the SafeSport Center, and “has failed to make notifications regarding sexual misconduct to the center.”
USSS responded to Grassley with its own letter that says there is a “grave misunderstanding” about the actions the federation took when it first heard of the allegations.
USSS provided AP with several emails and documents that indicate it contacted the SafeSport center immediately upon learning of Chythlook-Sifsof’s Instagram post.
But the initial contact between USSS and the SafeSport Center did not result in any sanction for Foley by the center. Though the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee had imposed “temporary measures” to restrict Foley’s contact with athletes through the end of the Olympics, USSS grew more concerned as the snowboard team approached a trip to Austria for a post-Olympics competition in early March. The USOPC’s measures expired after the Olympics.
In a Feb. 16 email to Pitt, SafeSport Center vice president Bobby Click says “based on the information the center has, we have chosen not to implement any types of measure.”
The next day, an intake coordinator at the center emailed Pitt and said she had interviewed five “claimants,” all of whom denied misconduct.
“If I do not get a participating claimant soon, we will be closing” the case, the coordinator wrote.
The emails further pressing the athletes to come forward were sent March 14.
Over the same span, a USSS board member, Lisa Kosglow, contacted the former Olympic medalist interviewed in the ESPN story and told her “Peter is so devastated” about the allegations. ESPN reported Kosglow told the medalist Foley had asked Kosglow to reach out to her. The medalist told Kosglow she was one of the women hurt by Foley.
USSS acknowledged that Kosglow did not report any of this to the SafeSport Center and had subsequently resigned her seat.
“This was a mistake, which we regret,” USSS said in a statement.
But USSS stood firm on its decision to temporarily suspend and eventually fire Foley while it opened and then resolved its own investigation on workplace bullying and a toxic environment — a probe that stemmed from the initial sex-abuse allegations.
“Inevitably there was some overlap between the center’s sexual misconduct investigation and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard investigation into other workplace misconduct,” the federation said.
Meanwhile, as emails between USSS and the center went back and forth, a handful of athletes, including Chythlook-Sifsof, took their cases to the center, which opened an investigation that led to Foley’s temporary suspension. It came two days before his firing and more than five weeks after the original Instagram post.
“If not for USSS’s determination that Coach Foley’s conduct (even outside of the Center’s investigation into sexual misconduct) did not comport with the values of USSS, Coach Foley would have continued to have contact with athletes until the Center decided to act nearly four weeks later,” Goldschmidt wrote in the USSS’s response to Grassley.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/snowboard-abuse-case-exposes-flaws-in-new-reporting-system/ | 2022-04-14T19:41:04 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/snowboard-abuse-case-exposes-flaws-in-new-reporting-system/ |
Fenway Park in Boston will be home to the 2023 NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 2 as the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Boston Bruins.
Both teams announced the news on Wednesday on social media.
Gonna be a Classic. ❄️
🗓 1.2.23
🆚 🐻 | 🐧
📺 @NHL_On_TNT
📰 https://t.co/HWsZfKaYwb pic.twitter.com/gpGZfU6tyA— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 13, 2022
Winter Classic, here we come!
We'll see you on January 2, 2023, @NHLBruins.
Details: https://t.co/A4bFKaSdpC pic.twitter.com/Y2CRnSPG0I
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 14, 2022
The game will be shown on TNT in the U.S. and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada, the league said in a press release.
This marks the second time the historic ballpark will play host to the Winter Classic, with the first one taking place in 2010 when the Bruins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in overtime.
The January 2023 game will be the 15th NHL Winter Classic and the 35th NHL regular-season outdoor game overall.
This will be the Bruins' fifth time participating in an NHL regular-season outdoor game and the Penguins' sixth regular-season outdoor game.
Boston is 3-1-0 in their previous regular-season outdoor appearances, and Pittsburgh is 2-2-1. | https://www.wmar2news.com/sports/bruins-to-host-penguins-for-2023-nhl-winter-classic-at-fenway-park | 2022-04-14T19:41:08 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/sports/bruins-to-host-penguins-for-2023-nhl-winter-classic-at-fenway-park |
When Stars on Ice, uh, hits the ice Friday night in Estero, Florida, it will be for the first time in two years. Spicing up the tour: an Olympic gold medalist and two world champions.
The 24-city tour was idled by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it returns with Beijing winner Nathan Chen and pairs world champs Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier in the cast. The skaters are as eager to entertain as figure skating fans are eager to watch.
“The whole cast is excited to be here,” says Chen, whose dominant Olympic performance climaxed a career including six U.S. titles and three at worlds. “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to do a show, and to be able to be together after two years of not — and to celebrate the work we all put in before and after the Olympics — it’s very exciting.”
A U.S. audience has yet to hear Chen introduced as an Olympic champion, and the same is true for Knierim and Frazier. Sure, they won a somewhat watered-down worlds with the Russians barred and the Chinese absent, but skaters still have to perform to their utmost regardless of the field. Knierim and Frazier, who teamed in 2021 after Alexa’s husband, Chris, retired after the 2020 season, were superb in Montpellier, France.
“I think for both of us there is a sense of giddiness,” Knierim says. “It’s phenomenal and remarkable to have that label. Even though after a few weeks it still does not feel real yet, especially because we have not had the opportunity to let it soak in. That moment when we are (introduced) is going to feel very exciting to both of us.”
Adds Frazier: “I don’t think it will be something I will be used to even by the last show we do in the states. I’m very humbled to receive that kind of introduction.”
Also in the cast are Beijing bronze medalists Madison Hubbell and Zach Donohue, who are retiring from competition; their long-time ice dance teammates and rivals, current world bronze winners Madison Chock and Evan Bates; U.S. women’s champions Mariah Bell, Karen Chen, Alysa Liu (now retired), and Mirai Nagasu; and men’s world bronze winner Vincent Zhou.
With no pressure to earn marks, the skaters let loose. So when Chen performs a reimagined version of his “Rocketman” short program, there’s an extra measure of fun added to the athleticism and artistry.
Chen, who also will skate to “Space Song” by Beach House in another solo routine, chuckles when asked if Elton John reached out after the Olympic triumph.
“He sent out a tweet after the competition, which was real sweet,” Chen says. “I personally did not even imagine he knows who I am.
“It is definitely one of the more meaningful programs I have skated. Earlier this season I was not planning to skate to it. After picking it up again, it definitely felt like the right fit. I’m glad I had the opportunity to bring it back and it was the vehicle that helped me.”
Perhaps the most entertaining and memorable show programs are the group numbers. Chen, for example, will skate in all four of them, to music by AC/DC, The Weeknd, Jon Batiste and, naturally, Elton John.
Knierim and Frazier, who will perform to “Fix You” by Coldplay, which they used at the Olympics and worlds, then “Tore My Heart” by OONA. They are particularly eager to do the group routines, too.
“The group numbers, we were working endlessly on them with the cast, and they are high energy and have great song choices, and the costumes are phenomenal,” says Knierim, not giving away what those outfits might be. “We have a pretty wide range of costumes for the finale — all of the skaters wear something very unique and custom made for themselves. It is very much a costume, like a piece of art.”
To Frazier, just being a part of a touring ice show with fans in the stands after two years of idleness is very special.
“Even without the pandemic, it is just an honor to be invited to these shows,” he says. “Being able to tour in shows and skating in front of a live audience, and with COVID seeming to be getting better, that’s an incredible experience. This has been very humbling. We are having the time of our lives.”
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/stars-on-ice-back-after-pandemic-with-olympic-world-champs/ | 2022-04-14T19:41:11 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/stars-on-ice-back-after-pandemic-with-olympic-world-champs/ |
Jeff Klein, who was a quarterback for the Auburn Tigers, died Wednesday after a brief battle with cancer.
He was 42.
According to Sports Illustrated and The Birmingham News, Klein's wife announced the news of his passing on CaringBridge.com, saying her husband died "surrounded by his loved ones."
TMZ reported that Klein was hospitalized last week due to severe back pain, later revealed to be stage 4 cancer.
Sports Illustrated reported that Klein suffered a severe stroke Tuesday and died Wednesday afternoon.
Auburn shared its condolences on social media after news of his passing was reported.
An Auburn Man through and through. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of former Auburn QB Jeff Klein.
Rest In Peace, Jeff. pic.twitter.com/TwmQGcO2kO
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) April 13, 2022
Klein played for the Tigers under coach Tommy Tuberville from 1999 to 2001, playing in 13 games. | https://www.wmar2news.com/sports/former-auburn-quarterback-jeff-klein-dies-after-cancer-battle | 2022-04-14T19:41:14 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/sports/former-auburn-quarterback-jeff-klein-dies-after-cancer-battle |
On the third Monday in April— known as Patriots' Day in Massachusetts— thousands of runners take off from a starting line in Hopkinton for the 26.2-mile journey that is the Boston Marathon.
For Steve and Mark Godale, brothers from Aurora, Ohio, running in the race is more than just a tradition. It's a downright streak.
"It's the greatest foot race in the world. Nothing compares to it," Mark Godale said.
Steve and Mark, who are 53-years-old and 52-years-old respectively, have started and finished the Boston Marathon 28 consecutive times, racking up a countless number of training and racing miles and earning the coveted unicorn medal for each marathon.
Boston Marathon officials don't keep specific records on the number of marathons completed by siblings, but to their knowledge, no sibling duo has received more Boston medals in a row than the Godale brothers.
This weekend, they will head to Boston once again. They'll lace up their shoes for the 29th time and participate in the oldest marathon in the world. The 126th edition of the race gets underway on the morning of April 18.
"When you think about it, the number of people that can run a marathon is only .5%, and to have the two of us running together is just phenomenal," Steve Godale said.
"I think it's incredible, both of us starting exactly the same year," Mark Godale said.
In addition to many medals, the brothers have several racing bibs, pictures, and iconic Boston Marathon Jackets.
Steve Godale showed off his first jacket from 1994, which was noticeably heavier than recent versions.
"Some people want this jacket," he said with a laugh. "It's just cool to walk around and people are asking what year is that?"
What the siblings have done on their feet is truly an amazing feat when you consider they had to meet challenging time qualification standards just to get the chance to run Boston. After doing the race for 25 consecutive years, they are able to enter without qualifying.
"But I'm still qualifying," Godale said.
They both have impressive PRs (personal records) at the Boston Marathon. Steve Godale has finished in 2 hours and 43 minutes and Mark Godale's best time is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
"One time, he actually kicked me down the last 200 meters and I think he was just sitting on my butt because he saw me ahead of him and just passed me," Godale said.
The atmosphere and crowd support during the Boston Marathon are unmatched, the brothers said. Most of their memories are joyful with the exception of the bombings in 2013 that left three spectators dead and injured dozens of others.
"It was pretty shocking. It was a sad day for everyone," Godale said.
The younger Godale said injuries in recent years have made it challenging to make it back to Boston, but he's excited to give it his all on Patriots' Day.
"I will run it until I can't run anymore," he said with a smile.
Steve Godale said he would like to keep the streak going for 50 years, which would put him in his 70s.
"You just got to do one at a time," he said.
This article was written by Bob Jones for WEWS. | https://www.wmar2news.com/sports/running-streak-ohio-brothers-prepare-for-29th-boston-marathon-in-a-row | 2022-04-14T19:41:20 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/sports/running-streak-ohio-brothers-prepare-for-29th-boston-marathon-in-a-row |
RICHMOND, Ind. — A Richmond man has been sentenced to 48 years after being found guilty of murdering his roommate on Feb. 7, 2019. The stabbing was reportedly drunken retaliation after the roommate beat him for playing his music too loud.
But Chad Farmer said he never meant to kill Audie Corn.
According to the Palladium-Item, Chad Farmer, 44, was remorseful as he stood before the judge on Friday at his sentencing. He apologized multiple times for his decision when a night of heavy drinking ended with an argument over loud music and Farmer stabbing Audie Corn twice in their kitchen.
“I am disgusted with myself because of what happened,” Farmer said. “I never wanted him to die.
“This was a foolish, senseless act and it never should have taken place.”
Court documents revealed that Farmer had been living with Audie Corn and another family in an apartment on East Main Street in Richmond. All-in-all, police said there were three men, one woman, three children and two dogs staying in the apartment.
On Feb. 7, 2019, Corn, Farmer, and the third man had been heavily drinking, according to the court documents. They’d downed a fifth of rum and a fifth of vodka between them. Farmer reportedly began to play music loudly in his room and an argument over the volume led to a fight between him and Corn. Corn gave Farmer two black eyes and a cut on his head, the court documents said.
The third man reportedly broke up the fight and Corn and Farmer shook hands, documents reveal. But Farmer ended up choosing to retaliate for the beating, picking up a folding knife and finding Corn sitting at a kitchen chair in the kitchen. Farmer stabbed Corn twice, investigators said, returned to his room, folded up the knife and left it on his phone table.
Richmond police reported that when they arrived at the apartment at 3:10 a.m., Corn was found lying in blood just inside the second-floor apartment’s door. He later died in the hospital. The Palladium-Item later reported that autopsy findings confirmed one of the stab wounds had injured Corn’s lung.
According to the Palladium-Item’s report from the sentencing hearing, Farmer apologized for all the pain he had caused and stated there was no question he would take back what had happened if only he could.
“I stole a person’s life,” Farmer said. “I took Audie’s life from him and his family, and that’s something that can’t be replaced.”
Farmer’s defense attorney requested a 47-year sentence, only two years more than the minimum amount of executed time for a murder conviction. His attorney asked the judge to consider Farmer’s intoxication, the provocation of the attack by Corn, and Farmer’s lack of criminal history for this lesser sentence.
The Palladium-Item stated that while the prosecutor “mostly agreed” with the defense attorney about these mitigating factors, and believed Farmer’s remorse, he pointed to the fact that three children — ages 6, 15 and 16 — were all present in the home during the stabbing and heard Corn’s screams.
The prosecutor asked for the advisory 55-year sentence.
In the end, Judge Charles Todd sentenced Farmer to 50 years with two years suspended. Farmer was also credited with 1,156 days of jail time, due to being incarcerated since his arrest. He was also credited with 385 good-time days. | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/i-am-disgusted-with-myself-richmond-man-gets-48-years-for-drunkenly-stabbing-roommate/ | 2022-04-14T19:43:46 | 0 | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/i-am-disgusted-with-myself-richmond-man-gets-48-years-for-drunkenly-stabbing-roommate/ |
RIPLEY COUNTY, Ind. — A motorcyclist from North Vernon was killed after police said he crossed the centerline for unknown reasons and collided with a truck in rural Ripley County early Thursday.
According to Indiana State Police, the crash occurred on State Road 48 near State Road 129 shortly before 7 a.m.
The deceased was identified as 48-year-old Christoper Kincaid.
Investigators believe Kincaid was traveling on a black 2012 Harley-Davidson when he crossed the centerline and rode into the path of a white 2014 Ford truck driven by a 54-year-old from Sunman. Police said Kincaid was ejected from his motorcycle and sustained fatal injuries.
The driver of the Ford was not injured.
Police said that at this time drugs or alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash. | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/north-vernon-motorcyclist-killed-in-head-on-collision/ | 2022-04-14T19:43:51 | 0 | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/north-vernon-motorcyclist-killed-in-head-on-collision/ |
MOORESVILLE, Ind. — Ronli Ratliff wasn’t necessarily supposed to be at her little-used family home at 5354 East Dayhuff Road overnight on April 14, 2004.
The water line at her apartment in Mooresville had broken, and the 24-year-old woman wanted to practice her brush stroke for painting at the house.
“She called me about 9 o’clock wanting to know where the art supplies were, so I told her,” said Ronli’s mother, Sandra Allen. “That was the last time I talked to her.”
Ratliff had worked in banking off-and-on, said Allen, and was committed to spending the rest of her life in Morgan County.
“She wouldn’t leave mom, and I wouldn’t leave her,” said Sandra. “She was searching in life. She just hadn’t really found her focus yet. She basically just got there. She’d enrolled recently in some art classes, thought she found her purpose and where she wanted to go in life.”
Allen and her husband owned an auto body shop and towing company in Mooresville the night her daughter was murdered.
“At the body shop and wrecker service we have radios. It came across the radio that there was a fire at our house,” said Allen. “I was terrified because I know she’s there, and I’m not hearing anything else, just the fire.”
Darrell Brown was a member of the Mooresville Fire Department and responded to the scene that day.
“One of the crews found her pretty quickly, I recall,” he said. “The fire was just limited to the origin and the area where the victim was found.”
Investigators have never released Ratliff’s cause of death.
“I have no idea why anyone would want to hurt her,” said Allen. “If it was towards her, a break in, I have no idea, and that’s why we need to know. Was it something against us and our business? Its just…”
Allen’s voice trailed off in search of answers.
Several miles away, in a sheriff’s office conference room, a cold case team of five retired investigators and an administrative assistant gathered on a Sunday afternoon to talk about a homicide that has haunted Morgan County for 18 years.
“She was a good kid,” said Dan Riffle, who retired from the Martinsville Police Department to take up the investigation into Ratliff’s murder. “Whoever did this needs to be punished. Needs to be held accountable and needs to be punished because if he’s done it once, he’s gonna do it again, if he hasn’t done it again already.”
Retired FBI agent John Gray is confident investigators know who the killer is.
“I think we’ve talked to the killer, in my opinion, throughout the investigation. They have been interviewed,” he said. “My key guy, if you will, is living homeless in Speedway until we indict him and arrest him for the murder itself. He’s long been a suspect, he’s still into narcotics.”
Gray said he’s ready to bring suspects, persons of interest and witnesses in for more intensive questioning.
“I am working with the prosecutor to consider a grand jury with some of the information that we’ve developed. The individuals involved in that, the targets of that grand jury, still reside even in Indiana, and one removed himself to Tennessee with his family immediately after the murder.”
Investigators have tracked vehicles spotted at the scene of the killing, cellphone calls, computer searches and interviewed witnesses who claim to know what happened, including one man who quit talking once the questions hit too close to home.
“He was basically cooperative until the time frame that we were interested in,” said Gray, “and then suddenly he has amnesia and can’t remember what he took part in.”
“This whole investigation has been like this giant oak tree. Every time you interview somebody, a new name pops up or a new group of names pop up or a new rumor pops up,” said Riffle. ”As far as anybody who has been eliminated, there’s only been a couple, Ronli’s parents, and I don’t think they were involved.”
Brown, the retired firefighter, said in 18 years, memories fade, witnesses die, people want to forget.
“They have moved on with their life. That life that they may have been living at that time in the past, that’s a ghost in the fog that they’d just as soon forget, and they’re not gonna offer that up unless we ask them.”
“A lot of people are reluctant to talk to us because they think this is a drug case,” said Gray, “that they’re going to jail for narcotics, and we consistently tell them, ‘This is a homicide case, and we’re interested in the homicide. The statute of limitations has run on the drug part of this part of it.’ But people tell us that they’re afraid because their former dealers will come after them. ‘Who’s coming after you?’”
Riffel said the hard drive of one computer found in the home has been analyzed, and another is being examined by Indiana State Police.
“We assume she was searching dating websites, and there was a piece of paper in front of that computer that was collected as evidence, and she had written down a name and an address. I have researched that name and address and came up with that individual, and that individual has moved something like 47 times within the last few years,” said Riffel. “There were some other things in that computer that I found that was strange for her to research, and that research was done days prior to the homicide.”
Former Beech Grove Police Chief Rich Witmer has looked at the Ratliff case files for six years.
“I do definitely think this case is solvable,” he said.
Speaking publicly for the first time about her daughter’s death, Allen said she has faith that investigators are making progress in solving the murder.
“I’m really thankful that the cold case team has come on because without that we wouldn’t have anything. With them on it, that gives me a little relief that we don’t have to concentrate on her death every day. We can concentrate on her life and let them handle that.”
Allen is mystified how such a small community can keep such a horrendous secret for nearly two decades.
“I don’t know if she invited someone in. I just don’t know. Because we are such a small town, you would think after 18 years there would be some kind of gossip, or somebody would know something and not be able to hold it this long. I know the torment I’ve lived with the last 18 years, so I hope whoever did this, I hope their torment is 10 times more than what I’ve even had to, or even 100 times more.
“We’re a small town, and everybody knew what everybody was doing, so why doesn’t anybody know what happened here?”
Anyone with information regarding the 2004 murder of Ronli Ratliff is requested to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS to qualify for a reward or the Morgan County Sheriffs Office at 765-342-5544. | https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/momentum-builds-to-solve-2004-mooresville-killing-of-young-woman/ | 2022-04-14T19:43:52 | 1 | https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/momentum-builds-to-solve-2004-mooresville-killing-of-young-woman/ |
(NEXSTAR) – Thursday is the new Friday at 38 companies in the U.S. and Canada that are testing out a shorter workweek in hopes of boosting productivity while keeping employees happy.
The companies are participating in a six-month trial working with the nonprofit 4 Day Week Global and researchers at Boston College.
“We establish their baseline before the trial,” explained Joe O’Connor, 4 Day Week Global’s CEO. “So we figure out what their company performance looks like under a range of different metrics like revenue, productivity, energy use, staff turnover, levels of absenteeism and sick leave, and then also their employees’ wellbeing.”
Those baseline levels under the five-day workweek will be compared with levels after testing out the reduced workweek.
Exactly what the schedule looks like at each company may vary a bit, O’Connor said. “Our prerequisite is that it must be genuine work time reduction. So it cannot be four 10-hour days. It can’t be the same hours compressed into four days,” he said.
Most employees will opt for a four-day workweek – and therefore a three-day weekend – when given the chance, O’Connor said. But he noted a minority of employees like to spread out their 32 hours of work across five days, giving them a chance to spend more time with their kids in the morning and after school.
No matter how they cut down their workweek, employers are not cutting back on pay; everyone gets the same salary and same benefits they had before.
The 38 participating organizations employ about 2,200 to 2,300 people, O’Connor said.
Not all 38 companies have decided to go public just yet, explained O’Connor. There are 20 companies and nonprofit organizations who have decided to disclose their participation in the pilot program. They are:
- Advanced RV
- Blue Sky Philanthropies
- CULTIQUE
- Floodlight Invest
- Fresh Squeezed Ideas
- GillespieHall Strategic Communications and PR
- GLIDE Design
- Healthwise
- IPR Denver
- Kickstarter
- Mental Health Advocacy Services
- Montana Nonprofit Association
- M’tucci’s Restaurants
- Own Trail
- Public Policy Lab
- Run for Something
- Seed&Spark
- simPRO
- USENIX Association
- WYNDR
While a four-day week is still rare in the United States, it’s gained popularity in other parts of the world. A study in Iceland involved moving about 1% of the country’s workforce to a 35- or 36-hour week, reports the Washington Post. They found employees loved the shorter week, and productivity either remained the same or improved.
“There is actually a fairly large amount – and growing – of current literature on the four-day workweek,” Timothy P. Munyon, associate professor of management at the University of Tennessee, told Nexstar’s WATE. “The general consensus is that it improves productivity, reduces burnout, and increases respite.”
O’Connor – who works a four-day week, by the way – is confident the participants will see similarly positive results from their trials. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/4-day-workweek-these-companies-are-participating-in-a-trial-program/ | 2022-04-14T19:43:55 | 1 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/4-day-workweek-these-companies-are-participating-in-a-trial-program/ |
(The Hill) – President Biden’s approval rating among younger generations of Americans has declined, according to a new Gallup poll released Thursday.
The new poll found that Biden’s approval rating among millennials and Generation Z respondents had dropped nearly 20 points since the beginning of his presidency.
Thirty-nine percent of Generation Z respondents said they approve of the job Biden has done as president, a 21-point decline from 60 percent of respondents who approved of Biden’s handling of the job when he first took office.
Forty-one percent of millennial respondents said they approve of Biden’s job as president, a 19-point decline from 60 percent of respondents who approved of his job as president through the months of January and June 2021, his first months in the White House.
Along party lines, 30 percent of Generation Z respondents who identify as Democrats said they approve of Biden’s job as president, while 52 percent of independents and 18 percent of Republicans surveyed agreed, according to the poll.
Twenty-seven percent of millennial respondents who identify as Democrats approve of the job Biden has done as president, while 53 percent of independents and 20 percent of Republicans surveyed also approve of Biden’s job as president.
Sixty-seven percent of respondents who are Black approve of Biden’s job performance as president, seeing a 20-point decline from the 87 percent of respondents who approved of his job as president when he first took office.
According to the poll, 52 percent of Hispanic respondents and 35 percent of white respondents also approve of the job Biden is doing as president.
There was also a difference based on respondents’ education level. Forty-seven percent of those who are college-educated said they approve of the job Biden has done as president, while 37 percent of respondents who have high school/GED degrees or less agree, the poll said.
The Gallup poll was made up of responses from 8,000 eligible respondents during the three periods in which the survey was conducted. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/biden-approval-ratings-decline-most-among-younger-generations-gallup/ | 2022-04-14T19:43:55 | 1 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/biden-approval-ratings-decline-most-among-younger-generations-gallup/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators will soon begin cracking down on vaping companies using a now-closed loophole, including a line of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes that have become teenagers’ top choice.
Under a law taking effect Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration can regulate e-cigarettes and similar products that use synthetic nicotine.
The action targets Puff Bar and several other vaping companies that recently switched their formulas to laboratory-made nicotine to skirt FDA oversight.
The change “allows FDA to protect the public health from the harms of tobacco products, regardless of the source of nicotine,” the agency said in a statement Wednesday. Companies must register with the FDA and submit their products for review within 30 days.
Puff Bar did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
The FDA’s action does not automatically ban Puff Bar and similar products. Instead it brings them under the same regulatory scheme as older e-cigarettes that derived their nicotine from tobacco.
“The synthetic nicotine products do not necessarily just disappear on their own,” Robin Koval, chief executive of the Truth Initiative, an advocacy group that runs anti-tobacco ads. “The FDA will have to decide how they want to enforce the law and hopefully they will.”
The FDA has been reviewing applications for an array of vaping devices, formulas and flavors — rejecting more than 1 million, usually because of their potential appeal to youngsters. Anti-tobacco advocates hope the agency will quickly do the same for any applications submitted by Puff Bar and other manufacturers.
Nicotine, the chemical the makes smoking and vaping addictive, occurs naturally in tobacco plants.
The 2009 law that first gave the FDA oversight of cigarettes and related products only referred to tobacco-based nicotine. That left an opening for artificial nicotine, which is being used in e-cigarette liquids, nicotine pouches and other products.
Last month, Congress passed language clarifying that the FDA can regulate any form of nicotine, regardless of the source.
After appearing in 2019, Puff Bar has grown to become the most popular e-cigarette among teenagers, by far, sold in flavors like blueberry, strawberry banana and mango. Under FDA pressure, the company said it was halting sales in 2020, pulling its disposable vaping devices out of convenience stores, gas stations and vape shops.
Last February, the company announced a “fresh launch” of its colorful devices using synthetic nicotine. In marketing language, the company said its products “do not contain tobacco or anything derived from tobacco.” That put Puff Bar in a legal gray area, because federal, state and local restrictions nearly always apply to tobacco-based products, not nicotine itself.
Stanford researchers last year found synthetic nicotine products for sale via online platforms that prohibit tobacco sales, such as Amazon, eBay and Target. Under the new law, synthetic nicotine will be subject to the same federal age limit and sales restrictions as other tobacco products.
Using synthetic nicotine is not a new idea. Tobacco companies experimented with chemically derived nicotine as early as the 1960s, but deemed it too expensive for mass production. Manufacturing advances in recent years finally made it a viable alternative to tobacco-derived nicotine.
A large government survey last year showed Puff Bar had leapfrogged over better-known brands to become the top choice among high schoolers who vape. Juul — which is widely blamed for initially sparking the teen vaping trend — was the fourth most popular brand.
In 2020, the FDA restricted flavors in cartridge-based e-cigarettes like Juul to just menthol and tobacco, which are generally preferred by adults. But the flavor ban didn’t apply to disposable e-cigarettes like Puff Bar and other types of vaping devices.
Anti-tobacco groups worry that the FDA is always one or two steps behind whichever products are making inroads among kids.
“The lesson we can all take away from this is that when the FDA’s actions are incomplete and happen after the fact — which has often been the case with e-cigarettes — you will always be playing whack-a-mole and catch-up,” said Koval. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/e-cigs-using-synthetic-nicotine-come-under-fda-oversight/ | 2022-04-14T19:44:07 | 1 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/e-cigs-using-synthetic-nicotine-come-under-fda-oversight/ |
(The Hill) – Russia is warning of new nuclear deployments in the Baltics if Finland and Sweden join NATO, as the two countries inch closer to becoming part of the military alliance.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former president of Russia, wrote in a Telegram post on Thursday that “there can be no talk of non-nuclear status for the Baltic” if Finland and Sweden join NATO.
He said that should Finland and Sweden join NATO, Moscow would need to “seriously strengthen the grouping of land forces and air defense, deploy significant naval forces in the waters of the Gulf of Finland.”
“In this case, it will no longer be possible to talk about any nuclear-free status of the Baltic — the balance must be restored,” he added, according to CNBC.
Medvedev said that previously “Russia has not taken such measures and was not going to,” according to Reuters.
“If our hand is forced well … take note it wasn’t us who proposed this,” he added.
The cautionary statement from one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies comes after Finland and Sweden made progress in their paths to joining NATO. Lawmakers in Finland were issued a security report by the country’s government, and the ruling party in Sweden started a review of options for security policy, according to The Associated Press.
Finland borders Russia. Sweden, however, does not share a border with Russia. Norway, which borders Sweden and shares a small border with Russia in its far northeast, joined the military alliance in 1949.
Lithuania said that the warning from Russia is not new, stating that Moscow has positioned nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad, the Russian province between Poland and Lithuania, since before the conflict with Ukraine began, according to Reuters.
Medvedev on Thursday said that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, Russia’s borders with alliance members will have to be bolstered.
“If Sweden and Finland join NATO, the length of the alliance’s land borders with the Russian Federation will more than double. Naturally, these borders will have to be strengthened,” he said, according to CNBC.
He noted that the addition of Finland and Sweden to NATO would give Russia “more officially registered opponents,” according to CNBC.
Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, when Putin ordered a “special military operation” in the country. The conflict entered its seventh week on Thursday. | https://fox59.com/ukraine-crisis/russia-warns-of-new-nuclear-deployments-in-baltics-if-finland-sweden-join-nato/ | 2022-04-14T19:44:13 | 1 | https://fox59.com/ukraine-crisis/russia-warns-of-new-nuclear-deployments-in-baltics-if-finland-sweden-join-nato/ |
WHEATFIELD, N.Y. (WIVB) – A motorcycle driver was killed in an accident Wednesday on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Wheatfield, the Niagara County Sheriff announced.
The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. Michael Sommers, a 39-year-old North Tonawanda resident, was identified Thursday as the victim.
Police said both the motorcycle and the white SUV it collided with were traveling in the same direction. They believe the SUV slowed down because the car in front of it was making a left turn, but the motorcycle did not slow down in time and hit the rear end of the SUV.
Sommers was pronounced dead shortly after the accident. No other injuries were reported.
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Nick Veronica is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team as a Digital Executive Producer in 2021. He previously worked at NBC Sports and The Buffalo News. You can follow Nick on Facebook and Twitter and find more of his work here. | https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/niagara-county/wheatfield/motorcyclist-killed-on-niagara-falls-blvd/ | 2022-04-14T19:48:07 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/niagara-county/wheatfield/motorcyclist-killed-on-niagara-falls-blvd/ |
Easter Egg Hunts are not just for the kids anymore. If you are looking for a great idea to get the adults, even the husbands, included you have to watch THIS!! You could always do wine or booze too. Happy Hunting!
@mrskcmama Adult Easter egg hunt! 🤣 #easteregghunt #easter #beerhunt #husbandsarebigkids #beertime #adulteasteregghunt #easterfun #husbandsoftiktok #funny #fypシ ♬ Coming In Hot – Andy Mineo & Lecrae | https://www.kfrxfm.com/adult-easter-egg-hunt-idea/ | 2022-04-14T19:48:43 | 1 | https://www.kfrxfm.com/adult-easter-egg-hunt-idea/ |
Doorbell cameras help us catch all the things that happen while we are not home and for this homeowner, it was an amazing heartwarming moment. One disabled vet is getting pushed in his wheelchair when a gust of wind blows the flag off the home. He immediately gets out of his wheelchair and grabs it. Watch the beautiful moment below. Thank you to all our current and prior military – your dedication to our country is truly incredible!!
@gettishow You guys, I cried when this Veteran saluted the fallen Flag 🥺🇺🇸 #feelgoodvideo #disabledveteran #ringcamera #folding #usaflag ♬ Sad, emotional music(900741) – 平松誠 | https://www.kfrxfm.com/disabled-vet-jumps-into-action-for-american-flag/ | 2022-04-14T19:49:04 | 0 | https://www.kfrxfm.com/disabled-vet-jumps-into-action-for-american-flag/ |
Dogs are the best and German Shepherds are extremely smart. This home surveillance caught the family’s German Shepherd saving their child AND the ball. You won’t believe what this puppy did.
What a good boy!!
@curtdog61♬ original sound – curtisbethel505 | https://www.kfrxfm.com/family-dog-saves-child-and-the-ball/ | 2022-04-14T19:49:25 | 1 | https://www.kfrxfm.com/family-dog-saves-child-and-the-ball/ |
Gym Manager Threats To Employees Backfires
Blurred photo of a gym with people on treadmills
A photo of a flyer threatening gym employees with retaliation for discussing their wages has gone viral after an alleged staff member shared it on social media. The post was on Reddit but has since been deleted.
“Attention all subordinates,” began the note allegedly taped to a break room wall by a gym manager in Frankfort, Kentucky, on Thursday. “Effective immediately, conversing about wages (both on duty and off duty) is strictly forbidden. This is considered proprietary information and as such, it is protected legally. If you are overheard speaking (OR LISTENING TO!!) a conversation in which wages are discussed, you will receive disciplinary action up to and including termination.”
The employees responded….
“Yo Jer-Bear,” began the snarky response. “Seeing as you’re a manager in the great illustrious world of Planet Fitness gym franchises, it may behoove you to become familiar with the laws pertaining to it. Sprinkling legalese and word-salad across an 8.5×11 paper you printed does not a legal doc make.” The poster pointed out three links to a National Labor Relations Board web page detailing workers’ rights to discuss their wages.
Have you ever had a manager overstep their legal boundaries to only have it backfire?
Read the full story HERE. | https://www.kfrxfm.com/gym-manager-threats-to-employees-backfires/ | 2022-04-14T19:49:45 | 1 | https://www.kfrxfm.com/gym-manager-threats-to-employees-backfires/ |
Rockies vs Dodgers Game Turns Emotional
baseball
Freddie Freeman didn’t know why Colorado Rockies shortstop José Iglesias was crying when he pulled into first base Friday afternoon. Iglesias told Freeman that a few weeks ago his father, Candelario, died. Iglesias said his dad, a factory worker in Cuba, never missed watching one of Iglesias’ games. And after recording his first hit since his dad’s death, Iglesias’ emotions overcame him.
It just so happened he was standing next to someone who could relate. Freeman’s mother, Rosemary, died of melanoma in 2000 when Freeman was 10 years old, a loss the Orange County native felt deeply. When Iglesias told Freeman about his loss, Freeman put a hand on his shoulder, patted him on the head and wrapped him in a one-arm hug. Read the full story HERE.
Make sure you grab the tissues before you watch! | https://www.kfrxfm.com/rockies-vs-dodgers-game-turns-emotional/ | 2022-04-14T19:50:11 | 0 | https://www.kfrxfm.com/rockies-vs-dodgers-game-turns-emotional/ |
WATCH: Indiana University graduate workers on strike at Bloomington campus
Rich Janzaruk
The Herald-Times
Graduate student workers at Indiana University's Bloomington campus voted this week to strike, seeking increased benefits, job security and union recognition.
More in News:
- Indiana University Bloomington graduate workers go on strike
- Indiana University graduate student workers vote to strike
- IU grad workers move forward with union plans
More in Opinion: | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/education/2022/04/14/iu-graduate-workers-seek-form-union-raise-pay-benefits/7318144001/ | 2022-04-14T19:51:38 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/education/2022/04/14/iu-graduate-workers-seek-form-union-raise-pay-benefits/7318144001/ |
IU Bloomington graduate workers, supporters push back about administration's response
Demonstrators took to picket lines Thursday on Indiana University's Bloomington campus as the graduate student worker strike continued into its second day.
Crowds formed at several locations, including around the Sample Gates, Ballantine Hall and Swain Hall. Representatives from the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition were happy with the turnout.
Why did IU grad workers strike?
The workers decided to strike after the university refused to recognize a successful vote to join the United Electrical Workers. The hope is the work stoppage will reopen a dialogue. Complaints include the fees graduate workers have to pay to the university, which eat into compensation many of the workers consider to be insufficient in the first place, and insufficient protections for international graduate students. Other issues include benefits and working conditions.
IU undergrad William Clay walked past one of the demonstrations. He said he supports the graduate workers in their efforts, despite his classes being affected.
WATCH:Indiana University graduate workers on strike at Bloomington campus
"I think they've done a really good job of getting the word out about it," said Caitlin May, another undergraduate student. "Everyone's affected, because I think people have realized how many of our teachers are actually grads."
'It's disappointing'
Martin Law has been a graduate student and worker at IU for several years, and his experiences brought him to the picket line at the Sample Gates Thursday morning. "It's disappointing to see that the concerns that we've been voicing for many years, even before I got here, are being ignored by the provost, by the administrators and by the president."
Law expressed disappointment in emails and other messaging sent out by IU leaders about the effort to unionize. Some emails have indicated there could be consequences for grad workers who take part in the strike.
"To respond with covering your eyes and ears while saying, 'I won't recognize you,' and then making threats," Law said, "it's just not appropriate. To me, it seems sort of undignified, and it's really disappointing."
Rong Fan has friends in the union, but the self-described conservative international student had not planned to join the demonstrations until she read an email from Bloomington campus Provost Rahul Shrivastav outlining potential consequences for graduate workers. "To be honest, I was just really angry about the email."
Wednesday's actions:Indiana University Bloomington graduate workers go on strike
Katie Kearns, an IU employee, stood at the Sample Gates in solidarity with the graduate workers on strike. While she hoped there would not be retaliation from IU administration towards those taking a stand, Kearns said it was a possibility.
"This is the nature of protest," Kearns said. "That's a reality. When people push back against the way things have gone, there's going to be pushback. I think there are a lot of us who hope that there won't be. But I think there are also a lot of us who will do what we can to support graduate students in the case that there is and rally behind them."
Faculty members were called on to be present to show their support, but some said they were concerned about retaliation from IU administration. When asked about whether she feared such retaliation, gender studies professor Jennifer Maher replied, "Absolutely."
Many graduate student workers grade papers and teach classes at the university. The strike is planned to last until Tuesday.
Contact Patrick McGerr at pmcgerr@heraldt.com, 812-307-5636, or follow @patrickmcgerr on Twitter. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2022/04/14/iu-protest-graduate-workers-bloomington-gather-sample-gates-strike-continues/7309351001/ | 2022-04-14T19:51:44 | 1 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2022/04/14/iu-protest-graduate-workers-bloomington-gather-sample-gates-strike-continues/7309351001/ |
Indiana women's basketball adds highly sought after first commit for class of 2023
Indiana women's basketball has enjoyed a big month of recruiting in the transfer portal as they've reloaded for next season.
Now, their recruiting success has extended to the future.
The Hoosiers landed a commitment Thursday from class of 2023 guard Lenee Beaumont out of Benet Academy in Lisle, Ill.
More:48 hour makeover: How Scalia changes things, what it says about Indiana women's basketball
She's IU's first commit in the class of 2023. Beaumont had a plethora of other Division I offers, including Purdue, Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and Wisconsin within the Big Ten.
IU added three transfers for the upcoming season in forward Alyssa Geary, guard Sydney Parrish, and guard Sara Scalia. The Hoosiers have four incoming freshmen this fall: Israeli guard Yarden Garzon, Michigan guard Lexus Bargesser, Minnesota forward Lilly Meister, and Swedish guard Henna Sandvik.
Follow Herald-Times sports reporter Seth Tow on Twitter @SethTow, or email him at stow@heraldt.com. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/college/iu/2022/04/14/iu-womens-basketball-adds-highly-sought-after-recruit-2023/7317947001/ | 2022-04-14T19:51:50 | 1 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/college/iu/2022/04/14/iu-womens-basketball-adds-highly-sought-after-recruit-2023/7317947001/ |
After a successful Orlando downtown run that will fall just shy of 10 years, Gene and Diana Zimmerman are moving The Courtesy to Winter Park — and an all-new partnership with Rhys and Alexia Gawlak of Swine & Sons that will bring elevated small plates to the metro’s first dedicated craft cocktail bar.
Their last day in the downtown space at 114 N. Orange Ave. will be May 15.
“Due to evolution of downtown, and the fact that our 10-year lease was coming up, we’d already been exploring the ideas of expanding or renovating or moving to another location,” Gene Zimmerman told the Orlando Sentinel.
Around the same time, longtime friend Alex Tchekmeian of Foxtail Coffee, with whom Zimmerman has partnered on other ventures including the Milkhouse multivenue concept in Orlando’s Milk District, had his eye on the space recently vacated by the Bear & Peacock Brewstillery — and right next door to the original Foxtail Coffee location — at 1282 N. Orange Ave. in Winter Park.
Now under construction, the building will soon house the Zimmermans’ “Courtesy 2.0,” along with a kitchen in which the Gawlaks will be churning our bites for the all-new BarSwine concept: a Courtesy-only menu featuring Southern-inspired small plates with cured meats and aged cheeses — along with Swine & Sons’ items for the customers at Foxtail for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also on deck: an all-new scoop shop for Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream.
“I I think it’s going to be a great partnership,” says Alexia Gawlak of the BarSwine concept. “[The Courtesy has] a great team working for them and I’m really excited about making a menu to compliment their drinks.”
Swine & Sons slimmed down everything during the pandemic, taking operation to a level of maximum efficiency.
“So, I think the biggest thing for Rhys and I — across the board on the Swine & Sons side as well — is that we’re looking forward to getting back to doing some real cooking, lightening things up, doing more of a vegetable focus.”
Fear not, fans of Swine classics. There will be plenty. “We’ll never lose the burgers and chicken,” she says. “And bringing back breakfast is going to make a lot of sense in the Foxtail space.”
At BarSwine, the menu hasn’t quite coalesced, but will be concise. Not fine dining, but elevated, and complimentary to the cocktails.
“Maybe 7 to 10 items. Things that will make you want to come with your friends, enjoy some food, linger... And I can’t wait to put food on real plates again!”
Each of the businesses, the Zimmermans note, will have separate entrances and operating hours, though there will be some flow-through in “a cohesive space that totals just under 10,000 square feet,” says Tchekmeian, who will be bringing a local brewery presence into the Foxtail space along with a roastery that will be visible from the Courtesy Bar.
BarSwine is the only partnership amid the complex, though folks who want to venture into Foxtail with their Kelly’s treats are welcome to do so, says Tchekmeian.
The Zimmermans, who will be gaining roughly 500-600 square feet of space to their “2.0 version,” plan to open in late summer (Tchekmeian hopes to time it all to coincide) and bringing as much of the vibe from the original as possible — along with a new late-night food and cocktail option for those looking to extend a night that began on Park Avenue or elsewhere in town.
“We’ll be refurbishing some pieces, moving them over, keeping that same Courtesy feel as much as we can — but in a new space... And the whole Courtesy family is moving with us to Winter Park.”
Fans of the bar’s holiday events like Miracle on Orange can rest easy, too.
“The new space won’t even require a name change,” jokes Diana Zimmerman.
Want to reach out? Find me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. For more fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group or follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/food-restaurants/os-et-courtesy-bar-leaves-downtown-winter-park-swine-and-sons-partnership-20220414-h52f7oquhrb2hgecrv3c4qke4u-story.html | 2022-04-14T19:55:51 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/food-restaurants/os-et-courtesy-bar-leaves-downtown-winter-park-swine-and-sons-partnership-20220414-h52f7oquhrb2hgecrv3c4qke4u-story.html |
Praying for Ukraine’s resurrection
As we Christians anticipate Easter and the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, I am hoping and praying for another resurrection — the resurrection of Ukraine from the devastation, destruction and deaths caused by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin might think that he will win in Ukraine because of his weapons and threats. But history shows that in the end, what’s right and just will triumph over evil.
May the world continue to pray and provide support for Ukraine, so that this country’s resurrection will come soon.
May Jesus’ resurrection be a source of hope for seemingly hopeless situations.
Susan Talana Harris Orlando
Florida takes abortion ban to the extreme
Political Pulse
There is no such thing as a reasonable abortion ban (”Florida’s war of deception on women’s freedom,” April 14). Nothing in this abortion ban is moderate; it is extreme. And despite impassioned pleas by Democrats to add exceptions for rape, incest and human trafficking, they were each rejected. The only exceptions that do exist are very narrow and need to be verified by two doctors, creating an unnecessary and unique burden to an already restrictive bill. The law is a direct assault on our constitutional rights and is a part of a national effort to ban abortion and contraception across the country.
The majority of Floridians overwhelmingly support abortion access. Polling tells us time and time again that this is seen as a personal medical decision that must remain between a person and a family, their doctor, and their faith. Not only is Florida banning abortion, but a 24-hour mandatory delay to access an abortion is now back in place too. These laws punish poor people for being poor, because it will be those who are already marginalized that will struggle to navigate these politically motivated barriers and be unable to access care, or will seek unsafe measures to end their pregnancy.
Paul Bacon Hallandale Beach
GOP to blame for gun-violence outbreak
The epidemic of road rage and mass shootings that is now ravaging the country is the highly predictable end result that many level-headed, responsible adults saw coming years ago.
Especially over the last 15 years, the Republicans, at the behest of the gun lobby that so many are beholden to, loudly pushed a raft of obscenely irresponsible gun bills, supposedly to make everyone feel safer. Do you feel safer now that almost everyone has a gun? I don’t think so. Instead, we are all now reaping the bitter fruits from a bountiful harvest of gun violence that is now affecting cities and communities across the country.
This was avoidable. Listening to politicians, cops and many in the media, we are now supposed to believe that this explosion in gun violence just came out of nowhere, or is somehow, because of COVID-19, which is laughable on its face. Let’s get real and honestly put the blame squarely where it lies: the irresponsibility of Republicans and their, short-sighted, self-serving, never-ending culture wars of division. We are all now paying the price. For the sake of decency and life itself, this needs to stop.
Courtney Smith Orlando | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/letters/os-op-letters-ukraine-resurrection-20220414-ens77xktzbfdvparoc575zfhrq-story.html | 2022-04-14T19:55:54 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/letters/os-op-letters-ukraine-resurrection-20220414-ens77xktzbfdvparoc575zfhrq-story.html |
UCF football hosted East Forsyth (N.C.) tight end Jayvontay Conner for an unofficial visit Wednesday and less than 24 hours later he included the Knights in his top six schools.
“It went pretty well,” Conner told the Orlando Sentinel about his trip to campus. “I really enjoyed talking to coach [Gus] Malzahn, coach [Brian] Blackmon, and all of the coaches.”
UCF is joined by Florida State, Maryland, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Virginia Tech as the schools he will be choosing from for his college football career.
This week’s visit was Conner’s first time at UCF but he had an idea of what to expect.
“I kind of knew it was going to be a pretty good visit so I was really excited to finally get out there,” he said. “I’m excited to see where things will go.”
During the trip, Conner spoke with Malzahn and tight ends coach Brian Blackmon.
“He basically was explaining to me how interested he is in me,” Conner said about his conservation with Malzahn. “He was saying that if I was to commit there, I would be the tight end that they were taking.”
As it turns out, Conner has a previous relationship with Blackmon. Prior to transferring to East Forsyth in February for his senior year, Conner attended Opelika in Alabama.
Blackmon served as head coach at Opelika from 2009-16 before heading to the college ranks. The two have known each for some time.
“I was really happy and excited to see him and be around him,” Conner said about Blackmon.
The 6-foot-4 230-pound tight end is rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. He’s viewed as the No. 51 tight end in the country for the 2023 recruiting class according to 247Sports.
Conner earned second-team all-area honors for large schools from the Opelika-Auburn News after recording 24 catches for 405 yards and 6 touchdowns in the fall.
“I’m basically a wide receiver playing tight end,” he said. “That’s how I look at it.”
A lot of schools are interested in Conner, which has led to a busy spring. Prior to his UCF visit, Conner checked out FSU on Tuesday, and South Florida on Monday.
UCF Weekly
Last Thursday, Conner checked out South Carolina after visiting Virginia Tech on March 28.
He’s hoping to visit Maryland and Michigan State next. Conner added that location isn’t a factor for him.
“I’m looking for a school that’s going to use me [on the field] and one that’s just honest with me,” he said. “All of those schools have been keeping consistent contact with me. They’re all building a relationship with me.”
As for a verbal commitment, he’s hoping to make a decision within the next couple of weeks.
The Knights are in a good position to land Conner but as noted above, there’s tough competition.
“I feel like it would be really good if I ended up going there because I really like UCF and what they’re doing with the program,” he said. “I’m just taking everything in.”
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ucf-knights/os-sp-ucf-football-recruiting-jayvontay-conner-20220414-vcb3nwjcxfh2niaptn3t77cgoi-story.html | 2022-04-14T19:55:56 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ucf-knights/os-sp-ucf-football-recruiting-jayvontay-conner-20220414-vcb3nwjcxfh2niaptn3t77cgoi-story.html |
Alabama administrators suspend students following swap of high schools for senior prank
CHILTON COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - Some high school seniors in Alabama are saying the punishments they’ve received from school administrators for a senior prank are too harsh.
The students planned the prank through a Snapchat group message, according to WBRC. The idea was that students from two different high schools would attend the other school for the day. Close to two dozen students from Chilton County High School and Jemison High School participated. Now, several feel the consequences for the prank are over the top.
“My scholarships are in jeopardy because of this,” Haileigh Greer, a senior at Jemison High School, said.
Greer was not the only Jemison senior who participated in the senior prank. Kathryn Blow did as well, and believes the district’s punishment is far too harsh for what they call a harmless prank.
“I just don’t think that’s very fair. I think it’s really blown out of proportion,” Blow said.
Some Chilton County High School students agree. That includes Colby Hughes, who says past pranks were way worse.
“Past classes have peed on the gym floor, put desks on the ceiling, and pigs in the school, and all we did was swap schools and we got suspended for three days -- goes on our transcripts, all of that,” Hughes said.
Several students fear this will hurt their grades and chances to pick up scholarships. While Greer knows the students must face punishment, she never suspected she would be stripped of her passion -- softball.
“I don’t mind the three day suspension. I understand,” she said. “But we shouldn’t have gotten kicked off the teams. I mean, I have played softball since I was 8 and I got kicked off my senior year.”
Some people argued online that this is about student safety, and that’s why the district must be so strict.
Students like Chilton County Senior Austin Knight believe that isn’t the responsibility of the senior class.
“I think that’s the main thing they are upset about. It’s not our fault that your security is not as good,” Knight said.
WBRC reached out to the district for a comment.
Superintendent Jason Griffin stated, “Due to safety protocols, employee and student privacy rights, I will be unable to provide a statement or response.”
Copyright 2022 WBRC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/alabama-administrators-suspend-students-following-swap-high-schools-senior-prank/ | 2022-04-14T20:02:23 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/alabama-administrators-suspend-students-following-swap-high-schools-senior-prank/ |
CUTE: Firefighters save baby owl that fell from nest
Published: Apr. 14, 2022 at 3:06 PM EDT|Updated: 56 minutes ago
WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (CNN) - The Los Angeles Fire Department saved a baby owl that fell from its nest.
The baby got separated from its mom after taking a tumble from high atop a house in Woodland Hills.
The people who live there found the little bird, and firefighters showed up to make sure the baby got back home safe and sound.
With a gentle touch – and a ladder – the feathered family was finally reunited.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/cute-firefighters-save-baby-owl-that-fell-nest/ | 2022-04-14T20:02:30 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/cute-firefighters-save-baby-owl-that-fell-nest/ |
Dead dolphin found on Florida beach impaled in head
A dead dolphin that was discovered on a Florida beach was impaled in the head with a spear-like object, federal authorities said Wednesday.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Law Enforcement is asking the public for any information about the March 24 discovery of the dead bottlenose dolphin in Fort Myers Beach.
A necropsy determined that the wound above the right eye was inflicted before the dolphin died.
The dolphin appeared to have died from the wound, which occurred at or near the time of death.
NOAA officials suspect the dolphin was impaled while in a begging position commonly associated with illegal feeding.
Federal law prohibits harassing, harming, killing or feeding wild dolphins. Violators are subject to a $100,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
NOAA officials report at least 27 instances of dolphins having been shot or impaled with sharp objects since 2002.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NOAA enforcement hotline at 800-853-1964. Tips may be left anonymously.
Scripps Only Content 2022 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/dead-dolphin-found-florida-beach-impaled-head/ | 2022-04-14T20:02:39 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/dead-dolphin-found-florida-beach-impaled-head/ |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The family of a Black man who was fatally shot by a white Indiana police officer in 2019 is appealing a federal judge’s dismissal of their wrongful death lawsuit.
Eric Logan’s relatives argue in the appeal filed this week in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago that the judge was wrong to dismiss the suit.
They said he should have considered evidence regarding former South Bend police Sgt. Ryan O’Neill’s credibility and policing standards.
The South Bend Tribune reports that Logan’s family sued South Bend and O’Neill.
The officer said he shot Logan in June 2019 because he refused to drop a knife. | https://www.wane.com/news/indiana/family-appeals-after-wrongful-death-suit-tossed-in-indiana/ | 2022-04-14T20:02:40 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/indiana/family-appeals-after-wrongful-death-suit-tossed-in-indiana/ |
Experts urge early preparation as hurricane season nears
Thursday is the final day of the 2022 National Hurricane Conference in Orlando.
WPTV spoke to emergency officials on the local, state and national level and they all stressed the same thing: start preparing now.
Amy Heimberger Lopez, the emergency management coordinator for Martin County, said it's crucial to know your zone — especially if you live along the coast.
"Our zone A and zone B, which are islands and coastal areas, those are areas that are going to be most impacted especially at first, and we need to get people out of there first," Heimberger Lopez said.
Ken Graham, the director of the National Hurricane Center, said one of the biggest changes has been the timeline to prepare for a storm.
He said every category four or five hurricane to hit the United States was only a tropical storm three days before.
That means you may only have two to three days to prepare your home or evacuate.
"You can't write a plan unless you know what you're planning for, so the No. 1 thing is to know your risk, if you're right on the coast you gotta plan for the storm surge. You're gonna be evacuated," Graham said. "You need to know where you're going to go, have that plan. But even inland, if you're near a river if you're near a lot of trees, that's your risk."
The Gulf Coast has been hit the hardest during the past few hurricane seasons.
Graham said it only takes a slight shift in weather patterns to send a storm to South Florida or the Treasure Coast.
He said to prepare with enough supplies to last a week after a storm.
It's a similar message from the state division of emergency management.
Director Kevin Guthrie said to follow one simple phrase: know your zone and know your home.
"We want people to know what zone they live in to evacuate, but we also want people to know what their home is," Guthrie said. "In other words, was your home built before or after Florida building code standards. That's a very important date."
When a hurricane forms, the cone of uncertainty is one of the first things people look for.
Graham said NHC's cone is smaller this year, but it all depends on scientific studies.
"The penalty, so to speak, for us getting so much better with the forecast is the cone is shrinking," Graham said. "The cone is based on the average error for the past five years, so if we have a couple bad years, guess what? The cone could get bigger."
Guthrie said the state is ready for hurricane season, which begins in June.
"The state of Florida is prepared. We have four warehouses full of stuff ready to respond, food, water, personal protective equipment," Guthrie said.
At the National Hurricane Conference, there has been a lot of looking ahead but also reflecting on the past couple of hurricane seasons.
"You think about how busy the last few seasons have been, we ran out of names in 2020," Graham said. "We ran out of names in 2021 during a pandemic. All of us have been through a lot."
Graham urges Florida residents not to be complacent since many areas of Florida have avoided a tropical system in the last few years.
"You can't compare storms, and you can't compare seasons. Just a little change in the pattern, and it becomes Florida's turn and we have to be ready for that," Graham said.
Now is also a good time to check on your insurance.
If you do have to evacuate, find out how long you'll be covered in a rental home or hotel.
Scripps Only Content 2022 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/experts-urge-early-preparation-hurricane-season-nears/ | 2022-04-14T20:02:46 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/experts-urge-early-preparation-hurricane-season-nears/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — The man charged with opening fire on subway riders on a train in Brooklyn was ordered held without bail Thursday at his first court appearance, where prosecutors told a judge he terrified all of New York City.
Brought into a Brooklyn federal court without handcuffs, a subdued Frank James, 62, softly answered standard questions about whether he understood the charges and the purpose of the brief hearing. His lawyer later asked the public not to prejudge him.
James was arrested in Manhattan after calling a police tip line to say where he was Wednesday, a day after the nightmarish rush-hour attack left 10 people with gunshot wounds and countless others fearing for their safety on the nation’s busiest subway system.
Authorities say he unleashed smoke bombs and dozens of bullets, in a train full of morning commuters. He’s charged with a federal terrorism offense that applies to attacks on mass transit systems — authorities say there’s currently no evidence linking him to terror organizations and are still trying to derive a motive.
“The defendant terrifyingly opened fire on passengers on a crowded subway train, interrupting their morning commute in a way the city hasn’t seen in more than 20 years,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara K. Winik said. “The defendant’s attack was premeditated, was carefully planned and it caused terror among the victims and our entire city.”
The 10 gunshot victims, who range in age from 16 to 60, are all expected to survive.
Outside the courtroom, defense attorney Mia Eisner-Grynberg cautioned against “a rush to judgment.”
“Initial reports in a case like this are often inaccurate,” she said. She noted that James alerted police to his whereabouts, 30 hours into a manhunt that included cellphone alerts to the general public.
Once he knew he was wanted, “he called Crime Stoppers to help,” Eisner-Grynberg said.
She had agreed to his being held without bail, at least for now. His attorneys could seek bail later on.
At the request of James’ lawyers, Magistrate Roanne Mann said she would ask for James to get “psychiatric attention,” as well as magnesium tablets for leg cramps, at the federal lockup in Brooklyn where he’s being held.
This image provided by New York Police Department on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, shows suspected subway shooter Frank R. James, 62, leaving a subway station after his attack on a subway train Tuesday. (New York Police Department via AP) In this courtroom sketch, Frank James, seated at center of right table, and on left of the screen, upper right, appears during the brief proceeding in a federal court in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Thursday, April 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams)
Authorities say a trove of evidence connects James to the attack. His bank card, his cellphone and a key to a van he had rented were found at the shooting scene. Officers also found the handgun they said was used in the shooting; tracing records show James purchased the gun from a licensed gun dealer in Ohio in 2011.
In court papers, prosecutors called the shooting calculated, saying that James wore a hard hat and construction worker-style jacket as a disguise and then shed them after the gunfire to avoid recognition. Prosecutors suggested James had the means to carry out more more attacks, noting that he had ammunition and other gun-related items in a Philadelphia storage unit.
The New York City native had been living in Milwaukee and Philadelphia recently.
Investigators were examining many hours of videos that James posted on social media, as recently as Monday, in which he delivered profanity-laced diatribes about racism, society’s treatment of Black people, homelessness and violence. He also discussed his history of psychiatric treatment and complained about how New York’s mayor is dealing with homeless people on subways and with gun violence.
He also talked about shooting people, prosecutors noted in court papers. | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/brooklyn-subway-attack-suspect-ordered-held-without-bail/ | 2022-04-14T20:02:46 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/brooklyn-subway-attack-suspect-ordered-held-without-bail/ |
Man blaming Trump’s ‘orders’ for riot actions awaits verdict
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal jury began deliberating Thursday in the trial of an Ohio man who testified he was “following presidential orders” from Donald Trump when he stormed the U.S. Capitol last year.
Jurors heard attorneys’ closing arguments in the trial of Dustin Byron Thompson, who is charged with obstructing Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory and stealing a coat rack from a Capitol office during the riot on Jan. 6 of last year.
Thompson, 38, of Columbus, Ohio, is the fifth defendant to be tried among hundreds of Capitol riot cases. He is the first to mount a defense blaming Trump and members of the president’s inner circle for the insurrection.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Dreher said that Thompson, a college-educated exterminator who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, knew he was breaking the law when he joined the mob that attacked the Capitol and, in his case, looted the Senate parliamentarian’s office. The prosecutor told jurors that Thompson’s lawyer “wants you to think you have to choose between President Trump and his client.”
“You don’t have to choose because this is not President Trump’s trial. This is the trial for Dustin Thompson because of what he did at the Capitol on the afternoon on Jan. 6,” Dreher said.
Defense attorney Samuel Shamansky said Thompson hasn’t avoided taking responsibility for his conduct that day.
“This shameful chapter in our history is all on TV,” Shamansky told jurors.
But he said Thompson, unemployed and consumed by a steady diet of conspiracy theories, was vulnerable to Trump’s lies about a stolen election. He described Thompson as a “pawn” and Trump as a “gangster” who abused his power to manipulate supporters.
“The vulnerable are seduced by the strong, and that’s what happened here,” Shamansky said.
Thompson’s jury trial is the third among hundreds of Capitol riot cases prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department. In the first two cases, jurors convicted the defendants of all charges.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton barred Thompson’s lawyer from calling Trump and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as trial witnesses. But the judge ruled that jurors could hear recordings of speeches that Trump and Giuliani delivered on Jan. 6, before the riot erupted. A recording of Trump’s remarks was played.
Shamansky claimed that Giuliani incited rioters by encouraging them to engage in “trial by combat” and that Trump provoked the mob by saying that “if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Dreher told jurors that neither Trump nor Giuliani had the authority to “make legal” what Thompson did at the Capitol.
Thompson, who testified on Wednesday, admitted that he joined the mob’s attack and stole the coat rack and a bottle of bourbon from the Senate parliamentarian’s office. He said he regretted his “disgraceful” behavior.
“I can’t believe the things that I did,” he said. “Mob mentality and group think is very real and very dangerous.”
Thompson said he believed Trump’s false claim that the election was stolen and was trying to stand up for the lame duck president.
“If the president is giving you almost an order to do something, I felt obligated to do that,” he testified.
Thompson is charged with six counts: obstructing Congress’ joint session to certify the Electoral College vote, theft of government property, entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
The obstruction count is the only felony charge. The rest are misdemeanors.
Thompson drove from Ohio to Washington with a friend, Robert Lyon, who also was arrested less than a month after the riot. Lyon pleaded guilty in March to two misdemeanors — theft of government property and disorderly conduct — and is to be sentenced June 3.
Thompson and Lyon took an Uber ride into Washington on the morning of Jan. 6. After Trump’s speech, they headed to the Capitol.
Thompson was wearing a bulletproof vest when he entered the building and went to the parliamentarian’s office, The FBI said agents later searched Lyon’s cellphone and found a video that showed a ransacked office and Thompson yelling: “Wooooo! ‘Merica Hey! This is our house!”
“(Trump) didn’t force you to go. He didn’t force you to walk every step of the way to the Capitol building, did he?” Dreher asked Thompson on Wednesday.
“No,” Thompson said.
“You chose to do that?” Dreher asked.
“I was following presidential orders, but yes,” Thompson said.
More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes arising from the riot. Over 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors. Thompson is the fifth person to be tried on riot-related charges.
On Monday, a jury convicted a former Virginia police officer, Thomas Robertson, of storming the Capitol with another off-duty officer. Last month, a jury convicted a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of storming the building with a holstered handgun.
A judge hearing testimony without a jury decided cases against two other Capitol riot defendants at separate bench trials. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden acquitted one of them of all charges and partially acquitted the other.
___
Associated Press reporter Jacques Billeaud contributed from Phoenix.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/man-blaming-trumps-orders-riot-actions-awaits-verdict/ | 2022-04-14T20:02:52 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/man-blaming-trumps-orders-riot-actions-awaits-verdict/ |
Reef Smart snorkel trail map installed at Blue Heron Bridge
A new map installed under the Blue Heron Bridge is making it easier for divers and snorkelers to check out the Phil Foster Park snorkel trail.
The Reef Smart team conducted the 3D mapping and developed the weatherproof shoreline signage that is helping snorkelers and scuba divers get the very most out of their experience at this site.
The rock reef provides habitat for fish, octopus, seahorse and other types of marine life. A trio of hammerhead shark statues are located near the west end of the snorkel trail.
The best time to explore the snorkel trail is at high tide when underwater visibility is the clearest.
To get a waterproof dive card of Blue Heron Bridge and Phil Foster Park Snorkel Trail, click here.
To learn more about the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management's Artificial Reef Program, click here.
Scripps Only Content 2022 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/reef-smart-snorkel-trail-map-installed-blue-heron-bridge/ | 2022-04-14T20:02:59 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/14/reef-smart-snorkel-trail-map-installed-blue-heron-bridge/ |
DURANGO, Colo., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A sprawling Colorado ranch recently priced at $20 million has been scheduled for sale at luxury auction® without reserve, according to Platinum Luxury Auctions, the Miami-based luxury real estate auction house that is managing the sale. Platinum is working in cooperation with the property's listing brokerage of record, The Wells Group, in Durango, CO. Wells is represented by listing agents Abbi Munn and Joe Bob McGuire, who previously worked with Platinum for the successful luxury auction of Durango's Beaumont Ranch in 2019.
The 200-acre property is located in Durango, the relatively small but increasingly popular Colorado city located about 350 miles southwest of Denver. Named the Ute Junction Ranch as a nod to the 1,500 acres of protected Ute Mountain Tribe lands that border it, the property hit the market about one year ago at a listing price of $19.995 million. Now, however, it will be sold to the auction's highest bidder on the scheduled sale date of May 6, 2022. Bidders must register to qualify for the auction, and once registered, may participate in the live, real-time bidding process either in person or remotely, via audio/video feed.
The ranch includes a luxurious main residence, 2 separate guesthouses (each with 3 beds and 2 full baths), 2 heated barns and an additional horse barn with a fenced pasture. The approximately 197.13-acre assemblage is comprised of 5 contiguous parcels, which can be subdivided should the future owner chose to do so.
While the auction house explained the method of the auction makes the eventual sales price entirely up the bidders, Platinum's president and founder, Trayor Lesnock, stated the sellers spent "nearly every bit of the list price" to acquire the parcels and custom build the ranch's main estate in 2012. "The sellers' substantial investment in creating the property is readily visible when touring the home," Lesnock added. "The blend of structural integrity and fine finishes throughout the residence makes it a luxurious yet welcoming ranch retreat that is built for the ages."
To be sure, the main residence's construction features a Minnesota limestone exterior applied over layers of poured and reinforced concrete – essentially "commercial-grade" construction. It's three living levels span 16,000 interior square feet, and include 7 bedrooms, 7 full and 3 half baths. Interior finishes include exposed wood beams, Venetian plaster walls, tile and marble flooring, and custom-milled baseboards and molding.
The property owners, Chicago natives who planned the home as a retreat for their large family, retained acclaimed architect Phillip Liederbach of Chicago's Liederbach & Graham Architects for its design. The home was completed in just under 3 years.
Other notable residence features include a gourmet kitchen, private elevator servicing all living levels, 3,000-bottle wine room, a solarium/conservatory with stone walls and copper roofing, a fitness center, and a large primary bedroom suite. Adjacent to the bedroom is an office suite for two, which includes a kitchenette, half-bath and adjoining artist's room. Special touches, like using cobbled stone reclaimed from Chicago's State and McKinzie Streets for the arrival courtyard, add character and charm to the residence.
Ute Junction Ranch enjoys ample privacy yet is located just 20 minutes from of the heart of downtown Durango. Situated near the base of the beautiful La Plata Mountain range, the property enjoys striking mountain views and acreage that is gently rolling and comfortably walkable. The property also conveys with extensive water rights. World-class ski venues like Purgatory are nearby, while Telluride and Wolf Creek are within a modest drive.
Previews of the property are available daily and by appointment until May 5, the day prior to the luxury auction. Those wishing to view the ranch may contact Platinum's project manager, Walter Cerini, at 800-997-4235. Informational brochures, photos and videography of Ute Junction Ranch are also available online, at DurangoLuxuryAuction.com.
About Platinum Luxury Auctions: Platinum Luxury Auctions developed the luxury auction® concept for multimillion-dollar real estate auctions and owns the federal trademark rights to the term(s) "luxury auction(s)." The firm specializes in the non-distressed sale of luxury properties within and beyond the United States. Platinum's team has closed more than $1.075 billion in luxury real estate auction sales to date, while consulting on more than $2.85 billion in additional luxury property assets.
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SOURCE Platinum Luxury Auctions LLC | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/200-acre-colorado-ranch-asking-20-million-now-selling-luxury-auction-may-6/ | 2022-04-14T20:03:05 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/200-acre-colorado-ranch-asking-20-million-now-selling-luxury-auction-may-6/ |
MIAMI, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 275 FontaineParc, developed and owned by Marlon Gomez of Gomez Development Group and Emir Dereli of the Dereli Family Office, has sold its' 133 unit Class A multifamily property to the billion dollar private real estate firm Harbor Group International for a record shattering $50 Million Dollars marking this as the highest price paid per door at $379,939 for a mid-rise apartment complex in western Miami Dade, the property is located at 275 Fontainebleau Blvd. Miami, FL 33172.
Construction of the property was completed at the beginning of 2020. The 7 story mid rise amenities include a community pool, fitness training center and covered parking for its residents. It fully leased up and stabilized over a six month period during the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. It is currently operating at 100% occupancy while achieving some of the highest rental rates for this submarket.
The developer indicated that after carefully considering all the recent market data, the significant cap rate compression trending to sub 3% which had taken place over the past year and the opportunity to gain substantial profits to redeploy into many other projects in its' pipeline; it made sense that this was the right time to successfully exit this investment.
"FontaineParc was a very special project to us, it is in a great location for long term growth but having the opportunity to generate some of the highest returns this type of asset can achieve for our investment partners and ourselves made this the right financial decision. If we were going to sell in this market it had to be at a premium and that's exactly what we achieved at $50 million dollars. We believe that development is one of the most profitable and risk adjusted investments for our company. We see the significant difference between project cost and market values and we will continue to create projects in South Florida as the market continues to demand it for years to come. Our firm will be opening our investment fund to others so they may participate in these types of opportunities" Gomez said.
FontaineParc paid off the existing $27.5 Million Dollar loan it had in place with its' lender Benefit Street Realty Trust which it placed in October 2020.
In a sign of the times for the insatiable appetite for multifamily properties and not many opportunities such as this one, the buyer executed quickly and consummated the deal without flaw. It was a true pleasure working with such a professional company in HGI the seller said. Representing the seller in this transaction was Holland Knight with Westwood Realty Associates and FM Capital facilitating the deal.
Gomez Development recently closed on a $45 million dollar construction loan for a medical office building next to Aventura hospital which is set to break ground this summer and has over 1,100 multifamily units in its development pipeline.
Dereli family office has been the anchor partner with Fort Partners for project such as The Surf Club Four Seasons Hotel & Residence, Ft. Lauderdale Four Seasons Hotel & Residence and The Palm Beach Four Season. The office is currently working on The Seaway, the next phase of condominium development North of Surf Club Residences and currently in process to announce its next multifamily development in Overtown with 430 units.
Harbor Group in a separate closing last month paid roughly $450 million dollars for the Brightline train station apartments in downtown Miami and $100 million to acquire Doral City Place.
The South Florida market continues on its upward demand trajectory for quality multifamily communities for residents and investors alike.
Media Contact: Marlon Gomez, marlon@gomezdevelopmentgroup.com
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NEW YORK, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- O'Dwyers, a leading public relations industry publication, has officially released its annual PR rankings, naming 5WPR the 10th largest public relations agency in the US.
For the last 52 years, O'Dwyer's has been ranking PR agencies based on their fees, and has verified by reviewing PR firm income statements. 5WPR ended 2021 with a 31% growth in revenue over the previous year.
"5WPR has made the most of recent circumstances, expanding beyond Manhattan to welcome talent from across the country and open our first Miami office," said 5WPR Co-CEO, Dara A. Busch.
"Our agency's entrepreneurial mindset allowed us to adapt as a top competitor within the industry. We look forward to embarking on another year of continued growth and success," added 5WPR Co-CEO, Matthew A. Caiola.
In addition to this recognition, 5WPR was recently awarded top Public Relations Company by The Manifest, named to the 2021 Clutch 1000 list, as well as receiving numerous additional accolades including being awarded the Grand Stevie Award for Most Honored Public Relations Agency in the 19th Annual American Business Awards®.
About 5WPR
5W Public Relations is a full-service PR agency in NYC known for cutting-edge programs that engage with businesses, issues and ideas. With more than 250 professionals serving clients in B2C (Beauty & Fashion, Consumer Brands, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Hospitality, Technology, Nonprofit), B2B (Corporate Communications and Reputation Management), Public Affairs, Crisis Communications and Digital Marketing (Social Media, Influencer, Paid Media, SEO). 5W was awarded 2020 PR Agency of The Year and brings leading businesses a resourceful, bold and results-driven approach to communication.
Media Contact:
Matthew Caiola
mcaiola@5wpr.com / 212.999.5585
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AllianceBernstein L.P. and AllianceBernstein Holding L.P. (NYSE: AB) today announced that First Quarter 2022 financial and operating results will be released on Friday, April 29, 2022. Management will conduct a teleconference beginning at 8:00 am (CT), following the release of its financial results. The call will be hosted by Seth Bernstein, President and Chief Executive Officer; William Siemers, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Controller & Chief Accounting Officer; and Catherine Burke, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Private Wealth.
Parties may access the conference call by either webcast or telephone:
- To listen by webcast, please visit AB's Investor Relations website at http://www.alliancebernstein.com/investorrelations at least 15 minutes prior to the call to download and install any necessary audio software.
- To listen by telephone, please dial (833) 495-0952 in the US, or (409) 216-0498 from outside the US, 10 minutes before the 8:00 am (CT) scheduled start time. The conference ID# is 1693987.
The presentation that will be reviewed during the conference call will be available on AB's Investor Relations website shortly after the release of First Quarter 2022 financial and operating results on April 29, 2022.
A replay of the webcast will be made available beginning approximately one hour after the completion of the conference call on April 29, 2022 and will remain on AB's website for two weeks. An audio replay of the conference call will also be available for two weeks. To access the audio replay, please call (855) 859-2056 in the US, or (404) 537-3406 from outside the US, and provide the conference ID#: 1693987.
About AllianceBernstein
AllianceBernstein is a leading global investment management firm that offers high-quality research and diversified investment services to institutional investors, individuals and private wealth clients in major world markets.
As of March 31, 2022, including both the general partnership and limited partnership interests in AllianceBernstein, AllianceBernstein Holding owned approximately 36.3% of AllianceBernstein and Equitable Holdings, Inc. ("EQH"), directly and through various subsidiaries, owned an approximate 64.5% economic interest in AllianceBernstein.
Additional information about AB may be found on our website, www.alliancebernstein.com.
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SOURCE AllianceBernstein | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/ab-report-first-quarter-2022-results-april-29-2022/ | 2022-04-14T20:03:27 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/ab-report-first-quarter-2022-results-april-29-2022/ |
Veterinarians to Learn How Integrative and Conventional Medicine can be Combined to Treat Patients with Life Impacting Disease
ORLANDO, Fla., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Acupuncture, herbal medicine and other non-traditional options are growing in popularity for treating pets with cancer, chronic renal failure, severe pain associated with chronic arthritis and other ailments, even extending life for geriatric patients and improving quality of life.
Acupuncture for geriatric patients, cancer treatments that start with herbs and nutrition, and alternative treatments for common neurologic conditions are among the topics veterinarians from around the world will learn about from veterinary experts during the "Level Up: Integrative Medicine" virtual summit, presented by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 19 and 21.
"As many people are open to integrative medicine to treat illness in humans, the same approaches are now being applied to help our pets live longer and enjoy a better quality of life," said Dana Varble, DVM, CAE, NAVC's Chief Veterinary Officer. "The Level Up virtual summits are another example of how the NAVC is opening the door for veterinary professionals everywhere to learn about advances in animal healthcare that can be used immediately in their practices."
Acupuncture offers an alternative treatment option for geriatric patients where conventional treatments may be difficult. During the session "Integrative Approach to Geriatric Patients," Huisheng Xie, BSvm, MS, PhD, professor of the Chi University, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Florida and the China Agricultural University, will discuss how acupuncture can relieve pain, alleviate other illness and extend an animal's life with a better quality of life.
"Quality of life in geriatric animals is one of the top concerns for pet owners and their veterinarians. Acupuncture works on the whole body by stimulating multiple internal systems that help the body respond to help with pain and even repair damaged tissue," said Dr. Xie. "What we achieve with acupuncture is that the animal maintains the highest quality of life as long as possible before the end of life which we can often extend another three to five years."
"Level Up: Integrative Medicine" summit attendees will also learn about integrative treatments for common neurologic conditions observed in general veterinary practice. Deanne Zenoni, DVM, CVSMT, CVMRT, CVA, an associate veterinarian at Tops Veterinary Rehabilitation and Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital as well as an instructor at the Healing Oasis, will lead an in-depth discussion about how exercise and hydrotherapy can be used to treat patients with degenerative myelopathy, a disease affecting the spinal cord which can lead to lameness, difficulty with stairs or reluctance to do certain activities.
"Just like in people, we target weak areas and work to help the dog maintain or regain independent mobility. Hydrotherapy is a whole body strengthening due to the resistance of the water but the buoyancy and warmth helps with improved weight bearing and range of motion of the pet," said Dr. Zenoni. "Exercises are something that can be done at home as part of the daily routine as well."
Additionally, summit attendees will learn how herbal medicine and diet can help a pet with a cancer diagnosis. Nicole Sheehan, DVM, CVA, CVCH, CVFT, MATP, owner of Whole Pet Animal Hospitals, will present a two-part lecture that addresses how herbs and nutrition are used, in addition to conventional treatments, to improve quality of life, maximize survival times, and provide practical strategies for pet owners to contribute to the healing process at home.
"Level Up" is a new series of virtual events developed by the NAVC and hosted on their virtual education platform, VetFolio, to help veterinary professionals take their careers to the next level. Registrants can receive up to four hours of continuing education. Click here to register.
About the NAVC
The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. The world's leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal medicine and provide the best medical care for animals everywhere. Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed a diverse portfolio of products and services, including: educational events, headlined by VMX, the world's largest, most comprehensive continuing education conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within the veterinary industry; a robust digital platform for virtual learning and engagement; the veterinary industry's largest and award-winning portfolio of trade publications; and an advocacy arm which unites the veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando Sentinel. To learn more about the NAVC's products and brands, visit https://navc.com/. To see our schedule of upcoming events, visit https://navc.com/calendar/.
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AdCellerant makes quality digital marketing accessible to every business
DENVER, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AdCellerant today announced it has been named a winner in the 2022 Excellence in Customer Service Award presented by Business Intelligence Group.
AdCellerant is an award-winning tech-enabled services company focused on bringing Madison Avenue-level digital marketing solutions to Main Street businesses. We provide technology and marketing that make the complex simple.
"Customer service professionals and suppliers have had to make significant changes to adapt to our evolving world," said Maria Jimenez, chief nominations officer of the Business Intelligence Group. "It is our honor to recognize AdCellerant as they are leading by example and making real progress on improving the daily lives of so many."
The Excellence in Customer Service Awards celebrates those who are winning by supporting their own customers and those who are developing the tools to help others find success. Awards were given out to consultants, outsourced partners, and technology providers for superior performances in the past 12 months.
About AdCellerant
AdCellerant provides businesses access to high-quality digital marketing technology and solutions through partnerships with media companies and agencies. Focused on generating results and growth for businesses of all sizes, AdCellerant offers best-in-class technology and software, award-winning customer service, expert education, and exceptional operational support to ensure campaign performance for customers.
Leveraging proprietary technology Ui.Marketing, AdCellerant effectively connects businesses with their ideal customer at the right time. Harnessing an easy-to-use and nimble digital advertising tool users can manage the entire buyer's journey from quick and accurate comprehensive proposal creation, campaign launch, and campaign performance. All within a single platform.
For more information, or to book a demo, visit www.adcellerant.com.
About Business Intelligence Group www.bintelligence.com
The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, these programs are judged by business executives having experience and knowledge. The organization's proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.
Contact information:
Meghan Brito
Senior Vice President of Marketing
mbrito@adcellerant.com
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SOURCE AdCellerant LLC | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/adcellerant-wins-2022-excellence-customer-service-award/ | 2022-04-14T20:03:41 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/adcellerant-wins-2022-excellence-customer-service-award/ |
100% cloud-native platform expedites launch of multi-language services
CHENNAI, India and TORONTO, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - On the heels of its successful transformation to aha 2.0 last year for Telugu audiences, India's aha streaming service intends to significantly increase its potential market footprint by using the same backend to deliver localized services to the Tamil audiences .
Using Firstlight Media's cloud-native OTT platform and multi-dynamic storefront technology, aha is delivering its entire content catalog to both Telugu and Tamil language audiences, while dramatically optimizing costs and time to market. The award-winning Firstlight Media technology runs on Google Cloud and is the backbone of aha's first-to-market "glocal" strategy.
More than 70 million Tamil speakers worldwide now have the ability to access the same features that have been available since launch to 75 million Telugu speakers: fast, smooth, smart aha 2.0 experiences across multiple devices including mobiles, tablets, browsers, SmartTVs (miTV, AndroidTV, Samsung, LG, ROKU), and connected devices (AppleTV, FireTV, ROKU); enhanced personalization, customized recommendations, and exclusive content—all supported by flexible monetization options depending on customer preference and profile.
"Rapid and cost-effective entry into new regions is something that could only be supported by a 100% cloud-native platform," said Ajit Thakur, CEO of aha. "Firstlight Media provides us with the ability to engage viewers in each market on their own terms, without the time and expense of creating an entirely new backend for each language or region. It also enables us to offer combo packs in Telugu and Tamil with 4K and Dolby through our Special Plan, which will be a super attractive feature for dual language speakers."
aha's lineup of blockbuster content for the 2.0 service includes digital premieres of highly anticipated Tamil shows and films acquired and produced specifically for the aha 2.0 platform. The lineage of Aha's includes the uniquely packaged "Writer" blended with a strong lineup of originals like Akashvani, IRAI that sizzle the netizens with unique story plots that make the service bingeworthy and present the audience with one chartbuster after another.
"aha's visionary approach is to maximize the value of an outstanding content lineup not only in Telugu but also in Tamil, using the flexibility, agility, and scalability of a true cloud-based platform from Firstlight Media," said Goutham Vinjamuri, COO and Co-Founder of Firstlight Media. "We're giving aha 2.0 a competitive edge by enabling them to ideate new features and capitalize on new business opportunities in days and weeks, not months and years."
Firstlight Media's OTT architecture uses a sophisticated, cloud-native technology stack to power the aha platform from end-to-end, enabling rapid time-to-market; reducing cost and effort by more than 40%; and future proofing aha to enable capitalization on new trends and markets. The aha 2.0 platform, powered by Firstlight Media's OTT architecture, runs on Google Cloud.
Launched in 2020, aha is an Indian video-on-demand streaming service that provides 100% local entertainment. It started out with a 100% telugu OTT and has seen great success across the world with its extensive content slate that includes original programming of web series and movies, with a new release every friday. Fulfilling its promise of 100% Local entertainment, aha has recently launched aha Tamil which has 100% Tamil Web series and movies. Aha is owned by Arha Media & Broadcasting Private Limited, a joint venture by Geetha Arts and My Home Group. Aha creates original Telugu content across various formats that include movies, web-series, and non-fiction shows.
Firstlight Media is expediting OTT's transformation to ultra-scalable, cloud-based platforms that use artificial intelligence to drive true engagement and monetization for Tier 1 operators. Founded by a team with deep OTT video expertise and a strong track record of building successful B2B businesses, Firstlight Media is poised to capture the next wave of growth in premium OTT entertainment services. The company is headquartered in Toronto and has additional locations in Los Angeles, San Diego and Chennai, India. For more information, visit firstlight.ai.
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National award honors six individuals in New York and Iowa for their unwavering dedication to protecting dogs in puppy mills
NEW YORK, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced the six recipients of its annual "Champion for Animals" award, honoring law enforcement, animal welfare professionals, and public officials for their exceptional work to tackle animal cruelty across the country. The announcement comes during Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about animal abuse and encouraging the public to recognize and report suspected animal cruelty.
"This year's ASPCA 'Champion for Animals' Award recipients share a deep commitment to helping and protecting victims of animal cruelty through on-the-ground rescue work and effective state legislation," said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and CEO. "We honor their dedication and accomplishments, and hope these efforts inspire even more acts of compassion to support animals in need."
The 2022 ASPCA "Champion for Animals" recipients are:
New York State Lawmakers, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan) and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) for their outstanding leadership in advancing legislation to shut down the puppy mill pipeline. New York State has one of the country's highest number of puppy-selling pet stores, which source puppies from out-of-state, low-welfare commercial breeders like Daniel Gingerich, a USDA-licensed breeder who operated in Iowa, and was allowed to continue selling puppies to New York stores after racking up almost 200 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act. This broken system is allowed to flourish because in New York State, it's still legal to sell dogs from breeders like Gingerich. To better protect consumers, public health, and animal welfare in New York State, Senator Gianaris and Assemblymember Rosenthal introduced the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill to end the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in New York pet stores, which would strike a major blow to the cruel, deceptive, and outdated part of the pet industry. The lawmakers were celebrated during an award presentation in New York City yesterday, joined by ASPCA staff and animal welfare advocates.
Robyn Dobernecker, Joe Stafford, Tina Updegrove and Megan Wiedmann with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, all who played an instrumental role in the removal of more than 500 dogs living in horrific conditions at a USDA-breeding facility in Iowa last year. Together, the four of them brought more than 100 years of experience to this operation which proved to be invaluable in saving the lives of so many animals. The four ARL of Iowa recipients were recognized during an award presentation held at their facility yesterday, during Animal Control Offer Appreciation Week, with remarks from ASPCA representatives and U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), who introduced federal legislation in response to this disturbing case to require better protection for dogs in puppy mills. Special guest Doree, a four-year-old golden retriever rescued from the case last year who has since been adopted into a safe, loving home, was also in attendance.
The USDA is responsible for ensuring that the commercial breeding facilities they license are meeting the standards set forth in the Animal Welfare Act and taking enforcement actions against those that violate the law. However, the agency has failed to fulfill its obligation, putting vulnerable animals at risk.
Along with responding to largescale cases of animal cruelty, such as the recent breeding operation in Iowa, the ASPCA works with local, state, and federal legislators to help enact meaningful protections for animals, including dogs suffering in commercial breeding facilities. In December, the ASPCA supported the introduction of Goldie's Act, which would ensure the USDA does its job and protects the animals in its care.
Photos from Awards Presentations: https://aspca.box.com/s/gmrc4xgc82wq11uy0cdkvousj2e3650u
About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation's leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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ASQ's quality-based certifications are the only quality industry certifications to earn this global recognition by ANSI
MILWAUKEE, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ASQE has earned accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board against the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17024. ASQ's quality-based certifications are the only quality industry certifications to earn such global recognition by ANSI, which separates ASQ from the competition and distinguishes quality professionals.
Specifically, it indicates that these ASQ quality certifications have achieved the most respected and internationally accepted standards for personnel certification bodies:
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)
- Certified Manager of Quality, Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
- Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
- Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (SSBB)
"Accreditation is not just an award – it's critical to ensuring that there is an effective quality management system that affords greater process control, reduces risk, and ultimately results in increased customer satisfaction and sustainability of our products and services," said ASQE CEO, Jim Templin.
Accreditation is a formal, independent verification where a program or organization meets established quality standards and is competent to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks for Certification. ISO/IEC 17024 sets the requirements and the framework, at a global level, for the operation of personnel certification bodies.
"In an ever-increasing competitive market, customers are often unaware of misrepresentation of 'certification' versus a 'certificate' and having a reputable recognized third-party accreditation, such as ISO/IEC 17024, is necessary for credibility, protects the customer's investment, and offers reassurance that there is independent oversight," said ASQE Executive Director,Certification Operations, Michael Byrnes. "The very symbol of ISO signals to an employer that the credential holder has undergone a valid, fair, and reliable assessment to verify that they have the necessary competencies to practice."
ASQ and ASQE collectively empower the world to achieve excellence through quality. While the certifications are branded ASQ, ASQE is the engine powering the certification process. Since 1968 ASQ has been a global leader in quality certification.
About ASQE ASQExcellence (ASQE) was founded in January 2020 as a trade association whose mission is to set the standard for quality-driven offerings and insights worldwide, inspiring the organizations it serves to achieve excellence.
ASQE provides expertise, insights, thought leadership, networks and solutions to a global membership of organizations and their affiliated individuals representing more than 130 countries. ASQE is a registered trademark of ASQ and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., USA.
About ASQ
ASQ is the leading membership association to help quality professionals achieve their career goals and drive excellence through quality in their organizations and industries.
ASQ provides expertise, knowledge, networks, and solutions to a global membership of over 55,000 individuals spanning more than 130 countries. ASQ was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., USA.
Contact:
Andrea Kozek
akozek@asq.org
414-247-2066
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SOURCE ASQE | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/asq-certifications-earn-international-isoiec-17024-accreditation/ | 2022-04-14T20:04:01 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/asq-certifications-earn-international-isoiec-17024-accreditation/ |
Tax exemption for uniformed services retirees and surviving spouses will benefit California
REDLANDS, Calif., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) joined with servicemembers and veterans on Friday, April 8, in Redlands, Calif., to rally support for his bill, AB 1623, which would provide state tax exemptions for retired members of the uniformed services at age 60, as well as their survivors who receive Department of Defense survivor benefits.
"The California Council of Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America (CALMOAA) is proud to support this bill, and we are fortunate to have Assemblyman Ramos as the author of AB 1623, which has long been our top legislative priority," said CALMOAA President Lt. Cmdr. E. Fred Green, USN (Ret).
The bill awaits a decision from the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee before continuing through the legislative process.
"The show of support here today from the local military and veteran community shows that the time has come for California to join the 46 other states that currently have some form of state tax exemption for military retirement pay," said Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Breiten, USN (Ret), CALMOAA's legislative chair.
A 2018 analysis of the issue by the San Diego Military Advisory Council showed California would increase state and local revenue by exempting military pension benefits from state income tax. Retaining and attracting military retirees would increase the state's total income and sales tax receipts. The state is in competition for a highly skilled, mature, and disciplined workforce, and such men and women exist in the retired military community. California is losing this talent and income to other states offering incentives for military retirees to relocate.
About MOAA
The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a nonprofit organization with national headquarters in Alexandria, Va. It is operated exclusively for purposes beneficial to the interests of the nation and its uniformed services personnel, their family members, and survivors. The California Council of Chapters (CALMOAA) is an affiliate of MOAA.
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SOURCE California Council of Chapters, Military Officers Association of America (CALMOAA) | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/assemblyman-ramos-calmoaa-veterans-gather-support-ab-1623/ | 2022-04-14T20:04:07 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/assemblyman-ramos-calmoaa-veterans-gather-support-ab-1623/ |
CHANDLER, Ariz., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Get ready for a whole new way to shop and enjoy personal support with BestwayUSA.com. Recently launched, BestwayUSA.com includes some of Bestway's most popular inflatables and outdoor recreational items to bring more fun and memories to homes across the country.
Featuring a new shopping experience on a state-of-the-art web platform, customers can now shop many popular products and get information on Bestway's wide selection, including H2OGO!® swim rings and floats, above ground pools, pool accessories and more.
A key hub for customer support for products, warranty and replacement parts, BestwayUSA.com includes a streamlined return process, improved warranty registration area and more ways to get in touch with our dedicated, responsive customer service team.
Energizing and innovating the shopping experience on BestwayUSA.com to help families add a splash of fun and adventure to their lives with our inflatable products is just one of the ways Bestway USA is living out its core values daily.
"I'm thrilled to announce the launch of our new website, BestwayUSA.com. We wanted to offer customers a new online shopping experience that further strengthens our relationships with those who love making memories with their families, and adventuring with our recreational products," shares Bestway USA's Ecommerce Director Michael Wyss. "Explore our new site and go see all the exciting innovations we have at Bestway USA."
Bestway USA began with a simple beach ball all those years ago. Now, we're proud to be fulfilling our mission to create happy customers, happy employees and a happy world through our imaginative products and services. At Bestway USA, your fun is our business™, and the best is yet to come!
Originally founded in Shanghai in 1994, Bestway® has created high quality and innovative recreational products for nearly 30 years. Today, Bestway sells more than 1,100 different products in 110 countries across six continents across the globe. All product development centers and manufacturing factories are wholly owned by the company, ensuring top notch products at great price points. Awarded Best Climate Change Performance - China, Bestway® is also committed to sustainable business practices that are environmentally friendly.
CONTACT:
marketing@bestwaycorp.us
# # #
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SOURCE Bestway (USA) Inc. | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/bestway-usa-launches-new-website-amp-more-products-shop/ | 2022-04-14T20:04:16 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/bestway-usa-launches-new-website-amp-more-products-shop/ |
Financial Services Provider Takes Steps to Enhance Financial Flexibility and Support Crew Members Amidst Ongoing Global Disruption
ATLANTA, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brightwell, a FinTech company that helps global workers get paid, as well as send and spend money safely and easily worldwide, today announced that it will be enacting several measures to support global crew members, including halting automatic pay transfers, increasing the maximum balance on a card, working with clients to add additional payroll currencies, and reducing fees for OnDemand transfers.
US government sanctions against Russian banks coupled with Ukrainian restrictions on the Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions have made it difficult for global crew members to receive and send payments to their families and dependents.
In response, Brightwell is increasing maximum account balances, allowing users to save their salaries in their accounts for future use.
"As a global company supporting crew members around the world, we understand that geopolitical realities can complicate finances for crew members. Our 'Users First' motto drives Brightwell, and our hearts are with those impacted by today's devastating and disruptive realities." said Larry Hipp, Brightwell's chief executive officer. "We want to continue doing everything possible to stay connected with our customers affected by this ongoing conflict."
Brightwell is diverting resources to aid humanitarian payments while expanding their solution for crew members not previously paid using Brightwell's account services. In addition, the company is preventing transfers from going to sanctioned regions, while offering a "fee free" promotion for eligible passport holders.
This proactive response kept crew members' money in their Brightwell accounts, protecting them from prolonged or even impossible efforts to recoup those valuable financial resources amidst the continuing conflict. As a result, Brightwell members can continue accessing and spending these funds using their Brightwell cards, or they can save their money to send home in a lump sum when possible.
To further help global crew members safely and reliably send money to their families, Brightwell is reimbursing the transaction fees for eligible accounts, ensuring that all available resources are directed toward Ukrainian workers and their families. While the fee will be paid for the immediate transfer, Brightwell will reimburse the transaction fee until the end of the month.
About Brightwell
Brightwell is a FinTech company that helps global workers get paid, as well as send and spend money safely and easily worldwide. Driven by a mission to create products that serve the financial needs of crews, Brightwell helps global workers safely manage their money. Brightwell's cutting-edge products reduce costs, improve security and streamline cash management and its easy-to-use mobile app, prepaid card and integrated global transfer services comprise a powerful suite of secure financial management tools that empower global workers. For more information, visit www.brightwell.com.
Press Inquiries:
Kathy Berardi
678.644.4122
kberardi@carabinercomms.com
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SOURCE Brightwell | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/brightwell-announces-free-monetary-transfers-other-measures-support-global-crew-members-time-crisis/ | 2022-04-14T20:04:23 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/brightwell-announces-free-monetary-transfers-other-measures-support-global-crew-members-time-crisis/ |
NEW YORK, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dechert LLP has named partners Catherine Botticelli and Jonathan Streeter as co-chairs of the firm's global litigation practice group. They ascend to the role following former litigation chair Hector Gonzalez's successful confirmation as a federal judge in the Eastern District of New York. The duo will continue the group's strategic approach – to navigate successfully the largest and most challenging disputes in the world with diverse and talented teams.
Andrew Levander, chair of the firm's Policy Committee and a partner in the white collar and securities litigation group, commented: "We are grateful for all the work that Hector has done to lead and grow our litigation practice, especially during the challenging years of the pandemic, and we are very fortunate to have experienced and skilled litigators like Cathy and Jon ready to step in and take the reins as co-chairs of the global litigation practice. Under their stewardship, Dechert will continue to advise clients on their most critical and complex litigation matters."
The global litigation practice will build on previous successes including representing Airbus in a precedent-setting global settlement; leading what has become the largest multi-district litigation in history for 3M; advising Apollo's board in a reputation-critical investigation; securing a highly-favorable resolution for Marriott in its long-running antitrust litigation; achieving victory for Afilias in a significant internet governance arbitration; and leading the defense of voter rights in multiple states among many other client successes.
Ms. Botticelli represents financial services firms and corporations, as well as their boards, board committees, officers, directors and employees before the SEC, FINRA and various state regulators. She has extensive experience conducting internal investigations in the public company and asset management areas and advising audit committees and special litigation committees. Ms. Botticelli has held various leadership positions at the firm including, deputy chair of Talent, co-chair of the firm's Financial Services and Securities Litigation Committee, and chair of the firm's Partnership Promotion Committee. She is also a long-serving member of the firm's Policy Committee.
Mr. Streeter focuses his practice on white collar and securities litigation matters, trial practice, complex business disputes, internal investigations and DOJ, SEC, CFTC and other government agency enforcement actions. He represents companies, financial institutions and individuals in government investigations, civil litigation, internal investigations and at trial. During the course of his career he has tried eighteen federal jury trials and two bench trials. He also has significant appellate experience, having successfully briefed and argued sixteen appeals before the Second Circuit. Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Streeter served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York. He also served as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and on the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. In those roles, he investigated and prosecuted a wide array of federal securities fraud offenses and coordinated parallel civil proceedings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Committed to providing clients with top talent from diverse backgrounds, Dechert's global litigation practice has continued its strategic expansion with the recent additions of white collar heavyweight Judith Seddon in London; former First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Clare Pozos in Philadelphia; former federal prosecutor Hartley West in San Francisco; a product liability trial team led by Kimberly Branscome and Jay Bhimani in Los Angeles; and IP litigators Jennifer Swan in Silicon Valley and Howard Levine in Washington, D.C.
Dechert's global litigation practice is comprised of more than 350 lawyers in the United States, Europe and Asia combining the knowledge and expertise of former prosecutors and government officials, top litigators from top-ranked firms and amazing homegrown talent.
Dechert is ranked among the top 30 firms for investigations by Global Investigations Review (2021) and in the top tiers for white collar crime in the UK and U.S. by The Legal 500 and Chambers (2022). The group has won a number of accolades, including White Collar Practice Group of the Year by Law360; Conduct, Enforcement or Business Crime Team of the Year by The Lawyer Awards; Investigation Team of the Year by C5 Women in Compliance Awards; International Litigation and Disputes Team of the Year at the British Legal Awards; Best Provider Collaboration by American Lawyer; and Most Important Development of the Year (for the Airbus settlement) by Global Investigations Review Awards (2020).
About Dechert
Dechert is a leading global law firm with 22 offices around the world. The firm advises on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity, and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.
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SOURCE Dechert LLP | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/catherine-botticelli-jonathan-streeter-named-co-chairs-decherts-global-litigation-practice/ | 2022-04-14T20:04:30 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/catherine-botticelli-jonathan-streeter-named-co-chairs-decherts-global-litigation-practice/ |
WASHINGTON, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) announced today that it has named Joseph Feese as Director of Public Relations, where he will be responsible for managing the organization's external communications and media relations functions.
Based in CFP Board's Washington, D.C. headquarters, Feese will lead efforts to support CFP Board's strategic priorities by crafting narratives that bolster the reputation of the organization and enhance the value proposition of the CFP® certification among media, industry, thought leaders and policymakers. He will directly oversee and manage activities for public relations collaboratively with CFP Board's subject matter experts and departments. Feese will report to Managing Director, Marketing & Communications James N. Katsaounis.
"Joe brings extensive media relations and integrated communication expertise that will greatly strengthen CFP Board's marketing and communications capabilities," said CFP Board CEO Kevin R. Keller, CAE. "We welcome Joe's fresh perspective as we execute against our strategic plan. His accumulated experience will make him a key resource for CFP Board as we raise awareness of and advance the financial planning profession."
Feese joins CFP Board from the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), where he led content strategy and development, directed public relations campaigns, and implemented social media strategies to ensure brand consistency. Prior to ETA, he served as Director of Communications at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, where he led a team in the planning, creation, and execution of omnichannel campaigns that supported professional association membership and grew stakeholder engagement. Feese has also served as Vice President at Griffin & Company/LMO, Principal at Heyday PR, independent strategic communications consultant, and journalist.
Feese holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is a professional body for personal financial planners in the U.S. CFP Board sets standards for financial planning and administers the prestigious CFP® certification – one of the most respected certifications in financial services – so that the public has access to and benefits from competent and ethical financial planning. CFP Board, along with its Center for Financial Planning, is committed to increasing the public's awareness of CFP® certification and access to a diverse, ethical and competent financial planning workforce. Widely recognized by firms as the standard for financial planning, CFP® certification is held by more than 92,000 people in the United States.
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SOURCE Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/cfp-board-appoints-joseph-feese-director-public-relations/ | 2022-04-14T20:04:37 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/cfp-board-appoints-joseph-feese-director-public-relations/ |
PORTAGE, Mich., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles Zhang, CFP® has once again been ranked the #1 advisor in the state of Michigan according to Forbes, who recently released their 2022 Best-In-State Wealth Advisor list. Every year since the inception of Forbes' Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list, Charles has been the #1 ranked advisor in the state of Michigan. The annual ranking list spotlights the nation's top-performing advisors, evaluated based on a methodology developed by SHOOK Research. Advisors are also evaluated based on personal interviews, industry experience and revenue trends, among other criteria.*
Charles was also recently featured on Forbes' website with an exclusive interview, where he talks about his criteria for taking new clients. One of the most important criteria that he mentions is working with "nice, reasonable people. I always tell new prospects to make sure I like them, and they like me. This is very important." It's evident that relationship building has been instrumental to Charles and his firm's success.
Charles Zhang is the Founder and President of Zhang Financial, a fee-only wealth management group headquartered in southwest Michigan. He, along with his wife and Chief Executive Officer, Lynn Chen-Zhang, have built a firm with $4.7 billion in assets under management.
Another important reason for Zhang Financial's success, according to Charles, is the fee-only compensation structure that the firm has implemented with all clients. A fee-only advisor is defined as one who is compensated solely from the client. Neither the advisor, or any related party, may receive compensation contingent on the purchase or sale of a financial product.
Unlike Charles and Zhang Financial, the overwhelming majority of financial advisors are sellers of financial products. Some or all of their income may be dependent upon their ability to steer clients into a limited number of financial products. This inherent conflict of interest poses serious threats to the client's financial well-being.
By eliminating any potential conflicts of interest, Charles Zhang ensures that his clients receive truly objective, unbiased investment advice. Zhang Financial's investment strategy is built around years of academic research and aims to provide the highest probability of success for their clients. For more information, or to request a consultation, please visit www.zhangfinancial.com
*As reported by Forbes on April 7, 2022. Please see www.zhangfinancial.com/disclosure for full ranking criteria and disclosure.
Elizabeth Edgerton
269.385.5888
Elizabeth.edgerton@zhangfinancial.com
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SOURCE Zhang Financial | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/charles-zhang-recognized-by-forbes-1-michigans-2022-best-state-wealth-advisor-list/ | 2022-04-14T20:04:44 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/charles-zhang-recognized-by-forbes-1-michigans-2022-best-state-wealth-advisor-list/ |
Students at 300 colleges and universities across the nation will participate in plant-forward, waste-free, and giveback initiatives as part of Stop Food Waste Day
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chartwells Higher Education ("Chartwells"), a recognized leader in contract food service management, today announced "Grate-Ful," a nationwide event designed to show gratitude for the planet, fight food waste, and advance sustainability on college campuses. The fourth signature event from Chartwells' Joy-Ful campaign, a series of popular events that promote togetherness, reconnect students, and celebrate campus life, will take place on April 27, 2022.
The Grate-Ful event will take place simultaneously across all 300 of Chartwells' campuses on Stop Food Waste Day. The goal is to encourage students and staff to dine from plant-based menus, participate in activities that combat food waste, and pack donation bags to fight food insecurity.
"Giving back to the communities we help serve and create is vital to us, so during Earth Month, we wanted an event that prioritized our planet," said Lisa McEuen, CEO of Chartwells Higher Education. "Celebrating Stop Food Waste Day allows us to incorporate meaningful, waste-free activities for students as well as offer customized, plant-forward menus in all of our dining halls across the country."
In addition to day-of events focused on Earth Month and sustainability, Chartwells has collaborated with several of its national supply partners to provide 50,000 "Packed with Purpose" bags. These bags will be donated to local food pantries across the country. Students will have the opportunity to pack hundreds of bags during Grate-Ful as part of the nationwide effort to fight food insecurity.
Chartwells is also partnering with activist and humanitarian, Rob Greenfield, to bring attention to the importance of leading a more sustainable life. Greenfield regularly takes on extreme projects to inspire positive change. On April 20, 2022, Greenfield will kick off his "Trash Me" campaign. For 30 days, he will live like the average American, who generates 4.5 pounds of trash per day, and wear all the trash he's collected. Greenfield will make an appearance at one of Chartwells' campuses and host a panel discussion, which will be live-streamed to students across the country.
Chartwells' Joy-Ful campaign was created to bring students together in special, memorable, and impactful ways after the global pandemic. For more information on Chartwells, the Joy-Ful campaign, and the company's commitment to sustainability, visit www.ChartwellsHigherEd.com.
About Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services
Chartwells is the recognized leader in contract food service management, hospitality, and award-winning guest service within over 300 college and university dining environments throughout academic institutions across the U.S. Chartwells' nutritious cuisine not only satisfies the unique appetites, lifestyles, and dietary needs of every guest dining on campus, but it also brings people together to promote the high-intensity relationships that will prepare students for the future. For more information, visit www.ChartwellsHigherEd.com, www.ChartwellsMonthly.com, www.DineonCampus.com.
Media Contact:
Meredith Rosenberg
914-935-5326
meredith.rosenberg@compass-usa.com
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SOURCE Chartwells Higher Education | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/chartwells-higher-education-launches-grate-ful-largest-plant-forward-college-event-support-earth-month/ | 2022-04-14T20:04:51 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/chartwells-higher-education-launches-grate-ful-largest-plant-forward-college-event-support-earth-month/ |
CHICAGO, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) is announcing that world record setting endurance athlete and best-selling author Colin O'Brady will be the keynote speaker for its annual meeting known as AAE22 being held in Phoenix April 27-30.
O'Brady will kick the annual gathering of specialized dentists from around the world at 4:30 – 6:00 PM MST on Wednesday, April 27, at the Phoenix Convention Center North 120 B-D.
O'Brady is regarded as one of the world's best endurance athletes and a foremost expert on mindset. He is a 4-time world record holder, Yale University graduate, and highly sought-after public speaker. The New York Times called O'Brady's most recent success - the world's first solo, unsupported and unaided crossing of Antarctica - "one of the most remarkable achievements in polar history." His TED Talk, "Change Your Mindset and Achieve Anything", has been viewed over 1.5 million times.
Colin's story provides a raw, inspirational, thought-provoking journey deep into the mind to uncover what's possible and unlock human potential, set to a backdrop of some of the most extreme places on earth such as Mt. Everest and Antarctica. AAE22 is the go-to place for specialized dentists known as endodontists, oral health care providers and dental industry experts over 100 educational opportunities in the form of hands-on workshops, educational sessions and professional networking opportunities.
Events also include the Association President's Breakfast, the AAE award ceremony and a variety of hands-on, educational opportunities for dental professionals. To learn more about AAE22 or view all the program offerings, please visit: aae.org/aae22.
About the American Association of Endodontists:
The AAE is headquartered in Chicago and represents more than 8,000 members worldwide. Endodontics is one of 12 dental specialties formally recognized by the American Dental Association. The AAE, founded in 1943, is dedicated to excellence in the art and science of endodontics and to the highest standard of patient care. The Association inspires its members to pursue professional advancement and personal fulfillment through education, research, advocacy, leadership, communication and service. For more information about the AAE, visit the Association's website at aae.org. For more patient focused information, visit aae.org/patients.
Contact:
Kimberly FitzSimmons, 312-872-0458
Elisabeth Lisican, 312-872-0460
Michael Dobrow, 312-872-0462
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SOURCE American Association of Endodontists (AAE) | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/colin-obrady-world-record-setting-endurance-athlete-speak-american-association-endodontists-annual-meeting/ | 2022-04-14T20:04:58 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/colin-obrady-world-record-setting-endurance-athlete-speak-american-association-endodontists-annual-meeting/ |
The company will provide 1,000 scholarships to several institutions in Brazil to develop high-potential talents in cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, NFT, blockchain, DeFi, design, animations, and games through one of the company's 18 innovation studios until 2023.
NEW YORK, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Compass UOL, a global digital transformation company, announces the launch of a scholarship program with disciplines focused on training professionals for the metaverse through an innovation studio focused on Gaming and XR (extended reality).
The company will offer 1,000 metaverse-related scholarships within its larger Compass Academy initiative, which is expected to provide a total of 3,000 scholarships in several institutions in Brazil to prepare students, for about three months, for the main disciplines involving the metaverse, such as augmented reality, virtual reality, NFT, blockchain, DeFi, design, animations, games, real-time 3D, and other related disciplines through one of Compass UOL's 18 innovation studios.
This preparation will be via practical projects and out-of-class workshops, which train and teach students about real and specific market challenges using mainly platforms from partners, such as Unity and Unreal Engine, in the fields of augmented reality, virtual reality, 3D modeling and animation, agile methodologies, and existing metaverse platforms, allowing students to understand the real projects that Compass UOL carries out with clients while building their own projects with the support of the company's team.
Hiring talents
Compass UOL's program aims at hiring talents to fill positions arising from the needs that the company and its customers have in a rapidly expanding market. The institutions linked to the company's scholarship program publish the positions, and the interested students carry out the application process, going through tests and interviews until they are selected.
"Through gaming, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and extended reality technologies, we create immersive digital solutions that connect people and businesses in unique experiences," explains Alexis Rockenbach, CEO of Compass UOL. "With these new technologies, we boost the way our clients communicate with their consumers, fostering disruptive business transformations with innovative digital interactions that transcend the physical and the virtual."
Compass UOL's Innovation Studio dedicated to the development of these technologies is focused on the specialization of professionals to meet the needs and demands of the global market. The Gaming & XR Innovation Studio works in synergy with 17 other areas of the company to incorporate technology in the development of solutions for customers from all sectors.
To learn more, visit Compass.UOL Academy at www.compass.uol.
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SOURCE Compass UOL | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/compass-uol-launches-scholarship-program-focused-metaverse/ | 2022-04-14T20:05:05 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/compass-uol-launches-scholarship-program-focused-metaverse/ |
Rising prices, digital subscriptions to partly offset declines in print revenues
CLEVELAND, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- US newspaper publishing revenues are forecast to fall less than 1.0% annually in nominal dollars through 2026, according to Newspaper Publishing: United States, a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports. The widespread availability of free news content will continue to suppress subscription rates, though rising prices and a publisher push for digital subscriptions will offset revenue declines to an extent. As the news media continues to go digital, online revenues are projected to see 5.9% annual growth through 2026, as print revenues continue their decline at 3.8% annually. The increasing use of paywalls on newspaper websites and rising digital subscriptions is encouraging growth in online revenues, while falling circulation is driving losses in print revenue. Growing competition from other providers of advertising space – particularly social media platforms – will constrain revenues from advertising. However, losses will be limited by expansion in nontraditional product offerings, such as marketing services.
These and other key insights are featured in Newspaper Publishing: United States. This report forecasts to 2022 and 2026 US newspaper publishing revenues in nominal US dollars at the publisher level. Total revenues are segmented by source in terms of:
- advertising space
- subscriptions and sales
- printing services
- distribution services
- other revenue sources such as advertising and marketing services
Advertising, subscription, and sales revenues, as an aggregate, are segmented by media type in terms of:
- digital
- other media types, such as CD-ROM, Blu-ray/DVD, and microfilm
To illustrate historical trends, total revenue and the various segments are provided in annual series from 2011 to 2021.
The scope of this report includes firms that publish newspapers in print or print and digital formats. Firms that exclusively publish digital content are excluded.
More information about the report is available at:
https://www.freedoniafocusreports.com/Newspaper-Publishing-United-States-FF25014/?progid=91541
Each month, The Freedonia Group – a division of MarketResearch.com – publishes over 20 new or updated Freedonia Focus Reports, providing fresh, unbiased analysis on a wide variety of markets and industries. Published in 20-30 pages, Focus Report coverage ranges from raw materials to finished manufactured goods and related services such as freight and construction. Additional Services & Industries reports can be purchased at Freedonia Focus Reports or MarketResearch.com.
Analysis is intended to guide the busy reader through pertinent topics in rapid succession, including:
- total historical market size and industry output
- segmentation by products and markets
- identification of market drivers, constraints, and key indicators
- segment-by-segment outlook in five-year forecasts
- a survey of the supply base
- suggested resources for further study
Press Contact:
Corinne Gangloff
+1 440.842.2400
cgangloff@freedoniagroup.com
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SOURCE The Freedonia Group | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/competition-free-news-content-weigh-us-newspaper-publishing-revenues/ | 2022-04-14T20:05:13 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/competition-free-news-content-weigh-us-newspaper-publishing-revenues/ |
More Than 90,000 Visitors Flock to Daniel Island for Fanfare and Historic Matches at the Credit One Charleston Open WTA 500 Tournament Held April 2-10, 2022
CHARLESTON, S.C., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Credit One Bank, a leading financial services company, and Charleston Tennis, LLC welcomed tens of thousands of fans back to Daniel Island for the first time since 2019 to watch top women's tennis players from around the world compete at the newly renovated and expanded Credit One Stadium during the Credit One Charleston Open. The annual WTA 500 Tournament is the largest women's only tennis tournament in North America and this year celebrated 50 years of women's tennis in South Carolina.
The two-year renovation of Credit One Stadium included the addition of 16 state-of-the-art suites, a 35,000-square foot Stage House and player lounge, expanded spectator capacity from 7,000 to 11,000 seats, and upgrades to fan and participant amenities throughout the complex. Credit One Bank senior manager of sponsorships, Michael Norris, and Charleston Tennis LLC president and tournament director, Bob Moran, kicked off the nine-day tournament with a ribbon cutting for the venue.
Credit One Stadium hosted more than 100 world-class athletes onsite, including some of the brightest stars on the WTA Tour such as No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka, Paula Badosa, Karolina Pliskova, Ons Jabeur, Leylah Fernandez and former champions Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens. Belinda Bencic, age 25, of Switzerland defeated Ons Jabeur to win her sixth WTA title and the first clay event victory of her career. Credit One Bank senior vice president of marketing, John Coombe, presented Bencic with her winner's trophy.
"Credit One Bank is proud to be working with Charleston Tennis, LLC to build on the great legacy of this tournament and deliver meaningful experiences to the passionate fans in the area and visiting from around the world," said John Coombe, senior vice president of marketing at Credit One Bank. "It was an honor to see Credit One Stadium, the newly renovated, state-of-the-art venue, debut in a big way for women's tennis during the Credit One Charleston Open. We look forward to supporting the next generation of women's tennis and providing an exceptional space to experience world-class entertainment for years to come."
Highlights from the nine-day event included:
- Over 90,000 fans visited Credit One Stadium over nine days, treated to fantastic facility upgrades, flourishing grounds, and hometown hospitality.
- The return of women's tennis greats – including many former event champions – to Daniel Island. Those in attendance included Rosie Casals, winner of the first event in 1973, as well as Tracy Austin, Arantxa Sanchez, Mary Pierce, Jelena Jankovic, Sabine Lisicki, Sloane Stephens, and Madison Keys.
- Hundreds of fans snapping commemorative photos at the Credit One Bank photobooth.
Credit One Bank's multiyear sponsorship includes title partner rights at Credit One Stadium located at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center in Charleston, South Carolina, as well as title sponsorship of the annual WTA 500 tennis tournament (Credit One Charleston Open).
The 2023 Credit One Charleston Open will be April 1-9, 2023. For more information about Credit One Stadium, visit CreditOneStadium.com.
About Credit One Bank
Credit One Bank, N.A. is a financial services company based in Las Vegas. Driven by data, Credit One Bank offers a full range of credit cards and other financial products and services. Founded in 1984, Credit One Bank is one of the fastest-growing credit card providers in the United States. Credit One Bank is the Official Credit Card of NASCAR®, the Las Vegas Raiders, the Vegas Golden Knights, and Best Friends Animal Society®, and is a proud partner of WWE® and Six Flags®. Learn more at CreditOneBank.com and on social media (@CreditOneBank) on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Media Contact: Mary Newsome, mary@genuinearticlecomms.com
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Company Continues to Make Brighter Financial Futures Accessible to More Consumers
MADISON, Wis., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CUNA Mutual Group reported record financial performance and exceptional growth in 2021, delivering on the company's purpose to make brighter financial futures accessible to more consumers. Through outstanding product growth, strategic investments and the largest acquisition in company history, CUNA Mutual Group ended the year with its strongest business and financial results yet, reporting $5 billion of revenue, $622 million of net income and $36.7 billion in assets under management.
"We are anchored to our purpose of making a brighter financial future accessible to all, and I'm proud to report that we're making more progress than ever on bringing that vision to life" said Robert N. Trunzo, president and CEO of CUNA Mutual Group. "Our employees took the company to another level in 2021, and I know we are poised to build upon this record year and add to the millions of consumers we serve. We achieved these results while also prioritizing the needs of our employees and communities."
CUNA Mutual Group provided $1.8 billion in benefits to customers and their beneficiaries – including $76.6 million in COVID-related claims. The CUNA Mutual Group Foundation also provided more than $7.9 million to non-profits that focus on economic stability, education and emergency aid.
The company also rapidly expanded digital capabilities to enable more people in more ways to make financial decisions that work for them. Through its venture capital arm (CMFG Ventures), the company made several significant investments in fintech start-ups and connected fintechs to financial institutions by convening the new Fintech Forum. CMFG Ventures also launched the new Discovery Fund – a $15 million venture capital fund exclusively dedicated to investing in early-stage companies founded by people of color, women and the LGBTQ+ community demonstrating our corporate values of equity and inclusion.
CUNA Mutual Group expanded in existing and new markets, including closing the largest acquisition in the company's history with Assurant's Global Preneed business. The company also forged a new partnership with Navy Federal Credit Union, giving their members exclusive access to discounts on auto and home insurance and formed an alliance with LPL Financial to strengthen experiences for both financial advisors and credit union members. CUNA Mutual Group's annuity portfolio surpassed $10 billion in assets under management, and some products were once again rated in Barron's 100 Best Annuities for 2021.
Insurance Financial Strength Ratings for CUNA Mutual Group's primary life and property and casualty insurance companies, CMFG Life Insurance Company and CUMIS Insurance Society, Inc., were affirmed with ratings of 'A' (Excellent) from A.M. Best Company in March of 2022, 'A+' from S&P Global Ratings in December 2021, and 'A2' from Moody's Investors Service in March 2021. All ratings carry a stable outlook.
Through the business and market growth, the company continues to contribute substantial investment back into the organization- geared to bring innovative and improved solutions to customers.
"Our 2021 financial performance underscores the relevancy of our products and solutions in protecting consumers through times of uncertainty," said Laurie Winger, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. "With the resiliency of our employees and our ongoing investments in solutions that help more consumers make financial decisions that work for them, the company is well-positioned to navigate the challenges of the current economic climate and continue to remain a financially strong market leader."
For more information, see the company's 2021 Annual Report.
About CUNA Mutual Group
Built on the principle of "people helping people," CUNA Mutual Group is a financially strong insurance, investment and financial services company that believes a brighter financial future should be accessible to everyone. Through our company culture, community engagement, and products and solutions, we are working to create a more equitable financial system that helps to improve the lives of those we serve and our society. For more information, visit cunamutual.com.
©CUNA Mutual Group 2022, All Rights Reserved
CUNA Mutual Group is the marketing name for CUNA Mutual Holding Company, a mutual insurance holding company, its subsidiaries and affiliates. Corporate headquarters are located at 5910 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705.
AM Best: A, A- and B++ are the third, fourth and fifth highest, respectively, of 16 ratings. Moody's: A2 and Baa1 are the sixth and eighth highest, respectively, of 21 ratings. S&P: A+, A and BBB+ are the fifth, sixth and eighth highest, respectively, of 21 ratings. Third-party ratings are subject to change.
Moody's ratings were affirmed March 2021. S&P ratings were affirmed December 2021. AM Best ratings were affirmed March 2022. The outlook for all ratings is stable.
AM Best ratings were affirmed with stable outlook October 2021. The S&P rating for American Memorial Life Insurance Company was affirmed with positive outlook in December 2021. The S&P rating for Union Security Insurance Company was lowered in December 2021 given its runoff status and has a stable outlook; The Moody's rating was affirmed March 2021 and is under review for possible upgrade.
Annuities are issued by CMFG Life Insurance Company (CMFG Life) and MEMBERS Life Insurance Company (MEMBERS Life) and distributed by their affiliate, CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, a registered broker/dealer and investment advisor, 2000 Heritage Way, Waverly, IA, 50677. CMFG Life and MEMBERS Life are stock insurance companies. MEMBERS® is a registered trademark of CMFG Life Insurance Company. Investment and insurance products are not federally insured, may involve investment risk, may lose value and are not obligations of or guaranteed by any depository or lending institution. All contracts and forms may vary by state and may not be available in all states or through all broker/dealers.
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SOURCE CUNA Mutual Group | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/cuna-mutual-group-reports-record-financials-exceptional-growth-through-2021/ | 2022-04-14T20:05:28 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/cuna-mutual-group-reports-record-financials-exceptional-growth-through-2021/ |
Oscar-winning filmmaker calls on donors & philanthropists to fund the training of 30,000 university students to become peace-creating meditation experts
NEW YORK, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- David Lynch, the filmmaker and founder of the nonprofit, David Lynch Foundation, announces a revolutionary world peace plan and initiative, estimated at $500 million for the first year, in partnership with the Global Union of Scientists for Peace. In a call to action video, released at 2 p.m. EDT today (please find the link HERE), Lynch urges philanthropists to use a fraction of their wealth to take action and support the training of 30,000 university students around the world to become advanced peace-creating meditation experts and build a legacy of lasting global peace.
"The problem of violence, at its source, is stress—the escalating buildup of political and societal stress in collective consciousness that fuels conflict and warfare," Lynch said. He believes that the solution to violence is not through a reliance on conventional weapons, nuclear weapons, economic sanctions or diplomatic negotiations, noting that, "to continue to trust in these failed methods is, at this point, clearly insane."
Anchoring the peace plan is Maharishi International University in the U.S., with the training of 10,000 meditation experts in addition to another 10,000 at its sister school in India. Along with 1,000 students at partner universities in 10 major hot spots around the world through their daily meditation practice, the students will not only reduce stress and heal trauma in their own lives but also produce a powerful influence of coherence and harmony in the collective consciousness of entire nations.
"There has never been a more effective, more extensively validated approach to preventing social conflict," said Tony Nader, MD, PhD, who directs Transcendental Meditation (TM) organizations in 100 countries. "Consciousness is the core essence and primary driver of individual life. And now we understand that collective consciousness is the primary driver—and the key determinant—of society."
More than 400 published, peer-reviewed studies, many of which have been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense, have documented the benefits of TM for reducing stress in the individual—healing trauma, lowering levels of anxiety and depression, and improving overall health and resilience. In addition, over two dozen scientific studies have documented the benefits of large group practice of TM on society as a whole.
"The research has been carefully scrutinized by independent scholars and accepted for publication in leading, peer-reviewed academic journals," said John Hagelin, PhD, international president of the Global Union of Scientists for Peace and president of Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. "In every case, this approach produced marked reductions in crime, social violence, terrorism and war, and increased peace and positivity in society."
Given the lack of resolution to international unrest through conventional methods such as sanctions or diplomacy, this initiative provides an innovative and supportive approach to preventing war and violence and promoting peace on a global scale.
For media inquiries regarding David Lynch, Dr. Tony Nader or Dr. John Hagelin, please contact Lisa Burkert at 917-929-0123 or lisa@thetascgroup.com.
About Global Union of Scientists for Peace: The Global Union of Scientists for Peace is an emerging force in the prevention of terrorism, war, and social violence through the application of cutting-edge, field-tested solutions in the areas of conflict resolution, national security, and global peace.
About the David Lynch Foundation: The David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace was launched in 2005 to bring Transcendental Meditation to vulnerable adults and children in need, including veterans with PTSD, under-resourced youth, frontline healthcare workers, women survivors of domestic violence, and police and other first responders.
About Maharishi International University: Maharishi International University (MIU) is the world's foremost university featuring Consciousness-Based Education®—which incorporates developmental technologies, like TM, to systematically unfold the full potential of the brain. MIU was founded in 1971 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and is accredited through the doctoral level and offers conventional academic programs as well as cutting-edge programs in areas such as integrative medicine, ayurveda, and aromatherapy. MIU also hosts the second largest computer science professionals program in the US, with nearly 1700 students.
Media Contact: Lisa Burkert
The TASC Group
Phone: 917-929-0123
lisa@thetascgroup.com
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SOURCE David Lynch Foundation | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/david-lynch-announces-500-million-peace-initiative/ | 2022-04-14T20:05:36 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/david-lynch-announces-500-million-peace-initiative/ |
SAN DIEGO, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quick Custom Intelligence ("QCI") announced that QCI will be offering a $10,000 Performance Guarantee check for any agreements signed at NIGA 2022. The check will be handed to the customer in the booth at the time of signing and refunded back to QCI at the beginning of training. The QCI Platform is built on a high-performance, hyper-scalable Data Warehouse / Data Lake built by award winning data scientists that provides for a quick, risk-free installation.
"We continue to be impressed with QCI's track record of successful delivery of its commitments. This gutsy move shows QCI is prepared to put their money where their mouth is and stand behind their ability to deliver to Indian Nations," said Deana Scott, CEO of Raving Consulting.
CEO of QCI, Dr. Ralph Thomas, stated "Our financial commitment to a successful delivery demonstrates our confidence in our ability to execute. We know our software works, that is why we are offering a $10,000 performance guarantee for any new customer that signs with QCI in our booth at NIGA. This confidence has been built up over the last two years as our team has delivered to over 55 casino resorts and 3,000 small sites."
ABOUT RAVING
Raving was founded in 1998 and is a Native-owned, women-managed organization. For over two decades, Raving has partnered with over 152 Tribal Nations and enterprises and 71 commercial properties along with First Nations throughout Canada and internationally in Europe and Asia. From years on the casino floor, we understand all aspects of your gaming and resort operations and the challenges and sticky situations gaming executives face. We pride ourselves on building custom programs tailored to your needs, utilizing evidence-based methodologies to identify the root cause and create lasting solutions.
By operators for operators. Our team of over 20 strategic partners, all experienced gaming and hospitality professionals, support Tribal organizations and commercial casinos worldwide in strategically improving their overall operations. Raving produces several events and publications including Raving Host and Player Development Conference; Raving NEXT: Indian Gaming Analytics and Marketing Conference; Casino Marketing and Technology Conference; Tribal Gaming & Hospitality Magazine. Visit www.betravingknows.com to subscribe to our publications or contact Daniel Wood daniel@betravingknows.com, 775-329-7864 to find out more about Raving's products and services.
ABOUT QCI
The QCI Platform aligns player development, marketing and gaming with powerful real-time operational tools developed for the gaming and hospitality industries. QCI has installed their ground-breaking, highly configured software in over 50 Casino Resorts in North America and in over 3,000 sites worldwide. QCI products provide tooling for gaming operators managing over $10 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, these products are built on the QCI Platform, a best-in-class on-premises, hybrid or cloud-based technology that enables fully coordinated activities across gaming or hospitality operations. This data-driven software allows for quick, informed decisions in the ever-changing world of the casino industry and assists casinos in their efforts to optimize resources and profits, manage marketing campaigns and increase customer loyalty. QCI was founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno. Based in San Diego, QCI also has offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas & Phoenix. www.QuickCustomIntelligence.com
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SOURCE Quick Custom Intelligence | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/deanna-scott-ceo-raving-says-qcis-commitment-pay-new-customers-10000-is-gutsy-move/ | 2022-04-14T20:05:45 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/deanna-scott-ceo-raving-says-qcis-commitment-pay-new-customers-10000-is-gutsy-move/ |
VANCOUVER, BC, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Deep-South Resources Inc. ("Deep-South" or the Company) (TSXV: DSM) announces further to a discussion with the TSX Venture Exchange concerning the documents related to the Zambian exploration licences acquisition announced on April 7, 2022, Deep-South expect to resume trading on Tuesday April 19, 2022.
Deep-South has signed a definitive earn-in agreement with World Class Mineral Ventures Ltd ("WCMV") of Zambia to acquire up to 80% of three copper exploration licences in the center of the Zambian Copper belt, one of the most prolific copper belts in the world.
The agreement:
Deep-South holds the option to acquire up to 80% of the Large Scale Exploration Licences LEL 23246, LEL 23247 and LEL 23248 held by WCMV in Zambia.
The terms are as follows:
Data Acquisition:
- Deep-South has paid to WCMV, US $ 15,000 on signature of the agreement and will pay an additional US $ 15,000 on approval of the transaction by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). Deep-South will also issue 500,000 of its common shares to WCMV upon approval by the TSX-V.
- On the second anniversary of the agreement, Deep-South will pay US$ 30,000 and issue 250,000 of its common shares to WCMV.
- Before the end of the second anniversary of the agreement, Deep-South will also complete the collection and analysis of 100 soil samples over the identified anomalies on Licence LEL 23246 and 350 soil samples over the identified targets on each of Licences LEL 23247 and LEL 23248. Deep-South will then decide whether to proceed with more intensive sampling or to evaluate any drilling targets.
- Upon completion of the above, Deep-South will have acquired an undivided interest in 51% of the licences.
- In order to acquire the remaining 29% of the licences, Deep-South, at the end of the third, fourth and fifth year of the agreement, will pay to WCMV US$ 30,000 every year for a total of US 90,000, issue 1 million of its common shares to WCMV at the end of the fourth year and spend a minimum of US$ 1 million in exploration programmes every year for a total of US $ 3 million in exploration expenditure.
Please note that the issuance of 1 million common shares of Deep-South was ommitted in the press release dated April 7, 2022.
Upon approval of the transaction with WCMV by TSX-V, Deep-South will acquire all of the exploration data for the licences LEL 23246, LEL 23247 and LEL 23248 held by Mr. Nathan Sabao ("the geological consultant"). Upon approval of the TSX-V, Deep-South will issue 500,000 of its common shares to the geological consultant. Furthermore, on the first anniversary of the transaction, the geological consultant will transfer to Deep-South all of the exploration data for projects in the Luapula region in consideration for the issuance of a further 500,000 common shares of Deep-South.
The transaction is conditional to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Finder's fee:
Upon closing of the option agreement and data acquisition agreement, Deep-South will issue 350,000 of its common shares in payment for a finder's fee to Gestion Karl Mansour Inc.
The transaction with the data acquisition and finder's fee are at arm's length with Deep-South.
About World Class Mineral Ventures Ltd:
WCMV is a Zambian private exploration company held in equal part by Mr. Kavumba Ngoma, Mr. Nathan Sabao and Mr. Chisunka Chileya Mpundu
The projects: (see map 1 below)
Luanshya West project (LEL 23247). The licence is situated in the center of the Zambian Copper belt which forms part of the Central African Copper belt, one of the most prolific copper belts in the world. The Large Exploration Licence covers 5,423.26 hectares (54.24 Sq. Km).
A NI 43-101 technical qualifying report is currently under review by the TSX-V.
The project prospectivity is based on the location of the subject property over the unconformable contact zone between basement granites and Lower Roan Group sediments where most copper belt mines in both Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (the "DRC") are located. This prospectivity is reinforced by a positive series of coincident soil geochemical anomalies over the contact zone.
The project area is close to established copper / cobalt mines with Chibuluma mine some 35Km to the north-east, Chambishi mine 41Km north-northeast, N'changa mine 53Km north-northwest and Luanshya mine some 40Km east-southeast from the centre of the project area.
Some 850 soil samples and some geophysical data were collected over the subject property by Teal (a subsidiary of African Rainbow Minerals Ltd) between 2007 and 2009. The airborne geophysical data was evaluated by the geophysical consultant K. P. Knupp on behalf of Teal. Knupp identified a total of 11 targets for strata- bound vein-hosted Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Ni, Ag and Au mineralisation and 1 target for stratiform Cu-Co mineralisation over the larger exploration property then held by Teal.
Chililabombwe project (LEL 23247). The licence is situated in the north of the Zambia Copper belt near the DRC border. The Large Exploration Licence covers 2,200 hectares (22.5 Sq, Km).
The project prospectivity is based on the location of the subject property over the unconformable contact zone between basement granites and Lower Roan Group sediments where most copper belt mines in both Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (the "DRC") are located.
The project area is close to established copper / cobalt mines with Konkola mine 12 km west and the Lubambe mine 30 km to the north-west from the center of the project area.
Mpongwe project (LEL 23248). The licence is situated in the center of the Zambian Copper belt. The Large Exploration Licence covers 67,500 hectares (675 Sq. Km).
The project prospectivity is based on the location of the subject property over the unconformable contact zone between basement granites and Lower Roan Group sediments where most copper belt mines in both Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (the "DRC") are located.
More information about the projects and the planned programmes will be disclosed after closing of the transaction.
Mineral Resources have not been estimated yet on the project nor has it demonstrated economic viability at this stage. The historical geophysical survy and sampling results demonstrate potential to classify the project as one of merit but are considered too speculative geologically to complete a NI 43-101 compliant resource estimation at this time and it is uncertain that those historic results will be converted into minerals resources.
Qualified Person
Peter Walker B.Sc. (Hons.) MBA Pr.Sci.Nat. of P & E Walker Consultancy is the main author of the 43-101 resource qualification report on LEL 23246, and is the Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Walker is responsible for the technical part of this press release.
About Deep-South Resources Inc
Deep-South Resources is a mineral exploration and development company. Deep-South's growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets in significant mineralized trends and in proximity to infrastructure in stable countries. In using and assessing environmentally friendly technologies in the development of its copper project, Deep-South embraces the green revolution.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Information contained in this news release which are not statements of historical facts may be "forward-looking information" for the purposes of Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "plan", "intends", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "schedule", "understand" and similar expressions identify forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: the Minister's refusal to renew the Company's Licence, the Company's intention to contest the Minister's decision before the Courts of Namibia and the outcome of such proceedings.
Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Deep-South, are inherently subject to significant technical, political, business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Factors and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: political risks associated with the Company's operations in Namibia; the failure of the Namibian Government to comply with its continuing obligations under the Act to allow for the renewal of the Licence; the impact of changes in, or to the more aggressive enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices; the inability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enforce their legal rights in certain circumstances. For additional risk factors, please see the Company's most recently filed Management Discussions & Analysis available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
There can be no assurances that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as many factors and future events, both known and unknown could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary or differ materially from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained herein or incorporated by reference. Accordingly, all such factors should be considered carefully when making decisions with respect to Deep-South, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is made as at the date hereof. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.
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SOURCE Deep-South Resources Inc. | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/deep-south-expect-resume-trading-tuesday-april-19-2022/ | 2022-04-14T20:05:52 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/deep-south-expect-resume-trading-tuesday-april-19-2022/ |
SAN FRANCISCO, April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of San Francisco (USF) has announced that nursing and public health leader, clinician, professor and administrator Dr. Eileen Fry-Bowers has been appointed to the role of dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions (SONHP). Dr. Fry-Bowers will begin her time at USF on July 1, 2022 following the departure of current Interim Dean Patricia F. Pearce.
"Eileen is a compassionate clinician, a dedicated scholar and teacher, an experienced administrator, and an innovative leader with a deeply held commitment to health equity and social justice," said Dr. Chinyere Oparah, USF provost and vice president of academic affairs. "I am very pleased that Eileen will be joining our community, and I look forward to partnering with her to shape the future of nursing and health professions at USF."
Incoming Dean Fry-Bowers joins USF from the University of San Diego (USD), where she serves as associate provost for research administration, overseeing the research enterprise at USD, including the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Institutional Review Board, and the Office of Undergraduate Research. She is a professor in USD's Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science and a scholar whose current research and policy interests focus on child and family health and well-being; the effect of legislative and regulatory change on the development of health and delivery of health care; and practice, legal, and ethics issues in healthcare workforce education.
Dr. Fry-Bowers is an academic leader, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, a Navy veteran, a member of the State Bar of California with experience in law and health policy, and a public policy advocate with a record of bringing together local, regional, and national stakeholders to drive change in public health. She has extensive clinical and administrative experience in nursing and higher education and is an advocate for improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, especially underserved children and youth with special health care needs.
"The pandemic marks an inflection point for nursing and the health professions," said Incoming Dean Fry-Bowers. "We have a real opportunity to change the conversation, to move it from being about delivering health care, to being about developing health and eliminating health inequity. I am thrilled to be joining the University of San Francisco as dean of SONHP at this pivotal time."
In addition to more than 15 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Fry-Bowers brings decades of clinical experience across multiple health care settings, including acute care facilities, specialty and community-based clinics, and military facilities. She is a thought leader in healthcare education and public health who serves as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and chairs the academy's Expert Panel on Child, Adolescent and Family. She works on the AACN Essentials Task Force, which re-envisioned the guiding document for prelicensure and advanced nursing education. In addition, she co-founded an academic health policy institute and a regional health policy fellowship.
Incoming Dean Fry-Bowers earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Loma Linda University, a master's degree from the University of Rochester School of Nursing, and a juris doctor from Whittier Law School. She earned a PhD, with an emphasis in health services, from UCLA School of Nursing. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA in the care of vulnerable populations research with a focus on child health policy.
About the USF School of Nursing and Health Professions
The School of Nursing and Health Professions advances the mission of the university by leading in innovative solutions to health inequities and transforming healthcare using evidence-informed approaches. For more information, visit our website.
About the University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco is a private, Jesuit Catholic university that reflects the diversity, optimism, and opportunities of the city that surrounds it. USF offers more than 230 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, law, education, and nursing and health professions. At USF, each course is an intimate learning community in which top professors encourage students to turn learning into positive action, so the students graduate equipped to do well in the world — and inspired to change it for the better. For more information, visit usfca.edu.
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SOURCE University of San Francisco | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/dr-eileen-fry-bowers-appointed-dean-university-san-francisco-school-nursing-health-professions-effective-july-1-2022/ | 2022-04-14T20:05:59 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/dr-eileen-fry-bowers-appointed-dean-university-san-francisco-school-nursing-health-professions-effective-july-1-2022/ |
- Company invites customers to sign up for random selection process for Clean Energy Connection program on April 20.
- Participants will subscribe to a share in Duke Energy Florida's solar energy production without having to install, maintain their own equipment.
- With program enrollment, low-income customers will see guaranteed savings on their program costs every month.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to provide clean, reliable and affordable energy, Duke Energy is inviting residential, small/medium business and income-qualified customers in Florida to register to subscribe to the company's new community solar program – Clean Energy Connection.
Without having to install or maintain their own equipment, Duke Energy customers can sign up for a share of renewable energy produced by solar plants across Florida and in return, receive bill credits for the solar energy generated by their participation and lower their costs over time.
A random selection process will be used to provide customers with the opportunity to subscribe without the pressure of enrolling on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers will have one week from the go-live date of April 20 to register their subscription request.
"Our customers want affordable, clean energy options, and we believe larger-scale solar is the most cost-effective way to advance the benefits of solar on our entire system," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "We are proud to offer this innovative program that will give customers, especially those who may not have the ability to install solar at home, an opportunity to support renewable energy while seeing real benefits."
The program directly supports the development and construction of new cost-effective, solar power plants interconnected to the Florida power grid.
Customers can subscribe to kilowatt blocks of solar power from the company's Clean Energy Connection solar portfolio. The monthly subscription fee will help pay for the cost of construction and operation of the solar power plants and is conveniently added to a customer's regular electric bill.
The monthly subscription fee is fixed at $8.35 per kW. A customer with average usage of 1,000 kWh/month could subscribe to approximately 5 kW to cover their full usage. Subscribers receive bill credits based on their subscription size and the amount of solar energy that is produced by the Clean Energy Connection solar facilities each month.
The program sets aside 26 megawatts (MW) for low-income customers who participate in government subsidy programs or Duke Energy's low-income energy efficiency program, Neighborhood Energy Saver.
With program enrollment, low-income customers will see guaranteed savings on their program costs every month.
The Clean Energy Connection program is designed to utilize low-cost universal Duke Energy Florida solar facilities while delivering solar energy efficiently to and for the benefit of all our customers. It is also designed to provide participating customers with a seven-year full payback, with bill credits first exceeding subscription fees around three to five years. As long as the customer remains in the program for seven years, the annual bill credits are projected to be more than the subscription costs, creating real customer savings.
Customers who are interested in registering can learn more through the Clean Energy Connection website.
With a combined investment of more than $2 billion, Duke Energy Florida's solar generation portfolio will include 25 grid-tied solar power plants which will benefit all Florida customers and will provide 1,500 MW of emission-free generation and approximately 5 million solar panels in the ground by 2024.
Additionally, Duke Energy Florida leads the state in the amount of customer-owned or leased renewable interconnections, which includes processing over 1,300 customer applications per month.
Duke Energy Florida currently has over 400 MW and more than 46,000 customers with solar generation at their home or business that are relying on the power grid.
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050 net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Media contact: Audrey Stasko
Cell: 315.877.3031
Media line: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/duke-energy-offers-community-solar-program-florida-customers-interested-benefits-renewable-energy/ | 2022-04-14T20:06:05 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/04/14/duke-energy-offers-community-solar-program-florida-customers-interested-benefits-renewable-energy/ |