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For the first time in its 33-year run, "The Simpsons" featured a deaf actor and American Sign Language. The episode featured Lisa Simpson meeting the son of her favorite musician, who is deaf.
Actor John Autry II played Monk, the son of Bleeding Gums Murphy. The characters used American Sign Language to communicate throughout the episode.
The show's executive producer Al Jean says he was excited to be able to have a "first" after so many years on air.
@TheSimpsons Meet Monk Murphy voiced by @johnautryll in The Sound of Bleeding Gums, Sunday @8 An episode that makes me smile whenever I think about it. pic.twitter.com/PjmN8z9b8Q
— Al Jean (@AlJean) April 4, 2022
Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here. | https://www.wmar2news.com/the-simpsons-features-deaf-actor-for-first-time | 2022-04-12T02:21:34 | 0 | https://www.wmar2news.com/the-simpsons-features-deaf-actor-for-first-time |
KOB Web Staff
Updated: April 11, 2022 06:26 PM
Created: April 11, 2022 03:38 PM
SANTA FE, N.M. — The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible for vandalism at the La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs in Santa Fe.
According to the FBI, spray-painted graffiti was discovered on the petroglyphs in mid-January.
"Visitors from around the world come to New Mexico to admire wonderful Native American cultural resources like the La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs," Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque FBI Division said. "It's hard to believe someone would try to ruin these priceless works of art and show such disrespect for this area’s unique heritage. The FBI is asking anyone with information about this vandalism to come forward so we can ensure this crime doesn't go unpunished."
The FBI and BLM are investigating. Most of the petroglyphs there date back to between the 13th and 17th centuries.
Anyone with information about this vandalism is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov.
Copyright 2022 - KOB-TV LLC, A Hubbard Broadcasting Company | https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/fbi-offers-up-to-5k-reward-for-information-on-petroglyphs-vandalism/6443739/?cat=500 | 2022-04-12T02:22:36 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/fbi-offers-up-to-5k-reward-for-information-on-petroglyphs-vandalism/6443739/?cat=500 |
Scarlett Lisjak
Created: April 11, 2022 06:53 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Albuquerque students experienced World War II history firsthand Monday when a Holocaust survivor brought the past back to life at the Bosque School.
One of the last living Holocaust survivors in New Mexico, Andy Holton recalled events from over 70 years ago.
"My parents decided that at some time they were going to be going into hiding, the only people who they contacted about hiding turned them down at the last minute. So, my parents didn't know what to do. So, at that point, they decided at least they would find a hiding place for me," Holton said.
It isn't every day when an historical tragedy is taught by a survivor, the New Mexico Holocaust Museum asked Holton to recount some of his most painful memories.
"I never saw my family again, my parents, I never saw them again. I got two letter from them and that was about it,” Holton recalled.
Although these are tough stories to share in the classroom, Holton says it’s critical that these stories are told to educate today’s youth.
"It's important for the word to get out, that the holocaust really happened and what it meant to people," Holton said.
With the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Holton adds that it has stirred up unsettled emotions,
"It definitely brings back memories. It's a little different but it's still very bad, when I see the damage, and the people that got hurt, it makes a big impression," he said.
Holton was 5 years old when he was separated from his family, his parents died in a concentration camp while he was kept safe at a Christian home.
Copyright 2022 - KOB-TV LLC, A Hubbard Broadcasting Company | https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/holocaust-survivor-brings-history-to-life-in-an-albuquerque-classroom/6443864/?cat=500 | 2022-04-12T02:22:43 | 1 | https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/holocaust-survivor-brings-history-to-life-in-an-albuquerque-classroom/6443864/?cat=500 |
KOB Web Staff
Updated: April 11, 2022 06:20 PM
Created: April 11, 2022 02:56 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The authors of a new study gave New Mexico an F for its COVID-19 response. They said New Mexico's response was the 48th worst out of all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
The study is a working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. A working paper has not been peer-reviewed.
The study was written by:
The authors based their study on three factors – the economy, education and mortality.
For the economy, they looked at each state's unemployment rate between April 2020 and December 2021, and each state's GDP.
For education, they looked at the percentage of in-person education for the 2020-2021 school year, based on information from the event-aggregating website Burbio.
For mortality, they looked at COVID deaths based on information from USmortality.com, a website that claims to use data from the CDC, but it also doesn't guarantee its accuracy.
Based on that, the study found states that performed better generally were smaller and had less restrictive COVID-19 policies. Utah was the top-ranked state, with high scores in all three categories – fourth in economy, fifth in education and eighth for mortality.
New Jersey came in last – scoring 50th in economy, 41st in education and 42nd in mortality.
New Mexico landed in the bottom five – scoring 29th in economy, 45th in education and 50th in mortality.
KOB 4 reached out to the governor's office for its response to this study. They disputed that data in a statement that read, in part:
"The facts are that in the last year, New Mexico was 11th best for job growth in the country overall. In February, the federal government announced that New Mexico ranked 5th nationally in employment growth compared to the last year, creating 50,000 additional jobs in the last year."
To see the working paper in full, click here.
Copyright 2022 - KOB-TV LLC, A Hubbard Broadcasting Company | https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/new-study-gives-new-mexicos-covid-response-an-f/6443687/?cat=500 | 2022-04-12T02:22:49 | 1 | https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/new-study-gives-new-mexicos-covid-response-an-f/6443687/?cat=500 |
Colton Shone
Updated: April 11, 2022 05:26 PM
Created: April 11, 2022 03:33 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Slow down, pay attention. Those are the pleas from the state's transportation department as it kicks off National Work Zone Awareness Week.
They hope drivers mind others on the road, so tragedy doesn't strike their department again.
"I tell you what, I've been out there a couple of times next to these guys, it's terrifying, it really is especially if you're on I-25, I-40, or I-10, any of these where the speed limit can be 75, you know some people are going 80 sometimes 85, and they're flying past you," said Marisa Maez, spokesperson for New Mexico Department of Transportation.
Maez says this week is all about using social media to get drivers to pay attention. This year's theme is "work zones are a sign to slow down." The department was rocked by tragedy last December when transportation worker 58-year-old Mittie Runyan was killed in a work zone.
"Her crew was laying down some markers on the road and a big large truck came through and wasn't paying attention and didn't move over and slammed into her from the back of her vehicle and she was killed," said Maez.
The Federal Highway Administration reports in 2020 there were 857 work zone traffic deaths, a slight increase from 2019. Maez says we all have a responsibility to pay attention.
"Please take that time to recognize that you're not the only person on the road,” she said.
Copyright 2022 - KOB-TV LLC, A Hubbard Broadcasting Company | https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/nmdot-urges-drivers-to-slow-down-following-11-increase-of-highway-worker-fatalities/6443737/?cat=500 | 2022-04-12T02:22:55 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/nmdot-urges-drivers-to-slow-down-following-11-increase-of-highway-worker-fatalities/6443737/?cat=500 |
Brittany Costello
Updated: April 11, 2022 06:48 PM
Created: April 11, 2022 05:03 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The second suspect in the murder of a young man on Albuquerque's West Side appeared in court Monday.
20-year-old Deandre Garcia, a talented guitarist some called a "prodigy," was shot and killed at the Eagle Ranch Apartments in 2019.
According to court documents, Garcia was trying to keep the suspects out when he was shot through the door.
“He was simply trying to keep his friends Dawn and Naomi safe and this defendant. They shut the door, they locked the door and this defendant and Gilbert Salazar decided to shoot through the door and still try to harm whoever was inside,” said Jordan Machin, prosecutor.
On Monday, Judge Clara Moran decided to keep Jose Angel Marquez behind bars before trial. More than two years after the shooting, court documents say police tracked Marquez down in Kansas.
Police reportedly tracked down Marquez by connecting him to the main suspect in this case, 19-year-old Gilbert Salazar. Police believe the two went to the apartment complex in 2019 to track down Salazar's ex-girlfriend.
Marquez allegedly told police he was involved during an interview.
“There does not appear to be any actual physical evidence linking this Jose Marquez, my client, to the allegation in this case beyond his alleged statement,” said Megan Mitsunaga, attorney.
Mitsunaga argued for Marquez's release from custody, while prosecutors argued he should stay in jail. Ultimately, a judge agreed – ordering Marquez to stay behind bars.
“I do find that this was a very egregious violent event that was targeted at a person who is otherwise unsuspecting, innocent and this individual was taken back, taken by surprise at the violent act,” said Moran.
The other suspect in this case, Salazar, also remains in custody pending trial.
Copyright 2022 - KOB-TV LLC, A Hubbard Broadcasting Company | https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/second-suspect-in-2019-homicide-to-remain-behind-bars-until-trial/6443812/?cat=500 | 2022-04-12T02:23:01 | 1 | https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/second-suspect-in-2019-homicide-to-remain-behind-bars-until-trial/6443812/?cat=500 |
Jury convicts former Virginia police officer in Jan. 6 case
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Monday, a jury in Washington, D.C. found Thomas Robertson guilty on all of the six charges brought against him by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Count 1 – Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting
- Count 2 – Civil Disorder and Aiding and Abetting
- Count 3 – Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds
- Count 4 – Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Ground
- Count 5 – Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
- Count 6 – Obstruction of an Official Proceeding
Thomas Robertson disputed the government’s charges against him and is just the third January 6th defendant to go to trail rather than take a plea deal.
Prosecutors relied heavily on video and Robertson’s social media posts. Robertson’s former co-defendant, and also former Rocky Mount police officer, Jacob Fracker testified against Robertson. Fracker took a plea deal last month.
Fracker provided key testimony supporting the sixth count, obstruction of an official proceeding. He testified that after the pair learned that they were under investigation for trespassing at the Capitol, Robertson asked him for his cell phone. Fracker said he was terrified that investigators would see other pictures and videos that he took on January 6th.
Text messages showed Robertson speaking with another acquaintance about whether he turned over a phone to investigators. Prosecutors say this text exchange on January 15th, 2021 shows Robertson admitting to destroying a phone.
Robertson: “Anything that may have been problematic is destroyed”
Unknown acquaintance: “So they didn’t seize your phone and search your house and interrogate your wife and dogs and neighbors who don’t have….”
Robertson: “Including my old phone”
Robertson: “Took a lake swim”
Robertson: “No. They asked for my phone but I’m not a re***d”
A sentencing date has not been set.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/former-virginia-police-offer-convicted-by-jury-jan-6th-case/ | 2022-04-12T02:34:21 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/11/former-virginia-police-offer-convicted-by-jury-jan-6th-case/ |
Gov. Walz gives condolences for Pat Lund’s death
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 8:59 PM CDT|Updated: 34 minutes ago
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – On Monday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz tweeted his condolences to Pat Lund’s family and friends. Last Thursday, Pat died after a long fight with illness.
Pat had worked in the sports department at KTTC for 30 years, and retired as the sports director in 2020.
In his tweet, Governor Walz said “Gwen and I send our deepest condolences to Pat’s family and friends. He was a great sports broadcaster and will be missed by so many.”
Copyright 2022 KTTC. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/12/gov-walz-gives-condolences-pat-lunds-death/ | 2022-04-12T02:34:30 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/12/gov-walz-gives-condolences-pat-lunds-death/ |
Judge: Lori Vallow, charged with killing her children, now fit for trial
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho judge ruled Monday that a mother accused of conspiring to kill her children, her estranged husband and a lover’s wife is now mentally competent to stand trial on some of the charges in Idaho.
Daybell and her new husband, Chad Daybell, face numerous charges in the complicated case involving allegations of bizarre spiritual beliefs involving “zombies” and doomsday predictions.
Prosecutors have said that Lori and Chad Daybell espoused the religious beliefs in an effort to encourage or justify the murders.
The case against her had been hold for months after Judge Steven Boyce ordered her committed to a mental facility so she could undergo treatment in an effort to make her mentally fit enough to assist in her own defense.
Boyce’s new order said Lori Vallow Daybell “is restored to competency and is fit to proceed” in the Idaho murder case. He did not provide other details about her treatment or mental condition.
She is scheduled to be formally arraigned in court next week and both Lori and Chad Daybell are set to stand trial together early next year.
Tare charged withconspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Lori Daybell’s children 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, as well as Chad Daybell’s first wife, Tammy Daybell.
Lori Daybell is also charged in Arizona with conspiring to kill her former estranged husband, Charles Vallow, with the help of her now-deceased brother, Alex Cox.
Chad Daybell has pleaded not guilty to the charges and Lori Daybell has not yet had an opportunity to enter a plea. Chad Daybell’s attorney, John Prior, declined to comment on the case. Lori Daybell’s attorney, Jim Archibald, did not immediately respond to voice and email messages requesting comment.
An indictment said Chad and Lori Daybell in 2018 while still married to other people began espousing an apocalyptical system of religious belief.
Lori Daybell’s brother Alex Cox shot and killed her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in suburban Phoenix, according to an indictment in Arizona.
Cox asserted the shooting was in self-defense, and he was never charged. At the time, Charles Vallow was seeking a divorce, saying his wife believed she had become a god-like figure responsible for ushering in the biblical end of times. Cox later died of an apparent blood clot in his lung.
Shortly after Charles Vallow’s death, Lori Daybell — who then had the last name Vallow — and her children moved to the rural eastern Idaho community of Rexburg, near where Chad Daybell lived. At the time, Chad Daybell was married to Tammy Daybell. She died in October of 2019, and her obituary said the death was from natural causes.
Authorities grew suspicious, however, when Chad and Lori Daybell got married just two weeks later, and investigators had Tammy Daybell’s body exhumed for an autopsy. Authorities have not released her cause of death.
Police began searching for Lori Daybell’s youngest two children in November after relatives raised concerns. The Daybells quickly left town, and were found months later in Hawaii without the children.
Investigators later found the bodies of JJ and Tylee buried in Chad Daybell’s yard back in Idaho. They have not disclosed causes of death but court documents said Tylee’s body was partially burned.
Friends of the Daybells told investigators that the couple believed people could become “zombies” if they were possessed by evil spirits, a state in which their soul was trapped in limbo, according to police reports. The couple reportedly believed that the only way to rid a person of a zombie was for their body to die, according to police reports.
A friend of the couple, Melanie Gibb, told investigators that Lori Daybell referred to her youngest children as “zombies,” and police in Arizona said the couple exchanged text messages saying that Tammy Daybell had been possessed by a dark spirit.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/12/judge-lori-vallow-charged-with-killing-her-children-now-fit-trial/ | 2022-04-12T02:34:36 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/12/judge-lori-vallow-charged-with-killing-her-children-now-fit-trial/ |
Long time football coaches reflect on Pat Lund’s impact on athletes
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – From Rochester, to Grand Meadow and Austin, Pat Lund covered it all.
Pat died late Thursday night after battling an illness. While he will be remembered for many things, it’s undeniable that the tenacity and dedication he gave to his sports coverage will be something that lives on.
“The attention he brought to sports in south eastern Minnesota, the attention he brought to programs will resonate from Spring Grove to Owatonna,” Owatonna head football coach Jeff Williams said. “And that’s a pretty expansive territory.”
“After all these years, Pat was and is the face of high school football in south eastern Minnesota,” Grand Meadow head football Gary Sloan said. “Obviously Rochester got a lot of coverage, but he was very good, KTTC was very good, at covering the small schools around the area. I just recognize him from not someone from Rochester, but someone who represented all of south eastern Minnesota.”
While Pat didn’t just cover football, Friday night lights were extra special.
“He was really good at balancing coverage between boys and girls. Big sports and smaller sports, and giving everybody their due recognition,” Sloan said.
“I think Pat reinvigorated south eastern Minnesota football. It just really became a big deal because of the attention that he provided to it,” Williams said.
Beyond the stats and the hustle, Pat’s coverage was all about the players.
“It really meant a lot for Pat to come and capture that. Those kids leave their heart and soul on the field,” Williams said.
“They remember when they were recognized and what they were recognized for and I think those memoires can’t be replaced,” Sloan said.
Memories, thanks to Pat.
“When someone is as good as Pat was, and is an icon, it’s an honor to have their name mentioned. So, he had a lot of influence on kids,” Sloan said.
KTTC plans to honor Pat Lund in a half hour special Thursday on KTTC at 6:30 p.m.
Copyright 2022 KTTC. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/12/long-time-football-coaches-reflect-pat-lunds-impact-athletes/ | 2022-04-12T02:34:43 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/12/long-time-football-coaches-reflect-pat-lunds-impact-athletes/ |
Rochester mayor seeks re-election
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 8:55 PM CDT|Updated: 38 minutes ago
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Rochester Mayor Kim Norton has announced she is running for re-election. She was the first woman elected to lead the city of Rochester in 2018.
She is now the third candidate in the mayoral race joining Brad Trahan and Britt Noser.
“I love finding solutions to problems facing our community,” Mayor Norton said.
She says she looks forward to tackling new projects that will benefit Rochester in the years to come.
If you live in Rochester, you will see the mayoral race on your ballot in November.
Copyright 2022 KTTC. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/12/rochester-mayor-seeks-re-election/ | 2022-04-12T02:34:49 | 0 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/12/rochester-mayor-seeks-re-election/ |
South Carolina park ‘consistently’ being used for illegal sexual activity, police say
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - Authorities said they are investigating illegal sexual activity that is occurring “consistently” at a park in South Carolina.
Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said his agency has received numerous complaints about people having sex at Pelham Mill Park in Greer, South Carolina.
The incidents have occurred in the parking lot, in the woods and even out in the open, according to the sheriff. Despite arrests, the activity has continued, WHNS reports.
Innocent bystanders including children have witnessed the activity, according to the sheriff.
“Under no circumstance should a young child or community member who is trying to enjoy a peaceful day at a park have to be exposed to this sort of activity,” Lewis said. “We are continuing our efforts to patrol the area and to identify those who are blatantly exposing themselves and engaging in illegal sexual activity, but we also need the community’s help with reporting this suspicious behavior.”
Anyone who witnesses this activity is asked to call the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office at 864-271-5210.
“More importantly, I want to speak to the people who are committing these acts and simply let them know that we are familiar with the apps you use to engage in this activity, we know your intentions, and to stop,” Lewis said. “There are appropriate places to engage in adult activities, and a public place is not that area. We must think about others when we act, and I ask the community to be considerate of one another and especially our youth.”
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/12/south-carolina-park-consistently-being-used-illegal-sexual-activity-police-say/ | 2022-04-12T02:34:56 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2022/04/12/south-carolina-park-consistently-being-used-illegal-sexual-activity-police-say/ |
Jury convicts former Virginia police officer in Jan. 6 case
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Monday, a jury in Washington, D.C. found Thomas Robertson guilty on all of the six charges brought against him by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Count 1 – Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting
- Count 2 – Civil Disorder and Aiding and Abetting
- Count 3 – Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds
- Count 4 – Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Ground
- Count 5 – Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
- Count 6 – Obstruction of an Official Proceeding
Thomas Robertson disputed the government’s charges against him and is just the third January 6th defendant to go to trail rather than take a plea deal.
Prosecutors relied heavily on video and Robertson’s social media posts. Robertson’s former co-defendant, and also former Rocky Mount police officer, Jacob Fracker testified against Robertson. Fracker took a plea deal last month.
Fracker provided key testimony supporting the sixth count, obstruction of an official proceeding. He testified that after the pair learned that they were under investigation for trespassing at the Capitol, Robertson asked him for his cell phone. Fracker said he was terrified that investigators would see other pictures and videos that he took on January 6th.
Text messages showed Robertson speaking with another acquaintance about whether he turned over a phone to investigators. Prosecutors say this text exchange on January 15th, 2021 shows Robertson admitting to destroying a phone.
Robertson: “Anything that may have been problematic is destroyed”
Unknown acquaintance: “So they didn’t seize your phone and search your house and interrogate your wife and dogs and neighbors who don’t have….”
Robertson: “Including my old phone”
Robertson: “Took a lake swim”
Robertson: “No. They asked for my phone but I’m not a re***d”
A sentencing date has not been set.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/former-virginia-police-offer-convicted-by-jury-jan-6th-case/ | 2022-04-12T02:46:52 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/former-virginia-police-offer-convicted-by-jury-jan-6th-case/ |
Motorcyclist, 17, killed in crash near Boca Raton
A 17-year-old motorcyclist was killed Monday in a crash with another vehicle in West Boca, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
The wreck occurred at 3:03 p.m. near The Oaks at Boca Raton subdivision, on State Road 7 and Bridgebrook Drive just north of Clint Moore Boulevard.
The crash closed U.S. 441/State Road 7 for a few hours, but the road has since reopened.
PBSO identified the victim as a male teen and the family has enated Marsy's Law to protect the identity.
A 79-year-old resident of the Oaks was driving a 2020 Audi SUV northbound in the left lane on U.S. 441/SR 7 The 2009 Honda motorcycle was traveling westbound on Bridebook Drive preparing to turn south onto 441/SR 7. PBSO says the driver of the Audi violated the motorcyclist's right of way and entered the roadway, causing the collision.
The motorcyclist struck the vehicle and the rider was ejected. He was pronounced deceased on the scene
Scripps Only Content 2022 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/motorcyclist-77-killed-crash-near-boca-raton/ | 2022-04-12T02:46:59 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/2022/04/11/motorcyclist-77-killed-crash-near-boca-raton/ |
More than six weeks into his war against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is feeling the sting of failure.
Thousands of Russian battlefield deaths. Three front-line retreats by the Russian military. Millions of Ukrainians who will never forgive Moscow. More isolation than ever - and perilously few goals achieved.
Putin is now regrouping to focus his military campaign on Ukraine's east in what is widely seen as "Plan B," after his forces failed to topple Ukraine's government or wrest control of its biggest cities. All the while, questions are mounting about how a Russian leader steeped in security policy and known for railing against the folly of regime-change wars could have sleepwalked into a such a strategic morass.
At issue is a broader quandary that will occupy historians for years: How could Russia - a country with such deep familial, cultural and historic ties to its western neighbor - get Ukraine so wrong?
Officials in the United States and Europe are piecing together the answer to that question. What emerges, those officials say, is a picture of a hubristic and isolated leader, beset by biases and skewed information, pressing forward with a calamitous decision without consulting his full cohort of advisers. Putin rushed headlong into Ukraine, confident in his ability to secure a quick victory and weather any blowback within the authoritarian system he erected at home, they said. Underpinning his assumptions: misconceptions about Ukraine fundamentally rooted in Moscow's colonial past.
"Historically, there just hasn't been expertise on Ukraine in Russia at all," said Alina Polyakova, president and CEO of the Washington-based Center for European Policy Analysis. "When you don't believe a country's a real country and a people's a real people, why would you invest any expertise in a thing you don't think exists?"
In the run-up to the war, some leaders in Europe and Ukraine discounted the possibility that Putin would invade, because they didn't see sufficient Russian forces amassed along the border for Moscow to succeed with a multifront offensive and subsequent occupation.
What they didn't realize was that Moscow was nurturing deeply flawed assumptions, particularly about the fortitude of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the willingness of Ukrainians to resist, and was indeed planning a large-scale invasion - just an ill-conceived one. The operation, analysts said, bore the personal fingerprints of Putin.
"It's clear this was a military operation designed by spooks, not generals," said Mark Galeotti, a Russia analyst at Mayak Intelligence. "It makes no sense in purely military terms."
According to U.S. and European officials, Putin had been keeping the plans very close-hold, with top military commanders and trusted advisers unaware that Russia was going to mount an offensive.
The Russian leader notoriously doesn't use a smartphone and rarely accesses the internet. He spent years snuffing out Russian independent news and erecting an authoritarian system of government devoid of constructive feedback or dissent. By early this year, according to U.S. and European officials, he was operating in an echo chamber, surrounded by advisers who, according to Galeotti, "had learned you do not bring bad news to the czar's table." Putin's isolation, the officials said, had been compounded by covid-19 and his limited contact with others.
"It's demonstrably obvious now that there was a combination of people not telling him what he needed to hear and him not listening when they did tell him stuff that he didn't want to hear," said James Cleverly, Britain's minister of State for Europe and North America.
Putin has long viewed independent Ukraine as a quirk of the Soviet empire's collapse that needed to be handled personally. According to Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar's book, "All the Kremlin's Men," Putin for years controlled policy toward Ukraine himself because he didn't trust anyone else.
"We need to deal with Ukraine or we'll lose it," Putin would say at meetings dating back to the early 2000s, according to Zygar, who labeled Putin's coterie of close advisers the "Collective Putin," because they tend to tailor their activities to anticipate his desires.
Putin's confidence in his personal expertise on Ukraine came through in a lengthy treatise he published last summer. The article portrayed Ukrainians as a people who are naturally the same as Russians but have been taken hostage by Western governments bent on radicalizing them against Moscow.
"That leads to this belief by Putin and others that if you can just decapitate the Zelensky government, knock out the political leadership, then there will be an outpouring of pro-Russian sentiment by the rest of Ukrainian society," said Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
The Russia got Ukraine wrong is "because this was totally a Putin-directed operation," said a U.S. official who specializes in Russia and like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.
Putin, the official said, "is as convinced as anyone can be of his truths."
The assumption of a quick Ukrainian government collapse undergirded the invasion, according to Ukrainian, U.S. and European officials. In the early days of the war, Russian state news already began promoting the notion that Zelensky had fled, even as he posted videos from Kyiv.
Putin had witnessed a rapid collapse of the Ukrainian government when former president Viktor Yanukovych decamped to Russia in 2014. According to Zygar, Putin shouted at Yanukovych not to leave Kyiv and described him as a "cowardly piece of s---" when he fled the capital in response to a pro-Western uprising. Those events may have led Putin to imagine a similar scenario with Zelensky.
Putin's misconception about Ukrainian weakness was paired with a swaggering view of Russian power. He famously boasted to a top European official in late 2014 that he could easily seize Kyiv "in two weeks" if he desired - a misconception he appeared to continue believing until he attempted to do so.
"He has an unwavering belief in his ability to control events," a senior NATO intelligence official said.
Perhaps no moment underscored the level of misconception more than the attempt by elite Russian paratroopers at the outset of the invasion to land at the Hostomel cargo airport northwest of Kyiv - apparently with the intention of sweeping breezily into the Ukrainian capital.
"Just looking at how this played out, it feels there was an enormous amount of arrogance," a European official said. "You look at the insertion of the airborne forces at Hostomel airport, which was clearly designed to do a decapitation (mission) in Kyiv - and they got smashed."
Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said the Russian leadership doesn't see Ukraine, a place once controlled by Moscow, as deserving of rigorous study.
"There was this false sense of familiarity," Gabuev said. "That's what Russia completely misunderstood."
Once the assumptions proved false, Russia's military proved unable to regroup, saddled by fuel, ammunition, transport, food and other logistics problems, as well as demoralized soldiers who hadn't been told they were about to fight a war.
"If the initial plan is bad and none of the other preparation is there, there's no durability," Rand Corp. senior defense analyst Scott Boston said.
Where Russia relies primarily on its foreign intelligence service, the SVR, to collect information about countries such as the United States and China, when it comes to countries in the "near abroad" including Ukraine, Moscow enlists the FSB, primarily a domestic intelligence service.
Andrei Soldatov, a Russian journalist who specializes in Russian intelligence, said the FSB regularly failed to understand the popular and grass roots movements fundamental to Ukraine's political culture.
U.S. and European officials said that Russia's poor performance in the initial stages of the war has led to bad blood between the Russian military and intelligence establishments and a serious search for scapegoats.
What exactly Russian intelligence was reporting to Putin regarding Ukraine before the war is unclear, but multiple U.S. and European officials said Putin's immediate advisers had shown an unwillingness to give the Russian president information that challenged his assumptions. Lower down individuals in Russia's security establishment thought the invasion was ill-conceived but their concerns didn't reach the top, the officials said.
In U.S. and European intelligence circles, the FSB's reputation stands in contrast to the ruthless, cunning reputation of its predecessor, the KGB. Several current and former officials described the Russian security service as rife with corruption, beset by bureaucratic bloat and ultimately out of touch.
A Ukrainian intelligence official said that the FSB had spent millions recruiting a network of pro-Russian collaborators that ultimately told Putin and his top advisers, among them the current FSB director, what they wanted to hear: The central government in Kyiv wouldn't hold and resistance would collapse.
The official singled out pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, who made Putin the godfather of his daughter, as a significant source of misleading information. Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian politician who has long promoted Russian interests, was charged with treason last year but allegedly escaped house arrest in the days after the invasion.
European officials said that the Kremlin was also getting information from out-of-touch former elites associated with Yanukovych, who, like Medvedchuk, stood to gain from a Russian power grab. In the weeks before the invasion, the British government warned that Russian intelligence was plotting with Yanukovych's former prime minister, chief of staff and deputy prime minister.
Regardless of the information stream, Putin believes himself to be the biggest expert on Ukraine, Soldatov said, noting the tendency of Russian officials to assume they understand Ukraine.
"This level of chauvinism - you can see it everywhere," Soldatov said. "It's a direct legacy of this unfortunate imperial past."
- - - | https://www.unionleader.com/news/military/hubris-and-isolation-led-vladimir-putin-to-misjudge-ukraine/article_72e69512-9930-58c0-9945-cb12e57f5e4e.html | 2022-04-12T02:50:44 | 1 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/military/hubris-and-isolation-led-vladimir-putin-to-misjudge-ukraine/article_72e69512-9930-58c0-9945-cb12e57f5e4e.html |
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — After months of debate, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney sent out a proposal Monday morning for “one last offer at compromise,” offering to transfer $7.3 million to begin work on a new 1,800-seat George Wythe High School amid ongoing arguments on the project that created a distasteful game of tug of war between the Richmond City Council and School Board.
Monday night, the Richmond School Board finally came to an agreement over the issue.
The center of the months-long debate over construction and funding has been school capacity and, whether the school should hold 1,600 students as suggested, or 2,000 to accommodate for potential growth.
Stoney said his funding ordinance would make way for a new school for 1,800 students, a figure between the 2,000-seat school that the city initially backed and the 1,600-seat school that the School Board supported.
The Richmond School Board meeting Monday night opened with a student representative from George Wythe High School. Shaniece Gentry, a senior at Wythe, is an honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars.
Gentry took her time to open the meeting, explaining how “it is urgent that the new George Wythe be built as soon as possible.”
“While it is critical that the school be built to accommodate the growing population in the Southside, also just as important are the resources inside of the school,” Gentry said.
She went on to explain that the school has a shortage of desks and chairs, “many of which are broken.” She added that the technology, smartboards, projectors and lab equipment in the school are outdated, and materials normally used for learning in schools, are sorely lacking.
“We did not have textbooks to use, to review/study for tests,” Gentry said. “So me and my classmates had to rely on a third-party site, like Quizlet, for studying just to make sure we understood the material”
Tisha Erby, a Wythe High School parent spoke at the school board meeting Monday, begging the school board to come to a compromise with city council.
“Please please please, I do not like to beg but, please. This is not a game of deal or no deal,” Erby pleaded.
She referenced overcrowding at River City Middle School, and said to avoid the same fate, the new George Wythe will need to be able to hold more than 1,600 students.
“Why go low when you can go high…We need a bigger building,” Erby said.
Theresa Slaton was another speaker at the meeting on Monday night who advocated for the building of a new school that is larger than the model originally proposed by the board. She opened her statement Monday with the naming of several new housing developments in the Southside.
“The growth is there, the development is there, I think the school board should parallel what we see going on in the city,” Slaton said. “We see new buildings, we see growth. Let our schools also model and reflect that.”
“Let’s get it done, so we can move on,” Slaton said as she ended her statement.
The Richmond branch of the NAACP sent out a release Monday evening, commenting on the continued disagreement between the school board and city council, saying that the matter “has been a hot potato for too long” and suggested: “That architectural plans should include the capacity to add a wing for several hundred more students when the population projections indicate the growth warrants expanding.”
The Richmond NAACP asked the school board to, “stop posturizing, release the money, and recognize and move forward immediately with building a school for 1,800 students.”
School Board member Dawn Page motioned during the meeting to “direct the administration to address school construction for George Wythe High School, meeting the needs of a student capacity for 1,800.”
Kenya Gibson then came back in reply, and suggested an amendment to instead move forward with the design of a 1,600 student school that includes a design option for a potential future addition to hold an additional 200 students. The amendment was later retracted by Gibson.
The board voted and passed the original motion given by board member Page for building a school with a capacity of 1,800 students –in line with Stoney’s last offer of compromise.
“We have to have schools that are truly built to serve our community,” said Dr. Shonda Harris-Muhammed right before the vote.
Richmond City Council is expected to vote on Stoney’s funding proposal on April 25. If approved, the City will transfer $7.3 million to begin the school’s construction.
“Our children have waited long enough,” Stoney said Monday. “Their parents have waited long enough It’s time to put down our swords and it’s time to elevate our kids above the fight.” | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/richmond-school-board-agrees-on-george-wythe-proposal-amid-community-frustration-this-is-not-a-game-of-deal-or-no-deal/ | 2022-04-12T02:57:04 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/richmond-school-board-agrees-on-george-wythe-proposal-amid-community-frustration-this-is-not-a-game-of-deal-or-no-deal/ |
SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — As Ukrainian refugees continue to trickle into California from Mexico, there is a constant flow of materials and supplies that is being dropped off for them.
Aside from food and water, even wheelchairs are being brought to Ped West, one of the pedestrian crossings at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
On Monday, tables were covered with doughnuts, muffins and buckets filled with KFC fried chicken, and kids could be seen eating Pringles and slurping from the ever-popular Cup O’ Noodles.
The items are offered to Ukrainian migrants as soon as they venture out of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility.
The unsolicited donations are being brought to the border crossing by mostly average residents who just want to help.
And migrants are taking note.
One Ukrainian woman named Tatiana said she felt “American love.”
She and her 5-year-old daughter crossed the border on Monday morning and were waiting for a relative to pick them up and drive them to the Los Angeles area.
Tatiana is reportedly like most Ukrainians who are entering the U.S. through this border crossing. They have relatives north of the border who are driving down to pick them up.
California has one of the largest Ukrainian American populations in the country.
Some of the migrants are being driven to San Diego’s international airport to board flights across North America.
The transportation is being arranged on whiteboards that have been laid out by the volunteers offering rides to not only the airport, but the Amtrak train station and bus depot in downtown San Diego.
And now, a group called Samaritan’s Purse based in North Carolina has set up shop to lend more support to the migrants.
The organization says it provides help to victims of famine, natural disasters, poverty and war.
Off-camera one of its volunteers said that’s why they’re here, but are also involved in Ukraine and Moldova.
President Biden has said he will allow 100,000 Ukrainian refugees to enter the country. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ukrainian-migrants-feel-american-love-as-donations-pile-up-at-california-port-of-entry/ | 2022-04-12T02:57:10 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ukrainian-migrants-feel-american-love-as-donations-pile-up-at-california-port-of-entry/ |
A 3-year-old boy and a grandmother were killed after they were struck by a garbage truck at an intersection in New York, according to police.
The boy and the 72-year-old woman were near the intersection of Stanley Street and Mary Avenue in Poughkeepsie just after 1 p.m. Monday when they were hit by a truck from the Royal Carting trash removal service, according to Poughkeepsie Police.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was taken to Westchester Medical Center with serious injuries, and later died, police said. Their identities were not released.
The driver of the truck was not hurt, police said, and it was not clear what caused the crash.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and it was not clear if any criminality was involved. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/3-year-old-boy-and-grandmother-killed-after-struck-by-garbage-truck-in-ny-police/3641152/ | 2022-04-12T02:57:17 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/3-year-old-boy-and-grandmother-killed-after-struck-by-garbage-truck-in-ny-police/3641152/ |
Prosecutors revealed Monday evening that they offered plea deals to three former Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting the murder of George Floyd, but said at a hearing that the defendants rejected them.
Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill held the hearing mostly to consider whether he has the authority to allow live video coverage of the upcoming trial set to begin in June for former Officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng. They're charged with aiding and abetting both manslaughter and murder when former officer Derek Chauvin used his knee to pin Floyd, a Black man, to the pavement for 9 1/2 minutes on May 25, 2020. Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back, Lane held his legs and Thao kept bystanders back.
Lead prosecutor Matthew Frank did not disclose details of the plea offers in open court but said they were identical and were made March 22 after a jury convicted the three in a separate trial in February on federal civil rights charges stemming from Floyd’s death, according to pool reports from inside the courtroom.
Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, said it was hard for the defense to negotiate when the three still don’t know what their federal sentences will be. The judge in that case has not set a sentencing date, and all three remain free on bail.
Cahill told Frank to file the offers for the record after the jury is seated for the upcoming trial, which is expected to take around eight weeks, including three for jury selection.
Cahill took the rare step of allowing live audiovisual coverage of Chauvin's murder trial last year, making an exception to the normal rules of Minnesota courts. He cited the extenuating circumstance of the need to balance protecting participants from COVID-19 against the constitutional requirement for a public trial.
Now that the U.S. has entered a new phase of living with the coronavirus, Cahill must decide whether to allow the same sort of access for the trial of Thao, Lane and Kueng. He did not rule during their pretrial hearing, and said he won't until after the Minnesota Judicial Council — a panel of leading judges and court administrators — meets Thursday to discuss the issue.
U.S. & World
Attorney Leita Walker, who represents a coalition of media organizations, including The Associated Press, urged Cahill to allow video coverage again, saying it's the most reasonable way to ensure public and media access to the trial. She said the public got to watch Chauvin's trial, and that interest remains high because both involve Floyd's death. The killing, which was recorded on video, sparked protests around the world and a national reckoning on race.
“The public is just not going to understand why they got to watch that one gavel to gavel and they won’t be able to watch this one,” Walker said.
But Cahill questioned Walker’s assertions that he has the authority to make another exception and that the pandemic is still an extenuating circumstance.
“COVID-19 is less of a pandemic and more of an endemic issue now,” Cahill said.
Cahill noted that while he has publicly said he now believes the legal presumption should be to allow televised trials, he pointed out that that’s not the rule yet. “I’m still sworn to uphold the law,” he said.
Defense attorneys said they still oppose audiovisual coverage of the upcoming trial, and renewed concerns about the willingness of witnesses to testify.
Minnesota court rules generally require the consent of all parties for audiovisual coverage of trials, with fewer restrictions for sentencings. Chauvin’s trial was the first in Minnesota to be entirely televised, from jury selection to his murder conviction to his sentencing to 22 1/2 years in prison. People worldwide tuned into the livestreams.
“I think livestreaming that trial enabled people here and around the world to see the inner workings of a system that was handling one of the most important trials of our time,” Suki Dardarian, senior managing editor and vice president of the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, which is part of the media coalition, said before the hearing.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office initially opposed having cameras in the court for Chauvin's trial, but now supports them for the other officers' upcoming trial.
“The Chauvin trial demonstrated the benefits of robust public access to this important case and proved that the Court could successfully navigate the concerns animating the State’s initial opposition to audio and video coverage,” prosecutors wrote last week. “The Court’s commendable transparency inspired public confidence in the proceedings and helped ensure calm in Minneapolis and across the country.”
Due to federal court rules, live video coverage was not allowed for the first trial of Thao, Lane and Kueng this year, when all three were convicted of violating Floyd's civil rights. Nor was it allowed for Chauvin's federal case in which he pleaded guilty to civil rights violations. But it was allowed in the December state court trial of former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter in the death of Daunte Wright, who was killed one year ago Monday.
An advisory committee to the Minnesota Supreme Court is considering whether to allow more video coverage of criminal proceedings. It's due to release its report by July 1.
Cahill, in a letter to the committee, said he had opposed cameras in criminal cases before, but that his experience in Chauvin's case changed his opinion, and he now believes they should be presumptively allowed, subject to the trial judge's discretion.
Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu, who presided over Potter's trial, told the Star Tribune in an interview that both the Potter and Chauvin trials convinced her that cameras can be present without being disruptive.
“I forgot they were even there," Chu told the newspaper. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/plea-deal-rejected-by-3-ex-officers-in-george-floyds-death/3641176/ | 2022-04-12T02:57:23 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/plea-deal-rejected-by-3-ex-officers-in-george-floyds-death/3641176/ |
The Lynx added front court depth to their training camp roster Monday, drafting a pair of bigs with their two draft picks. It’s the second selection that will jump out to local hoop fans, as Minnesota selected Rogers High School product Hannah Sjerven at No. 28.
Sjerven helped South Dakota reach the Sweet 16 this season, while averaging 15.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals. The 6-foot-2 center scored 16-plus points in each of the Coyotes’ three NCAA tournament games this spring.
“Sooo happy to be coming HOME,” Sjerven tweeted after the selection.
The hometown connection wasn’t the reason for the selection.
“It had everything to do with Hannah’s efficiency, her analytics, positional fit, it was all of those things,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “It just makes it fun to obviously have that connection, but nothing to do with it. I hope it’s fun for her.”
With its late second round pick, Minnesota drafted North Carolina State forward Kayla Jones at No. 22 overall. Jones averaged 8.7 points and 4.9 rebounds in just 21 minutes a game this season for the Wolfpack. Reeve said she watched a lot of North Carolina State recently, and enjoyed Jones and her ability to be a distributor.
“It’s hard to find power forwards with the skillset that she has,” Reeve said.
Reeve said Jones came “highly recommended” by the Hart family — Farmington grad Sophie Hart was a freshman on the Wolfpack roster this season.
Sjerven and Adams — who Reeve called good players and good people — face uphill battles to earn roster spots in Minnesota. The Lynx are short on roster spots and cap space for the upcoming season, given their veteran-stacked roster designed to compete for a title in Sylvia Fowles’ farewell season.
“The road is tough,” Reeve said. “But I think both of these players are going to be very comfortable playing their games in our training camp, and hopefully positioning themselves that, if it’s not on opening day that an opportunity presents itself, then maybe it happens at a different time.”
On Sunday, Minnesota traded picks No. 8 and No. 13 in Monday’s draft to Las Vegas. With those selections, the Aces nabbed Colorado forward Mya Hollingshed and LSU guard Khayla Pointer.
“We were comfortable (with the trade Sunday), but it is interesting to see it play out,” Reeve said. “In order to do that trade prior to the start of the draft, thought should indicate we knew who could be there. We vetted that process, that there were a couple players that we liked, and we weighed the idea of those players being with us in camp, and subsequent decisions that would have to be made against having an opportunity to have another pick in the first round next year, when our roster would be in greater need, and that’s ultimately what we landed on.” | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/lynx-draft-two-bigs-including-rogers-native-hannah-sjerven/ | 2022-04-12T03:03:12 | 1 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/lynx-draft-two-bigs-including-rogers-native-hannah-sjerven/ |
PHILADELPHIA — The Mets were without their starting pitcher after just two innings against the Phillies, spelling disaster for the bullpen to cover the remaining seven frames. Despite David Peterson carrying the load, his strong effort in relief went from a turning point to a spoiled performance.
Taijuan Walker exited his first start of the year after two perfect innings with what the Mets are calling right shoulder irritation. Then Peterson, who entered in the third, ate the middle innings and dominated the Phillies lineup. But it wasn’t enough. For the second-straight day, an ugly eighth inning and a late rally sealed a Mets loss.
Once Trevor May became the second Mets pitcher on Monday night to leave his outing with a physical issue, the bullpen could not stop the bleeding. J.T. Realmuto cranked a two-run home run off left-hander Joely Rodriguez. Then Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius collected back-to-back RBI doubles to complete a five-run rally and hand the Mets a 5-4 loss in the series opener at Citizens Bank Park.
Peterson’s four scoreless innings were, at least, one bright spot of Monday’s bullpen meltdown. The left-hander threw four scoreless innings and allowed just three hits against a tough Philly lineup. Peterson struck out leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber both times he faced him, stifling one of the biggest threats in the Phillies order. The southpaw escaped a jam in the fourth, with runners on first and second, thanks to a key double play and impressive defense from second baseman Luis Guillorme.
It was all coming up roses for Peterson, who looked like a different pitcher than the Mets saw last year.
But the same could not be said for May, who took the ball from Peterson in the seventh. He kept the Phillies off the scoreboard in one inning of work, but Mets manager Buck Showalter asked May to pitch one more, something the right-hander never did in 2021. After walking his first batter of the eighth, May left the game with an apparent injury.
The sudden bout of shoulder irritation is a troubling development for Walker, who also had an early exit from his last start of spring with right knee soreness. It’s possible Walker, while trying not to put weight on his knee, wound up putting too much pressure on his arm, leading to that pain popping up in his pitching shoulder. But shoulder and arm injuries are never a good sign.
Shoulder issues aside, Walker’s stuff looked terrific on Monday as he retired all six batters he faced, including strikeouts to Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos and Didi Gregorius. Walker went to his splitter almost just as much as he used his fastball and slider. It worked, as Phillies hitters swung and whiffed at all seven splitters Walker offered on Monday.
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/mets-bullpen-melts-down-against-phillies-after-taijuan-walker-trevor-may-leave-with-injuries/ | 2022-04-12T03:03:18 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/mets-bullpen-melts-down-against-phillies-after-taijuan-walker-trevor-may-leave-with-injuries/ |
When Mike Funk was named superintendent of schools in Albert Lea in 2009, the school district was about 78 percent white and 22 percent students of color.
Today, the district is 42 percent students of color.
Funk’s experience leading a diverse school district was a key reason the Stillwater Area school board last week selected Funk to be its next superintendent.
Stillwater’s nonwhite enrollment — now at 23 percent – is projected to grow at a rate similar to Albert Lea’s.
Leading a rapidly changing school district requires being “purposeful about working with your staff on cultural competencies and poverty and all the external factors that impact our students’ lives,” Funk told the board during his final interview last week.
“It’s important that we learn perspective, and that we teach perspective, and we teach our teachers how to teach perspective,” he said. “If we’re doing it under the auspices of perspective, we’re not blaming others. It’s ‘Here’s how this person perceives the world,’ and you can have that discussion on perception as opposed to, ‘Here’s what these people did,’ and putting a value judgment on what they did or didn’t do.”
In an interview on Monday, Funk, 56, expanded on his equity work.
“I think a lot of what is happening in the world right now is the left is saying ‘OK, well, these bad things happened,’ and the right is saying, ‘Well, quit blaming us for these bad things that happened,’ ” he said. “I’m trying to keep the blame out of it. The key to all of this is how we’re educating our staff to work with our students and to do so in a respectful manner.”
Funk’s equity work and his “mastery of finance” stood out among the candidates, said Alison Sherman, board chairwoman.
Albert Lea’s demographics have changed dramatically since Funk became superintendent, so “he has been through some of that, and that’s an advantage,” Sherman said.
In addition, his knowledge of finance, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, will benefit the Stillwater district, she said. “He’s grown Albert Lea’s fund balance and stabilized it, and I know that that resonated with the board directors,” she said.
Funk was named 2022 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. Prior to that, he was superintendent at the Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian (BOLD) School District for four years, worked as a high school principal in Pepin, Wis., and taught high school social studies at Dover-Eyota in Minnesota.
Funk served for 30 years in the Minnesota Army National Guard, retiring in 2018 at the rank of colonel. He was the infantry battalion commander in Kosovo in 2007-08 and chief of the joint staff in 2018, when he oversaw security operations for members of the Minnesota National Guard during Super Bowl LII.
Funk grew up in Rochester, earned a bachelor’s degree in government from St. John’s University in 1988 and a master’s in education from the University of St. Thomas in 1994. He earned a doctorate in educational policy and administration in 2004 from the University of Minnesota and a master’s in strategic studies at the U.S. Army War College in July 2011.
The Stillwater school board expects to approve a contract in mid-April, with Funk starting July 1. He takes over for Malinda Lansfeldt, who became interim superintendent after Denise Pontrelli was ousted in June 2020.
Funk and his wife, Anne, have been married for 26 years. They have three daughters: Maddy, who works at the University of Minnesota Medical School; Katie, a junior at Macalester College; and Alex, a sophomore at Albert Lea High School.
The family will be moving to Stillwater with their two Australian shepherds, Jack and Sydney.
In a phone interview with the Pioneer Press on Monday, Funk talked about joining a school district in turmoil, his paternal grandfather’s work ethic and lessons learned from Caesar Augustus. The transcript is edited for clarity and conciseness.
Q: The Stillwater school district has been going through a time of great turmoil. A former superintendent was ousted in June 2020, the school district is involved in a contentious legal battle with its bus contractor, and there has been a major turnover of the board. Why do you want the job?
A: I’ve been in my district for 13 years, and I’ve done a lot of really good things here. I’ve been watching Stillwater for the last decade or more. I’ve always been intrigued by the district, and I’m going into this with my eyes wide open. Part of the appeal is, I think the students, the staff and the community deserve stable leadership. Whether it’s my 30 years in the Guard or my 20-some years as an administrator now, I’ve seen a lot and I understand how school districts operate. I’m just really looking forward to the challenge. I’ve done my homework on a lot of what has transpired here. We’re not going to rush to failure on anything. We’re going to come in, and we’re going to study things. and we’re going to listen, and we’re going to come up with “the why” and then explain “the why” to the community and become a better district for it.
Q: How do you think Stillwater got to the position it did?
A: I think a number of mistakes were made historically. Structurally, I think that there were some decisions made that were not beneficial to the district — I’m not saying who or what, but they just weren’t. I think if you take a look at the last few superintendents that Stillwater has had, none of them were superintendents before they got into the chair.
Q: What do you plan to do first?
A: I will hit the ground running, but at the same time, I’m going to be doing a lot of learning. Every single principal I hire, I say, ‘You come in and what’s the first thing you’re going to do? You’re going to do nothing. You’re going to sit and listen and learn for six months.’ People are going to come in to see you and say, ‘You’ve got to do this, or you’ve got to do that.’ You need to sit back and learn the perspective, learn where people are coming from.
Q. Under your leadership, Albert Lea’s graduation rates increased from 68 percent to 81 percent from 2012-2021. How did that happen?
A: One of the things that school districts are held accountable for in the public’s eye is proficiency — proficiency in a district that is 50 percent free or reduced (price) lunch or more is not necessarily a friendly word for staff because our kids come from tough backgrounds, and they may not be as proficient as some of their peers. We really shifted the focus. We still said we want 80 percent of our students to be proficient, which is a pretty high number for our district, but our other target was we want 90 percent of students to meet their individual growth goals. If a student is in fourth grade and comes in reading at a first-grade level, at the end of fourth grade, they probably aren’t going to be reading at a proficiency of fourth grade. But you know what? They are probably reading a proficiency of third grade, and we have met their individual student growth goals. It’s really focusing the shift to the education of each student — as opposed to systemwide. We’re going to work on meeting kids’ needs on where they are at.
Q. Some people in their mid-50s might decide to stay in their current position for a few more years and then start thinking about retirement. Did you ever consider staying in Albert Lea?
A: That’s not my personality. It’s not who I am. I’m an energetic person. My grandfather, Arthur Funk, worked at Security State Bank in Hammond until he was 90 — from 1919 to 1992. I’m just go, go, go, and this is what I do. Part of what I had to do for the interview process was write a 10-year strategic plan. Absolutely, I’d love to be here in 10 years and really have just stabilized things and improved on the great tradition that Stillwater has had, and let’s just get over some of this recent history here.
Q: I understand you’re a voracious reader. What are you reading now?
A: I’m reading “Augustus: First Emperor of Rome” (by Adrian Goldsworthy); “Coherence,” a book on strategic planning, and just a fun book called “LLRP,” about the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol, a group of soldiers in Vietnam.
Q: What lessons have you learned from Caesar Augustus?
A: I never knew anything about Caesar Augustus. I think he’s fascinating. Even as a young man, he was very strategic. He changed his name to Caesar when Julius Caesar was killed — his mother was a cousin to Julius Caesar. … He really was a benevolent dictator. I think his wisdom and his ability to lead Rome for a long period of time is something that one can appreciate. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/qa-new-stillwater-superintendent-talks-equity-work-national-guard-augustus-caesar/ | 2022-04-12T03:03:24 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/qa-new-stillwater-superintendent-talks-equity-work-national-guard-augustus-caesar/ |
The Twins entered the season with six starters — Joe Ryan, Sonny Gray, Bailey Ober, Dylan Bundy, Chris Archer and Chris Paddack — and a whole lot of rotation question marks.
Among them, will Bundy bounce back after a difficult 2021 season? Will Archer stay healthy? Can the Twins Paddack around? How will Ober and Ryan’s sophomore seasons go?
Many of those answers are likely to take months to figure out — and the answers are likely to determine how the 2022 season turns out. But on Monday, the Twins got their first look at Bundy in game action, and had to have liked what they saw. Bundy’s five scoreless innings led Minnesota to its second victory, a 4-0 win over the Mariners in the series finale at Target Field.
Bundy gave up just one hit in his outing, a double in the second inning that stayed just fair. In the third, he worked out of really the only challenge he faced, stranding Julio Rodríguez, who reached on a walk, stole second and advanced when catcher Gary Sanchez threw the ball into the outfield, on third.
Bundy needed just 67 pitches to get through those five innings, getting six whiffs in his outing and striking out a pair of batters. He pitched with the lead for nearly the entire game, after Jorge Polanco’s double brought home Byron Buxton in the first inning. Polanco and Buxton would be at the center of the Twins’ scoring again in the fifth inning, too.
Buxton, who finished the day with a pair of doubles, came around to score on the first of three RBI singles for the Twins. Luis Arraez, Polanco and Gio Urshela, in succession, helped pad the Twins’ lead after two Twins runners — including one earlier in the inning — had been thrown out trying to score.
The other such instance happened in the second inning when Miguel Sanó was sent home by third base coach Tommy Watkins on Buxton’s first double of the day and was thrown out easily at the plate. But despite the two mishaps — and a trio of errors in the field — the Twins received enough offense and a strong enough pitching performance to overcome it.
Bundy’s start was followed by scoreless innings from Caleb Thielbar, Tyler Duffey, Joe Smith and Jhoan Duran as the Twins limited the Mariners to just two hits and sealed the series split against Seattle. | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/twins-ride-five-strong-innings-from-dylan-bundy-to-win/ | 2022-04-12T03:03:30 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/twins-ride-five-strong-innings-from-dylan-bundy-to-win/ |
The boos started early for George Springer Monday night and then it turned on the home team. Springer, the target of Yankees fans’ vitriol for his part in the 2017 Astros cheating scandal, quieted the taunts with a home run and RBI double. The anger of the sparse crowd at Yankee Stadium then turned on the Bombers’ weak offense.
The Yankees managed just three hits and were shut out by Alek Manoah and the Blue Jays bullpen in a 3-0 loss at the Stadium.
The Yankees (2-2) have lost two straight and went down quietly to their American League East rivals Monday night. The boos turned on the Yankees in the eighth when Adam Cimber got DJ LeMahieu to fly out, and then worked around hitting Anthony Rizzo with a pitch when he struck out Aaron Judge (his second of the night) and coaxed a pop out from Giancarlo Stanton.
Joey Gallo, who had his first multiple-hit game of the season, led off the ninth with a single, but Gleyber Torres then hit into a double play. Aaron Hicks singled before Kyle Higashioka struck out to end the game.
It went like that most of the night.
Manoah flummoxed the Yankees’ supposedly powerful lineup. Joey Gallo’s single in the second was the Bombers’ only hit for the first six innings. The Blue Jays right-hander, who made his major league debut here at Yankee Stadium last season, did put four Yankees on the bases with walks, but also struck out seven.
Yes, it’s very, very early in the season. But offense was an issue last season for the Yankees, who have yet to show they’ve improved that aspect of their game.
The Yankees were built on power hitters and to overwhelm their opponents with offense, but finished seventh in the American League in OPS (.729), 10th in runs scored (711) and were fourth in strikeouts (1482) last season. The Yankees let long-time hitting coach Marcus Thames and assistant hitting coach PJ Pilittere go this winter after those offensive struggles.
They promoted Dillon Lawson, who had been the team’s minor league hitting coordinator, to the coaching position with the big leaguers. The promoted Triple-A hitting coach Casey Dykes to his assistant and hired Hensley Meulens, who has vast major league coaching experience, as the second assistant.
So far the change in personnel hasn’t netted the results the Yankees have wanted.
While offense is down across the board with the league-wide batting average through four games down from .237 last year to .229 now and OPS from .714 to .682, the Yankees aren’t exactly dominating on that side of the ball. The Yankees went into Monday night’s game 18th in scoring in the league and 16th in OPS.
Like last year, the pitching was strong again Monday, but this time right from the start.
Taillon, who was a question mark to start the season after having ankle surgery this winter, was the first Yankee pitcher to get through five innings. The three previous Yankees starters — Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino and Jordan Montgomery — combined for 10.1 innings. Taillon battled the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter. The only damage the Blue Jays did to the right-hander was George Springer’s third-inning, two-run homer.
Taillon held the rest of the Blue Jays’ explosive lineup, which already had a major league-leading eight homers coming into the game, in check.
“I mean, they have a lot of good hitters. They’re extremely deep. They can do a lot of different things cover a lot of different pitches, but I mean, still some of the same things that always worked pitching will work against them,” Taillon said. “Not letting them sit on one pitch in one spot. So I try to stay unpredictable, move the ball around, mix it from at-bat to at-bat.”
Michael King gave up an RBI double to Springer in the seventh. The Blue Jays pushed the Yankees for the final American League playoff spot last season and their young lineup is dangerous.
“They can bang. They can really hit no question about it and have a really formidable rotation. It’s a really good club,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “And we saw that last year, the year before for that matter. It’s a really strong young nucleus of players. They’re going to be hard to play all season long and look forward to that challenge.”
() | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/yankees-bats-underwhelm-in-shutout-loss-to-jays/ | 2022-04-12T03:03:36 | 0 | https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/11/yankees-bats-underwhelm-in-shutout-loss-to-jays/ |
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (WFLA) – A bus company that serves people with special needs in Pasco County is asking for help from the public tonight after several of their buses were vandalized over the weekend.
Someone stole the catalytic converters out of three buses that belong to Buddy Bus. The owner says it will cost nearly $2,000 for each bus to be fixed.
A driver for Buddy Bus, Theresa DeBerry, was heartbroken Monday morning before her route.
“Those are my babies. They don’t understand what’s going on, why this bus is so loud, they don’t understand,” said DeBerry.
The thieves responsible are not only cruel but bold as the buses are kept in a church parking lot for safety, so whoever did this came to the Faith Lutheran Church in New Port Richey and committed this crime in the church parking lot.
“They ride with us for years and years. We’re honored to see them Monday through Friday they’re the same faces. They’re used to riding the bus without that loud booming noise coming from it,” Owner Jaime Viera said.
What’s even worse, he says, is that they’ll have to wait at least two weeks since no one can fix the buses immediately.
Bus driver, Charlene Santos, had tears in her eyes.
“This is like my family. I am upset. I am sad and upset,” she explained. “But, I’m going to make the best out of it.”
Catalytic converters are not cheap, and they’re not easy to access either since they’re located underneath the bus between the muffler and the engine.
The auto part is considered a crucial part of the exhaust system.
“Whoever did this will have to answer to his maker. They’re going to gain a few hundred dollars from it. Unfortunately, it’s going to cost us thousands to get it replaced,” Viera said.
If you know anything about this case, please call the New Port Richey Police Department immediately. | https://www.wfla.com/news/pasco-county/catalytic-converter-thefts-cost-new-port-richey-special-needs-adults/ | 2022-04-12T03:06:07 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/pasco-county/catalytic-converter-thefts-cost-new-port-richey-special-needs-adults/ |
Jury convicts former Virginia police officer in Jan. 6 case
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Monday, a jury in Washington, D.C. found Thomas Robertson guilty on all of the six charges brought against him by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Count 1 – Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting
- Count 2 – Civil Disorder and Aiding and Abetting
- Count 3 – Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds
- Count 4 – Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Ground
- Count 5 – Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
- Count 6 – Obstruction of an Official Proceeding
Thomas Robertson disputed the government’s charges against him and is just the third January 6th defendant to go to trail rather than take a plea deal.
Prosecutors relied heavily on video and Robertson’s social media posts. Robertson’s former co-defendant, and also former Rocky Mount police officer, Jacob Fracker testified against Robertson. Fracker took a plea deal last month.
Fracker provided key testimony supporting the sixth count, obstruction of an official proceeding. He testified that after the pair learned that they were under investigation for trespassing at the Capitol, Robertson asked him for his cell phone. Fracker said he was terrified that investigators would see other pictures and videos that he took on January 6th.
Text messages showed Robertson speaking with another acquaintance about whether he turned over a phone to investigators. Prosecutors say this text exchange on January 15th, 2021 shows Robertson admitting to destroying a phone.
Robertson: “Anything that may have been problematic is destroyed”
Unknown acquaintance: “So they didn’t seize your phone and search your house and interrogate your wife and dogs and neighbors who don’t have….”
Robertson: “Including my old phone”
Robertson: “Took a lake swim”
Robertson: “No. They asked for my phone but I’m not a re***d”
A sentencing date has not been set.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/former-virginia-police-offer-convicted-by-jury-jan-6th-case/ | 2022-04-12T03:08:49 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/former-virginia-police-offer-convicted-by-jury-jan-6th-case/ |
HENRICO, Va (WRIC) — A sea of friends, family and teachers stood outside of Highland Springs High School for two hours Monday night to honor one of their own –a standout basketball player who was shot dead last weekend.
Jahiem Dickerson, 16, was killed early Saturday morning on Glenwilton Drive, a tragic page turn in a disturbing trend of gun violence –all the more concerning when young people are being killed.
“I love you, bro. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I was with you every day,” said a friend, and basketball teammate, while unable to hold back his tears.
Cries for justice in the East End prompted many speakers at the vigil –including pastors and law enforcement– to say people involved with gun violence have to “do better,” and “want more,” as one school parent proclaimed.
“Somebody say ‘too many,’ ‘too many.’ Too many school students and teachers are crying, too many mothers are talking and screaming, ‘Why my son?’ Why my daughter?,'” one pastor said.
“Don’t let this be another name, another young person we lost and we move on. Not this time,” said school Athletic Director Harry Lee Daniel.
Jahiem’s mother, Jennifer, accepted her son’s team jersey from his teammates and coach. She said the teen who wore #1 will be laid to rest in it.
“And I just hurts that I moved out here to give him a better life, and he wound up being taken away from me from something that was so senseless,” Jaheim’s mother said. “And it hurts that I had to see that, and be there and watch him. I’m a nurse, I know how to do CPR, I know how to take care of people, but at this moment, this one person that came from me, I couldn’t. I couldn’t.”
The county supervisor representing the area said someone in the vigil crowd knows something about who pulled the trigger, and even said maybe that person was there. Henrico Police Chief Eric English and Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor also attended and called for the carnage to end now.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call Crime Stoppers. | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/henrico-county/hundreds-remember-slain-henrico-teen-basketball-standout/ | 2022-04-12T03:10:07 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/henrico-county/hundreds-remember-slain-henrico-teen-basketball-standout/ |
Jaden Davis wasn’t himself last season.
The Oklahoma cornerback recorded 25 tackles, which ranked 11th on the team, while starting six games and appearing in all 13. It was a step back from his freshman campaign in 2019 when he recorded 33 tackles and an interception, but it was an improvement on his 2020 campaign.
For Davis, it wasn’t the season he was hoping to have, and a constant issue for him last season was a lack of confidence.
“[It was] not good enough,” Davis said Monday. “I'm my hardest critic. I read a lot of stuff, and it's hard to shut everything completely out. But everything that anybody has ever said about me, I've probably said something 10 times worse to myself in my head. That type of stuff doesn't really bother me as much, but I'm really hard on myself. Like, really, really hard.
“I feel like it just wasn't good enough as a whole [with] where I want to go, where my aspirations are… It's just constant improvement. When you have a mindset that it's constant improvement and you need to improve no matter if you have a great game, a poor game, a great season or a not great season, when you step back you'll realize, 'OK, I'm really growing as a player. I'm growing as a person and as an individual.'"
It’s been a different feeling for Davis this spring, and a big part of that is new head coach Brent Venables.
“During high school, Clemson recruited me,” Davis said. “But it's a different experience when he's actually here. First meeting, he's like, 'What's up, J?' I'm like, 'What's up, Coach?' He just says, 'Let's get to work.' I'm like, 'OK, let's get to work then.' That's what it is. It's just all work. You throw work at it. It's crazy.
“He's probably the best defensive guru I've ever seen. He talks fast, too, but as you get to know him and be around him, everything starts to slow down. It's just amazing. I'm just grateful for this opportunity to be here."
An even bigger reason for his confidence is his relationship with his new position coach, Jay Valai. The thing that’s stood out to Davis is Valai’s attention to detail and his past experience as a defense back, which has helped him focus more on improving.
“It's great to have somebody who can relate,” Davis said. “Everything you're going through, he's been through it. He was at Wisconsin. He was All-Big Ten. He's been in the position where he's had to fight for a position. [He’s been through] ups and downs and everything, he understands. When you have somebody who has been through the exact same thing you're going through, it's just a big difference.
“I can go up to his office and talk to him about just life because he understands everything I'm going through. That also helps with everything. It's not just about football. When you have those relationships with your coaches off the field and you bring it on the field, it's a whole different mindset toward everything."
The focus for Valai has been helping Davis, listed at 5-foot-10, better utilize his smaller frame. Valai’s emphasis for Davis has been on using his speed and quickness to disrupt opposing receivers.
“You ain't 6-2, don't play like you're 6-2,” Valai said about Davis. “Working at the line of scrimmage [is important] because the deeper the ball goes, [the smaller] you get and I know that, too. So [it’s about] understanding creating turbulence at the line of scrimmage, pre-snap, moving around, taxiing and just giving yourself a better opportunity at the play by playing chess instead of checkers. So [Davis has] been really working on that as well, too, and fitting what he needs to get done on the field.”
That’s gotten through to Davis, who said he tried too often last season to play bigger than he is. And the emphasis on playing to his strengths has been his mindset through spring practices.
“With Venables, [defensive coordinator Ted] Roof and Valai, you learn that you play to your strengths,” Davis said. “You don't play in a shell of 'This is how you do everything.' You play to your strengths and you do what you have to do to make a play.
“It's just really exciting when you can see yourself visibly growing every single day." | https://www.normantranscript.com/sports/ou-football-jaden-davis-focusing-on-playing-to-his-strengths-heading-into-senior-season/article_f1e0b768-b9f1-11ec-85b5-83c49b0aef2c.html | 2022-04-12T03:11:53 | 0 | https://www.normantranscript.com/sports/ou-football-jaden-davis-focusing-on-playing-to-his-strengths-heading-into-senior-season/article_f1e0b768-b9f1-11ec-85b5-83c49b0aef2c.html |
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Rock band The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus will be performing at Buffalo Iron Works this summer as part of the “When We Were Emo Tour.”
The band is returning to the area for the tour, which kicks off April 19 in Houston. The Buffalo show will be taking place July 31, with supporting acts Attack Attack! and Kingdom Collapse.
Tickets are available at this link and general admission is $25 during presale or $30 the day of the show. Attendees must be 18 years of age or older and doors open at 5 p.m.
For more information on The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, click here.
Adam Duke is a digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of his work here. | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/the-red-jumpsuit-apparatus-to-perform-at-buffalo-iron-works-in-july/ | 2022-04-12T03:13:01 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/the-red-jumpsuit-apparatus-to-perform-at-buffalo-iron-works-in-july/ |
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — An early-morning fire in Buffalo caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.
Crews were called in around 1:30 a.m., to a vacant home on High Street. The flames from that building also damaged the building next door. City officials said the fire caused a total of $225,000 in damages.
No one was hurt in the fire. | https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo/monday-morning-high-street-fire-causes-225000-in-damages/ | 2022-04-12T03:13:02 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo/monday-morning-high-street-fire-causes-225000-in-damages/ |
The International Motor Sports Hall of Fame is about to throw a party.
“Rock The Hall of Fame” is coming Thursday, April 21, featuring a live performance by the Velcro Pygmies starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door and $12.50 online before the event. All proceeds go to benefit the IMHoF. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Adult beverages, soda and bottled water will be available inside.
For those who will not be able to attend in person, there is also a GoFundMe page associated with #SaveSpeed.
The event is sponsored by ATG Distributing, Sunny King Automotive Group, 97.9 WVOK, Real Country WCKA, 95.1 The Mountain, New South Outodoor Advertising and Coca-Cola, among others. A grant from the state Board of Tourism was also involved.
Event organizer Neil Fetner described the Velcro Pygmies as playing hits from the 1970s through the 1990s and being extremely patriotic. ”And they’re playing for free,” he said. “The frontman is a friend of mine, He told me about the Reach and Teach project they’ve been involved in, and I told him about my idea for a concert. He asked if he could help, and next thing I know he’s talking with (IMHoF Director) Mike Raita, and we’re having a concert.”
The Reach and Teach project involves work with local schools on every aspect of putting on a live concert. The group recently played Lincoln High School and has a performance coming up in Fayetteville.
“Sunny King signed on as our first sponsor with no hesitation whatsoever, and New South Outdoor Advertising is putting our event up on their billboards,” Fetner added.
This is the first event of its kind at the hall, Fetner said, sort of “a beta test to see if we could do something like this every spring.”
The goal is to ensure that people “can understand and preserve Alabama’s contribution to motorsports,” he added. “We want to make sure we can keep the doors open and the museum operating while continuing to preserve that interest.”
He also said, “I can’t express enough my gratitude to this community for their support and donations toward making this a success.”
For advance tickets, please visit imhof.eventbrite.com or scan the QR code above. | https://www.annistonstar.com/the_daily_home/velcro-pygmies-to-perform-at-the-international-motor-sports-hall-of-fame/article_e1f1e854-ba05-11ec-84cb-9fe1f20d5c69.html | 2022-04-12T03:20:17 | 1 | https://www.annistonstar.com/the_daily_home/velcro-pygmies-to-perform-at-the-international-motor-sports-hall-of-fame/article_e1f1e854-ba05-11ec-84cb-9fe1f20d5c69.html |
Waverly falls to Elkhorn in Eastern Midlands Conference Tournament
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 9:23 PM CDT|Updated: 58 minutes ago
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Waverly and Elkhorn kicked off the annual EMC baseball tournament at Lawson Park in Waverly on Monday.
Waverly struck first on a Jake Bream RBI single up the middle to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
Elkhorn would score two in the third inning on consecutive RBI hit-by-pitches to take the 2-1 lead, but Waverly’s Payton Engle took advantage of an Antler throwing error to tie it up at 2 in the 4th.
In the top of the 5th Elkhorn’s Garrett Rine drove in a pair on a single to left to put the Antlers back up 5-3, and they would tack on two more runs to win by a score of 7-3.
Waverly will play the sixth-seeded Blair Bears in a consolation game on April 14th.
Copyright 2022 KOLN. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/12/waverly-falls-elkhorn-eastern-midlands-conference-tournament/ | 2022-04-12T03:21:44 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/12/waverly-falls-elkhorn-eastern-midlands-conference-tournament/ |
IU's Aleksa Gulbe accepts WNBA training camp invite
Indiana University forward Aleksa Gulbe has accepted a training camp invitation from the WNBA's Connecticut Sun.
Gulbe was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team this past season and was an honorable mention as a junior. She averaged 11.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the Hoosiers as a senior. She finished 28th on IU's all-time scoring list with 1,071 career points and ninth in career blocks with 112.
More:IU's Aleksa Gulbe focused on basketball, but keeps an eye on family next door to Russia
The Latvia native ended her IU career as one of the winningest players in program history. Gulbe, Ali Patberg, and Grace Berger are tied for that honor with 90 wins over four seasons.
Gulbe joins guard Ali Patberg in the professional ranks, as the latter was drafted in the third round by the Indiana Fever. Patberg became the fourth-ever IU player drafted into the WNBA and the first since 2011.
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/2022/04/11/ius-aleksa-gulbe-accepts-wnba-training-camp-invite/7285400001/ | 2022-04-12T03:23:08 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/college/iu/2022/04/11/ius-aleksa-gulbe-accepts-wnba-training-camp-invite/7285400001/ |
ORANGE COUNTY Fla. (WFLA) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help tracking down a person who was caught on video attempting to kidnap a child.
The incident happened just before 8 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Semoran Boulevard and Dahlia Drive in the Azalea Park area.
Video released by the sheriff’s office shows the suspect grabbing the victim by the head before the two walk out of the frame together.
According to the sheriff’s office, the child was eventually able to escape.
The next video clip shows the suspect driving away from the area in what the sheriff’s office says appears to be a white Toyota RAV4.
They’re asking anyone who recognizes the suspect or their car to contact Central Florida Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477. | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-deputies-looking-for-person-seen-attempting-to-abduct-child/ | 2022-04-12T03:23:10 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-deputies-looking-for-person-seen-attempting-to-abduct-child/ |
WEST LAFAYETTE — The special prosecutor appointed to litigate the case of a man's February arrest by a Purdue University police officer says neither that man nor the arresting officer will be charged in connection with the encounter.
The announcement came a little more than two months after the man's controversial arrest went viral on social media.
"I recognize there are times when police officers fail to live up to their public trust and expectations. This, however, was not one of those occasions and the public response to this incident was therefore unfortunate. [The arrestee] released a video that failed to depict his own behavior which necessitated police use of force," wrote Rodney Cummings, the special prosecutor and prosecuting attorney of Madison County, wrote in his findings.
Cummings identified the arresting officer as Jon Selke.
"While I agree Officer Selke could have spent more time attempting to de-escalate the situation, that consideration is not within the scope of my responsibility," Cummings wrote.
On Monday, Cummings' office released police body camera footage of the encounter. It can be viewed below.
The man who was arrested encountered university officers on Feb. 4 while they were responding to a report of a domestic disturbance. The arrestee is Black, and Officer Selke is white.
It is WRTV's policy to not name suspects until they are formally charged.
A video of the arrest was posted on Instagram and has thousands of views. The woman who recorded it and members of the Police Department said they received death threats after it was posted.
University police previously said a third party reported a woman appeared to have been held against her will.
The video of the encounter starts with an officer later identified as Selke telling the person recording the video to get back. The man is on his back near what appears to be a pile of snow.
Then, Selke appears to be using his arm near the man's head and neck. The man, at one point, says "you're choking me" several times before the man moves his head and the officer moves his arm. At one point, the officer appears to use his radio and said he "needs more people here now please."
The video ends when it appears more officers approach the scene.
Cummings' findings allege that when Selke arrived, he found the man standing outside a woman's car with the door open and told the man several times to stand behind the car. The findings say the man ignored Selke each time.
Selke then told the man, "I asked you nicely. I'm about to put you in handcuffs," and when the man ignored him again, Selke grabbed his arm and placed his wrists in handcuffs, the findings allege. A struggle then ensued.
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Selke then radioed for backup, saying he was "in a fight" before additional officers arrived.
Cummings wrote that Selke was positioned on top of the man and at one point the man reached around Selke in an attempt to unholster his handgun.
The man appears to touch Selke's holstered gun in video provided by Cummings' office.
Later, in an interview with police, the man said he tried to grab Selke's gun in self-defense, the findings allege.
Purdue University Police Chief John Cox said Selke was placed on an indefinite leave of absence after the arrest. University officials have not clarified whether the leave is paid.
"The full investigation reveals that Officer Selke did exactly as we expect our police officers to do. He intervened on behalf of the victim and successfully restrained [the arrestee] until backup arrived without injuring him. For that, Officer Selke should be commended, not vilified," Cummings wrote in his findings.
Cummings added that probable cause for criminal charges exists against the arrestee, but he will not be charged based on the request of the arresting officer, representatives of the university, and a victim and her family.
WRTV has reached out to representatives of the university, including President Mitch Daniels and University Police Chief Jon Cox. We have not heard back.
We have also reached out to the attorney for the man who was arrested, and to the Black Student Union, which held a meeting after the arrest in which students voiced concerns.
WRTV Investigates reporter Kara Kenney contributed to this report. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/no-charges-to-be-filed-against-man-officer-in-purdue-university-arrest | 2022-04-12T03:23:10 | 0 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/no-charges-to-be-filed-against-man-officer-in-purdue-university-arrest |
SCRANTON, Pa. (WBRE/WYOU) — You may notice during your next trip to the grocery store that egg prices are much higher than usual. The wholesale prices for eggs is up nearly three times over this time last year, according to NBC News. At one point, the cost of a dozen eggs exceeded $3 for only the second time in history.
As of Friday, large grade A white eggs ran between $2.80-$2.89 per dozen on average, according to the USDA’s daily Midwest regional egg report. That’s more than double what they cost in March, according to CNN.
The recent increase is blamed, in part, on a bird flu outbreak that’s led to the death of millions of egg-laying birds. Supply chain issues and high feed costs have only compounded the problem.
Over the weekend, a grocery store in the Dallas area had a sign that labeled the issue a “national egg shortage.” The sign acknowledged the price increase and said, “we will continue to work with our suppliers to improve availability.”
The price change will hurt businesses that use large amounts of eggs, but the average customer may feel the pinch as well.
“Usually we buy a dozen a week,” said Pennsylvania shopper Tom Enkulenko..
Some shoppers at Gerrity’s Supermarket in Scranton, Pa. said they’re considering cutting back on their egg purchases.
“By far, this is the highest prices we’ve ever seen on eggs. Right now, we are sitting at double the price,” said Joe Fasula, co-owner of Gerrity’s Supermarkets.
Fasula fears these high prices might be here to stay for a while saying, “I don’t think anybody knows when that could end.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported grocery prices could go up another 4% before 2022 comes to a close.
According to the CDC, the risk to the general public from the avian flu outbreak is very low and there are no food safety issues. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/heres-why-egg-prices-are-quickly-rising/ | 2022-04-12T03:23:16 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/heres-why-egg-prices-are-quickly-rising/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — Jenifer Diamond is a DoorDash driver who has worked delivery jobs for several years, so she's used to unexpected things happening while out driving.
However, what happened to her on March 16 has left her feeling unsettled and worried.
"For a split second, I'm thinking I got a flat tire or something and then the window exploded," Diamond said. "It blasted glass all over the front of the car."
To her shock and dismay, Diamond realized someone was shooting at her car. It happened near 21st Street and Mitthoefer Road.
"I'm scared to death the next bullet is going to be the one that kills me."
Diamond's sweater was grazed by a bullet and her cell phone holder was hit. She believes the force of the bullet hitting her holder caused two cracks in her windshield. Her back passenger door window was also shattered.
Diamond's back passenger window is now fixed, but there's still damage from the first bullet that didn't shatter her window.
"I was insanely lucky. I'm very thankful for being that lucky but the fact that someone is shooting at me to begin with — I want to know why," Diamond said.
IMPD says this is an open and ongoing investigation. Diamond gave police the bullet she found in her floorboard. They don't believe whoever is responsible for the shooting knew she was a DoorDash driver.
At this time, investigators have not identified a motive in the shooting.
"There was no road rage. No arguing with anybody. No being mad at anybody or nobody was mad at me," Diamond said.
Diamond is a gun owner and had her firearm with her that night, but it didn't do any good in this case.
"Whether you've got a gun or not, it doesn't make a difference if the bullets are coming from behind you."
Diamond hopes sharing her story brings awareness to what happened and touches on something bigger that impacts everyone in society.
"We've got to find a way for people to have a reason not to be so mad and not to want to shoot and kill each other," she said. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/marion-county/indianapolis-doordasher-says-she-was-shot-at-while-driving-bullet-shatters-window-and-grazes-her-arm | 2022-04-12T03:23:16 | 1 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/marion-county/indianapolis-doordasher-says-she-was-shot-at-while-driving-bullet-shatters-window-and-grazes-her-arm |
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico teen who threw her newborn baby in a dumpster is now asking a judge to allow her to see the boy. Her attorneys have filed a motion to review conditions of release and are asking for more than just visitation.
“This wasn’t someone driving to the hospital, driving to a clinic, driving to a friend’s, driving to someone to seek help. She knew what she was doing at the time,” said a prosecutor during a preliminary hearing for Alexis Avila on February 28.
During that hearing, the judge declared there was enough evidence to go to trial for child abuse. It was January 7 when good Samaritans found the baby boy in a dumpster in Hobbs.
“In my 27 years of doing this, I have never seen anyone, child or adult, have a temperature that was not read with a digital thermometer,” prosecutors said during the hearing. They argued Avila’s actions were intentional in harming the infant.
Meanwhile, Avila’s defense attorneys made the case that she shouldn’t face felony child abuse with great bodily harm since the baby survived. Now, her attorneys are asking to grant permission for Avila to have supervised visits with the boy who lives with his teenage dad.
The night of her arrest, she was already asking to get the boy back. “If the baby is okay, I want it,” said Avila.
Her attorneys state she is attending counseling and is in parenting classes. They also say she completed her high school diploma requirement and has been accepted to a college where she’ll study psychology.
The boy’s father didn’t even know that she was still pregnant when she gave birth. Prosecutors are going to fight this. The only part of the motion they currently agree with is to allow Alexis Avila to be in her backyard while on house arrest.
Alexis Avila would also like to court to grant her permission to have contact with family members who are under the age of 10. No date has been set to hear this motion. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/new-mexico-teen-wants-visitation-with-baby-shes-accused-of-tossing-in-dumpster/ | 2022-04-12T03:23:22 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/new-mexico-teen-wants-visitation-with-baby-shes-accused-of-tossing-in-dumpster/ |
While a lot of renters are struggling, few are hurting more than those dependent on Section 8 government housing assistance. Many are losing their homes and can't find anywhere accepting vouchers.
Margaret is one of those people. The 80-year old is tired, physically and emotionally, from struggling to find a new home.
"I'm on the computer from the time I get up at seven in the morning till two to three in the afternoon, then go and eat something and go and start all over again," Margaret said.
She counts on it to pay a big part of her rent. But Villa Montana apartments in Scottsdale, Arizona, her home of 19 years, notified Margaret they no longer take Section 8 vouchers.
And she can't find any place that does accept the vouchers.
"This just hasn't happened to me before and I don't know which way to turn," she says.
After this story aired on television, dozens of people reached out with suggestions. They ranged from links with property listings to programs that help renters to people looking for roommates.
We sent them all to Margaret.
"I've had so many responses and numbers to call. I've called over 200 numbers now," she tells me.
But still, no luck.
"We don't accept it anymore. That's what most of them say," Margaret recalls.
So, Margaret paid $1,400 out of her own pocket to stay one more month in hopes of finding something. In this very tight housing market, more owners know they can get more money with fewer potential Section 8 hassles.
It's leaving people like Margaret on years-long waiting lists or taking anything they can get.
"There's no choosing which is better, or which is worse. It's just accepting what's available," she says.
Margaret and her daughter were in Mesa, Arizona after they discovered some potentially good news. They were looking at a place that apparently had a Section 8 opening.
While it would be miles from her life of 19 years, Margaret is hopeful but cautious.
She was asked what she would do if it doesn't work out.
"Then I'm up the creek without a paddle," she says.
The Mesa apartment is open, does accept Section 8 and she's going through the process of applying right now.
If it doesn't work out, Margaret knows she's better off than many since she has children nearby. But she still wants a place of her own. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/200-calls-and-no-rental-80-year-old-struggles-to-find-housing | 2022-04-12T03:23:22 | 0 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/200-calls-and-no-rental-80-year-old-struggles-to-find-housing |
(NEXSTAR) – A salad dressing sold at Whole Foods grocery stores is being recalled, the Food and Drug Administration announced, because the product could contain an ingredient that triggers an allergic reaction.
The recalled dressing is labeled “Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Creamy Caesar Dressing” and sold in a 12-ounce glass bottle, the FDA writes.
The caesar dressing, which is manufactured by Van Law Food Products in Southern California, was put on store shelves in 11 states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, New York, Texas, and New Hampshire.
“The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of Soy and Wheat allergen,” the FDA announced. “Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in Van Law Food Product’s labeling and packaging processes.”
The recall affects any bottle with a best-by date of Nov. 17, 2022. They’ll also have the UPC code 99482-49028 on the packaging.
While there are concerns someone with a soy or wheat allergy could have a serious reaction after eating the dressing, the FDA said no illnesses have been reported so far.
Anybody who purchased a recalled bottle of salad dressing can get a refund at the store they bought it from by showing their receipt. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/whole-foods-salad-dressing-recalled-over-undeclared-ingredient/ | 2022-04-12T03:23:28 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/whole-foods-salad-dressing-recalled-over-undeclared-ingredient/ |
A boy was treated for a shark bite on Monday afternoon in Palm Beach County, Florida fire rescue officials said.
Officials said the bite occurred at about 4 p.m. local time in Highland Beach, Florida. The child, described as an adolescent, said he saw a small shark dart toward him as he stood in shallow water.
DBFR responded to a shark bite at 4 p.m. at 3300 S. Ocean Blvd. An adolescent boy said he saw a small shark dart towards him as he stood in shallow water. It bit his right foot near his big toe before swimming away. Paramedics bandaged the wound and transported him to Bethesda. pic.twitter.com/fMWYZlh97K
— Delray Beach Fire Rescue (@DelrayBeachFire) April 11, 2022
The shark bit the boy's right foot near his big toe before swimming away. Delray Beach Fire Rescue said paramedics bandaged the wound and transported him to a local hospital.
Officials did not release information on the condition of the child. This is the second person bitten by a shark in Palm Beach County in the last few weeks.
A fisherman was bitten by a shark off Lake Worth Beach on March 31.
This story was originally published by Scott Sutton of WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/child-bitten-by-shark-at-south-florida-beach-taken-to-hospital | 2022-04-12T03:23:28 | 1 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/child-bitten-by-shark-at-south-florida-beach-taken-to-hospital |
Florida's citrus industry continues to struggle as production numbers are expected to decrease. Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture dropped its Florida orange forecast by more than 7 percent from the March update, dropping numbers to the lowest they’ve been since before World War II.
Mixon’s Fruit Farms in Bradenton has been producing and selling citrus for more than 80 years. But owner Dean Mixon says in the last 20 years, diseases like “citrus greening” have wiped out nearly 95 percent of the farm's orange crop. He says citrus farmers across the state are facing the same problem.
"If they could find a cure, a true cure for the greening, maybe it could bounce back, but it's gone so far now that growers are being forced to sell their property and get out of the business," said Mixon.
Mixon’s continues to produce some citrus and has started planting bamboo as well as using their property for weddings and events to try and make up for some of the loss in citrus sales.
For more information on events at or visiting Mixon's Fruit Farms, click here.
This story was originally published by Wendi Lane of WFTS in Tampa Bay, Florida. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/floridas-citrus-production-could-hit-the-lowest-numbers-since-before-world-war-ii | 2022-04-12T03:23:35 | 0 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/floridas-citrus-production-could-hit-the-lowest-numbers-since-before-world-war-ii |
Less than two weeks after the now-infamous Oscars slap, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences banned actor Will Smith from any Academy event, including the Oscars, for 10 years.
That swift punishment and condemnation of violence were met with immediate criticism over the Academy's long history of celebrating men charged with assault.
An editorial in the Boston Herald referred to the Academy's response with selective outrage as producers like Harvey Weinstein, whose years of sexual misconduct was an open secret in Hollywood, has collected over 80 Academy Awards for his films, and directors like Roman Polanski, who fled the U.S. in 1978 after pleading guilty to raping a 13-year-old girl, won the Oscar for best director in 2003. The Academy gave his win a standing ovation.
It wasn't until the rise of the #MeToo movement in 2017 that the Academy expelled Weinstein and Polanski, as well as serial sexual assaulter Bill Cosby and cinematographer Adam Kimmel, who was a registered sex offender.
Weinstein enjoyed membership and attended the Oscars for years until the national fallout from multiple allegations of sexual assault prompted the Academy to expel him, and it took a big Variety investigation before the Academy revoked cinematographer Kimmel's membership.
Critics of the Academy are pointing out the gravity of those crimes compared to Smith's slap, though some argue the actor was more swiftly punished because the slap happened live on stage during the Oscars ceremony.
That being said, critics are also now comparing the slap to two other instances of inappropriate televised behavior during award shows like Adrian Brody's improvised kiss of Halle Berry during the 2003 Academy Awards and Jim Carrey's non-consensual kiss of Alicia Silverstone during the 1997 MTV Awards.
Videos of both incidents are resurfacing on social media, and that's leading to more criticisms over whether the Academy can play the role of moral arbiter.
Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/the-entertainment-industrys-inconsistencies-with-responding-to-celebrity-behavior-is-examined | 2022-04-12T03:23:41 | 1 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/the-entertainment-industrys-inconsistencies-with-responding-to-celebrity-behavior-is-examined |
Since its first days at war with Russia, Ukraine has succeeded in leveraging social media and the press to get the attention and support of countries around the world.
That's led some to suggest that it's winning the information war against Russia, an impressive feat considering that many experts see the Kremlin as a global leader in information warfare.
Experts tell Newsy Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy's regular addresses on the turmoil the country is facing have helped.
On-the-ground footage showing the effects of war that could be published incredibly quickly has also allowed Ukraine to keep its narrative of the war ahead of Russia's.
"We're down to a scale of minutes," said Daniel Johnson, Park fellow at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina. "Ukrainians understand the power of images. They understand the power of the messages coming in almost real-time."
Social media has allowed Ukrainians to constantly document and broadcast the real-time turmoil they're facing from Russia. Ukraine's ability to debunk Russian propaganda with images of what's actually happening on the ground has helped them draw even more global support.
"When Ukraine says there are mass graves in the city of Bucha, almost any of us can turn on satellite imagery that's readily available online, or follow reporting by western reporters who are there to get a horrifying but firsthand look at what's going on," said Andy Carvin, managing editor of the digital forensic research lab at the Atlantic Council.
"But when Russia makes claims of Ukraine purposely attacking its own citizens, they don't offer proof."
"Zelenskyy and the government's ability to appeal to populations around the world, partly through social media, partly through making direct appeals to parliaments of countries, through the United Nations” of being visible and making Ukraine's case, is critical for Ukraine to continue receiving the support that it needs from wealthier countries around it," said Scott Radnitz, associate professor of Russian and Eurasian studies at the University of Washington.
Still, experts told Newsy that just because Ukraine is winning the information war on one front doesn't mean it's winning it everywhere. It also means that if Ukraine doesn't keep attention on the situation, it could lead to them losing the information war in the future.
"If you're looking at domestic Russian audiences, Ukraine is not even in the fight," Carvin said. "It's purely Russian messaging, with Russian censors cracking down on social media, arresting people who share truthful information, and then they get charged for spreading fake news."
"This really is a David and Goliath story," Radnitz said. "It's not hard to sell that storyline, and Zelenskyy has worked this narrative masterfully. But the truth is, people around the world, social media users, have other things to do. They have more immediate concerns. There will be other short-term crises and eventually attention is going to flag. And Ukraine is going to have to try ever harder to justify why people should care about it."
Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here. | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/why-russia-has-struggled-in-its-information-war-in-ukraine | 2022-04-12T03:23:47 | 0 | https://www.wrtv.com/news/national/why-russia-has-struggled-in-its-information-war-in-ukraine |
MIAMI — The previous two years, the NBA play-in round was of minimal consequence for the Miami Heat, a factor of their middling playoff seeds, at No. 5 in 2020 and No. 6 last year.
This time around, as a No. 1 seed, it is different. Each of the three upcoming Eastern Conference play-in games will have the attention of Erik Spoelstra’s team, starting Tuesday night.
The Heat will open their 2022 playoffs Sunday at FTX Arena against either the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets or Cleveland Cavaliers.
One of those teams will be eliminated from playoff contention Wednesday, in the conference’s Nos. 9-10 game, between the Hawks and Hornets. Another will be eliminated Friday, in the game between the loser of Tuesday night’s Nos. 7-8 (Nets-Cavaliers) game and the winner of the Nos. 9-10 game.
The team left standing as the No. 8 season will face the Heat in the best-of-seven opening round, with the Heat holding homecourt advantage.
“We’ve had six months to prepare for the playoffs,” Spoelstra said. “And whoever we’re going to play in the Eastern Conference that first round, we likely will have already played them three or four times. And we don’t feel like we have to cram for a test. That’s the whole point of all these experiences together.
A look at the possibilities, with the Heat for five days operating solely as bystanders:
No. 7 Brooklyn Nets.
Possible seeds: If the Nets defeat the visiting Cavaliers on Tuesday night (7 p.m., TNT) they will be the No. 7 seed and face the No. 2 Boston Celtics in the opening round.
If Brooklyn loses Tuesday to Cleveland, on Friday it will host the winner of Wednesday’s Atlanta-Charlotte game for the No. 8 seed, which faces the Heat in the first round.
The Heat perspective: They went 3-1 in their four-game season series against the Nets, losing in the lone matchup when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both were available for Brooklyn.
No possible Heat first-round opponent, when whole, has more upside among the East play-in teams than the Nets.
Burning question: Would the Nets, having routed the Heat in the teams’ most-recent meeting, dare tempt the fates by dropping their play-in opener in order to set up a first-round series against the Heat, knowing that a loss then in a possible second play-in game could end their season?
No. 8 Cleveland Cavaliers
Possible seeds: If the visiting Cavaliers defeat the Nets on Tuesday night (7 p.m., TNT) they will be the No. 7 seed and face the No. 2 Boston Celtics in the opening round.
If Cleveland loses Tuesday to Brooklyn, on Friday it will host the winner of Wednesday’s Atlanta-Charlotte game for the No. 8 seed, which faces the Heat in the first round.
The Heat perspective: There are few better alternatives in the postseason than playing a happy-to-be-there opponent. Just by making the playoffs, the Cavaliers will have more than fulfilled their preseason mandate.
Although Cleveland won the season series 2-1, both of the victories came in games the Heat lacked both Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler. With Butler and Adebayo, the Heat defeated the Cavaliers by 12 on March 11 (albeit on a night Jarrett Allen was sidelined for Cleveland).
Burning question: The Heat were swept in last season’s opening round when they were overwhelmed by the Milwaukee Bucks’ size. Should Allen make it back from his fractured finger, the first round again could come down to the Heat’s ability to compete in the paint.
No. 9 Atlanta Hawks
Possible seeds: The Hawks only can make the playoffs as a No. 8 seed, the seed that will play at the Heat in the opening round.
To make the postseason, the Hawks will have to defeat the visiting Hornets in the Nos. 9-10 game on Wednesday night (7 p.m., ESPN) and then win Friday night (ESPN, Time TBA) at the loser of the Brooklyn-Cleveland game.
The Heat perspective: If John Collins can make it back from his foot strain, the equation could grow far more complex for the Heat, when considering the focus that is required on Trae Young. This also is an opponent than can impact with its size, particularly center Clint Capela.
Unlike the Cavaliers, the Hawks know what it takes to make a deep playoff run, having advanced to last season’s Eastern Conference finals.
Burning question: As it is for almost every Hawks opponent, it likely will come down to whether Young shoots the Hawks in or out of the game. In the teams’ most recent meeting, Young shot 9 of 11 in the first half but then only 3 of 12 in the second half of the Heat’s 113-109 Friday night victory.
No. 10 Charlotte Hornets
Possible seeds: The Hornets only can make the playoffs as a No. 8 seed, the seed that will play at the Heat in the opening round.
To make the postseason, Charlotte will have to win in Atlanta in the Nos. 9-10 game on Wednesday night (7 p.m., ESPN) and then win Friday night (ESPN, Time TBA) at the loser of the Brooklyn-Cleveland game.
The Heat perspective: It likely will come down to offering the most basic level of defense for the Heat, considering the Hornets have shown little inclination on that level.
With Gordon Hayward sidelined in the postseason yet again, with a foot injury, options will be limited for Charlotte other than breakout performances by Miles Bridges, Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball.
Burning question: Based on this play-in field, the burning question is if Charlotte is good enough to win even one game in this round, let alone the required two. The sense is the Heat would embrace a Hornets matchup. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/fl-sp-miami-heat-main-monday-20220411-2jr7nicbjvgcznfnfeuueypba4-story.html | 2022-04-12T03:26:28 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/fl-sp-miami-heat-main-monday-20220411-2jr7nicbjvgcznfnfeuueypba4-story.html |
PHILADELPHIA — J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius followed with run-scoring doubles that helped the Philadelphia Phillies rally past the New York Mets 5-4 on Monday night.
The Phillies trailed 4-0 before they scored five runs in the eighth against two Mets relievers. Realmuto’s first homer of the season deep into the left field seats made it 4-3. Hoskins ripped a tying double to left off Seth Lugo (0-1), and Gregorius lined one into the right-center gap for a 5-4 lead.
Seranthony Dominguez (1-0) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the win. Brad Hand worked the ninth for a save.
The NL East rivalry is just warming up: New York plays the Phillies 12 more times before the end of May. Then the season series resumes in August.
“I think we understand that our division is very tough and every game means something,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “But you can’t make too much of three games in April. I mean, they’re really important to us, but neither team probably looks the way it’s going to look in a sense in June and July because people aren’t built up.”
Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm made three errors in the first three innings, a bad look as he tries to win the third base job over rookie Bryson Stott. Edge after this defensive disaster: Stott.
Bohm made his first error in the first when he charged a ball that shot off starter Ranger Suarez’s glove and made a wild, sidearm throw that sailed into right field. His second error was in the second, a routine grounder that he threw over first baseman Rhys Hoskins and into foul territory. Bohm completed the trifecta in the third on a wide throw that pulled Hoskins off the bag.
Lip-readers ran wild when cameras caught Bohm having some choice words after his second error.
The Mets, though, did not score an unearned run off the three errors.
Girardi said before the game he started Bohm over Scott because of previous success against Mets starter Taijuan Walker.
Walker, though, only lasted two innings because of right shoulder irritation. He struck out four, walked none and threw 30 pitches, retiring all six batters before he left the game. David Peterson tossed four shutout innings in long relief and held the Phillies in check.
Pete Alonso had an RBI groundout, Eduardo Escobar made it 2-0 on an RBI single to right and Mark Canha continued his torrid start with a run-scoring single off Suarez for a 3-0 lead in the first. Francisco Lindor added an RBI single in the seventh to make it 4-0.
Seaver’s widow, two daughters to attend Mets’ statue unveiling: The Franchise is 10 feet high, 13 1/2 feet in length, and weighs 3,200 pounds. The statue, that is. The highly anticipated Tom Seaver statue will be unveiled at 10:30 a.m. Friday during a pregame ceremony at Citi Field before the Mets’ home opener against the Diamondbacks. Nancy, Seaver’s widow, and their two daughters, Sarah and Anne, will be in attendance at the Home Run Apple to see the statue for the first time.
A New York Daily News report was included in this story. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/hc-sp-mlb-mets-phillies-20220412-20220412-htbrtkxslvc6nkzya5ihbp4bxy-story.html | 2022-04-12T03:26:34 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/hc-sp-mlb-mets-phillies-20220412-20220412-htbrtkxslvc6nkzya5ihbp4bxy-story.html |
NEW YORK — George Springer answered booing fans with a go-ahead, two-run homer and a RBI double, and the Toronto Blue Jays made three sparkling defensive plays to beat New York 3-0 Monday night.
Alek Manoah (1-0) allowed one hit over six innings, Joey Gallo’s opposite-field single with one out in the second, bettering his six shutout innings of two-hit ball in his major league debut in the Bronx last May 27.
The 24-year-old right-hander struck out seven and worked around four walks, helping and the Blue Jays extend their Yankee Stadium winning streak to five.
Springer remains targeted by fans for his time on the 2017 championship Houston Astros, found guilty by Major League Baseball of stealing signs with an unauthorized camera.
Fans booed Springer before and during each at-bat, and he finished a triple short of the cycle in the leadoff spot. No. 9 batter Santiago Espinal had three singles for the Blue Jays.
Springer followed Espinal’s third-inning single by pulling a slider from Jameson Taillon (0-1) into the left field seats for his second homer in two days.
Espinal hit a two-out single in the seventh and scored when Springer sliced a fastball to the opposite field for a double on two hops to the right field wall.
Manoah loosened up before the game with a football, then mixed 44 fastballs, 22 sliders, 18 sinkers and 15 changeups, getting five swings and misses on fastballs, four on sliders and three on changeups.
Manoah walked the bases loaded in the third before Giancarlo Stanton hit a broken-bat grounder to shortstop Bo Bichette, who made a backhand pickup and off-balance throw to first from the edge of the outfield grass.
Jordan Romano finished the four-hitter for his third save, and the Yankees lost their second straight after opening with two wins. Of the seven times New York was shut out last year, two were against Toronto.
Taillon became the first Yankees pitcher to last five innings, allowing five hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
Cashman confirms no offers to Correa or Freeman: General manager Brian Cashman confirmed that the Yankees never made a formal offer to Carlos Correa or Freddie Freeman this offseason.
“I would receive phone calls from Scott Boras, not a lot, but Scott reached out not just to me but all clubs that he thought might be a possibility,” Cashman said on WFAN. “I was aware and sharing with ownership the world that was changing at that time for that particular free agent, along with the other free agents that wound up landing deals elsewhere. It just didn’t fit.”
Correa eventually signed a three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Twins — after they had traded Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt to the Yankees. That allowed the Twins to take the $35.1 million on their payroll that the Bombers just weren’t willing to.
Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers.
A New York Daily News report was included in this story. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/hc-sp-mlb-yankees-blue-jays-20220412-20220412-2s5dwj2r4rdrhibwab3pdvp6zy-story.html | 2022-04-12T03:26:41 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/hc-sp-mlb-yankees-blue-jays-20220412-20220412-2s5dwj2r4rdrhibwab3pdvp6zy-story.html |
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers fired Frank Vogel on Monday, choosing their championship-winning head coach to take the first fall for one of the most disappointing seasons in NBA history.
Los Angeles wildly underachieved this season, finishing 33-49 and missing the 10-team Western Conference playoffs in a humiliating conclusion to a year that began with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and a veteran-laden supporting cast widely expected to contend for another championship.
Vogel was fired exactly 18 months after he led the Lakers to the franchise’s 17th title in his first season in charge. Almost nothing has gone right in the ensuing two seasons for the rosters assembled by general manager Rob Pelinka and coached by Vogel, who went 127-98 in his three seasons running the club. He was under contract through next season.
“Frank is a great coach and a good man,” Pelinka said in a statement. “We will forever be grateful to him for his work in guiding us to the 2019-20 NBA championship. This is an incredibly difficult decision to make, but one we feel is necessary at this point.”
ESPN reported Vogel’s imminent firing immediately after the Lakers finished the season by beating Denver in overtime Sunday night. During an awkward postgame news conference, Vogel admitted he had not yet been told of the club’s decision before it was leaked to ESPN.
It was a dismal, embarrassing end to a tenure that began tremendously for Vogel, the former coach at Orlando and Indiana. The Lakers claimed a title in the Florida bubble in October 2020, but didn’t win another playoff round in the next two seasons.
Los Angeles never resembled a championship team this season despite trading for Westbrook and signing Anthony to play alongside James and Davis. The Lakers stumbled along near .500 until Jan. 7, when they entered a 10-30 nosedive exacerbated by Davis’ latest lengthy injury absence.
Despite another impressive season from the 37-year-old James, the Lakers never jelled this season with a roster including nine players over 30 and 11 players who weren’t with the team last season. Davis managed to play in only 40 of their 82 games, while Westbrook struggled mightily to fit into the Lakers’ team concept during one of the worst seasons of his professional career.
After so much preseason ballyhoo around the teaming of James, Davis and Westbrook, the trio managed to play in only 21 games together — and went 11-10. The Lakers used 41 different starting lineups.
“At the end of the day, the reason why we weren’t very good together is we weren’t on the damn floor together,” James said. “You never got a chance to see what the ballclub could be.”
Although Vogel remained publicly confident in his ability to fix the problems created by the injuries and two years of high-risk roster assembly, the coach never came up with any consistent solutions to Los Angeles’ woes.
But while Vogel received ample criticism for his curious decisions on player rotations and his lack of an offensive game plan, the Lakers’ single biggest problem in Vogel’s final two seasons was Davis’ inability to stay healthy.
The eight-time All-Star big man was dominant in the bubble, but Davis has played in just 76 of the Lakers’ 154 games over the past two seasons while battling several major injury problems.
James also struggled with injuries during the last two years, appearing in only 101 games. He played in just one of the Lakers’ final eight games this season because of a sprained ankle, and Los Angeles was eliminated from playoff contention during that stretch despite Davis’ return from a six-week absence for three late games.
James spoke to the media Monday morning before Vogel’s fate was revealed by the Lakers’ front office.
“I respect Frank as a coach, as a man,” James said. “Our partnership that we’ve had over the few years here has been nothing but candid, and great conversations. This is a guy that gives everything to the game and prepared us every single night. ... I don’t know what’s going to happen with Frank being here, but I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”
Vogel was hired in May 2019 to assemble a cohesive team around James and Davis, who was officially acquired from New Orleans two months later. Vogel’s plans worked right away: His first team weathered the NBA’s coronavirus shutdown and then won a ring, with Vogel leading a deep, defensively dominant group to the title.
Pelinka has thoroughly altered that championship roster since then, and the results have been catastrophic. Less than a full calendar year after the triumph in the bubble, only James, Davis and Talen Horton-Tucker remained on the roster to start this season — along with Dwight Howard, who left the team and returned.
Los Angeles went 42-30 last season while battling major injuries to Davis and James before losing to Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs.
Vogel’s firing is the first change after this comprehensive failure of the high-risk, aging roster and a team-building strategy chosen by Pelinka, Kobe Bryant’s former agent. He took control of the Lakers’ basketball decisions after Magic Johnson’s abrupt departure in 2019.
Pelinka disassembled the entire support structure of the Lakers’ championship supporting cast last summer when he allowed Alex Caruso to leave for Chicago and then traded Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma in a package for Westbrook. Pelinka hoped to build a Big Three of elite talent to be supplemented by low-cost veterans instead of homegrown Lakers.
Instead, Pelinka’s moves forced Vogel to rebuild his defense from scratch with inferior defensive players. The Lakers didn’t come close to matching the last two teams’ defensive success, finishing 21st in defensive rating after being a top-three team in Vogel’s first two seasons, and their offensive output didn’t come close to making up for it. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ny-lakers-fire-frank-vogel-20220411-6c4rkrgznndbdep36kds6eq2l4-story.html | 2022-04-12T03:26:47 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ny-lakers-fire-frank-vogel-20220411-6c4rkrgznndbdep36kds6eq2l4-story.html |
Whether or not players enjoy the play-in tournament, now in Year 2, the Nets finished the regular season in seventh. That means they are not a lock for the postseason just yet.
Instead, they will have to defend their playoff positioning in a showdown against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
“I think somebody’s in the back room, hip-hip-hooraying, whoever created the tournament,” Nets star Kyrie Irving said after Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Pacers. “I guess somebody’s in the back room saying that this works, but as a competitor, it feels like one of those Game 6s, Game 5s, Game 7s where it’s a must-win.”
The winner will take the seventh seed for a date with the Celtics in the first round. The loser will have to play the winner of the nine-ten game, with the winner of that securing the eighth seed and the loser securing a trip to Cancun.
If it’s giving Game 7 vibes, that’s because it feels like one. The Nets, in theory, can afford to lose a game before facing elimination, but losing on Tuesday is not the plan for a team with its sights set on a championship.
“Absolutely,” Steve Nash said Monday when asked if it felt like a Game 7.“We’re only focusing on tomorrow. If we happen to lose and have to play a subsequent game, we’ll focus on that game. But right now we’ll play this like it’s our opportunity to get in and give the requisite focus and energy.”
The Nets must first handle the task at hand: a young and fun Cavaliers team with an All-Star guard in Darius Garland and two ghosts from Brooklyn’s past in Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert.
Allen’s availability for Tuesday has yet to be determined. He fractured his left ring finger on March 6 and has not played since, but went through a heavy pregame warmup with tape on his left finger while the Cavaliers were in Brooklyn for their matchup last Friday. LeVert is still seeking to find his rhythm on the Cavaliers after a midseason trade from the Indiana Pacers, but he is still a talented scorer and playmaker who posted 16 points and four assists against the Nets in their last matchup.
Garland, however, is the head of the Cavs’ snake. He is a first-time All-Star, a candidate for the league’s Most Improved Player, and one of the more crafty point guards in all of basketball, averaging just under 22 points and nine assists per game.
“He’s cold,” said backup center Nic Claxton, calling guarding him a “team effort.”
“All five guys, we’ve gotta be locked in.”
The Nets, though, are not the Cavs. Where the Cavs have Garland, Allen and LeVert, the Nets raise them an Irving, a Durant, and possibly a Ben Simmons, the 25-year-old All-Star point forward who has yet to make his Nets debut since arriving in Brooklyn but has increased his workload and is striving to play his first game in either the first or second round of the playoffs.
Simmons is not going to be available Tuesday, but the Nets have been a difficult team to defend with their five active starters of Durant, Irving, Seth Curry, Bruce Brown and Andre Drummond. Curry and Drummond are relatively new, arriving with Simmons as part of the Harden deal. Drummond once categorized this upcoming playoff push as similar to “playing pickup,” in that the players are relatively unfamiliar with each other, so they’re learning each other’s game on the fly.
“We’re all excited. We’re still getting to know this group,” Nash said on Monday. “There’s confidence in there, but there’s excitement to continue to grow and build and compete. We don’t really know a ton about our group relatively to the other teams who have been together for longer periods of time or had longer continuity this season. ... We should be excited about what we could build, what we can accomplish in a short period of time here and how difficult we could be to beat in a playoff situation.”
As much of a challenge as the Nets pose on paper, they have shown a propensity to play beneath the championship standard, especially against lesser opponents, which the Cavs, as good as they are, qualify as. For example, the Nets surrendered a 18-point lead to the Pacers in the season finale. They let the Knicks run up a 21-point lead before coming back to win in the second half, and in last Friday’s matchup against the Cavaliers, they blew a 17-point lead before opening the game back up in the fourth quarter.
“It’s risky,” Durant said after the Nets came back to beat the Knicks at Madison Square Garden last week. “I hate being down. I hate even being that team. Get down and fight back. Like I don’t like that s---. I don’t want that to be a part of who we are.”
History, however, should be on the Nets’ side. They have won the season series against the Cavs, 3-1, have the better and more experienced roster on paper and have their sights set on far more than just a playoff appearance. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ny-nets-play-in-tournament-preview-20220411-mah2d6pegzfitpri6ewla223ie-story.html | 2022-04-12T03:26:54 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ny-nets-play-in-tournament-preview-20220411-mah2d6pegzfitpri6ewla223ie-story.html |
ABC11 asked O'Neal why is she coming forward to talk now, and specifically what the city is doing to address crime.
"I am not God -- I can't stop that. But what I can do as a mayor is to do what I am doing and that is do things differently because of my background. And also to make sure that we take a look at systemic causes in a different way, and we hope to be able to provide and help to provide a quality of life for folk so they can make some different decisions," O'Neal said.
O'Neal is preparing for her first State of the City address and knows there are big problems to tackle.
Brutal violence has taken place in the Bull City during the past few days.
O'Neal said she's not yet had a conversation with Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews and is trying to give Durham's top cop some space to digest, but says she is deeply concerned over what's been happening.
"The weekend that we had is always distressing when you have any murder. But to have three -- to have 10 shootings. My heart is heavy. If you can sleep at night, then I wonder," O'Neal said.
DPD said Andrews was not available for comment Monday.
Meanwhile, Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead announced a $5,000 reward for information after two of his deputies were shot at while in an unmarked vehicle.
It happened Saturday while they were conducting an investigation in the area of Dearborn Drive and Keystone Place.
The suspects are still on the run.
WATCH: Extended interview with Durham Mayor Elaine O'Neal
Also Monday, Durham Police shared the names of two of the people shot dead this weekend.
Daniel Slack is the man that police found shot to death off Auto Drive near Luna Night Club.
Slack was just 22 years old.
Two other people were shot there. They'll be OK.
Tylen Baldwin was found dead Saturday night at the Circle K off Woodcroft Parkway.
He was just 21
The other two victims shot are expected to survive.
On Friday, police arrested and charged a woman for shooting and injuring another woman outside a Sheetz convenience store on North Duke Street.
The day before, investigators arrested a man they say shot two people, killing one of them, just before a police standoff at an apartment complex off Avon Lake Drive.
RELATED: Surveys in Durham found 66% of residents say gun violence is their greatest concern
None of these shootings were random, authorities said.
O'Neal said there isn't a definitive plan at this point to tackle violent crime.
"It takes a lot of people to get it done," O'Neal said. "It takes a small army to go into different neighborhoods and work with our kids, our young folk. You can't do that as the mayor."
The mayor said that for the past four or five months, along with other government officials, she's been meeting with reformers and trying to get down to the root problem.
O'Neal said that evolving circumstances are allowing her to share more on what's fueling crime.
"What we found when we're talking to a lot of these young people is they're lacking two basic things -- housing and jobs. It's nothing new, but it's gotten worse," she said.
O'Neal is planning to discuss affordable housing at her upcoming address.
Activist Donald Hughes understands the mayor's process.
He added, though, it's been difficult watching gun violence increase.
"This is an education crisis, it's a housing crisis, it's an employment crisis," said Hughes.
O'Neal is challenging residents to come up with ideas and be a part of the solution.
"How do we disrupt the underground economy? How do we make sure that people live safe? How do we make sure that people are able to live without gun violence?" O'Neal said. | https://abc11.com/durham-mayor-elaine-oneal-rising-crime-gun-violence/11738339/ | 2022-04-12T03:27:42 | 0 | https://abc11.com/durham-mayor-elaine-oneal-rising-crime-gun-violence/11738339/ |
Lane County plans to expand Armitage Park campground to meet 'tremendous demand'
Lane County is planning to add 21 sites to the campground at Armitage Park to help meet the "tremendous demand for camping," said Parks Manager Brett Henry.
The county has gotten a lot of feedback so far on proposals, he said, which led from three potential designs to plans for the 21 full hookup sites on a new loop in the northwest area of the park. That was a middle option, Henry said, and adds sites without expanding too much into the day-use area.
Lane County is welcoming more feedback with an open house at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Goodson Room at the Willamette Building, 3040 N. Delta Highway in Eugene. The open house will showcase preliminary maps and drawings of the proposed expansion, solicit feedback on how best to use the common areas in the campground, and cover project timelines.
The county will adjust plans if feedback calls for tweaks, Henry said, and there are plans to offer guided walks through the proposed expansion at a later point to give people more chance to comment on the project.
There were always plans for a second phase at the campground, he said, and the county has been hearing from a lot of people who are having difficulty making reservations.
It isn't uncommon for all 32 sites at Armitage Park to be full, Henry said.
A sign at the campground entrance showed it was full at least two days last week.
Overall, the county's five parks that offer camping — Armitage, Archie Knowles, Baker Bay, Harbor Vista and Richardson — are about 75% to 85% occupied, he said. The rate likely is higher, he said, because that includes overflow sites that remain unoccupied unless they're needed.
"We’re going to need to look for more space," he said.
So far, there isn't "a ton of space for adding more than a couple sites" at other campgrounds, but the county is expanding where it can, Henry said.
He pointed specifically to adding cabins at Harbor Vista with a view of the ocean and said the county might put all the sites there on sewer if there's available funding.
Lane County is still seeking funding to expand the campground at Armitage Park as the parks division faces millions of dollars in deferred maintenance and the county plans to ask the public to approve a local option levy on the November ballot.
There isn't a solid cost estimate for the project yet. The final number likely will depend on how much it costs to expand the sewer system, Henry said. Plans also call for increasing the water and electric capacity to accommodate the additional spaces.
Learn more about the project
There's more information about the project, including an overlay map showing the location of the proposed new sites, available at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/armitage. | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/2022/04/11/oregon-camping-lane-county-armitage-park-expansion-open-house/65348791007/ | 2022-04-12T03:40:59 | 1 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/2022/04/11/oregon-camping-lane-county-armitage-park-expansion-open-house/65348791007/ |
Week in review: Lane County's COVID cases fall 31.3%; Oregon cases surge 23.1%
New coronavirus cases leaped in Oregon in the week ending Sunday, rising 23.1% as 2,172 cases were reported. The previous week had 1,765 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Oregon ranked 23rd among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week, coronavirus cases in the United States increased 20.8% from the week before, with 238,885 cases reported. With 1.27% of the country's population, Oregon had 0.91% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, 34 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.
Lane County reported 136 cases and 12 deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 198 cases and six deaths. Throughout the pandemic, it has reported 57,373 cases and 514 deaths.
Within Oregon, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Benton County with 114 cases per 100,000 per week; Multnomah County with 88; and Grant County with 83. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.
Adding the most new cases overall were Multnomah County, with 719 cases; Washington County, with 293 cases; and Clackamas County, with 218. Weekly case counts rose in 19 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week's pace were in Washington, Multnomah and Linn counties.
>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases
Oregon ranked 20th among states in share of people receiving at least one shot, with 77.6% of its residents at least partially vaccinated. The national rate is 77.2%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are the most used in the United States, require two doses administered a few weeks apart.
In the week ending Sunday, Oregon reported administering another 60,607 vaccine doses, including 4,305 first doses. In the previous week, the state administered 32,092 vaccine doses, including 4,251 first doses. In all, Oregon reported it has administered 7,619,260 total doses.
Across Oregon, cases fell in 13 counties, with the best declines in Lane County, with 136 cases from 198 a week earlier; in Josephine County, with 14 cases from 33; and in Douglas County, with 21 cases from 34.
In Oregon, 149 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 112 people were reported dead.
A total of 706,687 people in Oregon have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 7,296 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 80,396,250 people have tested positive and 985,504 people have died.
>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States
Oregon's COVID-19 hospital admissions rising
USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday.
Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:
- Last week: 534
- The week before that: 492
- Four weeks ago: 737
Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:
- Last week: 38,444
- The week before that: 37,242
- Four weeks ago: 48,172
Hospitals in 19 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 16 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 26 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.
The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com. | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/coronavirus/2022/04/11/coronavirus-update-136-new-lane-county-covid-19-cases-this-week-us-map-oregon-covid-cases-surge/65349384007/ | 2022-04-12T03:40:59 | 1 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/coronavirus/2022/04/11/coronavirus-update-136-new-lane-county-covid-19-cases-this-week-us-map-oregon-covid-cases-surge/65349384007/ |
Lane County coronavirus update, April 11: Weekend brings 44 cases, influenza on the rise
The Register-Guard is making this daily update related to the coronavirus free to read. To support important local journalism like this, please consider becoming a digital subscriber.
Lane County Public Health reported 44 confirmed or presumptive new cases of COVID-19 and two new COVID-related deaths Monday, raising the countywide case count to 57,454 and the total local death count to 514.
The past week's average new case count is 31.
Last week, Lane County Public Health spokesperson Jason Davis warned that many at-home positive tests are going unreported. County officials believe there may be close to twice as many new cases as are being reported. At-home positive tests can be reported through the county's website.
Even though there are likely more cases than are being reported, the virus' prevalence in the community remains low. To get a clearer idea of how the virus is impacting the community, residents can look toward hospitalization rates.
The number of county residents reported hospitalized Monday was 14, down two from Friday, with one person in intensive care and zero on a ventilator, unchanged from Friday. Of the 14 people hospitalized, 64.3%, or nine, are not fully vaccinated.
As of last Monday, the most recent update, 276,291 people in Lane County, 72.45% of the total population, received first or second vaccine doses with 667,258 doses administered in Lane County, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
As more precautions ease, the county is seeing more cases of influenza. Public health officials are encouraging residents to get their regular immunizations and flu shots, especially ahead of the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
— The Register-Guard | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/coronavirus/2022/04/11/covid-19-update-april-11-weekend-brings-44-new-coronavirus-cases-flu-us-map-to-lane-county-oregon/65349544007/ | 2022-04-12T03:41:00 | 0 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/coronavirus/2022/04/11/covid-19-update-april-11-weekend-brings-44-new-coronavirus-cases-flu-us-map-to-lane-county-oregon/65349544007/ |
New York Liberty selects Oregon's Nyara Sabally in the 2022 WNBA Draft
After a terrific season, Oregon's Nyara Sabally was chosen in the first round of the WNBA Draft on Monday.
The New York Liberty drafted Sabally with the No. 5 overall selection. Sabally joins a list of Oregon women's basketball players selected high in the WNBA Draft.
The New York Liberty selected former Duck player Sabrina Ionescu No.1 overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft. The Dallas Wings drafted Sabally's sister Satou with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft. Ruthy Hebard was selected in the same draft by the Chicago Sky with the eighth pick.
Last season for the Ducks, Sabally averaged 15.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She also shot 52.7% from the field along with shooting 72.5% from the free-throw line as Sabally helped Oregon to a 20-12 record and a second-place finish in the Pac-12 (11-6).
Injuries hindered Sabally's career throughout her four seasons in Eugene. She suffered multiple ACL tears in her right knee that limited Sabally to just 47 career games. During that span, Sabally averaged 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds.
From the game:Oregon can't hold on in double OT thriller against Belmont
Sabally saved her best performance in an Oregon uniform for last as she scored 31 points and 12 rebounds in the 73-70 NCAA Tournament first-round double-overtime loss to Belmont. She tied an Oregon record for points in an NCAA Tournament game set by Ionescuin 2019 and Sabally set a school record for blocked shots in an NCAA Tournament game with seven.
Contact Register-Guard sportswriter Antwan Staley at astaley@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @antwanstaley. | https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/baseball/2022/04/11/wnba-draft-2022-new-york-liberty-selects-oregon-ducks-nyara-sabally-no-5-overall-ncaa-record/65349549007/ | 2022-04-12T03:41:00 | 0 | https://www.registerguard.com/story/sports/college/baseball/2022/04/11/wnba-draft-2022-new-york-liberty-selects-oregon-ducks-nyara-sabally-no-5-overall-ncaa-record/65349549007/ |
Teenager killed in shooting over the weekend identified by coroner
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Investigators from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a shooting that left a teenager dead.
According to the Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford, Ryan R. Rowe, 16, of Columbia was identified as the teenager who died after a shooting in the Brookhaven community.
Deputies were called to the scene at the intersection of Halleck Lane and Coralbean Way Saturday, April 9 around 6 p.m. They found the teenage victim in the road with gunshot wounds.
The RCSD incident report states deputies found what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.
The report does not list any suspects.
Neighbors told WIS they heard multiple gunshots, and it appeared one bullet hit the side of a Halleck Lane home.
WIS found chalk messages expressing love for the teen were left where neighbors said the shooting happened.
One neighbor said she is still digesting the shooting. She asked WIS to withhold her identity due to security concerns.
“So I think it was a little traumatic for us to say the least. Definitely nowhere near as traumatic as it was for some of my neighbors, but it definitely was not something you expect at 6 o’clock in broad daylight on a Saturday. You know people were outside cutting their grass and doing yardwork and it was just a typical Saturday until it wasn’t,” she said.
The shooting comes on the heels of an early March shooting which left a 14-year-old dead and four teens arrested.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the non-profit Building Better Communities announced it would be expanding its ambassador program with the goal of providing local teens mentoring to head off gun violence.
Founder Perry Bradley said action needs to be taken to support the initiative to head off gun violence for the summer.
“It’s a community that has to come together right now and fix this issue and if we don’t we’re going into the summer and we’re going to go into the summer hot. And when I say hot, I mean there’s going to be a lot more deaths, a lot more shootings, and a lot more things and we need to cut it off at the head before it even begins,” he said at the time.
Bradley told WIS on Monday the program has received resources from community partners but is still looking for governmental financial support.
WIS has reached out to the Richland County Coroner’s Office for information on how many minors have died in the county so far in 2022.
Law enforcement is asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact their local law enforcement or to leave an anonymous tip with CrimeStoppers.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/10/shooting-under-investigation-that-left-richland-county-teenager-dead/ | 2022-04-12T03:54:28 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/10/shooting-under-investigation-that-left-richland-county-teenager-dead/ |
Alabama woman says she found Apple Airtag tracking device on her car
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) - An Alabama woman said someone might be stalking her after she said she found a tracking device on her car.
Her father, John Price, said his daughter informed him that she got a notification on her cell phone saying she was being tracked while on her way home from work.
Price said the notification popped up on his 23-year-old daughter’s cell phone Thursday.
Frantic, he said, she called her family to figure out what to do next. While on the phone with her, Price said his daughter found an Apple Airtag on her tire’s wheel well.
Airtags are quarter-sized devices created to help users keep track of personal items like their keys, purse, or luggage through the “Find My App.”
But if it gets into the wrong hands, it can be used to track someone.
“It was just one of those really scary moments for any parent to find out that your 23-year-old daughter is being tracked,” Price said.
Price said they contacted police in Mobile, Alabama, about it, but it’s unclear at this time who the device belongs to or who put it on his daughter’s car.
According to Fox News, similar incidents have been reported across the nation. A Sports Illustrated model even claimed an Airtag was placed in her coat while she was out with friends in New York City.
Price said he put pictures from his daughter about the tracking on Facebook to warn others to check their vehicle. The post was shared more than 3,000 times in less than 24 hours.
“You never really think it’s going to pertain to you or your family until it does, and then you’re like, ‘Holy cow!’ This is my daughter,” Price said. “Hopefully it helps somebody down the road find something that’s not supposed to be there.”
Apple has some advice on its website so you can be notified if someone is stalking you with an Airtag.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/alabama-woman-says-she-found-apple-airtag-tracking-device-her-car/ | 2022-04-12T03:54:30 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/alabama-woman-says-she-found-apple-airtag-tracking-device-her-car/ |
Britney Spears confuses some with Instagram pregnancy news
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears, less than five months after her conservatorship ended, confused some fans Monday when she posted on Instagram that she’s pregnant, and apparently married.
“I lost so much weight to go on my Maui trip only to gain it back,” the pop star wrote in part Monday, accompanied by a photo of flowers and a cup of coffee. “I thought “Geez ... what happened to my stomach???” My husband said “No you’re food pregnant silly!!!” So I got a pregnancy test ... and uhhhhh well ... I am having a baby. ...”
Spears — with liberal use of various emojis — didn’t name Asghari as the “husband” and added: “I obviously won’t be going out as much due to the paps getting their money shot of me like they unfortunately already have.”
While some, including Paris Hilton, congratulated Spears, others weren’t completely sure.
Monday evening, Asghari added an Instagram post of his own accompanied by a painting of a lion family with three members.
“Marriage and kids are a natural part of a strong relationship filled with love and respect. Fatherhood is something i have always looked forward to and i don’t take lightly. It is the most important job i will ever do,” he wrote.
Spears spoke of suffering from perinatal depression in the past, calling it “absolutely horrible” and saying she’s heartened that the condition is spoken of more freely among women now than at the time of her previous go arounds with her sons, ages 15 and 16. She shares the teens with ex Kevin Federline.
She said “some people considered it dangerous if a woman complained like that with a baby inside her … but now women talk about it everyday … thank Jesus we don’t have to keep that pain a reserved proper secret … This time I will be doing yoga every day !!! Spreading lots of joy and love!!!”
The 40-year-old Spears has said she longed for a baby with the 28-year-old Asghari, a personal trainer, but she has said the nearly 14-year-long conservatorship forced her to remain on birth control.
The two met on the set of her “Slumber Party” video in 2016.
Multiple email requests for confirmation from Spears’ representative were not immediately returned Monday.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/britney-spears-says-she-is-pregnant/ | 2022-04-12T03:54:36 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/britney-spears-says-she-is-pregnant/ |
Discovery of radioactive liquid pauses work at US nuke dump
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An area at the U.S. government’s nuclear waste repository in southeastern New Mexico was evacuated over the weekend after workers handling a shipping container discovered a small amount of radioactive liquid inside it.
There was no indication of airborne contamination and testing of workers’ hands and feet turned up no contamination after the discovery was made late Saturday in a bay where containers are processed before being taken underground for disposal, officials said in a statement issued late Saturday.
“The event at the site has been secured. There is no risk of radiological release and there is no risk to the public or the environment,” plant officials said in the statement.
Officials confirmed Monday that the shipment was packed and sent from Idaho National Laboratory, but investigators were trying to determine the source of the liquid found inside the container, said Bobby St. John, a spokesperson for the contractor that manages the repository for the federal government.
The waste containers were securely placed back into the special shipping container, St. John said.
“We have written processes and protocols in place for this type of situation and all protocols were followed,” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “Additionally, the (contact-handled waste) bay is designed to contain radiological contaminants in order to protect the workforce, surrounding ecology and the local community.”
The repository is the backbone of a multibillion-dollar cleanup program that involves tons of Cold War-era waste from federal labs and defense-related sites around the country.
The waste — remnants of decades of nuclear research and bomb making — typically consists of lab coats, gloves, tools and debris contaminated with plutonium and other radioactive elements.
Independent federal investigators last month raised concerns about whether cost overruns and missed construction deadlines will continue at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
A multimillion-dollar project is underway at the underground facility to install a new ventilation system so that full operations can resume, following a radiation leak in 2014 that forced the repository’s closure for nearly three years and led to major policy overhauls.
The container that caused that release had been inappropriately packed at Los Alamos National Laboratory in northern New Mexico.
Operations had to be reduced after the waste plant reopened in 2017 because areas of the facility were contaminated and airflow needed for mining and disposal operations was limited.
It was unclear Monday whether operations had resumed in the area where shipments are processed. St. John said only that the shipping container with the radioactive liquid was placed in a “safe configuration, pending results of the investigation and resulting mitigation actions.”
The repository was carved out of an ancient salt formation about a half-mile (0.8 kilometer) below the ground because officials say that the shifting salt will eventually entomb the radioactive waste.
Its current footprint includes eight sections, which the U.S. Energy Department estimates will be filled in 2025.
State regulators are weighing a permit change that some critics have said could lead to expanded repository operations. A decision is expected later this year.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/discovery-radioactive-liquid-pauses-work-us-nuke-dump/ | 2022-04-12T03:54:42 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/discovery-radioactive-liquid-pauses-work-us-nuke-dump/ |
Ex-officer convicted of storming Capitol to disrupt Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal jury on Monday convicted a former Virginia police officer of storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.
Jurors convicted former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson of all six counts he faced stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, including charges that he interfered with police officers at the Capitol and that he entered a restricted area with a dangerous weapon, a large wooden stick.
His sentencing hearing wasn’t immediately scheduled.
Robertson’s jury trial was the second among hundreds of Capitol riot cases. The first ended last month with jurors convicting a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of all five counts in his indictment.
Robertson didn’t testify at his trial, which started last Tuesday. Jurors deliberated for several hours over two days before reaching their unanimous verdict.
One juror, who spoke to The Associated Press only on condition of anonymity, said as she left the courthouse, “I think the government made a really compelling case and the evidence was fairly overwhelming.”
Defense attorney Mark Rollins said Robertson will appeal the jury’s verdict. “While Mr. Robertson disagrees with the jury’s decision, he respects the rule of law,” Rollins said in a statement.
A key witness for prosecutors in his case was Jacob Fracker, who also served on the Rocky Mount police force and viewed Robertson as a mentor and father figure. Fracker was scheduled to be tried alongside Robertson before he pleaded guilty last month to a conspiracy charge and agreed to cooperate with authorities. Fracker testified Thursday that he had hoped the mob that attacked the Capitol could overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Robertson was charged with six counts: obstruction of Congress, interfering with officers during a civil disorder, entering a restricted area while carrying a dangerous weapon, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted area while carrying a dangerous weapon, disorderly or disruptive conduct inside the Capitol building, and obstruction. The last charge stems from his alleged post-riot destruction of cellphones belonging to him and Fracker.
During the trial’s closing arguments Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Risa Berkower said Robertson went to Washington and joined a “violent vigilante mob” because he believed the election was stolen from then-President Donald Trump. He used the wooden stick to interfere with outnumbered police before he joined the crowd pouring into the Capitol, she said.
“The defendant did all this because he wanted to overturn the election,” Berkower said.
Rollins conceded that Robertson broke the law when he entered the Capitol during the riot. He encouraged jurors to convict Robertson of misdemeanor offenses but urged them to acquit Robertson of felony charges that he used the stick as a dangerous weapon and that he intended to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote.
“There were no plans to go down there and say, ‘I’m going to stop Congress from doing this vote,’” Rollins said.
Fracker testified that he initially believed that he was merely trespassing when he entered the Capitol building. However, he ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiring with Robertson to obstruct Congress.
Under cross-examination by Rollins, Fracker said he didn’t have a “verbal agreement” with anybody to obstruct the joint session of Congress. Fracker said he believed everybody in the mob “pretty much had the same goal” and didn’t need for it to be “said out loud.”
Robertson and Fracker drove with a neighbor to Washington on the morning of Jan. 6. Robertson brought three gas masks for them to use, according to prosecutors.
After listening to speeches near the Washington Monument, Fracker, Robertson and the neighbor walked toward the Capitol, donned the gas masks and joined the growing mob, prosecutors said. Robertson stopped to help his neighbor, who was having trouble breathing. Fracker broke off and entered the building before Robertson, but they reunited inside the Capitol.
Defense attorney Camille Wagner told jurors that Robertson only went into the Capitol because he wanted to retrieve Fracker, who entered the Capitol a few minutes before Robertson. Wagner said the U.S. Army veteran was using the stick to help him walk because he has a limp from getting shot in the right thigh while working as a private contractor for the U.S. Defense Department in Afghanistan in 2011.
Jurors saw some of Robertson’s vitriolic posts on social media before and after the Capitol riot. In a Facebook post on Nov. 7, 2020, Robertson said “being disenfranchised by fraud is my hard line.”
“I’ve spent most of my adult life fighting a counter insurgency. (I’m) about to become part of one, and a very effective one,” he wrote.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi told jurors that Robertson was charged for his actions, not his political beliefs. Wagner also said Robertson should be judged by his actions, not his words.
The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot. Rocky Mount is about 25 miles south of Roanoke and has roughly 5,000 residents.
Robertson has been jailed since Cooper ruled in July that he violated the terms of his pretrial release by possessing firearms.
More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the riot. Over 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors.
Robertson’s trial is one of four so far for Capitol riot defendants. Two others had their cases decided by bench trials before the same judge.
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden convicted New Mexico elected official Couy Griffin last month of illegally entering restricted Capitol grounds but acquitted him of engaging in disorderly conduct. On Wednesday, McFadden acquitted another New Mexico man, Matthew Martin, of all four charges that he faced.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/ex-officer-convicted-storming-capitol-disrupt-congress/ | 2022-04-12T03:54:49 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/ex-officer-convicted-storming-capitol-disrupt-congress/ |
First Alert Forecast: Tracking highs in the 80s; rain and storms by Thursday
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - We’re tracking much warmer weather for the Midlands this week.
First Alert Weather Headlines:
· Tonight, we’ll see partly to mostly cloudy skies. Most areas will be dry and cool. Overnight low temperatures will be in the mid 50s.
· Get ready for warmer weather in the Midlands.
· On Tuesday, we’ll see highs in the mid 80s under partly cloudy skies.
· Highs will be in the lower 80s Wednesday under mostly cloudy skies. Most areas will remain dry.
· We’re expecting warm, cloudy conditions for the University of South Carolina’s Women’s Basketball Championship Parade in Downtown Columbia.
· A cold front brings a chance of showers and storms to the area Thursday (50% chance).
· A few showers are possible for your Easter weekend.
First Alert Weather Story:
Get ready for warmer temperatures and our next chance of rain. Some showers are possible through your Easter holiday weekend.
First, for tonight, we’ll see partly to mostly cloudy skies. Most areas will be dry and cool. Overnight temperatures will be in the mid 50s.
Warmer weather is pushing in for your week.
On Tuesday, high temperatures will climb into the mid 80s under a mix of sun and clouds.
For Wednesday, enjoy more 80s in the Midlands. We’ll likely see a good deal of clouds in the area. Right now, we have a dry forecast for Wednesday.
If you’re heading to the University of South Carolina’s Women’s Basketball Championship Parade in Downtown Columbia Wednesday evening, so far, so good with the forecast. We’ll likely have temperatures in the 80s at parade start under mostly cloudy skies. We’ll keep you posted on any forecast changes.
Thursday will also be a warm day. High temperatures will be in the low 80s all ahead of a cold front.
That front will bring a few scattered showers and storms to the Midlands. Watch out for some heavy rain at times. Rain chances are around 50% for now.
A few showers are possible on Good Friday (30% chance). High temperatures will be in the upper 70s.
Our weekend weather will be a bit unsettled, but we’re not expecting a complete washout.
On Saturday, we’ll see partly cloudy skies with only a 20% chance of a shower for now. Highs will be in the low 80s.
For Easter Sunday, a few showers are possible. Rain chances are around 30-40%. We’ll watch the forecast closely for you. Otherwise, we’ll see partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 70s.
Tonight: Partly to Mostly Cloudy. Cool. Overnight low temperatures will be in the mid 50s.
Tuesday: Sun & Cloud Mix. Warmer. High temperatures will be in the mid 80s.
Wednesday: Mostly Cloudy & Warm. Highs in the lower 80s.
Thursday: Mostly Cloudy. Scattered Showers & Storms (50%). Highs in the low 80s.
Good Friday: Partly Cloudy. A Few Scattered Showers (30%). Highs in the upper 70s.
Saturday: Partly Cloudy. Slight Chance of a Shower (20%). Highs in the low 80s.
Easter: Partly Cloudy. Chance of Showers (30%). Highs in the upper 70s.
Monday: Partly Cloudy. Chance of Showers (40%). Highs in the lower 70s.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/first-alert-forecast-tracking-highs-80s-rain-storms-by-thursday/ | 2022-04-12T03:54:50 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/first-alert-forecast-tracking-highs-80s-rain-storms-by-thursday/ |
Jury convicts former Virginia police officer in Jan. 6 case
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Monday, a jury in Washington, D.C. found Thomas Robertson guilty on all of the six charges brought against him by the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Count 1 – Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding and Abetting
- Count 2 – Civil Disorder and Aiding and Abetting
- Count 3 – Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds
- Count 4 – Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Ground
- Count 5 – Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building
- Count 6 – Obstruction of an Official Proceeding
Thomas Robertson disputed the government’s charges against him and is just the third January 6th defendant to go to trail rather than take a plea deal.
Prosecutors relied heavily on video and Robertson’s social media posts. Robertson’s former co-defendant, and also former Rocky Mount police officer, Jacob Fracker testified against Robertson. Fracker took a plea deal last month.
Fracker provided key testimony supporting the sixth count, obstruction of an official proceeding. He testified that after the pair learned that they were under investigation for trespassing at the Capitol, Robertson asked him for his cell phone. Fracker said he was terrified that investigators would see other pictures and videos that he took on January 6th.
Text messages showed Robertson speaking with another acquaintance about whether he turned over a phone to investigators. Prosecutors say this text exchange on January 15th, 2021 shows Robertson admitting to destroying a phone.
Robertson: “Anything that may have been problematic is destroyed”
Unknown acquaintance: “So they didn’t seize your phone and search your house and interrogate your wife and dogs and neighbors who don’t have….”
Robertson: “Including my old phone”
Robertson: “Took a lake swim”
Robertson: “No. They asked for my phone but I’m not a re***d”
A sentencing date has not been set.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/former-virginia-police-offer-convicted-by-jury-jan-6th-case/ | 2022-04-12T03:54:56 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/former-virginia-police-offer-convicted-by-jury-jan-6th-case/ |
Plea deal rejected by 3 ex-officers in George Floyd’s death
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors revealed Monday evening that they offered plea deals to three former Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting the murder of George Floyd, but said at a hearing that the defendants rejected them.
Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill held the hearing mostly to consider whether he has the authority to allow live video coverage of the upcoming trial set to begin in June for former Officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng. They’re charged with aiding and abetting both manslaughter and murder when former officer Derek Chauvin used his knee to pin Floyd, a Black man, to the pavement for 9 1/2 minutes on May 25, 2020. Kueng knelt on Floyd’s back, Lane held his legs and Thao kept bystanders back.
Lead prosecutor Matthew Frank did not disclose details of the plea offers in open court but said they were identical and were made March 22 after a jury convicted the three in a separate trial in February on federal civil rights charges stemming from Floyd’s death, according to pool reports from inside the courtroom.
Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, said it was hard for the defense to negotiate when the three still don’t know what their federal sentences will be. The judge in that case has not set a sentencing date, and all three remain free on bail.
Cahill told Frank to file the offers for the record after the jury is seated for the upcoming trial, which is expected to take around eight weeks, including three for jury selection.
Cahill took the rare step of allowing live audiovisual coverage of Chauvin’s murder trial last year, making an exception to the normal rules of Minnesota courts. He cited the extenuating circumstance of the need to balance protecting participants from COVID-19 against the constitutional requirement for a public trial.
Now that the U.S. has entered a new phase of living with the coronavirus, Cahill must decide whether to allow the same sort of access for the trial of Thao, Lane and Kueng. He did not rule during their pretrial hearing, and said he won’t until after the Minnesota Judicial Council — a panel of leading judges and court administrators — meets Thursday to discuss the issue.
Attorney Leita Walker, who represents a coalition of media organizations, including The Associated Press, urged Cahill to allow video coverage again, saying it’s the most reasonable way to ensure public and media access to the trial. She said the public got to watch Chauvin’s trial, and that interest remains high because both involve Floyd’s death. The killing, which was recorded on video, sparked protests around the world and a national reckoning on race.
“The public is just not going to understand why they got to watch that one gavel to gavel and they won’t be able to watch this one,” Walker said.
But Cahill questioned Walker’s assertions that he has the authority to make another exception and that the pandemic is still an extenuating circumstance.
“COVID-19 is less of a pandemic and more of an endemic issue now,” Cahill said.
Cahill noted that while he has publicly said he now believes the legal presumption should be to allow televised trials, he pointed out that that’s not the rule yet. “I’m still sworn to uphold the law,” he said.
Defense attorneys said they still oppose audiovisual coverage of the upcoming trial, and renewed concerns about the willingness of witnesses to testify.
Minnesota court rules generally require the consent of all parties for audiovisual coverage of trials, with fewer restrictions for sentencings. Chauvin’s trial was the first in Minnesota to be entirely televised, from jury selection to his murder conviction to his sentencing to 22 1/2 years in prison. People worldwide tuned into the livestreams.
“I think livestreaming that trial enabled people here and around the world to see the inner workings of a system that was handling one of the most important trials of our time,” Suki Dardarian, senior managing editor and vice president of the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, which is part of the media coalition, said before the hearing.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office initially opposed having cameras in the court for Chauvin’s trial, but now supports them for the other officers’ upcoming trial.
“The Chauvin trial demonstrated the benefits of robust public access to this important case and proved that the Court could successfully navigate the concerns animating the State’s initial opposition to audio and video coverage,” prosecutors wrote last week. “The Court’s commendable transparency inspired public confidence in the proceedings and helped ensure calm in Minneapolis and across the country.”
Due to federal court rules, live video coverage was not allowed for the first trial of Thao, Lane and Kueng this year, when all three were convicted of violating Floyd’s civil rights. Nor was it allowed for Chauvin’s federal case in which he pleaded guilty to civil rights violations. But it was allowed in the December state court trial of former Brooklyn Center Officer Kim Potter in the death of Daunte Wright, who was killed one year ago Monday.
An advisory committee to the Minnesota Supreme Court is considering whether to allow more video coverage of criminal proceedings. It’s due to release its report by July 1.
Cahill, in a letter to the committee, said he had opposed cameras in criminal cases before, but that his experience in Chauvin’s case changed his opinion, and he now believes they should be presumptively allowed, subject to the trial judge’s discretion.
Hennepin County Judge Regina Chu, who presided over Potter’s trial, told the Star Tribune in an interview that both the Potter and Chauvin trials convinced her that cameras can be present without being disruptive.
“I forgot they were even there,” Chu told the newspaper.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/judge-weighs-cameras-3-officers-trial-over-george-floyds-death/ | 2022-04-12T03:55:03 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/judge-weighs-cameras-3-officers-trial-over-george-floyds-death/ |
Lexington Co. looking for man accused of stealing tractor
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 6:11 PM EDT|Updated: 5 hours ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Lexington County Sheriff’s Department is looking for Christopher Allen Hayes in connection with an incident on March 8.
Hayes is accused of stealing a tractor on S. Lake Drive.
Officials are asking to please share any tips by calling Midlands Crimestoppers at 888-274-6372 or by using the app.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/lexington-co-looking-man-accused-stealing-tractor/ | 2022-04-12T03:55:10 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/lexington-co-looking-man-accused-stealing-tractor/ |
Sheriff says Greenville Co. park ‘consistently’ being used for illegal sexual activity
Children have witnessed the acts, sheriff says
GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Greenville County sheriff said deputies are investigating illegal sexual activity that is occurring “consistently” at a local park.
Sheriff Hobart Lewis said his agency has received numerous complaints about people having sex at Pelham Mill Park on East Phillips Road in Greer.
The incidents have occurred in the parking lot, in the woods and even out in the open, according to the sheriff. Despite arrests, the activity has continued.
Innocent bystanders including children have witnessed the activity, according to the sheriff.
“Under no circumstance should a young child or community member who is trying to enjoy a peaceful day at a park have to be exposed to this sort of activity,” said Sheriff Lewis. “We are continuing our efforts to patrol the area and to identify those who are blatantly exposing themselves and engaging in illegal sexual activity, but we also need the community’s help with reporting this suspicious behavior.”
Anyone who witnesses this activity is asked to call the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office at 864-271-5210.
“More importantly, I want to speak to the people who are committing these acts and simply let them know, that we are familiar with the apps you use to engage in this activity, we know your intentions, and to STOP,” the sheriff said. “There are appropriate places to engage in adult activities, and a public place is not that area. We must think about others when we act, and I ask the community to be considerate of one another and especially our youth.”
Copyright 2022 WHNS. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/sheriff-says-greenville-co-park-consistently-being-used-illegal-sexual-activity/ | 2022-04-12T03:55:16 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/sheriff-says-greenville-co-park-consistently-being-used-illegal-sexual-activity/ |
Three arrested in connection with two Waffle House robberies in Richland County
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Three people have been arrested after being involved with two separate Waffle House robberies, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
On Saturday, April 2 deputies responded to a call from the Waffle House located at 4229 Hardscrabble Road around 7 p.m.
Reports say a man and woman entered the restaurant, and the man pointed a gun at the staff. Then, the woman demanded money before they grabbed money from the counter and fled in a vehicle driven by another woman.
That following Friday, on April 8 around midnight, deputies responded to the Waffle House on 8600 Farrow Road.
Deputies reported a man and woman entered that business, and both pointed weapons at the staff, demanding money.
According to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, they stole the cash register and fled in a vehicle with the same driver.
Deputies were able to find the car used in the robberies, and the driver led officials on a high-speed chase.
The chase was stopped by Richland County deputies, and all three involved were arrested.
Michelle Kelly, 20, has been charged with armed Robbery (4 counts), reckless driving, and failure to stop for blue lights.
Michael Kelly, 19, has been charged with armed robbery (4 counts), kidnapping (4 counts), possession of a weapon during a violent crime (2 counts), and unlawful carry of a pistol.
Michelle Anderson, 29, has been charged with kidnapping (4 counts), armed robbery (4 counts), and unlawful carry of a pistol.
All three were booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, according to RCSD.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/three-arrested-connection-with-two-waffle-house-robberies-richland-county/ | 2022-04-12T03:55:23 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/three-arrested-connection-with-two-waffle-house-robberies-richland-county/ |
Wildlife agencies ask for reports of giant, invasive lizard sightings
GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina/AP) - Wildlife agencies are asking people to report sightings of a large, invasive lizard species that has been found in South Carolina and Georgia.
The South American tegu is a black and white lizard that can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh 10 pounds.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources said they’re trying to locate and remove tegus from the state before they increase in number and threaten native wildlife.
The lizards eat other reptiles and the eggs of ground-nesting birds like turkeys and quail. They also carry salmonella.
Recently, tegus have been documented in numerous South Carolina counties, including Greenville County.
SC DNR is also working to remove tegus from the wild.
They are often kept as pets and owners of black and white tegus are required to register them in South Carolina.
South Carolina DNR said if you see a tegu lizard in the wild, report it using this form.
You can also report sightings to the Georgia Invasive Species Task Force here.
Copyright 2022 WHNS. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/wildlife-agencies-ask-reports-giant-invasive-lizard-sightings/ | 2022-04-12T03:55:29 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/wildlife-agencies-ask-reports-giant-invasive-lizard-sightings/ |
Your personality can either protect or age your brain, study says
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 5:15 PM EDT|Updated: 6 hours ago
(CNN) – Worry less now and your brain will stay healthy longer.
A new study shows people who worry more, lack self-discipline and are introverted are more likely to develop cognitive decline earlier in life.
It also applies to a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The study examined the personality traits of nearly 2,000 people.
It found being socially engaged with others could buy you an extra year of living without dementia.
If you keep anxiety at bay and stay organized and goal-oriented, it can get you two years of healthy cognitive function.
The study was published Monday in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/your-personality-can-either-protect-or-age-your-brain-study-says/ | 2022-04-12T03:55:35 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/11/your-personality-can-either-protect-or-age-your-brain-study-says/ |
Deputies searching for missing Upstate man last seen on Sunday
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 9:31 PM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
PENDLETON, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office announced that deputies are searching for De’Marcus Jones, an Upstate man who went missing on Sunday morning.
Deputies said Jones was last seen in the Pendleton area at around 7:00 a.m. on April 10, 2022.
Deputies described Jones as 5 feet 6 inches tall and around 215 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, dark blue jeans and black shoes.
According to deputies, Jones was diagnosed with schizophrenia but usually takes his medication correctly.
Anyone with information regarding Jones or his location is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 864-260-4440 and reference case number 2022-04789.
Copyright 2022 WHNS. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/deputies-searching-missing-upstate-man-last-seen-sunday/ | 2022-04-12T03:55:42 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/deputies-searching-missing-upstate-man-last-seen-sunday/ |
Destanni Henderson is heading to Indiana, drafted in second round
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 8:39 PM EDT|Updated: 3 hours ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The recent national champ, Destanni Henderson has been drafted into the WNBA.
Henderson was drafted in the second round, as the eighth pick, and the 20th pick overall. She will be playing for the Indiana Fever women’s basketball team.
Gamecock head coach, Dawn Staley was in attendance during the draft announcement.
“Henny stayed the course without one complaint in 4 years…giving God all the glory for winking at her today,” Staley said in a tweet.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/destanni-henderson-is-heading-indiana-drafted-second-round/ | 2022-04-12T03:55:48 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/destanni-henderson-is-heading-indiana-drafted-second-round/ |
Education Oversight Committee wants to track SC’s five-year graduation rates
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - One of the key markers of school accountability across the country is the percentage of students who graduate high school in four years.
But South Carolina may soon track schools’ five-year graduation rates as well.
The state Education Oversight Committee voted Monday to begin tracking this data during the 2023-2024 school year, and it would be incorporated as an accountability measure into annual School Report Cards starting the following year.
“The report cards are to shine a light on how school are doing and to inform parents, policymakers, and just the general public about how schools are doing with the students that they serve,” EOC Deputy Director Dana Yow said.
Yow said adding this rate as a school accountability measure should incentivize and encourage schools to still work with students to get them across the finish line and graduate if they were not able to do so in four years.
In recent years, that has been around one in five students in South Carolina, where the on-time graduation rate has risen from 81% in 2018 to 83.3% in 2021.
“We feel like the system should value students that may take a little bit longer for them to go across that stage and graduate from high school for various different circumstances, it may take students five years instead of the traditional four years to do that,” Yow said.
The nonpartisan Learning Policy Institute reports about 40 states already track graduation rates extended past four years in their school accountability and improvement metrics, but South Carolina is not among them.
According to the organization, about one in five students nationwide do not graduate high school in four years, close to South Carolina’s rate, with students in high-need communities at higher risk of missing that mark.
Yow said the EOC would like to expand this measure from a graduation rate to a “student success rate,” which would also incorporate students who receive their GED within five years of beginning their freshman year of high school, but they would need to see if that is allowable under federal school guidelines.
“That really is the purpose of accountability, is to incentivize schools to really focus on behaviors that help students earlier, so that’s really part of the purpose is that if you weave that into an accountability system, hopefully schools will help those students that it takes them an extra year,” Yow said.
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Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/education-oversight-committee-wants-track-scs-five-year-graduation-rates/ | 2022-04-12T03:55:55 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/education-oversight-committee-wants-track-scs-five-year-graduation-rates/ |
Judge: Lori Vallow, charged with killing her children, now fit for trial
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho judge ruled Monday that a mother accused of conspiring to kill her children, her estranged husband and a lover’s wife is now mentally competent to stand trial on some of the charges in Idaho.
Daybell and her new husband, Chad Daybell, face numerous charges in the complicated case involving allegations of bizarre spiritual beliefs involving “zombies” and doomsday predictions.
Prosecutors have said that Lori and Chad Daybell espoused the religious beliefs in an effort to encourage or justify the murders.
The case against her had been hold for months after Judge Steven Boyce ordered her committed to a mental facility so she could undergo treatment in an effort to make her mentally fit enough to assist in her own defense.
Boyce’s new order said Lori Vallow Daybell “is restored to competency and is fit to proceed” in the Idaho murder case. He did not provide other details about her treatment or mental condition.
She is scheduled to be formally arraigned in court next week and both Lori and Chad Daybell are set to stand trial together early next year.
Tare charged withconspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Lori Daybell’s children 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, as well as Chad Daybell’s first wife, Tammy Daybell.
Lori Daybell is also charged in Arizona with conspiring to kill her former estranged husband, Charles Vallow, with the help of her now-deceased brother, Alex Cox.
Chad Daybell has pleaded not guilty to the charges and Lori Daybell has not yet had an opportunity to enter a plea. Chad Daybell’s attorney, John Prior, declined to comment on the case. Lori Daybell’s attorney, Jim Archibald, did not immediately respond to voice and email messages requesting comment.
An indictment said Chad and Lori Daybell in 2018 while still married to other people began espousing an apocalyptical system of religious belief.
Lori Daybell’s brother Alex Cox shot and killed her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in suburban Phoenix, according to an indictment in Arizona.
Cox asserted the shooting was in self-defense, and he was never charged. At the time, Charles Vallow was seeking a divorce, saying his wife believed she had become a god-like figure responsible for ushering in the biblical end of times. Cox later died of an apparent blood clot in his lung.
Shortly after Charles Vallow’s death, Lori Daybell — who then had the last name Vallow — and her children moved to the rural eastern Idaho community of Rexburg, near where Chad Daybell lived. At the time, Chad Daybell was married to Tammy Daybell. She died in October of 2019, and her obituary said the death was from natural causes.
Authorities grew suspicious, however, when Chad and Lori Daybell got married just two weeks later, and investigators had Tammy Daybell’s body exhumed for an autopsy. Authorities have not released her cause of death.
Police began searching for Lori Daybell’s youngest two children in November after relatives raised concerns. The Daybells quickly left town, and were found months later in Hawaii without the children.
Investigators later found the bodies of JJ and Tylee buried in Chad Daybell’s yard back in Idaho. They have not disclosed causes of death but court documents said Tylee’s body was partially burned.
Friends of the Daybells told investigators that the couple believed people could become “zombies” if they were possessed by evil spirits, a state in which their soul was trapped in limbo, according to police reports. The couple reportedly believed that the only way to rid a person of a zombie was for their body to die, according to police reports.
A friend of the couple, Melanie Gibb, told investigators that Lori Daybell referred to her youngest children as “zombies,” and police in Arizona said the couple exchanged text messages saying that Tammy Daybell had been possessed by a dark spirit.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/judge-lori-vallow-charged-with-killing-her-children-now-fit-trial/ | 2022-04-12T03:56:02 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/judge-lori-vallow-charged-with-killing-her-children-now-fit-trial/ |
North Carolina man arrested after stalking, threatening Bakari Sellers
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A man from North Carolina has been arrested for stalking Civil Rights attorney, Bakari Sellers, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Grant Edward Olson Jr., 48, has been charged with stalking and assault or intimidation due to political opinions or the exercise of civil rights.
According to official arrest warrants, Olsen sent approximately 65 messages via Instagram containing racial slurs and threats. One threat even stated he was armed.
The warrant says the messages were sent by Olsen in an act of intimidation due to Sellers’ political opinions/exercise of is civil rights as an attorney representing clients, his political commentary on social and televised media, and being a registered lobbyist.
Sellers released a statement Monday thanking SLED for their swift action in arresting Olson.
In the statement, Sellers also said this case was not just about him. His family was impacted by Olson’s actions.
“They shouldn’t be subject to threats and intimidation like this. No one should. This isn’t a political debate. This isn’t the “new normal.” It’s a crime, pure and simple,” Sellers said.
Olson was arrested on Friday, April 8, and will be prosecuted by the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. He was booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
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Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/north-carolina-man-arrested-after-stalking-threatening-bakari-sellers/ | 2022-04-12T03:56:09 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/north-carolina-man-arrested-after-stalking-threatening-bakari-sellers/ |
SC bond system slower to react to violations than other states
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Jackie Britt’s son, Lance Davis, was driving his beloved motorcycle to Charleston on Sept. 6, 2020, when the bike was struck in a hit-and-run along I-26.
“[The driver] kept going; He just left them there to die,” she said.
Both Davis and his girlfriend, Brittany Reeves, later died of their injuries.
Within a week, the suspect, Deon Lathel Gibson, was arrested and charged with reckless homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving a death, and leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily harm. He was granted bond and bailed out of the Al Cannon Detention Center.
On Feb. 12, 2022, Gibson was arrested by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office on drug charges. He was granted bond, but has yet to face a judge for a bond revocation hearing on the charges related to the deaths of Davis and Reeves.
“For some reason, we can’t even get a bond revocation hearing,” Britt said. “I mean, what in the world is going on?”
The administrative judge schedules such hearings. Both the South Carolina Judicial Branch and Gibson’s lawyer, Leon Stavrinakis, say there is no delay in scheduling bond modification hearings.
This case isn’t unique in the length of time it has taken just to get a hearing to have bond addressed.
Charleston attorney and South Carolina Criminal Justice Reform founder Allie Menegakis says this is a systematic problem.
“This system is effectively working the way it’s designed to, which means that the system is flawed, because four to five years to wait for a trial, several months to wait for a bond reduction hearing or bond revocation hearing is not due process,” Menegakis said.
There’s no automatic bond revocation, even if a defendant commits a new crime. Every case must be scheduled with a circuit court judge on a general session docket, of which Menegakis says there are only a few a month to address bond.
With more than 6,000 general session defendants in Charleston County alone, the dockets are full.
“There really is a simple fix for making the justice system more efficient, and that is putting rules in place and deadlines in place,” Menegakis said. “That’s something that we lack here in South Carolina that other states have had for decades.”
In Florida, where Menegakis used to practice, judges hear bond revocation motions every day and it’s not unusual for a motion to be heard within 24 hours.
In South Carolina, Britt had to wait more than six weeks.
On April 4, a hearing was scheduled for Gibson’s bond revocation. The judge ordered that additional GPS monitoring data be provided.
Britt said even if Gibson is remanded to jail, she will not be satisfied.
“[Lance] is my whole heart. He always said when it came to him, I was ruthless; I’m not going to let him down,” she said.
As of Monday, Gibson remained out on bond.
Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/sc-bond-system-slower-react-violations-than-other-states/ | 2022-04-12T03:56:15 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/sc-bond-system-slower-react-violations-than-other-states/ |
Soda City Live: Adopt a pet for National Pet Day
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 9:06 PM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - National Pet Day is a great way to highlight the pets you have and an opportunity to bring home a furry new friend.
Lee County Animal Shelter, among other shelters, have tons of animals looking for fur-ever homes.
For more information on how you can celebrate national pet day next year with a pet you adopt this year! Click here for more information.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/soda-city-live-adopt-pet-national-pet-day/ | 2022-04-12T03:56:23 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/soda-city-live-adopt-pet-national-pet-day/ |
Soda City Live: Book Blackout Community Celebration
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - In February, Jared Johnson asked the community to help him to collect books by black authors to place in “Columbia’s Mini Free Libraries,” the little house-like mailboxes for books around the Midlands.
In his efforts, he was able to successfully collect the books from his list and his request from the community helped him to partner with the South Carolina Education Association, who will help him to host an even bigger event.
Johnson, with the help of Kaneale Cornell of the SCEA, was able to plan an event to celebrate the accomplishment of acquiring the books and also allow other black others in the area an opportunity to have their books placed in the libraries as well.
For more information visit https://secure.ngpvan.com/fumS0OEEQUi3U5dh5VOmvA2
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Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/soda-city-live-book-blackout-community-celebration/ | 2022-04-12T03:56:29 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/soda-city-live-book-blackout-community-celebration/ |
Soda City Live: NPC Palmetto Classic Fitness Show
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 9:08 PM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The International Federation of Body Building and Fitness (IFFB) professional league is hosting a fitness show in Columbia that will be open to both professional bodybuilders and amateurs.
The NPC Palmetto Classic will take place Thursday, May 28 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
For more information, click here
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Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/soda-city-live-npc-palmetto-classic-fitness-show/ | 2022-04-12T03:56:36 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/soda-city-live-npc-palmetto-classic-fitness-show/ |
Soda City Live: Two teen siblings own their own businesses
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 9:17 PM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - It’s not your typical sibling rivalry, but sister and brother Mara Williams and Damon “DJ” Willams II both own and operate their own businesses.
Mara works behind the lens as a professional photographer, with “Mara’s Eye Photography” and her brother prefers to work in the booth as a professional DJ.
Daron goes by “DJD2″ as an ode to their father who is also a DJ and their manager.
Both Mara and DJD2 have worked events form weddings, to parties, to graduations for almost a decade.
Copyright 2022 WIS. All rights reserved.
Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/soda-city-live-two-teen-siblings-own-their-own-businesses/ | 2022-04-12T03:56:42 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/soda-city-live-two-teen-siblings-own-their-own-businesses/ |
South Carolina park ‘consistently’ being used for illegal sexual activity, police say
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - Authorities said they are investigating illegal sexual activity that is occurring “consistently” at a park in South Carolina.
Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said his agency has received numerous complaints about people having sex at Pelham Mill Park in Greer, South Carolina.
The incidents have occurred in the parking lot, in the woods and even out in the open, according to the sheriff. Despite arrests, the activity has continued, WHNS reports.
Innocent bystanders including children have witnessed the activity, according to the sheriff.
“Under no circumstance should a young child or community member who is trying to enjoy a peaceful day at a park have to be exposed to this sort of activity,” Lewis said. “We are continuing our efforts to patrol the area and to identify those who are blatantly exposing themselves and engaging in illegal sexual activity, but we also need the community’s help with reporting this suspicious behavior.”
Anyone who witnesses this activity is asked to call the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office at 864-271-5210.
“More importantly, I want to speak to the people who are committing these acts and simply let them know that we are familiar with the apps you use to engage in this activity, we know your intentions, and to stop,” Lewis said. “There are appropriate places to engage in adult activities, and a public place is not that area. We must think about others when we act, and I ask the community to be considerate of one another and especially our youth.”
Copyright 2022 WHNS via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/south-carolina-park-consistently-being-used-illegal-sexual-activity-police-say/ | 2022-04-12T03:56:48 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/south-carolina-park-consistently-being-used-illegal-sexual-activity-police-say/ |
Woman pleads guilty to hate crime after wrongly accusing Black teen of stealing phone
(NBC) - The California woman dubbed “SoHo Karen” after she wrongly accused a Black teenager of stealing her cellphone in New York City has pleaded guilty to a hate crime charge, officials said Monday.
Miya Ponsetto, 23, has admitted to unlawful imprisonment “as a hate crime” but can re-plead and have the charge reduced to misdemeanor aggravated harassment if she steers clear of any trouble for two years, Manhattan prosecutors said.
Viral video showed Ponsetto lunging at, tackling and shouting at Keyon Harrold Jr., then 14, whom she accused, with no evidence, of taking her iPhone.
The incident took place Dec. 26, 2020, in the lobby of Arlo Soho, an upscale boutique hotel where the teenager and his jazz musician father, Keyon Harrold, were guests.
It was later discovered that Ponsetto, who is white, left her phone in an Uber vehicle, and the device was returned to her. The incident has been held up as a symbol of racial profiling.
“Ms. Ponsetto displayed outrageous behavior. As a Black man, I have personally experienced racial profiling countless times in my life and I sympathize with the young man victimized in this incident,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement Monday.
“This plea ensures appropriate accountability for Ms. Ponsetto by addressing underlying causes for her behavior and ensuring this conduct does not reoccur.”
The New York case piggybacks on a previous DUI case in California in which Ponsetto is serving probation and undergoing counseling.
Ponsetto, a receptionist in Southern California, is grateful for the deal, her attorney Paul D’Emilia said.
“We are pleased that today’s proceeding brought this unfortunate misunderstanding closer to a final resolution,” D’Emilia said in a statement. “Miya Ponsetto has been leading an exemplary life since this incident with the young man close to a year and a half ago.”
Ponsetto hopes the victim “accepts her regrets and apology for her behavior that evening, and that all involved can move forward,” D’Emilia said.
If Ponsetto does not comply with her terms of probation, she could face 1⅓ to 4 years in state prison, prosecutors said.
Copyright 2022 WMBF. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/woman-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-after-wrongly-accusing-black-teen-stealing-phone/ | 2022-04-12T03:56:55 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/04/12/woman-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-after-wrongly-accusing-black-teen-stealing-phone/ |
Glasswing becomes first Latin American grantee
NEW YORK, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Audacious Project announced Glasswing International as a 2021-2022 grantee and has catalyzed funding of $42M over five years for the organization to expand access to mental health support at a community level in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Glasswing is the first organization whose team and programming are based in Latin America to which The Audacious Project has committed funding, and its work will bring trauma-informed care to over 9 million Central Americans.
"With this new funding, Glasswing International's work will endeavor to ease the cycle of violence in the most vulnerable communities in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala by democratizing access to mental health care," said Anna Verghese, Executive Director of The Audacious Project. "Our goal is to match bold ideas with catalytic resources, and we're proud to support Glasswing in this work."
Every year The Audacious Project – a collaborative funding initiative catalyzing big, bold solutions to the world's most urgent challenges—brings together some of the most trusted names in philanthropy to select ideas with the potential to create global change. Supporters who make Glasswing's Audacious project possible include: Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies; Galaxy Gives; MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett; Oak Foundation; The Patchwork Collective; Pivotal Ventures; Reed Hastings and Patty Quillin; Seagrape Foundation; and other anonymous donors.
"We are incredibly grateful for the support of The TED/Audacious Project community, and to those who have supported our work over the past 15 years," said Celina de Sola, Salvadoran co-founder and president of Glasswing International. "For communities that are regularly exposed to so much violence, it is critical that frontline workers - like teachers, doctors, and law enforcement - be trained to understand and address the impacts of trauma on themselves and those they serve, and equip individuals with the tools to cope and begin to recover. We believe that communities can pave their own paths to healing with this kind of knowledge and skills."
Over the last 20 years, violent crime has reached crisis proportions in Central America, disrupting millions of lives and holding back social and economic development. The challenge is most extreme in countries like El Salvador and Honduras. Traumatic events — including experiencing or witnessing violence — are linked to chronic physical and mental health problems, diminished educational and economic outcomes, and an increased likelihood to be revictimized. Trauma and violence have also led to a loss of talent as these dangers forced hundreds of thousands of young people to flee the region.
Despite high levels of violence and trauma, there are extremely few mental health supports in communities to mitigate its effects in this region. Mental health is stigmatized, and the limited services that do exist are underfunded.
With The Audacious Project grant, over the next five years, Glasswing will integrate self-care and trauma-informed practices in over 2,000 institutions - including schools, police precincts and healthcare facilities - in 25 of the highest-risk municipalities in the Northern Triangle.
The project is expected to reduce negative effects of trauma for trained individuals and those they interact with, including improved emotional regulation and coping skills for all trained individuals, increased protective factors for students at participating schools, and a reduction in violence, a core contributor to and consequence of trauma. This includes reduced rates of teacher stress and peer-to-peer violence in participating schools, reduced rates of reinjury among hospital patients, higher levels of emotional regulation among police officers, and an increased overall perception of safety in the community.
For more information on Glasswing's Audacious project, visit: www.audaciousproject.org/grantees/glasswing-international and https://glasswing.org/ouraudaciousproject/
Media Contact:
Jaime Horn
Jaime@JLH-Strategies.com
202-308-8810
About Glasswing International
Founded in 2007, Glasswing International is a non-profit organization that addresses the root causes of poverty and violence through education and health programs that empower youth and communities, and strengthen public systems. Its cross-sector approach creates partnerships with international and local governments, businesses, NGOs, and civil society. Since its founding, Glasswing International has impacted the lives of over 1.5 million individuals in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States.
The Audacious Project
Launched in April 2018, The Audacious Project is a collaborative funding initiative that's catalyzing social impact on a grand scale. Housed at TED, the nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, and with support from leading social impact advisor The Bridgespan Group, The Audacious Project convenes funders and social entrepreneurs with the goal of supporting bold solutions to the world's most urgent challenges. The funding collective is made up of respected organizations and individuals in philanthropy, including the Skoll Foundation, Virgin Unite, The Valhalla Charitable Foundation, ELMA Philanthropies and more. The Audacious Project works with the Science Philanthropy Alliance to identify and vet high-quality basic science projects. Each year The Audacious Project supports a new cohort. The 2021-2022 recipients are The Center for Tech and Civic Life, ClimateWorks: Drive Electric, Code for America, Glasswing International, The International Refugee Assistance Project, myAgro, Noora Health, The Tenure Facility, and Woodwell Climate Research Center.
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SOURCE GLASSWING INTERNATIONAL USA | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/42-million-funding-catalyzed-by-audacious-project-glasswing-international-will-make-mental-health-support-accessible-over-9-million-central-americans/ | 2022-04-12T03:57:01 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/42-million-funding-catalyzed-by-audacious-project-glasswing-international-will-make-mental-health-support-accessible-over-9-million-central-americans/ |
LINCOLN, Neb., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest Sandhills Global market report on the aviation industry indicates an across-the-board, month-over-month expansion in pre-owned inventory, although the number of available aircraft remains markedly low compared to a year ago. Values in Sandhills marketplaces continued to ascend in most categories despite the new breathing room provided by the inventory increase.
Sandhills' aviation products include Controller, Controller EMEA, Executive Controller, Charter Hub, Aviation Trader, Aircraft Cost Calculator, and AircraftEvaluator. AircraftEvaluator is Sandhills' proprietary asset valuation tool for all types of aircraft, built using the same technology behind FleetEvaluator. Widely used and trusted across equipment, truck, and trailer industries, FleetEvaluator identifies asset values with unparalleled accuracy.
The key metric used in all of Sandhills' market reports is the Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI). Buyers and sellers can use the information in Sandhills EVI to monitor equipment markets and maximize returns on acquisition, liquidation, and related business decisions.
Chart Takeaways
This report includes detailed analysis of asking values and inventory trends in the worldwide used aircraft market along with charts that help readers visualize the data. This report describes and quantifies important trends in the buying and selling of used piston single, turboprop, and jet aircraft.
U.S. and Canada Used Piston Single Aircraft
- The Sandhills EVI for piston single aircraft in the U.S. and Canada logged a 23.8% year-over-year rise in asking values in March 2022. As compared to the previous month, values decreased slightly from February 2022's 24.2% YOY figure.
- Piston single inventory in March 2022 rebounded with a 12-percentage point gain over the month prior. On a YOY basis, inventory levels were down 20.7% overall.
U.S. and Canada Used Turboprop Aircraft
- In the turboprop category, the Sandhills EVI showed a 23.0% YOY increase in asking values in the U.S. and Canadian markets. Aircraft values were approximately $1.7 million in March 2022 compared to $1.4 million in March 2021.
- Inventory of turboprop aircraft improved by 3.4 percentage points over the month prior, but was still down by 66.5% YOY.
Global Used Jet Aircraft
- As illustrated in the accompanying chart, Sandhills market reports break out the jet aircraft category into Light, Mid, Super Mid, and Large classes.
- On a worldwide basis, Sandhills EVI asking values for jets in the Large class were elevated by 21.1% YOY. M/M values for March rose to $21.0 million from $20.3 million in February.
- Jet aircraft inventory in the Large class was down 61.1% YOY in March but reflected a 2-percentage-point increase from February. Additional jet YOY values segmented by class include:
Obtain the Full Report
For more information, or to receive detailed analysis from Sandhills Global, contact us at marketreports@sandhills.com.
About Sandhills Global
Sandhills Global is an information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our products and services gather, process, and distribute information in the form of trade publications, websites, and online services that connect buyers and sellers across the aviation, construction, agriculture, and commercial trucking industries. Our integrated, industry-specific approach to hosted technologies and services offers solutions that help businesses large and small operate efficiently and grow securely, cost-effectively, and successfully. Sandhills Global—we are the cloud.
About the Sandhills Equipment Value Index
The Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI) is a principal gauge of the estimated market values of used assets—both currently and over time—across the construction, agricultural, commercial trucking, and aviation industries represented by Sandhills Global marketplaces, including Controller.com, AuctionTime.com, TractorHouse.com, MachineryTrader.com, TruckPaper.com, and other industry-specific equipment platforms. Powered by FleetEvaluator and AircraftEvaluator, Sandhills' proprietary asset valuation tools, Sandhills EVI provides useful insights into the ever-changing supply-and-demand conditions for each industry.
Contact Sandhills
www.sandhills.com/contact-us
402-479-2181
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SOURCE Sandhills Global | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/aircraft-inventory-levels-improve-across-categories-values-still-rising-or-holding/ | 2022-04-12T03:57:08 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/aircraft-inventory-levels-improve-across-categories-values-still-rising-or-holding/ |
ATLANTA, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cox Enterprises announced that Andrew Davis has joined the company as senior vice president of strategy. In this role, Davis will oversee strategic planning, new business development and the company's sustainability teams, to ensure the best use of resources for growth and profitability. He'll work with senior leaders across the company to develop, facilitate and align long-range goals and objectives.
"I'm looking forward to working with Andrew to build the future of Cox," said Dallas Clement, president and CFO, Cox Enterprises. "Cox has ambitious growth aspirations and Andrew's experience will be invaluable in helping us to hit these aggressive goals."
Davis joins Cox from T. Rowe Price Associates where he was the director of private placements in the U.S. equity division. There, he was responsible for management of sourcing, due diligence, ongoing analysis and external relationships for T. Rowe Price's private growth equity investments. Davis also spent time as a manager in the business valuation group at Deloitte Financial Advisory Services.
"Cox is a company dedicated to building for the future," said Davis. "Even though they have many well-established businesses, they continue to explore outside opportunities in other areas, including a big focus on sustainability. I'm excited and honored to join a company with a long-lasting legacy that's also focused on the future."
Davis has an MBA in Economics and Finance from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and earned his bachelor's degree from Berry College in Business Administration, Finance.
About Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is dedicated to building a better future through our leading communications, automotive and media companies. Our major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Automotive, and we are strategically investing in new industries and emerging technologies, with sizeable interests in clean technology and health care. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cox is a global company with nearly $20 billion in annual revenues and brands that include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Cox Homelife. Founded in 1898 by Ohio Governor James M. Cox, the company is a family-owned business committed to its people, communities and planet. To learn more about Cox, visit coxenterprises.com, view our collective impact report at coxcsrreport.com, or follow us on Twitter via @CoxEnterprises or @AlexTaylor_Cox.
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CHICAGO, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL), a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Bluth to Managing Director within its Healthcare & Life Sciences industry team. Jonathan is based in Los Angeles and will help expand BGL's reach to an even broader national network of clients across Healthcare Provider Services and Outsourcing & Healthcare Information Technology, focusing on physician practices, outpatient services, and outsourced services.
"BGL continues to build out our team across all of our coverage sectors in healthcare and life sciences. Jonathan's experience and relationships will support our growth trajectory," said John Riddle, Head of BGL's Healthcare & Life Sciences vertical. "Jonathan's multidisciplinary background provides him with a unique perspective, enabling him to leverage his consulting, corporate finance, and investment banking experience to advise clients regarding their strategic growth objectives. Our clients will benefit tremendously from his insight and extensive network, and we are thrilled to have him on board."
Jonathan has more than 22 years of professional experience in the healthcare industry, advising physician groups, revenue cycle companies, diagnostics businesses, and various other specialty service providers through a variety of strategic M&A and capital market transactions. He is a frequent speaker on healthcare M&A and was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a "Trusted Healthcare Advisor" in 2021 and an "Influential Investment Banker" in 2018.
Prior to joining BGL, Jonathan was the co-head of healthcare at Intrepid Investment Bankers LLC, and held investment banking positions at Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC and Cowen and Company. Jonathan was a member of the revenue cycle consulting practices at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Navigant, where he was a subject matter specialist in patient access redesign and process improvement. He also held senior corporate finance positions with Vantage Oncology, Inc. and Alliance HealthCare Services.
"I am very excited to join the strong healthcare practice at BGL," said Bluth. "I look forward to bringing BGL's sophistication, breadth, and depth to future healthcare clients to help them find strong partners, unlock maximum values for their businesses, and exceed their strategic objectives."
Jonathan received his MBA from the UCLA School of Management and has a B.A. in history and sociology of science (with a concentration in healthcare systems) from the University of Pennsylvania.
About Brown Gibbons Lang & Company
Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) is a leading independent investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on the global middle market. The firm advises private and public corporations and private equity groups on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructurings, business valuations and opinions, and other strategic matters. BGL has investment banking offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, and real estate offices in Chicago, Cleveland, and San Antonio. The firm is also a founding member of Global M&A Partners, enabling BGL to service clients in more than 30 countries around the world. Securities transactions are conducted through Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company Securities, Inc., an affiliate of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company LLC and a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information, please visit www.bglco.com.
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Nonprofit health plan ranked 66th in national list with nearly 90% of employees reporting the company as a great place to work
OAKLAND, Calif., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Great Place to Work® and Fortune today announced Blue Shield of California as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For® in 2022. This is the nonprofit health plan's first recognition on this prestigious list, ranking 66th.
To be considered for the recognition, companies already have to be named a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organization. Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture, determines the top 100 companies using rigorous analytics and confidential employee feedback. For this year's list, 88% of Blue Shield of California's employees said the company is a great place to work, which is 31 points higher than the average U.S. company.
"Creating a healthcare system that is worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable starts with our people and making this a great place to do meaningful work," said Paul Markovich, President & CEO of Blue Shield of California. "Every day, we strive to develop leaders at all levels and create an environment where all employees can be their authentic selves. We are honored that our efforts are being recognized by Fortune and Great Place to Work."
This year's survey focused on overall employee experience as well as company response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the largest public health crisis in American history, Blue Shield stepped up to lead and protect the health and safety of all Californians, starting with its own employees. The company developed policies to support working families and caregivers, including flexible work hours and personalized schedules around family needs. Blue Shield also created a caregiver reimbursement program to provide additional financial support to employees managing the burden of in-home care of their loved ones. Today, many of the pandemic-related policies have become permanent, ensuring that employees have personal and mental health support.
Great Place to Work is the only company culture award in America that selects winners based on how fairly employees are treated. Companies are assessed on how well they create a great employee experience that is inclusive of race, gender, age, disability status, or any aspect of an employee or their role within the organization.
"Best Companies' leadership has never been more necessary," said Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. "As workers struggle with the Great Resignation, burnout, and COVID-19 disruptions, these exceptional companies offer workplace experiences as strong as prior to the pandemic. These companies get that 'place' is wherever their employees are sitting or standing, and they are committed to making that place equitable, safe, and productive. Their commitment to genuinely care for their people through trust, inclusion, purpose and meaningful flexibility for life circumstances goes beyond surface-level perks and is a model for the market to follow."
The full list of Blue Shield of California's previous achievements can be found here.
About Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with over 4.5 million members, over 7,500 employees and more than $21 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid, and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $192 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last five years to have an impact on California communities.
For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com.
Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
About the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®
Great Place to Work® selected the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® by gathering and analyzing confidential survey responses from more than 4.5 million current U.S. employees at Great Place to Work-Certified™ organizations. Company rankings are derived from 75 employee experience questions within the Great Place to Work Trust Index™ survey.
Disclaimer: From Fortune ©2022 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Fortune and Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Blue Shield of California.
About Great Place to Work®
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All™.
Learn more at greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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Cleco Power Launches Major Louisiana Economic Initiative: Project Diamond Vault
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 5:51 PM EDT|Updated: 6 hours ago
$9 Million in Congressional Funding Secured to Support Engineering Study
PINEVILLE, La., April 11, 2022/PRNewswire/ -- Cleco Power is investing in the development of a new, state-of-the-art carbon capture facility located in the heart of central Louisiana at the Brame Energy Center. Project Diamond Vault, which will begin with a Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study, will re-engineer Cleco's existing Madison 3 plant to reduce 95% or more of its carbon dioxide emissions through carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology.
"Diamond Vault will bring Cleco to the forefront of environmentally friendly energy production," President and CEO, Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC, Bill Fontenot said.
"Our organization has been honored to work collaboratively with Louisiana Economic Development (LED) to bring this innovative technology to our state through the FEED study, which will ensure the advancement of the energy industry and support the health and well-being of our communities," Fontenot said.
Diamond Vault will be one of the first American projects to capture the existing CO2 emissions of a power plant and sequester them in geological formations. Madison 3 already has low emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates because of its use of advanced combustion technology and pollution control measures. The installation of CCS technology through Diamond Vault will ensure that Madison 3 remains a state-of-the-art solid fuel plant.
Diamond Vault is expected to create an average of 1,100 direct construction jobs over a three-year period and 30-40 new permanent positions. On a statewide basis, LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott estimates that Diamond Vault, during the construction period, will create an average of 2,900 jobs each year, inject $2.7 billion in increased sales and household earnings into the Louisiana economy and produce $50 million in increased state tax revenues. Construction of Diamond Vault is expected to begin in 2025 and commercial operation is planned for 2028.
The FEED study for Diamond Vault will take about 18 months to complete and is projected to cost approximately $12 million. Cleco has secured a $9 million congressional appropriation to be administered and disbursed by LED which will help to defray the FEED study cost. After the study, Cleco plans to raise project capital funding of approximately $900 million through tax credits, Department of Energy grants and private equity investment.
Diamond Vault was unveiled during a press announcement on April 11 and has been in planning by Cleco with the support of political leaders and LED for more than a year. United States Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. was instrumental in advancing the project through his sponsorship of FEED study funding in the enacted 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
Cleco has retained expert assistance to bring Project Diamond Vault to fruition. Sargent & Lundy, a Chicago-based global power and energy design firm, is serving as owner's engineer. Battelle, a private nonprofit dedicated to scientific and technological commercialization and advancement, is advising on the characterization of geological storage capacity, permitting and storage operations.
"Our customers deserve a world where anyone can access clean power. We invest in these efficiency and optimization technologies today, so that our communities can experience a brighter future tomorrow," Fontenot said.
About Cleco Power LLC Cleco Power is a regulated electric public utility company that owns nine generating units with a rated capacity of 3,035 MWs and serves approximately 291,000 customers in Louisiana through its retail business and supplies wholesale power in Louisiana and Mississippi. For more information about Cleco, visit www.cleco.com.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/cleco-power-launches-major-louisiana-economic-initiative-project-diamond-vault/ | 2022-04-12T03:57:35 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/cleco-power-launches-major-louisiana-economic-initiative-project-diamond-vault/ |
TORONTO, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Electra Battery Materials Corporation (TSXV: ELBM) (OTCQX: ELBMF) ("Electra" or the "Company") announces that effective at the close of business on April 12, 2022, the Company will consolidate (the "Consolidation") its outstanding common share capital on the basis of one (1) post-Consolidation share for every eighteen (18) pre-Consolidation shares. At the opening of markets on April 13, 2022, the common shares of the Company will commence trading on a post-Consolidation basis under the existing ticker symbol "ELBM" and the new CUSIP: 28474P201.
The Consolidation is being undertaken in preparation for a potential listing of the common shares of the Company on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq"). The Consolidation was previously approved by shareholders of the Company at the annual general and special meeting held on December 2, 2021.
As of the date of this news release, the Company has 562,414,189 common shares issued and outstanding. Following completion of the Consolidation, the Company is expected to have approximately 31,245,233 common shares issued and outstanding. The exercise price and number of common shares issuable upon the exercise of the Company's outstanding options, warrants and convertible notes will also be proportionally adjusted upon completion of the Consolidation.
A letter of transmittal will be mailed to registered shareholders once the Consolidation has taken effect. The letter of transmittal contains instructions on how registered shareholders can exchange their share certificates evidencing their pre-Consolidation shares for new share certificates representing the number of post-Consolidation shares to which they are entitled.
Beneficial shareholders holding their shares through a brokerage may be subject to different procedures for obtaining their post-Consolidation shares. If shareholders have any questions in this regard, they are encouraged to contact their respective brokerage or intermediary.
Readers are cautioned that while the Company has applied for listing on Nasdaq, completion of a listing is subject to regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of applicable listing requirements. There can be no assurance that a listing will be completed, and in the event a listing is completed it is contemplated that the common shares of the Company would continue to trade in Canada on the TSX Venture Exchange.
Electra is planning to build a fully integrated, localized and environmentally sustainable battery materials park. Leveraging the Company's own mining assets and business partners, the Electra Battery Materials Park is expected to host cobalt and nickel sulfate production plants, a large-scale lithium-ion battery recycling facility, and battery precursor materials production, which will serve both North American and global customers. Electra also owns the advanced exploration-stage Iron Creek cobalt-copper project in Idaho, USA. Electra Battery Materials is an integral part of the North American battery supply chain, providing low-carbon, sustainable and traceable raw materials for the region's fast growing electric vehicle industry.
On behalf of Electra Battery Materials.
Trent Mell
Chief Executive Officer
For more information visit www.ElectraBMC.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects', "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, and opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are set forth in the management discussion and analysis and other disclosures of risk factors for Electra Battery Materials Corporation, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Electra Battery Materials Corporation believes that the information and assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, Electra Battery Materials Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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TROY, Mich., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric Last Mile Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELMS; ELMSW) ("ELMS" or the "Company"), today announced that it has received a notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") stating that because the Company has not yet filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the "Form 10-K"), the Company is no longer in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), which requires listed companies to timely file all required periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The notification letter has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company's common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Nasdaq indicated that the Company must submit a plan within 60 calendar days from April 1, 2022, or no later than May 31, 2022, addressing how it intends to regain compliance with Nasdaq's listing rules. If Nasdaq accepts the Company's plan, it may grant the Company an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the Form 10-K original filing due date, or until September 27, 2022, to regain compliance.
The Company previously discussed the circumstances behind the late filing of the Form 10-K in the Notification of Late Filing on Form 12b-25 (the "Notification"), filed with the SEC on April 1, 2022. The Company's management is working diligently to complete the Form 10-K and intends to file the Form 10-K as soon as practicable, but does not expect to do so within the timeframe specified by Rule 12b-25 for the reasons discussed in the Notification.
About Electric Last Mile Solutions, Inc.
Electric Last Mile Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELMS; ELMSW) is focused on defining a new era in which commercial vehicles run clean as connected and customized solutions that make our customers' businesses more efficient and profitable. ELMS is headquartered in Troy, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.electriclastmile.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the possibility of the Company's common stock becoming delisted from the Nasdaq Global Select Market and the Company's timeframe for filing the Form 10-K. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside the Company's control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition and the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; (2) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (3) the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (4) the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business; (5) any delays the Company may experience in realizing its projected timelines and cost and volume targets for the production, launch and ramp up of production of the Company's vehicles and the modification of its manufacturing facility; (6) the ability of the Company to obtain customers, obtain product orders, and convert its non-binding pre-orders into binding orders or sales; (7) the Company's ability to implement its business plans and strategies; and (8) other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, and in the Company's future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Some of these risks and uncertainties may in the future be amplified by the COVID-19 outbreak and there may be additional risks that the Company considers immaterial or which are unknown. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
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EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elkem Silicones will feature its expanded range of medical implant grade Silbione® Biomedical silicone products including high purity gels, dispersions, liquid silicone rubber (LSR), high consistency rubber (HCR) and adhesives at the upcoming Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West expo in Anaheim, Calif., April 12 to 14.
"Elkem continues to invest in silicone solutions for implantable medical device manufacturers, empowering them with the choice of a fully integrated implant grade silicone supplier, committed to transparent partnership and development for the long term," says Mike Goglia, market manager, Healthcare Americas.
"We are not only focused on providing proven solutions that have been used for decades, but also innovations that enable advancements in the standards of patient care," says Goglia. Elkem's tin-free, implant grade single component silicone adhesive, Silbione® Biomedical ADH1 M200, is the only tin-free product of its kind available on the market and offers faster cure than traditional adhesives, requiring no heat or humidity chamber for cure for easy processability and improved productivity. This tin-free adhesive is ideal for assembling medical devices that require high strength bonding to substrates such as silicone, polyester, metals, and polyurethane.
Silbione® Biomedical brand silicone products are produced in an ISO certified controlled environment under an enhanced quality management system in York, South Carolina, USA. All Silbione® Biomedical brand products are backed by worldwide regulatory support, including Master Access Files (MAF) on file with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and, most recently, Elkem successfully filed its first MAF for the Silbione® Biomedical HCRA M500 series with the Medical Device Evaluation Center of the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).
Visit booth 2009 to learn more about the Silbione® difference and Elkem's full range of advanced silicone materials for medical, implantable and drug delivery applications. For more information, call (866) 474-6342 or visit www.elkem.com.
About Elkem Silicones
Elkem Silicones has more than 4 200 employees dedicated to delivering your potential by providing you innovative silicone solutions with a personal touch. Elkem Silicones, a division of Elkem, is a global leader in fully integrated silicone manufacturing, operating 14 multi-functional manufacturing sites and 13 Research & Innovation centers around the globe. Elkem Silicones offers a full range of silicone technologies for diverse specialty markets including aerospace, automotive, construction, consumer goods, energy, healthcare, paper, personal care and textiles. Elkem Silicones is committed to create new, innovative and green solutions and business models that promote a sustainable future. www.elkem.com
About Elkem ASA
Elkem is one of the world's leading providers of advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future. The company develops silicones, silicon products and carbon solutions by combining natural raw materials, renewable energy and human ingenuity. Elkem helps its customers create and improve essential innovations like electric mobility, digital communications, health and personal care as well as smarter and more sustainable cities. With a strong track record since 1904, its global team of more than 7,000 people has a joint commitment to stakeholders: Delivering your potential. In 2021, Elkem obtained a Platinum score from EcoVadis, which rated the company among the world's top 1% on sustainability transparency, and the company achieved an operating income of NOK 33.7 billion. Elkem is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: ELK). www.elkem.com
Press Contact:
Karen O'Keefe
E-mail: Karen.okeefe@elkem.com Tel.: +1 609-685-5458
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) announces the opening of a new location for Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Alabama, an 85-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital. The new hospital is located at 1490 Hwy 72 East in Huntsville and will replace the hospital previously located at 107 Governors Drive SW. The hospital serves patients recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries including strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions.
In addition to 24-hour nursing care, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Alabama offers physical, occupational and speech therapies to restore functional ability and quality of life. Care is provided by highly specialized nurses, therapists and physicians. The hospital features all private patient rooms, a spacious therapy gym, an in-house pharmacy, a six-chair dialysis suite, courtyard, dining room and dayroom areas. Patients will receive a minimum of three hours per day of therapy for five days each week, access to advanced technologies and frequent visits by a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician during their stay.
"The hospital has been serving the Huntsville community and beyond for 35 years, and we are excited to welcome our patients into this wonderful new location to help them recover and find the confidence to move past their illness or injury and back to a more independent life," said Doug Beverly, CEO of Encompass Health of North Alabama. "With this state-of-the-art hospital and the talented team in it, we will be able to care for even more individuals in Huntsville and the surrounding areas."
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Alabama has achieved Disease-Specific Care Certification from The Joint Commission for four of its rehabilitation programs, including stroke, hip fracture, amputee, and brain injury rehabilitation. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. The Joint Commission's hospital standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The standards are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help hospitals measure, assess and improve performance.
For more information about the hospital's services, visit encompasshealth.com/huntsvillerehab.
About Encompass Health
As a national leader in integrated healthcare services, Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) offers both facility–based and home–based patient care through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies and hospice agencies. With a national footprint that includes 147 hospitals, 251 home health locations, and 96 hospice locations in 42 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high–quality, cost-effective integrated healthcare. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Media Contact
Casey Winger | 205-970-5912
Casey.Winger@encompasshealth.com
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- Productivity improvements, reduced financial close cycle and increased benefits from automation in CPM cloud tools
- Simplified processes, clear visibility and built-in compliance for the finance departments
- Faster completion of everyday processes so teams can focus on their strategic goals through better insights
LONDON, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EY today announces an extension of the alliance with Wolters Kluwer to include the CCH® Tagetik corporate performance management (CPM) solution and EY Advisory S.p.A (EY Italy), harnessing the power of data to help create opportunities for businesses to drive performance and provide long-term service. The Alliance has also been activated in Belgium with additional global expansion over time.
The requirement for products to support financial and operational planning, as well as financial and management consolidation, is on the rise because there is an increasing demand for finance process automations.
Wolters Kluwer, with its award-winning CCH® Tagetik expert solution, is recognized as a market leader, providing corporate finance professionals with comprehensive software solutions that streamline financial close and consolidation, financial and integrated business planning as well as regulatory compliance. EY teams are experienced in financial consolidation, planning and budgeting, data integration, taxation, data management and CPM implementation for multiple sectors. Together, they support organizations looking to accelerate their financial transformation initiatives.
The EY-CCH® Tagetik Alliance offers extensive support to large financial transformations, covering a broader set of digitally enabled services on a single platform for finance data and operational planning. The CCH® Tagetik platform intuitive interface, built-in financial intelligence and automated workflows allow teams to complete typical finance processes efficiently. The pre-built solutions addressing major financial regulations also simplify the compliance process.
Riccardo Magnani, EY Global CCH® Tagetik Alliance Leader, says:
"The extension of the alliance with Wolters Kluwer for its CCH®Tagetik solution offers immense value for clients. This positions EY teams to be at the forefront of implementing a wide range of clients' financial transformation initiatives via the unified CCH® Tagetik platform that incorporates leading-edge financial intelligence and automated workflows."
Ralf Gärtner, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Corporate Performance Solutions, Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, says:
"We are focused on enabling the office of the CFO to transform through predictive intelligence solutions that go beyond finance to provide deeper insights. With our comprehensive and extensible CCH® Tagetik platform, we look forward to complementing diverse skillsets and depth of experience of EY teams to benefit our joint customers looking to harmonize financial, strategic and operational goals to drive improved outcomes in their business."
For more information, visit ey.com/alliances.
About EY
EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.
Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.
Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.
About Wolters Kluwer
Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.
Wolters Kluwer reported 2021 annual revenues of €4.8 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,800 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.
Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).
For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com
Eric Minuskin
EY Global Media Relations
+1 908 770 9758
eric.j.minuskin@ey.com
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SOURCE EY | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/ey-announces-extension-strategic-alliance-with-wolters-kluwer-include-cch-tagetik-corporate-performance-management-solution-streamlining-extended-finance-transformations-through-unified-digital-solutions/ | 2022-04-12T03:58:13 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/ey-announces-extension-strategic-alliance-with-wolters-kluwer-include-cch-tagetik-corporate-performance-management-solution-streamlining-extended-finance-transformations-through-unified-digital-solutions/ |
Apex Commercial Capital Corp. will focus on providing commercial mortgage lending and equipment financing to small businesses
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Firstrust Bank announced today that its subsidiaries Apex Mortgage Corp., a commercial mortgage lender, and Firstlease, Inc., a leading nationwide provider of equipment financing, have merged under the new name of Apex Commercial Capital Corp. A full-service lender, Apex Commercial Capital has focused core business lines of commercial mortgage lending and equipment financing for small businesses.
Andrew Tauber, executive vice president at Firstrust Bank, will lead the newly combined company and serve as president. Tauber has more than 30 years of experience in commercial lending and specialty finance with focuses in business development, risk management, strategic planning and organizational development.
"This merger with Firstlease will strengthen Apex's ability to help small businesses achieve their financial goals by offering them a wider variety of commercial financing products and services," said Tauber. "We are committed to providing the best financial solutions to small businesses, and through combining our skills and more than 25 years of experience, we can improve our offerings to better fit the needs of those we serve."
With the merger, Apex Commercial Capital will be a technology-enabled small balance national commercial finance company that is agile, positioned for organic growth and capable of adding additional product lines.
In addition to Tauber's leadership, Apex Commercial Capital is led by a team of experienced financing professionals that include: Jaime Weinstein leading operations, Claire Gorton heading finance and accounting, Donald Wampler concentrating on business development, and Kevin Boyer guiding credit and collections.
Apex Mortgage and Firstlease completed the merger on April 1. The new company will continue to be a fully-owned subsidiary of Firstrust Bank. All Apex Commercial Capital lending is processed and serviced at its headquarters in Horsham, PA.
About Firstrust Bank
Founded in 1934, with assets of nearly $5 billion, Firstrust Bank is the region's largest family-owned financial institution, one of the region's largest and strongest full-service commercial banks, and one of the most consistently top-performing banks in the Nation. Founded by Samuel A. Green, who began the business in his mother's kitchen in South Philadelphia, Firstrust is currently in its third generation of family ownership, operating as Philadelphia's Hometown Bank® for more than 87 years. Firstrust offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, businesses, and institutions. In commercial banking, Firstrust Bank provides a wide variety of solutions, including commercial real estate finance, business banking, asset-backed lending, and deposit and treasury management services. Firstrust Bank meets the need of its consumer customers by offering a full range of deposit, lending, and residential mortgage products. Firstrust is a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender, is a Top Workplaces employer, the Official Bank of the Philadelphia Eagles and serves its customers through 19 branch banking offices located in Southeastern PA, Cherry Hill, NJ, and Towson, MD. For more information, visit firstrust.com or call 800-220-BANK. Member FDIC.
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LAS VEGAS, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GBank Financial Holdings Inc. ("GBank" or the "Company") (OTCQX: GBFH), the parent company for Bank of George (the "Bank"), is pleased to share the press release by BankCard Services, LLC ("BCS"), a Technology Company that enables Financial Institutions to participate in cashless gaming, announcing that on April 1, 2022, BCS received its Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the patent application of BCS's PIMSTM proprietary bank solution. A Pooled Player Account ("PPA") Powered by PIMSTM provides individual ledger account management for a Gaming Operators customer.
The full press release from BankCard Services, LLC, can be found here:
Through its contract with BankCard Services, LLC, Bank of George has been providing the banking solutions for Sightline Payments since 2016.
BankCard Services, LLC, was formed in 2014 and entered into an Agreement with Sightline Payments to provide a BCS Sponsor Bank to issue a Discover Prepaid Reloadable Card to empower Sightline's Play+ cashless solution for the gaming industry. BCS entered into an agreement with Bank of George, in Nevada, as the Sightline Sponsor Bank. To date, the Sightline / BCS / Bank partnership services over 600,000 accounts with over $1.5 billion in transactions.
BCS and the Bank, a subsidiary of GBank, also launched the Oregon State Lottery online sports wagering program with SB Tech, World Pay (FIS) and Sightline Payments in 2018 with the development of BankCard Services, LLC's proprietary Pooled Player Account ("PPA") Powered by PIMSTM". PIMSTM expanded the PPA structure with FDIC-insured individual player ledger accounts that enable digital cashless transactions.
BCS recently announced its contract with Wagr as the latest cashless gaming client utilizing BCS's Pooled Player Account Powered by PIMSTM at Bank of George.
GBank Financial Holdings Inc. ("GBank" or the "Company") (GBFH), a bank holding company with approximately $618 million in assets at December 31, 2021, conducts business through its wholly owned subsidiary, Bank of George (named in honor of George Washington). Founded in 2007, the Bank operates two full-service commercial branches in Las Vegas, Nevada, with primary lending activities focused on engaging clients in Nevada, California, Utah, and Arizona. Bank of George has key businesses in three prominent divisions: SBA Lending, Gaming FinTech, and Commercial Lending. The Bank conducts business nationally through its SBA lending activities (ranked 19th in the nation by the U.S. Small Business Administration for SBA 7(a) dollar loan volume through September 30, 2021) and its partnership. Launched in 2016, the Bank's Gaming FinTech Division, through its contract with BankCard Services, LLC ("BCS") is empowering Sightline Payments Play+ Solution (Sightline Payments) for seamless and secure pay-and-play that is enabling cashless, mobile commerce solutions for gaming, lottery, and sports betting ecosystems – positioning GBank as a financial leader in this new payments world. The Bank also provides general commercial banking services with an emphasis on serving the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses, high net worth individuals, professionals, and investors. The Bank offers a full complement of consumer deposit products and is focused on delivering a premium level of service. Bank of George has been recognized every year for each of the past five years by S&P Global Market Intelligence as a top 100 U.S. community bank under $3 billion in assets. For more information about Bank of George, please visit its website at https://www.bankofgeorge.com. GBank's Common Stock is quoted on the US OTCQX Market under the symbol GBFH.
GBank has made forward-looking statements in this Press Release. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. When words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," or similar expressions occur in this Press Release, the Company is making forward-looking statements. Note that many factors could affect the future financial results of the Company and its subsidiaries, both individually and collectively, and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release. Those factors include, but are not limited to: the recent and continuing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which poses risks and may harm the Company's business and results of operations in future quarters, credit risk, changes in market interest rates, inability to achieve merger-related synergies, competition, economic downturn or recession, and government regulation and supervision. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE GBank Financial Holdings Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/gbank-financial-holdings-inc-pleased-share-press-release-bankcard-services-llc-bcs-regarding-bcss-patent-application-allowed-by-us-patent-trademark-office/ | 2022-04-12T03:58:27 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/gbank-financial-holdings-inc-pleased-share-press-release-bankcard-services-llc-bcs-regarding-bcss-patent-application-allowed-by-us-patent-trademark-office/ |
SÃO PAULO, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and B3: GOLL4), ("GOL" or "Company"), Brazil's largest airline, today provides an Investor Update on its expectations for the first quarter of 2022. The information below is preliminary and unaudited. The Company will discuss its 1Q22 results in a conference call on April 28, 2022.
1. Excluding gains and losses on currency and Exchangeable Senior Notes.
2. Recurring operating results; excludes non-recurring maintenance costs related to fleet transformation of approximately R$92 million in 1Q22 and R$114 million in 1Q21.
3. Including 7x annual aircraft lease payments and excluding perpetual bonds.
4. Last twelve months.
5. Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and deposits.
Investor Relations
ri@voegol.com.br
www.voegol.com.br/ir
+55(11) 2128-4700
About GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.
GOL is the largest airline in Brazil, leader in the corporate and leisure segments. Since founded in 2001, the Company has the lowest unit cost in Latin America, thus democratizing air transportation. The Company has alliances with American Airlines and Air FranceKLM, besides several codeshare and interline agreements available to Customers, bringing more convenience and simple connections to any place served by these partnerships. With the purpose of "Being the First for All", GOL offers the best travel experience to its passengers, including: the largest number of seats and more space between seats; the greatest platform with internet, movies and live TV; and the best frequent-flyer program, SMILES. In cargo transportation, GOLLOG delivers orders to different regions in Brazil and abroad. The Company has a team of 15,000 highly qualified aviation professionals focused on Safety, GOL's #1 value, and operates a standardized fleet of 135 Boeing 737 aircraft. The Company's shares are traded on the NYSE (GOL) and the B3 (GOLL4). For further information, visit www.voegol.com.br/ri.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this press release has not been subject to any independent audit or review and contains "forward-looking" statements, estimates and projections that relate to future events, which are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release including, without limitation, those regarding GOL's future financial position and results of operations, strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, future developments in the markets in which GOL operates or is seeking to operate, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "will", "may", "project", "estimate", "anticipate", "predict", "seek", "should" or similar words or expressions, are forward-looking statements. The future events referred to in these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, many of which are beyond GOL's control, that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding GOL's present and future business strategies and the environment in which GOL will operate in the future and are not a guarantee of future performance. Such forward-looking statements speak only as at the date on which they are made. None of GOL or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents undertakes any duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. None of GOL or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, professional advisors and agents make any representation, warranty or prediction that the results anticipated by such forward-looking statements will be achieved, and such forward-looking statements represent, in each case, only one of many possible scenarios and should not be viewed as the most likely or standard scenario. Although GOL believes that the estimates and projections in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove materially incorrect and actual results may materially differ. As a result, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements.
Non-GAAP Measures
To be consistent with industry practice, GOL discloses so-called non-GAAP financial measures which are not recognized under IFRS or U.S. GAAP, including "Net Debt", "Adjusted Net Debt", "total liquidity" and "EBITDA". The Company's management believes that disclosure of non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors, financial analysts and the public in their review of its operating performance and their comparison of its operating performance to the operating performance of other companies in the same industry and other industries. However, these non-GAAP items do not have standardized meanings and may not be directly comparable to similarly-titled items adopted by other companies. Potential investors should not rely on information not recognized under IFRS as a substitute for the GAAP measures of earnings or liquidity in making an investment decision.
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SOURCE GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/gol-announces-1q22-investor-update/ | 2022-04-12T03:58:34 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/gol-announces-1q22-investor-update/ |
VANCOUVER, BC, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Gold Royalty Corp. (NYSE American: GROY) ("Gold Royalty", or the "Company") is pleased to announce the conclusion of key regulatory approvals in connection with the conditions of the Company's offer (the "Offer") to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Elemental Royalties Corp. (TSXV:ELE) ("Elemental"), together with the associated rights issued under Elemental's shareholder rights plan.
The Company has received a "no action" letter from the Foreign Investment Review Board of the Government of Australia advising that the transactions in respect of the Offer are not subject to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Australia). Additionally, after consulting its advisors and reviewing relevant publicly available information regarding Elemental, the Company has determined that a pre-merger notification and application under the Competition Act (Canada) are not required with respect to the Offer.
In connection with the foregoing and as a result of revisions made to the conditions of the Offer through the filing of Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Company filed today a Notice of Variation and Change with respect to its Offer. The revisions contained therein do not change the scope of the conditions of the Offer in any material respect. The Notice of Variation and Change also provides additional disclosure, including, among other things, updated unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements that reflect the most recent fiscal periods of each of Gold Royalty and Elemental. .
The Offer remains open for acceptance until 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on April 27, 2022, unless the Offer is abridged, extended or withdrawn.
For further information regarding the Offer, please see the Company's Offer and Circular dated January 11, 2022, as supplemented by the notice of change dated January 21, 2022, and as further supplemented and varied by the Notice of Variation and Change dated April 11, 2022 (collectively, the "Offer Documents"), available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on Gold Royalty's website at www.goldroyalty.com/elemental-offer/. Elemental shareholders are strongly encouraged to read the Offer Documents carefully and in their entirety, since they contain additional important information regarding Gold Royalty and the terms and conditions of the Offer, as well as detailed instructions on how Elemental shareholders can tender their Elemental Shares to the Offer.
About Gold Royalty Corp.
Gold Royalty Corp. is a gold-focused royalty company offering creative financing solutions to the metals and mining industry. Its mission is to acquire royalties, streams and similar interests at varying stages of the mine life cycle to build a balanced portfolio offering near, medium and longer-term attractive returns for its investors. Gold Royalty's diversified portfolio currently consists of net smelter return royalties on gold properties located in the Americas.
No Offer or Solicitation
This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, any securities. The Offer is being made solely by, and subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Offer Documents.
Notice to U.S. Elemental Shareholders
Gold Royalty has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form F-4, as amended by Amendment No. 1 (the "Registration Statement"), which contains a prospectus relating to the offer to acquire the securities of Elemental, under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. SHAREHOLDERS OF ELEMENTAL AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ SUCH REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER AS THOSE DOCUMENTS BECOME AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GOLD ROYALTY, ELEMENTAL, AND THE OFFER. Materials filed with the SEC will be available electronically without charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov under Gold Royalty's profile and the materials will be posted on Gold Royalty's website at www.goldroyalty.com.
Gold Royalty is a foreign private issuer and is permitted to prepare the offer to purchase and take-over bid circular and related documents in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States. Gold Royalty prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and they may not be directly comparable to financial statements of United States companies.
Shareholders of Elemental should be aware that owning Gold Royalty shares may subject them to tax consequences both in the United States and in Canada. The Offer Documents may not describe these tax consequences fully. Elemental shareholders should read any tax discussion in the Offer Documents, and holders of Elemental shares are urged to consult their tax advisors.
An Elemental shareholder's ability to enforce civil liabilities under the United States federal securities laws may be affected adversely because Gold Royalty is incorporated in Canada, some or all of Gold Royalty's officers and directors and some or all of the experts named in the Offer Documents reside outside of the United States, and a substantial portion of Gold Royalty's assets and of the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. Elemental shareholders in the United States may not be able to sue Gold Royalty or its officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violation of United States federal securities laws. It may be difficult to compel such parties to subject themselves to the jurisdiction of a court in the United States or to enforce a judgment obtained from a court of the United States.
NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATOR HAS OR WILL HAVE APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE GOLD ROYALTY SHARES OFFERED IN THE OFFER DOCUMENTS, OR HAS OR WILL HAVE DETERMINED IF ANY OFFER DOCUMENTS ARE TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Elemental shareholders should be aware that, during the period of the Offer, Gold Royalty or its affiliates, directly or indirectly, may bid for, or make purchases of, the securities to be distributed or to be exchanged, or certain related securities, as permitted by applicable laws or regulations of Canada or its provinces or territories and the United States, including Rule 14e-5 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in Canada, such information will be disclosed by means of a press release or other means reasonably calculated to inform shareholders in the United States of such information.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
Certain of the information contained in this news release constitutes 'forward-looking information' and 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws ("forward-looking statements") and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Gold Royalty's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied therein. The words "believe", "expect", "will", "propose" and derivatives thereof and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters, identify the above mentioned and other forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including among others, statements regarding the satisfaction of the conditions of the Offer and the anticipated timing, benefits and effects of the completion of the Offer, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the ability to obtain necessary approvals, and to meet the other conditions under the Offer, the ability to realize the benefits under the proposed transaction, material adverse effects on the business, properties and assets of the parties; the impact of general economic and market conditions; any inability of the operators of the properties underlying the parties' royalty and other interests to execute proposed plans for such properties, risks related to such operators or the exploration, development and mining operations of the properties underlying the parties' royalty and other interests; impacts of macroeconomic developments; and the impact of and the responses of relevant governments to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effectiveness of such responses and the other important risks and uncertainties set out in the Offer Documents, Gold Royalty's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended September 30, 2021 and its other public filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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SOURCE Gold Royalty Corp. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/gold-royalty-provides-update-elemental-offer/ | 2022-04-12T03:58:41 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/gold-royalty-provides-update-elemental-offer/ |
HADDONFIELD, N.J., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Linnaeus Therapeutics, Inc. (Linnaeus), a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel small-molecule oncology therapeutics, today announced that the laboratory of Gary Schwartz, MD at Columbia University Irving Medical Center presented new findings from his research team at the 2022 AACR Annual Meeting.
The poster was entitled, "G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1 agonist LNS8801 induces mitotic arrest and cell death in uveal melanoma cells" and was led by Grazia Ambrosini, PhD, a research scientist in Dr. Schwartz's lab (Abstract 1852).
Ambrosini and colleagues have demonstrated that LNS8801 has potent anti-cancer activities in models of uveal melanoma cells. Treatment with LNS8801 resulted in inhibition of proliferation and depletion of c-Myc and phospho-RB proteins. The inhibition of proliferation was associated with a G2/M cell cycle block through the disruption of microtuble dynamics and mitotic spindle formation. LNS8801 treatment also resulted in the inhibition of migration and induction of cell death. LNS8801 had potent effects in an in vivo xenograft model of uveal melanoma, resulting in the inhibiton of tumor growth.
"We are extremely pleased to showcase these data at AACR," commented Patrick Mooney, MD, CEO of Linnaeus. "These data demonstrate that LNS8801 has activity in preclinical models of uveal melanoma in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, these data are consistent with the clinical data in our on-going studies of LNS8801 in advanced cancer patients. We look forward to sharing some of that data at ASCO in June."
About LNS8801
LNS8801 is an orally bioavailable and highly specific and potent agonist of GPER whose activity is dependent on the expression of GPER. GPER activation by LNS8801 rapidly and durably depletes c-Myc protein levels. In preclinical cancer models, LNS8801 displays potent antitumor activities across a wide range of tumor types, rapidly shrinking tumors and inducing immune memory.
In the ongoing clinical study in humans, LNS8801 monotherapy has been safe and well tolerated. Additionally, LNS8801 has demonstrated target engagement, c-Myc protein depletion, and clinical benefit in patients with advanced cancer.
About Linnaeus
Linnaeus Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel small molecule oncology therapeutics that target G protein-coupled receptors. The company was formed and launched in partnership with the UPstart incubator at the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Center for Innovation (PCI).
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DALLAS, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mohr Partners, Inc., a leading global full-service end-to-end corporate real estate services firm, is pleased to announce that Kevin Williams, a 15-year construction management veteran, has joined Mohr Partners in the Dallas office.
In his new role, Williams will be a senior member of the Mohr Partners Project & Development Management Services division, overseeing both ground-up development and tenant improvement projects for the occupier clients that utilize industrial, office, retail and healthcare real estate to support their businesses.
Williams will report to Craig Bull, a 30-year industry veteran, who oversees business development, client management and operations for Mohr Partners' project & development management services division, which has been one of the firms fasted growing service lines.
"I am pleased to have Kevin join my team as he and I both started in the design industry before transitioning to project management, which allows us to execute complicated design-build and build-to-suit projects" stated Craig Bull.
Kevin Williams commented, "I am excited to join Mohr Partners. The firm's full-service corporate real estate platform will allow me to leverage my experience and add value throughout the total occupier real estate life cycle."
About Mohr Partners, Inc.:
Mohr Partners, Inc. is a global corporate real estate advisor, providing corporate tenants with an integrated set of portfolio services including strategic planning, business intelligence, lease administration/accounting & FASB ASC 842 compliance, research and site selection, labor analytics, project and construction management, comprehensive demographics analysis, economic incentives negotiations and transaction management. Since 1986, Mohr has been managing real estate portfolios for corporations, and each year completes transactions for its clients in all 50 U.S. states, all provinces of Canada and locations around the world. Mohr seamlessly provides corporate real estate services globally through its strategic alliance partners in Canada, Mexico/Latin America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information on Mohr, please visit www.mohrpartners.com.
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SOURCE Mohr Partners, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/mohr-partners-expands-project-amp-development-management-services-with-recruitment-industry-veteran-kevin-williams/ | 2022-04-12T03:58:55 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/mohr-partners-expands-project-amp-development-management-services-with-recruitment-industry-veteran-kevin-williams/ |
HOUSTON, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA and the Lone Star Flight Museum are inviting media to the final move of the Space Shuttle Motion Base Simulator to its new home at the museum, located at Ellington Field. The simulator, which supported space shuttle astronaut training at NASA for 35 years, will become an interactive exhibit at the museum in Houston.
News media may cover the simulator's move at 10 a.m. CDT Tuesday, April 12, at the Lone Star Flight Museum, 11551 Aerospace Ave. The simulator's 30-minute journey from NASA hangar 276 is subject to weather conditions; in the event of a delay, an updated schedule will be announced as soon as possible. To participate, media should contact Anna Hawley, the museum's chief marketing officer, at 346-352-7671 or anna.hawley@lonestarflight.org. All media should meet at the Lone Star Flight Museum for transport to the taxiway.
The museum will open at 10 a.m. and offer free admission to the public from 4-6 p.m. to see the simulator and several exhibit artifacts, such as the trainer's console and crew procedures. A video from the last simulator run of the STS-135 crew in July 2011 will showcase how the simulator was used to train shuttle crews. Admission is free.
Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, retired NASA astronaut and aerospace engineering professor at Texas A&M University, worked alongside a team of volunteers to restore the simulator -- a project that involved approximately 5,000 hours.
The Motion Base Simulator was built in 1976 to support the Approach and Landing Tests using the Space Shuttle Enterprise and modified to support the future space shuttle missions. It was first used to support flight crew training for the STS-1 mission on Jan. 9, 1979. The simulator is a full-scale replica of the forward flight deck of a space shuttle orbiter, with windows by display screens that provided increasingly detailed simulated views during various phases of the flight as the shuttle program progressed. The simulator's motion systems provided a realistic simulation of the space shuttle's movements.
The simulator, and a companion Fixed Base Simulator, were operated for decades in the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility at Johnson to train astronauts for space shuttle missions. The facility, which originally began operations Mission Simulation and Training Facility, supported astronaut training for the Gemini and Apollo Programs, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, and the Skylab Programs before undergoing renovations from 1976-1978 to support the Space Shuttle Program.
The shuttle simulators were removed after the final space shuttle mission, STS-135, in 2011 to make room for some of NASA's next generation of spaceflight training hardware, including the Boeing Starliner, part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Ellington Field is the heart of Johnson Space Center's flying operations. NASA's primary function at Ellington is the training of astronauts for spaceflight. The field is also a base for administrative, cargo transport, and high-altitude aircraft, with many types of NASA aircraft at the hangers.
NASA's Johnson Space Center is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed the nation to achieve the goal of "landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth" before the end of the decade. NASA's Space Task Group, in charge of America's human spaceflight program, was already working on Project Mercury to put astronauts into Earth orbit, but with the additional task of a human lunar landing, it soon outgrew its facilities at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The agency decided it needed a dedicated field center for human spaceflight, and on Sept. 19, 1961, after evaluating multiple sites around the country, NASA announced that the new Manned Spacecraft Center would be built near Houston, Texas.
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SUGAR LAND, Texas, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Corporation (NYSE: NE, "Noble", or the "Company") today announced that the extraordinary general meeting of Noble shareholders (the "General Meeting") relating to Noble's previously announced proposed business combination (the "Business Combination") with The Drilling Company of 1972 A/S (CSE: DRLCO) ("Maersk Drilling") will be held on May 10, 2022 at 9:00 a.m., Central Time, at Noble Advances Training and Collaboration Center, 12550 Reed Rd., Ste. 200, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.
On April 11, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") declared effective the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-261780) of Noble Finco Limited ("Topco") relating to the Business Combination, and Noble will mail the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the General Meeting to shareholders as of April 8, 2022 (the "Record Date"). Shareholders are encouraged to vote in advance of the General Meeting and will have until May 9, 2022 at 11:59 p.m., Central time, to do so. Voting in advance is easy and can be done in one of three ways: online, via telephone or by mail.
All Noble shareholders as of the Record Date are encouraged to vote in favor of the Business Combination.
Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. Noble owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile, and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921. Currently, Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of 19 offshore drilling units, consisting of 11 drillships and 8 jackups, focused largely on ultra-deepwater and high specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. Noble is an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability with registered office at P.O. BOX 309, Ugland House, S. Church Street, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104. Additional information on Noble is available at www.noblecorp.com.
With 50 years of experience operating in the most challenging offshore environments, Maersk Drilling (CSE:DRLCO) provides responsible drilling services to energy companies worldwide. Headquartered in Denmark, Maersk Drilling owns and operates a fleet of offshore drilling rigs and specialises in harsh environment and deepwater operations. For more information about Maersk Drilling, visit www.maerskdrilling.com.
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the proposed transaction, including statements regarding the benefits of the transaction, the anticipated timing of the transaction, the products and services offered by Noble and Maersk Drilling and the markets in which they operate, and Noble's and Maersk Drilling's projected future financial and operating results. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by terminology such as "believe," "may," "will," "potentially," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "should," "project," "target," "plan," "expect," or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations, beliefs, estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable as and when made by Noble and its management, and Maersk Drilling and its management, as the case may be. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties.
Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Noble's and Maersk Drilling's securities, (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the adoption of the business combination agreement by the shareholders of Noble, the acceptance of the proposed exchange offer by the requisite number of Maersk Drilling shareholders and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals, (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement, (iv) the effects of public health threats, pandemics and epidemics, such as the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, and the adverse impact thereof on Noble's or Maersk Drilling's business, financial condition and results of operations, (v) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Noble's or Maersk Drilling's business relationships, performance, and business generally, (vi) risks that the proposed transaction disrupt current plans of Noble or Maersk Drilling and potential difficulties in Noble's or Maersk Drilling's employee retention as a result of the proposed transaction, (vii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Noble or Maersk Drilling related to the business combination agreement or the proposed transaction, (viii) the ability of Noble Finco Limited ("Topco") to list the Topco shares on NYSE or the Nasdaq Copenhagen, (ix) volatility in the price of the combined company's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive markets in which Topco plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Topco's business and changes in the combined capital structure, (x) the effects of actions by, or disputes among OPEC+ members with respect to production levels or other matters related to the price of oil, market conditions, factors affecting the level of activity in the oil and gas industry, and supply and demand of jackup rigs, (xi) factors affecting the duration of contracts, the actual amount of downtime, (xii) factors that reduce applicable dayrates, operating hazards and delays, (xiii) risks associated with operations outside the US, actions by regulatory authorities, credit rating agencies, customers, joint venture partners, contractors, lenders and other third parties, legislation and regulations affecting drilling operations, compliance with regulatory requirements, violations of anti-corruption laws, shipyard risk and timing, delays in mobilization of jackup rigs, hurricanes and other weather conditions, and the future price of oil and gas, and (xiv) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations (including with respect to synergies and financial and operational metrics, such as EBITDA and free cash flow) after the completion of the proposed transaction, and to identify and realize additional opportunities, (xv) the failure to realize anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, (xvi) risks related to the ability to correctly estimate operating expenses and expenses associated with the transaction, (xvii) risks related to the ability to project future cash utilization and reserves needed for contingent future liabilities and business operations, (xviii) the potential impact of announcement or consummation of the proposed transaction on relationships with third parties, (xix) changes in law or regulations affecting Noble, Maersk Drilling or the combined company, (xx) international, national or local economic, social or political conditions that could adversely affect the companies and their business, (xxi) conditions in the credit markets that may negatively affect the companies and their business, and (xxii) risks associated with assumptions that parties make in connection with the parties' critical accounting estimates and other judgements. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. There can be no assurance that the future developments affecting Noble, Maersk Drilling or any successor entity of the transaction will be those that we have anticipated.
These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond Noble's or Maersk Drilling's control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements or from our historical experience and our present expectations or projects. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that affect the parties' businesses, including those described in Noble's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed from time to time by Noble and Topco with the SEC and those described in Maersk Drilling's annual reports, relevant reports and other documents published from time to time by Maersk Drilling. Noble and Maersk Drilling wish to caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Noble and Maersk Drilling are not undertaking any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
In connection with the proposed business combination, Topco has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (which Registration Statement was declared effective on April 11, 2022) with the SEC that includes (1) a proxy statement of Noble that also constitutes a prospectus for Topco and (2) an offering prospectus of Topco to be used in connection with Topco's offer to exchange shares in Maersk Drilling for Topco shares. Noble will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders in connection with the vote to approve the merger of Noble and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Topco, and Topco will distribute the offering prospectus in connection with the exchange offer. Should Maersk Drilling and Noble proceed with the proposed transaction, Maersk Drilling and Noble also expect that Topco will file an offer document with the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finanstilsynet). This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed transaction and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed business combination. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND THE OFFERING DOCUMENT RELATING TO THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION IN THEIR ENTIRETY, IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY EACH OF TOPCO AND NOBLE WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TOPCO, MAERSK DRILLING AND NOBLE, THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION AND RELATED MATTERS.
Investors and shareholders are able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and all other documents filed with the SEC by Topco and Noble through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and stockholders are able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents related thereto on Maersk Drilling's website at www.maerskdrilling.com or Noble's website at www.noblecorp.com, or by written request to Noble at Noble Corporation, Attn: Richard B. Barker, 13135 Dairy Ashford, Suite 800, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.
Maersk Drilling, Noble and their respective directors, executive officers and certain employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Maersk Drilling and Noble, respectively, in connection with the proposed transaction. Shareholders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Noble's directors and officers in Noble's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed with the SEC on February 17, 2022, and Items 10 through 14 of Part III of Amendment No. 1 thereto on Form 10-K/A, which was filed with the SEC on March 11, 2022. To the extent the holdings of Noble's securities by Noble's directors and executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in such annual report, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Maersk Drilling's directors and officers is contained in Maersk Drilling's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the interests of such individuals in the proposed business combination will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed transaction when it is filed with the SEC. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources indicated above.
This press release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction, in each case, in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act and applicable European or the UK, as appropriate, regulations. Subject to certain exceptions to be approved by the relevant regulators or certain facts to be ascertained, the public offer will not be made directly or indirectly, in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, or by use of the mails or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone and the internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or any facility of a national securities exchange, of any such jurisdiction.
This announcement is not a public takeover offer and this announcement does not represent a formal decision by Topco or Noble to make a public takeover offer within the meaning of section 4(1) of the Danish Takeover Order (Executive Order no. 636 dated 15 May 2020), and such formal decision by Topco to make a public takeover offer in accordance with section 4(1) of the Danish Takeover Order is conditional on the approval of a prospectus approved in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129 of 14 June 2017 (the "Prospectus Regulation") or a document that satisfies the exemptions in article 1, paragraph 4, subparagraph m and paragraph 5, subparagraph e of the Prospectus Regulation, by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority. If and when Topco formally launches the exchange offer, it will be made in the form of an offer document to be approved by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority in accordance with the Danish Capital Market Act (Consolidated Act no. 1767 of 27 November 2020 on Capital Markets, as amended) and the Danish Takeover Order.
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MILWAUKEE, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Directors of A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.28 per share on the company's Common Stock and Class A Common Stock.
The dividend is payable on May 16 to shareholders of record April 29, 2022.
About A. O. Smith
A. O. Smith Corporation, with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., is a global leader applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AOS), the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products. For more information, visit www.aosmith.com.
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MELBOURNE, Australia, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) today announces its ProstACT TARGET Phase II clinical trial of the Company's prostate cancer antibody therapy candidate TLX591 (177Lu-DOTA-rosopatamab), in patients experiencing a first recurrence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after initial therapy for prostate cancer, has been granted Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) approval.
Telix's primary goal with the ProstACT study series is to complete the pivotal Phase III ProstACT GLOBAL study in a second-line setting in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) progressing on first-line novel androgen agents. The inclusion of the TARGET study, will generate data on the use of TLX591 in patients at an earlier stage in their prostate cancer, supporting potential future indication expansion. This is in line with Telix's vision to benefit men along the full spectrum of their prostate cancer journey, creating multiple opportunities to deliver insights into the clinical performance of TLX591 throughout the program duration.[1] As an antibody-based radiopharmaceutical, TLX591 is given as just two doses, two-weeks apart, and requires much less lutetium to deliver long-lasting radiation to the tumour with potential to reduce costs and off-target side effects such as salivary gland toxicity.
ProstACT TARGET is a Phase II single arm study in Australia in 50 patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) -avid[2] biochemically recurrent oligometastatic (five or less metastases) prostate cancer, in combination with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). The clinical objectives are delaying disease recurrence and thus deferring the commencement of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with the primary endpoint biological progression-free survival (PFS BIO). The study is a collaboration with Telix's strategic partner, GenesisCare.
Telix Group CEO and Managing Director, Dr. Christian Behrenbruch stated, "We are delighted to have been granted approval to commence the Phase II ProstACT TARGET study for TLX591, a key milestone in the ProstACT family of trials. TARGET is part of the Company's long-term clinical and commercial strategy to develop TLX591 across multiple points from men with early, localised disease all the way through to advanced metastatic disease, integrating molecularly targeted radiation (MTR) with standard of care at each stage in the patient journey. Alongside the ProstACT SELECT study, this program will add value and clinical insight to the platform, with opportunity for near-term data readouts."
GenesisCare Global Chief Medical Officer, Wally Curran MD, added, "It is a privilege to partner with Telix on the Phase II ProstACT TARGET study, a trial which brings hope to thousands of men living with prostate cancer in Australia and worldwide. Leveraging our global network of treatment centres, we look forward to commencing patient enrolment and helping Telix develop and rapidly scale a bold new approach to prostate cancer therapy."
About ProstACT
ProstACT is a series of studies of the investigational product TLX591, the Company's antibody-based, PSMA targeted prostate cancer therapy candidate TLX591 (177Lu-DOTA-rosopatamab).
The three studies running concurrently in the program include:
- ProstACT GLOBAL – A phase III multi-centre, randomised controlled trial (RCT) in patients with PSMA-expressing mCRPC, experiencing disease progression following prior treatment with a novel androgen axis drug (NAAD). The ProstACT trial will enrol approximately 390 patients and incorporates patient selection using 68Ga-PSMA imaging with TLX591-CDx (Illuccix®). The trial will compare standard of care therapy alone versus standard of care therapy plus TLX591, with a primary endpoint of radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS).
- ProstACT SELECT, a Phase I radiogenomics study with the goal of comparing 68Ga-PSMA (gallium) and 177Lu-PSMA (lutetium), specifically exploring the biodistribution differences between small molecule and antibody-based targeting. The study is designed to inform optimal patient selection for Telix's antibody-based 177Lu therapy, with the goal of enabling indication expansion for Telix's PSMA therapeutic portfolio. ProstACT SELECT is a multi-centre study and will enrol up to 50 patients, with a first patient dosed in January 2022.[3]
- ProstACT TARGET, a Phase II study to evaluate TLX591 in combination with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in patients with oligometastatic PSMA-expressing disease, providing data in early prostate cancer relapse. The study, which targets enrolment of 50 patients across multiple Australian sites, is a collaboration with Telix's strategic partner, GenesisCare, and is being conducted within its network. GenesisCare is co-funding the study alongside Telix.
About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited
Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic products using Molecularly Targeted Radiation (MTR). Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with international operations in Belgium, Japan, Switzerland, and the United States. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage products that address significant unmet medical need in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX). For more information visit www.telixpharma.com and follow Telix on Twitter (@TelixPharma) and LinkedIn.
Telix's lead product, Illuccix® (kit for preparation of gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide (also known as 68Ga PSMA-11) injection) for prostate cancer imaging, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),[4] and by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).[5] Telix is also progressing marketing authorisation applications for this investigational candidate in Europe[6] and Canada.[7]
This announcement has been authorised for release by Dr. Christian Behrenbruch, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer.
Legal Notices
This announcement may include forward-looking statements that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "outlook", "forecast" and "guidance", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other considerations that exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix's business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix's preclinical and clinical studies, and Telix's research and development programs; Telix's ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; the commercialisation of Telix's product candidates, if or when they have been approved; estimates of Telix's expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix's financial performance; developments relating to Telix's competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix's product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix's actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or a change in expectations or assumptions.
The Telix Pharmaceuticals name and logo are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates (all rights reserved).
[1] ASX disclosure 19 August 2021.
[2] Defined by PSMA PET imaging.
[3] ASX disclosure 27 January 2022.
[4] ASX disclosure 20 December 2021.
[5] ASX disclosure 2 November 2021.
[6] ASX disclosure 10 December 2021.
[7] ASX disclosure 16 December 2020.
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