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Earlier access to free or cheaper medicines is on the cards, after a federal budget announcement made earlier this week.
Improved access to subsided prescription drugs through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS will benefit Australians who need multiple medicines throughout the year. This is particularly so for people with chronic conditions or who have multiple members in the family who need scripts.
From July 1, access to free or cheaper medicines will kick in sooner, under the so-called PBS safety net, as the threshold for access has been lowered.
However, this isn’t the only way to reduce the costs of medicines.
Read more: Health budget 2022 spends a little on favoured interest groups but misses a chance for real reform
What’s changed?
If you only fill a script now and again, concession card holders pay A$6.80 and general patients pay up to $42.50 for a PBS-subsidised medicine.
However, if you need multiple scripts throughout the year, once you reach a certain threshold, the PBS safety net can kick in. Then, medicines are free for concession card holders and cost $6.80 for general patients.
The PBS safety net is calculated by calendar year and is reset on January 1 each year.
As of July 1, the PBS safety net threshold will be reduced to $244.80 (down from $326.40) for concession card holders and $1,457.10 (down from $1,542.10) for general patients.
You can reach the PBS safety net sooner each year if you combine your family’s PBS accounts. In other words, if you or your partner or children require multiple medicines, your family may have quicker access to free or cheaper medicines for the rest of the year.
The PBS safety net is not to be confused with the Medicare safety net. This relates to doctors’ fees charged for out-of-hospital services.
Read more: Explainer: what is Medicare and how does it work?
Who will benefit?
An average patient pays about $121 out-of-pocket costs per year on medicines, way below the PBS safety net thresholds.
So the PBS safety net only affects those who continuously use many prescription drugs. Under changes announced in the budget, concession card holders who fill more than 36 prescriptions a year (three per month) or general patients who fill about 34 scripts a year will benefit from the reduced thresholds.
A large proportion of these are older than 65, with chronic conditions, who require medicines continually.
For elderly patients, some medications are essential to control their symptoms and prevent them from being admitted to hospital. These medications include those to treat heart or mental health conditions.
So the money spent on improving access to these essential medicines could be offset by lower hospital costs.
Other ways to cut costs
Australia uses a range of mechanisms to manage the costs of prescription drugs, in addition to the PBS safety net. In general, these relate to how the government assesses drugs and sets prices.
After a new drug enters the market, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee reviews its clinical effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness (or “value for money”) compared with other treatments before recommending it for listing on the PBS.
For clinically-equivalent drugs with different brands, the PBS only subsidises up to the price of the lowest priced brand. If a patient needs the more expensive medicine, they pay a brand premium.
However, this brand premium cannot count towards the PBS safety net threshold.
Read more: Can't pronounce the name of your medicine? Here's why
How about cheaper generic drugs?
Assessing drugs for “value for money” and only subsidising clinically equivalent drugs to the price of the lowest priced brand are among measures allowing Australians access to cheaper brand-name drugs than countries without price controls.
However, Australians pay a higher price for generic prescription drugs – drugs no longer under patent protection – than many other countries.
Generic drugs are often not subsidised because they are cheaper than the PBS general co-payment of $42.50. So patients pay the full cost.
In fact, about 30% of all PBS-listed medicines cost less than $42.50, many of them generic drugs.
The cost of these PBS-listed, cheaper, non-subsidised generics counts towards your PBS safety net threshold.
To control prices for generic drugs, the government requires manufacturers to disclose how much they charge pharmacies. The government then reduces the amount it pays to pharmacies for each generic drug.
This price disclosure policy has been effective to lower the prices of generic drugs. But this price disclosure policy does not guarantee Australians get the best prices for generic drugs some other countries enjoy.
Instead, the government could set a price for each generic drug, by using the best price obtained by other comparable countries. This international benchmarking pricing strategy is used by other countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Japan and many member states of the European Union.
If the Australia government can get cheaper generic drugs as these countries, it would mean substantial savings for many Australians. | https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-pbs-safety-net-and-is-it-really-the-best-way-to-cut-the-cost-of-medicines-180315 | 2022-04-01T01:51:35Z |
1 officer killed, 2 others hurt in Pennsylvania shooting
A Pennsylvania police officer was killed and two others injured Thursday during a shooting that occurred while responding to a domestic disturbance call, Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello said.
Police officers went to a home in the city at about 3:30 p.m. for the disturbance call. Nearly an hour later gunfire broke out and officers radioed in they were hit, Capello said at a brief news conference.
All three officers were taken to hospitals. One of them has been pronounced dead. A second was in critical condition, but stable, and a third was in stable condition, Capello said.
“This is an extremely difficult moment for everyone,” Capello said.
The suspect, a 34-year-old man from Lebanon, was killed in the shooting, Lebanon Police Chief Todd Breiner said.
“As one can imagine, it’s clearly a traumatic event,” Breiner said. “Our guys are strong, but we’re human and we have families.”
The slain officer’s name is being withheld pending notification of extended family members.
Police did not release further details.
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Church Events
Athens Lutheran Church: will host midweek Lenten Services each Wednesday though Easter at 7 p.m. Church located at 710 Forrest Ave. Everyone welcome.
Miscellaneous
Mars Hill Presbyterian Church: has a supply of crutches, a wheelchair, a rollator, and a walker and other medical items that are available to be borrowed. Call the church office at 423-734-1403 Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for more information.
McMahan Calvary Cemetery: located in Athens on County Road 172 (formerly Clearwater Road), needs immediate donations to continue mowing and maintenance in 2021. The cemetery is maintained solely by donations from families and friends. Donors should make checks payable to McMahan Calvary Cemetery Fund and mail to Robert Guthrey, a fund trustee, at P.O. Box 272, Athens, TN 37371-0272.
Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Etowah: is seeking donations to continue mowing. Send checks payable to Pleasant Grove Cemetery and mail them to: Karen Wear Taylor, 131 County Road 903, Etowah, TN 37331. For more information, contact Taylor at 423-462-5042. The cemetery is not owned by Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church.
Thursday
Starr Mountain REACT Radio Club: holds a beginners computer class every Thursday at 4 p.m. The class is free for the community to attend. For more information, call 423-493-3706.
Athens Chess Club: Thursdays, 3 p.m., McMinn Senior Activity Center.
VFW Hamburger Night: Thursdays, 5-7 p.m., VFW Post 5146, 706 Congress Parkway, Athens. Reg. burger w/fries $5. Bacon burger w/fries $6. Chicken sandwich w/fries, $5.
Grief Support Group: last Thursday, 4:30-5:30 p.m., at Adventa Hospice, 744 Tell St., Suite 100. No charge to attend. For info, call 1-800-951-2561 or 423-507-8755.
Support Group for Victims of Domestic Violence: Thursdays, 6 p.m. Call 745-5289, 24-hours a day, for location and other info.
Friday
Amvets Post 100: located on County Road 813, hosts a darts tournament every Friday starting around 6:30 p.m.
Gospel Singing: is held each Friday night at the Cook Ministry Center at 7 p.m. For more info, contact 423-506-3563.
Athens Kiwanis Club: Fridays, noon, TWC. Visit athenskiwanis.com for info.
Etowah Senior Center: 1st and 3rd Friday, Karaoke program, 6-9 p.m. For info, call 423-781-7632.
Saturday
Sabbath Day Teaching of the Gospel: is held every Saturday at 1 p.m. at 109 County Road 882 in Etowah. For more information, text or leave a message at 423-506-4575.
Amvets Post 100: located on County Road 813, hosts karaoke every Wednesday and Saturday starting around 6:30 p.m.
Sunday
Celebrate Recovery: is held at Jones Chapel each Sunday night from 6-8 p.m. The meetings feature worship, group and a to-go meal. Groups are for anyone dealing with hang-ups, hurts, life challenges and loss. Everyone welcome. Church located at 590 County Road 778 in Athens.
Amvets Post 100: meets the first Sunday of each month at noon at the post, located on County Road 813.
Monday
Athens Happy Hour (AA): Mondays, 5:30 p.m., at Cooke Ministry Center, 714 Walter St., Athens. For info, call Mike A. at 506-0736.
McMinn County T.E.A. (Taxed Enough Already) Party: Mondays, 6 p.m., at Shoney’s in Athens. Come early if you want to order dinner.
Meigs Lodge No. 213 F&AM: Mondays, 7 p.m., for practice in degree work, except 1st Monday of the month, which is business meeting. Light refreshments served.
Pilot Club of Athens: 1st and 3rd Monday, 6 p.m., at Western Sizzlin’.
Manilla Lodge No. 633: 1st Monday, business meeting.
Etowah Masonic Lodge 653 F&AM: 1st Monday, 7 p.m., at lodge on 9th Street, Etowah. Practice will follow.
Sons of Confederate Veterans Post 2089: 1st Monday, 6 p.m., at Michael’s restaurant in Etowah. For info, call Steve McAllister at 745-6001.
Tuesday
Non-Denominational Bible Clubs: will meet each Tuesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at North City School and each Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Westside School. There will be games, snacks and Bible stories. The teacher will be Pam McAchren. There is no charge to join the clubs, which are not directly affiliated with the host schools. The clubs are designed to be fun for the children as they learn the stories in the Bible. All students in grades 3, 4 and 5, including Kids Connection, may join the club. For more information, call 368-8367.
Nature of Grief Support Group: Hospice of Chattanooga will host this free group on the first Tuesday of each month at the McMinn Senior Activity Center. The group is designed to help attendees cope with grief following the death of a loved one. Call 423-892-4289 for more information.
PTSD Support Group: Veterans are invited to attend from 6:30-8 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Athens Lutheran Church, located at 710 Forrest Ave. in Athens. For more information, call 423-745-9419.
Children of the Most High God Bible Study Group: meets every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at E.G. Fisher Public Library in Athens.
Red-back Hymnal Church Singing: is held every Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the McMinn Senior Activity Center, located on McMinn Avenue in Athens.
Gospel Singing: is held at Bojangles every Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. For more info, contact 423-506-3563.
Athens Civitan Club: 1st and 3rd Tuesday, noon, at Michael’s restaurant. For info, call Kent Wilson at 829-5219.
Etowah Lions Club: 6:30 p.m., 1st and 3rd Tuesday, The Farmhouse in Etowah. For info, call 263-1007.
Mayfield Retirees Breakfast: 1st Tuesday of each month, 9 a.m. at Shoney’s Restaurant in Athens. For info, call 506-8740.
Al-Anon: Every Tuesday, open group meeting, 7-8 p.m., at Keith Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 600 W. Madison Ave., Athens. Use the Henderson Street entrance.
Etowah Friendly Garden Club: meets at 6 p.m. every other Tuesday at various locations.
Meigs County Democratic Party: 1st Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., at the City/County Building in Decatur. For info, call 334-5356.
Grief Support Group: Every Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. at Athens Nerve & Spine Institute on 620 N. Congress Parkway in Athens. Facilitators are Dr. Lucille Dietrick and Larry Blankenship. Space is limited to 10. For more information, call 423-746-4544.
Wednesday
Non-Denominational Bible Clubs: will meet each Tuesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at North City School and each Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Westside School. There will be games, snacks and Bible stories. The teacher will be Pam McAchren. There is no charge to join the clubs, which are not directly affiliated with the host schools. The clubs are designed to be fun for the children as they learn the stories in the Bible. All students in grades 3, 4 and 5, including Kids Connection, may join the club. For more information, call 368-8367.
St. Mary Catholic Church: Annual Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) is held on Wednesday evenings at 6:45 p.m. following the weekly Wednesday evening Mass in the Parish Family Life Center. The sessions are intended for individuals who wish to join the Catholic Church or who would simply like to know more about the church, its teachings, and the Catholic faith. Questions may be directed to 745-4277.
Amvets Post 100: located on County Road 813, hosts karaoke every Wednesday and Saturday starting around 6:30 p.m.
Decatur Civitan Club: 1st and 3rd Wednesday, noon, Decatur Family Diner in Decatur. For info, call 334-3777.
National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Chapter No. 152: 1st Wednesday, 11 a.m., at Western Sizzlin’, for lunch followed by a noon meeting. For info, call Anita Waugh at 744-9113. | https://www.dailypostathenian.com/community/article_26678991-9676-5c50-bdb9-c3bdbe61c1ef.html | 2022-04-01T01:51:36Z |
Historic artifacts tell new stories in Harmony Musuem exhibit
HARMONY − The Harmony Museum will host a special exhibit of rare artifacts from April 2 -16, in the Museum’s Stewart Hall, 218 Mercer St.
The exhibit, Western PA 1753 to 1814 − George Washington to Commodore Perry, will display an amazing collection of items − uniforms, guns, paintings, swords, that tell stories from the timeframe that covers the earliest recorded Harmony history − from George Washington’s 1753 visit to the area, to the communal Harmonists, who founded Harmony, leaving Pennsylvania for Indiana in 1814.
This exhibit places western Pennsylvania within a broader arena, with historic personalities like Richard Butler, Hugh Mercer and John Armstrong, whose names are woven into the landscape. Plus, it will probe things like the network of Native American communities at Kittanning, Beaver and New Castle, the multiple faith traditions in the area, the various migrations, and the partnership and integration that have given western Pennsylvania its unique flavor.
The artifacts are on loan from Michigan collector and historian Ken Hoover, who has a special interest in western Pennsylvania history.
“I’m excited to bring this collection of artifacts to exhibit in Harmony,” says Hoover, who grew up in Ellwood City. “When I retired from teaching, I wanted to continue to tell the stories of the amazing history that happened in western Pennsylvania. These artifacts, many one-of-a-kind, bring those stories to life.”
The exhibit opens Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., and continues Tuesdays through Sundays until April 16.
Special, reservation-only lectures will be presented by Hoover and fellow historian Robert Guy on Saturday mornings. Admission for the exhibition and the Saturday lectures are $5 per person. Harmony Museum members are admitted free.
Private showings for groups of 10 to 20 people can be arranged by contacting the Harmony Museum at hmuseum@zoominternet.net or calling 724-452-7341.
Information about the exhibit, and how to reserve a seat at the Saturday morning lectures can be found at the Harmony Museum website: https://HarmonyMuseum.org.
Harmony’s recorded history began in 1753 when a 21-year-old George Washington visited a Native American village located here. Washington’s 1753 travels took him through western Pennsylvania, who found French troops on land claimed by England, leading to the French and Indian War.
Harmony as we know it today was founded in 1804 by Lutheran Separatists from southwestern Germany.
The Harmony Society became one of 19th century America’s most successful communal groups. They became successful in various businesses, especially in the production of woolens and linens.
When the Harmonists relocated to Native American territory around 1814, resettlement was led by Mennonites from eastern Pennsylvania. Their Mennonite Meetinghouse, the first west of the Allegheny Mountains, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Harmony Society returned to Pennsylvania in 1824 to establish their final home, Economy (now Ambridge), 22 miles southwest of Harmony. The society was dissolved in 1905, about the same time Harmony’s Mennonite congregation was fading away.
The nine-site Harmony Museum presents the community’s extraordinary history with guided tours of three buildings at 1 and 2:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations are recommended but not required. Harmony is at Interstate 79 exits 87-88, about 10 miles north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and 30 miles south of Interstate 80. | https://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/story/entertainment/2022/03/31/early-harmony-history-to-be-on-display-at-harmony-museum/65347393007/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:37Z |
Rushing the deadline for the first quarter of 2022 to the maximum, Intel yesterday presented its long-awaited Intel Arc Alchemist for laptops, with the Intel ARC A350M as the most basic model of the Intel Arc 3 family, the set of graphics adapters that make up the entry-level range of the manufacturer’s proposal.
As we told you yesterday, his proposal is divided into the Intel Arc 3, Arc 5 and Arc 7 families, the entry, medium and high ranges, and the first to debut on the market are the Arc 3, which did so yesterday, along with the announcement. This family is made up of two models, the Intel ARC A350M and the ARC 370M. Let’s remember the differences between them:
Thus, although we already have the official technical specifications, what we are waiting for is the first official performance tests, which allow us to start establishing comparisons between Intel graphics adapters and those of NVIDIA and AMD. However, some unofficial evidence has already been revealed, which allows us to draw some interesting conclusions. And from what we are going to see next, it seems that we can already establish an equivalence between the Intel ARC A350M and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 165o series, which is certainly a very good starting point.
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 PRO
Intel i7 1260P + Intel ARC A530MDefault VS Performance mode
3DMark Firestrike, TimeSpy pic.twitter.com/UP8mfvy9R0
— 포시포시 (@harukaze5719) March 31, 2022
The origin of the data is found in some alleged performance tests, originating in China and with 3DMark as the battlefield, in which the Arc A350M would have faced the GTX 1650 Mobile, and according to these results, the Intel ARC A350M is 16% faster than the Intel Iris Max (based on the chip DG1) on the Fire Strike test and 70% faster on the Time Spy test. These results may be related to the fact that this card has been designed to take advantage of DirectX 12.
If the data of this test is confirmed, the Intel Arc A350M would be located, for performance, between GeForce GTX 1650 Ti and GTX 1650 Max-Q series. However, there is an important point in this regard and that would play in favor of Intel graphics, and that is that all models, even entry-level ones, support hardware ray tracing and are compatible with XeSS, the Intel image resampling.
We must, however, take these results with some skepticism. It will take a while for us to see the first 100% reliable performance results of the Intel ARC A350M. Of course, if they are confirmed, Intel will have done its homework, and without a doubt its presence in the graphics card market can be the reason for much joy in the future. | https://voonze.com/the-intel-arc-a350m-would-tie-in-performance-with-the-gtx-1650-series/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:37Z |
Northern lights could make for special sky show over Central Oregon
You can look for the aurora through the weekend
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Get ready to turn out the lights, head outside and look up! Our conditions are just right here in Central Oregon for a special show in the sky: the northern lights, that mesmerizing green glow on the horizon, also known as the aurora borealis.
Bob Grossfeld, observatory manager at the Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory, said Thursday that recent solar activity and clear conditions give Central Oregon a chance to see the special phenomenon, usually limited to areas much farther north.
"Northern lights are caused by charged particles leaving the sun -- kind of like a fluorescent lightbulb," he said. "And when they hit the magnetic pole of the planet, they get excited, and we see different colors."
Right now, the moon is in its smallest illumination phase. That means it's not shining that bright, giving us a greater chance of seeing the celestial event.
"I think northern lights, like an eclipse, is a very spiritual experience," Grossfeld said. "But for most humans, seeing something like that -- yeah, it's on a lot of people's bucket lists."
Your best chance at seeing the ribbon of colors in the sky is to be far away from city lights. Grossfeld suggests going to sno-parks, or at least somewhere like the top of Pilot Butte in Bend.
As long as it's dark out, you can expect to see them as early as 8:30 p.m., but a better shot later at night, and they're expected to be visible for a few days. | https://ktvz.com/news/2022/03/31/northern-lights-could-make-for-special-sky-show-over-central-oregon/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:38Z |
HOUSTON, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ruby Pipeline, L.L.C. (Ruby), a natural gas pipeline joint venture between Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE: KMI) and Pembina Pipeline Corporation (NYSE: PBA) that extends from Wyoming to Oregon, filed to reorganize under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in response to an upcoming debt repayment obligation. In recent months, the joint venture owners have been working diligently with Ruby's bondholders in an effort to work out a mutually satisfactory resolution. While those efforts will continue, Ruby's current financial condition necessitates this filing.
KMI will continue to operate the pipeline as chapter 11 permits daily operations to continue. Ruby's customers should notice no difference in its operations.
We will continue to keep Ruby's customers and other stakeholders informed of developments relating to Ruby's reorganization process. The voluntary petition was filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in Wilmington. The case number is 22-10278. Additional information regarding Ruby's petition and claim procedures is available through the following website: https://cases.primeclerk.com/rubypipeline.
Important Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements. Generally the words "expects," "believes," anticipates," "plans," "will," "shall," "estimates," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements in this news release include express or implied statements concerning the anticipated operations of Ruby and potential continued negotiations with Ruby's bondholders. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management, based on information currently available to them. Although Ruby believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance as to when or if any such forward-looking statements will materialize or their ultimate impact on Ruby's operations or financial condition.
Media Contact:
RubyTeam@Primeclerk.com
View original content:
SOURCE Ruby Pipeline, L.L.C. | https://www.ky3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/ruby-pipeline-files-reorganize-under-chapter-11-bankruptcy-code/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:38Z |
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Francisco Lindor wasn’t the franchise-altering shortstop the Mets were hoping for last season.
His performance in this year’s shortened spring training has New York confident better days are coming.
The switch-hitting Lindor has been among the best hitters in the Grapefruit League through two weeks of games, hitting .476 with four homers and 10 RBIs through his first 21 at-bats. It’s the kind of run that was common when the former Cleveland star made four All-Star teams in a row from 2016-19.
The 28-year-old struggled for big chunks of his first season with the Mets after signing a 10-year, $341 million contract, batting just .230 with 20 homers.
“Life was a little faster for me last year,” Lindor said earlier in spring training. “I tried to give it my best, gave it my best and I just wasn’t as productive as I wanted to be.”
The Mets have sky-high expectations once again in 2022, believing Lindor can be a cornerstone for a lineup that includes slugger Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and newly acquired players like Starling Marte and Mark Canha.
Here are a few other players off to a good start as MLB’s regular season rapidly approaches on April 7:
David Peralta, OF, Diamondbacks: The veteran has been a steady influence in Arizona’s lineup since 2014 but his power has dipped considerably over the past two seasons with 13 homers in a stretch spanning about 700 at-bats. He has four homers in his first 19 spring at-bats in Cactus League play.
Kyle Higashioka, C, Yankees: The sixth-year catcher has slowly worked his way into a bigger role with the Yankees. His ability to hit will probably determine if he ultimately becomes a part-time or full-time option. He showed some pop last year with 10 homers, but hit just .181 in 193 at-bats. He’s off to a good start in the Grapefruit League with a .412 average and four homers.
Mickey Moniak, OF, Phillies: It’s been a tough road to the big leagues for Moniak, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016 but has spent most of the past seven years in the minors. The 23-year-old has a legit chance to earn a spot on Philadelphia’s opening day roster, especially after three homers in his first 20 spring at-bats.
Max Scherzer, RHP, Mets: He’s now 37 years old but the hard-throwing right hander doesn’t show many signs of slowing. New York added the three-time Cy Young winner during the offseason on a three-year, $130 million deal. He’s already in midseason form in Grapefruit League play, striking out 12 batters in his first 11 innings while giving up just three earned runs.
Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins: The 26-year-old has quietly been among the better pitchers in the National League for three years. He was one of just four MLB pitchers to throw at least 200 innings last season, finishing with 205 2/3 over 33 starts. He looks ready for another big year after giving up just one hit over his first seven innings in the Grapefruit League.
MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres: He just turned 23 and has been among the sport’s highest-rated prospects for several years. Now he appears on the verge of breaking into the big leagues, whether it is straight out of spring camp or later this season. He struck out 11 batters through his first nine innings in the Cactus League this spring and has given up just two runs.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/sports/ap-sports/lindors-spring-power-surge-welcome-sight-for-new-york-mets/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:39Z |
Chili crisp is more than a condiment, it’s an obsession. A mix of crunchy shallots, garlic, red chiles and oil, this Chinese sauce is good on just about anything.
The point isn’t to burn your face off, but to add a giant plop of sweet, salty, crunchy, zingy umami to everything from ramen and scrambled eggs to ice cream (really).
Over the last few years, it’s gone from an Asian food store specialty to a required addition to the cupboards of chefs and home cooks during the pandemic. To sate the craving, dozens of companies began selling their own versions, including David Chang of Momofuku (Chili Crunch, $13), Sonoma Harvest’s Crunch Onion Kick ($9), Trader Joe’s Chili Crunch ($4.29) and Fly By Jing ($14.99).
The original, however, is Lao Gan Ma, which started the chili crunch trend in the mid-1990s and is considered the gold standard.
Of all the many, many crisps we’ve tried, the most complex, delicious and fun to eat is from Big Spoon Sauce Co. in Occidental. Nathan Bender and Lani Chan own a local media company, Oystercat Productions, and do video, photography and promotional content for wineries. In their off hours, they make a Sichuan chili crisp inspired by their time in China.
“We went through jars ridiculously fast. But we wanted to tailor a product for our own tastes, with an olive-oil base and playing with local stuff,” Bender said.
After making the condiment as a Christmas present for friends and family, testing it with office mates and getting honest feedback, they finally perfected the recipe. It uses roughly 40 ingredients including mushroom powder for umami, peanuts, sugar, cardamom, star anise, fennel seeds and citric acid. All their products are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and MSG-free.
As word got out, demand grew and the couple had more requests than they could handle. Having expanded their business to a commercial kitchen at Altamont General Store in Occidental, they now make enough to sell at the Sebastopol Farmers’ market (and coming soon to the Healdsburg and Occidental markets). They also sell to a few local stores including Psychic Pie in Sebastopol and Altamont General Store.
Watch for their new Magic Beans chili crisp with fermented black soybeans. The couple also plan to make an extra-spicy sauce. Find more details at bigspoonsauceco.com or on Instagram @bigspoonsauceco. | https://www.sonomamag.com/locally-made-chili-crisp-tops-the-charts/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:39Z |
Curio Wellness is cultivating a better way of life. As a trusted healthcare partner providing safe, effective and reliable products, we seek to continually elevate the healthcare conversation through education and patient experiences that are truly transformative. Whether for our patients, partners or employees, we seek to inspire and affect innovative healthcare solutions. | https://www.leafly.com/brands/curio-wellness/products/curio-wellness-sour-jack-flower | 2022-04-01T01:51:39Z |
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – President Biden announced Thursday he wants to release a million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s reserve for six months.
California has the highest gas prices in the nation with the current average price for regular unleaded gas at $5.89, according to AAA.
READ MORE: Sierra Oaks K-8 Parents Concerned Over Delayed Notification Of School StabbingIt fell by about two cents from Wednesday.
Gas expert Severin Borenstein of UC Berkeley tells CBS13 tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will help, but more importantly, it will target Russia’s crude oil prices.
California consumes about 40 million gallons of gasoline per day, he said.
Bornstein says it breaks down to about a gallon per person per day.
There are 42 gallons to a barrel.
The calculation? The release won’t be meaningful to California drivers.
READ MORE: 'Make Change Happen Now': Sacramento City Unified Moms Take Stand As Strike Continues“Everything is going up except for our wages,” says Nikkia Hamilton, a single parent to two teenagers.
The working mother tells CBS13 she spends roughly $800 per month on gas. Prior to the Russian invasion, her monthly gas expense was around $500.
“A lot of things are limited now on what we’re going to do because I have to choose ‘We’re going to get gas or we’re going to have to do something else?’”
Hamilton says the squeeze means her children sometimes use public transit.
While California lawmakers debate the best relief proposal, there might be a bright spot.
“The spot price of California gasoline that is at the refinery has been coming down so I think we will start to see that over the next couple of weeks – if oil prices hold steady,” Borenstein said.
When prices do come down, Borenstein says drivers should keep comparing gas prices because that’s the time when drivers see the biggest spread between stations.
MORE NEWS: Viewer Calls Kurtis After Paying More Than Advertised At Suisun City WalmartSome come down quickly, others don’t, Borenstein said. | https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2022/03/31/will-biden-oil-plan-bring-gas-price-relief/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:40Z |
Sport Clips Haircuts Signs on as Primary Sponsor of Dream Flights 2022 Tour
Nearly 1,000 seniors and veterans to experience flights of lifetime in WWII-era biplane during Dream Flights' 2022 Tour
That Sport Clips hair stylists enthusiastically volunteer at our events makes the Dream Flight experience that much more magical for our senior veterans and their families.”
CARSON CITY, NEVADA, USA, March 31, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Sport Clips Haircuts will serve as the primary sponsor of the 2022 Dream Flights Tour, according to Darryl Fisher, founder of Carson City-based Dream Flights, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring veterans and seniors living in long-term care and retirement communities with free Dream Flights in restored Boeing Stearman biplanes. Sport Clips has served as Dream Flights’ primary sponsor since 2014.— Darryl Fisher, Dream Flights Founder
The 2022 Dream Flights Tour begins on April 2, 2022, at Ellington Airport in Houston, where Dream Flights pilot and retired US Air Force fighter pilot Jeff Klosky will fly four residents from Morada Friendswood, a Discovery Senior Living community. During the next 10 months, Dream Flights plans to honor nearly 1,000 seniors and veterans nationwide. Volunteering at nearly every Dream Flight event are Sport Clips team members and franchisees.
“Sport Clips has been a supporter of our nation’s veterans for decades and we love the unique opportunity Dream Flights provides by giving flights to senior veterans,” said Edward Logan, Sport Clips president and CEO. “What’s even better is this partnership gives our stylists and franchisees the opportunity to get out of the four walls of our stores to volunteer at flights around the country and interact with these incredible veterans. We are proud and privileged to be the primary sponsor for the 2022 tour.”
Since the launch of Dream Flights in 2011, the organization has provided free flights for more than 5,000 veterans and seniors living in long-term care communities. Last year in 2021, Dream Flights completed a 61-day, 49-state mission, called Operation September Freedom to honor 891 members of the ‘greatest generation’ for their service and sacrifice. According to Fisher, this historic tour was our nation’s last opportunity to actively recognize and honor the men and women whose sacrifice led to the Sept. 2, 1945 signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, which effectively ended WWII.
“Dream Flights is grateful to Sport Clips for continuing its longtime tradition of supporting our mission of giving back to those who gave,” said Fisher. “We’re proud to align with an organization already dedicated to the efforts of honoring veterans and their families. That Sport Clips hair stylists enthusiastically volunteer at our events makes the Dream Flight experience that much more magical for our senior veterans and their families.”
About Dream Flights
Dream Flights is a nonprofit dedicated to honoring the service, sacrifice and stories of America's senior veterans by providing them with a life-changing experience: an open-air flight in the cockpit of one of Dream Flights’ fleet of fully restored WWII-era Stearman biplanes. From its founding in 2011 to today, the organization has honored more than 5,000 veterans and seniors with free Dream Flights. Each is made possible through the generous donations of corporate sponsors including Sport Clips, Veterans United Home Loans, American Airlines, Discovery Senior Living, American Healthcare Association/National Center for Assisted Living, Argentum, and individuals and businesses from across the country. The flights are piloted by professional, volunteer pilots, many of whom are retired military aviators, and all of whom support Dream Flights’ mission of “Giving Back To Those Who Gave.” Follow @DreamFlightsOrg on social media and visit www.dreamflights.org.
Wendy D'Alessandro
Lynn Public Relations
+1 561-251-3151
wendy@lynnpr.com
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How SportClips makes Dream Flights possible | https://www.einpresswire.com/article/567149470/sport-clips-haircuts-signs-on-as-primary-sponsor-of-dream-flights-2022-tour | 2022-04-01T01:51:39Z |
'The Sunshine Boys' coming back to the New Castle Playhouse
NEW CASTLE − On Friday, "The Sunshine Boys" opens at the New Castle Playhouse (NCP).
The Neil Simon fun show features Phil Clark, an attorney in New Castle, who has been active in the NCP for 22 years.
A veteran actor, whose credits range from the Wizard and Professor Marvel in "The Wizard of Oz," to Lazar Wolfe in "Fiddler on the Roof."
Clark said he is thrilled to be playing Willie Clark for the third time. In 2007, he first did the role at the New Castle Playhouse, and again three years ago at the Red Barn Theatre.
It is the biggest role Clark has ever had, and it is a demanding role, as Willie never leaves the stage. Other actors come and go, but Willie is the center.
"It seemed easier to learn the lines this time. Neil Simon wrote with a rhythm, and I just felt that rhythm come back to me," he said.
Clark says he likes Willie even though he can be described as a grumpy old man.
"He's had some serious disappointments. When his partner, Al Lewis, retired, Willie feels he did not get to attain the professional success he could have," Clark said. "I'm very happy to have the part because there are few age-appropriate roles for me anymore."
Clark said the part was played by Walter Matthau in the 1975 movie and he always liked him. Playing opposite Clark as Al Lewis is his friend Dave Daugherty, also a Playhouse veteran actor.
"The Sunshine Boys" is the story of a successful vaudevillian comedy duo known as the Sunshine Boys. During their later years, there was a lot of animosity, and when Al Lewis retired, Willie couldn't make it alone.
William, who is suffering from memory loss and monetary problems, has agreed to get together with Al for a TV show.
Director Peggy Hanna said the men have a love/hate relationship, and in typical Simon fashion, the lines are one-liners, with humorous situations and all done with Simon's gentle humor.
"They are adjusting to the changes in their lives. There's a lot of emotion going on if you want to think about it, but if you don't, you can get what you want out of it," she said.
There's even more drama when Willie has a heart attack due to the stress. Will the Sunshine Boys get together again?
It's a seven-member strong, talented cast, four men and three women. Hanna changed one of the male parts to female to even up the cast. It's a great cast doing Neil Simon, so you are sure to be entertained, and if you wish, leave with something to think about.
The Sunshine Boys will take place at the New Castle Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. April 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, and at 2 p.m. April 3 and 10.
All seats are $13. For reservations, call (724) 654-3437 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, call the above number, email office@newcastleplayhouse.org, or visit www.newcastleplayhouse.org.
All audience members must present proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test, within 72 hours of the performance, and children under the age of 12 must show a negative COVID-19 test. Masks will be required of all guests when bodies are in motion, in shared areas of the theatre, lobby, aisle, restrooms, etc. Masks will be optional for fully vaccinated patrons only when seated; masks are required at all times for those who are not fully vaccinated. | https://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/story/entertainment/arts/2022/03/31/the-sunshine-boys-coming-back-to-the-new-castle-playhouse/65347449007/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:40Z |
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — Jennifer Kupcho shared the lead Thursday in The Chevron Championship in her second — and last — start at Mission Hills, the tree-lined layout she has quickly fallen in love with.
“Honestly, I think it’s just being comfortable on this golf course,” Kupcho said. “I get here and I just, I feel comfortable. I love this place."
Kupcho shot a 6-under 66 in sunny and calm morning conditions to join fellow early starter Minjee Lee atop the leaderboard after the first round of the final edition of the major championship at Mission Hills.
“I really like the layout of this golf course, the beautiful shape that it’s in every year,” Kupcho said. “It always is so fun to be here, so just taking advantage of how much I like the course and the atmosphere.”
Unable to find a sponsor willing to remain at Mission Hills, the tournament that started in 1972 as the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle and became a major in 1983 is shifting to Houston next year under a deal with Chevron.
“Definitely sad," Carolina Masson said after a 68. "I understand why we’re doing it, but I’m just trying to soak in every second being out here. The golf course is playing as good as ever."
Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit was a stroke back, finishing late in the afternoon in gusting wind.
“Really proud,” Tavatanakit said. “I feel like I really got my momentum going, was really present today.”
Kupcho birdied Nos. 11-14 to get to 8 under, then bogeyed the next two holes. She birdied four of the first five and finished with nine birdies and three bogeys.
“You really need to hit fairways on a major golf course, so that was like my biggest thing today, to hit a bunch of fairways,” Kupcho said. “That really set me up for all my birdies.”
Winless on the LPGA Tour, Kupcho won the 2018 NCAA individual title for Wake Forest and took the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur the following year after passing up a spot that week at Mission Hills.
The 24-year-old from Colorado arrived early in the desert after missing the cut Friday in Carlsbad. "I just used the two days that I did have on the weekend to come here and practice,” she said.
Lee birdied all four par 5s in a bogey-free round on the mountain-framed course.
“It was perfect,” Lee said. “Not like a breath of wind when we played. Maybe just a tiny bit. But conditions are great. Putting greens are rolling real nice. I don’t think you can get better than that.”
The 25-year-old Australian, ranked fourth in the world, won the Evian Championship last summer for her first major title and sixth LPGA Tour victory.
“I know I have one under my belt, but I do want a little bit more,” Lee said. “I just think I have a little bit more belief in myself and my game, so I can be a little bit more comfortable just hitting the shots."
Third-ranked Lydia Ko, the 2015 champion, was at 68 with Masson, Anna Nordqvist, Georgia Hall, Gabriela Ruffels and Pajaree Anannarukarn. Lexi Thompson, the 2014 winner, was another stroke back with Sarah Schmelzel, Annie Park, Lauren Stephenson, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard and Hinako Shibuno.
Thompson marveled at course she first played as a 14-year-old amateur.
“I’ve never seen it this good," Thompson said. “It always surprises me every year. It’s always better. The greens are amazing. I’m one to putt and usually aim at things along the way, and there is just not an imperfection on greens to aim at. It’s a good problem.”
Schmelzel is making her fourth appearance.
“This place is really special,” Schmelzel said. “I feel like growing up watching the LPGA Tour, these are holes that I remember. These are holes that I wanted to be on one day.”
Park played as a single in the first group in the afternoon off the first tee.
“It was kind of weird the first couple holes just playing by myself,” Park said. “It was really peaceful."
Top-ranked Jin Young Ko, the 2019 winner, shot a 74 to end her under-par streak at 34 rounds. Her run of at least one birdie ended at 53 rounds.
“I was hitting lots of great shots, but my putting wasn’t good,” she said. “I couldn’t see the break as much or speed. Everything was wrong."
Ally Ewing and Moriya Jutanugarn had an eventful finish on the par-5 18th when the sprinklers on the green turned on at about 6 p.m. as Ewing was preparing for a 4-foot birdie putt. After a short delay, she holed out for a 70.
___
More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/Kupcho-Lee-share-early-lead-in-last-major-at-17049409.php | 2022-04-01T01:51:40Z |
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TULALIP — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday signed into law a bill that creates a first-in-the-nation statewide alert system for missing Indigenous people, to help address a silent crisis that has plagued Indian Country in this state and nationwide.
The law sets up a system similar to Amber Alerts and so-called silver alerts, which are used respectively for missing children and vulnerable adults in many states. It was spearheaded by Democratic Rep. Debra Lekanoff, the only Native American lawmaker currently serving in the Washington state Legislature, and championed by Indigenous leaders statewide.
“I am proud to say that the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s and People’s Alert System came from the voices of our Native American leaders,” said Lekanoff, a member of the Tlingit tribe and the bill’s chief sponsor. “It’s not just an Indian issue, it’s not just an Indian responsibility. Our sisters, our aunties, our grandmothers are going missing every day … and it’s been going on for far too long.”
Tribal leaders, many of them women, wore traditional hats woven from cedar as they gathered around Inslee for the signing on the Tulalip Reservation, north of Seattle. Afterward they gifted him with a handmade traditional ribbon shirt and several multicolored woven blankets.
The law attempts to address a crisis of missing Indigenous people — particularly women — in Washington and across the United States. While it includes missing men, women and children, a summary of public testimony on the legislation notes that “the crisis began as a women’s issue, and it remains primarily a women’s issue.”
Besides notifying law enforcement when there’s a report of a missing Indigenous person, the new alert system will place messages on highway reader boards and on the radio and social media, and provide information to the news media.
The legislation was paired with another bill Inslee, a Democrat, signed Thursday that requires county coroners or medical examiners to take steps to identify and notify family members of murdered Indigenous people and return their remains. That new law also establishes two grant funds for Indigenous survivors of human trafficking.
This piece of the crisis is important because in many cases, murdered Indigenous women are mistakenly recorded as white or Hispanic by coroners’ offices, they’re never identified, or their remains are never repatriated.
A 2021 report by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office found the true number of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the U.S. is unknown due to reporting problems, distrust of law enforcement and jurisdictional conflicts. But Native American women face murder rates almost three times those of white women overall — and up to 10 times the national average in certain locations, according to a 2021 summary of the existing research by the National Congress of American Indians. More than 80% have experienced violence.
In Washington, more than four times as many Indigenous women go missing than white women, according to research conducted by the Urban Indian Health Institute in Seattle, but many such cases receive little or no media attention.
The bill signing began with a traditional welcome song passed down by Harriette Shelton Dover, a cherished cultural leader and storyteller. Dover recovered and shared many traditions and songs from tribes along Washington’s northern Pacific Coast and worked with linguists before her death in 1991 to preserve her language, Lushootseed, from extinction. Women performed an honor song after the event.
Tulalip Tribes of Washington Chairwoman Teri Gobin said Washington and Montana are the two states with the most missing Indigenous people in the U.S. Nearly four dozen Native people are currently missing in Seattle alone, she said.
“What’s the most important thing is bringing them home, whether they’ve been trafficked, whether they’ve been stolen or murdered,” she said. “It’s a wound that stays open, and it’s something that we pray with each person, we can bring them home.”
Investigations into missing Indigenous people, particularly women, have been plagued by many issues for decades.
When a person goes missing on a reservation, there are often jurisdictional conflicts between tribal police and local and state law enforcement. A lack of staff and police resources, and the rural nature of many reservations, compound those problems. And many times, families of tribal members distrust non-Native law enforcement or don’t know where to report news of a missing loved one.
An alert system will help mitigate some of those problems by allowing better communication and coordination between tribal and nontribal law enforcement and creating a way for law enforcement to flag such cases for other agencies. The law expands the definition of “missing endangered person” to include Indigenous people, as well as children and vulnerable adults with disabilities or memory or cognitive issues.
The law takes effect June 9 and some details are still being worked out. For example, it’s unclear what criteria law enforcement will use to positively identify a missing person as Native American and how the information will be disseminated in rural areas, including on some reservations, where highways lack electronic reader boards — or where there aren’t highways at all.
The measure is the latest step Washington has taken to address the issue. The Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force is working to coordinate a statewide response and had its first meeting in December. Its first report is expected in August.
Many states from Arizona to Oregon to Wisconsin have taken recent action to address the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women. Efforts include funding for better resources for tribal police to the creation of new databases specifically targeting missing tribal members. Tribal police agencies that use Amber Alerts for missing Indigenous children include the Hopi and Las Vegas Paiute.
In California, the Yurok Tribe and the Sovereign Bodies Institute, an Indigenous-run research and advocacy group, uncovered 18 cases of missing or slain Native American women in roughly the past year in their recent work — a number they consider a vast undercount. An estimated 62% of those cases are not listed in state or federal databases for missing people.
The law is already drawing attention from other states, whose attorneys general have called to ask how to enact similar legislation, said state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who called the law “truly groundbreaking.”
“Anytime you’re doing something for the first time in this country, that’s an extra heavy lift,” he said. “This most certainly will not be our last reform to make sure that we bring everybody back home. … There is so much more work that needs to be done and must be done.”
Flaccus reported from Portland. | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/wa-approves-first-statewide-missing-indigenous-people-alert/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2022-04-01T01:51:40Z |
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the New York Lottery's "Pick 10" game were:
03-06-07-17-21-23-32-42-47-52-54-59-61-65-66-67-69-78-79-80
(three, six, seven, seventeen, twenty-one, twenty-three, thirty-two, forty-two, forty-seven, fifty-two, fifty-four, fifty-nine, sixty-one, sixty-five, sixty-six, sixty-seven, sixty-nine, seventy-eight, seventy-nine, eighty) | https://www.mrt.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-10-game-17049898.php | 2022-04-01T01:51:40Z |
Stephen Carter remembers the moment he first met radicchio like it was yesterday.
He was studying at Petaluma’s renowned farm school, Green String Institute, and he and his classmates were harvesting chicories for Alice Waters at Chez Panisse. “The stuff looked old and moldy, and the guy who was teaching us just wiped off this outer layer and, underneath, there were these brightly-colored vegetables—pale-green leaves, almost white, with dots of red and brightgreen at the center.” And so, it began.
Now, looking around the grounds of Scribe Winery, at Carter’s neatly planted rows of radicchio and chard and dandelion greens, ferny-leafed cardoons and sculptural puntarelle, finger-like fava beans and vivid purple cauliflowers, it’s hard to believe that Stephen Carter hasn’t always been growing radicchio and chard and, well, everything else. But in fact, tending the vegetables and fruit trees and chickens at the scenic Sonoma Valley vineyard is just his latest endeavor. As Kelly Mariani, Scribe’s chef and Carter’s former Chez Panisse colleague puts it, “I feel like Stephen’s lived many lives.”
You might say that Carter was raised with cooking in his blood: His mother’s parents were sharecroppers in Arkansas before moving to the East Bay.When Stephen and his sister were growing up, the entire family gathered at the grandparents’ house for big, celebratory Sunday dinners. “We’d shell peas with my grandma in the living room,” Carter recalls. “She would put on ‘Dallas,’ or whatever soap opera she was watching at the time, and me and my sister would snap peas with her, and she would tell us weird stories about Arkansas.” His parents carried on the tradition of cooking and hosting, throwing tea parties for his sister: “They would have all the weird English tea dishes,” he remembers, “like pickles wrapped with ham and mayonnaise.”
Carter didn’t like the mayonnaise (still doesn’t, in fact), but his love of food has endured through many adventures in his adult life. After graduating from Palo Alto High School, Carter attended Utah State University, where he’d climb 10,000-foot peaks on weekends. He worked a summer in Glacier National Park, built bicycles in New York City for a spell, and then traveled extensively through Japan, Korea, and Australia.
Back to the roots
Upon returning to his native California after years of exploration, Carter started spinning closer and closer to the world of food. His first food job was a stint as a ranch hand at Terra Firma Farm in Yolo County; his second was as a busser at Chez Panisse. While there, Carter had a whole new crop of food experiences. From his post in the kitchen, he would see coworkers prepping gorgeous salads — “They would literally take two hands and massage the lettuce,” he says. One day, during staff meal, for dessert, each person received, simply, a slice of pear. “I had it, and it was the best pear I’d ever had.”
Inspired by these revelations—and a fateful visit to Green String on his first day at Chez— Carter enrolled at the school to learn to be a farmer. Every morning, he and his classmates worked in the fields, and every afternoon, they would meet farm founder Bob Cannard for a daily lesson. “We learned an insane amount of information,” Carter remembers. “[Bob] would talk so fast, and everyone was just writing in their notebooks, as fast as we could.” Carter’s time at Green String led him to farming at SHED in Healdsburg and, in fall 2018, to Scribe. As Scribe’s Head Farmer, Carter grows all the fruits, vegetables, and herbs that chef Kelly Mariani and her team need, from radishes and turnips for crudité boards to artichokes and tomatoes for winery dinners.
The allure of spring
Carter especially loves springtime in the gardens at Scribe: “You still have those really cool mornings, and the heat doesn’t get too high in the peak of the day.” Those conditions make for fresh, delicately-flavored vegetables, vegetables at peak deliciousness. Dreaming of that ultra-fresh produce, Carter starts reeling off some of his favorite things to eat as the weather starts to warm: just-picked radishes, with a little butter and salt. Shaved fennel in a salad. Lightly-blanched snap peas.
Of course, not every day is fresh radishes and crisp snap peas. Like other farmers, Carter faces challenges in the field. “I have two customers, basically,” he explains, “Kelly, and whatever animals come into the garden.” Those animals include quail (which love to nibble on budding brassicas), turkeys (which scratch tender young crops), and deer— who wait until the produce is perfectly harvest-ready, then eat the hearts out of everything. And then, of course, there are the gophers approaching from underground, undeterred by the nets Carter erects to fend off the birds and deer.
And yet, somehow, the farmer persists, day in and day out. How does he still get up and do it, every day? First of all, Carter says, he keeps in mind that, “No matter what’s going on with this crop, there’s always another one coming. That is another challenge, and another opportunity.” For the most part, Carter works solo, and he enjoys the time his work affords him to learn. Recently, he’s listened to such books as “Heavy” and “Parable of the Sower” while tending his crops. And, of course, Carter says, “It doesn’t really get much better than when you have a really successful harvest, and you get to bring it into the kitchen and see it transformed into something right in front of your eyes, then sit down and taste it.”
Over the years, the farmer has seen numerous chefs transform the fruits of his labors, from Mariani to chefs-in-residence such as Ashley Christensen of Poole’s Diner and barbecue master Matt Horn. Carter remembers one chef’s visit especially fondly: Mashama Bailey of The Grey. “It was pretty awesome,” he says, “having this Black woman that started her own restaurant come out to the garden and talk to me about food, and us getting to talk to each other about what it’s like being Black people in these spaces we’re occupying.”
As part of her residency, Bailey created a special dinner, which Carter’s parents attended. Bailey cooked a greens dish, and Stephen’s mom, an avid gardener and canner, contributed food that she had made herself. It’s moments like those dinners that, for Carter, make the work worthwhile. “You can tell that people get pretty stoked about coming to the property,” he says. “It feels good to see people get really excited, and — when life is pretty hard for a lot of people — to just be able to provide them with food that they can take some comfort in.”
To taste wine and savor meals featuring Carter’s incredible produce, join Scribe’s wine club, the Scribe Viticultural Society. 2100 Denmark Street, Sonoma. 707-939-1858, scribewinery.com | https://www.sonomamag.com/meet-the-head-farmer-at-one-of-sonomas-most-beautiful-winery-gardens/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:40Z |
State police seeking information in New Castle death
From Staff Reports
NEW CASTLE − State police are investigating a death in the city, after at around 6:15 p.m. March 30, individuals found a deceased female, later identified as Jackie Lynn Rouzzo, 27, of New Castle, along an embankment near a bond along Cascade Blvd.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call 724-598-2211 and ask to speak with Trooper Dave Naberezny. | https://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/story/news/crime/2022/03/31/state-police-seeking-information-in-new-castle-death/65347603007/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:41Z |
Eagle Scouts honored in Ellwood City
ELLWOOD CITY − Two Boy Scouts from Lincoln High School, Hayden Slade and Grady Smith, were honored by Mayor Anthony Court on Monday and presented with proclamations, for both of them achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.
Slade is an 11th grader at Lincoln High School and a member of the Lincoln High School Blue Band Marching Band, LHS Choir, and LHS musical.
He is a six-year Carson Scholar. His Eagle Scout project was the "Moraine State Park Bicycle Maintenance Station." Hayden purchased and installed a bicycle maintenance station on the paved bike trail at Moraine State Park in Portersville.
Smith is an 11th grader at Lincoln High School. He is a member of the LHS Blue Band Marching Band, he also is on the LHS golf and tennis teams. He is on the EC boys basketball team, which won the 2021 WPIAL ChampionshipTeam.
He is a seven-year Carson Scholar as of 2021. His Eagle Scout project was the "Lincoln High School Board Game Room Renovation." He renovated the board game room at Lincoln High School.
In 2018, Hayden and Grady also founded "Games to Give," which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that gives board games to children in need, cancer patients, women's shelters, deployed U.S. Troops, and others. To date, they have distributed almost 6,000 games.
Court along with the Borough of Ellwood City wanted to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude for Slade and Smith, and for their dedication and commitment to helping others and bettering the community. | https://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/story/news/local/2022/03/31/eagle-scouts-honored-in-ellwood-city/65347522007/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:41Z |
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PC have been surprised with a new, and fairly major, freebie. Unfortunately, if you're not an Ultimate subscriber -- if you're just subscribed to the base version of Xbox Game Pass -- you're going to miss out on this new free gift. For an extra $5 a month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers are primarily treated to three things: Xbox Live Gold, EA Play, and "Perks." The latter is basically the subscription service's branding for additional offers. Sometimes these "Perks" include free in-game Halo Infinite content or a free limited-time subscription to an anime streaming service. This time, the new freebie is more the latter. | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2163350587208/this-content-is-for-subscribers-only | 2022-04-01T01:51:41Z |
The arrival of the new iPhone SE 3 and now also, with the new green variants of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro that are now officially available. It is necessary for some users to have their old data at hand. So let’s take a look at how to transfer all of your backup to your new devices with several different options to really make sure you don’t lose any precious documents or files.
It doesn’t matter if you’re upgrading to the iPhone SE 3, iPhone 13 (either in its Max or Pro version) or even for a different iPhone. The options presented below will work as intended. And, in case you don’t need a refresh, the factory reset/hard wipe process for your old iPhone should also be mentioned if you do.
Also note that if you are going to perform any of the above upgrades through a carrier store or through some other store, it is advisable not to allow a seller to rush you through the process or do it directly for you. You’d better check for yourself that all your data is transferred and your old phone is wiped before handing it over.
How to transfer data to a new iPhone without losing any files
Option 1: Direct Transfer
For most users and times, the quickstart direct transfer will be the easiest and perhaps the most efficient way to upgrade to your new device and thus get all your data to move without any problem. It is important to mention that iOS 11 is required for this option or later and also have Bluetooth enabled.
If you wish, also you can check if your current device is ready for fast transfer to your new model in advance, however, this check is not really necessary for the process.
In said current model, you will have to go to Settings > general > To transfer or reset iPhone > and touch Beginlocated at the top.
In any case, when you are ready to transfer all your data to your new device, proceed to perform the following steps:
- First you will have to turn on your new iPhone and move it closer to your old iPhone.
- Find the option indicated Quick startit should appear on the screen of your old iPhone.
- Confirm that you Apple ID is correct and follow the prompts to transfer all your data.
- Keep both devices close to each other (and plugged in to be extra safe during the process) until the process completes successfully.
If for any reason you have problems with this direct transfer, you can resort to restoring from a backup saved in iCloud or Mac/PC.
Option 2: iCloud or Mac
- You can make a new backup with iCloud or directly from your Mac. (Tutorial here)
- Turn on your new iPhone.
- Proceed to follow the on-screen prompts. It is worth mentioning that you can skip the Quick Start option, for later choose Restore from iCloud Backup or Restore from Mac/PC Backup.
- Sign in with iCloud and proceed to choose a backup, or you can directly connect your new iPhone to your Mac/PC with a Lightning cable to get your data back from a Mac/PC backup.
How to factory reset your old iPhone
- First you will have to open the app Settings and then tap on the option general.
- Proceed to slide your finger to the bottom part and you will have to tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Then you’ll have to choose Erase all content and Settings.
- Lastly, follow the instructions below to fully erase your iPhone successfully. | https://voonze.com/update-your-new-iphone-without-losing-your-data/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:40Z |
While one more A$20 million round of the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund was announced as part of the 2022-23 budget to support reactivating the arts and entertainment sector post-Covid-19 lockdowns, this scheme is coming to an end.
With funding cuts forecast out to as far as 2025-26, the arts and culture appear to be big losers in this budget.
In addition to the $20.0 million in 2022-23 to phase down the RISE Fund, the budget includes:
$9.3 million over two years for the National Museum of Australia to support its services impacted by COVID 19
$9 million in 2021-22 for a second round of the Supporting Cinemas’ Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods (SCREEN) Fund to support independent cinemas affected by COVID 19
an extension of the Temporary Interruption Fund, which provides insurance to screen projects shut down due to COVID-related issues, for a further six months to 30 June 2022, and
$316.5 million over five years to build an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural precinct, Ngurra, on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in the Parliamentary Triangle, on Ngunnawal country (Canberra).
With the loss of COVID stimulus measures, the big losers under arts and culture in the budget are:
the end of the RISE fund, represented in the cut to “arts and cultural development”, receiving $2.4 million in 2023-24, down from $159 million in 2021-22
the loss of $6.4 million in contemporary music related COVID measures, and
Screen Australia: its funding will be reduced from a high of $39.5 million in 2021-22 to $11.6 million in 2023-24, reducing funding to the pre-COVID baseline.
The decline in arts funding fits Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s big picture narrative that the time for “crisis level” spending is now over, and the budget forecasts such as those for arts and culture only “appear” to be bleak due to the tapering down from the crisis level funding.
Read more: A cost-of-living budget: cuts, spends, and everything you need to know at a glance
The end of RISE funding
The government’s biggest arts and culture investment during the pandemic was the RISE fund, which saw $200 million go towards 541 projects.
The RISE fund represented a move away from the “arms-length” independent funding decisions made by the Australia Council peer assessors. Instead, the arts minister had the ultimate authority regarding RISE.
This aspect of RISE was reminiscent of George Brandis’ 2015 shock annexation of Australia Council funding to the then National Programme for Excellence in the Arts (which then became Catalyst). But the baseline Australia Council funding has remained steady in this year’s budget, rising only in line with inflation.
While RISE was a short-term crisis level funding initiative using the arts as an instrument to stimulate the economy, support for the Australia Council in the budget is for the support of “excellent art” for “audiences in Australia and abroad”.
The difference in these programs meant RISE funding went not only to not-for-profit arts organisations and individual artists, as the Australia Council primarily supports, but also to commercial creative activity.
Read more: Latest arts windfalls show money isn't enough. We need transparency
A loss of over-all funding
According to the government, the expected decrease in overall cultural funding from 2021-22 to 2022-23 is predominantly driven by the loss of temporary arts funding for economic stimulus.
Expenses under the arts and cultural heritage are estimated to decrease by 10.6% in real terms from 2021-22 to 2022-23, and decrease by 13.1% in real terms from 2022-23 to 2025-26.
It is not clear why this scaling down of crisis level funding appears to be uneven.
In particular, many of Australia’s cultural institutions – who are already under pressure when it comes to preserving cultural heritage – are facing significant cuts.
The National Museum of Australia is projected to receive $51 million in 2023-24, losing its $9.3 million in COVID support. The National Gallery of Australia’s funding will drop from $49.6 million in 2021-22 to $45.7 million in 2022-23. Funding for the National Library Australia will fall from $61 million in 2022-23 to $47.1 million in the following year.
A commercially driven future?
Over the last two years, the arts were valued by the federal government to the extent that they were able to be used to stimulate the economy.
The assumption appears to be that, now that the creative and cultural industries have received a $200 million shot in the arm, they will now be able to stand back up and walk on their own two feet – and help those businesses around them do likewise.
It doesn’t appear the RISE Fund, and its ultimate decision making power by the minister, is a template for the future of arts funding in any literal sense because it is due to disappear.
But it may have changed the culture of arts funding in this country, explicitly focusing funding on cultural activities and initiatives informed by an overtly commercial mindset.
With many artists and organisations still struggling in this “COVID normal” landscape, this budgetary pendulum swing away from funding artistic projects and events paints a bleak picture. | https://theconversation.com/why-arts-and-culture-appear-to-be-the-big-losers-in-this-budget-180127 | 2022-04-01T01:51:41Z |
WINNEMUCCA, Nev., March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: HYMC) ("Hycroft" or the "Company"), a development company operating the Hycroft Mine in the prolific mining region of Northern Nevada, filed its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
2021 Financial Highlights
- Production: As previously announced, gold production for the year ended December 31, 2021, of 57,668 ounces exceeded the high end of the guidance range as the process team continued to improve equipment, process control and costs. Silver production of 355,967 ounces was approximately 20% below guidance due to slower than planned leach kinetics. Processing of ore on leach pads is currently planned to proceed through the second quarter of 2022.
- Sales: Sales for the year ended December 31, 2021 were 56,045 ounces of gold (average realized price of $1,794 per ounce) and 397,546 ounces of silver (average realized price of $25.66 per ounce).
- Unrestricted Cash Position: The Company ended 2021 with $12.3 million of cash on hand and was in compliance with debt covenants
- Net Loss and Cash Used: Due to high operating costs relative to the associated gold equivalent production and sales volumes and ceasing of mining operations in November, 2021, the Company recorded a net loss of $88.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Due to the losses from operations, the Company ceased mining activities and is now focused on completing its technical studies and exploration to develop the Hycroft mine through a milling and pressure oxidation process. The $44.0 million reduction in unrestricted cash since the beginning of the year was primarily due to cash used for operating activities of $37.0 million, cash used for investing activities of $6.9 million, cash used for financing activities of $5.5 million, and a $5.4 million reduction in restricted cash.
Subsequent Events:
- The Company completed several financing transactions to significantly strengthen its balance sheet, including:
- Nasdaq trading: With the recent improvement in the stock price, the Company has regained compliance with the Nasdaq minimum bid price for continued listing.
About Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation
Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation is a U.S.-based gold and silver development company that owns the Hycroft Mine, a well-established, world-class asset with a significant mineral endowment in Northern Nevada, a tier one mining jurisdiction. The company is focused on transforming Hycroft into a large-scale mining operation by developing a process for its large sulfide gold and silver mineral resources on site. Additional information is available at hycroftmining.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Unites States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Unites States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein and public statements by our officers or representatives, that address activities, events or developments that our management expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to such things as future business strategy, plans and goals, competitive strengths and expansion and growth of our business. The words "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe" "target", "budget", "may", "can", "will", "would", "could", "should", "seeks", or "scheduled to" and similar words or expressions, or negatives of these terms or other variations of these terms or comparable language or any discussion of strategy or intention identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future and are based on current expectations and assumptions. These risks may include the following and the occurrence of one or more of the events or circumstances alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations. Please see our "Risk Factors" set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and other reports filed with the SEC for more information about these and other risks. You are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Although these forward-looking statements were based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable when made, you are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. In addition, even if our results, performance, or achievements are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, those results, performance or achievements may not be indicative of results, performance or achievements in subsequent periods. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements made in this news release speak only as of the date of those statements, and we undertake no obligation to update those statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of those statements to reflect future events or developments.
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SOURCE Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/03/31/hycroft-mining-files-annual-report-form-10-k-year-ended-december-31-2021/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:39Z |
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — The 11th annual Cowboy True exhibit takes place the first weekend in April, and officials with the Arts Council of Wichita Falls are busy setting up and making sure everything is in place.
Those attending can expect to see some artwork, leatherwork, sculptures and so much more.
Development Coordinator for the Arts Council Kristen Shiplet said the mission behind Cowboy True is to show the public the diversity behind the cowboy culture and history told through many different art forms while also providing a central hub for these artists.
“It’s a really unique event, so you don’t get to see this quality of artwork in Wichita Falls all the time together,” Shiplet said. “These artists are coming from all over the United States to be with us here, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to see things that you normally wouldn’t be able to see in Wichita Falls.”
The preview party kicks off Friday, April 5, at the J.S. Bridwell AG Center. Doors open at 5 p.m., and it’s free to the public.
On Saturday, doors will open at 10 a.m. and will run until 5 p.m.
For more information on Cowboy True and all the events it has to offer, click here. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/local-news/11th-annual-cowboy-true-art-exhibit-kicks-off-this-weekend/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:42Z |
About 174 million people in Nigeria lack access to the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, popularly called cooking gas, the Federal Government stated on Thursday.
It said this was because of the high level of energy poverty in Nigeria, stressing that the promoters of global energy transition must adequately consider factors such as energy security and economic development.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, disclosed this in Abuja at the 2022 Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum, with the theme, “Global Energy Transition: Implications on Future Investments in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.”
He said, “As we all know, Nigeria is still bedeviled with energy poverty. Nigeria currently has one of the highest rates of energy poverty in the world.
“Some estimates put it that only about 55 per cent of over 200 million people in Nigeria have access to electricity, while only 13 per cent have access to clean cooking.”
Going by the minister’s statement, 13 per cent translates to 26 million, hence about 174 million people across the country lack access to LPG.
Sylva, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Sani Gwarzo, stated that Nigeria’s goal should be energy sufficiency in order to ensure energy security, and end the ravaging energy poverty across the country.
He argued that it was misleading to equate energy transition to getting rid of fossil fuels.
“It is actually malicious to give fossil fuels a bad name after most countries have ridden on the backs of the same fossil fuels to develop socially and economically,” the minister stated.
He added, “Energy transition is about providing clean energy, and not about discriminating between energy sources.
“In the face of the current high level of energy poverty worldwide, all energy sources will be required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal on energy.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Bello Gusau, in his address at the forum, noted that a recent publication by the Energy Information Administration projected nearly 50 per cent increase in world’s energy use by 2050, led by growth in renewable energy.
He said the publication stated that though it was envisaged that petroleum and other liquid fuels would surely remain the world’s largest energy source in 2050, renewable energy sources, which include wind and solar would grow to nearly the same level.
“Based on this projection, future investments in the Nigerian oil and gas industry may decline due to the global push for clean energy,” Gusau stated.
He added, “Today, Nigeria’s petroleum industry contributes approximately 80 per cent of the Federal Government’s revenue and 90 per cent of Nigeria’s export earnings.
“Therefore, it has become very important that we start thinking of alternative sources of energy outside the fossil-based systems of energy production and consumption (including oil, natural gas and coal), and pay more attention to renewable energy sources like wind and solar, as well as lithium-ion batteries.”
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected] | https://punchng.com/174-million-lack-access-to-cooking-gas-in-nigeria-fg/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:42Z |
wrestling / News
AAA Invades WrestleCon Results: Jeff Jarrett Returns, Titles On the Line
AAA Invades WrestleCon took place on Thursday night in Dallas, Texas with the return of Jeff Jarrett to the company and more. You can see the results below for the show, which aired on FITE TV, per Fightful:
* The Natural Classics def. Ryan Kidd & Christi Jaynes
* Nino Hamburguesa, Microman & Taya def. Rey Escorpion, Mini Abismo Negro & La Hiedra
Microman scores the win for his team! #AAA #WrestleCon pic.twitter.com/Rnds94fCod
— I Gif All The Wrestling (@Aregularindyfan) March 31, 2022
* NWA World Tag Team Championship Match: La def. Aero Star & Drago
* Aramis, Mr. Iguana & Octagon Jr def. Arez, Faby Apache & Abismo Negro Jr.
* Jack Cartwheel, Drago Kid & Pagano def. La Empresa (Sam Adonis, Puma King & Gringo Loco)
GRINGO CATCHES DRAGO KID AND THE MISTICO TOSS WORKS! ESTO ES LUCHA 🙏 #AAA #WrestleCon pic.twitter.com/Fopu3g79iz
— I Gif All The Wrestling (@Aregularindyfan) March 31, 2022
* AAA Cruiserweight Championship Match: Laredo Kid def. Bandido and Flamita
Laredo Kid with the best Tornillo in the game! #AAA #WrestleCon pic.twitter.com/PTJY1H1jgH
— I Gif All The Wrestling (@Aregularindyfan) April 1, 2022
Bandido just did a Gory Special/Powerbomb HOLY SHIT! #AAA #WrestleCon pic.twitter.com/Gb1wvUK0bO
— I Gif All The Wrestling (@Aregularindyfan) April 1, 2022
* Pyscho Clown def. Taurus. After the match Jeff Jarrett, Karen Jarrett and La Empresa attacked Pyscho Clown and took his mask, with Jarrett revealing he’s been the man behind La Empresa.
HUGE Moonsault from Psycho Clown! #AAA #WrestleCon pic.twitter.com/Hrigjl6Sn6
— I Gif All The Wrestling (@Aregularindyfan) April 1, 2022
La Empresa takes Psycho Clown’s mask & Jeff Jarrett reveals himself as the brains of the whole group, oh my #AAA #WrestleCon pic.twitter.com/i1cBG9KAS7
— I Gif All The Wrestling (@Aregularindyfan) April 1, 2022
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- Possible Spoiler On Talent Being Brought In For WrestleMania Weekend | https://411mania.com/wrestling/aaa-invades-wrestlecon-results-jeff-jarrett-titles-on-line/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:42Z |
The City of Athens’s bicentennial poster was unveiled Friday, March 18, at the kickoff bicentennial celebration held at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum. It bears the 200th anniversary logo of the City of Athens which describes the history, “Progress Since 1821” and “The Friendly City.”
In the center of the logo there is a white and black hand joined together as partners with a handshake. The city has grown from slavery times to times of equality for all, offering enrichment in the lives of everyone who lives here. It is likened to a group of communities across the US who are also known as “The Friendly City”; one that offers opportunity and enrichment for its citizens and visitors with all the resources it possesses.
The poster, created by award-winning artist and president of the East Tennessee Arts Center Allan Sibley, chronicles some of the people and places within the city’s history that contributed to its growth. It is a mixed media of red acrylic on masonite board with color pencil and graphite used to depict each person or place. The museum has these posters on sale for $20 for the 16 X 24 size and $10 for the 11 X 17 size. Signed posters in limited quantity are $5 more for either size. All proceeds benefit the museum.
The rich history of this city began Nov. 16, 1821, when the state authorized the Justices of the Peace for McMinn County to hold an election to elect commissioners to find a site for the new seat of justice for the county.
The county seat had been Calhoun since the establishment of the county in 1819 and they now wanted to have the county seat in a more central location to all residents. They made it the duty of the justices to send out commissioners to pick a site.
In May of 1822, the authorized voters met to elect nine commissioners. One of them was Isaac Hurst. Hurst is credited through folk lore in naming Athens because he felt it resembled the topography of Athens, Greece. After considering different sites, they chose to purchase land from William Lowry and Joseph Calloway. The land had a spring and rested along a winding creek called the Eastanallee. The original town boundary was 35 acres.
On Aug. 23, 1822, the state legislature approved the site for the new county seat declaring the name as Athens. Today, the Lowry house remains on East Madison Avenue overlooking the city.
The commissioners laid out the streets and alleys, drew up lots, and prepared for the construction of the new courthouse, prison, and stocks. They advertised in the Knoxville Register 30 days prior to property sales the lots to be sold in the town. Terms were that lots would be awarded to the highest bidder allowing a credit of 12 months. Monies arising from the sale of the lots were to be used to construct the public buildings; the courthouse and stocks to be on the same lot with the prison on another lot. Any surplus of funds after the buildings are finished would be deposited in the county treasury to be used by the town, subject to the county court. Calhoun was to remain the county seat until the public buildings were finished. When they finished the buildings, the court was authorized to pay the commissioners an amount “… not exceeding one dollar and fifty cents per day.”
In 1824, the commissioners turned over all surplus funds and powers to a newly-appointed commission consisting of seven members. This commission was established by the state legislature to oversee the Town of Athens for 30 years. These commissioners would have powers through the county justices to appropriate money for improvements, oversee land sales, collect taxes, any fees and see to any other community needs. They could even fill their own vacancies by a majority vote of the commission. They were instructed by the state legislature to make improvements to the local spring and place a fence around the courthouse.
By 1870, Athens incorporated, but in 1879, that was repealed by the state legislature. Incorporations were often repealed by the state due to law changes or challenged within the legal system by a group of citizens. It was a long struggle for Athens to hold an infallible incorporation until 1903 when the city once again could organize as an independent political body and develop the community further with its own ordinances.
The McMinn County Living Heritage Museum is a non-profit organization with a mission to collect, preserve and present artifacts, documents and other items related to the history of McMinn County and the region for education and enrichment of its citizens and others.
For more information, visit our Facebook page, visit our website at www.livingheritagemuseum.org or call us at 423-745-0329. | https://www.dailypostathenian.com/community/article_4bdb539e-588c-5a3b-8b21-ede44904d44c.html | 2022-04-01T01:51:43Z |
Arizona governor won’t say transgender people exist
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey refused to say Thursday if transgender people actually exist, twice dodging direct questions on the subject just a day after he signed legislation limiting transgender rights.
The Republican worked instead to defend his signatures on bills that bar transgender girls and women from playing on girls high school and women’s college sports teams and barring gender affirming surgery for anyone under age 18.
When specifically asked if he believed that there “are really transgender people,” the governor paused for several seconds before answering.
“I’m going to ask you to read the legislation and to see that the legislation that we passed was in the spirit of fairness to protect girls sports in competitive situations,” Ducey said, referring to the new law that targets transgender girls who want to play on girls sports teams. “That’s what the legislation is intended to do, and that’s what it does.”
Asked again if he believed there are “actual transgender people,” he again answered slowly and carefully.
“I ... am going to respect everyone, and I’m going to respect everyone’s rights. And I’m going to protect female sports. And that’s what the legislation does,” Ducey said.
Ducey’s response was “appalling,” according to the Arizona director of the Human Rights Campaign, a national civil rights group that advocates for equality for LGBTQ people. The organization worked to ensure families and transgender young people came to the Capitol to testify against the bills as the Republican-led House and Senate considered them this session.
“It’s quite shocking that he can’t even address trans people or even say that he thinks they exist,” Bridget Sharpe said.
Wednesday’s signing of the two transgender bills and a third that bars abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and is currently unconstitutional put Ducey right in the middle of two top issues national Republicans are highlighting in the runup to November’s midterm elections.
Ducey also signed election legislation that minority Democrats said amounted to voter suppression by requiring longtime Arizonans to be thrown off the voter rolls if they did not prove their citizenship and residence location.
The governor leads the Republican Governors Association, which is charged with helping elect GOP chief executives in U.S. states. He in is the last year of his second term as Arizona governor and term limits bar him from seeking reelection.
The top Democrat in the state House, Rep. Reginald Bolding, called Wednesday “probably one of the darkest days we’ve seen in the history of Arizona.”
“With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Ducey has hurled Arizona backwards to its ugliest past,” Bolding said Wednesday. “And today, he put in jeopardy pregnant people, transgender youth in danger and curtailed voting rights for people of color.”
Social conservative groups and the Arizona Republican Party praised Ducey’s action. The Center for Arizona Policy, whose president shepherded the abortion and women’s sports bills through the Legislature, called it a victory.
“Thank you, Governor Ducey, for taking a bold stand for women athletes, vulnerable children, and the unborn by putting your signature on (the bills) in the face of intense opposition from activists,” Center for Arizona Policy president Cathi Herrod said in a news release she posted on Twitter.
She said the legislation protects the unborn, ensures a level playing field for female athletes and shows that “Arizona will do everything it can to protect vulnerable children struggling with gender confusion” by enacting the surgery ban.
Ducey said the surgery ban protects children from irreversible decisions.
“These are permanent surgeries of reassignment that are irreversible, and those discussions can happen once adulthood is reached,” he said.
The American Civil Liberties Association has vowed to sue over the surgery ban. U.S. Supreme Court precedent currently says women have a constitutional right to abortion until about 24 weeks of pregnancy, although it is considering whether to uphold a 15-week ban enacted in Mississippi and may overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision enshrining a woman’s right to choose.
Arizona joins 13 other states in enacting laws preventing transgender girls and women from playing on girls teams. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox vetoed a transgender sports ban in his state, saying it would harm transgender girls, but the Legislature overrode the veto. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb also vetoed a sports bill, but lawmakers hope to override his action as well.
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. | https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/nation-world/story/2022-03-31/arizona-governor-wont-say-transgender-people-exist | 2022-04-01T01:51:42Z |
Phuket officials have been promoting notices issued by Royal Thai Embassies around the world to highlight new measures, which were announced two weeks ago.
To make it easier for tourists to travel to Thailand, travellers are no longer required to provide a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of departure.
However, the RT-PCR test requirement on arrival remains unchanged.
The Day 5 RT-PCR test is no longer required. Instead all arrivals can now do an antigen self-test on Day 5.
Also to make it easier for tourists to come to thailand, they will still have to observe quarantine if they enter under the Sandbox scheme , as will people entering Thailand under the Alternative Quarantine (AQ) procedure, for travellers who are not fully vaccinated.
The good news is that quarantine period for Sandbox and AQ travellers has been reduced to five days,
Under the "eased" measures, all other measures remain unchanged, except that the mandatory COVID insurance required has been reduced from US$50,000 to US$20,000.
All arrivals still need to qualify through the Thailand Pass system. Travellers must also still have a fully paid hotel reservation confirmation for the arrival date which must include a RT-PCR test, ATK test kit and airport pick-up, among other requirements.
For the full list of entry measures under the Test & Go scheme, click here.
For the full list of entry measures under the Sandbox scheme, click here.
For the full list of entry measures under the “Happy Quarantine” scheme, click here.
In addition to the lists of requirements still in effect for people thinking of travelling to Thailand, the Phuket Info Center, operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior, yesterday reminded travellers that some airlines may require a RT-PCR test or extra documentation before boarding. Travellers must check with the airline on specific requirements prior to boarding.
With the new eased measures in effect, Thai officials have announced that their plan is to have the COVID-19 pandemic downgraded to endemic in three months time, from July 1.
Meanwhile, the number of tourists arriving at Phuket International Airport continues to fall. The Phuket Reopening daily report issued by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) yesterday marked just 1,242 arrivals on Wednesday (Mar 30).
Note: This is not an April Fool’s story | https://www.thephuketnews.com/eased-entry-measures-for-tourists-come-into-effect-83649.php | 2022-04-01T01:51:42Z |
The company originally contracted to build a massive new wastewater treatment plant on the North Shore is suing Metro Vancouver for nearly $300 million, after the regional district terminated the contract.
The regional district pulled the plug on the deal in October, citing cost escalation from $500 million to $1 billion and construction delays.
Under the original terms of the public-private partnership, Acciona Wastewater Solutions LP was to design, build, partially finance and operate the plant, at a cost of $500 million and a completion date of January 2021.
On Thursday, Acciona filed a notice of civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court, alleging the district was in fact behind the problems with the project.
The company claims that it was actually impossible to build the plant, as specified in the original project agreement, on the site Metro Vancouver selected.
It also claims that Metro Vancouver’s design and construction specifications were “highly prescriptive, conflicting and error-ridden,” and that the district “interfered extensively” with design and construction work that were, under the project agreement, the company’s sole responsibility.
Acciona claims that Metro Vancouver refused to grant extensions or pay additional compensation for changes it was forced to make to the project in order to address “numerous conflicts and errors” with the design specifications.
The suit states that by mid-2021 the company had recalculated a realistic estimate of 2025 to complete the project, at the cost of $1 billion, due to the district’s “wrongful conduct,” the site being “unsuitable” for construction and “the emergence of project risks not contemplated” at the time of the original agreement.
It alleges Metro Vancouver insisted the work be completed by 2023, “which was, to the knowledge of the (district) physically impossible.”
The company is also claiming that Metro Vancouver wrongfully withheld a $95 million payment for work the company had completed to reach a project milestone.
Acciona is asking the court for that $95 million, along with an estimated $200 million for what it says was wrongful termination of its contract.
None of the claims have been proven in court.
A spokesperson for Metro Vancouver told Global News Thursday that the district had upheld its end of the contract, had paid Acciona in a timely fashion and had only terminated the deal when it became clear the company couldn’t finish the contract on time and on budget.
The district has previously said it revised its contract with Acciona in 2019 to give the company two-and-a-half more years to finish the plant with a new target date of 2023.
When completed, the facility located at 1311 West 1st Street will serve North and West Vancouver, along with the Squamish Nation, replacing the ageing 1961 facility currently located beneath the Lions Gate Bridge.
When planning for the wastewater treatment plan began more than a decade ago, it was initially estimated to cost $400 million.
By 2017, that estimate grew to $700 million, with a completion date of December 2020.
Metro Vancouver has since hired a new contractor to finish work on the project, however an estimated final cost and completion date remain unclear. | https://globalnews.ca/news/8725749/fired-contractor-court-metro-vancouver-sewage-plant/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:43Z |
The White House said the US has evidence that the war against Ukraine has been “a strategic disaster” for Russia. “We have seen incontrovertible evidence that this has been a strategic disaster for Russia,” director of communications Kate Bedingfield said, adding that Russia is “working to redefine the initial aims of their invasion”.
US president Joe Biden said that Russian president Vladimir Putin “seems to be self-isolated” and noted “there’s some indication that he has fired or put under house arrest some of his advisers,” without citing evidence.
Russia has threatened to halt contracts supplying Europe with a third of its gas unless they are paid in Russian currency. Putin signed a decree on Thursday saying foreign buyers must pay in roubles for Russian gas from Friday. He said contracts would be halted if these payments were not made. Germany and France rejected the demands and said they amounted to “blackmail”.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy repeated his warning that Russia is preparing for “powerful strikes” in the Donbas region after appearing to withdraw from an assault on Kyiv. The Pentagon also said that Russia may be repositioning some of its forces to send them to the Donbas.
Nato’s chief Jens Stoltenberg said Russian forces are not withdrawing, but regrouping. He also said the alliance had yet to be convinced Russia was negotiating in good faith in peace talks in Istanbul because Moscow’s military objective since launching its invasion of Ukraine had not changed.
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine were due to restart online on Friday morning.
Russia is redeploying elements of its forces from Georgia to reinforce its invasion, British military intelligence said on Thursday. “It is highly unlikely that Russia planned to generate reinforcements in this manner and it is indicative of the unexpected losses it has sustained during the invasion,” the ministry added.
A humanitarian corridor is set to be opened from 10am on Friday morning to allow civilians out of the besieged port city of Mariupol, which is in the Donbas in south-eastern Ukraine. It follows “a personal request from the French president and German chancellor to Russian president Vladimir Putin”, it said.
A convoy of Ukrainian buses has set out for Mariupol to try to deliver humanitarian supplies and bring out trapped civilians, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said.
EU and Chinese leaders will meet for a first summit in two years on Friday, with Brussels keen for assurances from Beijing that it will neither supply Russia with arms nor help Moscow circumvent western sanctions. EU officials close to the preparations of the summit said any help given to Russia would damage China’s international reputation and jeopardise relations with its biggest trade partners – Europe and the United States.
Russian forces have reportedly left the Chernobyl power plant, the Ukrainian Atomic Energy Ministry said, citing personnel at the site. Russian troops began leaving after soldiers got “significant doses” of radiation from digging trenches at the highly contaminated site, Ukraine’s state power company said. Energoatom said the Russians had dug in the forest inside the exclusion zone around the now-closed plant and “panicked at the first sign of illness,” which “showed up very quickly,” and began preparing to leave, Energoatom said.
Britain and its allies have agreed to send more lethal military aid to Ukraine to help defend it against Russia’s invasion, the British defence secretary, Ben Wallace, has said. As part of the agreement, armoured vehicles and long-range artillery will be sent.
France’s military intelligence chief Gen Eric Vidaud is leaving his post after Paris failed to accurately predict – in contrast with western allies – that Russia would launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, several sources with knowledge of his exit have said.
Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 37 of the Russian invasion
US says the invasion has been a ‘strategic disaster’ for Moscow and that Putin is isolated as peace talks are due to resume | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/01/russia-ukraine-war-what-we-know-on-day-37-of-the-russian-invasion | 2022-04-01T01:51:43Z |
The Chicago Bears signed safety Dane Cruikshank to a one-year contract Thursday.
The 26-year-old Cruikshank spent the past four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He appeared in 44 games (four starts), recording 65 tackles, two passes defended and one interception.
Cruikshank provides the Bears with depth in the secondary as well as special-teams experience. He had 18 special-teams tackles from 2018-19, which ranked second on the Titans during that time.
Tennessee drafted Cruikshank in the fifth round (No. 152 overall) out of Arizona in 2018.
–Field Level Media | https://sportsnaut.com/bears-sign-ex-titans-s-dane-cruikshank/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:43Z |
A cemetery tour by candlelight among historic gravesites may seem like the setting for a Hollywood horror movie, but one such tour takes place far from California and involves history rather than horror.
The setting for this performance is Friendship Cemetery, located in Columbus, Miss. And, Sophia Williams and J Snodgrass of Meridian are among the historical performers.
After a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic, students from the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science are producing the highly anticipated 32nd Annual “Tales from the Crypt.”
Winner of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and national finalist for The History Channel's "Save Our History" Award, “Tales” has also been featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” published in The Atlantic, and highlighted in James and Deb Fallows’ New York Times Bestseller Our Towns.
Tales is being held concurrently with the Columbus Spring Pilgrimage Jubilee of Homes which runs until April 16.
Beginning with the start of the school year, 27 MSMS students in two 11th grade U.S. history classes embarked on a project which included researching and rehearsing to bring Mississippians buried in Friendship Cemetery “back to life” through dramatic performances.
Ten students were chosen to develop their characters this spring for visitors to “Tales from the Crypt.” Other researchers will serve as cemetery tour guides leading visitors among the performers.
Sophia Williams, the daughter of Anna Myers of Meridian, researched and portrays Tallulah Harris Lipscomb. Lipscomb’s husband was William Lowndes Lipscomb, early historian of Columbus and author of “A History of Columbus, Mississippi, During the 19th Century.”
J Snodgrass, the daughter of Dr. Michelle Boucher-Snodgrass and Dr. Ed Snodgrass of Meridian, researched the “Columbus City Minute Book, II; 1850-1866” and portrays the Honorable George R. Clayton, a member of the Columbus board of selectman and a judge during the 1840s.
Profits from program admissions are donated to charitable causes designated by the students. Over the previous five performance years, “Tales” raised over $30,000 for charity.
The students selected to present their characters are performing on the evenings of April 1, 4, 6, & 8 from 7-9 p.m., in Friendship Cemetery on Fourth Street South, Columbus. Tickets are available on site and are $5 for general admission, $3 for students. Tickets may also be purchased at https://preservecolumbus.com.
For more information, contact the Mississippi School for Mathematics & Science at (662) 329-7670. | https://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/meridian-teens-perform-in-tales-from-the-crypt-in-columbus/article_2588c8d1-4af9-5872-9f76-f5f32ed7e43f.html | 2022-04-01T01:51:43Z |
Life sentence too harsh for man who stabbed woman outside school: Lawyer
The defence lawyer for the 38-year-old London man convicted of attempted murder after stabbing a woman outside a St. Marys elementary school has asked for a prison sentence of 10 to 12 years.
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The defence lawyer for a London man convicted of attempted murder in the stabbing of his former girlfriend outside a St. Marys elementary school has asked for a prison sentence of 10 to 12 years.
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Derek Boyd was led back into Stratford Superior Court on Thursday for the second day of his sentencing hearing after Crown lawyer Elizabeth Wilson called for a life sentence earlier this month.
Boyd’s lawyer, Amy Robern, came with a stack of case law from 10 attempted-murder cases from across Canada, most of which involved domestic violence.
Robern argued Boyd’s attack on his former girlfriend and employee in her parked car in the Little Falls elementary school parking lot on the morning of Feb. 12, 2020, wasn’t planned. Robern said the attack didn’t happen in front of the victim’s son, who was in the school at the time. Robern also argued the injuries suffered by the victim were not immediately life threatening, saying Boyd stopped his attack after the victim escaped the car and run to the school for help.
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Boyd’s guilty plea last September, his willingness to seek counselling and the apology he read on the first day of his sentencing hearing also were evidence of his remorse, Robern said. The Crown’s recommended life sentence, the lawyer argued, was not warranted in this case.
In her response, Wilson said Boyd’s circumstances were different than the cited case law, pointing to his recent history of violence. Wilson said the attack was not tied to any substance abuse or steroid use, noting he only stopped his attack after the victim alerted bystanders by kicking her car’s horn.
Wilson also said courts recently had been handing out longer prison sentences for offenders convicted of attempted murder or violence involving an intimate partner.
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Prior to making her submissions, Robern told the court she had applied to have a defence-commissioned report by forensic psychiatrist Julian Gojer withdrawn. That report was intended to shed light on Boyd’s mental illness diagnosis, his prognosis, his risk of reoffending and any recommendations that report’s author might have. Though Robern didn’t explain her rationale for withdrawing the report, she did say it was a last-minute decision.
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While Superior Court Justice Marc Garson granted Robern’s request, Wilson argued the Crown should still be able to enter the psychiatrist’s report as evidence and, if warranted, call on Gojer to testify as an expert witness.
While Garson ruled he will hear testimony from Gojer, the Crown only can proceed after the defence is given as long as a month to prepare a cross-examination. Garson said both lawyers also would be able to modify or add to their sentencing submissions after listening to Gojer’s testimony.
Garson adjourned the case to April 8. The judge said he would set a date for Gojer to take the stand if requested by the Crown.
In an agreed statement of facts read to the court after Boyd’s September guilty plea, Wilson said the victim was waiting for roadside assistance after noticing a puncture in one of the tires of her rental car. After opening the driver’s side door, Boyd lunged into the vehicle holding a large knife and, during the ensuing struggle, stabbed the victim twice, once in her right abdomen and again in her right shoulder. The knife passed between two ribs, through her liver and nicked her gallbladder.
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The woman escaped through the passenger’s side door after kicking the car’s horn to alert people nearby, and ran into the main lobby of the school. She was taken to Victoria Hospital in London. Multiple stitches and staples were required to close her wounds and emergency surgery was needed to repair damage to her abdomen.
In a victim-impact statement read to the court on March 21, the woman said she first met Boyd, the operator of two now-closed nutrition stores in London, when he interviewed her four years ago for a job so she could support her young son. She detailed how she ultimately tried to escape the abusive relationship she had with Boyd after learning he had lied about being diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. | https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/defence-seeks-10-to-12-year-sentence-for-man-convicted-in-stabbing-outside-school | 2022-04-01T01:51:43Z |
Election set to be delayed due to ballot paper issues
Kenny Shiels.
Northern Ireland senior women’s team manager Kenny Shiels has made a handful of changes to his squad for next month’s crunch FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifiers against Austria and England.
His 23-strong panel shows five changes from the squad chosen for the World Cup qualifiers against North Macedonia back in November. However, the Coleraine duo of Chloe McCarron and Lauren Wade are both included.
The Northern Ireland senior women’s team boss has gone with his usual blend of youth and experience for the game against the Austrians in Wiener Neustadt on 8 April and the match against England at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on 12 April.
He revealed: “I am not even thinking of the England game yet. Everything is revolving around Austria. We are looking at ways we can contain them and where we can attack them.”
Shiels will be keen to go one better against the Austrians, with whom Northern Ireland drew 2-2 back in October, and to put pressure on European Qualifying Group D table toppers England, who defeated his team 4-0 at Wembley the same month. To date more than 14,000 tickets have been sold for the home encounter against the Lionesses.
The Northern Ireland boss is well aware that a win against the Austrians would put his team on course to finish second in the group and potentially reach a play-off for a place at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.
“It’s going to be a tough encounter against Austria, but we will be ready for it,” he said.
Northern Ireland currently lie third behind England and Austria in Group D. They have 13 points from six qualifiers to date, having won four, drawn one and lost one.
England have won six from six, scoring 53 times without reply, while Austria are second in the table and narrowly ahead of Northern Ireland on goal difference. The Austrians also have 13 points but have scored 29 and conceded four compared to Northern Ireland’s 30 for and six against.
The Northern Ireland Women squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Austria and England is:
Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (BK Hacken, Sweden), Becky Flaherty (Brighouse Town).
Defenders: Julie Nelson (Crusaders Strikers), Rebecca McKenna (Lewes Women), Rebecca Holloway (Birmingham City Women), Sarah McFadden (Durham Women), Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville Ladies), Demi Vance (Rangers Women), Abbie Magee (Cliftonville Ladies).
Midfielders: Nadene Caldwell, Chloe McCarron, Caragh Hamilton, Sam Kelly and Joely Andrews (all Glentoran Women), Marissa Callaghan and Toni-Leigh Finnegan (both Cliftonville Ladies), Rachel Furness (Liverpool Women), Megan Bell (Rangers Women).
Forwards: Lauren Wade (Glentoran Women), Simone Magill (Everton Women), Kirsty McGuinness (Cliftonville Ladies), Caitlin McGuinness (Cliftonville Ladies), Emily Wilson (Crusaders Strikers). | http://limavadynorthernconstitution.virtualcms.it/football/2022/03/31/news/coleraine-pair-named-in-ni-women-s-squad-23457/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:43Z |
EPA upholds Trump-era decision not to regulate contaminant
By SUMAN NAISHADHAM
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Upholding a Trump-era environmental policy, the Environmental Protection Agency says it will not regulate a drinking water contaminant that has been linked to brain damage in infants. The agency says the Trump administration’s decision in 2020 not to regulate perchlorate in drinking water was made with the “best available peer reviewed science.” The Trump administration had concluded that the chemical compound was not found widely enough in drinking water or at levels of public health concern to warrant federal regulation. That decision was one of many Trump-era rollbacks or eliminations of existing or pending public health and environmental protection. Environmental groups sharply criticized the Biden administration Thursday for not reversing that decision. | https://ktvz.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/03/31/epa-upholds-trump-era-decision-not-to-regulate-contaminant-2/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:44Z |
NEW YORK, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices ("S&P DJI"), a leading provider of financial market indices, and MSCI Inc. (MSCI), a leading provider of research-based indices and analytics, have conducted their annual review of the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) structure.
The annual GICS methodology review is intended to ensure that the GICS structure continues to appropriately represent the global equity markets and, thereby, enable asset owners, asset managers and investment research specialists to make consistent global comparisons by industry. The GICS structure revision is the result of a consultation with market participants.
Based on the consultation feedback received, S&P DJI and MSCI have concluded that the proposed changes related to the reclassification of renewable energy companies and the consolidation of Diversified Banks and Regional Banks will not be implemented due to lack of market consensus. All other changes proposed in the consultation will be implemented.
The changes to the GICS structure will be implemented in GICS Direct and S&P DJI's indices after the close of business (ET) on Friday, March 17, 2023. A select list of large market capitalization companies affected by the changes will be announced no later than June 30, 2022. The full list of companies affected by these changes will be made available to clients no later than December 15, 2022. MSCI will consult with clients regarding implementation in their indexes.
The results of the consultation and changes to the GICS structure in 2023 are summarized below.
CLASSIFICATION OF RETAILERS
The retail landscape has evolved over the years as retailers are opting to pursue an omni-channel approach to sell their products rather than sticking with mainly brick-and-mortar retail or purely online channels. The demarcation between General Merchandise Stores and Department Stores has diminished as well, since both formats are comprised of retail spaces primarily selling consumer discretionary goods. Retailers that are generating a majority of revenue or earnings from consumable staple items such as food, household, and personal care products warrant a consolidation under the Consumer Staples Sector.
Market feedback concerning the proposals for retailers was generally favorable. S&P DJI and MSCI will discontinue Internet & Direct Marketing Retail and classify companies according to the nature of goods sold, merge General Merchandise Stores and Department Stores into a new Sub-Industry called Broadline Retail, shift consumable merchandise sellers to the Consumer Staples Sector, and update the GICS nomenclature for select Retail classifications by replacing the word "Stores" with "Retail".
CLASSIFICATION OF DATA PROCESSING & OUTSOURCED SERVICES
Companies classified as Data Processing & Outsourced Services offer services either customized for select industries such as human resources or travel or to diverse industries, as is the case with transaction and payment processing companies offering payment related transaction and payment processing services by connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, digital partners, businesses, and other organizations. These support activities are closely aligned with the business support activities covered under the Industrials Sector rather than the Information Technology Sector, and with the Financials Sector in the case of payment processors.
Market feedback concerning the proposal for Data Processing & Outsourced Services was generally favorable. Data Processing & Outsourced Services Sub-Industry under the Information Technology Sector will be discontinued and will be moved to the Industrials Sector with an updated definition. In addition, transaction and payment processing companies will be reclassified to a newly created Sub-Industry called Transaction and Payment Processing Services under the Financials Sector. Payroll processing companies will be moved to the Industrials Sector under the Human Resource & Employment Services Sub-Industry with an updated definition. Companies offering travel related data processing and outsourced services will be moved to the Consumer Discretionary Sector under the Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines Sub-Industry.
CLASSIFICATION OF BANKS AND THRIFTS & MORTGAGE FINANCE
The Banks Industry Group comprised of Diversified Banks, Regional Banks, and Thrifts/Savings Banks has evolved over the years with respect to the geographic footprints of these businesses, the laws governing them, and the variety of services being offered. Further, Mortgage Finance, where revenue is more fee-based than interest income based, are distinct from Banks as they mainly offer mortgage finance related products & services for commercial & residential real estate properties. In order to capture these changes, it was proposed to merge Diversified Banks, Regional Banks, and Thrifts/Savings Banks into a single Sub-Industry. And it was proposed to discontinue the Thrifts & Mortgage Finance Sub-Industry under the Banks Industry Group and create a new Commercial & Residential Mortgage Finance Sub-Industry under the Diversified Financials Industry Group (to be renamed Financial Services).
Market feedback concerning the proposal for Banks was mixed, but favorable for the Thrifts & Mortgage Finance. Most clients expressed a desire to retain a distinction between Diversified Banks and Regional Banks, although they found merit in merging Thrifts and Savings Banks into an expanded Regional Banks Sub-Industry. In addition, feedback was in favor of discontinuing the Thrifts & Mortgage Finance Sub-Industry under the Banks Industry Group and creating a new Commercial & Residential Mortgage Finance Sub-Industry under the Diversified Financials Industry Group (to be renamed Financial Services). Hence, the proposal will be partially adopted. There will be no change to the Diversified Banks Sub-Industry, Thrifts/Savings banks will be merged with Regional Banks, and the change for Thrifts and Mortgage Finance Sub-Industry will be implemented as proposed.
CLASSIFICATION OF EQUITY REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs)
The companies structured as REITs generally focus on distinct property types such as retail properties, data centers, telecom towers, etc., and only a small percentage of these companies invest in diverse property types.
Market feedback concerning the proposal for Equity REITs was generally favorable. Clients confirmed that there is interest in creating additional granularity for REITs to help investors track the increased specialization in the REITs space. It was proposed that Residential REITs will be split into 2 distinct Sub-Industries and Specialized REITs will be split into 5 Sub-Industries. In addition, 8 Industries for REITs and a new Industry Group for Equity REITs will be created. A new Real Estate Management & Development Industry Group and Industry will also be created. Since the consultation feedback concerning the proposals for Equity REITs was largely favorable, the changes will be implemented as proposed.
CLASSIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION
The Trucking Sub-Industry includes a mix of companies providing cargo/goods and passenger ground transportation services. The passenger ground transportation business has evolved over the years through the development of online apps and marketplaces for taxis and on-demand ride sharing, as well as consumer bicycle and scooter rental platforms. In addition, these companies are distinct from those offering cargo/goods ground transportation services.
Market feedback supported the reasoning behind separating passenger land transportation from cargo/goods land transportation. The Trucking Sub-Industry will be split into two new Sub-Industries to be called Passenger Ground Transportation and Cargo Ground Transportation. For additional clarity, the Airlines Industry and Sub-Industry will also be renamed as Passenger Airlines to better reflect the companies classified there.
CLASSIFICATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANIES
The consultation proposals related to the classification of renewable energy companies will not be adopted at this time. Although there is a rapid growth in investment and capacity in the renewable energy generation space that is transforming the competitive landscape of both the Energy and Utilities Sectors, with renewable energy generation sources becoming significant competitors to traditional energy source providers, feedback from clients and additional internal analysis suggests that there is not a consensus yet on how to reflect these changes in the GICS structure. It is likely that this topic will be revisited in a future structure review by S&P DJI and MSCI.
UPDATE TO GICS DEFINITION: CLASSIFICATION OF CANNABIS
The cannabis industry has expanded rapidly in recent years due to an ease in regulations and increased discovery of uses for a variety of applications. The legality of recreational usage is still inconsistent globally, whereas legal medicinal use is more widespread. Additional uses are still in a nascent stage. In addition, market feedback was also mixed and hence, the Pharmaceuticals Sub-Industry definition will not be updated at this time.
ADDITIONAL UPDATES IN SELECT GICS INDUSTRY AND SUB-INDUSTRY NAMES
Various GICS Industry and Sub-Industry names will be updated to increase clarity and consistency across the GICS structure, in addition to above changes.
The new GICS structure will consist of 11 Sectors, 25 Industry Groups, 74 Industries and 163 Sub-Industries.
For a detailed document covering the upcoming changes, please visit S&P Dow Jones Indices' web site at www.spdji.com and MSCI's web site at www.msci.com.
ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES
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SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices | https://www.ky3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/sampp-dow-jones-indices-msci-announce-revisions-global-industry-classification-standard-gics-structure-2023/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:44Z |
Lawrence County receives SPC report on broadband
NEW CASTLE − The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) recently unveiled its findings regarding broadband, as part of its ongoing initiative: Southwestern Pennsylvania Connected – Equitable Broadband Access.
This initiative was created in order to develop a Connectivity Improvement Plan for the 10-county region, in which high-speed connectivity programs and projects will be deployed, enabling areas of the SWPA region lacking adequate high-speed internet access and equipment to better connect to jobs, education, health care and to attract new business.
When it comes to Lawrence County, which has a population of approximately 85,083, only 2.96% of the population has access to four or more fixed broadband providers, 15.90% has access to three providers, 74.69% has access to two providers, 5.82% has access to only one provider, and 0.63% have access to none.
About 88.58% have access to 5G service, with 11.42% have LTE, but no 5G service. A total of $1,755,979 was awarded to the county from the FCC RDOF.
Of the 80 survey results, 60% said they are very satisfied with their connectivity, 69% are satisfied with the level of customer service, 62% are satisfied with the reliability of their connection, 61% are satisfied with their connection speeds, 55% are unhappy with the cost of service, 44% are unhappy with their contract terms, 25% are willing to pay more for faster, more reliable home internet service, 75% cannot afford to pay more, 49% think faster internet is not worth paying more for, 27% say their current service fits their needs, 51% use cable as their internet connection, with 3% using fiber optic. A total of 36% of those who responded have a household income below $25,000.
According to the report, the county previously participated in a community technology action plan study with the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission and is a member and partner in a Local Development District with the SPC.
The report said the action plan showed Lawrence County has the widest broadband coverage compared to the other counties in the SPC.
“Lawrence County is in the preliminary stage of creating a GIS tool to support the identification of existing infrastructure utility assets,” the report said. “The purpose is to develop a complete picture of all utility datasets to view and track in one centralized location hub with broadband infrastructure as a key asset to assess. The tool will provide essential information to make future informed business decisions.”
During a recent county commissioners’ meeting, Chairman Morgan Boyd said most county residents have access to broadband of some kind, but most don’t have access to high-speed broadband service, which he said is “necessary and essential infrastructure” nowadays.
He said the areas in the county with the best connectivity are Plain Grove Township, Washington Township, and part of Wilmington Township, with the worst access being the communities of the Mohawk Area School District, which includes New Beaver.
Boyd said through the federal American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, $60 billion has been allocated to broadband initiatives across the country, with each state expected to receive a floor of $100 million.
“As we look forward to the future, it might be time to sit down and actually take a real hard look at broadband,” he said.
Boyd said this could be done by making investments, partnering with different companies, or working with other SPC counties like Greene and Indiana, the former of which has already pledged $36 million towards broadband.
Nicholas Vercilla is a staff reporter for the Ellwood City Ledger. He can be reached at nvercilla@gannett.com. | https://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/story/news/local/2022/03/31/lawrence-county-receives-spc-report-on-broadband/65347541007/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:45Z |
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kim Mulkey knew she had a rebuilding project when she took over as coach of LSU this season.
The longtime Baylor coach quickly was able to orchestrate an incredible turnaround for the Tigers, who won 26 games — 17 more than last season.
Mulkey was honored Thursday as The Associated Press women’s basketball Coach of the Year, the third time she has won the award. Geno Auriemma and Muffet McGraw are the only other coaches to have accomplished the feat.
“I’m certainly honored to be in that group,” Mulkey said. “This doesn’t happen without players who allow you to coach them and buy into a system. We had a really, really good year.”
Mulkey received 10 votes from the 30-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week. South Carolina Dawn Staley was second with eight votes. Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer received three while Nicki Collen, who replaced Mulkey at Baylor, got two along with Wes Moore of N.C. State. Five coaches got one vote apiece.
The veteran coach shared the stage with AP Player of the Year Aliyah Boston, who she coached against this year.
Mulkey, who was surprised by her team last week who told her she won, thanked her coaches and individually named each of her players in the ceremony. She choked up when talking about her family, who were still in Texas.
LSU rose to No. 6 in the AP poll and hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers lost to Ohio State in the second round and finished with more than 25 wins for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Mulkey compared this season to her first at Baylor when she inherited a team that won just seven games the year before she took over.
“You make goals that are realistic such as having a winning season,” she said. “Beat your first ranked team, we’re going to celebrate that. In conference if we finish in the top half of SEC we can then potentially get to the NCAA Tournament. It sounds so simple. but you have to crawl before you can walk, and have to walk before you can run. We were just realistic.”
The Tigers went 13-3 in the tough Southeastern Conference and had wins over Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Mulkey’s squad also played South Carolina tough, only falling by six points.
After the ceremony, Mulkey bumped into Nikki Fargas, the coach she replaced at LSU. The two hugged and had a 15-minute conversation. It was the first time they had talked since Mulkey got the job.
Mulkey grew up in Louisiana and won national titles with Louisiana Tech as both a player and assistant coach before a 21-year run at Baylor in which she won three national titles and became the fastest coach in women’s college basketball history to 600 victories, doing so in just 700 games. In 2020, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mulkey also won AP Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2019 while at Baylor.
“I can’t name all the things that the team did this year but it was unbelievable,” she said. “We were not supposed to do what we did in a year. That’s hard to do.”
___
More AP coverage of March Madness: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/sports/ap-sports/lsus-kim-mulkey-wins-ap-coach-of-the-year-for-third-time/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:45Z |
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BOSTON (AP) — After a 15-year career in which he etched his name on the Stanley Cup and the Vezina Trophy, Tuukka Rask is focusing now on avoiding the rink.
“Don’t even go there. Not yet,” the retired Bruins goalie said Thursday night when asked if his daughters had taken up hockey. “They’re into dance and whatnot. If I have to go and spend my days at hockey rinks, so be it. But not really at the top of my list.”
A two-time All-Star, and the winner of the 2014 Vezina as the NHL’s top goalie, Rask announced his retirement last month after a setback in his attempt to come back from a torn labrum in his hip. The Bruins invited him back to drop the ceremonial first puck before Thursday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils, and again – perhaps for the last time – the chants of “Tuuuuk!” echoed through the TD Garden.
Rask took the ice with his wife, and their three daughters dressed for a ballet class. He bumped fists with the players on the Bruins bench while both teams tapped their sticks on the ice to salute him.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” Rask told reporters beforehand, saying that he would be showing up at games and golf outings as a team ambassador. “Maybe I’ll get into coaching. Maybe not, but for now, I’ll be hanging out with sponsors.”
The franchise’s all-time leader in wins, Rask helped the Bruins allow the fewest goals in the NHL in the pandemic-interrupted 2019-20 season, when Boston finished with the most points in the league. He injured his hip during the 2021 playoffs and worked his way back to the team midway through this season.
But after just four starts, he aggravated his injury on Jan. 24 against the Anaheim Ducks. Two weeks later, he announced he was through.
“It was kind of time to be honest with yourself,” he said. “I just figured it was better for everybody to call it. I had a great career. No regrets.”
While his hip still has some good days, Rask said no one could talk him out of retirement. His immediate future will involve as much golf as he can squeeze in between shuttling his daughters to dance class and school.
He may need a hip replacement at some point.
“It was at a point where it affected my everyday life,” Rask said. “I’m a guy who makes pretty quick decisions, anyway. So I wasn’t dwelling on it too long.”
Rask was 308-165-66 with a 2.28 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in a franchise-leading 564 games. He was the backup goalie for the Bruins team that won it all in 2011, and he led the team to Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2013 and ’19.
Although coaching is not in his plans, Rask said he would be available if Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman wants him.
“I told him right after I retired: Tell me if you need anything,” Rask said. “Just make sure you don’t get too high or too low.”
—
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/bruins-honor-retired-goalie-rask-after-injury-ended-career/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2022-04-01T01:51:46Z |
LEBANON, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania police officer was killed and two others injured Thursday during a shooting that occurred while responding to a domestic disturbance call, Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello said.
Police officers went to a home in the city at about 3:30 p.m. for the disturbance call. Nearly an hour later gunfire broke out and officers radioed in they were hit, Capello said at a brief news conference.
All three officers were taken to hospitals. One of them has been pronounced dead. A second was in critical condition, but stable, and a third was in stable condition, Capello said.
“This is an extremely difficult moment for everyone,” Capello said.
The suspect, a 34-year-old man from Lebanon, was killed in the shooting, Lebanon Police Chief Todd Breiner said.
“As one can imagine, it's clearly a traumatic event,” Breiner said. “Our guys are strong, but we're human and we have families.”
The slain officer's name is being withheld pending notification of extended family members.
Police did not release further details. | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/1-officer-killed-2-others-shot-in-Pennsylvania-17049870.php | 2022-04-01T01:51:46Z |
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Right now, Lismore residents are going through their second major flood in a month.
On February 28th, the devastating first flood peaked at 14.4 metres, fully two metres higher than the previous record of 12.27 metres in 1954, and well above the town’s 10-metre-high levee wall, constructed in 2005. Four people died, with 2000 homes destroyed or unlivable of the city’s 19,000.
Even as Lismore and Northern Rivers residents struggle to recover from the first flood, the floods are coming again. On March 29th, more heavy rain began falling onto the soaked catchment feeding into Wilsons River.
Once again, Lismore’s traumatised community had to evacuate, with predictions of floods of 10.6 metres. The flood only reached 9.7 metres. But then a further 279mm of rain fell between 9am Tuesday and 6am Wednesday 30 March, with an 11 metre flood predicted. Once again, residents had to evacuate.
Is this unprecedented? While the height of the first flood is a new record, back to back floods have happened before. Brisbane suffered three of the largest floods then recorded in rapid succession, back in 1893. Floods can come in clusters.
As the world warms, the atmosphere can hold more water. That means we are more likely to see larger floods. It is time to consider relocating flood-prone towns.
We’ve seen clusters of floods before
Lismore is no stranger to floods. The town was built on the meeting place of Wilsons River and Leycester Creek. Lismore’s deep bowl shape has seen the town nicknamed “The Wok”. As many as 30,000 people live on low-lying land at risk of flood.
The last major flood in Lismore took place in 2017, reaching 11.59 metres. Only five years later came these devastating floods. That’s an unusually small gap, and many locals were shocked at the small intermission between major floods. Then the second one hit, with almost no break between inundations.
While it is unusual, clusters of floods have happened before. In a scenario eerily familiar to the people of Lismore, Brisbane experienced three floods in a month. What’s more, two of these were the largest on record.
On February 5th 1893, Brisbane experienced a flood of 8.35 metres. It was the second highest recorded flood since 1841. Bridges, railway lines, businesses and whole streets of houses were destroyed. Roads became canals as the city lay submerged under water. Houses and shops were left coated in foul-smelling mud. There was very little time to recover as the city flooded again on February 11th, though only to 2.4 metres.
Just four days later, as the recovery was beginning again, a major new flood swept through the city. Newspapers reported the damage in this 8.09 metre flood was much less than the first, as much of the possible damage had already been done. This was not quite true as many buildings had been significantly weakened from the first inundation. The sodden land and roads were more prone to landslides and collapse.
These floods killed 35 people, and left hundreds of people homeless and unemployed. The back to back floods took a psychological toll, with newspapers reporting people were feeling despair and wretchedness. Many in Brisbane in 1893 would have been able to identify with the feeling Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg recently described as “flood fatigue”.
Read more: 'I simply haven’t got it in me to do it again': imagining a new heart for flood-stricken Lismore
Why does Australia suffer from flood clusters?
Australia has highly variable rainfall. That’s because of the well-known El Niño–Southern Oscillation, a natural climate phenomenon able to make Australia drier or wetter. In El Niño years, rainfall is significantly reduced, leaving us more vulnerable to drought. But in La Niña years, wet weather sets in, making floods more likely.
Both 1893 and 2022 are La Niña years. We’re seeing the result of wet summers saturating our river catchments and soils, leaving them less able to absorb heavy rains and more prone to flooding.
In La Niña years, large floods are more likely to come in clusters with dry periods in between. We can see this clearly in Lismore’s history.
Between 1887 and 1893, the town experienced three major floods, ranging between 10.43 and 12.46 metres.
Between 1962 and 1965, the town endured three more floods over 10 metres.
And in 1967, Lismore flooded five times between March and June, with floods ranging from 5.09 to 10.27 metres.
While La Niña years often come in pairs, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned it is possible to have three consecutive La Niña years, as we’ve seen in 1954-57, 1973-1976 and 1998-2001. All of these caused flooding in Lismore. Thankfully, at this stage it’s considered unlikely that our two years of La Niña will stretch to three.
So what can we learn?
As the world warms, floods are becoming increasing hard to predict. While dams and levee banks can reduce flood damage, they work best in minor and moderate floods. In catastrophic events such as the February flood, there is little they can do.
While La Niña years and soaked catchments make floods more likely, they do not guarantee a flood occurring.
Scientists have repeatedly warned us climate change can both dry out soils and intensify rainfall depending on the area. That means smaller floods may become less common, but floods that do occur are likely to be more frequent and more intense.
As I write, flood records in some parts of northern NSW are tumbling again. The floodwaters at Ballina, Bellingen and Lennox Head are metres above previous heights.
While it may not result in another catastrophic flood in Lismore, this will not be the town’s last flood. In fact, the record may be surpassed. It is time to discuss relocating the town away from the floodplain.
Read more: Want to help people affected by floods? Here's what to do – and what not to | https://theconversation.com/why-can-floods-like-those-in-the-northern-rivers-come-in-clusters-180250 | 2022-04-01T01:51:47Z |
Science Lecture Series Schedule
Patented Inventor (self published) Professor Manooki will describe the steps of the Engineering Design Process to demonstrate how anyone can be an inventor/innovator. Nareh Manooki received her Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, San Diego, followed by a Master’s degree at USC in Product Development Engineering. This...
www.glendale.edu | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2384955789212/science-lecture-series-schedule | 2022-04-01T01:51:47Z |
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation® (IACMI) today announced Dale Brosius has been appointed interim chief executive officer effective April 1, 2022. Brosius will lead IACMI as it identifies a permanent CEO to succeed Dr. John Hopkins, who is stepping down after leading the organization for more than four years. IACMI is one of 16 Manufacturing USA innovation institutes created to secure U.S. global leadership in advanced manufacturing through large scale public-private collaboration on technology, supply chain and workforce development.
"Dale has been a foundational part of IACMI since its origins and brings proven experience, expertise, and stability to the IACMI leadership role," said Dr. Stacey S. Patterson, president of the University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF). UTRF is the sole corporate member of Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation, the non-profit organization which operates IACMI. "From our inception, and even prior to his being named chief commercialization officer in February 2015, Dale has played a key role establishing IACMI, growing and serving our consortium membership, and ensuring success in meeting our Department of Energy objectives."
As interim CEO, Dale will become responsible for the full scale of day-to-day operations of the institute. He will also continue in his roles as Chief Commercialization Officer, Executive Director of the IACMI Consortium, and chair of the IACMI Consortium Council.
With more than 30 years of industrial experience in the composites industry, Brosius' career has included positions at U.S.-based firms Dow Chemical Co., Fiberite and successor Cytec Industries Inc. At Fiberite and Cytec, he led key activities related to high performance carbon fiber prepreg-based components for aerospace and industrial markets, and managed thermoset molding compound businesses in the U.S. and France. Prior to joining IACMI, he led the establishment of European and U.S. operations for Australian-based composites manufacturer Quickstep Technologies. Brosius has a BS in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Since 2015, IACMI has managed over 50 collaborative and industry led technical projects with greater than $150 million in research and development value. More than 15 new products are now commercially available and $400 million-plus has been invested in a broad system of open access facilities for demonstration at scale in eight states. IACMI has engaged more than 9,000 people in composites training and STEM outreach and placed more than 100 university interns with industry collaboration.
Through collaboration with industry, academia, and national laboratories, IACMI projects have demonstrated faster cycle times and lower costs for composite materials and structures, decreased carbon intensity, and increased recyclability of composites.
About IACMI – The Composites Institute
IACMI – The Composites Institute is a 130-plus member community of industry, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state, and local government agencies working together to accelerate advanced composites design, manufacturing, technical innovation, and workforce solutions to enable a cleaner and more sustainable, more secure, and more competitive U.S. economy. IACMI is managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation. A Manufacturing USA institute, IACMI is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office, as well as key state and industry partners. Visit www.iacmi.org and follow IACMI on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
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SOURCE IACMI - The Composites Institute | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/03/31/iacmi-names-dale-brosius-interim-ceo/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:47Z |
MONTAGUE COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) — As of Thursday, March 31, it’s been 10 days since three EF1 tornados hit Montague County, changing the lives of many.
The two tornados around Bowie and one in the Nocona area destroyed roofs, sheds and, for some, even their houses.
For one Vietnam veteran we spoke to who lives between Bowie and Montague, it’s the mementos of his late wife now gone he will truly miss the most.
Albert McClanahan said an evening hang in the living room with his son quickly turned into them taking cover from an EF1 tornado.
“I heard tornadoes before, but they’re usually a dull roar, but that was a high scream whistle, and we went down to that highway there quickly and got into the center bathroom and sat down there, and I could hear it ripping and turning,” McClanahan said.
Ten days later with friends, family and neighbors by his side, they’re making their way through the rubble.
“It had [taken] my porch, ripped it up [and] ripped the roof back there – it’s ripped off,” McClanahan said.
The Vietnam veteran said though his roof, windows and porch are either gone or damaged, he is most heartbroken by the things he lost that kept him connected to his wife of 55 years who he lost two years ago.
“I had a large red storage building right out there, and it’s a goner,” McClanahan said. “We had a lot of her stuff stored in [there], especially stuff. My wife had knick-knacks she had picked up all over the world, dishes from Germany and stuff from Japan, and it’s all gone. She was a junker, she was a junker – anything she saw, she bought it, and it’s all gone.”
“I’m sorry she is gone, but I’m proud she wasn’t here to see all that, that would’ve broken her heart,” McClanahan said.
Mcclanahan said he is lucky to have friends and a community around him to help him make his way through the rubble.
McClanahan said it will be a while before repairs are done, but he is blessed to not have been physically hurt. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/local-news/local-vietnam-veteran-talks-montague-co-tornado-recovery/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:48Z |
2023: PDP’ll reunite Nigeria, end insecurity – Ayu
The Peoples Democratic Party Thursday in Benue State lamented that Nigeria and Nigerians are now being physically cut off from each other by terrorists who have made it unsafe to traverse the country by road, rail and air.
Its National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, disclosed this at Zaki-Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state, during the burial of a Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic, Benjamin Chaha.
In a statement signed late Thursday by the Special Assistant to the National Chairman on Communication and Strategy, Simon Imobo-Tswam, Ayu said a PDP Federal Government would rescue the country, reunite the people and put an end to the ongoing carnage.
The statement was titled ‘We’ll re-unite Nigeria, end carnage, Come 2023 – Ayu’.
The former Senate President who regretted the collapse of security in the country, and the attendant bloodshed, said “The task before a new PDP Federal Government will be to reunite the people, put an end to the incessant bloodshed and restart the development of the country.”
Speaking further in his funeral oration, he said it was shameful that Nigeria was being cut off physically from the centre by terrorists.
He said, “It’s a shame that Nigeria is being cut off physically by terrorists. Nigerians can’t travel by road. They can’t travel by rail. And they can’t travel by air, either. Our airports are now prime targets.
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“PDP must return peace and security to this country. There is too much carnage under the current administration. The new PDP government will do everything possible to make this carnage stops.”
He described the late elder statesman as a “mentor, torch-bearer and shining star” who believed in unity and the politics of development.
“He was a teacher and torchbearer who mentored many. And in politics, he was a shining light who opened the door for the younger generations of the Tiv elite.
“He inspired us to look up, to dream big and today, we too have become leaders. As torchbearers also, we must inspire the younger generations to dream big and contribute their quota in making Benue and Nigeria great,” he added.
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Contact: [email protected] | https://punchng.com/2023-pdpll-reunite-nigeria-end-insecurity-ayu/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:48Z |
Colorado couple charged in toddler’s fentanyl death
A Colorado couple face felony charges in connection with the fentanyl death of their 1-year-old child, whom prosecutors say died after ingesting enough of the extremely lethal drug to kill an adult.
Alonzo Montoya, 31, and Nicole Casias, 30, of the Denver suburb of Brighton were charged with child abuse resulting in death and distribution of a controlled substance in connection with the girl’s death on Jan. 2, the 17th Judicial District’s Office said in a statement Thursday.
It said the Adams County Coroner had determined that the child died after ingesting fentanyl and that Montoya and Casias “participated in illicit drug activity” in the child’s presence at home before and after her death.
Montoya was being held on $250,000 bail at the Adams County Jail. Bail was set at $100,000 for Casias. A status hearing for both was set for Monday.
Telephone and email messages seeking comment from Casias’ attorney, Rachel Lanzen, were not immediately returned. Montoya was being represented by the public defender’s office, which doesn’t comment on pending cases.
Court records that would provide details on the accusations weren’t immediately available from the county district court. Christopher Hopper, a district attorney’s spokesman, said he could not provide additional information.
Fentanyl is an unpredictable and powerful synthetic painkiller blamed for driving an increase in fatal drug overdoses. It’s 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. | https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/nation-world/story/2022-03-31/colorado-couple-charged-in-toddlers-fentanyl-death | 2022-04-01T01:51:49Z |
Beginning April 4, Sarah Kite with the University of Tennessee Extension Office, will be at our center to conduct arthritis exercise classes. The classes will be every Monday and Wednesday in April from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sarah’s exercise class here at the center is a four-week program that is designed for people with arthritis to reduce pain and stiffness, help maintain or improve mobility, muscle strength, and functional ability. Arthritis sufferers of all ages can benefit from this low-impact course.
Sarah’s exercises are based on the Arthritis Foundation’s Exercise Program. It is designed to improve endurance and joint motion. The group exercise also encourages peer interaction and socialization. Sarah will instruct participants in the basic principles of arthritis exercise, correct body mechanics, and joint protection.
The specific objectives of the exercise program are:
• To relieve stiffness
• To restore or maintain joint range of motion
• To increase flexibility of the structures surrounding the joint.
• To restore or maintain muscle strength.
• To improve posture.
• To increase endurance.
These things are included in the exercise program:
• Range-of-motion exercises
• Strengthening exercises
• Endurance activities
• Weight-bearing activities
• Balance and coordination activities
• Body awareness activities
• Breathing exercises
• Relaxation techniques
• Health education
• Practical tips
• Games and special activities
• Activities to promote self-image
The benefits of this program will help to reduce pain, improve your outlook, decrease depression, increase confidence in your ability to exercise, increase your flexibility and range of motion, increase your energy, get better sleep, and decrease doctor visits.
Over 50 million people have some form of arthritis. The most common form of arthritis for seniors is osteoarthritis. This form of arthritis is only one of over 100 forms of arthritis. It is estimated that 33.6% of people over 65 are affected by this disease.
Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage, the tissue that cushions the ends of the bones within the joints, breaks down and wears away. With less cartilage, the bone junctions become inflamed and swollen. New, abnormal bone may form and the existing bone may be destroyed or reshaped forming irregularities. This condition is thought to be caused by years of joint use and stress of the tissues surrounding them as well as hereditary factors. The joints most commonly affected by arthritis are weight-bearing joints, such as feet, knees, hips, and spine. Other joints, such as finger and thumb joints, may also be affected.
Some of the early signs and symptoms of arthritis are discounted by people as just a sign of aging. Although arthritis is not a curable condition, the sooner a diagnosis is made, the sooner appropriate treatment can begin that can hopefully prevent additional joint damage. Signs that indicate you may have arthritis include:
• Early morning stiffness
• Joint swelling in a least one place
• Loss of joint flexibility
• Redness, warmth, tenderness or pain in any joint
• Fever, weakness and/or unexplained weight loss
If you suspect you may be affected by arthritis, a visit to a health care professional is a must. A visit to your primary care professional is a good place to start. Because arthritis can be hard to diagnose, a referral to a rheumatologist may be necessary. A rheumatologist is a doctor that specializes in joint pain. An orthopedic surgeon can also treat arthritis. This doctor is trained in the surgical treatment of bone and joint problems that affect movement. A nurse practitioner can do physical exams, detect any changes in your condition, and provide medication. A nurse practitioner works closely with your doctor to provide the best treatment.
Relief of pain is the primary goal in treating arthritis, which increases comfort and performance of daily activities. Some treatments of arthritis include:
• Medications. Your doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. These medications can help relieve pain and swelling in all types of arthritis. Acetaminophen can also ease arthritis pain. Be sure to follow your doctor’s orders about these medications because they can have side effects, especially if they are taken for a long period of time.
• Creams and gels. These are rubbed on the affected joint. There is also capsaicin patches that are placed over the affected joint. The capsaicin in these patches is the ingredient that gives peppers their heat.
• Maintaining a healthy weight can protect your joints.
• Be physically active. Physical activity decreases pain and improves function, mood, and quality of life. People with arthritis should try to get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They recommend organized physical activity programs such as the one we have here at the center.
The last thing you may want to do is exercise if you have pain in your joints, but it is actually one of the best things you can do. Aerobic, strength-training, and stretching exercises can all be helpful. Regular exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight.
Although you might think exercise will aggravate your joint pain and stiffness, that’s not the case. Lack of exercise can actually make your joints even more painful and stiff. That’s because keeping your muscles and surrounding tissue strong is crucial to maintaining support for your bones. Not exercising weakens those supporting muscles, creating more stress on your joints.
The hardest part of participating in a program like this one is taking the first step. We assure you that if you will come for a class, it can make a big difference in your quality of life. Just ask yourself if you want to live in pain? Come give it a try. It may be the best decision you have ever made.
Please call 423-781-7632 for any questions and to reserve a space. The classes are for any ability. Just because you have not exercised in years does not mean it will be too difficult for you.
Below are some activities at the center for the next few days. If you are at least 50 years of age, you are welcome to join us.
• April 1: 9 to 10 a.m. — Games; 10 a.m. — Bingo with Hospice of Chattanooga; 11 a.m. — Celebrating National Fun Day
• April 4: 9 to 10 a.m. — Health Check with Starr Regional Medical Center; 10 a.m. — Bingo with Etowah Ladies AMVETS; 11 a.m. — Arthritis Exercise with UT Extension Agency
• April 5: 9 to 10 a.m. — Games; 10 a.m. — Name That Tune with Humana; 11 a.m. — Celebrating National Tater Day
• April 6: 9 to 10 a.m. — Games; 10 a.m. — Bingo; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Arthritis Exercise
• April 8: 9 to 10 a.m. — Games; 10 a.m. — Exercise with Tonya Phenix; 11:30 a.m. — Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Sue Walker is the executive director of the Etowah Area Senior Citizens Center. She may be reached by calling 423-781-7632. | https://www.dailypostathenian.com/community/article_ea6dab8b-a285-5d9d-bbd7-97f3f2aff9c1.html | 2022-04-01T01:51:49Z |
There are over 800,000 people in the Saskatchewan with a driver’s licence.
On any given day around 60,000 of those people are suspended from driving.
Drivers can be suspended for driving impaired and other unsafe driving behaviours, including missing required driver education classes, or because they have a medical issue that affects their ability to drive.
To help catch those who do decide to drive with a suspended licence or unregistered vehicle, police use Automated Licence Plate Readers (ALPRs).
There are 185 ALPRs installed in law enforcement vehicles across the province. The cameras can flag one plate per second.
Last year police caught 2,000 people driving while suspended.
That means their car is impounded for a minimum of a month and they are headed back to court.
Tyler McMurchy is with SGI, in April they along with law enforcement are shining a traffic safety spotlight on suspended drivers and unregistered vehicles.
McMurchy says there are some pretty significant consequences for driving with a suspended licence.
“Not only is your vehicle going to be impounded for a minimum of a month, depending on what originally got you suspended in the first place and the outcome of the court proceedings you’re looking at an expensive fine or driving prohibitions you may even end up with some jail time if there is a criminal code violation with that driving suspension,” McMurchy said.
Getting caught driving an unregistered vehicle will result in a $580 fine and could lead to vehicle impoundment.
An unregistered vehicle also runs the risk of being an uninsured vehicle.
“When someone drives with a suspended licence or in an unregistered vehicle they may not have insurance coverage if they cause a collision,” said Penny McCune, chief operating officer of the Auto Fund.
“Uninsured drivers can find themselves on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars resulting from damages and injury benefits to the other people involved.”
Global News was invited for a ride along with Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan to see the ALPRs in action.
During the ride the plate reader flagged an unregistered driver and Constable Kevin Bowes handed out a fine of $580.
Bowes says they are helping the public’s wallet by keeping these violators off the road.
“People come up and ask us what the cameras are on the roof and when we explain the system they overwhelmingly say that’s a good idea,” Bowes said.
“They don’t want suspended drivers on the road who aren’t insured. They don’t want vehicles on the road that aren’t insured.” | https://globalnews.ca/news/8726736/automated-licence-plate-readers-saskatchewan-police/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:49Z |
Kyle Palmieri, Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock scored in the third period Thursday night for the host New York Islanders, who completed a home-and-home sweep of the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 5-2 win in Elmont, N.Y.
Sebastian Aho and Oliver Wahlstrom scored 11 seconds apart in the first for the Islanders, who beat the Blue Jackets 4-3 in Ohio on Tuesday night. Goalie Semyon Varlamov earned the win Thursday by making 30 saves.
The Islanders have won 10 of 15 (10-4-1) to move ahead of Columbus into ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have 69 points, but New York has two games in hand.
Emil Bemstrom and Justin Danforth scored fewer than two minutes apart in the second for the Blue Jackets, who have lost five straight (0-3-2). Goalie Elvis Merzlikins recorded 31 saves.
The Islanders had the game’s first eight shots before Aho and Wahlstrom scored on consecutive chances.
Aho, stationed at the Blue Jackets’ blue line, picked off a clearing pass by Dean Kukan and exchanged the puck with Brock Nelson before firing a shot that clipped off Merzlikins’ glove at the 8:39 mark.
Zach Parise won the subsequent faceoff with Cole Sillinger and Barzal sent a backhanded chip to Parise to begin a 2-on-1 opportunity. With Blue Jackets defenseman Gabriel Carlsson trailing a step behind, Parise dished backwards to Wahlstrom, whose shot sailed past the sprawling Merzlikins.
The Blue Jackets tied the score with their own flurry around the midway point of the second. Varlamov turned back a shot by Brendan Gaunce and Jake Bean’s shot sailed wide of the net before Eric Robinson collected the rebound and backhanded a pass into the crease to Bemstrom. He scored over Varlamov’s stick shoulder 8:47 into the period.
The Blue Jackets tied the score 99 seconds later when Danforth, battling for position in the crease with Noah Dobson, backhanded home a rebound of a shot by Vladislav Gavrikov.
Palmieri broke the tie 3:16 into the third when he fired a shot over Merzlikins’ glove shoulder and into the top of the net. Barzal added an unassisted insurance goal with 10:08 left, when he outraced Gavrikov and Andrew Peeke to a loose puck in the neutral zone and beat Merzlikins on the breakaway.
Pulock scored a length-of-the-ice empty-netter with 56.7 seconds remaining.
–Field Level Media | https://sportsnaut.com/islanders-break-away-for-second-straight-win-over-blue-jackets/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:49Z |
President Joe Biden set off international alarms over the weekend when he committed the United States to the goal of regime change in Russia. "For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power," Biden said of Russian leader Vladimir Putin during a speech in Poland. The last time the United States set itself to removing a foreign leader, in Iraq in 2003, the American plan turned into a long-running disaster. Now, with war raging in Ukraine, it would seem a terrible idea for the president to announce that the goal of U.S. forces is to remove Putin from his position atop the Russian government.
The White House was quick to explain that it was all a mistake -- Biden's mistake. Worried aides put out word that Biden's statement was not in his prepared remarks. They made clear that no, no, no, United States policy was not regime change in Russia. "He was not discussing Putin's power in Russia, or regime change," a freaked-out White House official told Fox News. "The president's point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin's power in Russia or regime change." So when Biden said Putin "cannot remain in power," he meant that Putin cannot remain in power over his neighbors.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken performed the formal cleanup Sunday during a news conference in Jerusalem. Unbidden, he said, "As you know, and as you've heard us say repeatedly, we do not have a strategy of regime change in Russia or anywhere else." Blinken said any regime change in Russia would be up to the Russian people.
Finally, Biden, back home, said flatly, "I'm not walking anything back." Asked what he meant when he said Putin "cannot remain in power," Biden explained, "I was expressing the moral outrage I felt towards this man."
Indeed, some of the administration's most fervent supporters argued that the president was right to say what he did. The pro-Biden Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin wrote that "Biden reminds us how fortunate we are to have an experienced diplomat and energetic proponent of our democratic alliances rather than Putin's poodle," by which she meant former President Donald Trump.
Democratic fundraiser Bill Kristol, who as a Republican was one of the loudest and most influential proponents of regime change in Iraq in 2003, compared Biden's retracted "cannot remain in power" statement to President Ronald Reagan's famous declaration at the Berlin Wall in 1987: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
It was a laughable comparison. For one thing, Reagan's line was not a gaffe. In the weeks leading up to the Berlin speech, some in the Reagan administration opposed the proposed "tear down this wall" declaration. The president favored it, and thus it stayed in the speech. In an article on the National Archives website, Peter Robinson, the Reagan speechwriter who penned the speech, included an image of the page of Reagan's speech that contained the declaration. There it was, in black and white. So "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" was not a gaffe. It was a planned remark.
Second, the Reagan White House and administration did not rush to disavow the president's words. The "tear down this wall" passage became the most famous of the speech, and one of the most famous of Reagan's presidency, because it dramatically expressed Ronald Reagan's feelings and policy toward Communism. In the days that followed, the president did not run away from his own words.
Third, Reagan called for Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader, to allow freedom in his country and the nations under Soviet control. Reagan did not call for the removal of Gorbachev. Perhaps if Biden had said, in today's circumstances, "Mr. Putin, end this war," there would have been some analogy. But that is not what Biden said.
After Biden's gaffe, there emerged a debate over whether it was really a gaffe -- whether Biden said exactly what he intended to say and then allowed his staff to back away from it to avoid the charge that the U.S. is trying to remove Putin, even though, in fact, the U.S. is trying to.
Just a week earlier, the historian Niall Ferguson argued that the Biden administration had decided to make Russian regime change its goal in the Ukraine war -- in other words, to use the war to try to bring Putin down, rather than to seek a quick and peaceful resolution to stop the killing.
After Biden delivered his speech, Ferguson tweeted: "As I said last week, the Biden administration has apparently decided to instrumentalize the war in Ukraine to bring about regime change in Russia, rather than trying to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible. Biden just said it out loud. This is a highly risky strategy." Instead, Ferguson wrote, "the U.S. should be doing everything in its (considerable) power to broker a ceasefire and compromise peace."
Now, after Biden's "cannot remain in power" gaffe, or non-gaffe, the U.S. strategy is not clear. If it was a gaffe, it was a sign of a disturbing trend. As Glenn Greenwald noted, "This episode marked at least the third time in the past couple weeks that White House officials had to walk back Biden's comments, following his clear decree that U.S. troops would soon be back in Ukraine and his prior warning that the U.S. would use chemical weapons against Russia if they used them first." If it was not a gaffe, it was perhaps even more disturbing.
So if it was a gaffe, it was bad. If it was not a gaffe, it was worse. What it was not was the reincarnation of Reagan's "tear down this wall" declaration. Of that, everyone can be sure.
Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner. | https://www.meridianstar.com/opinion/columns/byron-york-bidens-blunder-was-no-reagan-replay/article_29847de6-9e2e-5123-a438-75f71dec27b3.html | 2022-04-01T01:51:49Z |
Letters to the Editor: April 1, 2022
Open dam, then
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Open dam, then
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Regarding the letter to the editor Let Thames flow (March 29)
Why does city council believe the reasons to let the river flow do not apply to the Fanshawe Dam?
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) does not let the river flow much in the summer, as that would reduce the fees it gets from camping and recreational water use.
If council believes letting the river run is important, it should ask UTRCA to do that in July and August. If not, then look for some compromise with those who want a bit of recreation downstream.
John Fracasso, London
Doesn’t add up
The average London salary is $37,050 a year.
The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in London currently is $1,379.
The general rule is to budget 30 per cent of your gross monthly income for rent.
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I live in a building where, in three years, the rent has gone from $825 a month to new renters paying $1,350 a month. How is this legal?
Brad Lenny, London
Too high, too costly
The proposed 22-storey building at the corner of Fanshawe Park Road and Richmond Street, with affordable one-bedroom units that might cost $880 a month still are out of the reach of most seniors who get less than $1,000 a month.
Also, the 22-storey tower is much too high for the London fire department to reach in the event of a fire. It’s a bad idea from the get-go.
The same applies to the 16-storey building on 117 Baseline Rd.
Donald Doyle, London
Go over, not under
I agree with Johanne Nichols’ letter to the editor Why an underpass? (March 31) about the Adelaide Street underpass at the CPR crossing.
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It would be more expensive to remove soil than to pour the concrete for a six lane bridge.
Adelaide Street south of Oxford Street already has a significant drop in elevation. Think what another eight to 10 metres will add. And all that asphalt sending a five-centimetre cloudburst downhill? Have the engineers not heard about the floods on the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto?
And in building the underpass, will there not be major disruptions for rail traffic? The building of a bridge would make for very little.
Now, when they are looking at a huge over-run, is the time to do what should have been the choice in the first place.
Robert Drummond, Exeter
WHO cares?
The World Health Organization rejected Medicago’s Canadian-made COVID-19 vaccine, not because of safety or efficacy issues, but because Philip Morris, the tobacco company, is a shareholder. Meanwhile, WHO member states require vaccines to improve vaccination rates.
I would have thought the WHO would encourage industries with a history of producing harmful products to invest in healthy or health improving products.
Steve Dibert, London | https://lfpress.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-april-1-2022 | 2022-04-01T01:51:50Z |
Election set to be delayed due to ballot paper issues
Antrim's Ruairi McCann in action against Westmeath in Sunday's NFL Division 3 defeat to the Midlanders at Corrigan Park. Pic by John McIlwaine
Antrim............................................0-12
Westmeath....................................1-13
AT ONE stage in their campaign, Antrim sat top of the Allianz Division Three National Football League table with promotion to Division Two a certainty.
But this four point Corrigan Park defeat at the hands of Westmeath meant they end up with nothing.
Looking good throughout the campaign with three wins, and a draw against Laois, they looked to be high flying but that defeat by Louth lowered their colours somewhat, leaving this final game against Westmeath a make or break affair.
Put bluntly, they have only themselves to blame, ending up in the position that they were dependant on others if their ambition of a second straight promotion was to be achieved.
For manager Enda McGinley and the team it must be gut wrenching and it will take serious motivation to lift them for their Ulster championship clash with Cavan, even at Corrigan Park, in a few weeks time.
The Saffrons' hopes of promotion were fading fast - long before a second half collapse saw their five-point lead diminish in the space of two minutes.
In control early on, a black card issued to Tomas McCann briefly halted the hosts in their tracks, but McGinley’s men regrouped and put themselves in the position to keep up their end of the final day conundrum.
Things were still going well for the Saffrons until their five point lead disappeared in the blink of an eye, as John Heslin thumped home a penalty and two points quickly followed.
Westmeath had the momentum thereafter and made the most of it, outscoring Antrim 1-6 to-0-2 in the final 20 minutes to leave Corrigan Park with a win that looked unlikely for the majority of the game.
Antrim: M Byrne, J McAuley, R Johnston, P Healy, D Lynch, M Johnston, D McAleese (0-1), M McCann, K Small, T McCann, M Jordan (0-1), R McCann (0-2), R Murray (0-3), P Shivers (0-3), C Murray (0-2). Substitutions: P McAleer for T McCann , J Gribbon for D Lynch , J Laverty for M Johnston , O Eastwood for P Shivers , E McCabe for M Jordan.
Westmeath: J Daly, J Smith, K Maguire, J Gonoud (0-1), D Giles, N Harte (0-1), D Lynch, J Lynam, S Duncan, R Connellan (0-1), R O’Toole (0-1), S McCartan, L Dolan, J Heslin (1-5), A Gardiner (0-1). Substitutions: K Martin for S Duncan , L Loughlin (0-2) for L Dolan , K O’Sullivan for K Martin , B Kelly for A Gardiner , R Forde (0-1) for J Lynam.
Referee: James Molloy (Galway).
* Full report in this week's paper. | http://limavadynorthernconstitution.virtualcms.it/gaa/2022/03/31/news/antrim-s-footballers-miss-out-on-promotion-23452/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:50Z |
Over a month into Russia’s invasion of its neighbour, Vladimir Putin’s troops have devastated cities like Mariupol with shelling, killing at least 5,000 people in the port city alone.
But they have struggled to take any significant territory.
Moscow insisted things were going to plan as it said this week it would scale back attacks on capital Kyiv and the northern city of Chernigiv.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the promise as a red herring, and US President Joe Biden said he was “sceptical.”
Instead, the US and NATO shared Zelensky’s reading that Moscow may be seeking to regroup and resupply for its offensive in the eastern Donbas region.
Russia has moved about 20% of its troops from around Kyiv after failing to capture the city, which continues to be targeted by Russian airstrikes, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
“It’s not exactly clear where they’re going to go,” he said, “but we don’t see any indication that they’re going to be sent home.”
He said the “best assessment” is that the troops are “going to be repositioned, probably into Belarus, to be refitted and resupplied and used elsewhere in Ukraine.”
He noted that Russia has said it plans to “reprioritize” its operations in the Donbas area.
Putin isolated?
Highlighting Russia’s underestimation of Ukraine’s dogged defence, Biden said there was some indication that Putin was out of touch with the situation on the ground.
Western intelligence has warned the Russian leader’s advisers may be “afraid to tell him the truth” about battlefield losses or the damage that sanctions have wrought on the country’s economy.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the assessments, saying Western officials “don’t understand President Putin, they don’t understand the mechanism for taking decisions and they don’t understand the style of our work”.
Biden was notably cautious.
Putin “seems to be self-isolated and there’s some indication that he has fired or put under house arrest some of his advisers,” the US president told reporters.
But he said he did not want to put “too much stock” into the reports.
As shells rained down on Kyiv, a Ukraine foreign ministry spokesman accused Russian troops of looting homes as they left one area.
“Electronics, clothes, shoes, cosmetics. This is not an army. This is a disgrace,” tweeted Oleg Nikolenko.
Shells also continued hitting the northern city of Chernigiv, where the governor of the region, Vicheslav Chaus, poured scorn on Moscow’s claim it was deescalating.
“At the minimum, it is regrouping,” he wrote on Telegram.
The Ukrainian commander in the eastern city of Kharkiv also warned Russian forces were “regrouping to attack.”
General Pavlo “Maestro” told AFP his message to the Russian invading force was: “Go home while you’re still alive” - though he warned against underestimating Moscow.
Ukraine did confirm Russian troops had pulled back from the Chernobyl nuclear site after occupying it for weeks - reportedly taking an unspecified number of captured servicemen with them.
US taps oil stockpile
With his economy crippled by unprecedented international sanctions, Putin yesterday sought to leverage Russia’s status as an energy power, warning that EU members will need to set up ruble accounts from today to pay for Russian gas.
The EU has joined the United States in imposing sanctions - however, mindful of their own power needs, the bloc has stopped short of an energy embargo.
“If such payments are not made, we will consider this a breach of obligations on the part of our buyers” and existing contracts would be stopped, Putin said.
Germany, which before Putin’s offensive in Ukraine imported 55% of its gas supplies from Russia, insisted that it will pay in euros or dollars as stipulated in contracts.
Berlin and Paris were also “preparing” for Russian gas to simply stop flowing, France’s economy minister said.
Biden moved to mitigate rising fuel prices by announcing a release from strategic US reserves of a million barrels daily for six months.
It is by far the largest tapping of the stockpiles in US history, and amounts to augmenting global supplies by about 1%.
Pivot to Donbas?
Military experts believe that with thousands of Russian troops killed and many thousands more injured, Moscow has to ditch efforts to advance simultaneously in the north, east and south.
Its focus instead has turned towards capturing more urban centres in the Donbas area including Mariupol, while continuing to fire long-range assaults on other cities.
Russia forces have encircled Mariupol, which the Kremlin wants to capture to link the cities of Donetsk and Lugansk, under de facto Russian control, and the Crimean peninsula.
But a larger push into the Donbas region could herald a more prolonged conflict, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said yesterday.
“It might not just be a matter of days and weeks, it could be much longer than that,” he said.
In Mariupol, where tens of thousands have for weeks been under siege with little water, food or electricity, Ukrainian authorities sent 45 buses in for a new rescue mission.
The international Red Cross said it was “ready to lead the safe passage operation” today. Previous repeated attempts to get civilians out have collapsed.
Zelensky warned his war-torn nation to brace in particular for a new Russian onslaught in the Donbas.
“There is an accumulation of Russian troops for new strikes in Donbas and we are preparing for it,” he said in a video message late Wednesday. “We will fight for every metre of our land.” | https://www.thephuketnews.com/putin-gas-threat-as-ukraine-west-dismiss-de-escalation-claim-83653.php | 2022-04-01T01:51:49Z |
No jail for LA building owner over explosion that hurt 12
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The owner of a downtown Los Angeles building where an explosion injured 12 firefighters has been allowed to enter a judicial diversion program that allows him to avoid jail time. A court commissioner on Wednesday granted Steve Sungho Lee’s request to enter the two-year program. Lee owned a commercial building that caught fire in May 2020. Firefighters on the roof and inside the building had to run for their lives when a ball of flames erupted from a vaping supply warehouse. City prosecutors filed more than 160 charges against Lee and his companies over alleged safety violations. They’ll be dismissed if Lee follows the diversion requirements. | https://ktvz.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/03/31/no-jail-for-la-building-owner-over-explosion-that-hurt-12-2/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:50Z |
Stonecrest Golf League to begin May 3, sign-ups due the same day
NEW BEAVER − The Stonecrest Golf League held its annual reorganizational meeting Tuesday at the Stonecrest Clubhouse.
The league will start play with a practice round on April 26. The regular season will start on May 3, with the first half ending June 28. The second half will begin on July 12 and end on Sept. 6.
The league will have a member/guest outing at Beaver Creek Meadows on June 26, which will start at 9 a.m. Guests are welcome at a cost of $10. Only league members are eligible for skill prizes.
The league playoffs, final outing, and banquet will be on Sept. 11 at Stonecrest, which will start at 9 a.m.
The league dues is $45, and must be paid by May 3 for scores to count. It can be paid to a league officer or left at the Stonecrest Pro Shop.
Participants are instructed to enclose it in an envelope and mark it " Stonecrest Golf League dues − Dick Verone."
The league sign-up board is posted at the Stonecrest Clubhouse, with the deadline being May 3.
New members are welcome. The league officers are Treasurer Dick Verone and Secretary Ron Aniceti.
A league rule has been changed. If one misses a round or rounds because of injury, they will not be assessed a -4 points for that round or rounds. They must notify Aniceti before the round or rounds. | https://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/story/sports/local/2022/03/31/stonecrest-golf-league-to-begin-may-3/65347532007/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:51Z |
Silver Dawn becomes the cruise line's third new ship to debut in nine months
LISBON, Portugal, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Silversea Cruises, the leading ultra-luxury cruise line, officially named its 10th ship, Silver Dawn, in Lisbon on March 31. Executives from Royal Caribbean Group®, Silversea Cruises, and Fincantieri, as well as local dignitaries and esteemed guests, celebrated the milestone with a formal ceremony and gala dinner. An expression of Silversea's rapid expansion, Silver Dawn becomes the cruise line's third new ship to debut in nine months. The launch of Silver Dawn also marks the debut of Otium, travel's most indulgent new wellness programme, as well as the next iteration of Silversea's S.A.L.T. culinary programme.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8948652-silversea-christens-silver-dawn-in-lisbon-otivm-wellness-programme/
FIRST: THE NAMING CEREMONY MARKS SILVER DAWN'S OFFICIAL DEBUT
After Royal Caribbean Group's customary bagpipe performance, which opened the formal naming ceremony, performers took to the stage, entertaining attendees with a performance that weaved a narrative from the 2021 launch of Silver Moon to the modern day debut of Silver Dawn. Singers recited the national anthems of the U.S.A., Italy, and Portugal, before a religious leader blessed the ship and dignitaries delivered speeches. The newly named Godmother of Silver Dawn, Nilou Motamed—an influential food and travel editor, tastemaker, and television personality—subsequently cut the ribbon to trigger a champagne bottle to smash on the ship's hull, signalling the end of the ceremony.
"Celebrating the naming of Silver Dawn in Lisbon marked an incredibly proud moment for all involved," said Jason Liberty, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. "I thank and congratulate Roberto Martinoli and our entire team, including Captain Failla and the crew, as well as everyone at Fincantieri, our ship building partners. Silver Dawn is a jewel in the Silversea fleet and speaks to Royal Caribbean Group's commitment to delivering the best vacation experiences in a responsible way."
"An evolution of our unique take on luxury, Silver Dawn is the third Silversea ship to be named in the last nine months," said Roberto Martinoli, President & CEO, Silversea Cruises. "As well as S.A.L.T., our immersive culinary programme, Silver Dawn enriches guests' travels with Otium, our indulgent new wellness programme, which is inspired by the ancient Roman lifestyle. She really is magnificent. I extend my gratitude to Jason Liberty and all involved at Royal Caribbean Group, as well as to the team at Silversea, Fincantieri, and Captain Failla and his crew—our most valuable asset. Moreover, I proudly welcome Nilou Motamed as the Godmother of Silver Dawn."
NILOU MOTAMED: GODMOTHER OF SILVER DAWN
An Emmy-nominated television personality and former editor-in-chief of some of the world's leading culinary brands, including Food & Wine and Epicurious, Nilou Motamed has been shaping the conversation in food and travel for more than 20 years. Born in Iran, raised in Paris and New York, Motamed is fluent in four languages — and believes "food is a language of its own, one in which everyone can find comfort, compassion, and community." Her passion for culinary adventures and far-flung cuisines has found a perfect match in Silversea's S.A.L.T. programme, which the New York resident first experienced with its launch in 2021.
"It's a great honour to have been selected as the Godmother of Silver Dawn and to have been on board for her naming ceremony in Lisbon," says Motamed. "Growing up in multiple countries has helped me recognize that one of our deepest common bonds, wherever we go, is food. Like many of Silversea's guests, I always pair my cultural explorations with culinary ones. That's why I've loved seeing the world through Silversea's S.A.L.T. programme. I've dedicated my career to celebrating authentic, local cuisines and cultures. For me, nothing is more rewarding than connecting with people over a shared meal."
"An authority in the world of food and drink, Nilou is a curious, intelligent traveller," continues Martinoli. "Her mission to delve deeper into cultures through food, to truly understand places and their people, reflects that of Silversea's culinary programme, S.A.L.T.. It is this strong spirit of discovery, this commitment to self-enrichment and complete cultural immersion, that makes Nilou the perfect Godmother for our newest ship. Aboard Silver Dawn, our guests will discover the world with purpose, while journeying in Silversea's trademark level of comfort."
SILVER DAWN AND THE OTIVM WELLNESS PROGRAMME
Silver Dawn becomes the latest ship in Silversea's popular Muse class. The most discernible difference between Silver Dawn and her sister ships, Silver Muse® and Silver MoonSM, is the new Otium wellness programme, which launches as a unique innovation. It is the only wellness programme at sea that incorporates champagne, chocolate and other gourmet snacks; signature cocktails; bespoke in-suite experiences; a Roman-influenced spa; and a wellness journey that extends throughout the ship. Grounded in the philosophy and traditions of the ancient Roman lifestyle, in which otium was a period of time dedicated exclusively to leisure, the Otium wellness programme is built on principles of indulgence, pleasure, and pampering. Spanning almost 800m2 on deck six, Silver Dawn's spa has been completely redesigned for a more seamless wellness journey.
Silver Dawn departs on her inaugural voyage on April 1, sailing from Lisbon to Barcelona. She is scheduled to sail in the Mediterranean until November, when she will cross the Atlantic Ocean, via the Canary Islands, to unlock the Caribbean and Central America for guests.
Silver Dawn's media kit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fqw01ry3zal9ev0/AAB2P40-DmLY3eOO_dclyYMRa?dl=0
Otium media kit:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/upusb70v71w576g/AADzlCltZ9j0D-tXpFvLMvgea?dl=0
Our latest blog post on Otium offers more details. Read it here:
https://discover.silversea.com/ships/silver-dawn/silver-dawn-otium-preview/
Find out more information about Silver Dawn, including her upcoming voyages:
https://www.silversea.com/ships/silver-dawn.html
About Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the ultra-luxury cruise industry, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard its intimate, all-suite vessels: Silver Dawn, Silver Shadow®, Silver Whisper®, Silver Spirit®, Silver Muse®, and Silver MoonSM – all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. With the inclusion of the expedition ships Silver Origin®, Silver Wind®, Silver Explorer®, and Silver Cloud®, Silversea's itineraries encompass all seven continents and feature worldwide luxury cruises to the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Galápagos, both Polar Regions, and hundreds of fascinating destinations in between. Silversea is also looking forward to the launch of two new ultra-luxury Nova-class ships. Browse Silversea's blog, Discover, and subscribe to receive the latest content directly into your inbox. Silversea Cruises is one of five cruise brands owned by global cruise company Royal Caribbean Group. (NYSE: RCL)
About Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is one of the leading cruise companies in the world with a global fleet of 61 ships traveling to more than 800 destinations around the world. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three award winning cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, and it is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, the brands have an additional 12 ships on order as of December 31, 2021. Learn more at www.royalcaribbeangroup.com or www.rclinvestor.com.
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SOURCE Silversea Cruises | https://www.ky3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/silversea-christens-silver-dawnsm-lisbon-introducing-otivm-travels-most-indulgent-new-wellness-programme/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:51Z |
Curio Wellness is cultivating a better way of life. As a trusted healthcare partner providing safe, effective and reliable products, we seek to continually elevate the healthcare conversation through education and patient experiences that are truly transformative. Whether for our patients, partners or employees, we seek to inspire and affect innovative healthcare solutions. | https://www.leafly.com/brands/curio-wellness/products/curio-wellness-strawberry-aurora-flower | 2022-04-01T01:51:52Z |
NEW YORK (AP) — Whoa! It’s a Double Aho!
Both NHL players named Sebastian Aho — one a defenseman for the New York Islanders, the other a forward for the Carolina Hurricanes — scored goals for their teams Thursday night.
And at nearly the exact same time.
According to Sportsnet Stats, the Islanders’ Aho scored his first goal of the season at 7:14 p.m. EDT in New York against Columbus.
Just 34 seconds later — and more than 500 miles away — the Hurricanes’ Aho scored his 31st goal in Carolina against Montreal. Both gave their teams 1-0 leads in the first period.
It’s not the first time the two have combined on a statistical oddity. In 2018, New York’s Aho committed a hooking penalty on Carolina’s Aho, causing MSG Networks Islanders play-by-play broadcaster Brendan Burke to exclaim: “A little Sebastian Aho-on-Sebastian Aho crime.”
The two Ahos are not related, by the way. The Islanders’ Aho, Sebastian Johannes Aho, is 26 and from Sweden. He has three career NHL goals in limited action.
The Hurricanes’ Aho, Sebastian Antero Aho, is 24 and from Finland. He’s a two-time NHL All-Star and has 176 career goals.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/isles-aho-hurricanes-aho-score-goals-at-almost-same-time/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2022-04-01T01:51:53Z |
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball finalized the rules change Thursday to bring back automatic runners in extra innings for a third straight season.
Despite an easing of pandemic restrictions, MLB and the players’ association agreed to keep the controversial rule that starts each team with a runner on second base during extra innings for the 2022 regular season.
The agreement regarding on-field rules modifications also includes expanding active rosters from 26 players to 28 from opening day on April 7 through May 1 this year, due to the delayed start of spring training.
Another new rule benefits Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani. With the designated hitter adopted in both leagues, pitchers who start games in the batting order can remain in the game as a DH after leaving the mound. A DH can also enter the game to pitch. That change will apply to multiple seasons.
“The expansion of the designated hitter and giving two-way players enhanced flexibility to showcase their talents will benefit the game for the foreseeable future,” union director of player services Kevin Slowey said in a statement. “The roster and extra-inning adjustments will also serve to protect the health and safety of players during what will be a unique 2022 season.”
The “zombie” runner modification was applied to the 2020 and 2021 regular seasons as part of adjustments due to COVID-19.
There were 78 extra-inning games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and the longest by innings were a pair of 13-inning contests at Houston, won by the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 29 and by Oakland on Aug. 7. Every previous season since 1901 had at least one game of 15 innings or longer
There were 233 extra-inning games last year, and the longest was the Dodgers’ 16-inning win at the San Diego Padres on Aug. 25.
The modification for 2020 and 2021 that shortened doubleheaders to scheduled seven-inning games was not continued for 2022.
Active rosters will be 28 from opening day through May 1; 26 from May 2 through Aug. 31; and 28 for the rest of the regular season. Last season, the limit was 26 from opening day through Aug. 31, then 28.
Rookie qualifications going forward will remain the same as in 2021, when September days were not excluded toward the threshold of 45 days for the exhaustion of rookie status in future seasons.
___
More AP MLB coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/sports/ap-sports/mlb-players-keep-automatic-runners-in-extras-for-2022/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:52Z |
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VIDEO: Montana Fish & Wildlife Montage Shows That It's A Tough Job
You've got to admire how hard Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks works. For the folks that are in the field, tagging wildlife and relocating bears, it must never get boring.
Just look at this incredible montage of grizzly footage, all filmed just in the summer and fall of 2017. It's a riotous, insane melange of roaring grizzlies, half-eaten deer, cute-but-scary cubs, and bears rocketing out of their relocation carriers like bats out of the infernal regions.
Above all, it makes you appreciate how much hard work and effort go into Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks's careful management of our state's natural resources.
The only thing we can think of that might improve this footage would be if it were set to Metallica's "Kill 'Em All." Or, better yet, to Hank Williams.
Thanks to MFWP for the hard work! And also for the grade A bear videos! | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2425802529939/video-montana-fish-wildlife-montage-shows-that-it-s-a-tough-job | 2022-04-01T01:51:54Z |
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A 24-year-old Wichita Falls woman with nine prior convictions was sentenced to a year in state jail for four new guilty pleas, three of them for thefts of vehicles.
Alexis Wood, who police said they are familiar with from numerous car thefts, also has one vehicle theft charge pending from January 2021.
One plea was for stealing a pickup from a business on January 10, 2022. Police located Wood on Avenue L with the stolen truck. Police said it was broken into and the steering column broken to start it without a key.
On May 10, 2021, a 2008 Scion was reported stolen from an auto repair shop.
That night, officers with the WFPD Tactical Unit doing surveillance on a location associated with stolen vehicles reported seeing the Scion leaving and pulling another vehicle with chains.
The vehicles were pulled over, and officers said Wood was driving the Scion and admitted she received it from someone at an automotive shop.
The theft before that was on May 3, 2021, when police saw a 2004 GMC speeding in the 800 block of Polk and turning into an alley on Roberts.
Officers approached and recognized Wood as the driver. The vehicle was reported stolen on April 30, 2021.
The charge still pending was filed on Jan. 26, 2021. The owner of a stolen Chevrolet Equinox reported she had been tracking her stolen vehicle, and it had stopped at Iowa Park Road and North Beverly Drive and that Wood had taken it from her home in Farmers Branch.
Police said they located the vehicle parked in front of the Dollar Saver, and they found Wood inside playing on a slot machine. They said the key fob in her possession opened the Equinox. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/local-news/wichita-falls-woman-sentenced-for-multiple-car-thefts/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:54Z |
An All Progressives Grand Alliance’s presidential aspirant, Ms Angela Johnson, has said 2023 is the time for the country to have the first female president.
Johnson, who owns UK-based Compassion Ministry, said this on Thursday at the party Secretariat in Umuahia, when she formally declared to run for president.
She expressed concern that the country had not enjoyed sustainable development since the return of democratic governance in 1999.
She said, “Our men, who were elected into leadership positions in the country, have failed us.
“Although they were elected to serve they end up being served by the people that elected them.”
“I am being led by God to restore the hope of millions of Nigerians, who have become hopeless in the Nigerian project.
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“God brought President Muhammadu Buhari and sustained him in office that I shall emerge,” she said.
She assured the state Chairman of APGA, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, that he would be the first party chairman in the country to present the first female President of Nigeria.
Johnson said that she had been approached to accept the Vice Presidential position by a leading political party.
She said that she declined because she was sent by God to be the country’s next president.
NAN | https://punchng.com/2023-time-for-nigerias-first-female-president-apga-aspirant/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:54Z |
Solomon Islands says China deal won’t include military base
Seeking to counter international fears over its new security alliance with China, the Solomon Islands said Friday it won’t allow China to build a military base there.
But that insistence will do little to ease concerns about the pact from the nation’s traditional partners that include New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
The leader of neighboring Micronesia added his voice to those expressing trepidation by invoking the bloody battles of World War II and warning that the pact could again see the South Pacific region become a battleground for much larger powers.
The Solomon Islands government said Thursday a draft agreement of the new security pact had been initialed by representatives from the Solomons and China and would be “cleaned up” and signed.
In a statement Friday, the Solomon Islands government said that “contrary to the misinformation promoted by anti-government commentators” the agreement did not invite China to establish a military base.
“Government is conscious of the security ramification of hosting a military base, and it will not be careless to allow such initiative to take place under its watch,” the statement said.
The statement seemed to more emphatically rule out the possibility of a base after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare had earlier told parliament it had no intention of asking China to build a base.
Sogavare said his nation sought only peace and prosperity, citing its foreign policy mantra: “We are friends to all and enemies to none.” He said it wasn’t a secret deal but a sovereign issue.
Under the terms of the draft agreement, China could send police, military personnel and other armed forces to the Solomon Islands “to assist in maintaining social order” and for a variety of other reasons. It could also send warships to the islands for stopovers and to replenish supplies, which had led to speculation about the possibility of China establishing a naval base on the South Pacific islands.
Micronesia President David Panuelo wrote a letter to Sogavare saying Micronesia had “grave security concerns” about the “novel and unprecedented” arrangement.
He said the two small nations had become battle grounds during World War II and that it could happen again as China, the U.S. and Australia asserted themselves in the region.
“And is it plausible that, once the spheres have been carved out, that our concerns about climate change — today’s problem — would manifest into all-too-real concerns about a war in our backyards, with our people, our islands, as the playground for children playing as adults?” Panuelo wrote to Sogavare.
Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said Friday that while it respected the Solomons’ sovereignty, the deal showed that China was acting aggressively in the region.
“We need to be very cautious here because the Chinese are incredibly aggressive, the tactics that they’re deploying into small island nations are quite remarkable,” he told Sky News.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern this week described the possibility of Chinese military forces stationed on the Solomon Islands as “the potential militarization of the region.” And the U.S. State Department said Washington did not believe China’s security forces and methods needed to be exported.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Thursday that “relevant parties should see the China-Solomon Islands security cooperation objectively and rationally and stop making irresponsible remarks.”
“Attempts to provoke, obstruct and undermine China’s friendly relations with the island countries is not popular and will not succeed,” Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.
“China-Solomon Islands cooperation does not target any third party and is not in conflict with Solomon Islands’ cooperation with other countries. Instead, it complements the existing regional cooperation mechanisms in a positive way,” he added.
The Solomon Islands, home to about 700,000 people, switched its diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to Beijing in 2019 — a contributing factor to riots in November last year between residents of different islands within the country.
Australian police have been in the capital, Honiara, maintaining peace since then under a bilateral security treaty established in 2017. It provides a legal basis for the rapid deployment of Australian police, troops and associated civilians in the event of a major security challenge.
Chinese police are already on the islands conducting a training mission.
The Federated States of Micronesia is home to about 100,000 people. It has diplomatic relations and considers itself a “friend” of China, as well as having a close relationship with the U.S. under a compact of free association.
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. | https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/nation-world/story/2022-03-31/solomon-islands-says-china-deal-wont-include-military-base | 2022-04-01T01:51:55Z |
The Athens City School Board met today for the Spring Retreat. We appreciate our school board members for their dedication and support for the students, staff, and community of Athens. It is exciting times at Athens City Schools with the new schools that are being built.
Pre-K registration packets for the 2022-2023 school year are now available to be picked up from any school office or the Administration Building. The registration date for 2022-2023 will be on April 8 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Ingleside School.
Also, kindergarten registration for the 2022-2023 school year will be on April 8 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at both City Park and Ingleside schools.
Summer Camp will be made available for students this summer from June 6 to July 1. The registration forms went home last week and are due back to your child’s school no later than April 4. It is a great learning opportunity for our students to be involved in this summer.
As always, enjoy a great week and weekend by staying healthy and active!
Julie Lofland is the Family Engagement Coordinator for Athens City Schools and may be reached by emailing jlofland@ athensk8.net | https://www.dailypostathenian.com/community/schools/article_a991769d-23d9-5311-ba34-4276e54218ce.html | 2022-04-01T01:51:55Z |
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — World Cup host Qatar and FIFA received scathing criticism from within soccer on Thursday, a day before the tournament’s draw.
On their own territory. In their own house. By a member of soccer’s extended family.
The president of Norwegian soccer — one of the few women ever to lead a FIFA member federation — stepped up on the stage at the governing body’s congress to air her concerns at the same venue that will host Friday’s draw.
Lise Klaveness, a judge and former national team player, spoke about Qatar’s record of protecting the rights of migrant workers — who have built tens of billion of dollars of projects needed for the World Cup — and its criminalization of homosexuality.
It was a rare show of dissent and tension in the typically tightly scripted annual meeting of soccer’s 211 member countries.
Klaveness targeted issues that have dogged Qatar and FIFA’s controversial choice of the Middle Eastern country for more than a decade only three weeks after she was elected in Norway with a mandate to pressure the World Cup organizers.
“In 2010, the World Cup was awarded by FIFA in unacceptable ways with unacceptable consequences,” Klaveness, who is gay, said in a six-minute speech. “There is no room for employers who do not secure the freedom and safety of World Cup workers. No room for hosts that cannot legally guarantee the safety and respect of LGBTQ+ people coming to this theater of dreams.”
FIFA had worked this week in Doha to keep the Norwegian’s speech off the main Congress agenda, and then gave the floor to rebuttals from a Latin American soccer official and the head of Qatar’s organizing committee.
“This is not the right forum and not the right moment,” Honduras soccer federation general secretary Jose Ernesto Mejia said in translated comments.
Still, there was some warm applause for Klaveness before she walked the length of the arena floor past the mostly-male delegates to return to the Norwegian delegation seats.
Klaveness was then chided by Hassan Al-Thawadi, who fronted Qatar’s bid more than 12 years ago and has led the organizing committee ever since.
“You did not attempt to contact us and did not attempt to engage in dialogue before addressing congress today,” he said, adding that Qatar’s door was open for people to “educate themselves before passing any judgement.”
Qatar and FIFA have consistently said taking the World Cup to the country, and to the Middle East for the first time, accelerated positive changes in the nation’s laws and society.
Al-Thawadi said the month-long tournament could be an antidote to “stereotypes and assumptions” about the region.
“We are acutely aware of the international spotlight that comes with the hosting rights for the greatest show on earth. We have embraced it,” he said.
Human rights and labor activists have also long been concerned that deaths on all Qatari construction projects, not just soccer stadiums, have not been accurately calculated nor investigated.
“The migrant workers injured or families of those who died in the buildup to the World Cup must be cared for,” Klaveness said. “FIFA must act as a role model.”
Qatar was later defended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who moved his home last year from Switzerland to live mostly in Doha.
“The work that has been done has been exemplary,” Infantino said. “Of course, not everything is perfect. But progress has been made.”
The war in Ukraine then took center stage as a three-minute video message was aired from the head of the country’s soccer federation, Andriy Pavelko.
Pavelko wore an armored vest as he spoke from Kyiv and talked of “resisting military aggression” from Russia while behind him people packed sandbags several meters high to protect a monument.
“Our children have suffered terrible psychological injuries and perhaps it is football that will help them forget all the horrors of war,” said Pavelko, who sits on the UEFA executive committee.
The Russian delegation watching in the room included Alexey Sorokin, a former FIFA Council member who led the organization of the 2018 World Cup in his country.
“I have worked with him for a very long time and we regret that he has these emotions,” Sorokin said of Pavelko’s film. “It is difficult for them, we understand that, but I’m here not to discuss politics or military activities.”
Although FIFA has banned Russian teams, including the men’s national team from World Cup qualifying, the soccer federation has not been suspended.
“We are not hiding,” Sorokin said before the meeting. “We have every right to be here.”
Infantino closed the three-hour congress by confirming he would run for re-election as FIFA president next year. No rival candidate is currently expected to challenge him at a congress that could be held in July 2023 in Australia or New Zealand on the eve of the Women’s World Cup in those countries.
Infantino earlier reminded member federations they were each due to receive $8 million in FIFA funds over the next four years — a seven-fold increase since he became president in 2016.
“The money has to go to our children all over the world, where it is most needed,” he said, citing soccer development projects.
FIFA expects to top $7 billion in revenue for the four-year commercial cycle ending with the World Cup in Qatar. That is a near-10% raise on total income of $6.4 billion tied to the World Cup in Russia.
The 2026 edition co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico should set records for total and average game attendance and hugely increase FIFA revenue. It will be the first 48-team World Cup with 80 games instead of the current 64 and using several NFL stadiums.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/sports/ap-sports/qatar-and-fifa-criticized-harshly-ahead-of-world-cup-draw/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:55Z |
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – On Thursday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced an award of $1.6 million that will go to eight addiction services providers statewide, allowing them to establish Mobile Medication Units (MMUs). The MMUs will dispense medications to treat substance use disorder, including methadone and buprenorphine.
Officials said this would allow individuals easier access to treatments and receive those medications without the need to travel to a brick-and-mortar facility. These MMUs will be the first in New York State to be allowed to be operated by existing Opioid Treatment Program Providers, made possible by a Federal Drug Enforcement Administration rule change
“The lack of transportation or the distance from a treatment facility should not act as a barrier to receiving necessary care for addiction, including lifesaving medication such as methadone,” Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said. “These new mobile medication units will offer comprehensive addiction services and bring important help directly to individuals in need, giving them another avenue to receive important help in their recovery.”
MMUs are designed to provide New Yorkers seeking treatment for a substance use disorder with access to multiple services in one location, addressing the ongoing need for comprehensive treatments statewide. Various services will be offered including admission assessments, medication induction, medication administration and observation, toxicology tests, and other medical services.
Additionally, MMUs will supplement existing mobile services throughout the state offered by various Opioid Treatment Program Providers including assessment of services, counseling, medications other than methadone for addiction treatment, telepractice, and transportation services. Awards are being administered through OASAS, which is funded through the Federal Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment Block Grant Supplemental.
The following providers are each receiving $200,000 in funding through this program:
Capital Region
- PROMESA, Inc.
Central NY
- Helio Health, Inc.
Finger Lakes
- Strong Memorial Hospital
Mohawk Valley
- Helio Health, Inc.
New York City
- Vocational Instruction Project (VIP) Community Services, Inc.
North Country
- Credo Community Center for the Treatment of Addictions, Inc.
Southern Tier
- Ithaca Alpha House Center Inc. DBA Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services
Western NY
- BestSelf Behavioral Health, Inc. | https://www.wivb.com/health/1m-to-establish-mobile-units-for-addiction-treatment/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:55Z |
In 2018, the City of Columbia created its Urban Forest Master Plan. Among other things, it aimed to increase the number of tree canopies across Columbia. Now, the city is in its maintenance phase of the plan, where it is performing upkeep on existing trees in city spaces.
“It's like an umbrella. How many times have you enjoyed being under a tree? You probably can't count the times,” William Folk said.
William Folk is a man who loves trees, as well as a concerned resident and professor at the University of Missouri.
Through research, he said he has learned that planting trees is the cheapest, most effective way to combat climate change.
“Over the many years I have lived in Missouri, “ Folk said. “I’ve planted thousands of trees on the farm.”
Folk added that urban tree canopies give cities a lower heat index – essentially a lower average temperature, which can lead to lower air conditioning bills.
This is important as global warming progresses, and is especially important for those living in the inner parts of Columbia, like those in Ward One.
“There are members of our community that are especially vulnerable to heat, that don't have the resources because of health effects, because of location,” Folk said.
Steve Fritz is the City Arborist and takes care of trees throughout the city. He said that trees and street right-of-ways are an important part of Columbia’s infrastructure.
Right now, Fritz is fulfilling the maintenance recommendation of the Urban Forest Master Plan created in 2018, which includes the removal of hazardous trees that are infected by the Emerald Ash Borer.
The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive beetle that kills ash trees. It was discovered in Columbia during summer 2019. Once a tree becomes infected, the canopy thins out. This is just another way of saying leaves fall and some branches die.
“You see more and more trees drop out and start to die," Fritz said. “And the issue with that is that once they die, they become pretty brittle and pretty dangerous pretty quickly.”
He added that the Urban Forest Master Plan is a living document that will adapt to the needs of Columbia and Columbians, which is where the City of Columbia Tree Board — a board that speaks for the trees — comes in.
Sam Wright, the chair of the Board, has a background in professional tree care and has held the position for six months.
He said new infrastructure and policy changes are needed to preserve more green space with better soil.
“If you notice driving through Columbia, very often we have a 4-foot-wide space in between the sidewalk and the street,” Sam Wright said. “And that's not a very big area to successfully cultivate a plant like a tree and it gets as big as a tree does.”
In Wright’s ideal world, the minimum amount of space for a mature tree would be 12 feet wide.
Longtime resident William Folk agreed, and said he’ll continue to speak at city council about the issue and about reversing the effects of climate change.
“We need solutions that reduce heat but also remove carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the environment at the same time and trees do that,” Folk said.
According to the Urban Forest Master Plan, more than 35 percent of Columbia is covered with tree canopies, but Folk wants to see more.
While the city is currently busy with the Emerald Ash Borer and planting new trees, the next phases of the Urban Forest Master Plan will be rolled out in the coming years on a flexible basis. That way, the city can be responsive in real-time. | https://www.kbia.org/2021-12-17/tree-canopies-are-rooted-in-columbias-urban-forest-master-plan | 2022-04-01T01:51:55Z |
The worldwide seafood industry is steeling itself for price hikes, supply disruptions and potential job losses as new rounds of economic sanctions on Russia make key species such as cod and crab harder to come by.
The latest round of U.S. attempts to punish Russia for the invasion of Ukraine includes bans on imports of seafood, alcohol and diamonds. The U.S. is also stripping “most favored nation status” from Russia. Nations around the world are taking similar steps.
Russia is one of the largest producers of seafood in the world, and was the fifth-largest producer of wild-caught fish, according to a 2020 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Russia is not one of the biggest exporters of seafood to the U.S., but it’s a world leader in exports of cod (the preference for fish and chips in the U.S.). It’s also a major supplier of crabs and Alaska pollock, widely used in fast-food sandwiches and processed products like fish sticks.
The impact is likely to be felt globally, as well as in places with working waterfronts. One of those is Maine, where more than $50 million in seafood products from Russia passed through Portland in 2021, according to federal statistics.
“If you’re getting cod from Russia, it’s going to be a problem,” said Glen Libby, an owner of Port Clyde Fresh Catch, a seafood market in Tenants Harbor, Maine. “That’s quite a mess. We’ll see how it turns out.”
Russia exported more than 28 million pounds (12.7 million kilograms) of cod to the U.S. from Jan. 1, 2020, to Jan. 31, 2022, according to census data.
The European Union and United Kingdom are both deeply dependent on Russian seafood. And prices of seafood are already spiking in Japan, a major seafood consumer that is limiting its trade with Russia.
In the U.K., where fish and chips are a cultural marker, shop owners and consumers alike are bracing for price surges. British fish and chip shops were already facing a squeeze because of soaring energy costs and rising food prices.
Andrew Crook, head of the National Federation of Fish Friers, said earlier this month that — even before the war — he expected a third of Britain’s fish and chip shops to go out of business. If fish prices shoot up even higher, “we are in real dire straits,” he said.
In mid-March, the U.K. slapped a 35% tariff hike on Russian whitefish, including chip-shop staples cod and haddock.
“We’re a massive part of U.K. culture and it would be a shame to see that go,” he told broadcaster ITV.
U.S. consumers are most likely to notice the impact of sanctions via price and availability of fish, said Kanae Tokunaga, who runs the Coastal and Marine Economics Lab at Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland.
“Because seafood is a global commodity, even if they are not harvested in Russia, you will notice the price hike,” Tokunaga said.
In the U.S., the dependence on foreign cod stems to the loss of its own once-robust Atlantic cod fishery that cratered in the face of overfishing and environmental changes. U.S. fishermen, based mostly in New England, brought more than 100 million pounds (45.4 million kilograms) of cod to the docks per year in the early 1980s, but the 2020 catch was less than 2 million pounds (900,000 kilograms).
Regulators have tried to save the fishery with management measures such as very low fishing quotas, and many fishermen targeting other East Coast groundfish species such as haddock and flounder now avoid cod altogether.
Seafood processors in Massachusetts are concerned about job losses due to loss of Russian products, Democratic U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, who does support sanctions on Russia, said.
“I have heard from seafood processors in my home state with concerns about potential sudden effects of a new, immediate ban on imports on their workforce, including hundreds of union workers in the seafood processing industry,” he said on the Senate floor in February.
For U.S. producers of seafood staples such as fish and chips, the lack of Russian cod could mean pivoting to other foreign sources, said Walt Golet, a research assistant professor at the University of Maine’s School of Marine Sciences.
“We might be able to bring in more from Norway, a little more from Canadian fisheries,” Golet said. “It really is driven by the price of those imports.”
As an alternative, producers and consumers could try underutilized fish species caught domestically, such as Atlantic pollock and redfish, said Ben Martens, executive director of Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association.
“Maybe this is a time to use haddock or hake or maybe monkfish, something different,” Martens said. “If it’s going to disrupt supply chains it does present an opportunity for other species to fill that void.”
—Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press
RELATED: Marine watchdog urges federal government to crack down on seafood fraud | https://www.interior-news.com/business/seafood-biz-braces-for-losses-of-jobs-fish-due-to-sanctions/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:55Z |
Seven recent charges involving damage to property including broken windows and graffiti have been concluded with charges to a 46-year-old Regina man.
Regina police say the majority of these cases occurred between March 25 and 28, 2022. However, a case from February of this year has also been linked through an investigation into the more recent incidents.
Here is a look at the incident dates and locations:
- Feb. 18th – 1400 block Broadway Avenue – Graffiti
- March 22nd – 400 block North Albert Street – Broken windows & Graffiti
- March 25th – 28th – 2400 block Victoria Avenue – Graffiti
- March 27th – 28th – 4800 block Gordon Road – Graffiti on two businesses
- March 27th – 28th – 1900 block McIntyre Street – Graffiti
- March 28th – 1400 block Broad Street – Broken windows & Graffiti
The suspect in these incidents was located and arrested just after 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 31.
As a result, Anthony Barry of Regina has been charged with seven charges of mischief under $5,000 and seven charges of Failure to comply with conditions.
Barry made his first appearance on these charges in Provincial Court on Thursday. | https://globalnews.ca/news/8726739/regina-male-multiple-vandalism-arrested/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:55Z |
RA'ANANA, Israel, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspira Technologies OXY B.H.N. Ltd. (Nasdaq: IINN) (Nasdaq: IINNW), has released its financial results for 2021 by posting an update on its Investor Relations website. Please click here to view the CEO update.
About Inspira Technologies OXY B.H.N. Ltd.
Inspira Technologies is an innovative medical device company in the respiratory care industry. Inspira is developing the ART system, a cost effective early extracorporeal respiratory support system with an intent to function as an "Artificial Lung" for deteriorating respiratory patients. The ART is designed to utilize a hemo-protective flow approach aimed to rebalance saturation levels while patients are awake and spontaneously breathing, potentially minimizing the patient's need for invasive mechanical ventilation. The Company's product has not yet been tested or used in humans and has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the CE or other required regulatory agencies.
Investor Relations Contact:
Miri Segal, MS-IR LLC
+917-607-8654
msegal@ms-ir.com, info@inspirao2.com
SOURCE Inspira Technologies | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/03/31/inspira-technologies-releases-q4-amp-fy2021-financial-results/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:54Z |
Jennifer Kupcho and Australia’s Minjee Lee share the first-round lead at the first major of the LPGA season, the Chevron Championship, after opening with 6-under-par 66s Thursday at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Kupcho piled up nine birdies and three bogeys, while Lee stayed bogey-free and recorded six birdies. They lead Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, the defending champion, by one shot.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand, ranked No. 3 in the world, headlines a pack of six golfers tied for fourth at 4-under 68. She is tied with Australia’s Gabriela Ruffels, England’s Georgia Hall, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, Germany’s Caroline Masson and Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn.
Kupcho went as low as 8 under through 14 holes after ripping off four consecutive birdies, but a pair of bogeys at the par-4 15th and 16th holes brought her back to earth a bit.
“I really like the layout of this golf course, the beautiful shape that it’s in every year,” Kupcho said. “It always is so fun to be here, so just taking advantage of how much I like the course and the atmosphere.”
While Kupcho is still searching for her first LPGA Tour win of any variety, Lee broke through for her first major title at last July’s Evian Championship in France.
“I know I have one under my belt, but I do want a little bit more,” Lee said. “So, yeah, I just think I have a little bit more belief in myself and my game so I can be a little bit more comfortable just hitting the shots that I choose.”
Lee began Thursday on the back nine and birdied three of her first five holes to get off to a stellar start.
“My second birdie I had (at the par-4 13th), it was like kind of weaved through the trees because I hit the cart path and went a little bit left, so that was a nice birdie,” Lee said.
Lexi Thompson shot a bogey-free, 3-under 69 to join a tie for 10th. World No. 1 Jin Young Ko of South Korea opened with a 2-over 74.
The major is going by a new name this year after previously being known as the Nabisco Dinah Shore, the Kraft Nabisco Championship and the ANA Inspiration. Chevron increased the total purse to $5 million, with the winner being paid out $750,000, but the tournament will move the major away from its iconic California desert home next year.
–Field Level Media | https://sportsnaut.com/jennifer-kupcho-minjee-lee-share-lead-at-chevron-championship/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:56Z |
What is the endgame for the war in Ukraine? What will that country look like in the future?
A great many questions remain unanswered, but after a month of brutal battles, this much is clear: The two sides are essentially deadlocked. This war will be settled at the bargaining table, not on the battlefield.
Moscow's goal of subduing and occupying Ukraine has failed -- in stunning and embarrassing fashion. As peace talks began in Istanbul, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin conceded that his forces had "fundamentally ... cut back military activity" around the capital of Kyiv in an attempt to "increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations."
And Kyiv admits that while it has resisted and even rolled back Russian advances, it cannot drive the invaders completely out of the country. "I realize that it's impossible to force Russia to fully leave the territory," Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address. "It could lead to World War III. I understand completely. I'm fully aware of it. That is why I'm saying, yes, this is a compromise."
If "further negotiations" show progress -- a big if -- the shape of the compromise Zelenskyy envisions could start to emerge. A safe and stable Ukraine has to be a neutral country. It would not be part of Russia, but it would not belong to NATO, either. It could be European culturally, economically and even spiritually -- but not militarily.
There are plenty of models to follow. Six nations -- Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Malta and Sweden -- already belong to the European Union, a political and economic compact, but not to the military alliance.
Unlike Ukraine, however, none of those countries have large Russian-speaking minorities, and only Finland shares a sizeable border with Russia. Accordingly, Kyiv rightly insists that any deal has to involve some form of international guarantee, a NATO-like umbrella that protects its sovereignty from Moscow's imperialistic impulses.
Zelenskyy has been very clear on the outlines of a deal, telling Russian news outlets in an interview, "Security guarantees and neutrality, non-nuclear status of our state -- we are ready to go for it."
Optimism is in short supply, however, and for good reason. Russia talks about increasing trust, but it keeps shelling civilian targets and denouncing its adversaries as Nazis, a totally unfounded allegation. Western leaders have been equally skeptical, with U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss accusing Moscow of "wantonly bombing innocent citizens across Ukraine," adding, "Putin is not serious about talks."
If building trust is hard, changing mindsets is even harder. For peace talks to succeed, both sides have to give up longstanding aspirations. Putin has dreamed of absorbing Ukraine into a glorious Greater Russia ruled by a modern-day czar: Vlad the Violator. "Ukraine has never had its own authentic statehood," he's stated, and "true sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia."
That is patently false. Ukrainian refugees are fleeing west, not east; they're heading for Munich and Madrid, not Moscow.
"In his ideal world, Putin may have dreamed of a Ukraine united with Russia in a single overarching state form, but events of the last weeks have shown that is a highly unlikely outcome," Graeme Gill, professor emeritus at the University of Sydney, told Al Jazeera.
Ukraine has had to alter its own dreams, too. The country amended its constitution three years ago to facilitate joining NATO, and that hope is now gone.
"It is clear that Ukraine is not a member of NATO; we understand this," Zelenskyy has said. "For years we heard about the apparently open door, but have already also heard that we will not enter there, and these are truths and must be acknowledged."
Even if trust builds, dreams die and talks proceed, details -- devilish details -- remain to be settled. If Ukraine emerges as an independent, neutral country, protected by international guarantees, what does it look like? What happens to Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, or the Donbas region on Ukraine's eastern border, where Russian-backed separatists have been battling Kyiv for years?
Meanwhile, Western allies led by Washington have to maintain maximum pressure on Moscow with even tighter economic sanctions, greater military aid and unified resolve.
A free and nonaligned Ukraine is very much worth fighting for. Just ask the folks in Helsinki and Stockholm and Vienna.
(Steven Roberts teaches politics and journalism at George Washington University. His new book is "Cokie: A Life Well Lived." He can be contacted by email at stevecokie@gmail.com.) | https://www.meridianstar.com/opinion/columns/steven-v-roberts-looking-to-ukraines-future/article_15809559-a2d4-50d7-8de1-4ba23a4d71eb.html | 2022-04-01T01:51:56Z |
Election set to be delayed due to ballot paper issues
Antrim substitute Seaan Ellioot gets past his marker during Saturday Division 1 Relegation Play-Off against Offialy in Navan. Pic by John McIlwaine
THE SAFFRONS got there in the end with this seven point victory against Offaly at Navan.
When the chips were down Darren Gleeson’s side came good, retaining their Division One National Hurling League status - but, boy, they made life very difficult for themselves.
A season which promised so much saw them in this life or death shoot-out, after they had tested some of the best teams in the land.
Unable to get results in any of their five league games, that one point defeat at the hands of Laois certainly proved the tipping point and when they were blown to smithereens by Tipperary in their final game, the Saffrons' camp was not the happiest place to be in.
Disappointment, regret and guilt were very much to the fore, not the ingredients required for success, but Gleeson and his management team somehow raised their spirits, they played like demons and they are, where they should be, at the top table for another year.
Seven points separated the sides at the end of this fantastic battle but, in truth, it could and should have been double that amount as the Saffrons dominated from start to finish.
Leading by five at half-time, Offaly fought back to level early in the second half and when second half substitute Niall O’Connor was black carded there were a few worried looking faces among the Antrim fans.
They came back brilliantly, however, and were ten to the good deep into injury time when Offaly grabbed a very late consolation goal.
Dunloy’s Conal Cunning top scored, with nine of his ten points coming from frees, having taken over that responsibility from the injured Neil McManus, while Ciaran Clarke looked back to his best with four points to his name.
Loughgiel’s James McNaughton and Dunloy’s Keelan Molloy got the other goals for the Saffrons as they reaped the rewards of their fast attacking play and never say die attitude.
The Saffrons began at a frantic pace with McNaughton crashing home a fourth minute minute goal to settle any nerves but Offaly led thanks to some wonderful long distance points from Eoghan Cahill and Jason Sampson. Going into the final couple of minutes of the first half, the sides were tied on 1-9 to 0-12.
Antrim, however, finished the half in style with Clarke and Molloy firing over points before Domhnall Nugent and Conal Cunning combined to release Molloy for their second goal and they changed ends with a five point advantage.
Offaly rallied at the start of the second half with a goal and two points in the opening seven minutes while the Saffrons were reduced to 14 players when Niall O’Connor was black carded in an incident that saw Cahill score from a penalty but Antrim regrouped to control the remainder of the game.
They outscored their opposition five points to one in a ten minute period that effectively saw them build an unassailable lead.
Huge frees from McNaughton and Cunning, while Joe Maskey could have easily found the back of the net with his drive in that same period and Conor McCann’s 18th minute point proved decisive.
Cahill’s accuracy from placed balls kept the Faithful County’s hopes alive but another four unanswered points and a brilliant save from Corcoran to deny Cunning put Antrim eight ahead with eight minutes remaining.
Offaly were then reduced to 14 for the last five minutes when Joey Keenaghan received a second yellow card with the Saffrons taking full advantage by extending their lead to 11 thanks to three points that were shared by Eoin O’Neill and Cunning.
However, there was still fight left in this Offaly side, like Antrim trying to prevent relegation, and Cahill kept the pressure on them on when firing to the back of the net from a free.
Antrim responded with Seaan Elliott winning a penalty, Eimhin Kelly black carded for his challenge, and while Clarke found the back of the net from the spot the score was disallowed.
It mattered little, however, in what was the last action of the game.
A third year at the top table of hurling beckons for the Saffrons while Darren Gleeson and his backroom team will now turn their attention to another assault on the Joe McDonagh Cup.
* Keep up to speed with all the latest GAA stories each Tuesday in The Chronicle. | http://limavadynorthernconstitution.virtualcms.it/gaa/2022/03/31/news/saffrons-hurlers-preserve-their-division-one-status-23451/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:56Z |
1 officer killed, 2 others hurt in Pennsylvania shooting
LEBANON, Pa. (AP) — Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello says one officer was killed and two others were injured in Pennsylvania when gunfire erupted at a domestic disturbance call. Police officers went to a home in the city at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday when the gunfire broke out and officers radioed in they were hit. Capello says all three officers were taken to hospitals. One of them has been pronounced dead. A second is in critical condition, but is stable, and a third was in stable condition. The city police chief says the subject of the domestic call was killed in the shooting. | https://ktvz.com/news/ap-national-news/2022/03/31/1-officer-killed-2-others-shot-in-pennsylvania/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:57Z |
The number of new infections found via ATK tests in three provinces on Wednesday (Mar 30) was far higher than the total number of ATK positive cases nationwide for the same day recorded by the CCSA the following morning, said the group in a Facebook post yesterday.
On Wednesday, Chon Buri reported 8,323 ATK positive cases, Songkhla 4,839 and Chiang Rai 3,322, adding up to 16,484, said the group whose members are mostly doctors and directors of district hospitals around the country, reports the Bangkok Post.
Yet the corresponding number from the CCSA for the entire country was 16,079, said the group.
“We, the front-line healthcare workers, are working hard as we aim to bring the number of new infections down by containing the spread of the virus as well as we can,” the group said.
“We, too, expect to see a lower number of new cases as we are trying harder to contain the spread of the virus, but making up an ideal figure just isn’t the way to go,” it noted. “Reporting the actual number of new infections will instead help raise public awareness about the outbreak situation.”
The CCSA, meanwhile, said the number of new infections in Thailand is now on the rise, as is the rate of infected patients suffering serious lung infections and the number of COVID-19 deaths per day.
The cumulative number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded in the past week was 176,606, higher than any neighbouring countries, said Dr Sumanee Wacharasint, CCSA assistant spokeswoman, referring to Malaysia, Singapore, Laos and Myanmar.
On Wednesday, 27,560 new infections confirmed by RT-PCR testing and 16,079 infections found in COVID-19 tests using ATKs were recorded, she said. Of all 246,770 patients currently either receiving treatment or in isolation, 1,808 are suffering lung infections, she said. Of the latter, 713 are on ventilators.
This clearly indicates an upward trend in not only the number of new infections recorded daily but also the number of infected patients requiring assistive devices for breathing, she said.
Provinces seeing a rise in patients suffering lung infections include Bangkok and Rayong, Dr Sumanee said. | https://www.thephuketnews.com/rds-questions-accuracy-of-antigen-cases-83652.php | 2022-04-01T01:51:56Z |
TSX: WEF
VANCOUVER, BC, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Western Forest Products Inc. (TSX: WEF) ("Western" or the "Company") first quarter 2022 financial and operating results will be released on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
Western will host its first quarter 2022 analyst conference call on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. PDT (3:00 p.m. EDT).
Don Demens, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Stephen Williams, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will discuss the Company's first quarter 2022 results followed by a question and answer session with the analyst community.
To join the conference call, dial:
Toll-free from Canada and the US: 1-800-952-5114
From Toronto: 416-340-2217
Passcode: 3466690#
To access the instant replay of the call, dial:
Toll-free from Canada and the US: 1-800-408-3053
From Toronto: 905-694-9451
Passcode: 1910899#
The instant replay will be available until June 5, 2022 at 8:59 p.m. PDT (11:59 p.m. EDT).
About Western Forest Products Inc.
Western is an integrated forest products company building a margin-focused log and lumber business to compete successfully in global softwood markets. With operations and employees located primarily on the coast of British Columbia and Washington State, Western is a premier supplier of high-value, specialty forest products to worldwide markets. Western has a lumber capacity in excess of 1.0 billion board feet from seven sawmills and four remanufacturing facilities. The Company sources timber from its private lands, long-term licenses, First Nations arrangements, and market purchases. Western supplements its production through a wholesale program providing customers with a comprehensive range of specialty products.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Western Forest Products Inc. | https://www.ky3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/western-forest-products-inc-announces-release-date-first-quarter-2022-results-conference-call-details/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:58Z |
NEWS: The FBI on March 22 released its 2021 Internet Crime report, which found that Americans lost more than $6.9 billion ($15 million in New Hampshire) to fraudsters using technology to steal money from people. And those are just the people who reported the crime to the FBI.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU: Most people think they’re too savvy to get taken in by fraud, but scammers’ methods are constantly getting more sophisticated, and if you’ve ever clicked on a link, you are vulnerable.
You may think you’re too smart or savvy to get taken in by a scam. The truth is, though, the majority of people are susceptible to scams and fraud, particularly as we live more of our lives online.
Scammers don’t always advertise themselves with a Nigerian address or outrageous claims that you have millions coming to you. As people have become more dependent on technology to communicate, scammers and fraudsters have gotten way more sophisticated.
The FBI Cyber Crime Center (IC3) tracks more than 30 different types of scams that originate through a computer, device or phone. We’re going to take a look at three that everyday people like us are particularly vulnerable to.
Confidence Fraud/Romance Scams
The FBI got reports from 24,966 victims of romance scams in 2021, with losses of $956 million. The actual amount of victims and money list is likely many times higher. IC3 statistics are based on reports directly from victims to the FBI. The FBI says that it’s likely “most losses” of this crime are never reported.
You know why that is – you’re likely chuckling about how gullible people who get taken in by these scams are. Victims, the huge majority of them women, know they’ll be judged. They’re hesitant to put themselves out there. Fraudsters know this, too, which makes it easier for them.
The truth is, anyone can be taken in by a confidence fraud or romance scam, because fraudsters know how to gain a victim’s confidence and manipulate people into becoming victims.
The FBI reports that 63 percent of the victims who reported being scammed were over 40, with half of those being over 60. But that doesn’t mean younger people aren’t victims as well.
In the typical romance scam, the criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s confidence, then steals from them.
“The criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable. The scammer’s intention is to quickly establish a relationship, endear himself/herself to the victim, gain trust, and eventually ask for money,” the FBI says. [To hear a victim’s story, as well as an FBI agent talk about romance scams, click here].
The scammers may make plans to meet in person, but something always comes up and it doesn’t happen. They often “work overseas” – in the military, construction, the CIA or some other legitimate-sounding enterprise that keeps them on the move and away from home. At some point they’ll have an emergency that requires money from the victim – a medical situation, an issue that’s caused their bank accounts or credit cards to be frozen. They have money, they just can’t get to it. They rely on the relationship they’ve built with the victim to take her money. Victims sometimes keep sending money, too, convinced that things will turn around.
While victims of romance and confidence scams are often criticized as greedy and “getting what they deserve” because the scammer portrayed himself as wealthy, that’s a misconception. These scams rely on victims being honest, compassionate people who want to help someone they trust.
Another version of this is the “grandparent scam,” where the scammer emails or calls the victim, usually someone middle-aged or older, and convinces them they’re a loved one in trouble who needs money wired to them ASAP.
There are two emerging types of romance scams and confidence fraud the FBI is tracking:
- Sextortion – when someone threatens to distribute sensitive photos or other material unless you give them money (or perform sexual acts). In 2021, the IC3 received more than 18,000 sextortion-related complaints, with losses of more than $13.6 million.
- Investment pressure. In 2021, the IC3 received more than 4,325 complaints, with losses of more than $429 million, from confidence fraud/romance scam victims who reported the use of investment, often involving cryptocurrencies, to defraud them. Sometimes the scammer fattens up a victim’s account before going in for the kill, a practice known as “pig butchering.”
Where romance/confidence scams originate: Email, dating apps, online gaming sites and texts are all fertile ground for first contact. The FBI says that there are con artists on most dating and social media apps.
Red flags: If you see any of this when you’re talking to someone online, it can be a red flag for a romance or confidence scam:
- They “love bomb” you – they come on very strong very early, shower you with compliments and gifts, rush things, are in constant contact.
- There are lots of coincidences, like you share a favorite movie or restaurant or dog breed, they went to your college or go to your church, though you never saw them there, or other things in common that they convince you means you are “soul mates.” You could be. But double-check. They could’ve found all that out from your social media.
- Avoids meeting in person – They always have a reason you can’t meet in person. If they also won’t meet by video, be doubly concerned.
- Request money — They need money for an emergency or investment, and won’t take no for an answer.
- They want you to send them nude or compromising photos.
How to protect yourself. Scam victims, particularly women, are made to feel that if they ask questions or stand up for themselves, there’s something wrong with them. This is gaslighting and a major tool in the romance scammer’s toolbox. Women are also conditioned to think that controlling and other red flag behavior is “romantic.” Don’t be fooled. (Many of these tips can also protect you from a toxic or abusive relationship).
- Do a Google image search of photos your potential love interest sends you if you haven’t met in person to make sure they are not just borrowed from the internet.
- Google him as well, and don’t let anyone convince you that this shows a lack of trust on your part (remember, that’s gaslighting).
- Overly complimentary or effusive emails or texts designed to flatter you can be pasted into a search engine to see if they are red flags, including popping up on websites that expose romance scams.
- Ask questions about your potential partner’s life, listen to the answers and question inconsistencies. A true potential partner will be happy to discuss this with you.
- Don’t let him move the relationship along faster than what you are comfortable with.
- Be sure family and friends know you’ve met someone and listen rationally to any concerns. Run things by them if you get uncomfortable with your new friend.
- Do not send money to someone you’ve met online or through a dating app.
- If you are uncomfortable don’t keep in contact just to be polite or because you don’t want to hurt their feelings. Cut off contact.
- Report anyone who scams, assaults or harasses you to the dating site you met on as well as to law enforcement (even if law enforcement tries to dismiss it).
Phishing/Vishing/Smishing/Pharming
Phishing, vishing, smishing and pharming are all variations on the same theme – ways for scammers to get access to private information, including email accounts, bank accounts, credit card information and more.
Phishing is an email from what may look like a credible source that asks for information. Vishing is when it’s done by phone or voice over internet protocol (VoiP) systems. Smishing is when it’s by text (officially, SMS systems). Pharming is through a website.
These scams can either lead to another scam, like getting you to make a fraudulent investment or purchase, or they use the information they get to steal from your accounts or steal your identity.
Where phishing/vishing/smishing/pharming originate: Email, text messages, messaging apps, cellphones, VoiP systems, websites.
Red flags: While these scams arrive in different ways, they have things in common:
- Urgency, rushing, short time limit to act or threatening language.
- Unfamiliar or unusual senders or recipients, names or web addresses spelled oddly, government or business messages from a gmail or other general mail address.
- Spelling or grammar errors.
- It asks for money or personal information.
- You’re asked to click a download, link or attachment.
- It says it’s from the IRS or a law enforcement agency and is telling you to pay for something with a credit card.
- It asks you to buy gift cards.
How to protect yourself: These scams are everywhere and most people are bombarded with them through text and email.
- Never click on a link from an unfamiliar source. Hover your cursor over email links to see the actual URL.
- If a phone number isn’t from someone you know, let it go to voicemail. Scammers use “spoof” numbers that can look like they’re from anywhere.
- Never send money to someone you don’t know; set up Venmo accounts with any family members or friends you exchange money with.
- Ignore emails and texts that say your “unsubscribe” click didn’t work, click here because your order wasn’t completed, or anything else that wants you to click on something. If it’s from a familiar source, check it independently, not through the suspicious message.
- Never buy gift cards at the request of an email, text or phone message. Never send photos of the gift card numbers or read the numbers over the phone. Ever.
- Don’t respond if an email tells you your settlement money, refund, gift or anything else is waiting for you.
- If a call, email or text purports to be from a government agency, like the IRS or sheriff’s department, look up their number and call them. The IRS does not call or text people about their tax returns, stimulus checks or anything else.
Nonpayment/Non-delivery
Nonpayment for goods that a victim sent to someone, and non-delivery of goods that a victim paid for was the top scam 2021 reported to the FBI by New Hampshire residents. There were 325 reports, with victims losing $551,255. These are only what was reported to the FBI, so the numbers are likely much higher. A lot of this is from people buying online, or selling online as a business or side gig.
Scams like this often come from what looks like a well-known reputable company. The Better Business Bureau in 2021 received reports of scams from fake businesses that posed as Hulu, Netflix, Verizon and others.
Here’s what some of the messages reported to BBB looked like:
“COVID-19 REFUND. VERIZON COMPANY is giving out $950 to all users of our Verizon service, If yes kindly text your Verizon…”
“Due to the pandemic, Hulu is giving everyone a free 1-year subscription to help you stay at home. Get yours here …[link].”
Click on those links and the scammers get your money, or information, but you don’t get the service being offered.
Where nonpayment/non-delivery scams originate: Websites and social media, including sites that look like legitimate businesses, social media marketplaces, sites where people sell their own goods, like eBay, Etsy, Craig’s List and others.
Red flags: You can’t always know in advance if you’re going to be ripped off, but here are some things to look out for:
- Websites, texts and emails that don’t seem right, particularly unsolicited offers – trust your instincts.
- Businesses that won’t answer questions about returns or warranties.
- Businesses that don’t have secure payment options.
- Offers with misspellings, grammar errors, or that are too good to be true.
How to protect yourself:
- If what seems like a reputable business sends a text or email about a deal, don’t click on anything. Go to the actual business’ website (independently, not by clicking on the message) and check it out. Call customer service if you’re still not sure.
- Make sure you are buying something from a real company or person – look for reviews, Google for complaints, check the Better Business Bureau scam tracker.
- Ask about returns and warranties; don’t do business with someone who doesn’t have a policy.
- Use a credit card rather than debit card when buying online so you can dispute the charges, or use a secure payment service.
- If you are selling to an individual get a physical address rather than a P.O. box, ask for a phone number and call the person to make sure it’s a real and working number. If it’s on eBay check their rating.
- If you are selling to an individual, get payment upfront and make sure it clears before sending the item. Don’t let them talk you out of it – this is standard for every business big and small that sells online.
Be your own best protection
The common theme running through all of these scams is that there’s a lot of leaping before looking. Take your time and check things out, whether it’s sending your life savings to your new soulmate whose bank accounts have suddenly been frozen and he’s stuck overseas, or it’s clicking on that great deal from Hulu. Don’t let anyone rush you into a decision that will cost you money, or make you feel like you don’t have a right to question them. Follow your instincts. If it feels wrong, walk away. Don’t worry that you’re being rude or hurting someone’s feelings.
Be smart about what you put online. Potential scammers, particularly for romance scams and confidence fraud, are experts at getting personal details they can use to manipulate victims.
If you do get scammed – and plenty of good, smart people do every day – get over your embarrassment and step up. Report it to local law enforcement, even if you’re afraid they’re going to laugh at you. Insist on making a report even if they do laugh at you. Scammers rely on the fact people are too embarrassed and ashamed to report them. Reports create a public picture of what’s going on and can also help keep others from being victims. Law enforcement statistics are how the FBI and other agencies track scams and other crime. Ask for a copy of the police report to make sure it was done and to have for your records.
Report the scam to all of these agencies:
- Any scam involving a computer, phone, device, wire transfer, credit card or app, even if you don’t think it was technically an internet crime should be reported to the FBI’s IC3 webpage.
- In New Hampshire, report scams to the New Hampshire Department of Justice Criminal Complaint page.
- The Federal Trade Commission also wants to hear about scams at FTC scam page, where you can also find a lot of great resources.
- The Better Business Bureau wants you to report to BBB scam tracker, where you can also check out information on all kinds of scams. | https://manchesterinklink.com/its-your-money-no-one-is-immune-to-online-scams-and-fraud/ | 2022-04-01T01:51:59Z |
Mediterranean Meatball Pita Sandwiches
You may have noticed that I like prepping for the future when it comes to all things culinary. Whether it's making a big batch of meatballs to work into everything from subs to spaghetti or baking enough pita to feed an army or make multiple meals, I like setting myself up for quick and easy meals with some planning for the future.
Of course, you can use premade meatballs and pita from the market or make your own when it's time to assemble this meal. Just know that will involve a different kind of planning - whether it's adding those things to your grocery list or making sure you give yourself enough time to accomplish all that kitchen magic in the same day. Juggle your time as it suits you and enjoy it!
I think this meal just wants a cold beer or glass of wine (or iced tea or lemonade) to make it complete. Enjoy the combination of flavors, textures, and colors this lovely meal bring to your table.
Mediterranean Meatball Pita Sandwiches
- Meatballs
- 1 (5.3 oz.) container plain Greek yogurt
- ½ c. sour cream
- ½ tsp. minced garlic
- 1½ T. lemon juice
- 1 T. rice vinegar
- 1 T. diced fresh dill
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- Pita bread
- 6 oz. grape tomatoes, halved
- ¾ c. diced cucumber
- ½ c. diced red onion
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the raw meatballs, evenly spaced, on the baking sheet. Bake the meatballs for 18-22 minutes, or until they each internal temperature of 160°F.
Mix the yogurt, sour cream, garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, dill, salt and pepper together until well blended. Chill until ready to serve.
Slice the pita bread in half.
Remove the meatballs from the oven and place 2 meatballs into each half of pita bread. Drizzle with the yogurt sauce and top with the tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion.
- Yields: 8 servings
- Preparation Time: 30 minutes (assuming you've mixed the meatballs and made the pita earlier - or used premade) | https://seasoned.com/blog/2022/03/mediterranean-meatball-pita-sandwiches | 2022-04-01T01:51:59Z |
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Russell Knox recorded four straight birdies on the back nine and fired a 7-under 65 on Thursday for a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Valero Texas Open.
Knox closed out his round with a seven-foot putt to save par at the par-5 18th at TPC San Antonio, and was one shot ahead of Rasmus Hojgaard.
Hojgaard fired a 66 despite a double bogey on his final hole. Matt Kuchar is another stroke back after an opening 5-under 67 and is among a group that includes Denny McCarthy, Aaron Rei and J.J. Spaun.
Defending champ Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy finished at even-par 72. They were outside the top 60 after one round and could flirt with the cut line on Friday.
Bryson DeChambeau had a 1-over 73. After holing a bunker shot for eagle on his 11th hole and following with a birdie on the next, he made bogey on four of his last six holes.
Knox, a 32-year-old Scotsman with two career PGA Tour wins, started his birdie streak at No. 12. All of his birdie putts were inside 10 feet. At the 15th, he was about 20 feet away from a back pin position following his approach and chipped in from the fringe. It was his second chip-in in the round.
“That was one of those kind of bonus birdies that you need when you’re going to have a good day,” Knox said. “Obviously thrilled with the round. It’s been more of the way I want to play.”
Hogjaard, a 21-year-old from Denmark and two-rime winner on the European Tour, had his sights on the first-round lead heading to his closing hole. But, his drive sailed well left of the fairway. It took him four shots to reach the green on the par-4 ninth.
“I had to chip sideways back into the fairway,” he said. “Just was a little too aggressive after that. Yeah, short-sided myself and I didn’t get up and down and suddenly you walk away with double-bogey. Yeah, that was a bit annoying, but it happens.”
Kuchar was 5 under after 11 holes. Thirty feet away from the pin on the next hole, he failed to get up and down and missed a seven-foot putt for par. He got a shot back with a birdie on his 14th hole, and parred out, falling short in a bid to match his season-best round of 64 at the Sony Open, where he finished in the top 10.
“A lot of good and bad that can happen here on this course,” Kuchar said. “I was kind of managing early on in the round and then found a little something on about the fifth or sixth hole. I started having some birdie chances and converted on a few late in my first nine.”
Kuchar has won nine times on the PGA Tour. McCarthy, Rai and Spaun are looking for their first.
___
More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/knox-uses-4-birdie-run-for-a-one-stroke-lead-at-texas-open/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2022-04-01T01:51:59Z |
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the "Cash4Life" game were:
01-02-27-29-30, Cash Ball: 3
(one, two, twenty-seven, twenty-nine, thirty; Cash Ball: three)
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the "Cash4Life" game were:
01-02-27-29-30, Cash Ball: 3
(one, two, twenty-seven, twenty-nine, thirty; Cash Ball: three) | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Cash4Life-game-17049899.php | 2022-04-01T01:51:59Z |
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The Proprietor of Premier Lotto, Chief Kessington Adebutu, has decried the lack of support for journalism in Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday while giving his acceptance speech after being conferred with the Nigerian Institute of Journalism Golden Jubilee anniversary Fellowship award, he maintained that the three other estates of the realm, including Executive, Judiciary, Legislative, were provided for in the budgetary allocation, saying the press had nothing.
“Ironically, despite being the fourth realm, the press is on its own because the three other estates of the realm, are provided for in budgetary allocation but the press gets nothing, it has to fend for itself. It is for this reason we need to support the press and be the masses’ watchtower.”
He added that the award would enable him to support journalism more and get more people to do so.
“When I was approached about the conferment by my friend, Osoba, and others, honestly speaking, my initial approach was, not again this is the manner some of us are being honoured every now and then. When I was made the Odele in 2019 I had thought that should be the zenith but an honour by NIJ is a far cry from chieftaincy or traditional title and coming from the fourth estate of the realm, how will anyone turn such honour down. For me, it is for me to support journalism in Nigeria and rally other good people to follow suit. I feel humbled. My heartfelt gratitude to the council and journalists.”
Chairman, NIJ Governing Council, Chief Olusegun Osoba, said the fellowship award conferred on Adebutu was endorsed by the International Press Institute, Vienna, Austria.
“There are so many nominees but Kessington towers above all and he is a product of NIJ. He is a great philanthropist too.”
Read Also
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, commended NIJ for being efficient in shaping the direction that journalism is heading in Nigeria.
He said, “Sir Kessington has been an enviable and exemplary personality in our society for decades. Any honour done on him is worth it because he has dedicated his life to promoting worthy courses.”
Provost, NIJ, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, described Adebutu as unique media content, saying, “Our best way of appreciating his worth is to confer the Golden Jubilee anniversary Fellowship on this builder of lives. As we honour Sir Kessington Adebutu today, we recommit ourselves to making the dreams of our founding fathers a reality. We will always seek your support.”
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected] | https://punchng.com/adebutu-decries-lack-of-support-for-journalism/ | 2022-04-01T01:52:00Z |
The April Edit: How to Celebrate Springtime in the City This Month
The forecast is looking up, friends. Warmer weather is here and the public health predictions are almost — dare I say it? — sunny. So while spring has always been a time of renewal, this one feels extra special. If you're ready to greet it with open...
www.littlerocksoiree.com | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2556112573135/the-april-edit-how-to-celebrate-springtime-in-the-city-this-month | 2022-04-01T01:52:00Z |
NEW YORK (AP) — Kyle Palmieri scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period to lift the New York Islanders to a 5-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.
Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist, and Sebastian Aho, Oliver Wahlstrom and Ryan Pulock also scored as New York improved to 7-1 in their last eight home games dating to a 6-0 win against the Blue Jackets on March 10.
Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves in his second consecutive start and third straight appearance with Ilya Sorokin sidelined with an upper-body injury.
Emil Bemstrom and Justin Danforth scored for Columbus, which lost its fifth straight. Elvis Merzlikins made 31 saves.
Palmieri broke a 2-2 tie at 3:16 of the third period with his 12th goal of the season. The 31-year-old winger breezed by Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine and roofed a wrist shot to give New York a one-goal advantage. Merlikins was unable to close off the short side and Palmieri took advantage of the opening.
Barzal stretched the Islanders' lead to 4-2 with a pretty breakaway deke after he blew by two Blue Jackets defenders in the neutral zone at 9:52 of the third period.
Pulock added an empty-net goal in the final minute.
The Blue Jackets erased a two-goal deficit in a span of 1:39 midway through the second period. The Islanders left Bemstrom all alone at the top of the crease and he finished a pass from Eric Robinson at 8:47. Jake Bean also assisted on the play.
Danforth tied it at 2 with his fifth goal of the season. Yegor Chinakov skated into the offensive zone and found Vladislav Gavrikov in the slot after Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara prevented the forward from getting behind him. Varlamov stopped the initial shot from Gavrikov, but was unable to hold onto the rebound and Danforth was able to capitalize.
The Islanders took a 2-0 lead with two goals in 11 seconds midway through the first period.
Aho opened the scoring when he stopped short and wired a wrist shot over the glove of Merzlikins at 8:39. Brock Nelson extended his point streak to six games with an assist on the play.
Wahlstrom extended the Islanders lead to 2-0 after he buried a feed from Zach Parise at 8:50. Barzal started the sequence with a floating backhand that Parise was able to corral in the offensive zone.
New York outshot Columbus 10-0 in the first half of the opening frame.
90 YEARS YOUNG
The Islanders honored hockey historian and veteran journalist Stan Fischler at the game to celebrate his 90th birthday. "The Hockey Maven” has been a hockey television personality in the northeast since the early 1970s and has authored over 100 books. He began his career with the New York Rangers in the 1950s, working in the team’s public relations department.
COVID IN COLUMBUS
Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen and assistant coach Steve McCarthy were placed in the COVID-19 protocols and each missed their second straight game. Associate coach Pascal Vincent led the team behind the bench. ... D Zach Weresnki missed his second straight game after he sustained a hit to the head late in the late first period of Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime loss against Minnesota.
MARCH MAYHEM
The Islanders closed out a hectic March schedule with a 10-6-1 record. The 17 games New York played in March are the most the franchise has played in a single month in franchise history.
DIVISION FOES
Nine of the final 16 games remaining in the Islanders' regular season are against division opponents. The Islanders are 8-2-1 against Metropolitan teams since returning from the holiday break.
UP NEXT
Blue Jackets: Visit the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
Islanders: Visit the New York Rangers on Friday night.
—
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.registercitizen.com/sports/article/Islanders-use-strong-third-period-to-top-Blue-17049940.php | 2022-04-01T01:52:01Z |
CALHOUN
City Commission will meet on Monday, April 4, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
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SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams had relief on their faces as they headed straight from the stadium for a charter jet to Europe and weekend club games.
“This is whatever I’ve always wanted to be, and right now emotions are a bit crazy,” Pulisic said, his voice quavering.
Coach Gregg Berhalter had rushed out for a red-eye to New York and a 12 1/2-hour connecting flight to Friday’s World Cup draw in Doha, Qatar.
Recovering from the past and preparing for the future intertwined as the United States clinched a return to the World Cup.
For Pulisic, DeAndre Yedlin, Kellyn Acosta and Paul Arriola, all on that doomed American team at Trinidad 4 1/2 years earlier, the pain had not gone away until now. The 2-0 loss to Costa Rica on Wednesday night was deflating, but by the time players entered the locker room of Estadio Nacional, focus turned to the accomplishment of clinching a return to soccer’s showcase for the first time since 2014.
Erik Palmer-Brown started popping open the Duet Mousseux Brut even as Berhalter was giving his speech. Then the new JBL Boombox 2 got to blare.
“We’re the youngest team to ever qualify for the World Cup, youngest U.S. team, and we’ll be the youngest team at the World Cup,” Berhalter said. ”That’s an accomplishment for these guys. It really is.”
They had traveled 25,042 miles (40,301 kilometers) on charters — circling the globe adds up to only 24,901 — making four trips to Central America, plus one each to Mexico, Canada and Jamaica, plus up to five trans-Atlantic round trips. Forty-four players were called in, of which 38 took the field. In all, 114 players have been used since Trinidad, 88 since Berhalter was hired in December 2018.
Pulisic had buried his face in his hands at Couva, wiping away tears.
“That was one of the toughest days of my life. I’ll never forget it,” he recalled. “Now to be in this position — qualified for a World Cup, we’re all extremely proud.”
Berhalter admitted the pressure was omnipresent.
“The public was on edge. They desperately wanted us to make it,” he said.
All of 23, Pulisic, Adams and Weston McKennie are the team leaders. Right back Sergiño Dest and left back Antonee Robinson became offensive threats. Gio Reyna, at 19, emerged as a budding star, just like his dad three decades earlier.
“Now we have to test ourselves against the best players in the world, the best teams in the world,” Adams said. “This was only the first stage in our development.”
Berhalter is among a 12-person U.S. Soccer Federation attending the draw, mapping out Qatar plans for a tournament that opens Nov. 21, in the middle of European club seasons.
Four games are likely in June, two in the CONCACAF Nations League and two exhibitions, followed by a pair of friendlies in September, possibly in Europe. Major League Soccer players may have a domestic training camp before the tournament.
And if the U.S. winds up in Groups E through G, which don’t start play until Nov. 24-25, the Americans might train in Europe for several days and have one more exhibition before heading to the Middle East.
“The starting point is getting out of the group,” Berhalter said.
USSF staff locked down hotel and training arrangements on Oct. 1, 2019, the day the portal opened, putting the team in an optimum logistical situation.
Berhalter presumes form will change between now and November, causing roster churn. He was impressed with the growth over 14 qualifiers in temperatures that ranged from minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 16 Celsius) in St. Paul, Minnesota, and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius) in Austin, Texas.
“I think we improved our pressing,” he said. “But we’re going to continue to evolve and to continue to improve. The 4-3-3 system, as it’s been good for us, we might work with some other systems just to have some flexibility in the World Cup. I think it’s important to see who we are playing and start planning out how we can be successful there.”
For all the positive feelings, the U.S. dropped to third among eight nations in North and Central America and the Caribbean, behind Canada and Mexico. If not for last week’s 0-0 draw at Mexico, the Americans would have finished fourth and wound up in a June playoff against New Zealand.
“The easy part is over, and now we focus on this draw,” said defender Walker Zimmerman, who rose like a rocket from initially off the roster in October to starting nine of the past 11 games. “Ultimately just focus on staying fit, staying healthy, performing for our clubs.”
Forward remains a concern. After scoring three goals over two games last fall, Ricardo Pepi has gone scoreless in 19 games for club and country. Strikers produced just four of the Americans’ 21 goals, with Jesús Ferreira getting the other.
“We’re hoping that one of our 9s gets into a good form by the time the World Cup comes around,” Berhalter said Thursday during a layover at JFK International Airport.
Midfielders and wingers have been the engine, with Pulisic scoring five of the team’s 21 goals, and McKennie, Brenden Aaronson and Robinson two each.
“We can do a lot of damage, man,” Pulisic said. “I think we’re a confident bunch of guys and I think that country will get behind us and we’re going to give everything we got.”
“I just like the fight of his team and I think we have a lot of quality, as well,” he added. “I think we can be a force going into the World Cup.”
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sport | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/sports/ap-sports/relieved-more-than-joyful-us-turns-attention-to-qatar/ | 2022-04-01T01:52:01Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday passed a bill capping the monthly cost of insulin at $35 for insured patients, part of an election-year push by Democrats for price curbs on prescription drugs at a time of rising inflation.
Experts say the legislation, which passed 232-193, would provide significant relief for privately insured patients with skimpier plans and for Medicare enrollees facing rising out-of-pocket costs for their insulin. Some could save hundreds of dollars annually, and all insured patients would get the benefit of predictable monthly costs for insulin. The bill would not help the uninsured.
But the Affordable Insulin Now Act will serve as a political vehicle to rally Democrats and force Republicans who oppose it into uncomfortable votes ahead of the midterms. For the legislation to pass Congress, 10 Republican senators would have to vote in favor. Democrats acknowledge they don’t have an answer for how that’s going to happen.
“If 10 Republicans stand between the American people being able to get access to affordable insulin, that’s a good question for 10 Republicans to answer,” said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., a cosponsor of the House bill. “Republicans get diabetes, too. Republicans die from diabetes.”
Public opinion polls have consistently shown support across party lines for congressional action to limit drug costs.
But Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., complained the legislation is only “a small piece of a larger package around government price controls for prescription drugs.” Critics say the bill would raise premiums and fails to target pharmaceutical middlemen seen as contributing to high list prices for insulin.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Democrats could have a deal on prescription drugs if they drop their bid to authorize Medicare to negotiate prices. “Do Democrats really want to help seniors, or would they rather have the campaign issue?” Grassley said.
The insulin bill, which would take effect in 2023, represents just one provision of a much broader prescription drug package in President Joe Biden’s social and climate legislation.
In addition to a similar $35 cap on insulin, the Biden bill would authorize Medicare to negotiate prices for a range of drugs, including insulin. It would penalize drugmakers who raise prices faster than inflation and overhaul the Medicare prescription drug benefit to limit out-of-pocket costs for enrollees.
Biden’s agenda passed the House only to stall in the Senate because Democrats could not reach consensus. Party leaders haven’t abandoned hope of getting the legislation moving again, and preserving its drug pricing curbs largely intact.
The idea of a $35 monthly cost cap for insulin actually has a bipartisan pedigree. The Trump administration had created a voluntary option for Medicare enrollees to get insulin for $35, and the Biden administration continued it.
In the Senate, Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire are working on a bipartisan insulin bill. Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock has introduced legislation similar to the House bill, with the support of Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Stung by criticism that Biden’s economic policies spur inflation, Democrats are redoubling efforts to show how they’d help people cope with costs. On Thursday, the Commerce Department reported a key inflation gauge jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982.
But experts say the House bill would not help uninsured people, who face the highest out-of-pocket costs for insulin. Also, people with diabetes often take other medications as well as insulin. That’s done to treat the diabetes itself, along with other serious health conditions often associated with the disease. The House legislation would not help with those costs, either. Collins says she’s looking for a way to help uninsured people through her bill.
About 37 million Americans have diabetes, and an estimated 6 million to 7 million use insulin to keep their blood sugars under control. It’s an old drug, refined and improved over the years, that has seen relentless price increases.
Steep list prices don’t reflect the rates insurance plans negotiate with manufacturers. But those list prices are used to calculate cost-sharing amounts that patients owe. Patients who can’t afford their insulin reduce or skip doses, a strategy born of desperation, which can lead to serious complications and even death.
Economist Sherry Glied of New York University said the market for insulin is a “total disaster” for many patients, particularly those with skimpy insurance plans or no insurance.
“This will make private insurance for people with diabetes a much more attractive proposition,” said Glied. | https://www.wivb.com/health/house-passes-35-a-month-insulin-cap/ | 2022-04-01T01:52:01Z |
EDINBURGH, Ind. (WXIN) — Scientists believe the loud boom that was heard across several counties in South Central Indiana recently was caused by a meteor explosion.
Scientists at Purdue watched surveillance videos that captured the noise and believe the boom can be attributed to an “air burst.”
“Essentially when a meteor is entering the atmosphere it will essentially explode in the atmosphere and they can make a loud boom,” Purdue planetary scientist Brandon Johnson said.
Johnson said it’s likely similar to the “air burst” that happened in the skies over Chelyabinsk in Russia back in 2013. That incident lit up the sky and caused major damage on the ground.
“If it was big enough to make that loud an explosion it should’ve been seen but it was a pretty cloudy day,” Johnson said. “If there was enough cloud cover it’s possible that no one saw it but it still did occur above the clouds.”
The boom was large enough to show up on seismic scales at Indiana University.
“There was a significant pulse of seismic energy recorded on our instruments at 12:44 p.m. yesterday,” geophysics professor Michael Hamburger said. “If this coincides with the timing of the reports, it is likely the result of the sonic disturbance experienced by local residents.”
The American Meteor Society said it took two reports of meteor sightings yesterday afternoon. One of those reports came in from Columbus, the other from Bloomington.
Based on those reports the society was able to triangulate the impacted location and said it was likely a “fireball meteor.”
Johnson said it’s a good reminder that a lot happens out in space.
“It’s a reminder that we need to stay vigilant and know how to protect ourselves and detect these before they happen,” Johnson said.
Johnson said that if it was a meteor then it’s likely that parts of it made it to the ground.
He said they’ll likely be small rocks with a black coating on them.
The American Meteor Society is encouraging anyone who saw anything to report it to them. You can report those at amsmeteors.org. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/loud-boom-caught-on-camera-in-indiana-believed-to-be-meteor-explosion/ | 2022-04-01T01:52:00Z |
A three-day forum on youth violence in Montreal, organized by the city and the police department wrapped up Thursday.
It came in the wake of the murders of several teens over the last year.
Some of the groups involved include community organizations from areas hardest hit by the youth violence, as well as health professionals and educators.
Many said they were struck by the participation of youth.
“I think that’s what really resonated with me as an educator,” Nicholas Katalifos, English Montreal School Board director general told Global News.
“The reality is that we really need to listen to the kids and hear what they’re feeling, what they’re seeing and to take that into account when we’re putting together programmes and policies.
But some groups representing racialized English-speaking communities feel they weren’t adequately involved. They also point to parts of Thursday’s session which was supposed to be accessible to all as an example of being shut out.
“We didn’t receive any information on the webcast, complained Sharon Nelson, the first vice-president of the Jamaica Association of Montreal.
The city said they did try to be as inclusive as possible and if anyone feels left out or had trouble accessing this forum, there’ll be another one in 2023.
“The intent was to be as inclusive as possible,” explained Alain Vaillancourt, the city’s executive committee member responsible for public security.
“I think we were. If in 2023, if the feeling was there that people were left out, absolutely we’ll find a means to make sure that they’re included, because our intent is to include everybody.”
For now the city is making a commitment to establishing a special youth fund of $2 million over two years to support youth projects. Starting in 2023 they will also put $5 million into infrastructure projects like sports facilities.
Also, they plan to spend $400,000 to set up a phone support line for families.
According to Montreal police, a full report on the forum will be available in the coming weeks. | https://globalnews.ca/news/8726761/montreal-forum-on-youth-violence-wraps-up-following-several-murders/ | 2022-04-01T01:52:01Z |
The Public Health Agency of Canada has declared an outbreak of norovirus linked to the consumption of raw B.C. oysters.
The outbreak has impacted people in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario — though as of March 30, 262 of the 279 reported cases are in B.C. There have been no deaths associated with the outbreak.
Individuals became sick with norovirus after ingesting raw oysters farmed on B.C.’s west coast. Health Canada recalled certain brands of oysters that were believed to be related to the norovirus outbreak on Feb. 18, March 20, March 23, and March 27, 2022.
READ MORE: Health Canada recalls certain B.C. oysters due to norovirus contamination
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is continuing an investigation into the outbreak which could lead to further recalls. Any recall notices will be shared publicly.
To avoid norovirus infection from oysters, make sure they are cooked thoroughly to an internal temperature of 90 degrees celsius for 90 seconds before eating. Public health agencies do not recommend consuming raw oysters.
If you believe you became sick from consuming the recalled oysters, Health Canada recommends contacting a doctor. Anyone who believes they purchased the product should check to see if they have it in their home or business. Do not consume the recalled oysters — either throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
When people become sick with norovirus they typically develop symptoms of gastroenteritis within 24 to 48 hours, but symptoms can start within 12 hours after exposure. Even after becoming infected with norovirus, you can become re-infected. The main symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Other symptoms may include a low-grade fever, headaches, chills, muscle aches and fatigue.
Most people start to feel better after a day or two, however in severe cases, some patients require hospitalization. Those most at risk of severe outcomes from norovirus infection include pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, young children and seniors.
@SchislerCole
cole.schisler@bpdigital.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. | https://www.interior-news.com/news/279-people-infected-with-norovirus-from-b-c-oysters-public-health-agency-says/ | 2022-04-01T01:52:01Z |
Opinion: The Battle of Bataan took place 80 years ago. Here’s local POW Bill Montgomery’s story.
The stories of POWs and MIAs are usually relegated to the periphery of history. This is as true for World War II as it is for other wars.
Dudik, Ph.D., is president of the World War II Experience, and lives in San Marcos. Nelson is a volunteer at the Escondido History Center, and lives in Escondido.
The black and white flag that honors prisoners of war and military members who are missing in action carries the message, “You are not forgotten.” Yet the stories of POWs and MIAs are usually relegated to the periphery of history.
This is as true for World War II as it is for other wars. Recently, 80th anniversaries of events associated with the Second World War have been observed. One such moment should be remembered right now — the Battle of Bataan that occurred on the island of Luzon’s Bataan peninsula in the Philippines. It was fought by American and Filipino forces against the Japanese from Jan. 6, 1942 to April 9, 1942. As the months passed, military and food supplies dwindled. Eventually outnumbered, the U.S. military command surrendered on April 9, 1942. The action resulted in an immediate change of status for the Americans, from active-duty soldiers and nurses to prisoners of war.
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One of the service members who fought in the Battle of Bataan was William “Bill” Montgomery (1907-1991). Montgomery shared his personal story in a memoir drafted in 1953, “I Hired Out to Fight.” He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in November 1927 and never intended to be a career soldier. He planned to “master the art of aircraft welding and then leave to enter the aircraft industry.” He discovered, however, that he liked the Army life. Late in September 1941, his service squadron shipped out to Clark Air Base near Manila on Luzon island in the Philippines. Two months after Montgomery arrived there, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. On that same day, Japanese planes bombed American military installations around Manila.
U.S. and Filipino units regrouped on Bataan, across the bay from Manila. Fighting on the peninsula between them and the Japanese began in earnest on Jan. 6, 1942. In his memoir, Montgomery explained what confronted the soldiers. “So here we were, in the middle of a sort of cross between a jungle and a forest, our backs to the sea and the prospect of a fresh army moving in against us. Japanese aircraft controlled the skies, and their warships patrolled the routes any supply ships would have to take.”
Montgomery accepted a battlefield commission, which changed his rank from that of a master sergeant in the Army Air Corps to that of a second lieutenant in the infantry. As the weeks passed, morale declined, and Montgomery wrote, “Realization of the impending doom that hung over all of us, the hunger that gnawed at our stomachs, the fatigue that wrecked our bodies made these days of travail most discouraging.”
Still, the defenders of Bataan fought on. Early in April, Montgomery received a minor leg injury in an enemy dive-bombing raid. The wound became infected, and Montgomery ended up in a base hospital on Bataan. He arrived there on April 5. He was still there on April 9, the day of the surrender.
Over the next three years, Montgomery lived in four prison camps before his liberation in February 1945. His health steadily declined. Montgomery wrote that six months into his time as a POW, he was “woefully weak, half blind, swollen with beri-beri and unable to stand for any extended period of time.” Other diseases that afflicted him at various times included malaria, cellulitis, dengue fever, scurvy, edema and dysentery. Atrophy affected his ability to walk. The poor diet impacted his eyesight; he could not recognize others until they were a few feet away from him.
After the war, Montgomery was a patient for almost three years at several military hospitals where he received physical therapy and other treatments. Still, late in 1947, Montgomery could only walk with the use of two canes, and his eyesight had not significantly improved. He retired from the Army, with the rank of captain, in November 1947, and he and his wife, Florence, settled in Escondido. Even with his disabilities, Montgomery worked as a reporter for the town’s newspaper, the Times-Advocate, and served his community in more than one way, notably as a member of the Escondido elementary school board for 15 years.
In his memoir, Montgomery identified food and family as the most popular topics that POWs talked about while in the camps. But a more serious subject came up, too — “What do the folks at home think of us?”
We would like to answer that question now, 80 years later. Americans remember the defenders of Bataan as honorable people who held off the enemy as long as they could. We remember, too, the horrors Montgomery and others experienced as POWs. In all they endured, they exemplified the strength of the human spirit. And they are not forgotten.
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. | https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2022-03-31/battle-of-bataan-world-war-2-anniversary | 2022-04-01T01:52:01Z |
After a winning serve that marked game, set and match, Naomi Osaka clenched her first and bent toward the ground for a quiet but emotional moment.
She did not need to yell or scream in celebration. She let her performance do the talking.
Osaka advanced to the final of the Miami Open on Thursday with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. The 24-year-old from Japan recorded 18 aces, which marked the most by any player in a match this season.
“This tournament means a lot to me,” Osaka said during an on-court interview. “It’s my first time in the finals here. I’m really thankful.”
At the beginning of the tourney, it seemed unlikely that Osaka would reach the final. She is ranked No. 77 in the world, which makes her the lowest-ranked finalist in Miami Open history. That record previously belonged to Kim Clijsters, who won the tournament in 2005 as the No. 38-ranked player.
Osaka will face either Jessica Pegula of the U.S. or Iga Swiatek of Poland in the title match Saturday afternoon.
Bencic built a 4-1 lead in the first set on her way to victory. Osaka bounced back in the second set to grab a 4-2 edge on a forehand winner, and she held on to even the match.
In the third set, Osaka established a 5-2 lead and endured a challenging comeback attempt by Bencic before sealing the outcome.
“I didn’t really feel like I figured her out,” Osaka said. “I felt like all I could do was keep fighting for every point. Somehow I managed to win. She is a really amazing player.”
–Field Level Media | https://sportsnaut.com/naomi-osaka-advances-to-miami-open-final/ | 2022-04-01T01:52:02Z |
Clarkdale softball coach Grant Hill had a feeling there would be bad news after an apparent tornado came through southeast Lauderdale County Wednesday night.
A FaceTime call with the school’s athletic director, Scott Gibson, confirmed extensive damage to Clarkdale’s softball field. Once the facilities were surveyed, they both knew right away the Lady Bulldogs would not be able to complete their season on their home field.
“My first reaction, once I realized it was too much to play on, was about how our senior, Katie Taylor, wouldn’t be able to have senior night on her home field,” Hill said. “My heart went out to her.”
Much of the left/center field fence had been blown down, and the roof of the home dugout at the softball field had been destroyed, along with some of the support beams for the home bleachers. Part of the press box’s roof had been blown off as well, and the protective netting around the backstop was also damaged, as was the restroom facility, which had been lifted off its sled. A light pole near the field was also snapped.
“The big thing is there were no injuries or fatalities,” Gibson said. “We’re able to come to school and finish the year, and we’re grateful for that.”
Gibson, who is also Clarkdale’s baseball coach, said the school’s baseball field had some minor damage, but nothing that wouldn’t allow them to continue playing home games there. The softball team, however, will have to find temporary homes for its remaining home games. Fortunately, Gibson said, other area schools have reached out to offer assistance.
“My phone’s been ringing all day long from neighboring schools offering up everything from their fields, equipment or anything we need,” Gibson said Thursday. “It’s nice to see the support from these schools. We may be opponents on the field, but when something like this happens, it’s amazing how schools come together to help out.”
A Lauderdale County School District school offered to let the Lady Bulldogs use their field for home games, as did a school outside of the district, Gibson said. Hill said other schools have reached out to offer their fields in the event the Clarkdale softball team makes the postseason.
“It’s really been a blessing,” Hill said.
The players are handling the news as best they can, Hill added, and he said he and the other coaches are stressing to them that their season isn’t over despite the damage to their home field.
“Our senior (Taylor) is taking out pretty tough knowing her senior night won’t be here, but we’re preaching to them that we can only control what we can control,” Hill said. “The field is just materials, and we’re not going to let this stop the memories and the moments they get just to play softball.” | https://www.meridianstar.com/sports/local_sports/storm-damage-forces-clarkdale-softball-team-to-play-rest-of-home-games-elsewhere/article_5ae1d7c3-f94a-5508-9261-098796df92f8.html | 2022-04-01T01:52:02Z |