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Taylor Hawkins died with a heavy heart, but what does that mean?
By Sarah Berry
People can die of a broken heart, but what about a heavy heart?
A toxicology report following the death of Foo Fighters drummer, Taylor Hawkins, last Friday, revealed that the 50-year-old had at least 10 different substances in his body including THC (marijuana), tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids.
An autopsy also found Hawkins’ heart was about double the size of a normal healthy heart and weighed at least 600 grams, as reported by Colombian publication, Semana.
A heavy heart is “not out of the ordinary” says Professor Tom Marwick, the director of Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute.
Athletes can have enlarged hearts which is a healthy adaptation to increased blood circulation during exercise. But a heavy heart is typically not a good thing.
Just about anything that damages the heart muscles can enlarge the heart as it gets bigger to compensate for impaired function, says Heart Foundation chief executive Garry Jennings: “People can get fat hearts too. There is a relationship between body size and heart size.”
And although high blood pressure is a common cause and COVID-19 can also increase the size of the heart, illicit drugs and some prescription drugs carry a significant cardiac risk.
“Cocaine, for example, can cause the arteries of the heart to spasm and that can produce scarring and cause blood pressure to increase. That can increase load on the heart,” Marwick says, pointing out that “old-style” antidepressants like tricyclics also carry a risk.
“Stimulants at high doses can kill heart muscle cells,” adds Jennings. “Or injecting [any type of drug] can introduce bacteria into circulation which can settle on the valves and damage the heart valves - that’s a common cause of heart problems too.”
Heart attacks are increasingly common in people aged under 50 and experts believe substance use may be contributing to the problem.
People who smoke cigarettes are nearly twice as likely to have premature heart disease; cocaine or cannabis users are about 2.5 times as likely to have premature heart disease, while those who use amphetamines increase their risk three-fold. The more substances a person uses the greater the risk.
And while Jennings explains that the heart has “a great reserve” and can cope with a lot of damage before giving out, meaning people are not always symptomatic before a heart attack, if someone has a heart as heavy as Hawkins’, there is likely to be a sign.
“They may have exercise intolerance or shortness of breath,” Marwick says, explaining that a heavy heart can be a symptom of problems, or exacerbate existing problems.
“An enlarged heart carries with it a risk of heart rhythm disorders because the electrical impulses that drive the heart become disrupted as the heart is damaged and scarred,” he explains, “so it can be a cause of death.”
About 20 per cent of people with a coronary blockage die before they get to the hospital and, Jennings estimates, for half of those who know they have high blood pressure or another heart issue there’s another one who doesn’t.
“There is a problem with unrecognised heart problems out in the community,” he says.
Marwick agrees: “These prominent people who have died in the last month or so have been a reminder to the Australian community that as much as we have appropriately focused on COVID over the last two years… probably 100 times the number of people who got into trouble with COVID have been getting into trouble with cardiovascular disease.”
An echo test or an ultrasound of the heart can show the size of the heart, but the first step is a cardiac check-up.
“This is a disease of women as much as men and once people get to the age of 40 they should have blood tests for cholesterol, they should have a blood pressure check and somebody should listen to their heart,” Marwick says.
Some people may require further testing and possibly medication. For many, however, addressing lifestyle is enough to prevent the development of heart problems and can help even those with a genetic predisposition.
“No matter how bad your genes are, there is always a benefit of lifestyle - healthy nutrition, physical activity, not smoking tobacco, not getting diabetes,” Jennings says. “You should never give up on the possibilities that lifestyle can put off the problems.
“The earlier you find out about it the less damage will be there and therefore the better the outcome in the longer term.”
Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.
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https://www.watoday.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/taylor-hawkins-died-with-a-heavy-heart-but-what-does-that-mean-20220329-p5a8un.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_lifestyle
| 2022-04-01T00:38:25Z
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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
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https://www.middletownpress.com/sports/article/Bruins-honor-retired-goalie-Rask-after-injury-17049805.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:25Z
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Sandy Hurley steers the Mount Airy (North Carolina) News to be a mirror that reflects the community
Teri Saylor
Special to Publishers' Auxiliary
Apr 1, 2022
Growing up in a family of newspaper readers, Sandy Hurley was in college studying to become a kindergarten teacher until the day she walked into the West Jefferson (North Carolina) Times, her local newspaper, to buy a subscription as a Christmas gift for her dad. A notice for a job opening caught her attention. She applied and got the job.
She never looked back.
“I applied so I’d have a job I enjoyed while going to college,” she said. “I haven’t left this industry since then. It was wonderful because it was a small newspaper where everyone did everything, and I learned so much by starting at a small paper.”
Hurley learned her lessons well. She worked her way through the ranks at various newspapers, and today she is the regional publisher for the Mount Airy Media Group, a division of Adams Publishing Group East (Tennessee/North Carolina/Virginia), which includes the daily Mount Airy (North Carolina) News, four weeklies and two magazines. She is currently serving a term as president of the North Carolina Press Association and North Carolina Press Services.
The flagship newspaper in the APG-East North Carolina group — The Mount Airy News — was founded in 1880. April 2022 marks a publication schedule change, converting from Wednesday, Friday and Sunday publication days to Tuesday and Thursday, adding in a weekend edition. Its circulation is 4,000, and newspapers are distributed by carriers and in the mail.
VISION STATEMENT
“To be the most comprehensive information provider through print and web-based products, earning customer loyalty by exceeding expectations of reliability and service while also serving the marketing needs of area businesses.” Our motto is “Your community, your voice in the Yadkin Valley,” and our mission statement is “Relevant news and marketing strategies that work.”
DEDICATED STAFF
“We are fortunate to have dedicated people on our team. We range from those with 40+ years’ experience to some who are new to our business. Local reporters, editors, a digital and print sales team, as well as customer service and circulation are all local for our newspapers. We still have a partial production facility handling mailroom work, but we are printed at a sister newspaper. We also have a design center here and handle the graphics for our group of newspapers — for digital and online — as well as sister papers across the country and commercial customers in multiple states,” Hurley said.
COMMUNITY’S VOICE
“It is so important that we are seen as the community’s voice for our area. We need to be a mirror that reflects this community, and we are dedicated to that mission. We need to hold accountable those who make decisions for this area, and shining light on that information is important to us. Our sales team is dedicated to helping area businesses reach as many consumers as possible through print and digital avenues. Whether it is our newspapers, our magazine products, our websites, social media or targeted digital campaigns, we want customers to feel confident in partnering with us to gain more customers and build their business.”
FAMILY OF WEEKLIES
Other publications in the Mount Airy News Media Group are: The Tribune (Elkin, North Carolina), published on Wednesdays; The Yadkin Ripple (Yadkin County, North Carolina), published on Thursdays; The Stokes News (Stokes County, North Carolina) published on Thursdays; The Carroll News (Carroll County, Virginia) published on Wednesdays; Mayberry Magazine and On The Vine magazine, both published quarterly.
REWARDS
Hurley says, “The highlights are both wonderful and sad, important and exciting. They are both historical records and documentation for the future. Many times, you hear that bad news sells, but honestly, a story about a well-known teacher, or an in-depth look at the opioid addiction in our communities, is just as important. To know that school systems keep scrapbooks from what is printed in our papers, parents still clip articles and put it on their refrigerators, and to know that in the wee hours of the morning, people are already online checking our news is very rewarding.
ROLE MODELS
“The words of Dale Carnegie have stuck with me for many years. If you truly care about the person you are talking to, it will show in all that you do. We must care about our community — its safety, its livelihood and the many pieces that make us a wonderful area. When tough decisions must be made, I put it in God’s hands. Our industry faces many challenges, but finding strength through prayer has been instrumental. I have learned and been inspired by many people over many years. I am thankful to be in an industry where fellow publishers are quick to help each other, whether it is printing when a press goes down or your building is hit by a storm, to brainstorming a new idea — this is truly a wonderful industry.
LESSONS LEARNED
Hurley advises, “Always be fair. Put yourself in the readers’ or the advertisers’ shoes. If it was your business, what marketing strategy would you use? If it was your house that burned, what help would you need? What do the firefighters feel, and how can we share their story?”
SURPRISING HOBBY
“I love to play bocce. I honestly love any competitive sports, but bocce is a game anyone can play.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
“Oops, I’m not good with that one. I’m a workaholic. As our boys grew up, I made sure to not miss a school event or sporting event, even if it meant you finished work after the game. I am so fortunate to have a husband and two sons who have supported my career over the years.”
FAVORITES
“Favorite book other than The Bible: — I love reading John Grisham. He is an excellent writer, and his twists and turns with the legal system are interesting.”
CONTACT INFORMATION
Sandra (Sandy) Hurley,
319 N Renfro St., Mount Airy NC 27030
(336) 415-4635
shurley@mtairynews.com
mtairynews.com
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https://www.nna.org/sandy-hurley-steers-the-mount-airy-north-carolina-news-to-be-a-mirror-that-reflects-the-community
| 2022-04-01T00:38:25Z
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Prudential (PRU) Dips More Than Broader Markets: What You Should Know
Prudential (PRU) closed the most recent trading day at $118.17, moving -1.77% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's 1.57% loss on the day. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 1.56%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 0.1%.
Heading into today, shares of the financial services company had gained 9.99% over the past month, outpacing the Finance sector's gain of 3.25% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.37% in that time.
Investors will be hoping for strength from Prudential as it approaches its next earnings release. The company is expected to report EPS of $2.95, down 28.22% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $13.95 billion, down 1.84% from the year-ago period.
PRU's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $12.10 per share and revenue of $54.92 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of -17.01% and -9.56%, respectively.
It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Prudential. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. Prudential currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Valuation is also important, so investors should note that Prudential has a Forward P/E ratio of 9.94 right now. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 10.32, so we one might conclude that Prudential is trading at a discount comparatively.
Investors should also note that PRU has a PEG ratio of 1.11 right now. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. Insurance - Multi line stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 1.33 based on yesterday's closing prices.
The Insurance - Multi line industry is part of the Finance sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 215, which puts it in the bottom 16% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
To follow PRU in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
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It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
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https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/prudential-pru-dips-more-than-broader-markets%3A-what-you-should-know-0
| 2022-04-01T00:38:26Z
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First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:FR – Get Rating) was the target of a significant drop in short interest during the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,860,000 shares, a drop of 21.8% from the February 28th total of 2,380,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 958,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.9 days.
Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in First Industrial Realty Trust by 15.5% in the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 715,410 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $47,340,000 after purchasing an additional 95,774 shares in the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System boosted its stake in First Industrial Realty Trust by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 295,382 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $15,383,000 after purchasing an additional 5,887 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue boosted its stake in First Industrial Realty Trust by 10.8% in the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 180,303 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $11,934,000 after purchasing an additional 17,578 shares in the last quarter. Strs Ohio boosted its stake in First Industrial Realty Trust by 23.7% in the 4th quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 178,118 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $11,791,000 after purchasing an additional 34,079 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC bought a new position in First Industrial Realty Trust in the 3rd quarter worth about $230,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.03% of the company’s stock.
Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on FR shares. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on shares of First Industrial Realty Trust from $13.75 to $13.25 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 3rd. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of First Industrial Realty Trust from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $69.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 11th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of First Industrial Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. Mizuho lowered shares of First Industrial Realty Trust from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $54.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 13th. Finally, TD Securities upgraded shares of First Industrial Realty Trust to a “buy” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $19.50 to $18.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $53.73.
First Industrial Realty Trust (NYSE:FR – Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 8th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.26 by $0.61. First Industrial Realty Trust had a net margin of 56.90% and a return on equity of 13.05%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.44 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that First Industrial Realty Trust will post 2.16 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 30th. This is a boost from First Industrial Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. First Industrial Realty Trust’s payout ratio is 51.92%.
About First Industrial Realty Trust (Get Rating)
First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust. It engages in the ownership, management, acquisition, sale, development and redevelopment of industrial real estate. The firm product portfolio includes bulk warehouse, regional warehouse, R&D/flex, and light industrial properties.
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https://www.americanbankingnews.com/2022/03/31/first-industrial-realty-trust-inc-nysefr-short-interest-update.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:27Z
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Russian war in world’s ‘breadbasket’ threatens food supply
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The Russian tanks and missiles besieging Ukraine also are threatening the food supply and livelihoods of people in Europe, Africa and Asia who rely on the vast, fertile farmlands of the Black Sea region — known as the “breadbasket of the world.”
Ukrainian farmers have been forced to neglect their fields as millions flee, fight or try to stay alive. Ports are shut down that send wheat and other food staples worldwide to be made into bread, noodles and animal feed. And there are worries Russia, another agricultural powerhouse, could have its grain exports upended by Western sanctions.
While there have not yet been global disruptions to wheat supplies, prices have surged 55 percent since a week before the invasion amid concerns about what could happen next. If the war is prolonged, countries that rely on affordable wheat exports from Ukraine could face shortages starting in July, International Grains Council director Arnaud Petit told The Associated Press.
That could create food insecurity and throw more people into poverty in places like Egypt and Lebanon, where diets are dominated by government-subsidized bread. In Europe, officials are preparing for potential shortages of products from Ukraine and increased prices for livestock feed that could mean more expensive meat and dairy if farmers are forced to pass along costs to customers.
Russia and Ukraine combine for nearly a third of the world’s wheat and barley exports. Ukraine also is a major supplier of corn and the global leader in sunflower oil, used in food processing. The war could reduce food supplies just when prices are at their highest levels since 2011.
A prolonged conflict would have a big impact some 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) away in Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer. Millions rely on subsidized bread made from Ukrainian grains to survive, with about a third of people living in poverty.
“Wars mean shortages, and shortages mean (price) hikes,” Ahmed Salah, a 47-year-old father of seven, said in Cairo. “Any hikes will be catastrophic not only for me, but for the majority of the people.”
Anna Nagurney, a professor of supply chains, logistics and economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said, “Wheat, corn, oils, barley, flour are extremely important to food security … especially in the poorer parts of the globe.”
With Ukrainian men being called on to fight, she said, “Who’s going to be doing the harvesting? Who’d be doing the transportation?”
Egypt’s state procurer of wheat, which normally buys heavily from Russia and Ukraine, had to cancel two orders in less than a week: one for overpricing, the other because a lack of companies offered to sell their supplies. Sharp spikes in the cost of wheat globally could severely affect Egypt’s ability to keep bread prices at their current subsidized level.
“Bread is extremely heavily subsidized in Egypt, and successive governments have found that cuts to those subsidies are the one straw that should be kept off the camel’s back at all costs,” Mirette Mabrouk, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, wrote in a recent analysis.
War-ravaged Syria recently announced it would cut spending and ration staples. In nearby Lebanon, where a massive explosion at the Beirut port in 2020 destroyed the country’s main grain silos, authorities are scrambling to make up for a predicted wheat shortage, with Ukraine providing 60 percent of its supply. They are in talks with the U.S., India and Canada to find other sources for a country already in financial meltdown.
Even before the war threatened to affect wheat supplies in sub-Saharan Africa, people in Kenya were demanding #lowerfoodprices on social media as inflation eroded their spending power. Now, they’re bracing for worse.
African countries imported agricultural products worth $4 billion from Russia in 2020, and about 90 percent was wheat, said Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist for the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.
In Nigeria, flour millers believe a shortage of wheat supplies from Russia would affect the price of products like bread, a common food in Africa’s most populous country.
“All of us need to look elsewhere” in the future, said Tope Ogun with Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, one of Nigeria’s biggest flour milling companies. “We might not get what we need to, and there is likely going to be an increase in the price.”
Nigeria has taken pains to reduce its reliance on Russian grains, with farmers moving to plant more wheat fields to try to meet 70 percent of the country’s demand in five years, said Gambo Sale, national secretary of the Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria.
“We have the land, we have the people, we have the money, we have whatever we can need in Nigeria” to grow wheat, he said. “All we need now is time.”
The disruption can be felt as far away as Indonesia, where wheat is used to make instant noodles, bread, fried foods and snacks.
Ukraine was Indonesia’s second-largest wheat supplier last year, providing 26 percent of wheat consumed. Rising prices for noodles, in turn, would hurt lower-income people, said Kasan Muhri, who heads the trade ministry’s research division.
Ukraine and Russia also combine for 75 percent of global sunflower oil exports, accounting for 10 percent of all cooking oils, IHS Markit said.
Raad Hebsi, a wholesale retailer in Baghdad, said he and other Iraqis are bracing to pay more for their cooking oil.
“Once the items stored are sold, we will see an increase in prices of these items,” he said. “We will likely purchase alternatives from Turkey, and Turkey will no doubt take advantage of the situation in Ukraine and raise its prices.”
Farmers in the United States, the world’s leading corn exporter and a major wheat supplier, are watching to see if U.S. wheat exports spike. In the European Union, farmers are concerned about rising costs for livestock feed.
Ukraine supplies the EU with just under 60 percent of its corn and nearly half of a key component in the grains needed to feed livestock. Russia, which provides the EU with 40 percent of its natural gas needs, is similarly a major supplier of fertilizer, wheat and other staples.
Spain is feeling the pinch both in sunflower oil, which supermarkets are rationing, and grains for the all-important breeding industry. Those imported grains go to feed some 55 million pigs.
Jaume Bernis, a 58-year-old breeder with 1,200 swine on his farm in northeast Spain, fears the war will further increase the pain his business is facing because of climate change and drought.
Since October, Spanish pork products have been taking a loss from high costs, Bernis said. Those costs are driven by China stockpiling feed for its pigs as it claws its way out of a devastating outbreak of African swine fever.
In the first two days of Russia’s assault on Ukraine, the price of grain for animal feed jumped 10 percent on the open market in Spain.
“We are facing a moment of very elevated costs, and we don’t know what lies ahead,” Bernis said. “This is another cost of waging a war in the 21st century.”
___
Batrawy reported from Dubai, Magdy from Cairo and Asadu from Lagos, Nigeria. AP reporters Paul Wiseman in Washington; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; Cara Anna in Nairobi, Kenya; Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia; and Roxana Hegeman in Belle Plaine, Kansas, contributed.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the tensions between Russia and Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/wire/597036-russian-war-in-worlds-breadbasket-threatens-food-supply/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:26Z
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Three people were killed in collision on Lake Shore Boulevard West Thursday evening, Toronto Paramedics said.
Emergency crews responded at the scene in the area of Lake Shore and Superior Avenue, just after 5:30 p.m., Toronto police said.
At the scene, crews found two men and a woman without any vital signs.
According to reports, a white SUV travelling at very high speed apparently went through a red light and struck two pedestrians in the crosswalk area, police spokesperson David Hopkinson told reporters at the scene.
The driver then struck a flatbed tractor trailer and was possibly ejected from the vehicle, Hopkinson added.
The driver was one of the three people killed. The other two were pedestrians, officers at the scene reported.
Crews performed life-saving measures on the three people, but they were declared dead.
Roads in the area will stay closed for a lengthy period of time, police added.
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https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/03/31/three-killed-in-etobicoke-collision-toronto-police.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:27Z
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First human challenge study of Covid-19 yields valuable insights about how we get sick
By Brenda Goodman, CNN
It takes just a tiny virus-laden droplet — about the width of a human blood cell — to infect someone with Covid-19.
That’s just one of the findings from research that deliberately infected healthy volunteers with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The findings were published Thursday in the journal Nature Medicine.
Challenge studies can be controversial because they involve intentionally giving someone a virus or other pathogen in order to study its effects on the human body. Even with safeguards in place, there’s an element of risk, particularly when studying a new virus.
But they are also hugely valuable for understanding the course of an infection.
“Really, there’s no other type of study where you can do that, because normally, patients only come to your attention if they have developed symptoms, and so you miss all of those preceding days when the infection is brewing,” said lead study author Dr. Christopher Chiu, an infectious disease physician and immunologist at Imperial College London.
Volunteers were carefully screened
The study began in March 2021. The 36 volunteers were between the ages of 18 and 30. They were allowed to participate only if they didn’t have any risk factors for severe Covid-19, such as being overweight, having reduced kidney or liver function, or having any heart, lung or blood problems. They also signed an extensive informed consent form to participate.
To further minimize the risks, researchers conducted the study in phases. The first 10 infected volunteers got the antiviral drug remdesivir to reduce their chances of progressing to severe disease. Researchers also had monoclonal antibodies at the ready in case anyone took a turn for the worse. Ultimately, the remdesivir proved unnecessary, and researchers never had to give anyone antibodies.
The volunteers got a tiny drop of fluid containing the originally detected strain of the virus through a long, thin tube inserted into their nose.
They were medically monitored 24 hours a day and stayed for two weeks in rooms at London’s Royal Free Hospital that had special air flow to keep the virus from escaping.
Half were infected
A total of 18 participants became infected, two of whom never developed symptoms. Among the people who got sick, their illnesses were mild. They had stuffy noses, congestion, sneezing and sore throats.
Most of the study participants who caught Covid-19 — 83% — lost their sense of smell, at least to a degree. Nine couldn’t smell at all.
This now-well-known symptom got better for most people, but six months after the study ended, there’s one person whose sense of smell isn’t back to normal but is improving.
That’s a concern because another recent study found that this loss of smell was tied to changes in the brain.
Chiu says the researchers gave the participants cognitive tests to check their short-term memory and reaction time. They’re still looking at that data, but he thinks those tests “will really be informative.”
None of the study volunteers developed lung involvement in their infections. Chiu thinks this is because they were young and healthy and inoculated with tiny amounts of virus.
Beyond the loss of smell, no other symptoms persisted.
A closer look at infection as it moves through the body
Under these carefully controlled conditions, researchers were able to learn a lot about the virus and how it moves through the body:
- Tiny amounts of virus, about 10 microns — the amount in a single droplet someone sneezes or coughs — can make someone sick.
- Covid-19 has a very short incubation period. It takes about two days after infection for a person to start shedding virus.
- People shed high amounts of virus before they show symptoms (confirming something epidemiologists had figured out).
- On average, the young, healthy study volunteers shed virus for 6½ days, but some shed virus for 12 days.
- Infected people can shed high levels of virus without any symptoms.
- About 40 hours after the virus was introduced, it could be detected in the back of the throat.
- It took about 58 hours for virus to show up on swabs from the nose, where it eventually grew to much higher levels.
- Lateral flow tests, the rapid at-home kind, work really well for detecting when a person is contagious. The study found that these kinds of tests could diagnose infection before 70% to 80% of viable virus had been generated.
Chiu says his study emphasizes a lot of what we already know about Covid-19 infections, not least of which is why it’s so important to cover both your mouth and nose when sick to help protect others.
More challenge studies planned
This challenge study was so successful that Chiu plans to do it again, this time with vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant to study their immune response.
He says his team also plans to continue studying the people who didn’t get sick.
“That’s what’s really interesting,” he said. About half of the study participants never got sick and never developed antibodies, despite getting exactly the same dose of the virus.
Everyone was screened for antibodies to closely related viruses, like the original SARS virus. So it wasn’t cross-protection that kept them safe; it was something else.
“There are lots of other things that help protect us,” Chiu said. “There are barriers in the nose. There are different kinds of proteins and things which are very ancient, primordial, protective systems, and they are likely to have been contributing to them not being infected, and we’re really interested in trying to understand what those are.”
Understanding what other factors may be at play could help us provide more generalized protection to people in case of a future pandemic.
Dr. Kathryn Edwards, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University who wrote an editorial published alongside the study, said the research offers important information about infection and contagion with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Blood and tissue samples collected for the study will continue to be analyzed for years to come, she said. “I think those are all in the freezer, so to speak, and are being dissected. So I think that should be very powerful.”
In the end, she thinks the study has put many of the fears about human challenge studies to rest and paved the way for others.
“We won’t be doing challenge studies in babies, and we won’t be doing it in, you know, 75-year-old people with chronic lung disease,” she said. But in young, healthy people, “I think these are studies that will be helpful.”
The-CNN-Wire
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https://kesq.com/health/cnn-health/2022/03/31/first-human-challenge-study-of-covid-19-yields-valuable-insights-about-how-we-get-sick/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:28Z
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Calmer winds across the region with mostly clear skies. Temperatures were perfect for springtime with afternoon highs in the 70s. Overnight lows will fall into the upper 40s and lower 50s with mostly clear skies.
Friday, winds will turn out of the south and increase during the late morning and early afternoon hours. Gust will get up to 30 miles per hour. those southerly winds will also increase temperatures going into the weekend, afternoon highs will peak in the 80s with mostly clear skies.
Winds decrease just in time of the Rodeo Parade on Saturday, a short break from the gusty winds for those planning to head downtown. Grab that sun protection as mostly clear skies will persist and those sunburns can quickly sneak up on you.
Late Sunday and into Monday a weak upper trough moves into the state, that will create some isolated showers and storms, not severe expected and those storms will be very hit or miss in nature. Better rain chances will be along the northern Concho Valley and closer to Interstate 20.
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https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/weather/klst-evening-forecast-thursday-march-31st/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:29Z
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Funeral Service for Mrs. Betty V. Gordon, 89, of Alexander City, Alabama, will be Monday, April 4, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. at the Alex City Methodist Church. Rev. Wayne Cowhick will officiate. She will lie in state at the Church for one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 3, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home.
Mrs. Gordon passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at her residence. She was born on October 8, 1932, in Brooksville, Alabama to James Foyle Vaughn and Nora Gilbreath Vaughn. She was a charter member of Alex City Methodist Church and had served as Treasurer. She taught Home Economics at the Alexander City Junior High School for many years. She was an excellent cook, enjoyed sewing, yard work, and gardening. She loved and spoiled her grandchildren. It was always a joy for her to serve others.
She is survived by her son, John L. Gordon, Jr. (Lysa) of Alexander City; grandchildren, Paxton Fuller (Brady), Paige Gordon, and Griff Gordon (Kaleigh); great-grandchild, Grayson John Gordon; sister, Nell Jackson; sisters-in-law, Barbara Shipp (Jim) and Geraldine Gordon; and several beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, John L. Gordon, Sr.; her parents; sisters and brothers-in law, Hazel Pettit (Wilson), Robbie Alldredge (Sam), and Mary Ann Smith (Curt); and brothers-in-law, Ned Jackson and Harold Gordon.
The family will accept flowers or memorial contributions may be made to the Alexander City Methodist Church 1020 11th Avenue North, Alexander City, AL 35010.
Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
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https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/obituaries/mrs-betty-v-gordon/article_e66ac6d2-b12f-11ec-94ab-bf3d7bd97ad1.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:29Z
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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.
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https://www.katc.com/news/national/house-passes-35-a-month-insulin-cap-as-dems-seek-wider-bill
| 2022-04-01T00:38:29Z
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SCAPPOOSE, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a man was shot and killed Thursday by two police officers in Scappoose, Oregon.
Columbia County officials confirmed the officer-involved shooting on social media. In a tweet, officials said that “no officers were injured and the incident is currently under investigation.”
A witness told KOIN-TV that he was dropping his wife off at work when he saw a man show up to the towing facility next door. The witness, Erik Tyler, said the man appeared angry and a fight escalated between the man and employees until the workers told him they would call the police.
Police arrived and Tyler said he heard them yell at the man to drop his weapon and the man didn’t comply.
Detective Shannon Wilde with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which has taken over the investigation, told reporters police responded to the “disturbance” at Grumpy’s Towing just before 10 a.m. During the incident, Wilde said both a sheriff's deputy and an Oregon State Police trooper fired their weapons, killing the man.
Wilde did not identify the deceased man or specify whether he was armed at the time but said he was wanted for an unrelated “violent felony.”
Wilde also declined to comment on the circumstances that led up to the shooting.
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https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Police-Officers-shoot-kill-man-in-Scappoose-17049819.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:29Z
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https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2556529994473/berryrrific-cereal-bars-what-s-new-at-lewes-coffee
| 2022-04-01T00:38:29Z
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CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Ethiopia’s Supreme Court has upheld the order to release on bail journalist Amir Aman Kiyaro, who has been imprisoned for four months without charges, rejecting a police effort to block his bail.
The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the appeal by police against bail that had been granted by a lower court earlier this week for Kiyaro, an Ethiopian video journalist accredited to The Associated Press. That ruling said Kiyaro should be freed on bailwhile prosecutors determine whether or not to press charges against him.
The bail of 60,000 Ethiopian birr, about $1,170, has been paid, but Kiyaro remained in custody Thursday while police processed the bail paperwork before his expected release, according to his lawyer.
Kiyaro, 30, was detained on Nov. 28 in Addis Ababa under the country’s war-related state of emergency powers.
Kiyaro is accused of “serving the purposes” of what the government has classified as a terrorist group by interviewing its officials, according to reports by Ethiopian state media, which cited federal police. Local journalist Thomas Engida was arrested at the same time and faces similar charges. Ethiopia’s Supreme Court also ruled that Engida should be released on bail.
If the journalists are found guilty of violating Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism law or the state of emergency law, they could face sentences of seven to 15 years behind bars, federal police inspector Tesfaye Olani has told state media.
Despite the granting of bail after four months of police investigation and detention, it still remains uncertain whether prosecutors will proceed to press charges against Kiyaro. The state of emergency was lifted in Februaryas the government cited changing conditions in the deadly conflict between Ethiopian forces and those of the northern Tigray region.
“We are relieved that journalist Amir Aman Kiyaro has again been granted bail,” Julie Pace, the AP’s executive editor, said. “However, Ethiopian authorities continue their investigation against him. We urge the Ethiopian authorities to drop their baseless investigation against Amir, an independent journalist targeted for his work.”
Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders urged Ethiopian authorities to immediately release Kiyaro and Engida and to not press any charges against them. “They should be freed with no further delay and the case be dropped!” said the group in a tweet.
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https://www.mystateline.com/news/international/ethiopias-supreme-court-upholds-bail-for-journalist/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:30Z
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DELANO, Calif. (AP) — The death of an inmate at a central California prison is being investigated as a homicide, officials said Thursday.
Juan E. Mendoza, 26, was found unresponsive in his cell at Kern Valley State Prison shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, according to a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
He had visible injuries and died a short time later despite life-saving efforts.
Mendoza shared his cell with another man, Jorge L. Mendoza, who was removed from the cell and placed in segregation while the death is investigated, authorities said.
Juan E. Mendoza went to prison in 2020 after receiving a six-year sentence in San Bernardino County for second-degree attempted murder and personal use of a dangerous weapon, officials said.
Jorge L. Mendoza was admitted from Monterey County in 2018 and was serving a sentence of life with the chance of parole for second-degree murder with the use of a firearm by a second-striker.
Kern Valley State Prison is located in Delano, northwest of Bakersfield. It has more than 3,200 inmates.
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https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/California-prison-inmate-death-investigated-as-a-17049814.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:30Z
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Purdue Boilermakers sophomore Jaden Ivey announced Thursday that he is taking the next step in his journey by declaring for the NBA draft.
Ivey was viewed as a lottery pick before the season. The 6-foot-4 guard has since emerged as one of the most fascinating prospects and is expected to be picked in the top five.
Ivey expressed his appreciation in a Twitter post that also thanked Purdue coach Matt Painter:
“Thank you for giving a kid from South Bend (Indiana) a chance to come play for your program.”
Purdue sophomore star Jaden Ivey heading to NBA draft
Purdue sophomore guard Jaden Ivey dazzled fans all season. One of the nation's most dangerous transition players, Ivey stands out for his rare combination of explosiveness and athleticism. It doesn't take much for Ivey to find an open window and then explode up the court for a high-flying dunk.
As the predraft process begins to unfold, there has been speculation that Ivey could be a darkhorse candidate to be selected first in June. Although the debate over the top selection will continue to rise, Ivey is expected to hear his name within the top four picks.
The talented guard averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 46.0%, including 35.8% from 3-point range. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He showed strong improvement from his freshman season, when he averaged 11.1 ppg and 1.9 apg.
Ivey has the potential to be a star at the NBA level. Becoming a more consistent outside shooter would make him even more of a dangerous threat.
Ivey's long-distance 3-point shot didn't fall as No. 3 seed Purdue fell 67-64 to the NCAA Tournament's Cinderella, No. 15 seed Saint Peter's, in the Sweet 16.
Ivey's mother, Niele Ivey, was an All-American and 2001 national champion at Notre Dame. She was a second-round pick in the 2001 WNBA draft. She gave birth to Jaden in February 2002 and weaved her WNBA and international career around raising her son. A former Notre Dame assistant, she now coaches the Fighting Irish.
Niele Ivey was in attendance for Purdue's Sweet 16 loss in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before coaching Notre Dame in the Sweet 16 the next day. N.C. State rallied to beat Notre Dame 66-63 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
His father, Javin Hunter, played wide receiver at Notre Dame and was a sixth-round pick in the 2002 NFL draft.
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https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/thank-giving-kid-south-bend-chance-come-play-program-jaden-ivey-thanks-purdue-coach-matt-painter-declaring-2022-nba-draft
| 2022-04-01T00:38:30Z
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jeff Walz has had a lot of success getting players to transfer to Louisville over the last few years, including three starters on his Final Four team this season.
He's not the only coach in the Final Four who has bolstered the roster by using the transfer portal as both South Carolina and UConn have found supplemental players from it.
Still Walz, Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma think the amount of players looking to change schools is getting out of control.
“I always like to say, ‘The grass is greener on the other side because it’s fertilized with a bunch of bull,’” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. “I think there are a lot of players that will jump into the portal after one year that don’t really have a good grasp of why they’re doing it.”
Staley likened the portal to Twitter, Instagram or TikTok.
“It’s a big ol’ fad that just keeps continuing,” she said. “Is it out of hand? It absolutely is. I don’t know how you control it. But it’s their way. It’s their way of controlling their own destinies.”
Both Staley and Auriemma noted that there were currently more players seeking to transfer than there were scholarships available across the country.
“You know those 850 people in the portal? Three hundred of them are not going to find a school to go to because they’re going to realize it’s not the school they just left,” Auriemma said.
Despite the reservations, they're still playing along. Emily Engstler (Syracuse), Kianna Smith (California) and Chelsie Hall (Vanderbilt) have been key for Louisville. Engstler and Hall just joined the program this season.
When Engstler was considering the Cardinals, Walz went to Mykasa Robinson to discuss how her role would likely shrink if Engstler were to come and gauge her comfort level.
“She looked at me, and she’s like, ‘I’m tired of guarding her. If we can get her, yes, because she likes to win, and she wants to play with other good players,’” Walz said.
SOUTH CAROLINA SUPPORT
The Gamecocks have led the nation in average attendance for seven straight years, buoyed by a base of more than 10,000 season tickets. Despite the 1,200-mile distance from campus to downtown Minneapolis, there will be plenty of garnet-and-black-clad South Carolina fans voicing their support on Friday night when the Gamecocks take on Louisville.
“They’ve been with us when we weren’t a popular team or we weren’t a whole lot to cheer about,” Staley said. “This is my 14th year being at South Carolina, but the last probably 10, the fans have given us a ride that’s kind of irreplaceable.”
One of the catalysts for the attendance boom was giving fans as much as access to the program as they could, to build relationships and let the locals get to know the players as people.
“You really feel the love in the community,” guard Brea Beal said. “You can go to the store and run into somebody and they’re like, oh my gosh, just freaking out. It’s like a family.”
FOND MEMORY
Walz spent one season at Minnesota on his climb up the coaching ladder, serving as an assistant under current Maryland coach Brenda Frese.
That was 20 years ago, when Hall of Fame finalist Lindsay Whalen was a sophomore for the Gophers on a breakthrough team that reached the Final Four two seasons later. The women's team at that time played in a smaller gym, the Pavilion, next door to Williams Arena where the Minnesota men's team has played since 1928.
A water pipe burst that winter, moving the women's team into the bigger venue. The Gophers were on a roll, and the first game in the building known as “The Barn” was packed to the rafters.
“From that point on, we continued the rest of the season playing in the Barn in front of unbelievable crowds,” Walz said.
___
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
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https://www.newstimes.com/sports/article/Final-Four-coaches-feel-transfer-portal-is-out-17049755.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:30Z
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For Edel Thornton, the pain of missing out on a Champions Trophy final hurts far more than the injury to her knee. Specifically, it hurts more than the grade-two medial collateral ligament tear she sustained while helping Singleton Supervalu Brunell into tomorrow’s showdown with The Address UCC Glanmire.
Thornton played a key role in Brunell’s semi-final win over WIT Waterford Wildcats last weekend, and while she knew something was seriously amiss in her knee during that game, the thought of walking off the court was never an option.
“It was painful, it just wasn’t unbearable,” she says. “I didn’t jump off one foot or land on one foot purposely because it was sore. I was able to sprint, but going side to side was an issue. I didn’t think it was anything to worry about at the time, but once the game ended and the adrenaline came out of my system, I knew something wasn’t right.”
Brunell came through 78-75 to set up their final with League and Cup champions Glanmire, and after Thornton saw her physio on Tuesday she knew she would have to watch that decider from courtside. The results of her MRI scan came back the following day, with an eight-week rehab ahead of her, but surgery thankfully not required.
“I’m taking the positives,” she says. “To not be able to be out there on Saturday will be very hard but I’ll be there and even louder than I would be if I was playing. It’s hard, but these things happen and I’ve a lot more finals to be part of yet.” Thornton knows that few outside of the Brunell camp expect them to turn the tables on Glanmire, who’ve beaten them three times this year on winning margins of nine to 11 points. But she has faith in her teammates.
“(Glanmire) have shown everyone how good they can be and how good they are, but I do think if we play well, everyone is there to be beaten,” she says. “It’s one game, and the best team on that day will win. We just need to withstand their run. That’ll be really important for us to keep going.”
Thornton went along to watch her teammates train during the week and she can see how her injury has galvanised the squad.
“There’s an added oomph in all the girls,” she says. “If anything it will instil more in them as everyone has to step up, and I know they’ll make the most of it.” Glanmire assistant coach Ronan O’Sullivan is conscious of the threat Brunell present and he knows it’ll take a big performance from his side to complete a rare treble.
“They’ve great strength in the post and they are going to score, but we want to take points on what they score on,” he says. “Brunell had a very, very good season, they got the recruitment spot on, they had a lot of tough games and it’ll all come down on the day to the finer details.”
For Glanmire, a repeat of what they’ve produced all year will likely be enough for a team that’s been consistently brilliant, which they were again when coming through a tricky semi-final with DCU Mercy on a 76-66 score line.
“Our motto from the start of the year, because we knew we had a very good team on paper, was to have no regrets,” says O’Sullivan. “The players have been relentless in their approach and I think that’s what got us over the line. The girls are constantly working to improve. That’s where they’re probably a step above and that’s why they’re so successful.
“There were times in the Cup final it looked the game was slipping away but the girls just never gave up. Our idea all year has been: next play, next play. They never panic, they stick to the game plan and up until now it’s got us over the line.”
As for Thornton, she says that aside from her injury, preparations have gone “really well” for Brunell. “Everyone is really eager for the game,” she says. “Everyone is raring to go.”
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https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/othersport/arid-40841516.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:31Z
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https://dan.com/buy-domain/hnrsjjhg.com
| 2022-04-01T00:38:30Z
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By — Brendan Farrington, Associated Press Brendan Farrington, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-strikes-down-parts-of-florida-election-law-that-he-says-suppresses-black-voters Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Judge strikes down parts of Florida election law that he says suppresses Black voters Politics Mar 31, 2022 8:10 PM EDT TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge struck down portions of a Florida election law passed last year, saying in a ruling Thursday that the Republican-led government was using subtle tactics to suppress Black voters. The law tightened rules on mailed ballots, drop boxes and other popular election methods — changes that made it more difficult for Black voters who, overall, have more socioeconomic disadvantages than white voters, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote in his ruling. “For the past 20 years, the majority in the Florida Legislature has attacked the voting rights of its Black constituents,” Walker wrote. Given that history, he said, some future election law changes should be subject to court approval. READ MORE: Florida Gov. DeSantis vetoes Republican-drawn congressional maps Florida’s Republican-led legislature joined several others around the country in passing election reforms after Republican former President Donald Trump made unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Democrats have called such reforms a partisan attempt to keep some voters from the ballot box. “It was only designed to fuel the narrative around the big lie and that the election was stolen from Trump,” Democratic state Rep. Fentrice Driskell, who is Black, said in a phone interview after the ruling was issued. “What we absolutely can’t have is a system that, I almost feel like, is separate and unequal. Making it harder for Black people to vote is unconstitutional.” Democratic state Rep. Ramon Alexander said he and others argued before the bill passed that it would disproportionally affect voters of color, and he is glad Walker agreed. “Florida has a long history of discrimination at the ballot box, and (the bill) was just another roadblock put in front of Black people trying to cast a legal vote,” said Alexander, who is Black. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who made the election bill a priority, said the state will appeal Walker’s decision and win. “In front of certain district judges, we know we will lose no matter what because they are not going to follow the law,” DeSantis said at a news conference in West Palm Beach. He did not say specifically why he believes the ruling is incorrect. Upon appeal, the case would go to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, which is seen as being more conservative. Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley, who sponsored the bill, didn’t immediately return a voicemail message seeking comment. WATCH: How Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law regulates school lessons on gender, sexual orientation Much of the debate focused on vote-by-mail ballots and how they are collected and returned. Walker overturned a provision of the law limiting when people could use a drop box to submit their ballot, along with a section prohibiting anyone from engaging with people waiting to vote. Walker said the latter provision “discourages groups who give food, water, and other forms of encouragement to voters waiting in long lines from continuing to do so.” “One way, then, to measure whether this provision will have a disparate impact on Black or Latino voters is to determine whether Black and Latino voters are disproportionately likely to wait in line to vote,” said Walker, citing testimony that showed that to indeed be the case. Walker, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, also overturned a provision in the law putting new restrictions on groups that register voters, including requiring that people working to register voters submit their names and permanent addresses to the state. Walker ordered that for the next 10 years, any attempt by the Legislature to write new laws on the issues he overturned will need court approval. “Floridians have been forced to live under a law that violates their rights on multiple fronts for over a year,” he wrote. “Without preclearance, Florida could continue to enact such laws, replacing them every legislative session if courts view them with skepticism. Such a scheme makes a mockery of the rule of law.” By — Brendan Farrington, Associated Press Brendan Farrington, Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge struck down portions of a Florida election law passed last year, saying in a ruling Thursday that the Republican-led government was using subtle tactics to suppress Black voters. The law tightened rules on mailed ballots, drop boxes and other popular election methods — changes that made it more difficult for Black voters who, overall, have more socioeconomic disadvantages than white voters, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote in his ruling. “For the past 20 years, the majority in the Florida Legislature has attacked the voting rights of its Black constituents,” Walker wrote. Given that history, he said, some future election law changes should be subject to court approval. READ MORE: Florida Gov. DeSantis vetoes Republican-drawn congressional maps Florida’s Republican-led legislature joined several others around the country in passing election reforms after Republican former President Donald Trump made unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Democrats have called such reforms a partisan attempt to keep some voters from the ballot box. “It was only designed to fuel the narrative around the big lie and that the election was stolen from Trump,” Democratic state Rep. Fentrice Driskell, who is Black, said in a phone interview after the ruling was issued. “What we absolutely can’t have is a system that, I almost feel like, is separate and unequal. Making it harder for Black people to vote is unconstitutional.” Democratic state Rep. Ramon Alexander said he and others argued before the bill passed that it would disproportionally affect voters of color, and he is glad Walker agreed. “Florida has a long history of discrimination at the ballot box, and (the bill) was just another roadblock put in front of Black people trying to cast a legal vote,” said Alexander, who is Black. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who made the election bill a priority, said the state will appeal Walker’s decision and win. “In front of certain district judges, we know we will lose no matter what because they are not going to follow the law,” DeSantis said at a news conference in West Palm Beach. He did not say specifically why he believes the ruling is incorrect. Upon appeal, the case would go to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, which is seen as being more conservative. Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley, who sponsored the bill, didn’t immediately return a voicemail message seeking comment. WATCH: How Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law regulates school lessons on gender, sexual orientation Much of the debate focused on vote-by-mail ballots and how they are collected and returned. Walker overturned a provision of the law limiting when people could use a drop box to submit their ballot, along with a section prohibiting anyone from engaging with people waiting to vote. Walker said the latter provision “discourages groups who give food, water, and other forms of encouragement to voters waiting in long lines from continuing to do so.” “One way, then, to measure whether this provision will have a disparate impact on Black or Latino voters is to determine whether Black and Latino voters are disproportionately likely to wait in line to vote,” said Walker, citing testimony that showed that to indeed be the case. Walker, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, also overturned a provision in the law putting new restrictions on groups that register voters, including requiring that people working to register voters submit their names and permanent addresses to the state. Walker ordered that for the next 10 years, any attempt by the Legislature to write new laws on the issues he overturned will need court approval. “Floridians have been forced to live under a law that violates their rights on multiple fronts for over a year,” he wrote. “Without preclearance, Florida could continue to enact such laws, replacing them every legislative session if courts view them with skepticism. Such a scheme makes a mockery of the rule of law.”
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https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-strikes-down-parts-of-florida-election-law-that-he-says-suppresses-black-voters
| 2022-04-01T00:38:31Z
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WNIT, the South Bend-Elkhart region’s public broadcasting television station, will air on Sunday (April 3) and April 20 “The Christmas Lecture: Unwrap the Magic of Science,” a new event sponsored by the College of Science at the University of Notre Dame.
Delivered and recorded Dec. 9 by Greg Gage — a neuroscientist at the University of Michigan, chief executive officer of Backyard Brains and a TED fellow — the inaugural lecture is titled “Neuroscience for Everyone.”
WNIT will air the lecture Sunday at 7 p.m. on local channel 34.2 and on April 20 at 10 p.m. on channel 34.1 and streamed concurrently on wnit.org/live.
The Christmas Lecture aims to inspire in general audiences of any age the curiosity and wonder of scientific inquiry. It is modeled after the nearly 200-year-old Christmas Lectures series sponsored by The Royal Institution of Great Britain.
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https://news.nd.edu/news/wnit-to-air-notre-dame-college-of-sciences-the-christmas-lecture/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:31Z
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Congratulations to this former Clemson standout and current NFL veteran.
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Tyler Shatley and his wife, Natalie, have welcomed a new addition, baby Deacon, to their family.
Another Jaguar joins the family.
Congratulations to the Shatleys! pic.twitter.com/NskP0En6yQ
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) March 30, 2022
Shatley, who recently re-signed with the Jaguars on a two-year deal, has spent his entire NFL career (2014-21) in Jacksonville after originally signing with the franchise as an undrafted rookie on May 12, 2014. He has started 18 games for the Jags over the past two seasons and made 33 starts in his NFL career.
Shatley began his Clemson career (2009-13) as a fullback for the Tigers, before moving to the defensive line in 2010 and the offensive line in the spring of 2012. He played in 51 games and made 27 starts during his career as a Tiger, including 25 starts on offense over his final two seasons when he registered 60 knockdowns over 1,776 snaps.
–Photo for this article courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.
Order your Nick’s barware and do your part to help. #SaveNicks
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https://theclemsoninsider.com/2022/03/31/congrats-to-this-nfl-tiger-and-his-wife/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:31Z
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https://www.leafly.com/brands/house-of-jane/products/house-of-jane-chamomile-20mg-beverages
| 2022-04-01T00:38:30Z
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The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill today to increase the penalty for crossing the state line while running from police if the person fleeing is under suspicion of a felony.
Black lawmakers opposed the bill and said they were concerned the “reasonable suspicion” provision of the bill could be misused.
Under current law, it’s a misdemeanor to run from police unless the act of fleeing results in injury or death to a bystander or third party.
The bill by Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, would raise the penalty to a Class C felony if the person fleeing crosses the state line and the “law enforcement officer attempting to arrest the person has an arrest warrant for or has reasonable suspicion that the person has committed a felony offense.”
A Class C felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Shaver, whose district borders Georgia, said border counties have a problem with people running from police across state lines. Shaver’s husband, Jeff Shaver, is the sheriff in Cherokee County. She said the purpose of her bill is to reduce the incidents of people running from police and the negative consequences, such as injuries and deaths, that can result.
“It’s a problem in all of our border counties,” Shaver said. “Suspects tend to think if they make the state line they’re home free. So they run for the border.”
Black lawmakers said people in their communities have more reason to fear encounters with police. They were concerned about the consequences for people who are inclined to flee police even if they have committed no crime.
“In my community, we’re going to run because we’re afraid of the police,” Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, said.
Shaver said people who run from police for some reason other than a felony would not be affected by the change in the law.
But Rep. Sam Jones, D-Mobile, said the “reasonable suspicion” provision created too much uncertainty about how the law would be used. Jones, a former mayor of Mobile, said he is always concerned when the Legislature raised a penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony.
“Reasonable suspicion, I don’t know that that’s the same thing with all law enforcement officers,” Jones said. “A lot of people see it different. Lay people would not know what that is.”
Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Mobile, repeatedly asked Shaver to provide an example of what would establish “reasonable suspicion” under her bill. Shaver said she could not give an example but said it was a legal standard that police are trained to apply.
Bracy said he worried about people being unfairly saddled with felony charges and the life-changing consequences of those.
“We should not be passing a bill that we don’t even know what triggers it becoming a felony,” Bracy said.
The bill passed by a vote of 72-25 along party lines, with Republicans for it and Democrats opposed. It moves to the Senate.
Related: Alabama lawmakers approve teacher retirement benefit changes
Bill to address Alabama school discipline, curb student suspensions stalls
Alabama and national politics.
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https://www.al.com/news/2022/03/alabama-house-passes-bill-to-increase-penalty-for-running-from-police.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:31Z
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The counting is over in the second union election at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. But it's too close to call.
There were 993 "no" votes and 875 "yes" votes, but more than 400 contested ballots remain. According to the National Labor Relations Board, there will be a hearing within a few weeks to decide if any of the challenged ballots will be opened and counted.
More than 6,100 workers were eligible to vote in the do-over election, which was ordered after the NLRB found that Amazon had improperly interfered in last year's tally.
Turnout in this year's vote was down from last year when over half of eligible voters cast ballots. But among those who actually voted this time around, there was greater support for the union. Last year, workers voted more than 2-to-1 against joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a well-established national union.
"This time around we were able to educate more about unions," said Jennifer Bates, a warehouse employee, noting that organizers were able to get closer to workers now that the pandemic has eased.
The RWDSU called for every vote to be counted.
"The tenacity and courage of these workers never wavered in this unnecessarily long process," said RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum in a statement. "Workers will have to wait just a little bit longer to ensure their voices are heard."
Meanwhile in a separate Amazon union election on Staten Island in New York, the vote count will continue Friday morning. Roughly 8,000 workers were eligible to vote on whether to join the Amazon Labor Union, an upstart organization led by former and current Amazon warehouse employees. With ballots still to count, the union is in the lead, with 1,518 voting yes so far, and 1,154 voting no.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kios.org/2022-03-31/do-over-union-election-at-amazons-bessemer-warehouse-is-too-close-to-call
| 2022-04-01T00:38:31Z
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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The pain was sharp and familiar. It reminded David Price of where he has been. It also told him he still might be able to be the pitcher the Los Angeles Dodgers thought they had nearly 26 months ago.
Price’s quiet spring began the way others have in the five-time All-Star’s 13-year career: His left elbow hurt after his first live batting practice a couple of weeks ago, and he knew the resumption of an old routine was underway.
“Always the elbow,’’ Price said. “It happens every year, all the way back to 2010. Now, everything feels good – arm, elbow and shoulder.’’
It was good enough to impress Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and anybody else who watched Price make his first spring appearance against Cleveland on Wednesday night. The left-hander worked only an inning, but he had two strikeouts and was clocked at 93 mph.
In an abbreviated camp, it wasn’t enough to determine his role. It did remind the Dodgers that Price is still in the mix.
From starter to bullpen, Price’s role with the Dodgers has been uncertain since they acquired the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner from the Boston Red Sox in a three-team deal that included right-fielder Mookie Betts in February 2020.
Price didn’t pitch at all that year, opting out because of concerns about COVID-19. In 2021, he bounced between the starting rotation and the bullpen with 11 starts and 28 appearances as a reliever. His overall ERA was 4.03.
He arrived at camp in mid-March ready to do anything. Then Roberts mentioned him as a possible starter.
“I’m preparing that way, yeah,” said Price, who is in the final year of a seven-year, $217 million contract. “I think it’d be silly of me to prepare to be a reliever if I’m asked to start. So, I’m preparing to be a starter until otherwise.”
Otherwise looks to be the case. Roberts projects his starting rotation will be Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, Andrew Heaney and Tony Gonsolin. He cautioned that nothing is set in stone, mostly because pitchers were limited in a camp cut short by major league baseball’s lockout.
The Dodgers signed career starter Tyler Anderson in mid-March, just in case. As for Price, Roberts said: “I just think that David, right now, is not an option in the sense of, he’s not built up. It just doesn’t seem feasible right now.”
The 36-year-old left-hander could still have an immediate role, like one inning in relief early in the season, Roberts said, and moving up to multiple innings as he gets stronger.
“I’m confident in David in any role,’’ Roberts said. “I like his versatility. The role doesn’t matter. It’s just knowing that he’s going to pitch valuable innings in whatever role.”
NOTES
Cody Bellinger took batting practice Thursday on the minor-league side of the Dodgers’ camp. The 2019 National League MVP is 4 for 27 with 17 strikeouts this spring.
“I wouldn’t say I’m alarmed,’’ Roberts said. “I think ‘progressing’ is the word. We’ve got to continue to log at-bats to make him feel as comfortable as possible when the season starts.’’
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/David-Price-waiting-to-see-how-Dodgers-will-17049733.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:31Z
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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The pain was sharp and familiar. It reminded David Price of where he has been. It also told him he still might be able to be the pitcher the Los Angeles Dodgers thought they had nearly 26 months ago.
Price’s quiet spring began the way others have in the five-time All-Star’s 13-year career: His left elbow hurt after his first live batting practice a couple of weeks ago, and he knew the resumption of an old routine was underway.
“Always the elbow,’’ Price said. “It happens every year, all the way back to 2010. Now, everything feels good – arm, elbow and shoulder.’’
It was good enough to impress Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and anybody else who watched Price make his first spring appearance against Cleveland on Wednesday night. The left-hander worked only an inning, but he had two strikeouts and was clocked at 93 mph.
In an abbreviated camp, it wasn’t enough to determine his role. It did remind the Dodgers that Price is still in the mix.
From starter to bullpen, Price’s role with the Dodgers has been uncertain since they acquired the 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner from the Boston Red Sox in a three-team deal that included right-fielder Mookie Betts in February 2020.
Price didn’t pitch at all that year, opting out because of concerns about COVID-19. In 2021, he bounced between the starting rotation and the bullpen with 11 starts and 28 appearances as a reliever. His overall ERA was 4.03.
He arrived at camp in mid-March ready to do anything. Then Roberts mentioned him as a possible starter.
“I’m preparing that way, yeah,” said Price, who is in the final year of a seven-year, $217 million contract. “I think it’d be silly of me to prepare to be a reliever if I’m asked to start. So, I’m preparing to be a starter until otherwise.”
Otherwise looks to be the case. Roberts projects his starting rotation will be Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, Andrew Heaney and Tony Gonsolin. He cautioned that nothing is set in stone, mostly because pitchers were limited in a camp cut short by major league baseball’s lockout.
The Dodgers signed career starter Tyler Anderson in mid-March, just in case. As for Price, Roberts said: “I just think that David, right now, is not an option in the sense of, he’s not built up. It just doesn’t seem feasible right now.”
The 36-year-old left-hander could still have an immediate role, like one inning in relief early in the season, Roberts said, and moving up to multiple innings as he gets stronger.
“I’m confident in David in any role,’’ Roberts said. “I like his versatility. The role doesn’t matter. It’s just knowing that he’s going to pitch valuable innings in whatever role.”
NOTES
Cody Bellinger took batting practice Thursday on the minor-league side of the Dodgers’ camp. The 2019 National League MVP is 4 for 27 with 17 strikeouts this spring.
“I wouldn’t say I’m alarmed,’’ Roberts said. “I think ‘progressing’ is the word. We’ve got to continue to log at-bats to make him feel as comfortable as possible when the season starts.’’
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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https://www.middletownpress.com/sports/article/David-Price-waiting-to-see-how-Dodgers-will-17049733.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:31Z
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Dancing on Ice's Vanessa Bauer dazzles in a plunging green gown with thigh-high split as she attends star-studded The Lost City premiere
She always puts on a glamorous display.
And Vanessa Bauer looked as stunning as ever as she stepped out to attend the star-studded UK premiere of The Lost City in London's Leicester Square on Thursday.
The figure skater, 25, slipped into a slinky emerald green gown with a plunging halter neck and thigh-high leg split for the event.
Stunning: Vanessa Bauer, 25, dazzled in a plunging green gown with thigh-high split as she stepped out to attend The Lost City premiere in Leicester Square on Thursday
The form-fitting number showcased her incredibly taut figure as she added height to her frame with a pair of strappy black heels.
Vanessa carried a miniature black handbag and kept her accessories simple, opting for some gold hoop earrings.
She wore her raven tresses in a sleek style that was tucked behind her ears and added a sweep of bronze eyeshadow.
Glamorous: The form-fitting number showcased her incredibly taut figure as she added height to her frame with a pair of strappy black heels
Glowing: She wore her raven tresses in a sleek style that was tucked behind her ears and added a sweep of bronze eyeshadow
Elsewhere, the cast of the action-adventure film turned up to celebrate the release of the latest Ned Brothers motion picture.
Sandra Bullock who takes on the lead role, donned a stylish black trouser suit with a contrasting pink cape.
She posed for photos alongside her co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Channing Tatum who looked dapper in black and grey suits.
All in the details: Vanessa carried a miniature black handbag and kept her accessories simple, opting for some gold hoop earrings
The film follows Sandra's character Loretta Sage, a romance novelist whose books follow a fictional hero named Dash.
Daniel plays an eccentric billionaire and criminal named Abigail Fairfax, who kidnaps Loretta because he believes The Lost City in her book is real and wants her to guide him there.
On taking on the role, Daniel said it was a 'simple decision' as the script was 'hugely fun' while he also wanted the opportunity to work with Channing and Sandra.
Here they are! Sandra Bullock exuded sartorial chic as she joined her dapper co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Channing Tatum in London's Leicester Square
Speaking about Channing, he added: 'He is the world's nicest man, and genuinely the most physically capable actor... he's made to be an action star.'
Sandra and Channing filmed the explosion-heavy The Lost City on location in the Dominican Republic during the COVID-19 the pandemic.
At the domestic box office, The Lost City took down reigning champion The Batman, which held the No. 1 spot for three weekends in a row.
All new: Sandra and Channing filmed the explosion-heavy The Lost City on location in the Dominican Republic during the COVID-19 the pandemic
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10674331/Vanessa-Bauer-dazzles-plunging-green-gown-thigh-high-leg-split-Lost-City-premiere.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:31Z
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‘The real deal’ — NNA Past President Ken Rhoades remembered as dedicated advocate of Blair, Nebraska, newspaper communities
Apr 1, 2022
GREG FORBES
Enterprise Publishing Company
Ken Rhoades never shied away from a story.
His 60-plus year career saw him cover anything and everything, even if it meant putting himself in harm's way, which he did on several occasions.
One of the long-time Blair newspaper publisher's favorite stories to tell was about the 1953 fire at the Publishing House building that left him with singed hair and burnt legs. Former Enterprise managing editor Leeanna Ellis interviewed Rhoades about his career in 2019, where he singled out that story as one of the highlights he remembered the most.
“As he took photos, he noticed a door started to bulge before it finally blew open. Ken lost some eyebrow hair and was burned on his legs,” she said. “When I asked him if he went to the hospital, he said 'No.' He just kept taking photos.
“Wasn't he concerned for his safety? He just shrugged and smiled at me.”
AN OLD-SCHOOL NEWSPAPER MAN
Rhoades, who passed away March 21 at age 90, held almost every title possible at the Enterprise, including publisher emeritus following his retirement. His career saw him serve as the president of the Nebraska Press Association (NPA) Foundation and National Newspaper Association. He amassed a bevy of awards and honors, including an induction into the NPA Hall of Fame and a designation as a Nebraska Master Editor-Publisher in 2000.
In a tribute to Rhoades written for his funeral service, Allen Beermann, former executive director of the NPA, said Rhoades' career wasn't built on trying to receive accolades and acknowledgment, but rather it was one dedicated to integrity.
“As we reflect on his legacy, we quickly realize that he never did work for recognition; rather, he always did work worthy of recognition,” Beermann said. “Ken lived his life like a snowflake, which leaves a mark but never a stain. He was a premier community servant — always serving with highest distinction.”
Beermann said Rhoades exemplified the “G” forces of journalism — to be good, grateful, gracious, generous and glad. This allowed him to use his talents in a way that told the news with compassion, understanding and accuracy.
“Ken always kept these ‘G’ forces in mind as he learned and lived the lessons of history; he was never too proud to cry, too grim to laugh, too sophisticated to enjoy, too hard to repent, too legal to love, too narrow to notice or too proud to pray,” Beermann said.
Rhoades garnered his reputation throughout his 60–year newspaper career. He started with the Enterprise when he was just 10 years old, melting lead for the Linotype machine. He worked as a reporter for the Enterprise when he was in high school and would fill in when needed in the press department while he was attending the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
Rhoades eventually purchased the company from his father, J. Hilton Rhoades, in 1978, and it remained a family-focused business with his wife, Virginia, serving as the bookkeeper and the one who would collect the community news items.
Ken and Virginia sold Enterprise Publishing Company to his son, Mark Rhoades, in 1997. Mark currently serves as publisher, and his son, Chris, is the associate publisher.
Ken Rhoades remained involved with the paper as publisher emeritus and kept tabs on news in the area. Ellis said she appreciated Rhoades' guidance and willingness to swing by the office and chat. She said his example is one that remains at the paper.
“Ken was the epitome of an old-school newspaper man,” she said. “As a journalist, his experience and knowledge was something to admire. Ken could tell stories of the ‘good-old days’ and they were fascinating to listen to.
“He was proud of those who carried on his legacy — and not just his family. It was an honor to have Ken tell me I had done a great job on a story or he liked how the newspaper looked. I always valued his opinion.”
NO PROUDER PROMOTER OF BLAIR
Rhoades wasn't afraid to tackle tough subjects and take on controversial opinions in his editorials. Blair Mayor Rich Hansen said his approach to journalism was admirable because of his unflappability.
“Kenny wasn't afraid to take on some tough stories once in a while, which is a dangerous thing when the guy sitting across from you is paying your wages as an advertiser,” Hansen said. “He was just an old school paper guy.”
But Hansen said the stories he wrote and the way he managed the paper were reflections of the pride he had for the community.
“He was always positive about Blair,” Hansen said. “There was no prouder promoter of Blair than Ken Rhoades. When he would travel, he would be so proud to talk about Blair and he was proud to be from the Rhoades family.”
“He was the real deal.”
Rhoades' love of Blair was evident in his service to the community. He served on more than 30 civic organizations, donated to various causes in the community and attended countless events.
“He was always promoting Blair and always had a dynamic interest in Blair. He probably received every community service award available here,” Hansen said.
Mick Jensen, second cousin to Rhoades and longtime business associate through his work with Great Plains Communication, said Rhoades' connection to the community was inspiring and showed through his tireless work to serve it in any way possible.
“You wonder first of all how he had the energy to do it and how he kept track of everything he needed to,” Jensen said. “He was able to be helpful to so many causes and so many committees.”
Seeing Rhoades' passion for community service and his desire to promote Blair whenever possible, Jensen added, showed that Blair had an advocate locally, statewide and nationally.
“It gave you a sense of satisfaction and helped you understand someone did care and took the time to be that interested and watch out for the different issues in the community and county,” he said.
PARTNERS IN LIFE
Jensen said he and Rhoades remained close until Rhoades' passing Monday. He'd have dinner with Ken and Virginia each Wednesday, and even later in his life, Rhoades was always good for a joke.
“He'd be in a wheel–chair and a couple of times, people would come up and ask him how he was and he'd say, 'I dunno, they haven't told me yet today,'” Jensen said, with a laugh. “He kept a really good attitude and was so grateful for everything that you helped him with.”
Jensen said one source of Rhoades' demeanor and love of life was the connection he shared with Virginia. Where one would go, the other would often be, Jensen said.
“He and Virginia were complete partners in life,” he said, “and I think a quite a bit of his success is because of that. They say there's always a good woman behind that, and she was supportive of him, and I'm sure that helped him lot.
“As a couple, they were extremely fun to be with and were so caring of other people.”
Hansen, too, said he struggled to think of many instances where he saw Rhoades at a ball game or event without Virginia by his side.
“You have to emphasize, they were a pair together,” Hansen said. “You seldom saw one without the other, which was refreshing.”
Their impact on the community is apparent of virtually every corner in Blair. Jensen said it was Rhoades undying passion for the community and his demeanor towards life that makes his loss widely felt.
“It's tough to lose a person like that,” he said. “He's done so much, been so involved and touched so many people.
“I feel much richer for knowing him.”
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https://www.nna.org/the-real-deal-nna-past-president-ken-rhoades-2022
| 2022-04-01T00:38:32Z
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The BGN Community Mock Draft is back for another year! The actual 2022 NFL Draft start date, April 28, is just four weeks away, so we’re just about ready to begin. Please make sure to check out the rules below.
In 2021, BGN member Fly Like An Eagle finished as champion with a 91.57% approval rating. As the winner, they will own the rightful claim to their choice of the Philadelphia Eagles three first-round picks. Second-place finisher Phoenix X Minimus and third-place finisher 20Safety_Hazard will handle the other two Eagles picks.
We will be continuing our newer tradition from the last four years over to this community mock draft as well. That’s to say I’ll be including a poll in each pick post that allows everyone to vote for who THEY would pick for that given team. This way we’ll end up with two final mocks: one from the 32 individual users, and one from the community consensus.
Who will be the winner this year?! It’s anyone’s guess, but you have to play to win, so get those keyboards ready. There are only so many spots up for grabs.
REMINDER: The selection process doesn’t start until FRIDAY, April 1 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. This is just a “HEADS UP” post to give everyone a fair shot at getting their team of choice.
READ THE RULES
- Just like in the past, this year’s process will start at a specific time: Friday, April 1 at 2:00 PM ET, to be exact. If you want to be assigned to a pick, just comment in the post that will appear on the front page at that time. Make sure to include TWO things:
1) The team and pick (No. X) you want
2) The email address where I can reach you immediately after the pick claiming is done
TO REPEAT: ONCE YOUR PICK IS CLAIMED AND CONFIRMED by me in the official chart, I will contact you at the email address you provide. Mine is brandon.gowton@sbnation.com. Please keep checking your email so that we can instantly get the process moving. If you do not receive an email invitation to the Google doc from me after I have confirmed your pick in the chart (within like 60 minutes at least), please contact me ASAP.
- Teams will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. HOWEVER, you must have at least 300 comments or have been a member of BGN since January 1st, 2022 in order to participate. (NOTE: this is a loose guideline more than a hard rule. Exceptions will be made as I see necessary.)
- If you want a pick, don’t wait around! You can only pick one team/selection. If you’re requesting a team with more than one first-round pick (ex: Jets own picks No. 4 and No. 10), please specify the exact pick you want.
- The first two selections will be posted to the front page on Monday, April 4. If you have the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 1) and Detroit Lions (No. 2), be prepared to email me your picks ASAP. Again: my e-mail is brandon.gowton@sbnation.com.
- Everyone’s pick will be due to me at least TWO DAYS before the pick is published on BGN’s front page. The exact schedule for when picks are DUE can be seen in the list at the bottom of this post.
- Two picks will be posted every business day (Monday through Friday, no weekends) until we reach the end of our mock draft, which, conveniently enough, coincides with the beginning of draft week.
- Standard fanpost etiquette applies - meaning please make your pick explanations at least 150 words long and give us a good effort. Punctuation is also appreciated.
- If you want some examples of how the picks went down in previous years, [click here] and [here] and [here] and [here] and [here] and [here] and [here] and [here] and [here].
- The winner of the mock (and the recipient of next year’s Eagles pick) will be determined by a community approval rating poll placed on each article. Don’t forget to vote!
- No trades - sorry.
Keep an eye out for the selection post TOMORROW (Friday, April 1 at 2:00 PM ET). Best of luck to everyone! Let’s have fun.
See below for the entire schedule.
1) Jacksonville Jaguars — DUE: April 3 — PUBLISHING: April 4
2) Detroit Lions — DUE: April 3 — PUBLISHING: April 4
3) Houston Texans — DUE: April 3 — PUBLISHING: April 5
4) New York Jets — DUE: April 3 — PUBLISHING: April 5
5) New York Giants — DUE: April 4 — PUBLISHING: April 6
6) Carolina Panthers — DUE: April 4 — PUBLISHING: April 6
7) New York Giants — DUE: April 5 — PUBLISHING: April 7
8) Atlanta Falcons — DUE: April 5 — PUBLISHING: April 7
9) Seattle Seahawks — DUE: April 6 — PUBLISHING: April 8
10) New York Jets — DUE: April 6 — PUBLISHING: April 8
[Weekend break]
11) Washington Football Team — DUE: April 9 — PUBLISHING: April 11
12) Minnesota Vikings — DUE: April 9 — PUBLISHING: April 11
13) Houston Texans — DUE: April 10 — PUBLISHING: April 12
14) Baltimore Ravens — DUE: April 10 — PUBLISHING: April 12
15) Philadelphia Eagles — DUE: April 11 — PUBLISHING: April 13
16) Philadelphia Eagles — DUE: April 11 — PUBLISHING: April 13
17) Los Angeles Chargers — DUE: April 12 — PUBLISHING: April 14
18) New Orleans Saints — DUE: April 12 — PUBLISHING: April 14
19) Philadelphia Eagles — DUE: April 13 — PUBLISHING: April 15
20) Pittsburgh Steelers — DUE: April 13 — PUBLISHING: April 15
[Weekend break]
21) New England Patriots — DUE: April 16 — PUBLISHING: April 18
22) Green Bay Packers — DUE: April 16 — PUBLISHING: April 18
23) Arizona Cardinals — DUE: April 17 — PUBLISHING: April 19
24) Dallas Cowboys — DUE: April 17 — PUBLISHING: April 19
25) Buffalo Bills — DUE: April 18 — PUBLISHING: April 20
26) Tennessee Titans — DUE: April 18 — PUBLISHING: April 20
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — DUE: April 19 — PUBLISHING: April 21
28) Green Bay Packers — DUE: April 19 — PUBLISHING: April 21
29) Kansas City Chiefs — DUE: April 20 — PUBLISHING: April 22
30) Kansas City Chiefs — DUE: April 20 — PUBLISHING: April 22
[Weekend break]
31) Cincinnati Bengals — DUE: April 23 — PUBLISHING: April 25
32) Detroit Lions — DUE: April 23 — PUBLISHING: April 25
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https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2022/3/31/23005076/2022-nfl-mock-draft-signup-for-the-annual-bgn-community-mock-is-coming-soon
| 2022-04-01T00:38:33Z
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People who suffered from even mild cases of COVID-19 face an increased risk of being diagnosed with diabetes within a year of recovering from the illness, a new study reports.
Researchers found that people who had COVID-19 were about 40% more likely to develop diabetes within a year after recovering, compared to participants in a control group. The likelihood of developing diabetes grew if the patient suffered from a serious infection that led to hospitalization or a stay in intensive care.
"What's surprising is that it is happening in people with no prior risk factors for diabetes" before becoming infected with COVID-19, said Ziyad Al-Aly, the lead author of the study.
These latest findings add to a growing list of studies showing that people who suffered from COVID-19 are at risk of facing other long-term health problems. Those include heart and kidney ailments and chronic fatigue.
Al-Aly also helped lead the study that showed the prevalence of cardiac issues in people who survived COVID-19 infections.
This newest study, published Monday in the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, analyzed data from more than 180,000 patients from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The study's authors compared patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and survived the illness for more than a month with more than 4 million other people who didn't contract COVID in the same period. This data was also compared with another 4.28 million patients who were treated at the VA in 2018 and 2019.
The paper states that around 1% to 2% of people who have been infected with COVID will develop diabetes as a result. That may seem like a small number, but nearly 80 million people in the U.S. have had COVID, Al-Aly told NPR — meaning 800,000 to 1.6 million people developing diabetes who might not have otherwise.
"That translates to a really significant number of people with new onset diabetes in the U.S. and many, many more around the world," Al-Aly said.
Nationwide, approximately 34 million people had diabetes pre-COVID, according to Jorge Moreno, an internal medicine physician at Yale University who didn't work on Al-Aly's study. Doctors expect roughly 1.5 million new people to be newly diagnosed with diabetes each year during normal times, he told NPR.
What to look out for
This study shows that as a nation, more attention needs to be paid to the long-term effects of COVID-19, Al-Aly said. More vigilance can start at the doctor's office.
"We need to start treating COVID as a risk factor for diabetes," Al-Aly said, adding that each person who has come down with the virus needs to be screened.
Moreno told NPR he believes this study will create more awareness among general practitioners and endocrinologists, like himself, to screen patients who have had COVID for diabetes and other complications.
Those who've had COVID should also be closely monitoring their health and changes in their body, Moreno said, and should seek help at the first sign of an issue. Major symptoms for diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination (which is not influenced by how much liquid consumed) and blurry vision. Major weight fluctuations are also a sign.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kdlg.org/as-heard-on-npr/2022-03-31/covid-19-infection-increases-your-risk-for-diabetes-a-new-study-says
| 2022-04-01T00:38:33Z
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Tour firm Express Travel rebrands to Hemingways
Thursday March 31 2022
Express Travel Group has rebranded into Hemingways Travel as the 65-year-old firm seeks to harness new opportunities in the growing luxury tourism sector in East Africa and the continent.
The Nairobi-based company, acquired by Hemingways Group – a Kenyan hospitality firm – in 2009, has now rebranded, aligning itself with the Hemingways brand as its travel division, with operations in the entire continent.
The company attributed its rebranding to the need to adjust in response to the growing tourism sector. The global luxury leisure travel market is projected to grow by 11.1 percent annually for the next six years, reaching $1.2 trillion by 2027, according to Allied Market Research.
“We are now expanding our proposition to leisure travellers by offering a full suite of premium travel services and the valuable benefits of using an experienced travel agent,” said Hemingways Group CEO Ross Evans.
Mr Evans also launched a new online booking platform, which, he said, will help boost customer base and presence in the continent while “remaining very focused on delivering for our corporate clients.”
Najib Balala, Kenya’s Tourism Secretary, said the rebrand and new platform were necessary, citing technology and innovation as what got the tourism sector through the depression period of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“New products and experiences are encouraged in the Kenyan tourism sector to enable it to flourish, as governments continue to enhance connectivity across the region,” said Mr Balala.
Hemingway Travel managing director Dr Joseph Kithitu said the new platform would enhance customer experience and benefit from Hemingway’s economies of scale, enabling the firm to offer services at relatively lower prices.
“The booking platform integrates third-party tools to bring unrivalled flight and hotel content to customers and a smooth and convenient booking experience, all supported by an experienced team of qualified travel consultants,” Dr Kithitu said.
Agnes Mucuha, the Kenya Association of Travel Agents CEO, noted that local tourists boosted the industry during the pandemic slump, adding that lower prices would appeal to domestic consumers.
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https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/magazine/tour-firm-express-travel-rebrands-to-hemingways-3766674
| 2022-04-01T00:38:33Z
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Say you have a function
function myFunction() {
// some code
}
And another function with a variable calling the myFunction
function anotherFunction {
var myVar = "Something";
myFunction(myVar);
}
Now updating the first function below, it would seem that I can use virtually any word to get the same data. What is the thought behind this? Are we just supposed to keep track and keep everything in sequential order when you have more than one parameter or argument being sent to a function?
function myFunction(WhateverWordCanGoHere) {
// some code
alert(WhateverWordCanGoHere);
}
As you can see the variable myVar is being referenced as WhateverWordCanGoHere. This doesn’t seem to make much sense.
If you add pass another variable to the function myFunction, then whatever the second word is works.
Can someone explain this logic? It just seems that the word doesn’t matter but the amount of comma-separated words and their sequential order do.
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https://www.sitepoint.com/community/t/do-function-parameter-names-not-matter-at-all/384450
| 2022-04-01T00:38:33Z
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Destroyed Russian tanks line a road on the outskirts of Ukraine’s capital, where Ukrainian troops pose for selfies atop the shell of one vehicle after their forces overran a Russian position. An 81-year-old man bicycles alone past one burned-out tank on the muddy road.
Close to Kyiv, in Irpin, Ukrainian soldiers carry the bodies of civilians killed by Russian forces over a destroyed bridge. Other soldiers assist an elderly woman who has hidden from Russian shelling in a shelter for weeks without food and water.
In the town of Bashtanka, people who have fled nearby villages attacked by the Russian army shelter in a church among the pews and in the basement bomb shelter.
During a break for lunch, a Ukrainian soldier keeps a machine gun close at hand, next to pickles and condiments on the table.
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https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2022/03/31/ap-photos-on-day-36-russian-tanks-destroyed-outside-kyiv.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:33Z
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https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/business-woman-talking-about-sale-report-2140981005
| 2022-04-01T00:38:33Z
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International advocacy organisation, Global Citizen, has launched a new campaign aimed at addressing the issue of poverty. The year-long campaign, called End Extreme Poverty NOW – Our Future Can’t Wait, will focus on three critical issues: empowering adolescent girls across the world, breaking systemic barriers that keep people trapped in poverty and taking climate action now.
Supported by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, Foreign Minister of Nigeria, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Environment of Rwanda Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Former Executive Director of UN Women Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and presidents of nations around the world, the campaign would feature a calendar of major global events. These will include the presentation of the Global Citizen prize, the Global Citizen now leadership summit; the 10the anniversary global citizen concert in both New York and Africa, and the G20 summit to be hosted in Bali, Indonesia.
“It is alarming to learn that even during the COVID pandemic, the very rich have been getting richer and the very poor, poorer. This is untenable and a threat to the future of mankind. Global Citizen is right, we must be our brothers’ keepers. We must act right now,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.
Throughout 2022, Global Citizen would also rally millions of citizens to demand that the world’s top political and business leaders stop delaying action with longer-term timelines and focus on what we need to do here and now.
Hugh Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of Global Citizen said: “The global agenda to end extreme poverty, defend the planet and tackle inequity is in peril. And despite progress in a few countries before COVID-19 hit, the world was and continues to be wildly off-track from the 2030 target.
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https://www.sunnewsonline.com/global-citizen-launches-campaign-to-end-poverty/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:27Z
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The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill Tuesday that would expand abortion access by ending a restriction that only physicians can perform them and requiring most insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost.
The Senate gave the Abortion Care Access Act or HB0937 final passage on a 28-15 vote. The bill now goes to Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, whose office did not immediately comment on his position on the bill. The governor has said he personally opposes abortion, though he has called the issue settled law in the state.
While the Senate would need 29 votes to override any potential veto, there may be enough votes to do that since several senators were absent Tuesday when the Senate passed the bill.
Supporters say Maryland does not have enough abortion providers. State Sen. Delores Kelley, a Baltimore County Democrat, noted in an earlier debate that many counties do not have even one abortionist.
Karen Nelson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, said, "We know that just because it's legal on the books does not always mean that there's access, and so today the Maryland General Assembly made sure that there will be access."
The bill would remove a legal restriction preventing nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants from providing abortions. It would create an abortion care training program and requires $3.5 million in state funding annually.
Opponents said the measure went too far.
"This bill is expanding further out," said state Sen. Justin Ready, a Carroll County Republican. "Maryland already is one of only four states that forces taxpayers to fund abortion, and we force it at pretty much every stage of the process."
The legislation also aims to provide equitable access to abortion coverage, whether with private insurance or Medicaid. It would require private insurance plans, except for those with legal exemptions, to cover abortion care and without cost-sharing or deductibles.
***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***
'Infanticide' Measure Has Not Advanced
Meanwhile, an even more controversial abortion measure in the Maryland legislature appears to be stuck.
It was Senate Bill 669 that raised infanticide concerns due to some vague wording that excused "perinatal death." The measure appears to still be stalled in the state Senate.
Pro-life opponents had pointed out that efforts to allow the "perinatal death" of a newborn were tantamount to permitting infanticide since it wasn't exactly clear what the lawmakers meant by using that term. More HERE.
Proposed Amendment to Enshrine Abortion Access in State Constitution Fails
Meanwhile, a major piece of legislation to enshrine abortion access into the Maryland state constitution has failed.
The Baltimore Sun reports House Bill 1171 failed to advance to the Maryland Senate.
As CBN News reported earlier this month, the proposed amendment titled "Declaration of Rights – Right to Reproductive Liberty" would "establish that every person, as a central component of the individual's rights to liberty and equality, has the fundamental right to reproductive liberty; prohibiting the State from directly or indirectly denying, burdening, or abridging the right unless justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means."
If it had passed the legislature, Marylanders would have voted on the proposed amendment in the general election this November.
According to The Sun, the proposed amendment had the backing of House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat, and easily passed the House. But Senate President Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore City Democrat, indicated last week that he wouldn't bring the amendment up for a vote, effectively killing the proposal.
Ferguson said Tuesday that the legal right to an abortion "is not something that is contested here in the state of Maryland," but that actual access to abortion care is.
The current legislative session ends on April 11.
The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that banned states from outlawing abortion. That decision should come early this summer.
If they do, at least 26 states are likely to either ban abortion outright or severely limit access, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Have you have had an abortion, are contemplating ending your pregnancy, or would like pregnancy-related resources, please click here.
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https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2022/march/maryland-lawmakers-expand-no-cost-abortions-allow-non-doctors-to-perform-them-infanticide-bill-stalls
| 2022-04-01T00:38:35Z
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Funeral Service for Mrs. Sara Welsh Bryant, 93, of Alexander City, Alabama, will be Sunday, April 3, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Radney Funeral Home. Rev. Ronnie Palmer and Rev. Wayne Cowhick will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hillview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Saturday, April 2, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home.
Mrs. Bryant passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at Chapman's Healthcare. She was born on November 13, 1928, in Tallapoosa County, Alabama to Charles William Welsh and Maggie Pyrene Miles Welsh. She was a charter member of Alex City Methodist Church. Mrs. Bryant enjoyed sewing and gardening. She was an excellent cook and was known far and near for her banana pudding.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan Hardy (Ray) of Alexander City; son, David Bryant (Tammy) of Alexander City; grandchildren, Jim Hardy and Jeffrey Hardy (Amanda); great-grandchildren, Mason Bryant Hardy, Timber Faith Hardy, and Riggs Lynn Hardy; sisters, Lenora Jackson and Faye Ward; and sister-in-law, Lorinza Knight.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Cecil "Sausage" Bryant; her parents; and sister, Marie Harry.
The family will accept flowers or memorial contributions may be made to Alex City Methodist Church 1020 11th Ave North Alexander City, AL 35010.
Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
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https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/obituaries/mrs-sara-welsh-bryant/article_baa10c76-b12c-11ec-bbcf-533210557b17.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:35Z
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Forget the critics, listen to Trump — and consider his role models
“This is genius,” former President Trump declared as Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. “[Russian President Vladimir] Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine — Putin declared it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful.”
“Putin is now saying, ‘It’s independent,’ a large section of Ukraine,” he repeated. “How smart is that? And he’s gonna go in and be a peacekeeper.”
At a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, the former president could barely contain himself: “I mean, he’s taking over a country for two dollars’ worth of sanctions. I’d say that’s pretty smart.”
In his address to the Conservative Political Action Conference last Saturday, Trump belatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but he doubled down on his claims that Putin was “smart” and that the leaders of Western Europe were “dumb.”
Trump’s praise of Putin isn’t surprising. Dictators — not small-d democrats — have long been his role models.
Trump knows that Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un possess power that is unchecked by legislatures, courts, and free and fair elections. They jail or kill their critics, are indifferent to the welfare of the people they are supposed to serve, and steal billions of dollars for themselves, their families and their cronies. That appears to be why he envies them.
In 2017, when Fox News host Bill O’Reilly reminded Trump that Putin “is a killer,” the then-president replied, “There are a lot of killers. You think our country’s so innocent? … Our country does plenty of killing also.”
In 2018, despite the conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia meddled in U.S. elections, Trump told reporters at the Helsinki summit that Putin “just said it’s not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be.” During a photo-op with Putin during the Group of 20 summit in 2019, Trump referred to media criticism. “You don’t have this problem in Russia,” he said. “But we do.”
In 2020, despite substantial evidence that Russian agents had poisoned dissident Alexey Navalny with a nerve agent, Trump toed the Kremlin line: “We haven’t had any proof yet, but I will take a look.”
During his cringeworthy courtship of Kim, the third-generation leader of the world’s most repressive regime who ordered the murder of his half-brother and uncle, Trump praised Kim’s “great and beautiful vision for his country.” When Otto Warmbier died shortly after his release — in a vegetative state — from prison in North Korea on a bogus charge of subversion, Trump said he “did not believe [Kim] would have allowed” the American college student to be mistreated. Trump expressed confidence that Kim would conclude a nuclear weapons treaty with the United States that would fully “realize the great economic potential of North Korea” because “he is far too smart not to, and he does not want to disappoint his friend, President Trump.” Again and again, Trump declared that he “fell in love” after he read Kim’s “beautiful letters” to him.
It’s not a new infatuation.
“When students poured into Tiananmen Square,” Trump told Playboy in 1990, “the Chinese government almost blew it. Then they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength. That shows you the power of strength.”
In 2018, Trump characterized Xi as “a great gentleman.” Xi is “now president for life, president for life. And he’s great. And look, he was able to do that. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot someday.” A year later, Trump was still musing about Xi’s grip on power: “President Xi, who is a strong man, I call him ‘King.’ Xi said, ‘I am not King, I am president.’ ‘No, you’re president for life, and therefore you’re King.’”
Asked why he declined to press Xi to free the 1 million Uighurs in indoctrination camps in the Xinjiang region, Trump indicated, “Well, we were in the middle of a major trade deal.” According to then-national security adviser John Bolton, Trump told Xi to “go ahead with building the camps, which Trump thought was exactly the right thing to do.”
Xi is “for China, I’m for the United States, but other than that we love each other,” Trump declared in January 2020. The relationship between the countries has “probably never been better.” That February, Trump said, “Terrific working with President Xi, a man who truly loves his country.” More recently, as he had when asked about Putin, Trump shrugged off Bartiromo’s comment that Xi “is a killer.”
Trump has denied telling his White House chief of staff (and former four-star Marine general) John Kelly that “Hitler did a lot of good things.” The comment, however, rings true, as does the report that before canceling a trip to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris, the president — reminiscent of candidate Trump’s assertion that John McCain was not a war hero: “I like people who weren’t captured” — asked, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.”
Our would-be autocrat is intent on returning to the White House. We should also assume if he succeeds, he intends to put in place the priorities, policies and practices of his role models.
Glenn C. Altschuler is the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor of American Studies at Cornell University. He is the co-author (with Stuart Blumin) of “Rude Republic: Americans and Their Politics in the Nineteenth Century.”
The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.
|
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/597038-forget-the-critics-listen-to-trump-and-consider-his-role-models/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:33Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military needs to adjust its planning, training, targeting and use of weapons in order to better avoid widespread civilian deaths and damage such as the devastating 2017 battle to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa from Islamic State militants, a new RAND report said Thursday.
The report requested by the Pentagon reflects criticism of the military's airstrike campaign that, according to some estimates, killed more than 1,600 civilians in Raqqa, as the U.S.-led coalition worked to destroy the Islamic State caliphate that wrested control of large swaths of Iraq and Syria.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the report, which lays out a series of recommendations to improve military procedures and strategy, will be used as the department develops its own broader plan to reduce civlian harm.
“No other military works as hard as we do to mitigate civilian harm, and yet we still cause it,” said Kirby. ”We're going to continue to try to learn from past issues.”
RAND concluded that the battle for Raqqa provided important lessons.
Michael McNerney, lead author of the RAND report, called Raqqa “a cautionary tale about civilian harm in urban combat.” He said it "should serve as an extra incentive to the DoD to strengthen its policies and procedures to mitigate, document and respond to civilian harm.”
The RAND report noted that there has been a wide range of estimated civilian casualties during the seige, but also said it believes that 60%-80% of Raqqa was left uninhabitable by the time the city was liberated in October 2017.
Initially the U.S.-led coalition estimted that it was responsible for 38 incidents involving 240 civilian casualties — including 178 who were killed. A consortium of local Syrian and international groups, including Amnesty International and Airwars, put the number of casualties at a “high estimate” of 1,600, but said that about 774 of them could specifically be “verified” by data as the result of coalition action.
The report makes it clear that several thousand more civilians likely died, based on the number of bodies uncovered by U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, but many were probably killed by IS or other fighters on the ground.
“Our report focuses on U.S. actions in Raqqa, but the actions of the Syrian government and its Russian and Iranian partners undoubtedly contributed far more to civilian harm and suffering in Syria overall,” McNerney said.
The report noted that the challenges in Raqqa were compounded by limits on the number U.S. troops that could be there, as well as where they could be positioned. U.S. troops on the ground could have provided better targeting and civilian information, including on Islamic State militants' efforts to use civilians as human shields, the report said.
RAND recommended that the U.S. military provide more extensive training and guidance on the need to avoid civilian harm, and plan and execute operations in ways to achieve those goals. Changes could include improved planning, better assessments of potential collateral damage, increased mission rehearsals, improved intelligence gathering, and more selective use of air strikes and munitions that minimize bomb fragmentation.
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https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Report-US-military-must-do-more-to-avoid-17049694.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:35Z
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Sunny weather continues for us with highs expected to warm up into the weekend. Today we saw highs in the 70s, after some cold air advection behind that passing cold front. A low pressures system will start to develop over the Rockies increasing winds down the leeward side.
Breezy conditions are expected tomorrow with warm temperatures in the 80s. Saturday and Sunday looks good as well. Sunday will reach the 90s for some of us.
Dry conditions have lead to extreme drought conditions for our area. We could use some rain. Well, we may get a chance at some isolated to scattered showers on Monday. Models have both hinted some showers and storms. Severe weather is not forecasted for these storms. However, we will watch them throughout the weekend.
The next days will be in the lower 80s.
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https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/weather/ksan-weather/ksan-storm-team-weather-forecast-march-31-2022/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:35Z
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Local counties’ jobless rates up in February
SOUTHEASTERN IN — All four area counties saw unemployment go up slightly last month. According to the Indiana Department...
wrbiradio.comSOUTHEASTERN IN — All four area counties saw unemployment go up slightly last month. According to the Indiana Department...
wrbiradio.com
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https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2556531820106/local-counties-jobless-rates-up-in-february
| 2022-04-01T00:38:36Z
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NEW YORK, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Football Business Awards (FBA), considered the industry's foremost and prestigious accolade, has shortlisted TECNO's #AnnounceYourself Augmented Reality (AR) Campaign for the 2022 Best Brand Activation Involving Football. Blending the most advanced AR immersive technology, a storied club and the aspirations of football fans all over the world, the #AnnounceYourself campaign was a runaway success, catching the eyes of many football executives and professionals all around the world.
Into its 10th year, the FBA celebrates the vital role that clubs and businesses play shaping the football industry, and enabling every game to be a success, both on and off the pitch. It recognizes outstanding successes such as excellence in football media, marketing efficiency, as well as business and technology innovation. With an illustrious judging panel selected for their particular experience and expertise, the FBA has grown into a significant annual networking event in the industry.
In the capacity of being Manchester City's Global Official Handset Partner, TECNO created a metaverse-like experience for fans to interact with the club set in Man City. This AR experience saw fans journeying through the club, in a simulated reality akin to a football metaverse. From visiting the Etihad Stadium and Man City Football Academy training campus, to signing a new contract, selecting their squad number, and mingling with first-team players, the AR campaign accorded football fans a ticket to live out their dreams supporting their favorite club.
Users could also take part in the 3D penalty shootout games before showing off their skills and scores on social media. The AR experience campaign culminated in a grand lucky draw where lucky contestants won rare VIP matchday tickets and travel to a Manchester City home fixture during the season.
This campaign received recognition from the judging panel behind the FBA because it reflects a turning point in how technology can be integrated into our passions and to utilize platforms such as AR to unite fans and allow them to share common experiences, such as playing football or supporting a club.
With this AR campaign, TECNO has not only demonstrated the far-reaching effects of utilizing sports marketing but also worked to cement the brand's presence on the global stage. This reflects TECNO's mission as a technology company to bring to consumers, an innovative brand experience through cutting-edge technology and marketing.
The FBAs were designed to celebrate excellence and acknowledge success in the business of football. The Awards recognize the essential role that business plays in football, the positive impact of football on the community and the vital role played by the businesses which serve the game. This is the event at which all the achievements off the pitch are celebrated at the end of each year. With an illustrious judging panel selected for their particular experience and expertise, the FBA has grown into a significant annual networking event in the industry.
With "Stop At Nothing" as its brand essence, TECNO is committed to unlocking the best contemporary technologies for progressive individuals across global emerging markets, giving them elegantly designed intelligent products that inspire consumers to uncover a world of possibilities. This recognition by the FBA marks an important milestone for TECNO, and the global smartphone manufacturer looks forward to bringing forth even more innovations in the coming years.
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https://www.asiaone.com/business/tecnos-ar-campaign-man-city-announceyourself-shortlisted-best-brand-activation-involving
| 2022-04-01T00:38:35Z
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Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Inc. (NYSE:PFD – Get Rating) saw a significant decrease in short interest in March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 22,900 shares, a decrease of 21.8% from the February 28th total of 29,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 37,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days.
Shares of NYSE PFD traded up $0.22 during trading on Thursday, hitting $13.86. The company had a trading volume of 55,757 shares, compared to its average volume of 36,228. Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund has a 52 week low of $13.32 and a 52 week high of $18.80. The business’s 50-day moving average is $14.67 and its 200 day moving average is $15.95.
The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 22nd will be paid a dividend of $0.0825 per share. This represents a $0.99 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 21st.
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Company Profile (Get Rating)
Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Fund Inc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It invests in the stocks of companies operating in the financials sector. The fund primarily invests in preferred securities.
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https://www.americanbankingnews.com/2022/03/31/flaherty-crumrine-preferred-income-fund-inc-nysepfd-short-interest-update.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest superhero is not, in the conventional sense, either "super" or a "hero," but he does have an unorthodox ailment and a weird skill-set to separate him from mere mortals. His name is Morbius, and while watching his origin story, you may get the feeling that somewhere in the cinematic multiverse, wires got crossed.
The film begins with a helicopter, transporting a cage to the sort of mist-shrouded isle you half expect King Kong to be inhabiting. But Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) is looking to capture smaller game as he approaches the mouth of a cave, hobbling with difficulty on two crutch-like canes.
Positioning himself behind the wires of the cage, he slices open the palm of his hand and, as a roar of batwings echoes from inside the cave, murmurs to the copter pilot "if you're gonna run, do it now."
A rare blood disease treated with a bit o' bat
It's tempting to say "consider yourself warned," but the film's first hour or so, while unremarkable, is decently crafted.
Born with a rare blood disease, Michael Morbius has spent his entire life working on two things — a cure, and origami paper-folding. Natch, it occurs to him to fold together bat and human DNA.
Because the FDA would be unlikely to approve human trials, he and his beautiful co-researcher Martine (Adria Arjona) head in a cargo ship for international waters off the coast of Long Island in the company of eight thuggish mercenaries — think bloodbags — and once Morbius has been injected with bat DNA, it's just a matter of time before things go vampiric.
Let it be said that some side-effects from dabbling in "chiropter-y" are less ghastly than others. Bat DNA evidently gives you great cheekbones and abs to go with increased strength and speed.
Less salutary effects include new fangs that sprout from his gums with decades of decay baked in, and claws that erupt from his fingers pre-filthed. I mean, sure...why not? Except this is a man whose hair has the kind of sheen that comes from brushing it three times a day.
One other thing: he now needs to drink human blood every six hours. Happily, on his way to declining a Nobel Prize, Dr. Morbius invented "artificial blood," though that only fools his system for a while.
Color coded smoke effects for a Jekyll and his Hyde
If you're expecting a conventional Marvel movie, you should be aware going in that what Director Daniel Espinoza and his writers have come up with is more a horror flick with Marvel bells and whistles.
That means Leto's Morbius gets purplish smoke effects to go with those fang-baring snarls as he's riding air currents in subway tunnels, while the similarly afflicted Hyde to his Jekyll – a schoolboy chum played as an adult by an amusingly hopped-up Matt Smith, gets blue-ish vapor trails and snappier lines.
But there isn't much tension to their story. Or logic. At one point, Morbius overhears some counterfeiters passing fake $100s, and commandeers their printing press to make what appears to be an artificial-blood machine — because the technologies for fake-bills and fake-blood match up? Maybe that works better in a comic book.
Bat guys everywhere you look
Speaking of which, when the DC Extended Universe first announced that Twilight star Robert Pattinson would play the lead in The Batman in their corner of the superhero multiverse, it seemed like a nice inside joke — from Vampire-teen to Bat-man. But now that the Marvelverse has Leto going full Dracula, it seems as if the casting maybe could've gone the other way 'round.
Leto is as persuasively haunted by the dark side of vigilantism as Pattinson was, and as a result of corporate positioning, is maybe more determined to avoid being a villain. Not unlike Venom, Morbius was a bad guy when he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man comics, back in the 1970's. He needs to be at least an anti-hero now, if a franchise is to be built around him.
But bad guy/bat guy...who's to say? As the trailers reveal, another DC bat-guy, Michael Keaton, shows up in his non-batty baddie Marvel persona Adrian Toomes, just to mess with the heads of anyone trying to keep cinematic universes straight.
But bloodlines will have to be clarified in more robust "Morbius" episodes to come, this origin story being merely adequate, and by Marvel standards, slightly anemic.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kmuw.org/2022-03-31/jared-leto-is-marvels-bat-man-in-the-vampiric-morbius
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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One of the organizers of the "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6 complained on MSNBC on Thursday about Congress obtaining her text messages.
Caroline Wren, former national finance advisor for the Trump campaign, was identified by the House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol as the "VIP advisor" for the Jan. 6 rally.
"A grand jury sitting in Washington is investigating the rallies that preceded the storming of the Capitol, a person familiar with the matter said. One of the subpoenas, which was reviewed by The New York Times, sought information about people 'classified as VIP attendees' at Mr. Trump’s Jan. 6 rally," the newspaper reported. "It also sought information about members of the executive and legislative branches who had been involved in the 'planning or execution of any rally or any attempt to obstruct, influence, impede or delay' the certification of the 2020 election."
Wren was interviewed by MSNBC chief legal correspondent Ari Melber.
"It's a primary pillar of American democracy to protest your government and for private citizens, you know, for Congress to be able to just come in and seize a year's worth of your text messages, your emails, your call logs, your geological information absent any warrant or due process I think is very concerning," Wren said, even though there was due process in the issuing of her September 29 subpoena.
She also complained about the committee obtaining text messages between Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows.
"She has every right to her own beliefs. I have a very big problem with Congress taking private messages of individuals and then selectively leaking those to sort of embarrass and humiliate people on national television," she said.
Indeed, the messages were very embarrassing for Thomas as they showed her to be a devotee of the QAnon conspiracy theory seeking to overturn the 2020 election.
However, they were voluntarily given to the committee by Meadows as part of his cooperation with the investigation.
Watch:
Caroline Wren www.youtube.com
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https://www.rawstory.com/caroline-wren-jan-6/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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People who suffered from even mild cases of COVID-19 face an increased risk of being diagnosed with diabetes within a year of recovering from the illness, a new study reports.
Researchers found that people who had COVID-19 were about 40% more likely to develop diabetes within a year after recovering, compared to participants in a control group. The likelihood of developing diabetes grew if the patient suffered from a serious infection that led to hospitalization or a stay in intensive care.
"What's surprising is that it is happening in people with no prior risk factors for diabetes" before becoming infected with COVID-19, said Ziyad Al-Aly, the lead author of the study.
These latest findings add to a growing list of studies showing that people who suffered from COVID-19 are at risk of facing other long-term health problems. Those include heart and kidney ailments and chronic fatigue.
Al-Aly also helped lead the study that showed the prevalence of cardiac issues in people who survived COVID-19 infections.
This newest study, published Monday in the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, analyzed data from more than 180,000 patients from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The study's authors compared patients who tested positive for COVID-19 and survived the illness for more than a month with more than 4 million other people who didn't contract COVID in the same period. This data was also compared with another 4.28 million patients who were treated at the VA in 2018 and 2019.
The paper states that around 1% to 2% of people who have been infected with COVID will develop diabetes as a result. That may seem like a small number, but nearly 80 million people in the U.S. have had COVID, Al-Aly told NPR — meaning 800,000 to 1.6 million people developing diabetes who might not have otherwise.
"That translates to a really significant number of people with new onset diabetes in the U.S. and many, many more around the world," Al-Aly said.
Nationwide, approximately 34 million people had diabetes pre-COVID, according to Jorge Moreno, an internal medicine physician at Yale University who didn't work on Al-Aly's study. Doctors expect roughly 1.5 million new people to be newly diagnosed with diabetes each year during normal times, he told NPR.
What to look out for
This study shows that as a nation, more attention needs to be paid to the long-term effects of COVID-19, Al-Aly said. More vigilance can start at the doctor's office.
"We need to start treating COVID as a risk factor for diabetes," Al-Aly said, adding that each person who has come down with the virus needs to be screened.
Moreno told NPR he believes this study will create more awareness among general practitioners and endocrinologists, like himself, to screen patients who have had COVID for diabetes and other complications.
Those who've had COVID should also be closely monitoring their health and changes in their body, Moreno said, and should seek help at the first sign of an issue. Major symptoms for diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination (which is not influenced by how much liquid consumed) and blurry vision. Major weight fluctuations are also a sign.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.wemu.org/2022-03-31/covid-19-infection-increases-your-risk-for-diabetes-a-new-study-says
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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Getty Images/iStockphoto
Aruba head Mottram prioritizes automation, Central, NaaS
Customers agreed that automation and the Central management console were essential to them. But Phil Mottram's plans to deliver more products as a service got mixed reviews.
Phil Mottram, who became head of Aruba nine months ago, has identified three customer priorities that will make the wired and wireless LAN provider a fiercer competitor against its largest rivals, Cisco and Juniper Networks. They include improving the cloud-based Central management console, providing more network automation and delivering additional products as a service.
This week at the Atmosphere user conference, Mottram said additional Central services could come as early as June. One would let managers go back and review the network state when a problem occurred.
"Let's say that you heard that the problem starts at about one o'clock -- [you'll] just literally drag the [Central] time bar back to one o'clock, and it shows you what's going on in the network at one o'clock," Mottram said in an interview.
Mottram's focus on Central is the right move for many Atmosphere attendees.
"For me, the great platform is Aruba Central," said Jorge Reis, the executive director of Brazilian company AMR IT Consulting Services Solutions. "You can see everything from the cloud, and you can administrate unique environments. That's a nice way to go to the line of business problems nowadays and solve it for my customers."
Aruba's latest addition to Central is NetConductor. Announced this week, the VXLAN overlay unifies Aruba's infrastructure and software to configure, orchestrate and automate network and security services.
Mottram's plans to increase network automation to minimize grunt work also got a thumbs-up from Atmosphere attendees.
"Incorporating [in Central] some of the platforms they have and making configurations more simple -- things like that -- will save a ton of time," said Kim Gratehouse, the service delivery manager at German insurance company Munich Re. "It takes tons of time right now to do patching -- to plan for it, to do it. If you can set up profiles and have things automated, set times and parameters, you're better off."
Mottram's third priority, a flexible, subscription-based network-as-a-service consumption model, got mixed reactions. Many partners are ready to layer their managed services on top of the model, but customers, particularly schools on fixed budgets, don't see NaaS as a good fit for them.
"In my experience with K-12, they like to buy the equipment [and] own the equipment because they never know when their budget is going to change," Ryan Rothkopf, CEO of Provision Data Solutions, said in a previous interview. Provision, based in Chesterfield, Mo., installs network infrastructure at schools.
Even if NaaS doesn't appeal to every customer, its ability to scale up or down as needed will be a significant draw for many companies, Mottram said. Aruba has recently begun to offer eight popular network functions as a service through Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Greenlake subscription model. Aruba, an HPE company, eventually plans to provide all its products through Greenlake.
Mottram's most serious obstacle to meeting his goals is the snarled global supply chain hampering the business of many technology companies.
"We've got a backlog that is significantly higher than what we would normally have, and there's only limited supply capacity in the system," Mottram said. "It's a matter of us working with the key component suppliers to make sure that we get our … share of the equipment."
Mottram has set three criteria for rating his success in leading Aruba.
"If three years from now we have a standout cloud platform that links to a broader range of products, I've kept the same culture and we are hugely leading the market on NaaS, then I have done a good job."
Madelaine Millar is a news writer covering network technology at TechTarget. She has previously written about science and technology for MIT's Lincoln Laboratory and the Khoury College of Computer Sciences, as well as covering community news for Boston Globe Media.
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https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/news/252515408/Aruba-head-Mottram-prioritizes-automation-Central-NaaS
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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Art students at Wellesley High School are back to being fully hands on, and the results will be on display in April at the Clever Hand Gallery at 52 Central St., in Wellesley Square.
The Emerging Metal and Clay Artists showcase will feature nearly 30 pieces, one from each student from Wellesley High’s Intensive Metals class taught by Shayla Vines and Honors Ceramics Intensive class taught by Amie Larson. Some pieces will be for sale at the show, which runs April 4-16, noon to 5pm daily.
“Until COVID interrupted, the student show had been an annual event at Clever Hand for at least 10 years,” says Clever Hand’s Ann Schunior. “We are delighted to welcome them back, and the students are thrilled to have their work displayed in a Wellesley Square storefront.”
WHS Teacher Vines says in spring of 2020, instruction was limited to talking about various jewelers, metalsmiths, and sculptors working with metal. “Each class I would choose a new artist to speak about and as a class we would discuss how they created their work and how we could possibly go about the same look with what we have in the WHS Metals Studio,” Vines said.
Things got more real during the 2020-2021 school year, with a hybrid schedule that allowed some studio work (once every other week for 80 minutes). During Zoom class, students prepped as much as they could to be ready “to use the precious studio time as efficiently as possible,” the teacher said. All shared tools needed to be wiped down before the next student could use them, following COVID-19 protocols. “I did my best to have students only using bench tools I had enough for the whole class to use at the same time when possible.”
Students are now back to a pre-pandemic schedule, meeting in person about 3-to-4 hours per week, and producing art deserving a wider audience.
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https://theswellesleyreport.com/2022/03/high-school-ceramics-metals-art-students-works-to-be-showcased-in-wellesley-square/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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There are 24 Radiant Spincrystal locations that Genshin Impact players can find in Teyvat, with eight scattered in each of the three major regions. They look like little gold coins with a hole in the middle, which always shine with a radiant sparkle. They're hard to miss if the player knows where to look.
Genshin Impact players can also get them from Chubby, but this article will focus entirely on locations where players can pick them up. Similarly, this article will divide each Radiant Spincrystal by their appropriate number in ascending order.
All 24 Radiant Spincrystal locations in Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact players need either a Euphonium Unbound: Winding or a Euphonium Unbound: Soaring to play Radiant Spincrystals. They both cost 300 Realm Currency in the Serenitea Pot. Winding changes the music for the main building, while Soaring affects the outside areas.
1) North of Dawn Winery
The first Radiant Spincrystal is located north of the Dawn Winery on a random barrel. It contains "Dawn Winery Theme."
Note: The third and 19th Radiant Spincrystals are nearby, so Genshin Impact players are highly recommended to scroll down to their sections to save time for later.
2) Southwest of Dawn Winery
This location is southwest of the first spot in this article. It's on a random cart in the Dawn Winery and contains "Lone Sojourner."
3) Southeasternmost side of Mondstadt
The fourth Radiant Spincrystal is located on a crate on the southeasternmost side of Mondstadt. It contains "A Day in Mondstadt."
4) On a roof in Mondstadt
This one can be easy to miss in Mondstadt due to the fact that it's on a roof of a random building. Genshin Impact players who find this one can play "Mondstadt Starlit."
5) Favonius Cathedral
This one can be found northwest of the Favonius Cathedral in Mondstadt, near the gravestones and a tree. Its shiny yellow glow should make it stand out to players, given the scenery. It contains "Windborn Hymn."
6) On top of the Knight of Favonius's Headquarters
The following location is easy to find. It's just a little bit southeast of the western Teleport Waypoint in Mondstadt. Travelers will find it on the northeastern side of the roof where the Knights of Favonius are stationed.
It contains "Knights of Favonius."
7) Near Angel's Share
Genshin Impact players will find the 16th Radiant Spincrystal northwest of Angel's Share in Mondstadt, on top of a barrel. It contains "Angel's Share."
8) South of Dawn Winery
The last Mondstadt location is south of the Dawn Winery, and the Radiant Spincrystal is on a barrel. It contains "Before Dawn, at the Winery."
9) East of Mt. Tianheng
Southwest of the Bubu Pharmacy is a small mountain with two Glaze Lilies. Between those two Glaze Lilies is another Radiant Spincrystal, which contains "Sun Rises in Liyue."
10) Northwest of Mingxing Jewelry
Genshin Impact players will find the 26th one northwest of Mingxing Jewelry. It contains "Call it a Day in Liyue."
11) East Liyue Harbor
Travelers can find this one north of the Liyue Reputation spot on the map. It contains "Clear Sky Over Liyue."
12) North of Wangshu Inn
There are three Radiant Spincrystals in Wangshu Inn. The first one is on a crate underneath a platform near a stall. This one contains "Cozy Leisure Time."
13) East of Wangshu Inn
This one is located on a crate east of the Teleport Waypoint, out in the open near a tree. It contains "Flows of Jade-Like Water."
14) Wangshu Inn dock
Genshin Impact players will find this one northwest of the previous location. It would be on the northeastern dock of Wangshu Inn, and it contains "Vague Whispers."
15) Wast of Qingce Village
The 38th one to collect is near Chang the Ninth, who is located east of Qingce Village. This one contains "Peaceful Hike."
16) Southern Qingce Village
The last location in Qingce Village is west of the previous one. It should be beneath the "la" in "Qingce Village" on the world map. This one is located on a barrel behind some stalls, and it contains "The Fading Stories."
That's it for Liyue, so it's now time to move on to Inazuma.
17) Grand Narukami Shrine
On the southeastern side of the Grand Narukami Shrine is some grass, where another Radiant Spincrystal exists in Genshin Impact. Travelers can obtain it to unlock "Miko's Night."
18) Inazuma City
Genshin Impact players can collect the second Inazuman Radiant Spincrystal in Inazuma City. More specifically, it's northwest of the southern Teleport Waypoint, on top of a crate. This one contains "Streets of Elegance."
19) West of Komore Teahouse
This one is west of Komore Teahouse, and it's on yet another crate. Pick it up to unlock "The Land of Her Serenity."
20) Near some tanuki statues in Chinju Forest
Genshin Impact players can find the 50th one north of Chinju Forest, behind the big Tanuki statue. It contains "The Mysterious Islands."
21) Chinju Forest
This location is south of the "j" in "Chinju Forest." Genshin Impact players will unlock "Kitsune's Mask."
22) Northeastern side of the Kamisato Estate
There are two Radiant Spincrystals to find in the Kamisato Estate. The first one can be tricky to spot, given that players either need to use an Elemental Skill to get here or climb around the northeastern walls.
This one contains "Hanachirusato."
23) Southwestern side of the Kamisato Estate
This Radiant Spincrystal lies on a rock located in the southwest section of the Kamisato Estate. It contains "Time to Say Farewell."
24) In the middle of Chinju Forest
Near the "r" in Chinju Forest is the next Radiant Spincrystal for Genshin Impact players to find. This Radiant Spincrystal is just on a random rock, and it unlocks "Murmuring Creek" in Genshin Impact.
Q. Do you spend a lot of time perfecting your Serenitea Pot?
Yes
No
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https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/genshin-impact-all-24-radiant-spincrystal-locations-use
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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By — Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/pentagon-links-leadership-failures-to-violence-harassment-at-military-bases Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pentagon links leadership failures to violence, harassment at military bases Politics Mar 31, 2022 7:36 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Military bases with a high risk for sexual assault, harassment and other harmful behaviors often have leaders who don’t understand violence prevention, don’t make it a priority and focus more on their mission than on their people, a Pentagon review has concluded. The review studied 20 bases in the United States and Europe, including 18 with some of the more severe problems identified in command climate surveys. It found that the failures were worse in a number of bases in Germany and Spain where key leaders and resources weren’t on site. The report was publicly released Thursday. At Naval Station Rota in Spain, for example, the report said that the military mission requirements “were prioritized above and at the expense of the sailors’ well-being.” They said sailors reported bullying, mental health issues, sexual harassment and relationship problems, but often could not seek help due to their mission requirements. In one location, officials said, they found that young enlisted men were taking steps to help their female peers stay safe by keeping them away from more senior leaders who were harassing them. WATCH: Report finds a ‘failure of leadership’ after Fort Hood murder Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the report as part of his effort to strengthen sexual assault and harassment prevention across the forces, identify what programs work and ensure high-risk bases get attention quickly. Austin approved the report, and in a memo said it will help the department tailor improvements for bases where needs may vary. “While we have made progress, we must do more to strengthen the integrated capabilities we have on the ground to prevent sexual assault, harassment, suicide, domestic abuse and other harmful behaviors,” he said. The report comes nearly two years after Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén went missing from Fort Hood, Texas, and her remains were found two months later. Guillen was killed by a soldier, who her family says sexually harassed her, and who killed himself as police sought to arrest him. Her death and a number of other crimes, murders and suicides led to heightened scrutiny on assaults and other violence in the military, and to a series of reviews. An independent panel appointed by Austin last year made more than 80 recommendations, including specific changes to improve accountability of leadership, command climate and culture, and victim care and support. Officials said Austin’s goal is to find effective ways to prevent harmful behavior, which includes sexual assault and harassment, suicides and domestic violence. They said this latest report is designed to pinpoint which leadership and other failures contribute to higher instances of such behavior and which prevention programs and other changes actually work. According to the report, 16 of the bases were selected because a command climate survey of nearly a million personnel identified problems there, which included things such as binge drinking, toxic leadership, stress, and racial or sexual harassment. While serious problems were identified at these 16 bases, the report looked at a variety of factors for each location and doesn’t specifically characterize them as the worst in the military. Two other bases were chosen because the survey showed good results, such as high morale, inclusion and good leadership. Two others had a mix of both high-performing and problem units. Defense officials said that while in many cases leaders had a genuine desire to prevent violence, there was a “pervasive” misunderstanding of how to do it and they often didn’t devote enough personnel or time for it or hold subordinates accountable. And even if they understood department policies, leaders often didn’t recognize when there was a high risk for violence or harmful behavior among their people. In the United States, the bases surveyed were: Fort Custer, Michigan; Naval Support Activity Sarasota Springs, New York; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Bliss, Texas; Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia; Marine Corps Base Hawaii; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California; Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas; Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California; Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; Vandenberg Space Force Base, California; the Kentucky National Guard; and the Army Reserve base in Fraser, Michigan. WATCH: Supreme Court declines to hear case about toxic burn pits on military bases overseas The last two — the Guard and Reserve bases in Kentucky and Michigan — were the ones chosen because they had less risk and more positive command climates. The overseas bases were: Army Garrison Ansbach, Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfatz Smith Bararcks; Army Garrison Bavaria; Naval Station Rota; Army Garrison Stuttgart; and the Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, Kaiserslautern. All but Rota are in Germany. As an example, the report found that at the Kentucky National Guard base leaders believed that their soldiers came first, and their “well-being was part of the mission, not an adjacent effort that was secondary.” In contrast, commanders in at the bases in Germany and Spain “tolerated harmful behaviors” and it was difficult to access resources “due to mission requirements or geographic dispersion of services.” The report said that the changes proposed by the independent review board will help address the problems. Those improvements include establishing a dedicated prevention workforce, expanded sexual assault prevention and response programs, and better leadership. The budget for 2023 includes funding to hire additional personnel. The report also recommends that the department establish data to help the military services share prevention and program support information, hold leaders accountable if they don’t have healthy command climates. Officials said it’s important to ensure that leaders better understand the prevention policies and programs and that service members and employees know where to go to get help. Officials also said that there will be follow-up visits to the bases by this fall, and that similar site visits and reviews will be done every two years. Austin is asking military service leaders for implementation plans by early June and said the department will issue more guidelines and policies by early October. By — Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Military bases with a high risk for sexual assault, harassment and other harmful behaviors often have leaders who don’t understand violence prevention, don’t make it a priority and focus more on their mission than on their people, a Pentagon review has concluded. The review studied 20 bases in the United States and Europe, including 18 with some of the more severe problems identified in command climate surveys. It found that the failures were worse in a number of bases in Germany and Spain where key leaders and resources weren’t on site. The report was publicly released Thursday. At Naval Station Rota in Spain, for example, the report said that the military mission requirements “were prioritized above and at the expense of the sailors’ well-being.” They said sailors reported bullying, mental health issues, sexual harassment and relationship problems, but often could not seek help due to their mission requirements. In one location, officials said, they found that young enlisted men were taking steps to help their female peers stay safe by keeping them away from more senior leaders who were harassing them. WATCH: Report finds a ‘failure of leadership’ after Fort Hood murder Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the report as part of his effort to strengthen sexual assault and harassment prevention across the forces, identify what programs work and ensure high-risk bases get attention quickly. Austin approved the report, and in a memo said it will help the department tailor improvements for bases where needs may vary. “While we have made progress, we must do more to strengthen the integrated capabilities we have on the ground to prevent sexual assault, harassment, suicide, domestic abuse and other harmful behaviors,” he said. The report comes nearly two years after Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén went missing from Fort Hood, Texas, and her remains were found two months later. Guillen was killed by a soldier, who her family says sexually harassed her, and who killed himself as police sought to arrest him. Her death and a number of other crimes, murders and suicides led to heightened scrutiny on assaults and other violence in the military, and to a series of reviews. An independent panel appointed by Austin last year made more than 80 recommendations, including specific changes to improve accountability of leadership, command climate and culture, and victim care and support. Officials said Austin’s goal is to find effective ways to prevent harmful behavior, which includes sexual assault and harassment, suicides and domestic violence. They said this latest report is designed to pinpoint which leadership and other failures contribute to higher instances of such behavior and which prevention programs and other changes actually work. According to the report, 16 of the bases were selected because a command climate survey of nearly a million personnel identified problems there, which included things such as binge drinking, toxic leadership, stress, and racial or sexual harassment. While serious problems were identified at these 16 bases, the report looked at a variety of factors for each location and doesn’t specifically characterize them as the worst in the military. Two other bases were chosen because the survey showed good results, such as high morale, inclusion and good leadership. Two others had a mix of both high-performing and problem units. Defense officials said that while in many cases leaders had a genuine desire to prevent violence, there was a “pervasive” misunderstanding of how to do it and they often didn’t devote enough personnel or time for it or hold subordinates accountable. And even if they understood department policies, leaders often didn’t recognize when there was a high risk for violence or harmful behavior among their people. In the United States, the bases surveyed were: Fort Custer, Michigan; Naval Support Activity Sarasota Springs, New York; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Bliss, Texas; Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia; Marine Corps Base Hawaii; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California; Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas; Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California; Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; Vandenberg Space Force Base, California; the Kentucky National Guard; and the Army Reserve base in Fraser, Michigan. WATCH: Supreme Court declines to hear case about toxic burn pits on military bases overseas The last two — the Guard and Reserve bases in Kentucky and Michigan — were the ones chosen because they had less risk and more positive command climates. The overseas bases were: Army Garrison Ansbach, Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfatz Smith Bararcks; Army Garrison Bavaria; Naval Station Rota; Army Garrison Stuttgart; and the Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, Kaiserslautern. All but Rota are in Germany. As an example, the report found that at the Kentucky National Guard base leaders believed that their soldiers came first, and their “well-being was part of the mission, not an adjacent effort that was secondary.” In contrast, commanders in at the bases in Germany and Spain “tolerated harmful behaviors” and it was difficult to access resources “due to mission requirements or geographic dispersion of services.” The report said that the changes proposed by the independent review board will help address the problems. Those improvements include establishing a dedicated prevention workforce, expanded sexual assault prevention and response programs, and better leadership. The budget for 2023 includes funding to hire additional personnel. The report also recommends that the department establish data to help the military services share prevention and program support information, hold leaders accountable if they don’t have healthy command climates. Officials said it’s important to ensure that leaders better understand the prevention policies and programs and that service members and employees know where to go to get help. Officials also said that there will be follow-up visits to the bases by this fall, and that similar site visits and reviews will be done every two years. Austin is asking military service leaders for implementation plans by early June and said the department will issue more guidelines and policies by early October.
|
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/pentagon-links-leadership-failures-to-violence-harassment-at-military-bases
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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ROME (AP) — Drums pounded through the frescoed halls of the Apostolic Palace on Thursday and out into St. Peter’s Square as Pope Francis welcomed a First Nations delegation seeking an apology for the Catholic Church’s role in running Canada’s notorious residential schools.
Francis met privately for two hours with the representatives of the Assembly of First Nations, following his meetings earlier in the week with delegations from the Metis and Inuit communities of Canada.
“I feel the pope and the church have expressed a sentiment of working toward reconciliation,” said Grand Chief Mandy Gull-Masty of the Creen Nation, after the audience.
The trip was years in the making but gained momentum last year after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves outside some of the residential schools.
More than 150,000 native children in Canada were forced to attend state-funded Christian schools from the 19th century until the 1970s in an effort to isolate them from the influence of their homes and culture. The aim was to Christianize and assimilate them into mainstream society, which previous Canadian governments considered superior.
Even before the grave sites were discovered, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission specifically called for a papal apology to be delivered on Canadian soil for the church’s role in the abuses against the Indigenous.
Francis has committed to traveling to Canada, though no date for such a visit has been announced.
The Vatican said Thursday’s meeting was held “in a climate of listening and closeness” and would be followed by Francis’ audience with all three groups on Friday, when he is to deliver a public address.
“If you were to ask me am I optimistic leaving our discussion with the Holy Father, I am,” said Phil Fontaine, who was national chief of the Assembly of First Nations in 2009 when he led an Indigenous delegation to meet with Pope Benedict XVI.
At the time, Benedict only expressed his “sorrow at the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the church.” But he did not apologize.
“It’s 2022, I’m back, for another shot at … convincing Pope Francis to apologize,” Fontaine told reporters in St. Peter’s Square, wearing a feathered headdress. “A full apology for all that he heard today and probably heard from the Metis and Inuit delegations about the horrible experience of too many of our people that attended residential schools.”
“Our preference is for the Holy Father to come to Canada and apologize on Canadian soil, and do it on one of our territories,” he added. “That is our hope and wish and we made that very clear to the Holy Father.”
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https://www.mystateline.com/news/international/first-nations-meet-with-pope-over-canada-school-abuses/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:36Z
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Alabama lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation aimed at resisting a half-dozen executive actions by President Joe Biden to combat gun violence.
The Alabama Senate voted 24-5 for legislation that would prohibit state and local officials from participating in the “administration or enforcement of any presidential gun control order.” However, the bill includes an exemption if doing so would jeopardize federal funding.
The measure is part of red state efforts to seek, both tangible and symbolic, resistance to federal gun control measures. The approval came over the objections of Democrats who derided the measure as unconstitutional and election-year pandering. The bill now moves to the Alabama House of Representatives.
“The Second Amendment says the right to bear arms shall not be infringed upon, and this bill is about safeguarding our God-given rights to protect our families and homes,” Sen. Gerald Allen, a Republican from Tuscaloosa, said in a statement about his bill.
Two Democratic senators sharply criticized the measure.
“This is an election piece, here,” said Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, a Democrat from Greensboro.
Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Democrat from Birmingham, said the bill, if approved, would almost certainly be challenged in court.
“I’m’ telling y’all again that this is going to be unconstitutional. You are going to spend all these millions of dollars trying to defend this and we are going to lose and look bad,” Smitherman said.
The president has limited ability to enact gun control measures without congressional approval. Biden last year issue an order that included moves to crack down on “ghost guns,” homemade firearms that lack serial numbers used to trace them and are often purchased without a background check and to tighten regulations on pistol-stabilizing braces.
An original version of the Alabama law would have also applied to federal gun laws. Idaho and Missouri have approved similar measures.
The Justice Department last year warned Missouri officials that the state can’t ignore federal law after the governor signed a bill that banned police from enforcing federal gun rules.
The Alabama legislative action came the same week that lawmakers rejected a measure that would allow people with mental health issues to voluntarily place themselves on a “do not sell” list to temporarily block themselves from buying firearms. The bill failed on a procedural vote required to bring the measure up for debate in the Alabama House of Representatives.
Alabama will also become the latest state to allow people to carry concealed handguns without first undergoing a background check and getting a state permit. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey this month signed legislation ending the requirement for a person to get a concealed carry permit to carry a loaded handgun concealed under their clothes, in a purse or bag or in a car.
Related: Alabama lawmakers take sides in national debate over gun rights
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https://www.al.com/news/2022/04/alabama-senate-advances-effort-to-resist-president-bidens-actions-on-guns.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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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
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https://www.newstimes.com/sports/article/Knox-uses-4-birdie-run-for-a-one-stroke-lead-at-17049836.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest superhero is not, in the conventional sense, either "super" or a "hero," but he does have an unorthodox ailment and a weird skill-set to separate him from mere mortals. His name is Morbius, and while watching his origin story, you may get the feeling that somewhere in the cinematic multiverse, wires got crossed.
The film begins with a helicopter, transporting a cage to the sort of mist-shrouded isle you half expect King Kong to be inhabiting. But Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) is looking to capture smaller game as he approaches the mouth of a cave, hobbling with difficulty on two crutch-like canes.
Positioning himself behind the wires of the cage, he slices open the palm of his hand and, as a roar of batwings echoes from inside the cave, murmurs to the copter pilot "if you're gonna run, do it now."
A rare blood disease treated with a bit o' bat
It's tempting to say "consider yourself warned," but the film's first hour or so, while unremarkable, is decently crafted.
Born with a rare blood disease, Michael Morbius has spent his entire life working on two things — a cure, and origami paper-folding. Natch, it occurs to him to fold together bat and human DNA.
Because the FDA would be unlikely to approve human trials, he and his beautiful co-researcher Martine (Adria Arjona) head in a cargo ship for international waters off the coast of Long Island in the company of eight thuggish mercenaries — think bloodbags — and once Morbius has been injected with bat DNA, it's just a matter of time before things go vampiric.
Let it be said that some side-effects from dabbling in "chiropter-y" are less ghastly than others. Bat DNA evidently gives you great cheekbones and abs to go with increased strength and speed.
Less salutary effects include new fangs that sprout from his gums with decades of decay baked in, and claws that erupt from his fingers pre-filthed. I mean, sure...why not? Except this is a man whose hair has the kind of sheen that comes from brushing it three times a day.
One other thing: he now needs to drink human blood every six hours. Happily, on his way to declining a Nobel Prize, Dr. Morbius invented "artificial blood," though that only fools his system for a while.
Color coded smoke effects for a Jekyll and his Hyde
If you're expecting a conventional Marvel movie, you should be aware going in that what Director Daniel Espinoza and his writers have come up with is more a horror flick with Marvel bells and whistles.
That means Leto's Morbius gets purplish smoke effects to go with those fang-baring snarls as he's riding air currents in subway tunnels, while the similarly afflicted Hyde to his Jekyll – a schoolboy chum played as an adult by an amusingly hopped-up Matt Smith, gets blue-ish vapor trails and snappier lines.
But there isn't much tension to their story. Or logic. At one point, Morbius overhears some counterfeiters passing fake $100s, and commandeers their printing press to make what appears to be an artificial-blood machine — because the technologies for fake-bills and fake-blood match up? Maybe that works better in a comic book.
Bat guys everywhere you look
Speaking of which, when the DC Extended Universe first announced that Twilight star Robert Pattinson would play the lead in The Batman in their corner of the superhero multiverse, it seemed like a nice inside joke — from Vampire-teen to Bat-man. But now that the Marvelverse has Leto going full Dracula, it seems as if the casting maybe could've gone the other way 'round.
Leto is as persuasively haunted by the dark side of vigilantism as Pattinson was, and as a result of corporate positioning, is maybe more determined to avoid being a villain. Not unlike Venom, Morbius was a bad guy when he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man comics, back in the 1970's. He needs to be at least an anti-hero now, if a franchise is to be built around him.
But bad guy/bat guy...who's to say? As the trailers reveal, another DC bat-guy, Michael Keaton, shows up in his non-batty baddie Marvel persona Adrian Toomes, just to mess with the heads of anyone trying to keep cinematic universes straight.
But bloodlines will have to be clarified in more robust "Morbius" episodes to come, this origin story being merely adequate, and by Marvel standards, slightly anemic.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kios.org/2022-03-31/jared-leto-is-marvels-bat-man-in-the-vampiric-morbius
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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https://dan.com/buy-domain/hnylwz.com
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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Munster boss Johann van Graan has promised not to pull any punches with his team selection for tomorrow night’s derby clash with Leinster.
Munster face their provincial neighbours at Thomond Park in a rearranged United Rugby Championship clash postponed from St Stephen’s night when Leinster’s squad was hit by a Covid outbreak.
They meet for the first time in 2021-22 with Leinster, four in a row champions in the competition’s previous incarnation as the PRO14, once again setting the pace in the 16-team league.
Leo Cullen’s side are five points clear of nearest rivals Ulster with Munster third another three points back with the leaders also having a game in hand on them both.
Head coach van Graan has targeted a top-two finish to the regular season and the home semi-final draw in the play-offs that comes with it and with four games remaining before the knockout rounds he knows he has to throw the kitchen sink at Munster’s arch enemies this weekend.
The South African is set to name his matchday squad at noon and has welcomed back his Ireland contingent following their week off at the end of the Triple Crown-winning Six Nations campaign.
Captain Peter O’Mahony, fly-half Joey Carbery, prop Dave Kilcoyne and scrum-half Conor Murray could all feature for their province while a decision on lock/flanker Tadhg Beirne’s ability to play following a thigh injury was being delayed until the last possible moment. But wing Andrew Conway is definitely out with a knee problem.
Ireland squad members Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes and Jeremy Loughman featured for Munster in last Friday’s bonus-point URC win over Benetton in Cork and veteran wing Keith Earls, who missed the Six Nations due to a hamstring injury, returned to training this week.
"Yeah, look we'll pick our best available team,” van Graan said. “I'm not going to take a chance with anybody in the squad who is not 100 per cent ready to go because you need 23 fit guys to come up against Leinster.
"So everybody who is fit and available that comes through training will be assessed and we'll pick our best possible team in terms of guys who are fit and available.
"I'm not going to keep guys back in terms of squad management, everybody's available in terms of minutes, it's just how are their bodies and how are they mentally.”
Munster have lost six league games in a row to Leinster and last won in December 2018 at Thomond Park, but they did win their most recent meeting, in the Rainbow Cup last April, a month after a demoralising 16-6 loss in last season’s PRO14 final.
That win, albeit against a weakened Leinster side, has given van Graan optimism that his side can be competitive this time around.
"Well, we've beaten them the last time that we played against them in Dublin and every game is different, I don't want to overstate that, this is a new game, a new competition and they're a phenomenal team, the current URC champions and that's a challenge, and we love a challenge.
"They always want to come up with their best and we lost against them in the final. It's always a big challenge against them.” Van Graan underlined why he thought it was such a big challenge when asked what sort of a contest he was expecting.
"I don't want to be too clever about the weather but at this early stage it seems that the weather is going to be good.
"I think with the way we've played in the last five weeks specifically, we're looking to keep some ball in hand.
"Obviously they're exceptional with ball in hand so I think both teams will play positive rugby, both are also the best defensively in Europe, conceding something around 1.4 tries per game.
"And I think the tactical battle, they have kicked a lot in behind us. I take you back to Thomond Park a year ago, that try of theirs that was kicked in behind us.
"Depending on who plays 10, they pepper our back three with high balls so it's getting the balance between the kicking game, attack and defence, and most importantly the breakdown battle.
"I think both teams have got some phenomenal poachers, ball carriers, I think of someone like Josh van der Flier specifically, who has become one of the very best ball carriers in the game, I would say.
"So great challengers on both sides of the ball, from our side I think someone like Gavin Coombes is carrying exceptionally well.
"So many battles to look forward to, I think of the centres, I think of the 9s and 10s, the front rows, the back threes, you can literally go all across the park.
"Very exciting from our side and like I said, it’s always great when Leinster play Munster.”
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https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40841576.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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Sarah Jayne Dunn showcases her enviable figure in a green satin dress as she joins her husband Jonathan Smith at The Alchemist relaunch
Sarah Jayne Dunn put on a jaw-dropping display in a form-fitting grenn dress as she stepped out alongside her husband Jonathan Smith on Thursday.
The couple were beaming as they smiled for photos at the relaunch of The Alchemist in Manchester's, Spinningfields.
The former Hollyoaks actress, 40, showcased her enviable figure in the emerald green satin dress with ruched side detailing.
Stunning: Sarah Jayne Dunn, 40, showcased her enviable figure in a form-fitting satin dress with her husband Jonathan Smith at The Alchemist relaunch event in Manchester on Thursday
The actress, who now earns a living on OnlyFans, added height to her frame with a pair of nude patent heels.
She wore her blonde locks pulled back on top of her head in loose curls with a curtain fringe.
Sarah opted for a glowing makeup palette with a subtle smokey eye and a shimmering lip gloss.
Glamourous: The actress, who now earns a living on OnlyFans, added height to her frame with a pair of nude patent heels
Radiant: She wore her blonde locks pulled back on top of her head in loose curls with a curtain fringe
Jonathan put on a casual display as he sported stylish layered knits with a khaki T-shirt and dark wash jeans.
Elsewhere Love Island's Natalia Zoppa looked sensational in a pale pink corset style mini dress with a white blazer.
She showed of her bronzed pins as she added a towering pair of metallic heels to complete her look.
Pretty: Elsewhere Love Island's Natalia Zoppa looked sensational in a pale pink corset style mini dress with a white blazer
Back on: Natalia stepped out hand-in-hand with her boyfriend Hass Saleh,despite recent reports that the couple had split
Natalia stepped out hand-in-hand with her boyfriend Hass Saleh,despite recent reports that the couple had split.
Fellow Hollyoaks star David Tag stepped out with his wife whilst Emmerdale's Danny Miller and his fiancée Steph Jones turned up.
Also in attendance were Coronation Street actresses Ellie Leach, Tanisha Gorey and Maisie Gibson.
Glowing: Sarah opted for a glowing makeup palette with a subtle smokey eye and a shimmering lip gloss
Fun-filled: Jonathan put on a casual display as he sported stylish layered knits with a khaki T-shirt and dark wash jeans
It comes after Sarah Jayne admitted she's inundated with explicit images from male subscribers on OnlyFans – but refuses requests to 'rate' them out of 10.
The actress doesn't bother viewing images that show the private parts of her fans because while they 'serve a purpose they're not pretty.'
Mother-of-one Sarah admitted 'it's not a territory I want to be in' and joked 'until you've seen it in action you don't know if it's a 10/10.'
Guests: Fellow Hollyoaks star David Tag stepped out with his wife to the event
Couple: Emmerdale's Danny Miller and his fiancée Steph Jones walked hand-in-hand
Speaking to Jackie Adedeji and Miranda Kane on Metro.co.uk's podcast Smut Drop, Sarah said: 'One thing I do not do just because I don't want to see them is do d*** ratings.
'That's not a territory I want to be in or that I'm going in. For the people that do more explicit content and adult work on there I think that's quite a common thing for someone to send you a picture of their penis and for you to go "well done, I give that one a 6/10" but that's not a me thing. That's not something I do.
'It's strange conversations that I never thought I'd have. If someone sends me a picture of said d*** I don't open the picture but if someone sent me that in DMs on Instagram it's there and I've seen it when it's something I'm not interested in seeing.'
Beaming: Also in attendance was Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach who donned a varsity jacket a miniature pink bag
VIP's: Fellow Corrie co-stars Maisie Gibson and Tanisha Gorey put on stylish displays
Incredible: Big Brother's Chanelle McCleary opted for a slinky cropped top and skin tight leather trousers
Sarah added: 'They serve a purpose but they're not pretty are they! Until you've seen it in action you don't know if it's a 10/10 either do you?'
Bosses axed Sarah, who played Mandy Richardson in Hollyoaks, last year over her use of subscription site OnlyFans, which they deemed to conflict with the show's young teen audience.
Sarah admitted signing up to the site, most known for its sexual content, was her way of gaining back control following years of posing for raunchy calendars and lads' magazines during her twenties.
Racy! It comes after Sarah Jayne admitted she's inundated with explicit images from male subscribers on OnlyFans – but refuses requests to 'rate' them out of 10
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10674433/Sarah-Jayne-Dunn-showcases-enviable-figure-form-fitting-dress-husband-Jonathan-Smith.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:38Z
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Calif. group votes to limit reparations to slave descendants
(AP) - California’s first-in-the-nation task force on reparations voted Tuesday to limit state compensation to the descendants of free and enslaved Black people who were in the U.S. in the 19th century, narrowly rejecting a proposal to include all Black people regardless of lineage.
The vote was split 5-4, and the hours-long debate was at times testy and emotional. Near the end, the Rev. Amos Brown, president of the San Francisco branch of the NAACP and vice chair of the task force, pleaded with the commission to move ahead with a clear definition of who would be eligible for restitution.
“Please, please, please I beg us tonight, take the first step,” he said. “We’ve got to give emergency treatment to where it is needed.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation creating the two-year reparations task force in 2020, making California the only state to move ahead with a study and plan, with a mission to study the institution of slavery and its harms and to educate the public about its findings.
Reparations at the federal level has not gone anywhere, but cities and universities are taking up the issue. The mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, announced a city commission in February while the city of Boston is considering a proposal to form its own reparations commission.
The Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, became the first U.S. city to make reparations available to Black residents last year, although there are some who say the program has done nothing to right a wrong.
California’s task force members — nearly all of whom can trace their families back to enslaved ancestors in the U.S. — were aware that their deliberations over a pivotal question will shape reparations discussions across the country. The members were appointed by the governor and the leaders of the two legislative chambers.
Those favoring a lineage approach said that a compensation and restitution plan based on genealogy as opposed to race has the best change of surviving a legal challenge. They also opened eligibility to free Black people who migrated to the country before the 20th century, given possible difficulties in documenting family history and the risk at the time of becoming enslaved.
Others on the task force argued that reparations should include all Black people in the U.S. who suffer from systemic racism in housing, education and employment and said they were defining eligibility too soon in the process.
Civil rights attorney and task force member Lisa Holder proposed directing economists working with the task force to use California’s estimated 2.6 million Black residents to calculate compensation while they continue hearing from the public.
“We need to galvanize the base and that is Black people,” she said. “We can’t go into this reparations proposal without having all African Americans in California behind us.”
But Kamilah Moore, a lawyer and chair of the task force, said expanding eligibility would create its own fissures and was beyond the purpose of the committee.
“That is going to aggrieve the victims of the institution of slavery, which are the direct descendants of the enslaved people in the United States,” she said. “It goes against the spirit of the law as written.”
The committee is not even a year into its two-year process and there is no compensation plan of any kind on the table. Longtime advocates have spoken of the need for multifaceted remedies for related yet separate harms, such as slavery, Jim Crow laws, mass incarceration and redevelopment that resulted in the displacement of Black communities.
Compensation could include free college, assistance buying homes and launching businesses, and grants to churches and community organizations, advocates say.
The eligibility question has dogged the task force since its inaugural meeting in June, when viewers called in pleading with the nine-member group to devise targeted proposals and cash payments to make whole the descendants of enslaved people in the U.S.
Chicago resident Arthur Ward called in to Tuesday’s virtual meeting, saying that he was a descendant of enslaved people and has family in California. He supports reparations based only on lineage and expressed frustration with the panel’s concerns over Black immigrants who experience racism.
“When it comes to some sort of justice, some kind of recompense, we are supposed to step to the back of the line and allow Carribeans and Africans to be prioritized,” Ward said. “Taking this long to decide something that should not even be a question in the first place is an insult.”
California Assemblyman Reginald Jones-Sawyer, who voted against limiting eligibility, said there is no question that descendants of slaves are the priority, but he said the task force also needs to stop ongoing harm and prevent future harm from racism. He said he wished the panel would stop “bickering” over money they don’t have yet and start discussing how to close a severe wealth gap.
“We’re arguing over cash payments, which I firmly don’t believe are the be all and end all,” he said.
Reparations critics say that California has no obligation to pay up given that the state did not practice slavery and did not enforce Jim Crow laws that segregated Black people from white people in the southern states.
But testimony provided to the committee shows California and local governments were complicit in stripping Black people of their wages and property, preventing them from building wealth to pass down to their children. Their homes were razed for redevelopment, and they were forced to live in predominantly minority neighborhoods and couldn’t get bank loans that would allow them to purchase property.
Today, Black residents are 5% of the state’s population but over-represented in jails, prison and homeless populations. And Black homeowners continue to face discrimination in the form of home appraisals that are significantly lower than if the house were in a white neighborhood or the homeowners are white, according to testimony.
A report is due by June with a reparations proposal due by July 2023 for the Legislature to consider turning into law.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kswo.com/2022/03/29/black-reparations-panel-could-decide-who-gets-compensation-california/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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OG #18 effects
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https://www.leafly.com/brands/hq-farms/products/hq-farms-og-18-flower
| 2022-04-01T00:38:37Z
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The counting is over in the second union election at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. But it's too close to call.
There were 993 "no" votes and 875 "yes" votes, but more than 400 contested ballots remain. According to the National Labor Relations Board, there will be a hearing within a few weeks to decide if any of the challenged ballots will be opened and counted.
More than 6,100 workers were eligible to vote in the do-over election, which was ordered after the NLRB found that Amazon had improperly interfered in last year's tally.
Turnout in this year's vote was down from last year when over half of eligible voters cast ballots. But among those who actually voted this time around, there was greater support for the union. Last year, workers voted more than 2-to-1 against joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a well-established national union.
"This time around we were able to educate more about unions," said Jennifer Bates, a warehouse employee, noting that organizers were able to get closer to workers now that the pandemic has eased.
The RWDSU called for every vote to be counted.
"The tenacity and courage of these workers never wavered in this unnecessarily long process," said RWDSU president Stuart Appelbaum in a statement. "Workers will have to wait just a little bit longer to ensure their voices are heard."
Meanwhile in a separate Amazon union election on Staten Island in New York, the vote count will continue Friday morning. Roughly 8,000 workers were eligible to vote on whether to join the Amazon Labor Union, an upstart organization led by former and current Amazon warehouse employees. With ballots still to count, the union is in the lead, with 1,518 voting yes so far, and 1,154 voting no.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kdlg.org/as-heard-on-npr/2022-03-31/do-over-union-election-at-amazons-bessemer-warehouse-is-too-close-to-call
| 2022-04-01T00:38:39Z
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UN Security Council votes for new Somalia peacekeeping force
Thursday March 31 2022
The UN Security Council on Thursday voted unanimously for a new African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab insurgents have been seeking to overthrow the fragile government for more than a decade.
The current African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) is composed of 20,000 soldiers, police and civilians helping local authorities fight against the jihadist insurgents.
Its mandate was due to expire Thursday, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recommended early this month maintaining the force level until the end of the year.
"The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution... to reconfigure Amisom," the UAE, which holds the UNSC presidency, said on Twitter.
"It is now the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis)."
The new mission will work to enable Somali forces to take primary responsibility for security.
Under the resolution approved on Thursday, the UN force reduction will be carried out in four phases until the last peacekeeper withdraws in late 2024.
The Horn of Africa nation has seen a spate of attacks in recent weeks as it hobbles through a long-delayed election process.
Last week twin attacks in central Somalia claimed 48 lives.
Somalia's key foreign backer, the United States, has imposed travel sanctions on senior political figures for undermining the electoral process.
The lower house election was due to be completed on Thursday, paving the way for lawmakers to pick a president.
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed's term ended in February 2021 but efforts to hold an election have failed.
The jihadists controlled Mogadishu until 2011 when they were pushed out by Amisom troops, but still hold territory in the countryside.
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https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/-un-security-council-votes-new-somalia-peacekeeping-force-3767294
| 2022-04-01T00:38:39Z
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BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — 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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https://www.thestar.com/news/world/us/2022/03/31/colorado-couple-charged-in-toddlers-fentanyl-death.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:39Z
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https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/business-woman-working-financial-data-hand-2140981007
| 2022-04-01T00:38:40Z
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Controversial Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) is continuing to anger GOP leaders with his accusations of of drug use and infidelity among Republicans in Congress.
On Monday, Cawthorn made allegations of drug use and orgies.
"The sexual perversion that goes on in Washington, I mean being kind of a young guy in Washington with the average age of probably 60 or 70," said Cawthorn. "And I look at all these people, a lot of them that I, you know, I've looked up to through my life. I've always paid attention to politics guys that, you know, then all of the sudden you get invited to like, well, hey, we're going to have kind of a sexual get together at one of our homes. You should come there, like... What, what did you just ask me to come to? And then you realize they're asking you to come to an orgy. Or the fact that, you know, there's some of the people that are leading on the movement to try and remove addiction in our country and then you watch them doing, you know, a key bump of cocaine right in front of you and it's like wow this is wild."
On Wednesday, right-wing dirty trickster Roger Stone kept the controversy alive by saying Cawthorn told him that the "drug-filled orgies" were real.
Also on Wednesday, Cawthorn met with House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Politico reported, citing a Republican "familiar with what was discussed at the meeting."
"That Republican said McCarthy pressed Cawthorn on his allegations — saying that if he had made such statements under oath, he would have treaded into even more dangerous waters," Politico reported. "According to that Republican, Cawthorn clarified that multiple members were not involved in orgies but did maintain that one member of Congress invited him to a sex party with his wife. Despite McCarthy and others in the room pressing him to reveal a name, Cawthorn refused, this Republican said."
IN OTHER NEWS: Watch: 'Stop the Steal' organizer complains that the Jan. 6 Committee has her text messages
Cawthorn\u2019s latest ad he just put out, amid the orgy-cocaine controversyhttps://twitter.com/cawthornfornc/status/1509543302001049612\u00a0\u2026— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia Beavers) 1648738371
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https://www.rawstory.com/madison-cawthorn-2657074926/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:40Z
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Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest superhero is not, in the conventional sense, either "super" or a "hero," but he does have an unorthodox ailment and a weird skill-set to separate him from mere mortals. His name is Morbius, and while watching his origin story, you may get the feeling that somewhere in the cinematic multiverse, wires got crossed.
The film begins with a helicopter, transporting a cage to the sort of mist-shrouded isle you half expect King Kong to be inhabiting. But Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) is looking to capture smaller game as he approaches the mouth of a cave, hobbling with difficulty on two crutch-like canes.
Positioning himself behind the wires of the cage, he slices open the palm of his hand and, as a roar of batwings echoes from inside the cave, murmurs to the copter pilot "if you're gonna run, do it now."
A rare blood disease treated with a bit o' bat
It's tempting to say "consider yourself warned," but the film's first hour or so, while unremarkable, is decently crafted.
Born with a rare blood disease, Michael Morbius has spent his entire life working on two things — a cure, and origami paper-folding. Natch, it occurs to him to fold together bat and human DNA.
Because the FDA would be unlikely to approve human trials, he and his beautiful co-researcher Martine (Adria Arjona) head in a cargo ship for international waters off the coast of Long Island in the company of eight thuggish mercenaries — think bloodbags — and once Morbius has been injected with bat DNA, it's just a matter of time before things go vampiric.
Let it be said that some side-effects from dabbling in "chiropter-y" are less ghastly than others. Bat DNA evidently gives you great cheekbones and abs to go with increased strength and speed.
Less salutary effects include new fangs that sprout from his gums with decades of decay baked in, and claws that erupt from his fingers pre-filthed. I mean, sure...why not? Except this is a man whose hair has the kind of sheen that comes from brushing it three times a day.
One other thing: he now needs to drink human blood every six hours. Happily, on his way to declining a Nobel Prize, Dr. Morbius invented "artificial blood," though that only fools his system for a while.
Color coded smoke effects for a Jekyll and his Hyde
If you're expecting a conventional Marvel movie, you should be aware going in that what Director Daniel Espinoza and his writers have come up with is more a horror flick with Marvel bells and whistles.
That means Leto's Morbius gets purplish smoke effects to go with those fang-baring snarls as he's riding air currents in subway tunnels, while the similarly afflicted Hyde to his Jekyll – a schoolboy chum played as an adult by an amusingly hopped-up Matt Smith, gets blue-ish vapor trails and snappier lines.
But there isn't much tension to their story. Or logic. At one point, Morbius overhears some counterfeiters passing fake $100s, and commandeers their printing press to make what appears to be an artificial-blood machine — because the technologies for fake-bills and fake-blood match up? Maybe that works better in a comic book.
Bat guys everywhere you look
Speaking of which, when the DC Extended Universe first announced that Twilight star Robert Pattinson would play the lead in The Batman in their corner of the superhero multiverse, it seemed like a nice inside joke — from Vampire-teen to Bat-man. But now that the Marvelverse has Leto going full Dracula, it seems as if the casting maybe could've gone the other way 'round.
Leto is as persuasively haunted by the dark side of vigilantism as Pattinson was, and as a result of corporate positioning, is maybe more determined to avoid being a villain. Not unlike Venom, Morbius was a bad guy when he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man comics, back in the 1970's. He needs to be at least an anti-hero now, if a franchise is to be built around him.
But bad guy/bat guy...who's to say? As the trailers reveal, another DC bat-guy, Michael Keaton, shows up in his non-batty baddie Marvel persona Adrian Toomes, just to mess with the heads of anyone trying to keep cinematic universes straight.
But bloodlines will have to be clarified in more robust "Morbius" episodes to come, this origin story being merely adequate, and by Marvel standards, slightly anemic.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.wemu.org/2022-03-31/jared-leto-is-marvels-bat-man-in-the-vampiric-morbius
| 2022-04-01T00:38:40Z
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Welcome to Field Notes, The Alexander City Outlook's member-exclusive newsletter delivered every Thursday to your inbox.
The Tallapoosa County Commission, state house and senate, district attorney and two Tallapoosa County Board of Education seats are up for reelection this year, but most go unchallenged.
But there are still a few decisions to make at the local level, mainly between different shades of red.
In District 27, Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Auburn), with a constituency now stretching further into Tallapoosa County, faces one Republican challenger — Auburn city councilman Jay Hovey — in the May 24 primary. Whoever the Republican nominee is will then face Democrat Sherri Reese in November.
Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jeremy Duerr, in his first race as a Republican, faces Tallassee attorney Mike Segrest this May.
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Meanwhile past commissioner Frank Tapley, from 1998-2002 and 2006-2014, is once again seeking the New Site-area District 3 seat he lost to Tallapoosa County Commissioner John McKelvey, the only commissioner to go challenged this year. The two will face off in the Republican primary.
Alabama has a May 9 voter registration deadline for the primary, June 6 for the runoff (June 3 if hand delivered) and Oct. 24 for the general election in November.
Bullet points
• For the most part, Tallapoosa County residents were spared by the early-morning storm Thursday with only a handful of outages as of this morning, according to Alabama Power's interactive map.
• Alexander City kids have their work cut out for them with over 400 eggs to be found this Saturday, at The City of Outreach Church's second-annual Eggstravaganza. The egg hunt and festivities will be on Ann Street from 2-5 p.m.
• Reminder: today is the last day of March. Don't be fooled tomorrow.
Got a tip? Send it to editor@alexcityoutlook.com with "Field Notes" in the subject line, or tweet us @alexcityoutlook.
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https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/off-to-the-races/article_701954b4-b10a-11ec-8b44-23bb52c038f4.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:41Z
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BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee woman convicted in the death of a police officer has been sentenced to 8 to 12 years in prison.
Ashley Kroese of Thompson's Station was 24 years old on June 18, 2020, when she drove on the wrong side of the road in Brentwood, killing Brentwood police officer Destin Legieza, 30, authorities said.
She was previously found guilty of four charges, including vehicular homicide by intoxication. She was sentenced Wednesday for charges in the crash that killed Legieza, The Tennessean reported.
A blood test after the crash found her blood alcohol content was 0.166%, which is twice the legal limit.
Members of Legieza's family spoke at the hearing.
“Ashley. I don’t think you intended to kill anyone that day,” said Heather Legieza, the officer’s widow. “But you moving forward with the trial when you know what you did was with intention, you should have just taken accountability for your actions."
Kroese, who did not testify at the February trial, read from a statement.
“I can’t pretend to understand what you have been going through. I’ve never lost a husband, a son or a brother, and nothing I can say is able to ease your pain, but I am truly and deeply sorry,” Kroese said.
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https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Tennessee-woman-sentenced-to-8-years-in-officer-s-17049754.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:42Z
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2 servings of avocado a week helps your heart health, study says
Published: Mar. 30, 2022 at 9:56 AM CDT
(CNN) - Good news if you like avocados; eating them is a great way to help out your heart health.
A new government study found eating at least two servings a week, which adds up to one avocado, reduced the risk of having a heart attack by 21%.
It also said that eating avocado instead of eggs, yogurt, cheese, margarine, butter, or processed meats, like bacon, was especially beneficial.
Experts said anything you can do to improve your heart health is a step in the right direction.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated heart disease takes a life every 36 seconds.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kswo.com/2022/03/30/2-servings-avocado-week-helps-your-heart-health-study-says/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:40Z
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri nonprofit that was at the center of a corruption probe that involved several legislators is paying more than $8 million to the federal government and the state of Arkansas under an agreement with prosecutors announced Thursday.
Federal prosecutors announced the non-prosecution agreement with Preferred Family Healthcare, which agreed to forfeit more than $6.9 million to the federal government and pay more than $1.1 million in restitution to Arkansas.
The Missouri-based mental health care provider operated 50 clinics throughout Arkansas until October 2018 and no longer operates in the state. Prosecutors on Thursday said under the agreement, PFH admitted that its former officers and employees conspired to embezzle funds from the charity and bribe Arkansas legislators.
Several former executives from the charity, former Arkansas legislators and other have pleaded guilty in federal court as part of the corruption probe.
A lobbyist pleaded guilty in 2019 to bribing three Arkansas lawmakers, including the governor’s nephew, to benefit PFH. The lobbyist, Rusty Cranford, was sentenced to seven years in prison and in August was released to serve the remainder of his sentence from home.
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge in 2020 announced the firm had reached $6.5 million in federal and state settlements following an investigation by Rutledge's office into false Medicaid claims made by former PFH employees.
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https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Firm-paying-8M-to-Arkansas-feds-over-corruption-17049727.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:42Z
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ISP Investigating Crash involving Man Wanted in Double Homicide
Harrison County – On Tuesday morning, an autopsy was completed regarding last Friday’s crash involving Samuel Robb of Valparaiso, Indiana - the suspect in an Evansville double homicide. In a news release, Harrison County Coroner, Jeremy McKim, lists the preliminary cause of death as a self-inflicted gunshot...
www.witzamfm.com
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https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2556533006665/isp-investigating-crash-involving-man-wanted-in-double-homicide
| 2022-04-01T00:38:42Z
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Den of Thieves is a new hidden achievement in Genshin Impact 2.6 that some players might wish to obtain. After all, it's a chance to earn free Primogems.
To obtain this achievement, a player must get two Treasure Map Fragments and go to a specific location. Even though it is a simple process, the game does not hold the player's hand. The player has to complete a series of quests and go through locations that can easily be missed.
Fortunately, there are several guides that let Genshin Impact players know how to get the "Den of Thieves" hidden achievement.
Genshin Impact guide: Den of Thieves hidden achievement
Essentially, to obtain the Den of Thieves hidden achievement, Genshin Impact players must collect two Treasure Map Fragments from the following places:
- In a red bag (in Ad-Hoc Main Tunnel)
- A bag in the final camp seen in Undetected Infiltration (in Lumberpick Valley)
Afterward, they must head to a location in-between Tiangong Gorge and Glaze Peak and burn down some hay to access a trapdoor.
Going down the trapdoor will give players the "Den of Thieves" hidden achievement.
Treasure Map Fragment #1
On the northeast side of the Ad-Hoc Main Tunnel is a small camp with a red bag. This red bag contains the first Treasure Map Fragment that players need to get the "Den of Thieves" hidden achievement.
Genshin Impact players must complete the following to access this area:
- Be Adventure Rank 28+
- Complete "A New Star Approaches"
- Complete "Surreptitious Seven-Star Seal"
Treasure Map Fragment #2
This half of the Treasure Map Fragment requires the player to complete Undetected Infiltration. For those who don't remember, this is the quest where players have to defeat several camps of Treasure Hoarders to obtain the Cup of Commons for The Millennial Mountains quest.
At the end of Undetected Infiltration, the player can rummage through some notebooks near Yanbo to acquire a Treasure Map Fragment. If the player hasn't completed Undetected Infiltration, they must do so before going back here.
Getting the "Den of Thieves" hidden achievement
Southeast of Tiangong Gorge and southwest of Glaze Peak is a small camp with some Treasure Hoarders and a Common Chest.
Players will find some hay behind this chest if they have both Treasure Map Fragments. Use a Pyro character to burn down that hay and select "Enter" to go down the trapdoor.
Once a player goes down the trapdoor, they should automatically get the "Den of Thieves" hidden achievement.
This new location has a Lumenspar, a Precious Chest, and an Exquisite Chest. Collect them all, and remember to collect the Primogems from "Achievements" in the Paimon Menu.
Q. Do you like achievement hunting in Genshin Impact?
Yes
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https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/how-get-hidden-achievement-den-thieves-genshin-impact
| 2022-04-01T00:38:43Z
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Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/rep-zoe-lofgren-on-the-jan-6-probe-and-why-its-far-more-serious-than-watergate Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio The select congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack on Thursday heard from the closest witness to former President Donald Trump yet -- his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was also his top aide at the White House. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California and a member of that committee, joins Judy Woodruff to discuss. Read the Full Transcript Judy Woodruff: The Select Congressional Committee Investigating the January 6 Capitol attack today heard from the closest witness to former President Donald Trump yet, his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.Representative Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California, is a member of that committee. And I spoke with her a short time ago.Congresswoman Lofgren, thank you very much for joining us.The January 6 Committee today heard from Jared Kushner. What can you tell us about what he had to say to the committee, or, maybe equally important, what he didn't say? Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA): Well, as you know, Judy, it's the policy of the committee not to discuss the testimony of the witnesses without a vote of the committee, which has not occurred.So, I'm sorry. I can't get into that with you. Judy Woodruff: Does his testimony, in your view, help the committee reach its goal, which is understanding what happened on January the 6th of last year? Rep. Zoe Lofgren: Well, as you know, we have heard from hundreds, hundreds of witnesses, some very close to the former president, some in his closest inner circle, others not as close.And we're piecing together the information. As you're aware, there have been some high-profile individuals who have refused to testify, which is wrong. But we're going to great lengths to put together the facts, and then we will be able to lay it out to the American people. Judy Woodruff: Well, speaking of phone calls, now that we know that there was almost an eight-hour gap in the official phone records provided to the committee from what — what was going on inside the Trump White House on January the 6th, and now learn the president made at least one phone call during that time, to Utah Senator Mike Lee, how does that change the work of the committee and what you have to do now? Rep. Zoe Lofgren: Well, we know from public reporting there were many phone calls made during that time frame.For example, it's been publicly reported, and certainly not denied, that Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy spoke to the former president in that time frame, along with many others.So, we know that phone calls were made. They should have been recorded on the log. They were not. And so we intend to find out what calls were made and piece together the truth. It's very disappointing that the laws that require these logs were not followed in this case. Judy Woodruff: Well, we know the committee's commission is not to pursue a criminal investigation, but does the fact that you're not getting the whole picture from the records being provided change materially the work the committee has to do? Rep. Zoe Lofgren: Well, there are other ways to find out what phone calls were made, and we're doing our best to do that.As I say, life would be easier for the committee if every person who is asked to give us information did so readily, as the law requires. That hasn't always occurred. It would be easier for the committee if the former president had fully complied with the Presidential Records Act, which, unfortunately, has apparently not occurred as well.But we will piece together — it's our intent to find out everything about this whole situation and report it to the American public, and so everyone can understand the threat that we posed and I would say still face to our democratic republic. Judy Woodruff: Congresswoman Lofgren, you were a young staffer in the office of then-Congressman Don Edwards, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, during the time of Watergate, when there were impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon.One of the things you were dealing with was an 18-and-a-half-minute gap in the audio recording in the Oval Office. How do you compare the gap you're dealing with now with what happened back then? Rep. Zoe Lofgren: I will just say that what has unfolded here, I think, is more serious than the threat that was posed by Watergate to our country. Judy Woodruff: And why do you say that? Rep. Zoe Lofgren: Well, I think the threat to the democratic republic was far, far more serious than in the case of water Watergate. Just my opinion. Judy Woodruff: Well, and let me ask you, in connection with that, we interviewed on the "NewsHour" just a few days ago Congressman Adam Schiff, who is on the January 6 Committee with you.He made a point of saying that the Justice Department now needs to move, in his words, with alacrity to pursue investigations against those for whom criminal referrals have been voted out of Congress.Do you share the concern that he expressed that he's worried that Justice and the attorney general may be worried about wading into controversy, rather than pursuing an investigation? Rep. Zoe Lofgren: Well, the truth is, we don't know what the Department of Justice is doing, and it's really not the regular order for the Department of Justice to report to us. That's not the way they're supposed to act.However, we did refer the Mark Meadows matter to the DOJ for prosecution. We didn't do it lightly. And the former chief of staff has taken the position — and there is no authority for this in the case law — that he didn't have to come in and answer the questions.Now, if there's a privilege that he wants to assert, he can come in and assert that privilege. And there may be some cases where that privilege would be warranted. But, clearly, in case where's he has already talked about matters, he's waived the privilege. When he was talking to state legislators, not the former president, that wasn't privileged.So, it's — what he has done is completely lawless. And I just don't understand what is taking the Department of Justice so long to actually take some action relative to this. It's — hopefully, they are doing some work. We certainly are. Judy Woodruff: And is there any way of conveying that to the Justice Department, other than speaking out as you are right now in public? Rep. Zoe Lofgren: No.I mean, they have to make their own decisions. I understand that. They cannot and should not take orders from the legislative branch. But, in this case, Congress and, by extension, the American people are the victim of misconduct on the part of Mr. Meadows. And so we have stature, as the victim of this crime, to complain. And we are. Judy Woodruff: Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, who is a member of the House Select Committee on January 6, thank you very much. Rep. Zoe Lofgren: Thank you. Take care. Listen to this Segment Watch Watch the Full Episode PBS NewsHour from Mar 31, 2022
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https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/rep-zoe-lofgren-on-the-jan-6-probe-and-why-its-far-more-serious-than-watergate
| 2022-04-01T00:38:43Z
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Skippy Foods, LLC has recalled more than 9,000 cases of peanut butter "due to the possibility that a limited number of jars may contain a small fragment of stainless steel from a piece of manufacturing equipment," the company said in an announcement Thursday.
The specific Skippy brands included Skippy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread, Skippy Reduced Fat Chunky Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter Blended With Plant Protein all with "best if used by dates" of early May 2023. Those dates are located at the top of the lid.
The company said there have been no consumer complaints related to this issue and the recall is voluntary.
All retailers that received these particular products have been notified, the company said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kios.org/2022-03-31/recall-issued-for-thousands-of-skippy-peanut-butter-cases-due-to-steel-fragments
| 2022-04-01T00:38:43Z
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Disney says character hugs and other interactions will return soon at US sites
By Forrest Brown, CNN
Of the many safety measures that Disney Parks had to set up to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic, requiring guests to keep a six-foot distance from the costumed characters must have been one of the hardest. At least emotionally.
For kids (or kids at heart), running into the waiting arms of Mickey Mouse and other beloved characters had been such an impulsive and quintessential part of the experience. Hanging back can be tough.
But finally, hugs are back on the horizon at US Disney properties.
As early as April 18, Disney “will start reintroducing traditional character greetings at Disneyland (in California) and Walt Disney World Resorts, as well as aboard Disney Cruise Line and at Aulani Resort in Hawaii,” according to a new post on Thursday on the official Disney Parks blog.
Up close and personal
Getting autographs, snapping photos close up and just sharing a laugh face-to-face with characters such as Mulan and Goofy will all be back on the table.
Disney has a new YouTube video celebrating the upcoming change, with plenty of embraces and high-fives being distributed.
It’s all part of the unwinding of coronavirus restrictions — both at the Disney parks and in the United States at large.
“During the past two years, we’ve taken a very gradual, intentional approach to health and safety protocols,” wrote Shawn Slater, senior communications manager for Disney Live Entertainment, in the blog.
“Recent trends and guidance have provided opportunities for us to bring back some of our most beloved magic, like character greetings and dining experiences. While not all locations will be available immediately, we anticipate reopening in phases throughout the spring and early summer.”
What else is coming back
It’s not just character interactions that will be returning later this spring.
At Disneyland in California, guests can look forward to the return of several nighttime spectaculars, including:
• “Disneyland Forever”
• “Fantasmic!”
• “Main Street Electrical Parade,” celebrating its 50th anniversary
• “World of Color”
On Disney Cruise Line ships, fireworks at sea and Broadway-style shows will be coming back.
At Walt Disney World in Florida, shows such as “Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” have already returned.
On-site hotels
On-site lodging is also bouncing back.
For the first time since March 2020, “all Disney Resort hotels that are part of the Disney Resorts Collection at Walt Disney World” in Florida are now open, according to another Disney Parks blog post on Thursday.
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort reopened on Thursday, the final resort there to do so.
Remaining safety measures
Disney still isn’t 100% back to pre-pandemic operations. Take face masks, for instance.
They are optional for fully vaccinated guests in outdoor and indoor locations. Disney asks that visitors who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing face masks in all indoor locations.
And face coverings are still required by all visitors 2 years old and older on Disney buses and monorails. You can click here for their latest safety updates.
Shanghai Disneyland closed
While things are opening up more and more in the United States, Disney has theme parks around the world. And each one must respond to local conditions.
China, an area of the world that has had few spikes during the pandemic, has seen a big increase in cases as the BA.2 variant sweeps through the country.
As a result, Shanghai Disneyland has been closed since March 21.
It’s a reminder that park patrons must be ready to adjust to changing conditions, even two years into the pandemic.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
Top image: Mickey Mouse poses with visitors at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, before the pandemic. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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https://kion546.com/news/2022/03/31/disney-says-character-hugs-and-other-interactions-will-return-soon-at-us-sites/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:28Z
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Russia and the Republicans
Russia’s unprovoked war upon Ukraine is causing a political schizophrenia for many Republicans. They assail President Biden as too weak in taking on Russia, but don’t want to offend their own party’s leader, Donald Trump, a fan of Vladimir Putin.
Most of all, they don’t want this crisis to interfere with their plans to take back control of Congress in the midterm elections. Rattling Trump’s cage isn’t in that playbook.
You can see their contortions in plain view — and by a little monitoring of their preferred venue, Fox News.
During the State of the Union — always a political Kabuki dance — Republicans applauded the Ukrainians during that part of the president’s speech, but didn’t look happy about it: House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) seemed busy checking messages on his phone; Senate leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) looked even stiffer than usual, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) appeared to smirk.
McCarthy had blasted Biden for not providing more military assistance to Ukraine: “Sadly President Biden consistently chose appeasement.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) earlier charged Putin was “walking all over” the president.
They apparently forgot that Donald Trump actually withheld aid to Ukraine — unless Ukraine delivered some dirt on Joe Biden. Trump was impeached for this, but McCarthy and Graham dismissed it as a “nothingburger.”
Then there is the hawkish Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, who on ABC last weekend accused the president of “pussyfooting around. The financial sanctions are riddled with loopholes.”
Four times moderator George Stephanopoulos asked Cotton if he would condemn Trump’s praise of Putin. Four times Cotton refused.
The Biden administration has committed $1 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, and the sanctions Biden engineered are draconian. Cotton’s GOP colleague, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), says they will be “cataclysmic” for Moscow; at least one expert predicts a Russian depression.
Or look at J.D. Vance, the once anti-Trumper and acclaimed author now running for the Senate in Ohio and now pandering to the Trump crowd: Initially Vance told Steve Bannon he didn’t “really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.” Someone then apparently told him there are 80,000 Ukrainians — immigrants and their descendants — in Ohio (as well as from other Eastern European countries) who hate the Russians — and Vance backpedaled.
At the recent forum of the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC), the citadel of right-wing pro-Trump Republicans, there was far more concern about rogue Canadian truckers or curbing transgender athletes than there was about Russians killing Ukrainians.
On Fox News the contradictions abound. One prime time anchor is pro-Putin, the others knock Biden for being soft on Russia, while praising Trump.
Kayleigh McEnany, one of the former president’s factually challenged press secretaries who now serves as a Fox co-host, boasted about how Trump “gave the Ukrainians weaponry,” neglecting to mention he also withheld millions for corrupt political reasons.
Sometimes it’s just weird: I recently watched Fox News contributor, former Arkansas governor, GOP presidential candidate and father of another Trump press secretary, Mike Huckabee tell Sean Hannity: “The Houston Astros got in trouble for stealing signals… Joe Biden stands at the podium and gives them away.” The administration did leak classified intelligence on what the Russians were up to — which helped galvanize public opinion to the dismay of Putin.
It’s worth noting that in contrast, some Fox News reporters in Ukraine and its Pentagon reporter, Jennifer Griffin, provide superb reporting.
What Biden also did was quietly build back trust in the NATO alliance. By not publicly pressuring the Germans, it facilitated Berlin taking the most surprising and dramatic move: scotching the natural gas pipeline from Russia and providing military assistance to Ukraine.
Frank Wisner, a former top diplomat in Republican and Democratic administrations and a harsh critic of Biden’s Afghanistan withdraw, told me the president’s performance in this instance has been “masterful: Joe Biden, without bragging, has put together a Western alliance like we haven’t seen since the founding days of NATO.” That was in 1949.
Former Defense Secretary Bill Cohen agrees: “Biden, behind the scenes, was brilliant before the invasion and then in not taking Putin’s bait on nuclear weapons.” But Cohen told me he anticipates dangerous times ahead, unless the Russians take an off ramp.
Possible off ramps might include Putin declaring victory — he got the world’s attention and Ukraine will never be in NATO; external pressures, principally from China but also potentially India and Israel, all with Russian ties; or an internal revolt as the economy tanks and body bags come home.
Cohen thinks it much more likely that Putin, in a bloody war, will occupy Ukraine: “He’s convinced we’ll fold on the sanctions before he does, that oil is king and the West needs that.”
If the war rages on, the former three-term Republican Senator has little doubt that his old party will turn on Biden for weakness, charging he’s unable to negotiate with Putin and focus on the real problem, China.
That may be good politics and will please Trump, but it would be terrible for America and most of the world.
Al Hunt is the former executive editor of Bloomberg News. He previously served as reporter, bureau chief and Washington editor for The Wall Street Journal. For almost a quarter century he wrote a column on politics for The Wall Street Journal, then The International New York Times and Bloomberg View. He hosts Politics War Room with James Carville. Follow him on Twitter @AlHuntDC.
The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.
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https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/597042-russia-and-the-republicans/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:41Z
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — NCAA President Mark Emmert said investigations into allegations of major violations against several high-profile men's college basketball programs — including 2022 Final Four participant Kansas — have taken “way too long.”
What solutions might be on the table to speed it up, Emmert did not say, but there appears to be increasing acknowledgement that the current process is broken.
“It’s just been really slow in getting through that new independent process that’s wound up reinvestigating the entire case,” Emmert said, referring to the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP).
The IARP was created out of proposals from the commission led by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2018 to reform the sport. It began looking into allegations against Kansas, Arizona, LSU, Louisville and North Carolina State on the heels of a federal investigation into corruption in college sports that resulted in convictions of shoe company executives, a middle man who worked with them and some assistant college coaches.
Of those FBI cases nearly five years ago, only one -- North Carolina State, tied to its recruitment of one-and-done star Dennis Smith Jr. -- has actually gone through the IARP system to completion and received a ruling that resulted in probation for one year, some vacated victories and penalties for previous coaches.
The four other cases are still pending in the IARP structure, while Auburn went through the more traditional process and received four years of probation in December from an NCAA infractions committee panel.
In the meantime, this year's NCAA Tournament could be tainted should Kansas win the national championship and subsequently have an unfavorable decision come down in a now half-decade-old investigation.
Created to handle complex cases, the IARP includes independent investigators and decision-makers with no direct ties to NCAA member schools, and rulings cannot be appealed.
Emmert said NCAA institutions need to come up with a process that has “got to be fair. It’s got to be swift. And it’s got to not punish the innocent. ... That’s where the membership’s got to be in all of this, as they shape a new process or rebuild the one that’s in place.”
The Kansas case hinges on whether Adidas representatives were considered boosters — the school contends they were not — when two of them arranged payments to prospective recruits. Kansas does not dispute the payments. Kansas asked for referral to the IARP instead of having the NCAA's infractions committee handle the matter.
While the lengthy IARP process has been going on, Self agreed to a new contract on April 2, 2021, that will keep him with the school until he retires.
The five-year deal adds one additional year after the conclusion of each season — in effect, making it a lifetime contract. It guarantees him $5.41 million per year with a base salary of $225,000, professional services contract of $2.75 million and an annual $2.435 million retention bonus.
The contact also includes a clause that says the school cannot terminate him for cause “due to any current infractions matter that involves conduct that occurred on or prior to” the signing of the new contract. Instead, he would forfeit half of his base salary and professional services pay while serving any Big 12 or NCAA suspension.
Emmert declined to weigh on on Kansas' decision to double down on Self.
“I’ll leave it to the school to make decisions about their coaches’ contracts,” said Emmert, who also spoke at the women's Final Four on Wednesday. “That’s their business, obviously. They can do that as they see fit.”
The infractions process has also come up with the Division I Transformation Committee, which is working to recommend ways to modernize and reform NCAA governance and regulatory policies.
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey, who chairs the committee along with Ohio athletics director Julie Cromer, said the group is looking at both the overall infractions process and the IARP structure as part of its work.
“I don’t know fully what was envisioned and what wasn’t envisioned,” said Sankey, who has served on the NCAA infractions committee. “But we have to have timely outcomes, both for those accused and for those competing against those who are accused. That has to be a point of emphasis.”
Later, Sankey added: “I was on an implementation working group, and I disagreed with elements of the approach. So I think some of these problems were foreseeable. We have an opportunity to correct and enhance the process. That doesn’t mean everybody will like the process.”
Among other topics Emmert addressed:
NATIONAL NIL RULES
Emmert offered an urgent plea to Congress to craft what he said was needed, uniform national legislation governing financial endorsements for athletes know known as name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.
“This tournament’s put on full display the beauty of college sport,” Emmert said. "People love it and enjoy it, and we’ve got to work with the schools and with Congress to make sure we can continue that.
“We’ve got again a relatively short window of time — in my estimate, one and two years,” Emmert continued. “These decisions have to be made because of the dynamics that are underway right now that are far beyond the control of schools, coaches, (athletic directors) or presidents.”
Currently, more than 30 states have been working on their own NIL laws.
TRANSGENDER LEGISLATION
With a number of states considering or passing legislation restricting participation of transgender athletes, Emmert was asked whether the NCAA would bar those states from hosting championship events.
The NCAA has largely followed the Olympic model that allows transgender athletes to compete if they've had certain biomedical treatments, including hormone therapies, meant to promote fairness.
Emmert said the NCAA currently requires communities which wish to host events “to explain how it is that they’re going to make sure that the participants in that sport will be allowed to do that in a nondiscriminatory way. ... If they can do that, then we’ll be in those states."
TRANFER RULES
Emmert said the current transfer rules continue to draw a lot of scrutiny and complaints from coaches and could be adjusted over time.
“The only thing that I can say right now is that it’s clear that students are getting more opportunities to play. They’re getting more freedom of movement in some respects,” Emmert said.
But he added that officials are keeping an eye on how the rules affect “students being able to finish their degrees in a timely fashion and go on and lead productive lives, because we know how few of them will be professional basketball players. It’s a constant point of discussion. I don’t anticipate it going away too soon.”
___
AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard, Dave Skretta and John Marshall contributed to this report.
___
More AP college basketball: http://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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https://www.newstimes.com/sports/article/NCAA-president-decries-pace-of-basketball-17049726.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:43Z
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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jeff Walz has had a lot of success getting players to transfer to Louisville over the last few years, including three starters on his Final Four team this season.
He's not the only coach in the Final Four who has bolstered the roster by using the transfer portal as both South Carolina and UConn have found supplemental players from it.
Still Walz, Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma think the amount of players looking to change schools is getting out of control.
“I always like to say, ‘The grass is greener on the other side because it’s fertilized with a bunch of bull,’” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. “I think there are a lot of players that will jump into the portal after one year that don’t really have a good grasp of why they’re doing it.”
Staley likened the portal to Twitter, Instagram or TikTok.
“It’s a big ol’ fad that just keeps continuing,” she said. “Is it out of hand? It absolutely is. I don’t know how you control it. But it’s their way. It’s their way of controlling their own destinies.”
Both Staley and Auriemma noted that there were currently more players seeking to transfer than there were scholarships available across the country.
“You know those 850 people in the portal? Three hundred of them are not going to find a school to go to because they’re going to realize it’s not the school they just left,” Auriemma said.
Despite the reservations, they're still playing along. Emily Engstler (Syracuse), Kianna Smith (California) and Chelsie Hall (Vanderbilt) have been key for Louisville. Engstler and Hall just joined the program this season.
When Engstler was considering the Cardinals, Walz went to Mykasa Robinson to discuss how her role would likely shrink if Engstler were to come and gauge her comfort level.
“She looked at me, and she’s like, ‘I’m tired of guarding her. If we can get her, yes, because she likes to win, and she wants to play with other good players,’” Walz said.
SOUTH CAROLINA SUPPORT
The Gamecocks have led the nation in average attendance for seven straight years, buoyed by a base of more than 10,000 season tickets. Despite the 1,200-mile distance from campus to downtown Minneapolis, there will be plenty of garnet-and-black-clad South Carolina fans voicing their support on Friday night when the Gamecocks take on Louisville.
“They’ve been with us when we weren’t a popular team or we weren’t a whole lot to cheer about,” Staley said. “This is my 14th year being at South Carolina, but the last probably 10, the fans have given us a ride that’s kind of irreplaceable.”
One of the catalysts for the attendance boom was giving fans as much as access to the program as they could, to build relationships and let the locals get to know the players as people.
“You really feel the love in the community,” guard Brea Beal said. “You can go to the store and run into somebody and they’re like, oh my gosh, just freaking out. It’s like a family.”
FOND MEMORY
Walz spent one season at Minnesota on his climb up the coaching ladder, serving as an assistant under current Maryland coach Brenda Frese.
That was 20 years ago, when Hall of Fame finalist Lindsay Whalen was a sophomore for the Gophers on a breakthrough team that reached the Final Four two seasons later. The women's team at that time played in a smaller gym, the Pavilion, next door to Williams Arena where the Minnesota men's team has played since 1928.
A water pipe burst that winter, moving the women's team into the bigger venue. The Gophers were on a roll, and the first game in the building known as “The Barn” was packed to the rafters.
“From that point on, we continued the rest of the season playing in the Barn in front of unbelievable crowds,” Walz said.
___
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.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/Final-Four-coaches-feel-transfer-portal-is-out-17049755.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:43Z
|
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jeff Walz has had a lot of success getting players to transfer to Louisville over the last few years, including three starters on his Final Four team this season.
He's not the only coach in the Final Four who has bolstered the roster by using the transfer portal as both South Carolina and UConn have found supplemental players from it.
Still Walz, Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma think the amount of players looking to change schools is getting out of control.
“I always like to say, ‘The grass is greener on the other side because it’s fertilized with a bunch of bull,’” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. “I think there are a lot of players that will jump into the portal after one year that don’t really have a good grasp of why they’re doing it.”
Staley likened the portal to Twitter, Instagram or TikTok.
“It’s a big ol’ fad that just keeps continuing,” she said. “Is it out of hand? It absolutely is. I don’t know how you control it. But it’s their way. It’s their way of controlling their own destinies.”
Both Staley and Auriemma noted that there were currently more players seeking to transfer than there were scholarships available across the country.
“You know those 850 people in the portal? Three hundred of them are not going to find a school to go to because they’re going to realize it’s not the school they just left,” Auriemma said.
Despite the reservations, they're still playing along. Emily Engstler (Syracuse), Kianna Smith (California) and Chelsie Hall (Vanderbilt) have been key for Louisville. Engstler and Hall just joined the program this season.
When Engstler was considering the Cardinals, Walz went to Mykasa Robinson to discuss how her role would likely shrink if Engstler were to come and gauge her comfort level.
“She looked at me, and she’s like, ‘I’m tired of guarding her. If we can get her, yes, because she likes to win, and she wants to play with other good players,’” Walz said.
SOUTH CAROLINA SUPPORT
The Gamecocks have led the nation in average attendance for seven straight years, buoyed by a base of more than 10,000 season tickets. Despite the 1,200-mile distance from campus to downtown Minneapolis, there will be plenty of garnet-and-black-clad South Carolina fans voicing their support on Friday night when the Gamecocks take on Louisville.
“They’ve been with us when we weren’t a popular team or we weren’t a whole lot to cheer about,” Staley said. “This is my 14th year being at South Carolina, but the last probably 10, the fans have given us a ride that’s kind of irreplaceable.”
One of the catalysts for the attendance boom was giving fans as much as access to the program as they could, to build relationships and let the locals get to know the players as people.
“You really feel the love in the community,” guard Brea Beal said. “You can go to the store and run into somebody and they’re like, oh my gosh, just freaking out. It’s like a family.”
FOND MEMORY
Walz spent one season at Minnesota on his climb up the coaching ladder, serving as an assistant under current Maryland coach Brenda Frese.
That was 20 years ago, when Hall of Fame finalist Lindsay Whalen was a sophomore for the Gophers on a breakthrough team that reached the Final Four two seasons later. The women's team at that time played in a smaller gym, the Pavilion, next door to Williams Arena where the Minnesota men's team has played since 1928.
A water pipe burst that winter, moving the women's team into the bigger venue. The Gophers were on a roll, and the first game in the building known as “The Barn” was packed to the rafters.
“From that point on, we continued the rest of the season playing in the Barn in front of unbelievable crowds,” Walz said.
___
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.middletownpress.com/sports/article/Final-Four-coaches-feel-transfer-portal-is-out-17049755.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:44Z
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https://dan.com/buy-domain/hshcjfsc.com
| 2022-04-01T00:38:44Z
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BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s independent vaccination advisory panel is recommending a booster shot with a messenger RNA vaccine for people who have had a full course of four Chinese, Indian and Russian COVID-19 vaccines that aren’t currently approved for use in the European Union.
In a draft recommendation Thursday, the panel, known by its German acronym STIKO, said the advice applies to people given a full course and also a booster of the Chinese Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines, the Indian-made Covaxin and Russia’s Sputnik V.
It said that the new booster shot should be administered at least three months after the previous vaccination.
The German panel said that people who have received only a single shot of the four vaccines should start a new vaccination series.
And it added that recipients of other vaccines not cleared by the EU should in general start a new series with a vaccine European authorities have approved.
Scientists believe that mixing and matching vaccines prompts a better immune response.
The BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines have been the mainstay of Germany’s vaccination program. Three other vaccines using different technologies have been cleared for use in the 27-nation EU — the AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax products.
The mRNA vaccines have shown to be better than others at protecting against newer variants like omicron.
Separately, efforts to find a majority in the German parliament for a bill that would require all adults to be vaccinated against COVID-19 have reportedly stalled.
German publications Bild and Der Spiegel reported that talks between parties haven’t resulted in the necessary support, and lawmakers may now focus on a vaccine mandate for residents age 50 and over.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz declined Thursday to comment on the reports but said he continues to back the idea of a vaccine mandate for all adults.
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
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https://www.mystateline.com/news/international/german-panel-recommends-booster-for-recipients-of-4-vaccines/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:43Z
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| 2022-04-01T00:38:44Z
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Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest superhero is not, in the conventional sense, either "super" or a "hero," but he does have an unorthodox ailment and a weird skill-set to separate him from mere mortals. His name is Morbius, and while watching his origin story, you may get the feeling that somewhere in the cinematic multiverse, wires got crossed.
The film begins with a helicopter, transporting a cage to the sort of mist-shrouded isle you half expect King Kong to be inhabiting. But Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) is looking to capture smaller game as he approaches the mouth of a cave, hobbling with difficulty on two crutch-like canes.
Positioning himself behind the wires of the cage, he slices open the palm of his hand and, as a roar of batwings echoes from inside the cave, murmurs to the copter pilot "if you're gonna run, do it now."
A rare blood disease treated with a bit o' bat
It's tempting to say "consider yourself warned," but the film's first hour or so, while unremarkable, is decently crafted.
Born with a rare blood disease, Michael Morbius has spent his entire life working on two things — a cure, and origami paper-folding. Natch, it occurs to him to fold together bat and human DNA.
Because the FDA would be unlikely to approve human trials, he and his beautiful co-researcher Martine (Adria Arjona) head in a cargo ship for international waters off the coast of Long Island in the company of eight thuggish mercenaries — think bloodbags — and once Morbius has been injected with bat DNA, it's just a matter of time before things go vampiric.
Let it be said that some side-effects from dabbling in "chiropter-y" are less ghastly than others. Bat DNA evidently gives you great cheekbones and abs to go with increased strength and speed.
Less salutary effects include new fangs that sprout from his gums with decades of decay baked in, and claws that erupt from his fingers pre-filthed. I mean, sure...why not? Except this is a man whose hair has the kind of sheen that comes from brushing it three times a day.
One other thing: he now needs to drink human blood every six hours. Happily, on his way to declining a Nobel Prize, Dr. Morbius invented "artificial blood," though that only fools his system for a while.
Color coded smoke effects for a Jekyll and his Hyde
If you're expecting a conventional Marvel movie, you should be aware going in that what Director Daniel Espinoza and his writers have come up with is more a horror flick with Marvel bells and whistles.
That means Leto's Morbius gets purplish smoke effects to go with those fang-baring snarls as he's riding air currents in subway tunnels, while the similarly afflicted Hyde to his Jekyll – a schoolboy chum played as an adult by an amusingly hopped-up Matt Smith, gets blue-ish vapor trails and snappier lines.
But there isn't much tension to their story. Or logic. At one point, Morbius overhears some counterfeiters passing fake $100s, and commandeers their printing press to make what appears to be an artificial-blood machine — because the technologies for fake-bills and fake-blood match up? Maybe that works better in a comic book.
Bat guys everywhere you look
Speaking of which, when the DC Extended Universe first announced that Twilight star Robert Pattinson would play the lead in The Batman in their corner of the superhero multiverse, it seemed like a nice inside joke — from Vampire-teen to Bat-man. But now that the Marvelverse has Leto going full Dracula, it seems as if the casting maybe could've gone the other way 'round.
Leto is as persuasively haunted by the dark side of vigilantism as Pattinson was, and as a result of corporate positioning, is maybe more determined to avoid being a villain. Not unlike Venom, Morbius was a bad guy when he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man comics, back in the 1970's. He needs to be at least an anti-hero now, if a franchise is to be built around him.
But bad guy/bat guy...who's to say? As the trailers reveal, another DC bat-guy, Michael Keaton, shows up in his non-batty baddie Marvel persona Adrian Toomes, just to mess with the heads of anyone trying to keep cinematic universes straight.
But bloodlines will have to be clarified in more robust "Morbius" episodes to come, this origin story being merely adequate, and by Marvel standards, slightly anemic.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kdlg.org/as-heard-on-npr/2022-03-31/jared-leto-is-marvels-bat-man-in-the-vampiric-morbius
| 2022-04-01T00:38:45Z
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OTTAWA — A bill that could toss a lifeline to Canada’s financially struggling news industry is set to be introduced by the federal government, renewing the debate between digital giants and publishers over compensation for news shared on online platforms.
The “Act Respecting Online Communications Platforms That Make News Content Available to Persons in Canada” surfaced on Parliament’s notice paper earlier this week, meaning the legislation will soon be tabled in the House of Commons.
The legislation is expected to require companies like Google and Facebook to share a portion of their advertising revenue with Canadian media outlets for linking to news content on their platforms.
The intent, the government says, is to level the playing field between big tech and the news industry, which has argued for years that online platforms are eating up ad revenue generated by their own content and imperiling the future of journalism.
But how has Canada tackled this debate in recent years?
Here’s what you need to know.
The road so far
Over the past several years, many countries have been studying the crisis facing shrinking news industries and the market power of web giants like Google and Facebook in the online advertising space.
In 2019, for example, the Canadian Media Concentration Research Project reported that 80 per cent of online advertising revenues in Canada went to the two tech titans.
The Canadian news industry — including Torstar, which publishes the Toronto Star — has lobbied for the federal government to address the imbalance in online advertising revenue.
Discussions between news publishers and online platforms about revenue sharing ramped up in 2021 as Australia finalized and passed its News Media Bargaining Code.
The code, which will be used as the basis for Canada’s legislation, provided for news publishers and web giants to negotiate payment deals for content shared to their sites.
Also under study at the time was France’s approach, which involved changing copyright law to require tech giants to pay for the use of news content.
What will it look like?
Australia’s code allows media organizations and digital platforms to work out their own deals for the use and reproduction of news content. If they fail to agree, a final-offer arbitration process would come into effect to lock down a deal.
That process has not yet been triggered in Australia, because Google and Facebook struck agreements with publishers.
Similar deals already exist in Canada, leaving it an open question whether they’ll be exempt from the impending bill.
Last fall, Google made a deal with 11 publishers, including Torstar, to join its News Showcase service. Through the service, users can access content from certain publications, sharing news from trusted outlets and directing traffic back to their sites.
Meta, Facebook’s parent company, signed a multi-year deal with Torstar in November that will see the web giant pay the publisher for the ability to post links to work produced by its publications. Seventeen other Canadian publishers are part of the program, which is called the News Innovation Test.
But knowing what Australia’s deals look like and how they have fared is “shrouded in mystery,” says Dwayne Winseck, a communications professor at Carleton University and director of the Canadian Media Concentration Research Project.
And the code might not do much to address the root causes of the market imbalance, he said.
“It might level the playing field somewhat between news media and the platforms by forcing them to come to the table, but it does nothing to undo the bigger question of dominant market power by the platforms across the digital economy,” Winseck said.
Why now?
There are likely two reasons why the federal government is finally moving forward with tabling the bill after years of mulling over the issue, says Paul Deegan, CEO of News Media Canada, of which Torstar is a member.
The first is that Australia’s code has been in effect for just over a year, so Canada has been able to see how the law has worked out during that time.
“I think politicians wanted to act, but they weren’t quite sure what the best approach was. If you look at (last) summer, at that point, you were a few months into the Australian model and deals were already being inked,” he said. “So I think that is what really drove it was seeing the success down there.”
The other motive may have been the scourge of disinformation and misinformation online, a topic with which the federal government has been particularly seized in recent months.
“I think everyone really gets the important role of journalism in this era of fake news. The misinformation around the pandemic, and frankly, the misinformation coming out of Moscow … people really seem to understand that this is important,” Deegan said.
“This is really the time to act, and we don’t have another two or three years to wait.”
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https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2022/03/31/canadas-legislation-compelling-big-tech-to-pay-news-outlets-is-on-its-way-heres-how-we-got-here.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:45Z
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Kenya's Supreme Court declares BBI unconstitutional
Thursday March 31 2022
Kenya's Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the plans, proposed by President Uhuru Kenyatta, to amend the Constitution through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
In a majority decision of five against two, the top court judges agreed that the BBI Bill, which sought to amend the supreme law through a popular initiative was unconstitutional.
The judges agreed that President Kenyatta was the promoter of the initiative yet the Constitution does not grant him the powers to amend the laws through a popular initiative.
The seven-judge bench in a majority decision, however, agreed that the basic structure doctrine is not applicable in the Kenyan constitution.
The judges led by Chief Justice Martha Koome agreed that the President's legal proceedings cannot be brought against him or any person performing the functions of his office, during his tenure.
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https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/kenya-s-supreme-court-declares-bbi-unconstitutional-3766868
| 2022-04-01T00:38:45Z
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https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/businesswoman-sitting-desk-office-touch-wrist-2140984533
| 2022-04-01T00:38:46Z
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On Thursday, POLITICO reported that conspiracy theorists are flooding the Obama Presidential Library with frivolous Freedom of Information Act requests.
"Starting on January 20, 2022 — five years since Barack Obama left office — inquisitive journalists, opposition researchers, and amateur conspiracy theorists began filing a barrage of Freedom of Information Act requests (also known as 'FOIAs') to the Obama library," reported Alex Thompson, Josh Gerstein, and Max Tani. "In fact, from January 20 through February 13, there were over 800 such FOIA requests filed under the Presidential Records Act ... Many of those FOIAs appear to have the intent of damaging or illuminating the Biden presidency rather than just looking backward."
And the conspiracy theorists aren't just looking for dirt on Biden -- they're looking for information on a broad swathe of right-wing conspiracy theories.
"The library has been flooded with requests related to Pizzagate, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Obama’s birth certificate, former DNC staffer Seth Rich (whose 2016 murder sparked endless conspiracies and a since-settled lawsuit against those who spread them), and numerous others," continued the report. "There was even a request for documents on 'Obama's Hot Dog Party,' a conspiracy theory that the "hot dogs" Obama was supposedly serving at a private event were code for sex trafficked children."
According to the report, it could ultimately take years to sort out and untangle this avalanche of requests.
"At many presidential libraries, the queues for processing FOIAs stretch for years," said the report. "Broad requests and those involving classified information can take more than a decade and there is a provision in the law that gives extended protection to information on presidential advice and appointments."
You can read more here.
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https://www.rawstory.com/obama-presidential-library/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:46Z
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FLEX LNG Ltd. (NYSE:FLNG – Get Rating) saw a large drop in short interest during the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 503,900 shares, a drop of 22.3% from the February 28th total of 648,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 510,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.0 days. Approximately 1.9% of the shares of the company are short sold.
NYSE:FLNG traded up $0.54 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $28.52. 608,551 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 598,643. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.20 and a beta of 1.18. FLEX LNG has a 52 week low of $8.67 and a 52 week high of $29.34. The company has a quick ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 1.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $22.10 and a 200-day simple moving average of $21.05.
FLEX LNG (NYSE:FLNG – Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 16th. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $114.59 million for the quarter. FLEX LNG had a return on equity of 16.71% and a net margin of 47.23%.
Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its position in FLEX LNG by 88.4% in the 4th quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,316,604 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,382,000 after acquiring an additional 617,721 shares during the period. EAM Global Investors LLC acquired a new stake in FLEX LNG in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $10,091,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in FLEX LNG by 63.1% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 435,448 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,229,000 after acquiring an additional 168,547 shares during the period. Barclays PLC increased its position in FLEX LNG by 402.7% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 170,606 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,008,000 after acquiring an additional 136,669 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in FLEX LNG by 330.9% in the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 157,376 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,813,000 after acquiring an additional 120,853 shares during the period. 15.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
FLEX LNG Company Profile (Get Rating)
FLEX LNG Ltd. engages in the operation of carrier vessels. It focuses on the engineering and construction of liquefied natural gas producer units. The company was founded by Philip Eystein Fjeld, Trym Tveitnes and Jostein Ueland in August 2006 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Further Reading
- Get a free copy of the StockNews.com research report on FLEX LNG (FLNG)
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https://www.americanbankingnews.com/2022/03/31/flex-lng-ltd-nyseflng-short-interest-update.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:47Z
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On Thursday, Axios reported that Molly Michael, the executive assistant to former President Donald Trump, was absent for most of the day of the January 6 Capitol insurrection — coinciding with the 7 hour and 37 minute gap in White House call records that House investigators are trying to piece together.
"Though sources said the Trump White House's already spotty record-keeping operation had virtually collapsed by the final weeks of his presidency, Michael's absence is a previously unreported detail that may play a role in explaining the incomplete records for a key stretch of time," reported Jonathan Swan and Alayna Treene. "Her absence — coupled with the already shambolic state of record-keeping in the Outer Oval — also could complicate efforts to piece those details back together 14 months after that fateful day."
It remains unclear whom Trump contacted during that 7-hour gap, and investigators are reportedly looking into whether he used "burner phones" during that period. One former White House official had previously suggested the executive assistant could have been a witness to these conversations, but her absence could eliminate that as an option.
RELATED: Watch: 'Stop the Steal' organizer complains that the Jan. 6 Committee has her text messages
According to the report, she was out for "personal reasons" — and "in her absence, the two staffers there during the critical hours of the Capitol siege were Nick Luna, the head of Oval Office Operations, who served as Trump's body man, and Austin Ferrer, a young staffer who assisted Michael in her administrative duties. By the time Michael arrived, late that afternoon, the White House was a "'sh-tshow' in the words of one official who was there," writes Axios.
So far, Republicans known to have been in contact with Trump, like Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), have been evasive when asked by reporters about the nature of their discussions around that time.
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https://www.rawstory.com/trump-phone-records-2657074860/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:47Z
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6 accused of kidnapping, torturing woman they met online, sheriff says
Published: Mar. 30, 2022 at 11:15 AM CDT
HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (Gray News) – Several people are facing charges in connection to kidnapping and torturing a woman they met online, according to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said the woman who was being held against her will had been “severely tortured” during her captivity.
She is being treated for her injuries.
“We received a call about a suspicious person, discovered this troubling case and quickly made arrests,” Hillhouse said in a press release obtained by KLTV.
Six people were arrested late Tuesday and charged with aggravated kidnapping:
- Amanda Andrews
- Breonna Johnson
- Charles Bryant
- Shayne Anderson
- Summer Lawrence
- Felicity Walker
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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https://www.kswo.com/2022/03/30/6-accused-kidnapping-torturing-woman-they-met-online-sheriff-says/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:47Z
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Submitted / The Outlook CACC anglers Chase Davis and Camden Keeton qualified for the MLF collegiate national championships and will face the nation’s best in Oklahoma this week.
A boat based out of Alexander City marked its place among the top 100 collegiate fishing pairings in the country this week.
Chase Davis and Camden Keeton, fishermen representing Central Alabama Community College, placed 96th at the Major League Fishing national championships as part of the league’s Abu Garcia College Fishing circuit.
The tournament took place on Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Okla.
Davis and Keeton caught one bass weighing in at three pounds, 14 ounces the first day of the tournament, then caught a second weighing three pounds, 12 ounces the second day.
The combined weight of seven pounds, 10 ounces was well short of a top 10 spot and a shot at a national championship on day three, but it was enough to take a top 100 placement at the circuit’s championship event.
Reaching the tournament in the first place was no easy feat. The duo needed to finish in the top 10 percent of one of three regional qualifying tournaments, and did so by taking 21st of 278 boats on Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee in March 2021.
Kaden Proffitt and Cason Ragsdale of East Texas Baptist University led the tournament entering the third day of competition Thursday with a combined weight of 29 pounds, seven ounces. The duo caught a full five-fish limit Tuesday and reeled in four more Wednesday.
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https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/sports/keeton-and-davis-96th-at-mlf-nationals/article_da328254-b12c-11ec-9062-e785b97a7d73.html
| 2022-04-01T00:38:47Z
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Tommy Thompson, just weeks removed from leading the University of Wisconsin System, met with former President Donald Trump on Thursday for a talk about “Wisconsin politics,” a former aide said.
Thompson was elected to four terms as Wisconsin's governor, and earlier this year declined to rule out another bid. Thompson, 80, spent almost two years atop the university system before leaving earlier this month.
Bill McCoshen, a former chief of staff to Thompson when he served as governor, said the two met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.
“The primary topic was Wisconsin politics," McCoshen said. “They talked about the gubernatorial race, the Senate race and what it will take to win in Wisconsin. The topic of running for governor may have come up, but the purpose was to talk about Wisonsin politics more broadly.”
A Trump spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.
McCoshen said he expected Thompson to make a decision in April. The primary is in August. Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, businessman Kevin Nicholson and state Rep. Timothy Ramthun are Republicans vying to take on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
Thompson was first elected to the Legislature in 1966 and was first elected governor in 1986. He resigned midway through his fourth term to serve as Health and Human Services secretary under then-President George W. Bush, and ran briefly for president in 2008.
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https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Thompson-and-Trump-meet-to-talk-politics-17049815.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:48Z
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HONOLULU (AP) — A man accused with his wife of trafficking a mother and teenaged girl to Hawaii from Guam pleaded not guilty Thursday.
Kevin Robert pleaded not guilty to labor trafficking charges, according to his attorney, Tim Rakieten. His wife, Pomerrine Robert, pleaded not guilty last week. Kevin Robert's arraignment was postponed then because he requested a Chuukese interpreter.
“I need sufficient time to review the case, and review with him, before I can comment any further,” Rakieten said.
State Public Defender James Tabe, whose office represents Pomerrine Robert, has previously declined to comment.
Police alleged in court documents that when the 15-year-old girl and her mother arrived in Honolulu, the Roberts took away their passports, forced them to work and beat them.
Court documents don't specify the country of the passports.
The girl and her mother lived in the couple's apartment, while the teen enrolled at a high school and the woman got a job at a deli where Pomerrine Robert also worked, the documents said.
The documents said Robert took away the mother’s money, the girl was expected to clean the apartment and Robert beat the girl and mother.
The couple locked the girl in a bedroom for several days and she reported it to a school counselor after she was let out, according to the documents.
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https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Husband-pleads-not-guilty-in-Hawaii-Guam-17049732.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:48Z
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By — Stephanie Sy Stephanie Sy By — Karina Cuevas Karina Cuevas By — Aaron Foley Aaron Foley Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/slapping-incident-at-the-oscars-sparks-difficult-but-important-conversations Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio Four days after the shocking events at this year's Oscars, the fallout is not over yet. The Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences says it is considering disciplinary action against Will Smith. Author and film critic Eisa Nefertari Ulen, and Mark Anthony Neal, author and professor of Black popular culture at Duke University, join Stephanie Sy to discuss. Read the Full Transcript Judy Woodruff: Four days after the shocking events at this year's Oscars, the fallout is not over.The Academy of Motion Pictures says that it is considering disciplinary action against Will Smith for walking on stage and striking comedian Chris Rock. The Academy also said yesterday that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony, but refused to go.Chris Rock, for his part, said during a previously scheduled show last night that he is still processing what happened.Many people and commentators are also still processing it.Stephanie Sy picks up on that larger conversation. Stephanie Sy: A lot of people who watched Will Smith's on-stage slap of comedian Chris Rock are saying the moment carried more meaning and charge than just a man losing his cool with another man who insulted his wife.Joining me to discuss the deeper cultural context are author and film critic Eisa Nefertari Ulen, who is also a professor, and Mark Anthony Neal, author and professor of Black popular culture at Duke University.Professors, thank you so much for joining the "NewsHour."And, Professor Ulen, I want to jump right in with you.You wrote a searing piece for The Hollywood Reporter, in which you seemed to dissect each action Will Smith took that night in a deeper context of pain, specifically what you called Black pain.Why do you think it's important to see this moment through that lens? Eisa Nefertari Ulen, Hunter College: I think that any time we witness violence, we need to understand that from a place where we recognize the emotional and psychological state that's driving this physical response to a trigger.And Will Smith was definitely triggered that night. But I think, in the broader context of American society, we need to understand what was happening there, it's really rooted and steeped in a 400-year commitment to Black erasure, Black marginalization, Black silencing, and the stereotyping of Black people.All of that was present in a visceral, felt and real way in the infamous slap. Stephanie Sy: Professor Neal, you have taken a different take in previous interviews.You have criticized Will Smith's actions as rooted in notions of traditional manhood, what some people refer to as toxic masculinity. Why do you view it that way? Mark Anthony Neal, Duke University: There's been a lot of discourse recently about the ways in which Black men can show up for Black women. We saw Senator Cory Booker do a version of that last week with Judge Brown Jackson.But I think, in this instance, the expectation that Black men show up is not something in which we resort to violence. I think, like Eisa suggested we saw a man who was unhinged in that moment, and the only thing that seemed to be in his toolbox to respond to that moment was an act of violence.But I also don't want to erase the violence that was enacted by Chris Rock in that moment. In his critique or joke on Jada Pinkett Smith, an extension of a broader critique of Black women, is it ever a comfortable space to make fun of the kind of chronic diseases that Black women are suffering, right?So, in that regard, I absolutely agree with Eisa that we're seeing the continuation of almost a spectacle of Black pain broadcast to millions and millions of people. Stephanie Sy: Professor Ulen, I wonder if you will pick up on that point and talk about Black pain as it relates to Jada Pinkett Smith in this moment and to Black women.Was Chris Rock's joke about her shaved head, did it go beyond an insensitivity to her medical condition, alopecia, but did it also hit at issues surrounding Black beauty? Eisa Nefertari Ulen: Yes.And I appreciate mark so much for guiding the conversation in this direction. The decentering of Black women through time has been ubiquitous. We have been maligned and attacked so much that we have internalized these external pressures, these social constructs, and have started to even use them, one against each other, in the Black community.You know, calling someone bald-headed in the Black community, critiquing Black women's hair, that is a real red zone. And the language itself is a violent act. Chris Rock should not be exonerated. What he committed on stage was a verbal assault.To minimize it and say it was just a joke is actually treading into dangerous territory, because it gives a kind of cultural permission to that global audience, to people outside the African American community to commit the same kind of aggressions against Black women. Calling them out about their physical appearance, marginalizing the way that they appear, this has been a tool used to oppress Black people through time.And so no one should have permission to do that. It is more than just a joke. So, as violent as Will Smith's act was, his slap, and the fact that he should not be exonerated for what she did that night, we need to hold Chris Rock accountable also and anybody else that would try to attack Black woman's appearance. Stephanie Sy: Professor Neal, you obviously agree that Chris Rock, a comedian, did cross the line in this instance.But I also wonder if you will comment on the irony here. Two of the most high-profile Black men at the Oscars that night, Will Smith and Chris Rock, get into this altercation, after the Oscars have faced years of criticism.Oscars so white was the hashtag not so long ago, the irony of that and whether you're concerned something was lost that evening, in the midst of so many victories for Black talent that evening, including Mr. Smith's. Mark Anthony Neal: When you think about some of the campaigns around Oscars so white, it is ironic that this moment brings upon at least a feeling of shame or some evidence of shame.And I think that shame is legitimate, in terms of the way that some Black folks, Black Hollywood folks, but also nominal Black folks who were watching the television show.My concern there is that we can't put too much energy into this notion that we can somehow not have shame on performance, right? You know, we're talking about a multimedia culture now, social media. There's so many aspects of what we would call the dirty laundry of Blackness that are out there.I think what's more important in this moment is for us to own up to the pain that's occurring in this context, to kind of go from that standpoint to talk about ways in which we can be much more healthier.And, of course, part of the challenge here is that, if there were more vibrant and diverse representations of Blackness that existed in Hollywood and that were given the kind of kudos that we saw the other night, then we wouldn't feel so unhinged when we have this kind of moment explode, right, because it's not exact — it's not as if we haven't seen these examples of Hollywood performances before, where folks do things in kind of off-script.That kind of break decorum, right? Let's not pretend that this is the first time decorum has been broken at the Hollywood — at the Academy Awards. Stephanie Sy: Well, to that point, the Academy is considering disciplinary action today against Will Smith.What do you think of that? And within Black spaces, what are some of the ways accountability is being discussed, Professor Ulen? Eisa Nefertari Ulen: I would like to see the Board of Governors, the Academy Board of Governors take this as an opportunity.And instead of resorting to punitive disciplinary actions to hold Will Smith accountable, I think that this is an opportunity for the Academy to do something bold and different. An our healing needs to happen in a way that is restorative around the issues of Black care, around the issues of Black wellness, around the fact that we are, as Mark Anthony Neal just said, unhinged, and not just because of what happened that night and the representations and misrepresentations of Black people through Hollywood through time.Let the Academy do something that affirms Black life and the value and worth of Jada Pinkett Smith first, and then Chris Rock and Will Smith also. Stephanie Sy: Mark Anthony Neal, what do you think should be looked at in terms of accountability for either of these men or for the Academy? Mark Anthony Neal: I think you only ask and you to deal with the acts, as it were, in a way that reflects the nature of the act.We didn't have these conversations when Adrien Brody a few years ago sexually assaulted an actress on stage. We didn't have these conversations, of course, when you had someone like Casey Affleck, who was facing a rape charge at the time that he won his award.Why is it now that we feel the need to do a better job of scripting these shows and policing people when it's an act of Black-on-Black crime that occurred on that stage? Stephanie Sy: Eisa Ulen and Mark Anthony Neal, I'm afraid we're out of time and we will have to leave it there.But thank you so much for joining the "NewsHour" with your insights. Eisa Nefertari Ulen: Thank you. Listen to this Segment Watch Watch the Full Episode PBS NewsHour from Mar 31, 2022 By — Stephanie Sy Stephanie Sy Stephanie Sy is a PBS NewsHour correspondent and serves as anchor of PBS NewsHour West. Throughout her career, she served in anchor and correspondent capacities for ABC News, Al Jazeera America, CBSN, CNN International, and PBS NewsHour Weekend. Prior to joining NewsHour, she was with Yahoo News where she anchored coverage of the 2018 Midterm Elections and reported from Donald Trump’s victory party on Election Day 2016. By — Karina Cuevas Karina Cuevas By — Aaron Foley Aaron Foley Aaron Foley is the senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. @aaronkfoley
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https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/slapping-incident-at-the-oscars-sparks-difficult-but-important-conversations
| 2022-04-01T00:38:49Z
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Biden forgets a key message on the environment: Balance
Amid disastrously low approval ratings, President Biden recently gave his first State of the Union address, verbally dodging and weaving around a year filled to the brim with disappointment.
For young people especially, the Biden presidency has been disiullionsing. According to a new poll from my organization the American Conservation Coalition, 53 percent of Americans aged 18 to 30 believe we’re on the wrong track as a country. On the campaign trail, Biden promised ambitious climate action and a return to normalcy from the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration has delivered neither.
Young Americans propelled Biden to the White House in 2020; with midterms around the corner, Democrats must deliver if they hope to maintain that support. This is especially true as more and more Republican candidates begin to throw their hats into the climate arena. Ironically, Biden’s failure isn’t for lack of trying; he’s simply using the wrong approach by embracing partisan wish lists over common-sense reforms. The president doesn’t need to pass Build Back Better or the Green New Deal to achieve what young people want. Yes, young Americans want climate action — but they also want their economic concerns to be heard without a climate caveat at every turn. Americans want a balance between environmental protection and economic prosperity.
Despite other current events looming, Biden still touched on climate, although he noticeably excluded popular solutions such as planting trees and other nature-based solutions. With his signature Build Back Better agenda all but buried, Biden instead focused on the success of the bipartisan infrastructure package and promised future climate spending. He touted the potential of solar and wind power, but inexplicably forgot the importance of nuclear power. With so much at stake, the omission of nuclear and natural gas as a viable way to rapidly reduce emissions read as disingenuous.
The Biden climate strategy, while admirably ambitious, has consistently been out of touch with the American people. Even last week, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry implored Russia to think of the climate implications of their aggression toward Ukraine. During his recent address, Biden said that climate spending will actually help Americans amid historic inflation.
While climate change is top of mind for Americans, high gas prices and foreign affairs serve as a sober reminder that balance must be struck between energy independence and an energy transition. To understand the consequences of a rushed energy transition, all one must do is look to Europe.
We would be foolish to make the same mistake here in the United States. Dependence on Russian natural gas may not have caused Russia to strike against Ukraine, but there’s no doubt that the dependency emboldened Putin and his allies. We need clean energy, yes, but we also need abundant, secure, domestic energy. We have the tools to achieve both — its not either or. Once again, it’s all about balance.
As Biden navigates his second year in office, it’s crucial that climate change continues to be a priority, but it needs to be weighted equally with realistic economic concerns and securing our energy supply. If Biden has any chance of becoming the president he promised young people he’d be, it’s clear that he must course correct.
Danielle Butcher is the executive vice president at the American Conservation Coalition (ACC).
The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.
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https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/596730-biden-forgets-a-key-message-on-the-environment-balance/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:49Z
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Hydrological Investigation in The Chasm is a short quest introduced in Genshin Impact 2.6 that rewards players with 30 Primogems upon completion.
Given how easy it is, some Travelers will inevitably rush to participate. The main objectives of the quest are as follows:
- Fish in the Underground Waterway to obtain a Strange Object.
- Talk to Khedive near The Glowing Narrows.
- Go to the marked location on the map north of the Underground Waterway.
- Place the strange object here.
- Use any Hydro attack on it.
- Defeat the Hydro Geovishap that spawns.
- Talk to Khedive once more.
Travelers can easily complete Hydrological Investigation in The Chasm in a few minutes, although unlocking it can seem tricky to some casual players. If players struggle to defeat the Hydro Geovishap, they can always lower the World Level.
Genshin Impact quest guide: How to complete Hydrological Investigation in The Chasm
Travelers need to fish in the Underground Waterway to start this quest. Beware of the nearby Shadowy Husk enemies because they will have to be dealt with if the player draws their aggression before they can fish. The fishing spot is on the west side of this tiny island.
Catch any fish here and leave the fishing mini-game. Players should automatically receive a Strange Object. Once they obtain this item, they should return to Khedive near The Glowing Narrows.
Note: There is a Teleport Waypoint nearby.
Starting Hydrological Investigation in The Chasm
Once Genshin Impact players talk to Khedive, they must select the "About the strange object..." option. After some dialogue, the player will be instructed to "place the strange object" by the water. Thankfully, this spot is marked on the map for the Traveler.
Once players get to the spot (north of the Underground Waterway), they will have to approach the yellow glow and select "Place" to get a new objective.
The next task requires the player to use any Hydro character to attack this spot. Once players do that, they will fight a Hydro Geovishap. Players should defeat it, return to Khedive, and select the "About the strange object by the water..." option.
After some dialogue, players will be officially done with Hydrological Investigation in The Chasm. They should now receive 30 Primogems, which they can either use on the current ongoing banners or save for something else in the future.
Q. Did you like this quest?
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https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/hydrological-investigation-the-chasm-genshin-impact-quest-guide
| 2022-04-01T00:38:49Z
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Sergeant First Class (Retired) Steven Lee Wininger, age 70, of French Lick
Sergeant First Class (Retired) Steven Lee Wininger, age 70, of French Lick, Indiana, entered into eternal rest on March 28th, 2022 at his residence. He was born in Orange County, Indiana on April 9th, 1951 to Gerald “Red” Wininger and Mary “Bonnie” (Jones) Wininger. Steven...
www.witzamfm.com
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https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2556533080782/sergeant-first-class-retired-steven-lee-wininger-age-70-of-french-lick
| 2022-04-01T00:38:49Z
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Title IX has been a passionate subject for Candace Parker ever since she learned of its impact while doing a paper on it in the eighth grade.
So, it is no surprise her first documentary as an executive producer is about the landmark legislation. On Saturday, “Title IX: 37 Words That Changed America,” will open coverage of the men’s Final Four on TBS at 1 p.m. EDT.
“I sit here because of Title IX. Although we have so many wins, we have so much further to go. That’s why we went with having the Title IX story told through my eyes so that you can see if Title IX didn’t exist, I wouldn’t exist,” Parker said.
Parker considers herself a first-generation benefactor of Title IX, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Parker’s mother, Sara, attended Iowa before Title IX became law. Candace’s 12-year old daughter, Lailaa Nicole Williams, will have more opportunities.
“It means a lot to be able to have my mom and my daughter be a part of this,” Parker said. “I have inspiration from my mom and her story. And then as well for my daughter, I want to continue to open up doors, and I don’t want her to see limitations.”
The documentary also comes as inequities between the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments are coming under intense scrutiny.
“Something as simple as March Madness, right? Like, now women can use that. That’s unbelievable. It’s 2022,” Parker said. “But things are changing. But it still doesn’t take away that we still have so much farther to go. I think that’s the whole point of doing this documentary is if you invest, it’s not a charity, it’s an investment. And it’s an honest investment of trying to make it work. And I think for so long, we just existed; women’s sports existed as something that had to be there. And now we look at it as an investment, and then I think we can start moving things forward."
Parker won a pair of NCAA championships at Tennessee while being coached by one of the pioneers of Title IX, the late Pat Summitt. Parker has parlayed that experience into a successful career as a two-time WNBA champion and MVP and two gold medals in the Olympics.
Parker is also an accomplished analyst for Turner Sports on its NBA and NCAA Tournament coverage since 2018. During discussions about a contract extension at Turner, Parker and her representatives first pitched the idea of a documentary. It got the green light for production last November.
The documentary includes interviews with Billie Jean King, Peyton Manning, Lisa Leslie, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
“There’s a number of influential voices that I think I have to pinch myself to realize that they’re a part of it,” Parker said. “To have Billie Jean King, like the 10-year-old girl that did a biography project on her, I just think it’s just so special.
“Title IX doesn’t just impact women. To watch Peyton Manning talk about how Pat really influenced his life, as a competitor and just as an individual. To see somebody that is an icon to say that I think speaks to how valuable women in leadership positions are.”
Having the documentary tip-off Turner’s Final Four coverage on Saturday should give it a broader audience. “The Arena” will air following the documentary and focus on the impact of Title IX on sports and society.
This is also the first project for Parker’s production company — Baby Hair Productions — and was also produced with Scout Productions.
“Having a diverse audience, that’s not just the women and girls, we want everyone to see how impactful and powerful women are in society,” Parker said. “To have this be something that we talk about, especially after with ‘The Arena' show, I think it speaks to just how important it is.”
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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
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https://www.newstimes.com/sports/article/Parker-hopes-Title-IX-documentary-serves-as-17049750.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:49Z
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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.
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More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/Knox-uses-4-birdie-run-for-a-one-stroke-lead-at-17049836.php
| 2022-04-01T00:38:50Z
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First human challenge study of Covid-19 yields valuable insights about how we get sick
By Brenda Goodman, CNN
It takes just a tiny virus-laden droplet — about the width of a human blood cell — to infect someone with Covid-19.
That’s just one of the findings from research that deliberately infected healthy volunteers with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The findings were published Thursday in the journal Nature Medicine.
Challenge studies can be controversial because they involve intentionally giving someone a virus or other pathogen in order to study its effects on the human body. Even with safeguards in place, there’s an element of risk, particularly when studying a new virus.
But they are also hugely valuable for understanding the course of an infection.
“Really, there’s no other type of study where you can do that, because normally, patients only come to your attention if they have developed symptoms, and so you miss all of those preceding days when the infection is brewing,” said lead study author Dr. Christopher Chiu, an infectious disease physician and immunologist at Imperial College London.
Volunteers were carefully screened
The study began in March 2021. The 36 volunteers were between the ages of 18 and 30. They were allowed to participate only if they didn’t have any risk factors for severe Covid-19, such as being overweight, having reduced kidney or liver function, or having any heart, lung or blood problems. They also signed an extensive informed consent form to participate.
To further minimize the risks, researchers conducted the study in phases. The first 10 infected volunteers got the antiviral drug remdesivir to reduce their chances of progressing to severe disease. Researchers also had monoclonal antibodies at the ready in case anyone took a turn for the worse. Ultimately, the remdesivir proved unnecessary, and researchers never had to give anyone antibodies.
The volunteers got a tiny drop of fluid containing the originally detected strain of the virus through a long, thin tube inserted into their nose.
They were medically monitored 24 hours a day and stayed for two weeks in rooms at London’s Royal Free Hospital that had special air flow to keep the virus from escaping.
Half were infected
A total of 18 participants became infected, two of whom never developed symptoms. Among the people who got sick, their illnesses were mild. They had stuffy noses, congestion, sneezing and sore throats.
Most of the study participants who caught Covid-19 — 83% — lost their sense of smell, at least to a degree. Nine couldn’t smell at all.
This now-well-known symptom got better for most people, but six months after the study ended, there’s one person whose sense of smell isn’t back to normal but is improving.
That’s a concern because another recent study found that this loss of smell was tied to changes in the brain.
Chiu says the researchers gave the participants cognitive tests to check their short-term memory and reaction time. They’re still looking at that data, but he thinks those tests “will really be informative.”
None of the study volunteers developed lung involvement in their infections. Chiu thinks this is because they were young and healthy and inoculated with tiny amounts of virus.
Beyond the loss of smell, no other symptoms persisted.
A closer look at infection as it moves through the body
Under these carefully controlled conditions, researchers were able to learn a lot about the virus and how it moves through the body:
- Tiny amounts of virus, about 10 microns — the amount in a single droplet someone sneezes or coughs — can make someone sick.
- Covid-19 has a very short incubation period. It takes about two days after infection for a person to start shedding virus.
- People shed high amounts of virus before they show symptoms (confirming something epidemiologists had figured out).
- On average, the young, healthy study volunteers shed virus for 6½ days, but some shed virus for 12 days.
- Infected people can shed high levels of virus without any symptoms.
- About 40 hours after the virus was introduced, it could be detected in the back of the throat.
- It took about 58 hours for virus to show up on swabs from the nose, where it eventually grew to much higher levels.
- Lateral flow tests, the rapid at-home kind, work really well for detecting when a person is contagious. The study found that these kinds of tests could diagnose infection before 70% to 80% of viable virus had been generated.
Chiu says his study emphasizes a lot of what we already know about Covid-19 infections, not least of which is why it’s so important to cover both your mouth and nose when sick to help protect others.
More challenge studies planned
This challenge study was so successful that Chiu plans to do it again, this time with vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant to study their immune response.
He says his team also plans to continue studying the people who didn’t get sick.
“That’s what’s really interesting,” he said. About half of the study participants never got sick and never developed antibodies, despite getting exactly the same dose of the virus.
Everyone was screened for antibodies to closely related viruses, like the original SARS virus. So it wasn’t cross-protection that kept them safe; it was something else.
“There are lots of other things that help protect us,” Chiu said. “There are barriers in the nose. There are different kinds of proteins and things which are very ancient, primordial, protective systems, and they are likely to have been contributing to them not being infected, and we’re really interested in trying to understand what those are.”
Understanding what other factors may be at play could help us provide more generalized protection to people in case of a future pandemic.
Dr. Kathryn Edwards, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University who wrote an editorial published alongside the study, said the research offers important information about infection and contagion with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Blood and tissue samples collected for the study will continue to be analyzed for years to come, she said. “I think those are all in the freezer, so to speak, and are being dissected. So I think that should be very powerful.”
In the end, she thinks the study has put many of the fears about human challenge studies to rest and paved the way for others.
“We won’t be doing challenge studies in babies, and we won’t be doing it in, you know, 75-year-old people with chronic lung disease,” she said. But in young, healthy people, “I think these are studies that will be helpful.”
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https://kion546.com/news/2022/03/31/first-human-challenge-study-of-covid-19-yields-valuable-insights-about-how-we-get-sick/
| 2022-04-01T00:38:49Z
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