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Q: President Trump recently had a deposition in a civil case in New York about financial matters and asserted the Fifth Amendment. If you “take the Fifth” in a civil case in California, does that mean you’re guilty?
T.M., Rancho Palos Verdes
A: The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees that an individual cannot be compelled by the government to provide incriminating information. The Fifth Amendment right “to remain silent” can be pleaded in a criminal or a civil case.
In a civil case in California, neither the court nor counsel may comment on the fact that a witness has asserted the Fifth Amendment privilege. Further, the trier of fact may not draw any inference as to the credibility of the witness, or as to any matter at issue in the proceeding. This is at odds, however, with the federal court standard, as well as with a number of other states permitting adverse inferences to be drawn against parties in civil cases who refuse to testify.
Taking the Fifth in California in a civil case may also limit or preclude the party from seeking to introduce certain testimony or evidence since they refused to provide testimony (and can a trier of fact really “look the other way”?). Thus, it is not a routine decision to choose to assert the Fifth Amendment in a civil case in California, even though no adverse inference is supposed to be drawn.
Q: My wife was badly injured by a drunken driver who is being criminally prosecuted. We are now suing him for damages in civil court. A concern is that he will argue we are just seeking money, which could impinge on the outcome of the criminal charges. Your thoughts?
D.E., Huntington Beach
A: Given the concern indicated, evaluate with your counsel if the civil case should be stayed (i.e., halted), in whole or in part, until disposition is reached in the criminal action. Your civil attorney may be able to communicate, if not work (to some degree), with the prosecuting attorney handling the criminal matter.
For example, a restitution order might be part of what is issued in the criminal case, requiring the defendant to pay monies to your wife for her losses.
My experience is that the civil attorney can be of value to the district attorney or attorney general on the criminal case, but has to remain mindful that the prosecutor has a unique role to play, has his or her own turf, and carries a much different burden of proof than in the civil action (beyond a reasonable doubt versus by a preponderance of the evidence).
Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for over 35 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, and is not to be treated or considered legal advice, let alone a substitute for actual consultation with a qualified professional.
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By Jake Coyle | Associated Press
NEW YORK — After a string of arrests and erratic behavior that spanned Hawaii to Vermont, “Flash” actor Ezra Miller said they have begun treatment for “complex mental health issues.”
The 29-year-old Miller, who identifies as non-binary, issued a statement late Monday. On Sept. 26, Miller is due to appear for arraignment in Vermont Superior Court after being cited for felony burglary in Stamford, Vermont. Authorities last week said Miller had taken several bottles of alcohol from a residence while the homeowners weren’t present.
“Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment,” Miller said in a statement. “I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.”
Miller was arrested twice earlier this year in Hawaii, including for disorderly conduct and harassment at a karaoke bar. The second incident was for second-degree assault.
The parents of 18-year-old Tokata Iron Eyes, a Native American activist, earlier this year filed a protection order against Miller, accusing the actor of grooming their child and other inappropriate behavior with her as a minor from the age of 12. Tokata Iron Eyes has disputed that.
Representatives for Miller have not responded to requests for comment on those allegations or previous arrests.
Miller’s personal troubles have been a particularly pressing issue for Warner Bros. and DC Films. After appearing in several “Justice League” movies as the Flash, Miller stars in an upcoming standalone film about the speedy superhero due out next summer. Principal photography on “The Flash” was completed last year. David Zaslav, chief executive of Warner Bros. has said that the studio is committed to releasing the film.
Join the Conversation
We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/16/flash-star-miller-seeks-treatment-for-mental-health-issues/ | 2022-08-16T19:13:54Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/16/flash-star-miller-seeks-treatment-for-mental-health-issues/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Updated August 16, 2022 at 2:02 PM ET
SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. officials announced Tuesday that two U.S. states reliant on water from the Colorado River will face more water cuts as they endure extreme drought.
The move affecting Arizona and Nevada came as officials predict levels at Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, will plummet even further than they have. The cuts will place officials in those states under extraordinary pressure to plan for a hotter, drier future and a growing population. Mexico will also face cuts.
Lake Mead is currently less than a quarter full and the seven states overall that depend on its water missed a federal deadline to announce proposals on plans cut additional water next year.
The Colorado River provides water to 40 million people across seven states in the American West as well as Mexico and helps feed an agricultural industry valued at $15 billion a year. Cities and farms across the region are anxiously awaiting official hydrology projections — estimates of future water levels in the river — that will determine the extent and scope of cuts to their water supply.
And that's not all: Officials from the states are also scrambling to meet a deadline imposed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to slash their water use by at least 15% in order to keep water levels at the river's storage reservoirs from dropping even more.
Together, the projections and the deadline for cuts are presenting Western states with unprecedented challenges and confronting them with difficult decisions about how to plan for a drier future.
While the Bureau of Reclamation is "very focused on just getting through this to next year," any cutbacks will likely need to be in place far longer, said University of Oxford hydrologist Kevin Wheeler.
"What contribution the science makes is, it's pretty clear that that these reductions just have to have to stay in place until the drought has ended or we realize they actually have to get worse and the cuts have to get deeper," he said.
The cuts are based on a plan the seven states as well as Mexico signed in 2019 to help maintain reservoir levels. Under that plan, the amount of water allocated to states depends on the water levels at Lake Mead. Last year, the lake fell low enough for the federal government to declare a first-ever water shortage in the region, triggering mandatory cuts for Arizona and Nevada as well as Mexico in 2022.
Officials expect hydrologists will project the lake to fall further, triggering additional cuts to Nevada, Arizona and Mexico next year. States with higher priority water rights are not expected to see cuts.
Reservoir levels have been falling for years — and faster than experts predicted — due to 22 years of drought worsened by climate change and overuse of the river. Scorching temperatures and less melting snow in the spring have reduced the amount of water flowing from the Rocky Mountains, where the river originates before it snakes 1,450 miles (2,334 kilometers) southwest and into the Gulf of California.
Already, extraordinary steps have been taken this year to keep water in Lake Powell, the other large Colorado River reservoir, which sits upstream of Lake Mead and straddles the Arizona-Utah border. Water from the lake runs through Glen Canyon Dam, which produces enough electricity to power between 1 million and 1.5 million homes each year.
After water levels at Lake Powell reached levels low enough to threaten hydropower production, federal officials said they would hold back an additional 480,000 acre-feet (more than 156 billion gallons or 592 million cubic meters) of water to ensure the dam could still produce energy. That water would normally course to Lake Mead.
Under Tuesday's reductions, Arizona will lose slightly more water than it did this year, when 18% of its supply was cut. In 2023, it will lose an additional 3%, an aggregate 21% reduction from its initial allocation.
Mexico is expected to lose 7% of the 1.5 million acre-feet it receives each year from the river. Last year, it lost about 5%. The water is a lifeline for northern desert cities including Tijuana and a large farm industry in the Mexicali Valley, just south of the border from California's Imperial Valley.
Nevada is also set to lose water — about 8% of its supply — but most residents will not feel the effects because the state recycles the majority of its water used indoors and doesn't use its full allocation. Last year, the state lost 7%.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-15/u-s-says-drought-stricken-arizona-and-nevada-will-get-less-water-from-colorado-river | 2022-08-16T19:14:04Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-15/u-s-says-drought-stricken-arizona-and-nevada-will-get-less-water-from-colorado-river | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Editor’s note: This is the Tuesday Aug. 16 edition of the Game Day with Kevin Modesti newsletter. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here.
Good morning. Those Friday night lights are coming into view.
It’s a busy day on the pro and college sports beats. Bill Plunkett measures the impact of Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler’s surgery on this season and next season. Jeff Fletcher explains the Angels’ ninth-inning horrors last night. Gilbert Manzano says the Rams’ running-back depth is being tested already. John W. Davis looks at changes ahead for the Sparks after they missed the playoffs. Columnist Mirjam Swanson likens LAFC to the Dodgers – and the Globetrotters. And USC is 14th in the AP’s first college football poll.
But I can’t blame readers of our newspapers if you save all that for later and go straight to Southern California’s most complete coverage of the high school football season that begins Thursday and Friday.
With more than 600 teams to keep an eye on, and at least 50 games to be covered in a typical week, the Southern California News Group’s 11 papers have seven high school sports beat writers in Steve Fryer and Dan Albano (Orange County Register), John W. Davis (Long Beach Press-Telegram), Damian Calhoun (South Bay Daily Breeze), Tarek Fattal (Los Angeles Daily News), Eric-Paul Johnson (Riverside Press-Enterprise) and Fred Robledo (San Gabriel Valley Tribune) . As sports editor Tom Moore points out, that’s more than 150 years of sportswriting experience.
Online at all of our papers’ websites, and in the Varsity newsletters (it’s free to sign up, as with this one), are their stories about the teams, players and changes to watch in 2022, with more to come as Week 0 arrives Thursday and Friday nights.
The question that jumped out at me, reading our previews, is how league lineup changes will affect teams’ championship prospects in a year when releaguing involves some big teams.
The Trinity League, in Orange County, remains the toughest league in the CIF Southern Section, with Mater Dei and St. John Bosco the top-ranked teams in the nation, joinedin the California rankings by Servite (No. 5), Santa Margarita (No. 7) and Orange Lutheran (No. 12).
The new Big West Conference, a combination of the Big VIII League (with Centennial, No. 3 in the state, and Norco) and Southwestern League (Murrieta Valley, No. 23, and Vista Murrieta) will challenge the San Fernando Valley’s Mission League for the unofficial title of second-best league in the region.
The Mission League itself made a big addition, Sierra Canyon coming in from the Gold Coast League and bringing its No. 1 ranking in the Daily News’ coverage area, ready to see how close the school is to climbing into the region’s elite.
In the San Gabriel Valley, Bishop Amat is No. 1 in the Tribune’s local rankings (and No. 9 in the state), but Robledo says Damien could move way up after a 3-7 season.
The most-watched player in Southern California could be quarterback Malachi Nelson, who’ll be passing to fellow USC commit Makai Lemon for Los Alamitos High (No. 4 in the state). But there are always too many promising quarterbacks in the region to focus on just one.
One big change in high school football coverage in 2022 is that it’s all about football – at least we can hope – after two years were dramatically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s the fun stuff,” said Brian Patterson, SCNG’s high school sports editor. “We’re like everybody. We want to (think) about the athletes, we want to think about the games.”
TODAY
The Dodgers are betting underdogs (+108 this morning) in a game for the first time since June as rookie Ryan Pepiot faces the Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff in Milwaukee (5:10p.m., SNLA).
The Angels try to shake off last night when they host the Mariners (6:38 p.m., BSW).
LAFC continues to chase the MLS mark for best record in a season, facing DC United (7:30, Ch. 13). Josh Gross has the preview.
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What’s the best place to watch high school football in Southern California?Reply by email to kmodesti@scng.com.
280 CHARACTERS
USC is No. 14 in the preseason AP Top 25. The hype for the first Lincoln Riley squad is soaring. https://t.co/bi6PBuXNkV
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) August 15, 2022
1,000 WORDS
TALK TO ME
Thanks for reading. I welcome questions, comments and suggestions about this newsletter and any sports topic. Reach me by email at kmodesti@scng.com.
Editor’s note: Thanks for reading the Game Day with Kevin Modesti newsletter. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here.
Join the Conversation
We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/16/modesti-friday-night-lights-get-fired-up-this-week-in-southern-california/ | 2022-08-16T19:14:07Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/16/modesti-friday-night-lights-get-fired-up-this-week-in-southern-california/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Schiff reflects on the significance of the top-secret documents seized from Trump's residence. He led the first impeachment and serves on the House's committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air
Schiff reflects on the significance of the top-secret documents seized from Trump's residence. He led the first impeachment and serves on the House's committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-16/rep-adam-schiff-weighs-in-on-the-raid-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-home | 2022-08-16T19:14:11Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-16/rep-adam-schiff-weighs-in-on-the-raid-at-trumps-mar-a-lago-home | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Wagner knows her new prime-time perch on MSNBC is an unorthodox arrangement. But she’s determined to make the most of it.
On Tuesday, she takes over the prized 9 p.m. Eastern weeknight time slot that MSNBC’s star anchor Rachel Maddow has held. Maddow will still helm the time slot on Monday nights, and the rest of the week will be devoted to “Alex Wagner Tonight.”
It’s part of Maddow’s new deal with NBC News that keeps her with the network to produce things like podcasts and books, while stepping away from the daily grind of a show that began in 2008.
“A lot of people watch Rachel Maddow,” Wagner said, “and hopefully many of those same people will come out and watch the rest of the week.”
Wagner had her own daytime show at MSNBC in the early 2010s. She left the network when that ended in 2015, worked at CBS News and was in the cast of Showtime’s political show “The Circus” for four seasons. She rejoined MSNBC in February and, four months later, network President Rashida Jones selected her for the prime-time job.
At the start, Wagner is working with much of Maddow’s staff. She said she hopes Maddow will appear on “Alex Wagner Tonight” if there’s a topic she’s an expert on, and vice versa. She takes inspiration from Maddow’s investigative rigor. Don’t expect lengthy, complex opening monologues, though.
“Rachel is incomparable and woe to anybody who tries to duplicate what she does,” Wagner said. “Because that’s an impossibility. I would never try.”
Wagner spoke by telephone last week from Florida, itself a hint of one way she plans to make the hour her own. She was there on a reporting mission, the details of which she promised would become clear this week, part of her plan to bring more out-of-studio stories to the mix. Her work on “The Circus” taught her the value of getting out of the studio to report, she said.
The one-time editor of The Fader, a music magazine, also hopes for an expanded focus beyond the politics that dominates cable talk shows much of the time.
“We’re always going to make sure our audience understands what’s happening in the world and our country that day, but I hope that we can widen the lens a little bit in terms of voices and, to some degree, stories that we cover,” she said.
By getting Wagner’s show started now, MSNBC has beaten CNN in settling on its future plans for the time slot. CNN still hasn’t named a permanent successor to Chris Cuomo at 9 p.m., since he was fired last December.
July’s ratings lay out the challenge before Wagner. Maddow reached an average of 2.4 million viewers on Mondays last month, the Nielsen company said. For the other four weeknights, MSNBC averaged 1.4 million in the time slot.
Expecting Wagner to quickly achieve the same numbers as MSNBC’s favorite personality is unfair. How close she needs to come, and how much time she’ll be given are questions only MSNBC executives can answer. Jones was not made available for an interview.
“They hope that they’ll be able to turn her into a star,” said Mark Feldstein, professor of broadcasting at the University of Maryland. “This is a big void with Rachel stepping back, and Wagner has the star power to do it. It’s kind of surprising to me that she isn’t one already, since she’s smart and very good on television.”
For MSNBC, there’s no motivation in raising expectations too high, he said.
The show will be an evolution, Wagner said, “and I’m lucky enough to have the support of NBC as we try and evolve the hour to something that is reflective of my strengths as a journalist.”
Before Wagner was given the job, there was speculation on whether MSNBC was considering bringing back Keith Olbermann, whose “Countdown” show was a hit on the network in the 2000s.
Olbermann revealed a series of email messages over two years between him and Jeff Shell, CEO of NBCUniversal, about that possibility. Depending on how you read the messages, Shell was either expressing genuine interest in the idea or stringing Olbermann along.
Olbermann said he believes the former, and that he wasted two years considering the possibility. This summer, he began a nightly “Countdown” podcast on Apple.
“If Jeff Shell was really not interested, he should have said so,” Olbermann said. “I would have taken no offense.”
MSNBC, through a spokesperson, said there was never any serious consideration of Olbermann returning.
For her part, Wagner said the time couldn’t be more urgent to have a prime-time platform discussing the news.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” she said. “I also feel incredibly lucky. And I’m going to work really hard to live up to the privilege of being able to anchor the 9 p.m. hour.” | https://www.wpri.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/alex-wagner-ready-to-take-over-most-of-maddow-hour-on-msnbc/ | 2022-08-16T19:16:10Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/alex-wagner-ready-to-take-over-most-of-maddow-hour-on-msnbc/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BORODYANKA, Ukraine (AP) — Hollywood actor Liev Schreiber and former Ukraine soccer star Andriy Shevchenko appealed for international donations to Ukraine to continue during a visit Monday to a residential area outside Kyiv that suffered extensive damage by Russian bombardment.
“People see it as a one-time thing. But, as you can see, people live with it every day,”said Schreiber, who has starred in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”
“It’s a coward move,” Schreiber said, pointing at a damaged apartment tower block in Borodyanka, 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Kyiv.
Borodyanka is located in the Bucha area, where hundreds of dead civilian were discovered following the Russian occupation and then retreat in late March. Ukrainian authorities said 16,000 residential buildings were damaged in the area.
Schreiber, who is partly of Ukrainian ancestry and is involved in several charity initiatives for the country, earlier met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A number of Hollywood stars have visited Ukraine during the war, including Angelina Jolie, Sean Penn and Ben Stiller.
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.wpri.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/hollywood-soccer-stars-appeal-for-more-ukraine-donations/ | 2022-08-16T19:16:23Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/hollywood-soccer-stars-appeal-for-more-ukraine-donations/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A metal object believed to have fallen from a trans-Atlantic jet came crashing down outside the Maine State House, landing with a loud bang just feet from a Capitol Police worker, officials said Monday.
The Federal Aviation Administration was alerted Friday and returned to the State House on Monday as it investigated the object, Capitol Police Chief Matthew Clancy said.
The metal hit with a loud bang on a slab of granite lining a cobblestone walkaway about 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters) from a security screener — and came close to hitting the building itself, he said.
“It definitely shocked him,” the chief said. “He was walking back to the building and got quite a wakeup call.”
No one was hurt.
The FAA believes the metal sleeve weighing 6 to 7 pounds came from a wing flap of a large passenger jet, he said. Airlines were notified, and all planes landed safely that day, Clancy said.
The area where the airplane part crashed to the ground is usually busy when the Maine Legislature is in session, and it’s routinely used for rallies, protests and press conferences, he said. | https://www.wpri.com/news/politics/ap-politics/airplane-part-falls-from-sky-nearly-hits-man-in-maine/ | 2022-08-16T19:16:58Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/politics/ap-politics/airplane-part-falls-from-sky-nearly-hits-man-in-maine/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Family members of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle gathered on what would have been his 37th birthday for the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
According to NPR, his sister, Samantha Smith; his grandmother Margaret Boutte; and his fiancée, actress Lauren London spoke at the ceremony, with Boutte accepting the honor on behalf of the family.
"I think I speak for the entire city of LA when I say that we've always known that Hussle was destined for greatness," London said during the ceremony, ABC News reported. "Nip would've been honored by this moment."
The Grammy Award-winning rapper, whose real name is Ermias Asghedom, was fatally shot on March 31, 2019, in the parking lot of his clothing store, NBC News reported.
He was 33.
In July, the Associated Press reported that Eric Holder was convicted of the first-degree murder of the rapper.
The news outlet reported that Holder, scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 15, faces a possible life sentence in prison. | https://www.katc.com/entertainment/nipsey-hussle-posthumously-receives-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame | 2022-08-16T19:17:15Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/entertainment/nipsey-hussle-posthumously-receives-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday that rapper A$AP Rocky was charged with two felonies for allegedly aiming a gun at a former friend and then firing it at them.
Prosecutors said the 33-year-old, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, was charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
According to a press release, prosecutors allege that on Nov. 6, 2021, Mayers pointed the firearm at the victim during a heated discussion in Hollywood.
In a subsequent confrontation, Mayers allegedly drew the gun again and fired twice in the man's direction, prosecutors said.
According to prosecutors, the victim, whose name has not been released, sustained a minor injury.
Police said the rapper and two other men fled the scene, the Associated Press reported.
The news outlet reported that Mayer was initially arrested on April 20 for the incident at Los Angeles International Airport.
NBC News reported that he was released on $550,000 bail the same day.
The rapper is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, prosecutors said. | https://www.katc.com/entertainment/prosecutors-charge-rapper-a-ap-rocky-with-felony-assault-with-a-firearm | 2022-08-16T19:17:18Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/entertainment/prosecutors-charge-rapper-a-ap-rocky-with-felony-assault-with-a-firearm | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CHARENTON, LA— The Cypress Bayou Casino and Hotel hosts a job fair tomorrow from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the pavilion pre-function room on 832 Martin Luther King Rd.
The job fair is designed to be a fun event with food, music, give-aways, and mini dealer schools.
Positions are available in food & beverage, IT, housekeeping, marketing, security, table games, and more.
All applicants must be able to pass a background check and pre-employment drug screening. Equal opportunities for employees and interviews will be conducted on the spot.
Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, insurance, PTO, Free Meals while on duty, and a Gas Discount Card. | https://www.katc.com/news/cypress-bayou-and-casino-to-host-a-job-fair-tomorrow | 2022-08-16T19:17:19Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/cypress-bayou-and-casino-to-host-a-job-fair-tomorrow | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LAFAYETTE, LA— Paid parking begins at Moncus Park today, officials say it is to help support the park's ongoing operations and maintenance.
General admission to the park will remain free. Visitors who bike or walk can enter the park at no cost. Park staff will continue to work with the city to increase safe access for pedestrians and bikers.
Volunteers, programming partners, or those visiting at the request of Moncus Park will receive complimentary parking at the time of their appointment. Special events parking rates will vary and be announced in advance.
The annual Park's membership program will receive special parking discounts. Members at the $100 and above level will receive the first hour free for every visit. Members starting at the $1000 level will receive an annual parking pass. All current park members at every level will receive parking benefits until their time of renewal.
Parking details are listed below:
- Rates per hour- $2.00
- First 1/2 hour- FREE
- Maximum rate per day- $10.00
- Lost ticket per day- $10.00
- Mondays -FREE
- Sales tax included in all parking rates
Learn more by visiting the website below: | https://www.katc.com/news/lafayette-parish/paid-parking-at-moncus-park-starts-today | 2022-08-16T19:17:20Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/lafayette-parish/paid-parking-at-moncus-park-starts-today | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday accused his predecessor Scott Morrison of “trashing democracy” after revealing that while Morrison was in power, he took on five ministerial roles without the knowledge of most other lawmakers or the public.
Albanese said Morrison had been operating in secret, keeping the Australian people in the dark and misleading Parliament over who was in charge of what portfolios.
“This has been government by deception,” Albanese said.
Adding to revelations first detailed over the weekend by News Corp. media, Albanese said that between March 2020 and May 2021, Morrison was appointed minister of health, finance, home affairs, treasury and industry — moves which appeared to have given Morrison equal powers to the ministers already appointed to those positions.
“It is completely extraordinary that these appointments were kept secret by the Morrison government from the Australian people,” Albanese told reporters in Canberra.
Speaking on Sydney radio station 2GB, Morrison defended taking on the extra portfolios, saying they were a safeguard during the coronavirus pandemic and that he would have made the appointments public had he needed to use the powers involved.
“Sometimes we forget what was happening two years ago and the situation we were dealing with. It was an unconventional time and an unprecedented time,” Morrison told the radio station.
He pointed to the coronavirus hospitalization of the then-British prime minister.
“Boris Johnson almost died one night,” Morrison said. “We had ministers go down with COVID.”
Morrison used his additional powers on at least one occasion, to overturn a decision by former minister Keith Pitt to approve a contentious gas project off the New South Wales coast.
Pitt said in a statement he was unaware Morrison had joint oversight over his ministerial portfolio and that he stands by the decisions he made at the time.
In a more detailed account published on Facebook later Tuesday, Morrison wrote that the gas project was the only matter he got directly involved with and that “I believe I made the right decision in the national interest.”
Morrison said that “for any offense to my colleagues, I apologize.”
But Karen Andrews, who served as home affairs minister under Morrison, said Morrison never told her that he was also being appointed to the portfolio. She said Morrison, who remains in Parliament on the opposition benches, should resign.
“The Australian people have been let down, they have been betrayed,” she said. “For a former prime minister to have behaved in that manner, to secretly be sworn into other portfolios, undermines the Westminster system, it’s absolutely unacceptable.”
Albanese said he was seeking an opinion from the solicitor-general as to the legality of some of Morrison’s moves, including on the gas project, and expected to get that on Monday.
“This is a sad indictment of not just Mr. Morrison, but all those Cabinet colleagues of his who sat back and allowed this to happen. It has undermined our democracy, it’s an attack on the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy as we know it,” Albanese said. “And not just Mr. Morrison, but others who were involved in this need to be held to account.”
Morrison’s moves have left legal scholars scratching their heads.
Professor Anne Twomey, a constitutional law expert at the University of Sydney, told Australian Broadcasting Corp. that it was reasonable that Morrison might want to have a second person who was able to take over if the first person was incapacitated.
But she said any ministerial appointments would typically be recorded and published in the government gazette.
“Doing that kind of thing in secret? Very, very odd,” Twomey said.
Morrison’s moves were signed off by Governor-General David Hurley.
A spokesperson for Hurley said the governor-general followed processes consistent with the constitution.
“It is not uncommon for ministers to be appointed to administer departments other than their portfolio responsibility,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “These appointments do not require a swearing-in ceremony. The governor-general signs an administrative instrument on the advice of the prime minister.”
Morrison was the prime minister at the time who was giving that advice. | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/former-australian-pm-morrison-took-on-extra-powers-in-secret/ | 2022-08-16T19:17:27Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/former-australian-pm-morrison-took-on-extra-powers-in-secret/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PONTIAC, Mich. — Dodge announced the end of an era at the M1 Concourse Monday night as they revealed that its Charger and Challenger production would end in 2023.
The announcement was also streamed on Dodge's YouTube channel.
The Stellantis subsidiary is holding Dodge Speed Week at the Pontiac facility, with three days of announcements ahead of this weekend's Woodward Dream Cruise.
The company says the current production of the two muscle cars will end at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, in December of next year.
“We are celebrating the end of an era — and the start of a bright new electrified future — by staying true to our brand,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer – Stellantis, in a news release. “At Dodge, we never lift, and the brand will mark the last of our iconic Charger and Challenger nameplates in their current form in the same way that got us here, with a passion both for our products and our enthusiasts that drives us to create as much uniqueness in the muscle car community and marketplace as possible.”
Dodge is sending the Charger and Challenger out in style, 7 special-edition models, each of which will have a special "Last Call" plaque under the hood. Six of the new models will pay homage to the heritage of Dodge muscle cars and the Demon, Hellcat, Redeye, Scat Pack, Shaker, and Jailbreak models. Details and specific information on six of the vehicles will be released later this year.
The seventh is being touted as the last of its kind. It will be unveiled at the Las Vegas Specialty Equipment Market Association show.
That show is scheduled for Nov. 1-4.
The new models will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis at top-selling Dodge dealerships. The allocation of all 2023 Charger and Challenger models will take place at one time, allowing customers to decide which dealer to go to.
The list of dealerships will be shared on DodgeGarage.com, which will include information on all 2023 Charger and Challenger inventory at each Dodge dealership.
While Dodge hasn't announced what will be taking the place of the Charger and Challenger in the automaker's lineup, they did tease ahead to Tuesday's announcement, which they said would be about the "first new electrified Dodge." They also teased ahead to Wednesday, when they would announce "something totally new."
Ordering and pricing information for the 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger will be announced closer to the on-sale date, which is expected to be in October.
Many industry news outlets say Dodge is ready to announce an electric muscle car soon. Motortrend posted an article on the possible car in July. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/last-call-dodge-announces-production-for-charger-challenger-ending-in-2023 | 2022-08-16T19:17:40Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/last-call-dodge-announces-production-for-charger-challenger-ending-in-2023 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran said Tuesday it submitted a “written response” to what has been described as a final roadmap to restore its tattered nuclear deal with world powers.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency offered no details on the substance of its response, but suggested that Tehran still wouldn’t take the European Union-mediated proposal, despite warnings there would be no more negotiations.
“The differences are on three issues, in which the United States has expressed its verbal flexibility in two cases, but it should be included in the text,” the IRNA report said. “The third issue is related to guaranteeing the continuation of (the deal), which depends on the realism of the United States.”
Tehran under hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi has repeatedly tried to blame Washington for the delay in reaching an accord. Monday was reported to have been a deadline for Iran’s response.
Nabila Massrali, a spokesperson for the EU on foreign affairs and security policy, told The Associated Press that the EU received Iran’s response on Monday night.
“We are studying it and are consulting with the other JCPOA participants and the U.S. on the way ahead,” she said, using an acronym for the formal name for the nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The EU has been the go-between in the indirect talks as Iran refused to negotiate directly with America since then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the accord in 2018.
From Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. would share its own response to the EU.
“We do agree, however, with (the EU’s) fundamental point, and that is that what could be negotiated has been negotiated,” Price said.
He added that Iran had been making “unacceptable demands” going beyond the text of the 2015 nuclear deal, which saw Iran drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
“If Iran wants these sanctions lifted, they will need to alter their underlying conduct,” Price said. “They will need to change the dangerous activities that gave rise to these sanctions in the first place.”
As of the last public count, Iran has a stockpile of some 3,800 kilograms (8,370 pounds) of enriched uranium. Under the deal, Tehran could enrich uranium to 3.67% purity, while maintaining a stockpile of uranium of 300 kilograms (660 pounds) under constant scrutiny of surveillance cameras and international inspectors.
Iran now enriches uranium up to 60% purity — a level it never reached before and one that is a short, technical step away from 90%. Nonproliferation experts warn Iran now has enough 60%-enriched uranium to reprocess into fuel for at least one nuclear bomb. Meanwhile, the surveillance cameras have been turned off and other footage has been seized by Iran.
However, Iran still would need to design a bomb and a delivery system for it, likely a monthslong project. Tehran insists its program is peaceful, though the West and the International Atomic Energy Agency say Iran had an organized military nuclear program until 2003.
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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/iran-submits-a-written-response-in-nuclear-deal-talks/ | 2022-08-16T19:17:50Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/iran-submits-a-written-response-in-nuclear-deal-talks/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s chief justice fired all the members of the Public Defense Services Commission on Monday, frustrated that hundreds of defendants charged with crimes and who cannot afford an attorney have been unable to obtain public defenders to represent them.
The unprecedented action comes as Oregon’s unique public defender system has come under such strain that it is at the breaking point. Criminal defendants in Oregon who have gone without legal representation due to a shortage of public defenders filed a lawsuit in May that alleges the state is violating their constitutional right to legal counsel and a speedy trial.
In a letter to the commission members, Chief Justice Martha Walters pointed out that their duty is to “ensure that Oregon provides public defense services consistent with the Oregon Constitution, the United States Constitution, and Oregon and national standards of justice.”
“Unfortunately, it is now clear that it is time to reconstitute the current commission,” she said.
Oregon’s public defender system is the only one in the nation that relies entirely on contractors: Large nonprofit defense firms, smaller cooperating groups of private defense attorneys that contract for cases and independent attorneys who can take cases at will.
But some firms and private attorneys are periodically refusing to take new cases because of the workload. Poor pay rates and late payments from the state are also a disincentive. The American Bar Association found that Oregon has only 31% of the public defenders it needs.
Walters said “systemic change” is called for and that the commission must collaborate with Oregon’s executive and legislative branches and the public defense community “to create a better system for public defense providers.”
The Public Defense Services Commission currently has nine members, in addition to Walters who as chief justice serves as ex-officio permanent member. Walters made the dismissals effective on Tuesday and said that if any members want to serve on a reconstituted commission, they should apply by noon Tuesday.
The commission is an independent body that governs the Office of Public Defense Services and appoints its executive director. Walters told the commission last week that Executive Director Stephen Singer failed to lead the agency out of crisis, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The commission considered firing Singer but didn’t.
Commission member Thomas Christ told the newspaper that Walters wants Singer removed and that he believes she “decided to just fill the commission with people who’ll vote the way she wants on that issue.”
Commission member Steven Wax, who was the U.S. Public Defender for the Oregon district for 31 years and is currently legal director of the Oregon Innocence Project, said he is unhappy about the chief justice’s action.
“The commission has been working tirelessly on difficult issues and reforms,” Wax said. “Disagreement is inevitable. I was sorely disappointed to receive the chief justice’s letter.”
The chief justice appoints the commission members and can remove them, according to Oregon law.
“I never anticipated exercising this authority, but this issue is too important, and the need for change is too urgent, to delay,” Walters said.
Todd Sprague, spokesman for the Oregon Judicial Department, said that to his knowledge, the entire commission has never been dismissed before.
Oregon’s backlog has led to the dismissal of dozens of cases.
Jesse Merrithew, an attorney representing plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said being deprived of a lawyer right after an arrest causes problems that are almost impossible to overcome later on, for example in obtaining surveillance video before it is erased that could back up a defendant’s case.
Oregon’s system was underfunded and understaffed before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the backlog grew amid a slowdown in court activity because of safety protocols. | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/oregon-justice-fires-panel-due-to-lack-of-public-defenders/ | 2022-08-16T19:18:04Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/oregon-justice-fires-panel-due-to-lack-of-public-defenders/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It may still feel like summer outside, but Oreo is celebrating fall with the return of a cookie flavor we haven’t seen since 2017!
For the first time in five years, Oreo Pumpkin Spice Sandwich Cookies are once again in stores for a limited time. The golden Oreos have a pumpkin spice-flavored creme, which means they’ll make a sweet addition to back-to-school lunches and fall birthday parties.
Or dunk them into a cup of hot pumpkin spice coffee and you’ll officially enter fall mode!
There are dozens of other pumpkin spice treats to shop for this fall as well, like SToK Pumpkin Cold Brew, Pumpkin Spice Wafers from Voortman’s, Pillsbury Pumpkin Grands and Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, all of which are in stores now for a limited time.
New this year, you’ll also find a pumpkin spice energy drink from the brand Yerbaé. The drink has zero calories and zero sugar, but will still give you a caffeine boost just like a pumpkin spice latte.
You’ll also find pumpkin spice-flavored goodies in Krispy Kreme’s new pumpkin spice doughnut collection, and Dairy Queen’s Pumpkin Pie Blizzard is set to return on Aug. 29.
While Starbucks hasn’t said when the famous PSL will return this year, Dunkin’s fall menu hits stores Aug. 17 and includes a glazed pumpkin cake doughnut, pumpkin doughnut holes, pumpkin muffins and a new Nutty Pumpkin Coffee, which blends iced coffee with a pumpkin spice swirl, a hazelnut flavor shot and cream for a bit of a different take on classic pumpkin flavors.
If you don’t have a Dunkin’ near you, you can still find pumpkin spice Dunkin’ goodies in a new form: Goldfish Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Grahams. Available Sept. 1, the fish-shaped graham crackers will feature the flavors of pumpkin, doughnut glaze, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
Are you looking forward to pumpkin spice treats this fall?
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.katc.com/pumpkin-spice-oreos-return-after-5-years | 2022-08-16T19:18:24Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/pumpkin-spice-oreos-return-after-5-years | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s longtime finance chief is expected to plead guilty as soon as Thursday in a tax evasion case that is the only criminal prosecution to arise from a long-running investigation into the former president’s company, three people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg was scheduled to be tried in October on allegations he took more than $1.7 million in off-the-books compensation from the company, including rent, car payments and school tuition.
Prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney’s office and Weisselberg’s lawyers met Monday with the judge overseeing the case, Juan Manuel Merchan, according to court records. The judge then scheduled a hearing in the matter for 9 a.m. Thursday but did not specify the reason.
The people who spoke to the AP did so on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the case. They said the purpose of Thursday’s hearing was for Weisselberg to enter a guilty plea, but cautioned that plea deals sometimes fall apart before they are finalized in court.
Weisselberg’s lawyer, Nicholas Gravante Jr., told The New York Times on Monday that Weisselberg has been engaged in plea negotiations to resolve the case, but did not specify terms of a potential plea deal. Reached by the AP, Gravante declined to comment.
The Times, citing two people with knowledge of the matter, said Weisselberg was expected to receive a five-month jail sentence, which would make him eligible for release after about 100 days. The deal would not require Weisselberg to testify or cooperate in any way with an ongoing criminal investigation into Trump’s business practices.
Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, is also charged in the case but did not appear to be involved in the plea agreement talks. Weisselberg and the Trump Organization have pleaded not guilty.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. A message seeking comment was left with a lawyer for the Trump Organization.
News of Weisselberg’s plea negotiations came days after the judge denied requests by his lawyers and the Trump Organization to throw out the case. The judge did drop one criminal tax fraud count against the company citing the statute of limitations, but more than a dozen other counts remain.
In seeking dismissal of the case, Weisselberg’s lawyers argued prosecutors in the Democrat-led district attorney’s office were punishing him because he wouldn’t offer up damaging information against the former president.
The judge rejected that argument, saying that evidence presented to the grand jury was legally sufficient to support the charges.
Weisselberg, who turned 75 on Monday, is the only Trump executive charged in the yearslong criminal investigation started by former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., who went to the Supreme Court to secure Trump’s tax records. Vance’s successor, Alvin Bragg, is now overseeing the investigation. Several other Trump executives have been granted immunity to testify before a grand jury in the case.
Prosecutors alleged that Weisselberg and the Trump Organization schemed to give off-the-books compensation to senior executives, including Weisselberg, for 15 years. Weisselberg alone was accused of defrauding the federal government, state and city out of more than $900,000 in unpaid taxes and undeserved tax refunds.
The most serious charge against Weisselberg, grand larceny, carried a potential penalty of five to 15 years in prison. The tax fraud charges against the company are punishable by a fine of double the amount of unpaid taxes, or $250,000, whichever is larger.
Trump has not been charged in the criminal probe, but prosecutors have noted that he signed some of the checks at the center of the case. Trump, who has decried the New York investigations as a “political witch hunt,” has said his company’s actions were standard practice in the real estate business and in no way a crime.
Last week, Trump sat for a deposition in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ parallel civil investigation into allegations Trump’s company misled lenders and tax authorities about asset values. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times.
In the months after Weisselberg’s arrest, the criminal probe appeared to be progressing toward a possible criminal indictment of Trump himself, but the investigation slowed, a grand jury was disbanded and a top prosecutor left after Bragg took office in January — although he insists it is continuing.
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Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak. Send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips/. | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/trump-org-cfo-expected-to-plead-guilty-in-ny-tax-case/ | 2022-08-16T19:18:27Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/us-and-world/trump-org-cfo-expected-to-plead-guilty-in-ny-tax-case/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(KTLA) – Snoop Dogg’s “next episode”? The breakfast business.
The rapper, actor and entrepreneur is launching a new cereal called “Snoop Loopz.” The whole-grain cereal looks similar to Kellogg’s Fruit Loops, but it also includes marshmallows.
Fellow rapper and mogul Master P unveiled the new breakfast treat on Instagram over the weekend.
“Broadus Foods introduces the best tasting cereal in the game,” the No Limit Records founder wrote in the caption. “Snoop Dogg we’re taking over the grocery stores. Snooploopz.com. The more we make, the more we give. Berry delicious Fo Shizzle!”
Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, is the founder of Broadus Foods. Master P, real name Percy Miller, is the brand’s chief executive officer.
Broadus Foods already has a number of breakfast items under the Momma Snoop brand, which includes grits, oatmeal, pancake mix and syrup. The company also boasts its charitable donations to organizations including Door of Hope, a Christian non-profit that helps people dealing with homelessness.
“Broadus Foods was founded to continue Mama Snoop’s legacy of her generous love and passion for feeding families in our communities,” according to the brand’s website.
It is not yet known when “Snoop Loopz” will be available in grocery aisles or only online. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/snoop-doggs-cereal-snoop-loopz-coming-to-a-breakfast-table-near-you/ | 2022-08-16T19:19:16Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/snoop-doggs-cereal-snoop-loopz-coming-to-a-breakfast-table-near-you/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(The Hill) — Fox News host Tucker Carlson predicted former President Trump will be indicted following a search at his Florida residence last week carried out by the FBI in connection with an investigation into classified information reportedly taken from the White House.
“There’s nothing to see here, that’s the line,” Carlson said on his show Monday, naming a number of elected Republicans who he predicted will “say the same thing when the Biden Justice Department or some other state agency under their influence finally does what you know they’re going to do, and that’s indict Donald Trump.”
“Obviously they’re going to do that,” Carlson continued. “Who knows how, maybe they’ll produce surveillance video from Mar-a-Lago, apparently they’ve already subpoenaed that.”
The Aug. 8 search was authorized by a federal judge, and while many elected Republicans who support Trump have suggested a political motivation, the White House said President Biden was unaware of the search beforehand. No evidence has been presented to suggest Biden had prior knowledge of the search.
Multiple news reports have revealed the search was executed in connection with classified documents reportedly taken from Trump’s White House without authorization. The FBI and Justice Department have not explicitly indicated Trump is the focus of a criminal investigation in the matter and have said little about the probe publicly.
Carlson’s comments are his first since the search warrant was executed a week ago, sparking a firestorm of speculation and political backlash from the former president’s defenders.
The incident has also led to an increase in threats to federal law enforcement in recent days and inspired Attorney General Merrick Garland, in rare public remarks, to push back on his department’s critics.
Trump, who has repeatedly attacked the Justice Department and FBI following the search, said the “temperature has to be brought down in the country,” hours after Steve Doocy, another Fox News host, implored the president to do so on air Monday morning.
Carlson also praised Trump’s call for calm on Monday.
“You can feel it, even Donald Trump feels it. Maybe for the first time in his life, Donald Trump seems sincerely interested in lowering the temperature, not only for his own stake, but for the country’s,” Carlson said. “He’s right. It’s not good. This could get very bad, very fast.” | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/tucker-carlson-trump-obviously-going-to-be-indicted/ | 2022-08-16T19:19:22Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/tucker-carlson-trump-obviously-going-to-be-indicted/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Thousands of Elvis Presley fans from around the world attended a candlelight vigil in Graceland Monday night.
August 16th marks the 45th anniversary of the singer’s death.
Fans lined up outside the Graceland Estate Hours before the start of the event to honor the King of Rock.
Elvis’s ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, thanked the crowd for their devotion to the icon and his music during the annual event. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/thousands-gather-in-graceland-for-45th-anniversary-of-elvis-death/ | 2022-08-16T19:19:35Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/thousands-gather-in-graceland-for-45th-anniversary-of-elvis-death/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler will have season-ending elbow surgery, a setback for the team with the majors’ best record.
The Dodgers announced Monday before the start of their four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers that Dr. Neal ElAttrache would perform the surgery on Aug. 23.
“It’s certainly a blow,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We’re better with Walker on our ballclub, but there’s nothing we can do about it. I still believe we have enough guys to prevent runs to get through October, but yeah, we wanted him to be a part of this.”
Buehler hadn’t pitched for the last two months due to his injury. He underwent arthroscopic surgery in mid-June to remove bone spurs from his elbow.
“Then as he went through his progression, the pain wouldn’t subside,” Roberts said. “Dr. ElAttrache thought the best course of action was to go back in and get surgery to really figure out what the problem is and fix it. As a result, he’s obviously done for the rest of 2022. And until the surgery happens, we have no timeline for his return.”
Los Angeles also has three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw on the injured list with lower back pain, though he’s expected to return this season.
The Dodgers have hardly suffered in the two stars’ absence. With Tony Gonsolin, Tyler Anderson and Julio Urías anchoring the rotation, LA is 20-4 since the All-Star break. The Dodgers beat the Brewers 4-0 on Monday night with Urías on the mound.
The Dodgers got some good news about their pitching staff Monday. Dustin May, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, is expected to make his season debut Saturday against Miami.
May hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 1, 2021, when he hurt his elbow during an appearance at Milwaukee. He is 6-5 with a 2.93 ERA in 31 career appearances, including 19 starts.
“All the numbers and everything are normal,” May said. “I feel normal. I’m in a good spot right now. That’s all I could ask for.”
Buehler, a two-time All-Star, is 6-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 12 appearances this season. He last pitched June 10 and left that game after four innings when his elbow began bothering him.
“We took a chance to try to take time off, start a progression to get him back this year, but as he started his progression, he just couldn’t get over the hump,” Roberts said. “We took a shot at it, but now we have to go in.”
The Dodgers (80-34) are 17 games ahead of San Diego in the NL West. But they’ll have a tough time replacing Buehler as they prepare for a near-certain postseason appearance.
Buehler, 28 has a 46-16 career record with a 3.02 ERA. He went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA last season and finished fourth in the NL Cy Young Award voting.
“I talked to Dustin today,” Roberts said. “He’s not a savior. I just want him to come out and pitch well. He’s just got to do his job. When Clayton gets back, he’s got to do his job. I don’t look at it as pressure. It’s just more of we don’t have a guy that we hoped would be with us, who’s been a big part of things we’ve done, but there’s nothing we can do about it. Guys have just got to do their jobs.”
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wpri.com/sports/ap-sports/dodgers-buehler-to-have-elbow-surgery-out-for-season/ | 2022-08-16T19:19:39Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/sports/ap-sports/dodgers-buehler-to-have-elbow-surgery-out-for-season/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Pete Carril, the rumpled, cigar-smoking basketball coach who led Princeton to 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, where his teams unnerved formidable opponents and rattled March Madness with old-school fundamentals, died Monday. He was 92.
Princeton released a statement from Carril’s family, which said he died “peacefully this morning.” It did not give a cause of death.
“We kindly ask that you please respect our privacy at this time as we process our loss and handle necessary arrangements. More information will be forthcoming in the following days,” the statement said.
Carril, a Hall of Famer, schooled his teams in a distinct and throwback brand of ball — the Princeton offense, a game marked by patience, intelligence, constant motion, quick passing and backdoor cuts that often ended in layups.
It was an offense that could be played at any level of basketball — as Carril proved when he left Princeton and joined the NBA’s Sacramento Kings as an assistant.
At Princeton, Carril’s offense was performed by players often dismissed or overlooked by some of the nation’s basketball powers. Come the NCAA Tournament, however, Princeton’s unforgiving discipline could offset the disparity of talent on the floor.
During Carril’s 29 seasons as the Tigers’ coach, the system worked splendidly. His teams won 13 Ivy League titles and posted a 514-261 record without the benefit of scholarship players. Its deliberate approach draining the high octane from many opponents, Princeton led the nation in scoring defense in 14 of his last 21 seasons, including the last eight in a run that ended in 1996.
He guided Princeton to the National Invitation Tournament championship in 1975 and was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Basketball fans loved to watch the headaches Carril’s teams caused in March. That was certainly the case in 1989 for Georgetown’s John Thompson, the Hall of Fame coach sweating late in the game with his trademark towel draped over his shoulder.
Princeton gave a No. 1 seeded Georgetown team featuring Alonzo Mourning and Charles Smith all it could handle, and as a No. 16 seed was on the verge of a monumental upset. The Tigers had two shots in the closing seconds at sending Thompson and his team home but were denied, losing 50-49.
Carril’s final season in 1996 was highlighted by a first-round NCAA victory over defending champion UCLA, an outcome many consider one of the biggest surprises in tournament history.
Former Princeton athletic director Gary Walters was taught civics by Carril in the classroom and played on the hardwood under Carril in high school in Pennsylvania. He later served as an assistant coach to him at Princeton and was a lifelong friend.
“His adaptability as a coach and being able to put the pieces together in a constructive way, was very, very important,” Walters told The Associated Press on Monday. “He also understood the game so well fundamentally. Very few coaches had his ability to teach fundamentals.”
There was an outpouring of sympathy and praise on social media for Carril.
“I believe that in defining greatness in coaches u must determine if they get maximum out of their TEAM personnel,” ESPN sportscaster Dick Vitale tweeted. “PETE CARRIL is a prime example of a brilliant coaching mind that got max out of his talent. May Coach RIP !”
Peter Joseph Carril was born on July 10, 1930, to Spanish immigrant parents in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He played at Lafayette College under a venerable coach in Butch Van Breda Kolff. After an Army stint, Carril coached in high school in Pennsylvania in the 1950s and ’60s before getting a college head coaching job at Lehigh. He spent the 1966-67 season there, going 11-12, and then was on his way to Princeton.
Carril was more than a basketball coach. Friends and former players say he was intelligent, philosophical, a great judge of character, honest and caring. He was not the country-club type. He was down to earth, his attire simple: open-collared shirts, wrinkled sweaters, his thinning hair never quite combed. Occasionally, there would be a sport jacket.
On the court, Carril was demanding. He worked his players hard and sought perfection. It would not be unusual for him to sit on the bench with a 20-point lead and a pained look creasing his face following a bad pass, a turnover or missed layup. It was the craft, the process that mattered, never mind the score.
If asked, he would recall what his father had told him growing up in Bethlehem, one of the country’s steel capitals.
“When you lower your standards, they can turn around and attack you,” Carril said often.
Success on the court never changed Carril. He liked his cigars. He enjoyed a drink, a coffee or just chatting with people at Andy’s Tavern in Princeton, that is until it became a sushi bar in the 1990s. Conte’s Pizza remained one of his hangouts. He would occasionally stop at the Princeton basketball office to talk hoops with Mitch Henderson, who became Princeton’s coach in 2011.
After leaving Princeton, Carril jumped to unfamiliar ground — the NBA. He spent 10 seasons as a Kings assistant, helping coach Rick Adelman’s teams win two Pacific Division titles and a spot in the 2002 Western Conference finals.
He joined the Washington Wizards’ staff in 2007 and in 2009 returned to the Kings. He retired from coaching in 2011.
___
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.wpri.com/sports/ap-sports/pete-carril-old-school-princeton-coaching-maestro-dies/ | 2022-08-16T19:19:52Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/sports/ap-sports/pete-carril-old-school-princeton-coaching-maestro-dies/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Meta updates political ads policy ahead of midterms
Meta on Tuesday said it would no longer permit any edits to political, social or electoral ads that have been previously approved to run within the week leading up to the U.S. midterms.
Why it matters: It's part of a greater set of precautions the company is taking to limit misinformation spreading around the election, especially as it pertains to voting integrity.
- Ads that present new claims in the final days of an election may be difficult to contest or fact-check in time.
Details: Like last cycle, Meta will restrict all new ads from running within the week running up to election day.
- Ads that were previously approved and already running will be allowed to continue running during that time, but any edits related to creative, placement, targeting and optimization won’t be permitted.
- The restriction period will lift the day after the election. At this time, Meta's president, global affairs Nick Clegg told Axios that the company has no plans to extend that deadline, but will consider additional safeguards and restrictions if necessary.
- In conjunction with its 2020 policies, Meta will continue to reject ads encouraging people not to vote or calling into question the legitimacy of the upcoming election.
Between the lines: The tech giant also said it will take further precautions to prevent misinformation pertaining to voting, in light of false narratives that continue to be spread — mostly by conservative lawmakers — about election fraud.
- Content with misinformation or misleading claims about dates, locations, times, and methods of voting; who can vote, whether a vote will be counted, qualifications for voting, will be removed.
- Calls for violence related to voting, voter registration, or the administration or outcome of an election are also not permitted.
Be smart: Historically, Clegg said, the company scaled back its election defenses for midterms following presidential elections. But "the more we looked at it," he said, "the more we felt that the arrangements that we had in place in 2020," were necessary for this year's midterms.
The big picture: Meta has pushed to ensure regulators and the public that it takes voter interference seriously, ever since Russian efforts to meddle in the 2016 election were uncovered.
- Clegg said the company has spent around $5 billion globally on safety and security across its entire platform in the past year.
- Broadly speaking, Meta's election integrity efforts mimic much of its strategy from the 2020 election. The company will continue to invest in security operations to fight interference campaigns and will work with independent fact-checkers to provide accurate information about the election to users.
- The company will continue to show users reminders directing them to information on how and when to register to vote. The company will also take some steps to improve those efforts by elevating comments on posts from local election officials.
- It will invest an additional $5 million in fact-checking and media literacy initiatives ahead of the midterms, including efforts to combat Spanish-language misinformation.
- During the midterms, Meta will show election-related in-Feed notifications in a second language other than English.
What to watch: In response to user feedback about the 2020 election, Meta said it will be careful not to overuse some of the labels it uses to fact-check content that its fact-checking partners finds is misleading or wrong.
Bottom line: "I can't pretend that our crystal ball is any clearer than anybody else's given how unpredictable politics is, but I do like to think that what we're outlining here shows a pretty high and heightened state of vigilance compared to the midterms four years ago," Clegg said. | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/meta-political-ads-policy-midterms-2022 | 2022-08-16T19:29:16Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/meta-political-ads-policy-midterms-2022 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
White House climate official sanctioned by key science body
The National Academy of Sciences has barred Jane Lubchenco, a key White House climate aide, from involvement in NAS publications and activities for five years for violating its code of conduct before joining the administration, the organization said.
Why it matters: The move represents a significant rebuke to Lubchenco, who is deputy director for climate and environment at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Driving the news: The NAS, the most prestigious science body in the U.S., said the decision, effective Aug. 8, stems from section 3 of its code of conduct. It states that members "shall avoid those detrimental research practices that are clear violations of the fundamental tenets of research."
- A NAS spokesperson confirmed that the decision is related to last year's retraction of a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
- Before joining OSTP, Lubchenco edited a paper that was retracted from the journal PNAS in October 2021 because the data underlying the analysis was not the latest available, and because she has a personal relationship with one of the authors (her brother-in-law).
- Lubchenco, while at the White House, has been spearheading work to develop scientific integrity policies across government agencies.
What they're saying: “I accept these sanctions for my error in judgment in editing a paper authored by some of my research collaborators — an error for which I have publicly stated my regret," Lubchenco said in a statement.
- Lubchenco, a marine scientist, headed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during the Obama administration.
Catch up fast: Lubchenco's involvement with the paper has drawn criticism from House Republicans and from the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), a conservative group that had called on the NAS to probe Lubchenco.
- "The American people deserve leaders in the White House who don’t use their positions of influence to put their thumb on the scales for friends and family. Dr. Jane Lubchenco does not meet that standard and does not deserve to be an Assistant to the President," AAF founder Tom Jones said in a statement.
Andrew Freedman contributed reporting.
Go deeper: House Republicans call for investigation of White House climate official | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/white-house-climate-official-sanctioned | 2022-08-16T19:29:28Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/white-house-climate-official-sanctioned | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NIAGARA COUNTY, N.Y., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sierra Club's New York Atlantic Chapter has officially endorsed Cypress Creek Renewables' proposed Bear Ridge Solar Project, located in the Towns of Cambria and Pendleton in Niagara County. The endorsement comes after the Niagara Group of the Sierra Club completed a favorable assessment of the 100MW solar project under development by Cypress Creek Renewables.
The Sierra Club is an influential grassroots environmental organization with a goal to promote the responsible use of the Earth's ecosystems and resources and restore the quality of the natural and human environment. The club's endorsement of the Bear Ridge Solar Project is a significant achievement since it is based on an examination of the project's qualitative and quantitative attributes to ensure the project meets the club's commitment to renewable energy in a manner that preserves nature and provides a just transition that respects communities.
"We worked hard with the Sierra Club to win their endorsement," said Keith Silliman, Director of Regulatory Compliance for New York at Cypress Creek. "They were meticulous and thorough in their assessment."
Prior to making its endorsement, the Sierra Club conducted a thorough evaluation of the project, which received a notice of complete application from the New York Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) on August 2, 2022. The Sierra Club's evaluation focused on nine categories including impacts on forested land, wetlands and riparian areas, birds and other wildlife, and food and production workers. They also assessed local labor agreements, the tax base, community engagement and listening efforts made by the developers, wider community benefits of the project and conducted an Indigenous Nations consultation. Representatives of the Sierra Club also toured the project location where they met with one of the project's landowners, an active dairy farmer.
"Coming on the heels of the NYSERDA Renewable Energy Credit Award and the ORES Notice of Complete Application, the Sierra Club endorsement is a significant milestone for Cypress Creek as we move forward with the development of the Bear Ridge Solar Project," said Sarah Slusser, CEO of Cypress Creek. "We look forward working with the Sierra Club on both Bear Ridge and other projects we're developing across the country."
Cypress Creek Renewables is a leading renewables developer and independent power producer. It develops, finances, owns, and operates utility-scale and distributed solar and energy storage projects across the United States with a mission to power a sustainable future, one project at a time. Since inception, Cypress Creek has developed more than 11GW of solar projects. Today it owns 2GW of solar facilities in operation and has a 15GW development pipeline. Cypress Creek's leading O&M services business operates and maintains 4GW of solar projects for customers across 19 states. For more information about Cypress Creek, please visit www.ccrenew.com.
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MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) will participate in two upcoming investor events.
On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, Mike Mahoney, chairman and chief executive officer, and Lauren Tengler, vice president, Investor Relations, will participate in a 30-minute fireside chat with the host analyst at the Wells Fargo 2022 Healthcare Conference. The session will begin at approximately 3:10 p.m. EDT.
On Sunday, September 18, the company will host an investor event and live webcast from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. EDT at the 34th Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting, the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. Joe Fitzgerald, executive vice president and president, Cardiology, Dr. Ian Meredith, executive vice president and global chief medical officer, Jim Cassidy, vice president and general manager, Watchman, and Lance Bates, senior vice president and president, Interventional Cardiology Therapies, will present a business update and answer questions from investors.
A live webcast and replay for each event will be accessible at investors.bostonscientific.com. The replays will be available beginning approximately one hour following the completion of each event.
About Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Endeavor Business Media has been ranked #1784 of the top 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. by the Inc. 5000 Awards. Ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021, this award recognizes the dynamic expansion of Endeavor in becoming one of the largest B2B media companies in North America.
"We are honored to be ranked among some of nation's most successful private companies and take great pride in the acknowledgment of our significant growth in the four years since our founding. We look forward to our continued expansion, enhancing our ability to provide innovative resources and solutions to our highly-valued audiences and customers," said Chris Ferrell, CEO, Endeavor Business Media.
The Inc. 5000 Awards were introduced in 1982 with the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. Since then, this prestigious list of the nation's most successful private companies has become a symbol of entrepreneurial success.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Endeavor Business Media was formed in 2017 to acquire and operate business media brands, events and marketing solutions. Today the company is one of the largest B2B Media companies in the US with more than 700 employees, 9,000 customers and a database of over 10 million business professionals. The company serves business professionals and marketers in key business sectors such as aviation, buildings, construction, dental, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, networking systems, public safety, transportation, and water. The company has offices in Nashville, TN; Tulsa, OK; Nashua, NH; Birmingham, AL; Sarasota, FL; Skokie, IL; Fort Atkinson, WI; Houston, TX; Independence, OH; Fort Collins, CO, and Overland Park, KS. To learn more, visit www.endeavorbusinessmedia.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Anna Wackenhuth, awackenhuth@endeavorb2b.com
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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned Los Angeles womenswear designer Mona Thalheimer will unveil a commemorative scarf on August 22 dedicated to famed 60's designer Rudi Gernreich. Gernreich, whose revolutionary avant-garde clothing and bathing suit designs still resonate today was born on August 8, 1922. He passed away in 1985.
"Rudi Gernreich had such an amazing influence on my career," said Thalheimer. "Rudi was my inspiration when I was beginning my career in the early 1970s and I feel compelled to celebrate his 100th anniversary in a way that I hope would make him proud."
Thalheimer, the first and only deaf American fashion designer to own and manufacture her own eponymous clothing business, cites her earliest interactions with Gernreich as helping her become a fashion trailblazer. "Rudy taught me to believe who I want to be – and that a deaf person could design regardless of disability."
Thalheimer's design for the commemorative scarf is based on Gernreich's dedication to protecting human rights and liberties, a message that resonates more now than ever following recent Supreme Court decisions. In addition to his numerous fashion awards, Gernreich was a founding member of the Mattachine Society in 1950.
Gernreich's estate is managed by ACLU of Southern California, which will benefit from the sale of the scarf.
The scarf will be unveiled at a ceremony on August 22nd, at The Gemini G.E.L Gallery in West Hollywood. The ceremony will feature Mona Thalheimer and Minouche Kandel, Senior Staff Attorney, LGBTQ, Gender & Reproductive Justice Project, ACLU of Southern California
Q&A with Mona Thalheimer
Q: When did you first meet Rudi? What was that encounter like?
A: I first met Rudi when I was 11 years old
Q As a deaf design student, what did Rudi tell you to continue to achieve your dream?
A: Rudi told me that I could be a designer and that my visual sense enhanced by my hearing loss was an asset.
Also, he told me that if I were to be a designer I must design for myself and what my view is, not just the latest trend.
Q: Rudi passed away in 1985. Why is he still relevant today?
A: Rudi is relevant because everywhere you look you see his influence- the bathing suits, the thong the bold fear less colors.
Q: Are your designs influenced by Rudi?
A: While my aesthetic is different than Rudi's, it is what Rudi would want as he always told me to be what I wanted and dreamed of being. I am here today because of mentors like Rudi.
Q: "You are what you decide you want to be" is a major theme of the scarf. What do you mean by that?
People want to put you in a box. When they ask me who I am if I do not say I am deaf first they are taken aback. I am the only person who can say how I define myself.
A: Rudi always believed in everyone's human potential. When I was a child, he valued my opinion in fashion and valued all people in fashion and in life."
Q: How does that resonate in 2022?
A: Rudi always believed that everyone was somebody and their value as a person was defined by their energy, enthusiasm and most of all love.
Q: If you could say anything to Rudi today, what would that be?
A: Rudi, your designs, your values are in season because of your heart and love people.
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SOURCE Mona Thalheimer Designs | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/fashion-pioneer-rudi-gernreichs-100th-anniversary-birth-celebrated-by-designer-mona-thalheimer/ | 2022-08-16T19:31:55Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/fashion-pioneer-rudi-gernreichs-100th-anniversary-birth-celebrated-by-designer-mona-thalheimer/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
FIRST STEP INTO METAVERSE
HONG KONG, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingdomverse has arrived with its first offering, the mobile game Defend The Kingdom, which will be offered to the Monkey Kingdom community as a closed Alpha before its full launch.
Kingdomverse is the first metaverse to bridge the metaverse with casual mobile games, a complete ecosystem that offers fun, dynamic games within a 3D virtual world. Players can experience the interactive and immersive metaverse while having the opportunity to engage in a variety of different games and enjoy play-to-earn opportunities.
At its core, Kingdomverse is a strategy game. Within Kingdomverse, players can create and own their individual Kingdoms. Serving as players' homebases, players develop and customize their own realms to battle against other players and earn more rewards. Each individual Kingdom becomes a community unto itself, with other players invited to join a Kingdom of their choice by staking NFTs and becoming a citizen, while helping to develop and battle against other communities. Together, these communities within each Kingdom can play casual mobile games together as well, to unlock in-game assets such as new buildings, armor and items that will give their Kingdom the edge over their rivals.
Defend The Kingdom will be a casual tower defense game. Players will assemble a team of 5 heroes of "Legends" and battle against enemies in two modes, player versus player (PvP) or play with their friends in Co-op mode. Monkey Legend holders can win exclusive prizes and rewards that include upgrades to their NFTs. Furthermore, the closed beta will serve as a trial run in lieu of the full launch later this year, which will include play to earn opportunities in the form of a dual token system.
With the closed alpha launching, step into the world of mobile gaming with the launch of "Defend The Kingdom" mobile tower defense game. Rewards and prizes for top ranked players await, as the Monkey Legend NFT collection comes alive on screen. Closed alpha launch will be up to win exciting prizes and rewards depending on their rank and progress throughout the week. These rewards include limited edition cosmetic upgrades to NFTs, physical items and official collectibles.
For more information, please visit the following websites and social media channels:
Website: https://www.thekingdom.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kingdomverse_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingdomverse_/
Discord: https://discord.gg/monkeykingdom
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Online Advantages Portland SEO Helps Local Companies to Be More Accessible to Potential Customers
PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Matt Maglodi, founder of the full service internet marketing company Online Advantages Portland SEO, is pleased to announce that his company is now offering the very best Portland SEO services.
To learn more about the Portland SEO services that are available from Online Advantages Portland SEO, please visit https://portland-seo.onlineadvantages.net/portland-seo/.
As Maglodi noted, Portland is a unique city with a very distinct cultural blend and vibe. In order for local business owners to survive in the post-COVID environment, they must use every advantage possible to get a leg up on the competition.
This knowledge inspired Maglodi to begin offering local Portland SEO to Portland area business owners.
"At Online Advantages Portland SEO, we make search engine optimization and search engine marketing more accessible to companies in Portland, so your company is more accessible to the potential customers who need the products and services that you offer most," Maglodi said, adding that he and his team are devoted to making SEO and search engine marketing more available to companies throughout the Portland metropolitan area.
In addition to their highly effective local Portland SEO services, Online Advantages Portland SEO can help with all digital and traditional marketing initiatives, all at a price that won't break the bank. These services include, but are not limited to:
- Search Engine Optimization
- Internet Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Business Consulting
- Content marketing
- Ecommerce SEO
- Portland SEO
- Pay-per-click advertising
- SEO audits
- Social media marketing
- Video production
- Web development
- Website design
Online Advantages Portland SEO is proud to offer comprehensive marketing campaigns tailored to the specific needs, strengths, and weaknesses of their clients' businesses.
"Our rigorous marketing strategy process makes sure you're always in the loop and in control of your company's online presence while taking the heavy lifting off you and your staff so you can focus on delivering the excellent, unique services and goods that set your company apart," Maglodi said.
Online Advantages Portland SEO is a unique full service internet marketing company. Founder Matt Maglodi specializes in all aspects of online marketing from search engine optimization, to pay per click advertising, organic search, social media and more. For more information, please visit https://portland-seo.onlineadvantages.net/contact-us/
Online Advantages Portland SEO
Portland, Oregon
(503) 966-8016
https://portland-seo.onlineadvantages.net/
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SOURCE Online Advantages Portland SEO | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/portland-seo-is-latest-service-offering-online-advantages-portland-seo/ | 2022-08-16T19:35:12Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/portland-seo-is-latest-service-offering-online-advantages-portland-seo/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Dublin: Ireland all-rounder Kevin O'Brien on Tuesday announced his retirement from international cricket, leaving a lasting legacy on the game.
Making his debut for Ireland in 2006, O'Brien was a central figure in his team's rise from Associate Membership to Test status across a career that spanned close to two decades. O'Brien bows out with a number of batting records, and as Ireland's leading wicket-taker in the ODI format, claiming 114 scalps at an average of 32.68 and an economy rate of 5.20.
The Irish legend announced his retirement in a long social media post. In his post O'Brien said that he had hoped to retire after playing in the upcoming T20 World Cup, but lack of opportunities has led him to take the decision to hang up his boots.
"Today I announce my retirement from international cricket after 16 years and 389 caps for my country. I had hoped to finish my career at the T20 World Cup in Australia but having not been picked for the Irish squad since last year's World Cup, I feel that the selectors and management are looking elsewhere," said O'Brien in a statement on Twitter.
"I have enjoyed every minute playing for Ireland, made many friends on the pitch and I have so many happy memories to remember from my time playing for the National side," he added.
Among a range of records for Ireland with the blade, O'Brien still holds the record for the fastest ICC Men's Cricket World Cup century, thanks to his incredible match-winning knock in 2011 against England in Bangalore.
The batter belted 13 fours and six sixes during his breath-taking knock of 113, bringing up three figures off just 50 balls as the unfancied side chased down 328 in sweltering conditions.
The all-rounder had a knack of performing on the biggest stage, claiming a crucial wicket in a dramatic 2007 World Cup tie with Zimbabwe, and nursing home a tricky run chase alongside Trent Johnston against Pakistan at the same tournament.
In the middle during Ireland's win over the UAE at the 2015 World Cup, O'Brien was equally vital in Ireland's T20 World Cup campaigns, blazing away 39 not out from just 17 balls against Bangladesh in 2009, capping off the performance by hitting the winning runs.
The 38-year old was a pillar in Ireland's push for Full Membership, and they were granted Test status in 2017 after the team's continued success in global tournaments and World Cricket League events. He leaves the team behind only Paul Stirling in terms of runs across all official international formats (5,820), and behind George Dockrell as the second-highest wicket taker (172).
The veteran has already turned to coaching in his career transition, as a member of Italy's staff during their Cricket World Cup Challenge League campaign, and as a consultant for Estonia prior to their men's 2024 T20 World Cup qualification appearance. | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/08/16/fastest-odi-world-cup-hundred-record-holder-kevin-obrien-retires.amp.html | 2022-08-16T19:41:08Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/08/16/fastest-odi-world-cup-hundred-record-holder-kevin-obrien-retires.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Former Indian captain Kapil Dev has called on cricket's governing body ICC to take steps to protect the Test and One-Day International formats amid the global growth of lucrative domestic Twenty20 competitions.
The proliferation of T20 leagues has further strained cricket's already-bloated calendar, with new competitions in the United Arab Emirates and South Africa set to begin early next year.
The trailblazing Indian Premier League is set to be given an extended window in the ICC's next international calendar while England and Australia are also likely to get dedicated slots for their domestic franchise-based leagues.
The cramped schedule has prompted some players to quit formats, with England's Ben Stokes quitting ODIs last month, while South Africa have dropped an ODI tour of Australia in January as it clashed with the launch of their T20 league.
The ICC has put the onus on member boards to find a balance between domestic and bilateral cricket to better manage the workload of players but Kapil said it has a "bigger responsibility" to manage the sport.
"It's going the way as football in Europe," Kapil told the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday. "They don't play against each country. It is once in four years (during the World Cup).
"Is this what we're going to have, the World Cup and the rest of the time playing club (T20 franchise) cricket? In a similar way, will cricketers eventually be playing mainly the IPL or the Big Bash or something like that?
"The ICC have to put more time into that to see how they can ensure the survival of one-day cricket, Test match cricket, not only club cricket," added Kapil, who lifted the World Cup as India skipper in 1983. | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/08/16/iic-has-to-ensure-survival-of-tests-and-odis-kapil-dev.amp.html | 2022-08-16T19:41:17Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/08/16/iic-has-to-ensure-survival-of-tests-and-odis-kapil-dev.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Batgirl Composer Natalie Holt Reacts To the Film’s Cancellation
Warner Bros.’ decision to shelve Batgirl affected hundreds of individuals who worked on the film for the better part of a year. But even though it’s been two weeks since the film was scrapped, several cast and crew members have yet to weigh in on the fallout from the studio’s actions. This time, its composer Natalie Holt’s turn to address the movie’s fate. In an interview with DiscussingFilm, Holt revealed how much effort she put into Batgirl’s music, and the fact that we may never get to hear her contributions makes the news all the more disappointing.
Holt has almost two decades’ worth of scoring credits under her belt. But her work on the first season of Marvel’s Loki series boosted her profile last year, and even landed her a pair of Emmy nominations for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music. Eventually, Loki’s success caught the attention of Lucasfilm, which hired Holt to compose the music for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. And it sounds like Batgirl would have been a worthy addition to her repertoire.
“I had written about an hour and a half of music,” said Holt. “I’ve been working on it for a year. So yeah, pretty sad what’s happened to it. I was on set last Christmas, [directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah] really loved Loki and that’s why I got picked to do the score for Batgirl. So it’s a shame that it’s not going to be out there in the world after all that time, like having spent a year working on it. Yeah, pretty disappointing.”
RELATED: Batgirl Directors Share Kevin Feige’s Message of Support
Holt didn’t say whether she had actually begun recording Batgirl’s music before WB cancelled the film. Regardless, it’s worth noting that another recent casualty of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, Scoob! Holiday Haunt, is still recording its own music, because the studio already paid for the stage and musicians. Whether or not it actually gets released is still a mystery. But if Batgirl’s music is already in the can, who knows? Maybe Holt’s hard work wasn’t for nothing.
“I think it’s a massive shame,” added Holt. “It’s been a pleasure to work with the people involved, but that’s all I can say.”
Were you looking forward to hearing Holt’s score for Batgirl? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Batgirl and the Birds Of Prey Vol. 1
We are also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. | https://www.superherohype.com/movies/517929-batgirl-composer-natalie-holt-reacts-to-the-films-cancellation | 2022-08-16T19:41:31Z | superherohype.com | control | https://www.superherohype.com/movies/517929-batgirl-composer-natalie-holt-reacts-to-the-films-cancellation | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Ranchi: Amitabh Chaudhary, former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acting-secretary and president of Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), died of heart attack on Tuesday morning. He was 62.
A retired senior IPS officer, who rose to the rank of IGP with the Jharkhand Police, the former top cop was also the chairman of Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).
"Deeply saddened by news of sudden passing away of former JPSC chairman Shri Amitabh Chaudhary. Former IPS officer Amitabh ji played a significant role in development of cricket in the state. May his soul rest in peace and condolences and strength to his family in this hour of grief," Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren tweeted.
An IIT Kharagpur alumnus, Chaudhary was instrumental in getting the first-class status for Jharkhand after the BCCI disbanded the Bihar Cricket Association during the late Jagmohan Dalmiya's tenure in the early part of the new millennium.
Once Jharkhand got the official first-class status, Mahendra Singh Dhoni shifted from Bihar and represented the state till the end of his career.
Chaudhary also played a major role in building one of the finest cricket stadiums in Ranchi and should be considered instrumental in bringing international cricket and IPL to the industrial town.
He had also served as a BCCI joint secretary and was an administrative manager with the Indian team on a few occasions.
However, his toughest assignment was the 2005 tour of Zimbabwe, where the much publicised fall-out happened between erstwhile captain Sourav Ganguly and then coach Greg Chappell.
In fact, it was during that infamous tour that Chappell had sent the e-mail to BCCI president Sharad Pawar, recommending exclusion of Ganguly and a host of other senior players.
Chaudhary's acting secretaryship tenure coincided with Indian cricket's darkest administrative period when Committee of Administrators (CoA) was in charge.
Chaudhary wasn't allowed to function by the COA and it often led to a lot of acrimony.
He was also at the thick of things when the ugly feud between former skipper Virat Kohli and the then head coach Anil Kumble came out in the open.
However, Chaudhary was a raconteur and often on the sidelines of various BCCI meetings would regale his audience with stories that would have everyone in splits. | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/08/16/veteran-bcci-administrator-amitabh-chaudhary-passes-away.html | 2022-08-16T19:41:49Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/08/16/veteran-bcci-administrator-amitabh-chaudhary-passes-away.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
When Shomeka Davis was nearing her Dadeville home on Fulton Street early Tuesday morning, she never dreamed it would be her home that the Dadeville Fire Department was responding to — her home of 15 years.
“We saw all the lights,” Davis said. “I was saying I hope our neighbor hadn’t gotten sick. We headed in because I was wanting to be nosy but this wasn’t the nosy I wanted.”
Davis arrived home to find the Dadeville Fire Department being assisted by Stillwaters and Paces Point volunteer fire departments trying to save her home.
“We were called out at 4:13 a.m.,” Dadeville fire Chief Scott Adkins said. “When it was called in, they said it was fully engulfed.”
Earlier Tuesday morning Davis left her home to go to Waffle House in Auburn.
“Me and my son, I woke him up and said, ‘Let's go eat.’ We do it all the time.
Sometimes we leave at 9 and not come back at 4 in the morning.
“We might go to Birmingham.”
Tuesday morning the menu at Waffle House was simple for Davis and her son.
“He wanted a waffle, some bacon, eggs and grits,” Davis said.
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A strike took out Al-Qaeda leader X, accused of being one of the leaders behind 9/11, in Afghanistan. The first question most have is whether such attacks make us safer or not. A top-notch LaGrange College student’s paper for a national undergraduate research conference provides some answers.
It was October of 2019. ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a U.S. military action. The next day, my students and I analyzed 12 cases of raids or attacks against terrorists, as well as rescue attempts of hostages or the capture of enemy leaders. We found that 75 percent of the time, a President’s approval ratings increase, though in 83 percent of the time, that leader’s polls decline over the next several months, which shows Biden’s boost in the polls may only be temporary.
Al-Zawahiri’s presence in Afghanistan further reveals an additional failure of the Doha Agreement of February 29, 2020, which paved the way for the Taliban to return to power. Their ties to al-Qaeda remain strong, regardless of what they promised back in 2020.
One of my students went a step further in our class. He tested whether the killing of terrorists made them disappear from the headlines, or become a martyr to emulate. Here is what he found.
“One of the main arguments against targeted killings of terrorist leaders is the idea that killing terrorist leaders creates martyrs that end up actually creating more terror,” Parrish began. “For my Special Topics course on Terrorism taught by Dr. Tures, I looked to measure the potential impact that Anwar al-Awlaki had on terrorism in the West. Linked with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Fort Hood Shooting, and the underwear bomber, Awlaki became the first American to be targeted by a drone strike and the first American to be killed by the United States government on orders from a president without due process since the Civil War. But did the killing of Awlaki really make an impact on his ability to influence terror?”
Jaydon continues. “To look at this, I collected data on 167 Jihadi linked terrorist attacks since the cleric first began speaking out against the West. In this data, I found that Awlaki played at least some role in inspiring 52 or about one third of all cases between 2005 and 2021. Awlaki’s impact was greatest in the US and UK where he was influential in around 45 percent of UK terrorist attacks and about 59 percent of US based attacks.” He also went on to find that even in death, the former cleric was able to inspire a sizable number of terror attacks in America and Britain even after his death.
“Despite the US going to great lengths to track and kill Awlaki, the New Mexico born extremist was able to inspire major terrorist events like the Boston Marathon Bombing, 2015 Paris Attack, and the Manchester Arena Bombing,” even after his death, Parrish notes. “The presence of Awlaki’s lectures online have become common in inspiring acts of terror on the West. From an organizational standpoint, the death of al-Zawahiri is sure to be a blow to al-Qaeda, but it may not necessarily be as effective at stopping acts of terrorism.”
This shows that the U.S. needs a greater strategy for battling terrorists after their deaths. Even after their demise, they can inspire others to ruthlessly attack in their name; perhaps the new killer can use the slain terrorist’s elimination as justification for their acts. Showing evidence of the ruthless killings the terrorist was responsible for in life, as well as how such attacks on innocents violates the very religion they claim to represent should also be adopted. It’s clear from Parrish’s research that some terror leaders can be as deadly after their life has ended.
By Jaydon Parrish & John A. Tures | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/opinion/a-footnote-or-a-martyr/article_52ec7e5a-198a-11ed-a32a-2b9f1f27869d.html | 2022-08-16T19:43:24Z | alexcityoutlook.com | control | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/opinion/a-footnote-or-a-martyr/article_52ec7e5a-198a-11ed-a32a-2b9f1f27869d.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Roughly 10 miles is all that separates Reeltown High School from rival Tallassee.
One win is all that separates the two schools from 10 wins in the series.
48 minutes are all that separate the two programs from a 1-0 or 0-1 start.
Not much more could be at stake to begin the football season on Thursday. When Reeltown travels to Tallassee, the game will feel more like a playoff setting than a season opener. Both schools know what is on the line.
The build up for the rivalry game started about a year ago, when Tallassee defeated Reeltown 34-13.
Reeltown’s head coach Matt Johnson said losing that game leaves a sour taste in your mouth for an entire year, or at least until the two teams can play again.
Jump ahead to late July, and both Johnson and Tallassee head coach Mike Battles are slated to speak at High School Football Media Days. Both coaches made sure to note that they instructed their players to not say anything about the rivalry game, as not to give the other bulletin board material.
Nothing any of the players could have said would have made too big of a difference. Many families are split, with one half at Tallassee and one half at Reeltown. Good friends off the field will meet on the grass as enemies. No one needed to say anything at Media Days. It has probably already been said.
A movie has even been made to document the “The Battle of the Tallapoosa.” A television show is being filmed at the game this year to document how monumental this event is.
Reeltown and Tallasee, the time has come.
THE PLAYERS
Reeltown: OL/DL Logan Dillard is the stalwart of Reeltown’s offensive line and plays both tackle positions. … WR/DB Zy Collins is a speedster and big-play threat both at receiver and cornerback. … OL/DL Bowman Brumbeloe will play everywhere across the offensive line this year.
Tallassee: QB Tyler Ellis is entering his fourth year as the starter for the Tigers. … OL/DL Micah Cole returns as one of the most experienced and dominant players on either side of the line. … LB Luke Burdette played outside linebacker last year and is the lone starter returning at the position.
FOUR DOWNS
• Tallassee went 7-3 last season; Reeltown went 6-5.
• Tallassee beat Reeltown, 34-13, in last year’s matchup.
• The two teams are tied in the All-Time matchup, 9-9, dating back to 1984.
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• Reeltown has won five of the last six games in the series.
QUICK HITS
• Tallassee quarterback Ellis totaled over 1,600 all purpose yards last season with 14 touchdowns.
• Tallassee has a .650 winning percentage at home. Reeltown has a .620 winning percentage on the road.
• Both coaches are 1-1 in the series.
• Largest margin of victory is Reeltown winning 35-0 in 1985. Closest margin of victory was Reeltown winning 16-13 in 2003. Reeltown has scored 316 total points in the series, Tallassee has scored 293.
• Tallassee senior running back Jayln Daniels rushed for 310 yards and three scores in last year’s win.
SCHOOL SCHEMES
Reeltown football employs a fairly basic scheme on both sides of the ball, but a scheme the school has been running for decades.
On offense, the Rebels will run a spread. It all starts up front for Reeltown as the team’s offensive line looks more like a line from the college level.
Defensively, Reeltown uses a 3-4 front. Using a nose guard to occupy bodies in the middle of the field, and dropping back into coverage, the Rebels defense tries to keep everything in front of it.
For Tallassee, the offense will employ a multiple quarterback system. Ellis will split reps with others, potentially even skill positions running the wildcat, to give Tallassee some surprise depth and keep defenses honest.
Defensively, Tallassee is multiple and will shift to whatever defense fits. Last season, Tallassee relied heavily on its veteran front seven. With departures to many of the contributors in that group, the Tigers may need to rely on some younger players.
GAME INFORMATION: Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 18. The game will be played at J.E. Hot O’Brien Stadium, in Tallassee.
NEXT UP: Reeltown (0-0) hosts Dadeville; Tallassee (0-0) at Booker T. Washington. | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/sports/battle-of-the-tallapoosa-the-game-for-10-wins/article_1c069edc-1d92-11ed-bfa6-8f19c9859b98.html | 2022-08-16T19:43:24Z | alexcityoutlook.com | control | https://www.alexcityoutlook.com/sports/battle-of-the-tallapoosa-the-game-for-10-wins/article_1c069edc-1d92-11ed-bfa6-8f19c9859b98.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SAUGATUCK, Mich. — *Tune into FOX 17 Unfiltered tonight at 7 p.m. for the full story!
For 18 years, Lauren Stanton worked as a news anchor in West Michigan, keeping people engaged and entertained through her storytelling. Now, she's connecting with her community in a different way, as the co-owner of Retro Boat Rentals in Saugatuck.
"It was one of those things where I was just kind of looking for a career change," Stanton said. "We started this with the idea, (thinking) maybe it would replace my salary. Then my husband and I both quit our jobs. We do this full-time now.”
In 2016, the pair saw a building for lease right on the bank of the Kalamazoo River. This empty, waterfront property seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up.
"So we went to the owners and said, 'Hey, would you mind if we tried to do something here?'" she said. "We gave him a proposal and he agreed to it. Then, over the winter, we rehabbed the building, got it all cleaned up, and then started to come up with the concept of doing this with the retro boats.”
Stanton said the boats are from the best part of the fiberglass boat era.
"It's the jet age, which if you notice the cars from that timeframe, late 50s to early 60s, they were incredible," she said. "The boats were also incredible from the late 50s to early 60s."
She added, "they have the fins and the taillights and the headlights. They look like little cars back in the day. The colors from them — the turquoise and the yellow and the reds — they just have that uniqueness to them that you wouldn't get if you weren't in that late 50s or early 60s timeframe.”
Their fleet is full of more than just retro boats. They also have duffy, pontoon and donut boats.
Plus, they've since expanded to other waterways across the country.
"Now we have the retro boats on the Chicago River," she said. "Our donut boats are on the Chicago River. We have boats in Austin, Texas, and Tampa, Florida, and donut boats in Tempe, Arizona.”
All the boats are fully electric, cruising at a casual speed of five miles an hour. Most can be rented anywhere from one-and-a-half to three hours. | https://www.fox17online.com/fox-17-unfiltered/retro-boat-rentals-floating-its-way-to-the-top-of-tourists-lists | 2022-08-16T19:44:57Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/fox-17-unfiltered/retro-boat-rentals-floating-its-way-to-the-top-of-tourists-lists | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SOCORRO, N.M. — Nearly 11,000 feet above sea level, where you feel like you can nearly touch the sky, that's where we followed researcher Richard Sonnenfeld underground.
"The Indians had kivas, so we ended up calling it a kiva," he said. “So, lightning can strike the top of it and no problem."
Sonnenfeld is a professor of physics at New Mexico Tech University and part of a team of researchers studying lightning at the Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research.
"No pun intended: I get a charge out of my work," Sonnenfeld said.
The underground kiva structure is part of a series of labs at the top of the Magdalena Mountains in New Mexico. It’s a place where lightning gets up close and personal, as captured in a video the lab shared with us.
"It's a place where we can put a variety of instruments to measure electric fields, to measure particles, to do high-speed photography,” Sonnenfeld said. "Thunderstorm research is a fairly small field. You can't just go out and buy the state-of-the-art instruments that we use."
Studying lighting is a huge part of the nearly 60-year-old Langmuir Lab's mission. During that time, researchers here made important discoveries.
"Lightning rods were actually improved for the first time since Ben Franklin. They learned that a completely pointy rod, which is still allowed, is not as effective as a somewhat rounded rod," Sonnenfeld said.
Lightning rods are critical tools that help protect people worldwide from lightning, for example, by attracting lightning to the top of tall buildings so it doesn't hit the ground.
"It's immensely complex,” he said. “It's a spark that can last up to a second, that can travel ten miles. It can travel more."
It can also kill.
So far this year, 13 people have been killed by lightning strikes in states from coast to coast, including in Florida, California, Ohio, Kentucky, and Maryland.
Earlier this month, three people were killed when lightning hit a park near The White House. Among the three killed were James and Donna Mueller, a married couple from Wisconsin who were in their 70s.
"It is just a shock to process that,” said their neighbor, Jacqui Hein, “and it's a shock to process that it happened to people that are so close to you."
At Langmuir Lab, much is still to be discovered about what causes these powerful electric bolts.
"I've been working on it for 20 years and still have a lot to learn,” Sonnenfeld said.
That includes how climate change is affecting lightning and its impact on the ground, particularly in starting wildfires in the West.
“Lightning is going to be an increasing problem with climate change,” Sonnenfeld said. “A lot of instrumentation we've developed can give firefighters earlier warning of a dangerous lightning strike -- and they're already starting to use it -- but we can do that even better."
In the meantime, researchers say people should remember one important thing: to protect themselves and respect this powerful aspect of the planet's weather.
"The best thing to know about lightning safety is if you can hear thunder, you really should be inside,” Sonnenfeld said. “Journalists often ask, 'Well, what do I do if I'm outside?' and the best answer is, 'Go Inside.'" | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/mountaintop-lab-on-the-cutting-edge-of-lightning-research | 2022-08-16T19:45:15Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/mountaintop-lab-on-the-cutting-edge-of-lightning-research | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Walt Disney Company (DIS) announced its financial results for fiscal Q3 2022 last Wednesday, reporting that both sales and (pro forma) profits topped analyst expectations, coming in at $1.09 per share and $21.5 billion respectively. Disney+ subscribers grew 31% year over year to 152.1 million, and ESPN+ subscribers grew even faster — up 53% to 22.8 million.
Even Hulu grew its subscriber count for Disney, albeit at a more leisurely 8% rate — 46.2 million subscribers. And going forward, Disney projected that its subscriber growth will actually accelerate in the year’s final fiscal quarter.
In a note responding to earnings, Morgan Stanley analyst Benjamin Swinburne reiterated his Overweight (i.e. Buy) rating and $125 price target on the House of Mouse. And it wasn’t hard to figure out what Swinburne liked about Disney, either. He titled his report: “Streaming Phase II, the Drive to Profitability.”
Although Swinburne noted that it was Disney’s Parks & Experiences division that “led” the company’s results higher, and admitted that these are “uniquely attractive businesses which now and in the future drive over half of Disney’s earnings,” the analyst’s focus is clearly on “Disney’s content assets [that are] both under-earning and under-valued.”
It’s hard to earn money in streaming television, admits Swinburne, pointing to the troubles that Disney rival Netflix has been having with subscriber cancellations. But Disney is at least doing well with its preliminary goal of ramping up its subscriber base, which provides the revenues that should lead to profits in time. Disney+ has already passed the high end of the company’s original goal (stated in April 2019) of attracting up to 90 million subscribers. (And that’s not counting Hotstar subscribers in India — where management expects to have 80 million subscribers there alone by 2024). In fact, not even counting Hotstar, Disney appears to be two years ahead of schedule in reaching its subscriber goals with Disney+.
Across its several streaming brands, Disney now boasts a total of 220 million subscriptions, and more than $20 billion in annual revenue from streaming.
That being said, Disney has yet to achieve profitability in the streaming business. Operating losses from streaming topped $1 billion in fiscal Q3, and Disney is likely to lose $800 million or more in fiscal Q4, says the analyst.
But — and this is key — Disney’s streaming business may be on the cusp of profitability as it plans to hike prices for Disney+, and also introduce an ad-supported tier of Disney+ subscriptions in December. While hiking prices carries with it the risk of scaring away subscribers, Disney plans to release new content in Q4 that may cause subscribers to think twice before abandoning the service. In Swinburne’s view, the net result of these moves could be as much as 35% full-year revenue growth for Disney in fiscal 2022, and 50% revenue growth in 2023. And by 2024, the analyst is forecasting that Disney+ will finally be operating in the black.
Swinburn recommends that investors buy the stock before that happens. (To watch Swinburn’s track record, click here)
All in all, DIS has 21 recent analyst reviews, breaking down to 17 Buys and 4 Holds – this gives the stock a Strong Buy consensus rating. Shares are selling for $126.45 and have an average price target of $138.8, which amounts to ~10% upside potential. (See DIS stock forecast on TipRanks)
To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/its-time-to-place-a-down-payment-on-the-house-of-mouse | 2022-08-16T19:46:22Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/its-time-to-place-a-down-payment-on-the-house-of-mouse | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
In an environment where many retailers are under pressure to perform, Walmart (WMT) once again showed off its incredible ability to survive. Walmart’s earnings report proved a welcome boost to the company’s share price. TipRanks’ consensus looked for Walmart to post $1.62 per share in earnings. WMT handily beat that estimate by coming in at $1.77 in adjusted earnings. However, that figure was just a hair under last year’s earnings per share figure at this time, which came in at $1.78.
Revenue fared every bit as well. A Refinitiv consensus looked for $150.81 billion in revenue; Walmart posted $152.86 billion. Same-store sales in the U.S. added 6.5%, though that figure doesn’t include fuel. Given that estimates looked for a jump of 5.9%, Walmart did better than expected once again.
Interestingly, a recent TipRanks article that discussed WMT’s website traffic trends predicted the surge that was to come, as Walmart’s website traffic grew 26.4% year-over-year in Q2.
The fact that Walmart still succeeded against estimates despite being down against this time last year is, in a nutshell, why I’m bullish on Walmart. There are few retailers that are set up for surviving market downturns the way Walmart is, and that should make it an investment worth pursuing.
The last 12 months saw WMT shares on the rise for a while. The company was on track for a winning year until May 17. That started a drop that took about a fifth out of the company’s stock value. Since then, Walmart has struggled to recover. It’s made some gains, but it’s still down against what it was this time last year.
Is Walmart Stock a Buy or a Sell?
Turning to Wall Street, Walmart has a Strong Buy consensus rating. That’s based on 24 Buys and seven Holds assigned in the past three months. The average Walmart price target of $144.55 implies 3.3% upside potential.
Analyst price targets range from a low of $170 per share to a high of $110 per share.
Investor Sentiment Proving Surprisingly Tepid
Analysts are big on Walmart right now, but what about investors? Some metrics may not be as positive as you might expect. Walmart currently has a 7 out of 10 Smart Score on TipRanks. That’s the highest level of “neutral,” suggesting a slightly better than even chance that Walmart will ultimately outperform the broader market.
Additionally, Walmart insiders have a clearly mixed view as well. Insider trading at Walmart has been heavily Sell-weighted for the last 12 months but has been increasingly Buy-weighted in the last three. In the previous three months, Buy transactions outpaced Sell transactions by a ratio of 18 to six. Given that all of these were considered “uninformative” transactions, that only tells us so much.
Going back to the full year, meanwhile, shows a much more pessimistic picture. Walmart insiders staged 141 Sells against just 69 Buys.
Taking on a Recession and Mildly Winning
A recession is pretty much baked in at this point. Even just two days ago, BMO Capital Markets’ Kelly Bania downgraded Dollar General (DG) to a Hold. Bania noted that the current share price for Dollar General already reflects the impact of a recession on shoppers’ preferences. As disastrous of news as this is for other retailers, for Walmart, the news is nowhere near so dire.
It’s not that Walmart is looking especially bright. Rather, it’s looking a lot less dim than many of its contemporaries in the retail sector. Just under a month ago, Walmart offered some concerning news about overall profit levels.
A combination of factors was likely to hurt the company, including declining margins as customers put more money into necessities and less into things like apparel and electronics.
Plus, supply-chain issues were hitting the company hard. In some stores, there are signs of a supply glut starting to hit as the various snags in the supply chain start to unravel slowly.
You may remember when there were all those supply ships parked off the California coast? The massive logjam was only starting to break in February 2022. Those goods then started to hit stores right about the same time that recessionary fears started up.
Now, retailers all up and down the spectrum—Walmart included—are facing a pile of new supplies coming in at a time when shoppers want to buy less out of concern for their wallets.
Walmart has already reduced its purchase orders. That’s a good move to help ensure a minimized glut, but a glut remains a glut, and Walmart will have to address that, going forward.
I was personally in a Walmart over the weekend. Row after row of grills greeted me, and this with only a few weeks left in the summer grilling season. Perhaps most unusual was the garden center, with three pallets of clearance-priced toys sitting therein.
Walmart’s future profits are likely to be impacted by that supply glut. Discounts and markdowns will be needed to get those clearance items, from grills to toys, out of the stores.
Worse for Walmart, those discounts are likely going to have to be substantial. A recessionary environment ensures that customers won’t want to pay much for anything that isn’t a necessity.
Despite this, Walmart’s future still looks fairly bright. Walmart has been historically recognized as a “recession-proof stock.” Though that’s not true in the strictest sense, Walmart does tend to do better during a poor economy than in a booming economy.
Why? A practice called a “trade down.” Shoppers will tend to pursue lower-cost alternatives in a bad economy. This better ensures that customers continue to have money they can spend on necessities.
With customers eager to survive a recession, and behaving accordingly, that offers better conditions for Walmart to succeed. Customers flush with cash will buy what they perceive as better quality items. Parents with plenty of money won’t buy their kids clearance-priced Adventure Force toys but rather something with a media tie-in.
When things turn south, though, customers focus harder on necessities and making their dollars go farther. That is most of Walmart’s stock in trade.
Conclusion: Walmart’s Time to Shine is Dawning
Walmart has often done better during a recession than its contemporaries. Its pursuit of low prices and maximum customer value doesn’t always do it a service when times are good. However, when times turn south—and they always do at some point—that’s when Walmart’s practices step up to win.
Yes, Walmart will have hard times ahead like any other. The lower-income shopper may be even lower income in the next few months. Still, with middle-income shoppers becoming lower-income, there will likely be replacements waiting in the wings.
That’s good news for Walmart; just who is in their customer pool doesn’t matter so much as how many customers are in said pool.
That’s why I’m bullish on Walmart. Throw in the fact that Walmart is currently trading just under its average targets, and a reasonable buy-in point emerges. Current macroeconomic conditions pose a great potential win for Walmart. All it needs to do now is capitalize on that for a win. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/why-walmart-stock-is-surging-5-3-today | 2022-08-16T19:46:29Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/why-walmart-stock-is-surging-5-3-today | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — A man who led police on a weeklong, multi-state manhunt and later tried to escape from jail received a life sentence.
Jesse R. Spitzer, 30, of Sultan, Wash., pleaded guilty in July to 16 charges, most of them felonies, including four counts of aggravated assault, six counts of grand theft and one count of robbery, as reported by our news partners, the Coeur d'Alene Press.
First District Judge Lamont Berecz handed down a sentence on Friday of life in prison with 20 years fixed. That means Spitzer will be eligible for parole when he’s 50 years old.
The sentence is the result of a Rule 11 plea deal brokered by the prosecution and defense.
A Rule 11 plea agreement is a deal where the defendant pleads guilty to a certain charge in exchange for a certain sentence. A judge can accept or reject a Rule 11 agreement but cannot alter the terms.
In exchange for Spitzer’s guilty plea, the state dismissed 18 charges, including three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, as well as a habitual offender enhancement.
Spitzer was arrested in January for a string of burglaries and vehicle thefts in Washington and North Idaho.
The crime spree began after he was suspected of stealing a vehicle in east Snohomish County on Jan. 21.
Police and K-9s chased Spitzer into the woods near Gold Bar, Wash., the following day, but he escaped. He reappeared after a car crash in Chelan County, evading authorities again.
After stealing a firearm from a vehicle in Post Falls, Spitzer led police on a foot chase and disappeared.
Officers from multiple agencies caught up with him in Kellogg the next night. He fled along eastbound I-90 in another stolen vehicle, reportedly shooting at police during the high-speed chase.
Spitzer continued into Wallace, where he carjacked a couple at gunpoint.
Law enforcement chased Spitzer over Lookout Pass and into Montana. Near the town of Haugan, he reportedly threatened officers with a handgun and bolted.
Police arrested Spitzer after finding him hiding in a camper near the $50,000 Silver Dollar Bar and Motel.
It wasn’t Spitzer’s first brush with the law.
In 2011, a 19-year-old Spitzer pleaded guilty to attempted murder after shooting at a sheriff’s sergeant while trying to avoid arrest in Nevada. He was sentenced to up to 22 years in prison.
After his arrest in Montana, Spitzer was booked into the Kootenai County jail and held on $1 million bail.
In April, he reportedly pried a leg off the metal desk in his cell and used it to smash the lock on the door. Upon noticing him outside his cell, staff locked down the jail and instituted inmate escape protocols.
Spitzer reportedly surrendered after law enforcement deployed sting ball grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas.
Judge Berecz ruled later that month that Spitzer was unfit to stand trial due to mental illness.
The court committed Spitzer to care and treatment at an Idaho Department of Correction facility. His competency was deemed restored in July.
Before handing down the sentence, Berecz said Spitzer’s crimes will have a lasting impact on his victims.
“It goes beyond money or loss of property,” he said. “There is a violation of self.”
Wallace resident Leigh Lutich Ligenza, whose car Spitzer stole at gunpoint, was present for the sentencing.
“I know he should be incarcerated, but it was very sad,” she said Monday. “He seemed genuinely remorseful and apologized several times throughout, even after the judgement. I remember thinking that I wished they had shot him that night. But it’s not that simple anymore.”
Though Spitzer will be eligible for parole in 20 years, Berecz noted that there is no guarantee of release.
“This is up to you and your willingness to engage in treatment,” he said. “Should you not, you are a risk to society and life is warranted.”
The Coeur d'Alene Press is a KREM 2 news partner. For more from our partners, click here. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/crime/sultan-man-gets-life-in-prison-for-multi-state-crime-spree/293-3a104f00-3358-4350-a206-7d819b4ac371 | 2022-08-16T20:00:44Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/crime/sultan-man-gets-life-in-prison-for-multi-state-crime-spree/293-3a104f00-3358-4350-a206-7d819b4ac371 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho lawmakers who made it more difficult for transgender people to change the sex listed on their birth certificates despite a U.S. court ruling banning such obstacles must pay $321,000 in legal fees to the winning side after losing in the same court.
Republican Gov. Brad Little and Republican Secretary of State Lawerence Denney on the State Board of Examiners on Tuesday approved paying the winning side’s legal fees set by the court in June.
The court in March 2018 banned Idaho from automatically rejecting applications from transgender people to change the sex listed on their birth certificates. The court ruled the restriction violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
But lawmakers in 2020 approved a ban anyway, and Little signed the bill into law. The 2018 case was reopened and Idaho lost again, resulting in the $321,000 legal bill. The state previously paid $75,000 after losing the initial case in 2018.
The plaintiffs in the case were represented by Lambda Legal, which on its website describes itself as a national legal organization working to get full civil rights recognition for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV. The plaintiffs sought roughly $450,000, but the court reduced that amount to what it considered reasonable by looking at the case's complexity and hours billed.
The Board of Examiners typically sends such bills to the Constitutional Defense Council, comprised of the governor, attorney general and leaders of the House and Senate. The council controls the constitutional defense fund that has traditionally gone to pay the winning side's legal fees when Idaho loses court cases. That fund has paid out more than $3 million.
But the board on Tuesday instead sent the bill to the Legislature. The Legislature isn't scheduled to meet until January. Meanwhile, the $321,000 is growing at an interest rate of 2.14% until it's paid, according to a letter from the Idaho attorney general's office to Brian Benjamin at the state controller's office.
The Legislature has several potential options for paying the bill, Benjamin said. Lawmakers could send it to the Constitutional Defense Council. There is also the legislative legal defense fund controlled by the leaders of the House and Senate, currently Republican House Speaker Scott Bedke and Republican Senate President Pro-Tem Chuck Winder.
Finally, lawmakers could appropriate the money from some other source.
Regardless, “it's all taxpayer money,” Benjamin noted.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/idaho/ap-id-transgender-lawsuit-idaho/293-7aed7b1d-a7d0-48f4-9d48-440ba91f619e | 2022-08-16T20:00:50Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/idaho/ap-id-transgender-lawsuit-idaho/293-7aed7b1d-a7d0-48f4-9d48-440ba91f619e | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — A $40 million expansion project that includes the Kootenai Health Heart Center, operating rooms and Kootenai Outpatient Surgery is moving ahead at Kootenai Health, reports our partners from the Coeur d'Alene Press.
It will add 37,000 square feet to the heart center, nine new patient rooms, a new cardiac catheterization lab and a new electrophysiology lab for heart rhythm disorders.
Dr. Eric Wallace, interventional cardiology medical director, said it’s time for the cardiovascular division to enhance its facilities, which are about 15 years old.
The expansion will allow them to see more patients and provide more same-day procedures.
“I think that will improve our opportunity to care for you and your family members,” Wallace said during a recent Kootenai Health Foundation program.
Construction began in September 2021. It will be completed in phases. The heart center is scheduled to be completed in fall 2023.
The expansion is being funded through capital reserves, debt and donations to the Kootenai Health Foundation, according to a statement from the hospital.
The heart center expansion will occur on the second floor of Kootenai Health’s main facility.
New diagnostic imaging equipment will provide high-definition, real-time views of patients’ hearts and vascular systems.
“Together, this expanded space and enhanced technology in the hands of our capable and committed physicians and staff members will enable Kootenai Health to expand community access to care with enhanced safety features,” reads a project update from the Kootenai Health Foundation.
The need for heart center expansion is great and growing. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. About one in four deaths is due to a form of this disease, according to Kootenai Health.
Wallace credited an efficient and dedicated heart center staff with rising to the challenge and keeping up with demand for services, especially through the past five years.
“I find it hard-pressed to have a community of this size that, in my mind, can deliver the care that we do. We take pride in it,” said Wallace, who has been with Kootenai Health seven years. "We're not just here for a job. We're here to be a part of this community and take care of it."
The expansion will allow the heart center to not only improve service and provide more space and equipment, but also recruit more physicians.
Currently, Kootenai Health has three cardiothoracic surgeons, six interventional cardiologists, six general cardiologists and two electrophysiologists.
Recruiting efforts are underway for two more electrophysiologists, four cardiologists and one interventional cardiologist by end of 2022.
With completion of the heart center expansion, Kootenai Health will have the capacity to hire five new interventional cardiologists, four electrophysiologists, three vascular surgeons and eight non-interventional cardiologists.
“So we're excited for the project," Wallace said. "We appreciate the community support."
Dr. Robert Burnett, cardiothoracic surgery medical director, said they have performed more than 4,500 open-heart operations since the inception of the cardiac heart program in 2003.
They have performed those operations with a mortality rate of less than 1%, which is about half of what is expected of the national database, he said.
“We can tell patients when they come to us that when you have open heart surgery, that you are twice as likely to survive or half as likely to not survive, than if you go to Spokane or anywhere else in the country," he said.
“That's something that we're very proud of,” Burnett added.
He said they go to great lengths to provide full cardiothoracic surgery care so people don't have to leave, except in rare cases.
“This heart center expansion is very important to the whole service line," Burnett said.
Kootenai Health's expansion also includes outpatient surgery, with nine recovery bays; the main operation room, with two new operating rooms; and improved electronic health records.
The Coeur d'Alene Press is a KREM 2 news partner. For more from our partners, click here.
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To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/kootenai-county/kootenai-county-idaho-hospital-expansion/293-2cce1602-9bc5-4687-ba07-457bd98de39d | 2022-08-16T20:00:57Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/kootenai-county/kootenai-county-idaho-hospital-expansion/293-2cce1602-9bc5-4687-ba07-457bd98de39d | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LONDON, UK — A law has taken effect in Scotland to ensure period products are available free of charge to anyone who needs them.
The Scottish government said it became the first in the world to legally protect the right to access free period products when its Period Products Act came into force Monday.
Under the new law, schools, colleges and universities as well as local government bodies must make a range of period products such as tampons and sanitary pads available for free in their bathrooms. The Scottish government already invested millions of pounds since 2017 to fund free period products in educational institutions, but the law makes it a legal requirement.
A mobile phone app also helps people find the nearest place — such as the local library or community center — where they can pick up period products.
“Providing access to free period products is fundamental to equality and dignity, and removes the financial barriers to accessing them," Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said.
“This is more important than ever at a time when people are making difficult choices due to the cost of living crisis and we never want anyone to be in a position where they cannot access period products," she added.
The bill, which was passed unanimously in 2020, was introduced by Scottish Parliament lawmaker Monica Lennon, who had campaigned against “period poverty” — when someone who needs sanitary products can’t afford them.
“Proud of what we have achieved in Scotland,” Lennon tweeted Monday. “We are the first but won’t be the last.”
The Scottish government said its move was world-leading, with countries including South Korea and New Zealand taking similar approaches.
Last year New Zealand’s government said all schools in the country were to offer free period products, as part of a drive to help students from poorer families who were missing school because of period poverty. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/scotland-law-period-products-free-for-all/507-e5ce489e-8351-4674-91f3-b8b85e40c108 | 2022-08-16T20:01:03Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/scotland-law-period-products-free-for-all/507-e5ce489e-8351-4674-91f3-b8b85e40c108 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BOISE, Idaho — Lori Vallow was seen in court on Tuesday morning for Judge Steven Boyce to take up two motions filed by the defense.
Vallow will face trial in January 2023 in Boise with her husband Chad Daybell for the alleged murder of Daybell's ex-wife, Tammy, and Vallow's two children, JJ and Tylee. Vallow remained silent during her plea entry earlier this year, prompting an entry of a "not guilty" plea.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty due to what they call "aggravating circumstances" that contribute to the nature of the alleged crimes. A notice of intent to seek the death penalty in the case was filed on May 2.
In the hearing on Tuesday, Vallow's attorney John Thomas argued that he wants a probable cause hearing for the alleged aggravating factors that contribute to the nature of the murder and conspiracy charges, as well as splitting the conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft charges because "it could be confusing to a jury."
In June 2020, investigators found the remains of JJ and Tylee outside of Rexburg, on the property of Chad Daybell, Vallow's fifth, and current, husband.
The couple has been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Vallow's kids, as well as Daybell's late wife, Tammy Daybell, who died in October of 2019.
RELATED: Watch: Rexburg detective describes watching JJ's body be unearthed on Chad Daybell's property
"A person's life is on the line," Thomas told Boyce. Thomas voiced he was worried confusion surrounding the different charges would bring everyone back to court later on with more issues to solve, especially since the death penalty is being sought.
"The conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft are two separate conspiracies," he said.
Prosecutor Rob Wood said that Vallow and Daybell conspired to kill her two children to collect their social security funds. Both those charges, count one and three, are listed in the grand jury indictment.
The defense would like them severed because they believe the jury would not know how to analyze the charges and come to a verdict.
"Once the murder is committed the alleged conspiracy is over," Thomas said.
Wood argued in response this was not true -- you can have multiple conspiracies that are ongoing in one case, he told the judge.
"There can be ongoing conspiracies. It ended when social security stopped paying out the money that was being stolen," Wood said.
Additionally, Thomas would like a probable cause hearing on the alleged aggravating factors so the jury can determine -- or not determine -- a death sentence. These factors are circumstances surrounding a possible crime that can make it more severe or heinous in nature.
"Just as Mrs. Daybell is entitled to a grand jury finding of probable cause on what charges are brought against her, she is likewise entitled to a grand jury finding of probable cause on each alleged statutory aggravating factor," the defense said in the original motion.
Boyce is expected to issue a written decision on the motions at a later date.
The Ada County courthouse is preparing for the January trial following judge Steven Boyce's ruling to move the trial from Fremont County in Eastern Idaho to Boise.
Daybell's attorney originally made the request for a change of venue, arguing that significant media attention would affect the ability to find a fair and unbiased jury in Fremont County.
Another reason for the ruling was so Ada County jurors would not have to be transported between the two counties for the duration of what is expected to be a 10-week long trial.
However, the case is still part of that Fremont County jurisdiction, so Ada County Courthouse will be providing the space and facilities, as well as local Ada County jurors to try the case.
Watch more on the case of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan:
See all of the latest coverage in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.krem.com/article/news/special-reports/vallow-daybell-motion-hearing-tuesday/277-88cc1885-a77b-4458-b43c-ed9d7a442e12 | 2022-08-16T20:01:09Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/special-reports/vallow-daybell-motion-hearing-tuesday/277-88cc1885-a77b-4458-b43c-ed9d7a442e12 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Over the past couple of months, an increasing number of local municipalities have tracked the spread of monkeypox in their communities by monitoring their untreated wastewater.
On Aug. 11, the White House announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is adding monkeypox tracking to its National Wastewater Surveillance System. The National Wastewater Surveillance System is a CDC-run partnership with local health departments that originally tracked the presence of the COVID-19 virus in wastewater.
VERIFY reader William sent an email to ask about the likelihood that monkeypox could spread through wastewater.
THE QUESTION
Is there evidence monkeypox can spread through wastewater?
THE SOURCES
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Yale Medicine
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Mark Sobsey, Ph.D., a retired University of North Carolina professor who specializes in pathogens found in water, food and other environments
THE ANSWER
No, there isn’t evidence monkeypox can spread through wastewater.
WHAT WE FOUND
To date, there hasn’t been evidence of any monkeypox cases that spread through wastewater, and experts believe wastewater transmission is highly unlikely.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “there have been reports of traces of the virus DNA found in wastewater samples,” but “no intact virus has been found to date.”
A virus' DNA survives longer than its other parts, which is why it can be found in wastewater, but it lacks the ability to transmit the disease on its own.
“Bits of the nucleic acid can hang around very long before they get degraded,” said Mark Sobsey, Ph.D., a retired University of North Carolina professor who specializes in pathogens found in water, food and other environments.
Nucleic acids are the “NA” part of “DNA.”
“The infectivity, the ability of the virus to cause infection and illness, that gets lost relatively early on,” Sobsey continued.
Sobsey explained that viruses like monkeypox have an envelope around them. This envelope has the proteins necessary to spread disease, but the envelope is fragile and breaks down easily.
Since DNA will outlast the rest of the virus, health experts can detect the occurrence of monkeypox in a community through its wastewater. According to Stanford University, which is co-leading the WastewaterSCAN initiative to expand wastewater surveillance to monkeypox and other viruses, this testing strictly measures short pieces of viral DNA in water. Wastewater surveillance does not measure infectious virus and thus cannot detect if infectious virus is in the water.
Wastewater testing is used as an alternative to case data tracking, which can be skewed based on the frequency the public tests for disease and can lag behind the actual spread of disease. If public health experts find a lot of monkeypox DNA in a city’s sewage, that means there are likely a lot of people who have the virus.
“There has been detection of monkeypox genetic material in untreated wastewater that has been shed by infected persons and is tested using a PCR-based method similar to SAR-CoV-2 testing,” a spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said. “Presence of genetic material does not necessarily mean that virus is intact or infectious. From the evidence we have up to now, the risk is low.”
More from VERIFY: Yes, monkeypox can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, but current risk is low
On monkeypox information pages maintained by the CDC, WHO and Yale Medicine, there is no mention of wastewater as an avenue for monkeypox transmission. They all list direct contact with a person or surface contaminated with the monkeypox virus as the most common means of transmission, and list contact with respiratory secretions as another means of potential spread.
The CDC does say scientists are still researching if monkeypox can spread through feces or urine, but that is not the same as surviving in treated wastewater.
Sobsey said wastewater disinfection, often accomplished with chlorine or ultraviolet light, is used primarily to control hardier viruses without the fragile envelope, such as polio. He said that means these methods are even more effective against a weaker virus like monkeypox. Filtration methods used in water treatment are also fairly effective at removing the virus from water, Sobsey said, since monkeypox is one of the bigger viruses in physical size.
There is reason to be cautious about monkeypox in bathrooms, according to the CDC, but not because there is any risk of transmission from wastewater. If an infected person’s rash or skin lesions come into contact with a bathroom surface, such as the toilet seat, faucets or countertops, then there is a risk the virus could spread from those surfaces.
The CDC says a person with monkeypox should wipe down any surface their rash touches with disinfectant after using a bathroom, and to use disposable gloves if the rash is present on the person’s hands. Both the person with monkeypox and anyone else who uses a bathroom should wash their hands with soap and water to reduce the risk of virus surviving on their hands. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/verify/monkeypox-verify/no-evidence-monkeypox-spread-wastewater-transmission/536-995aad6b-8dae-49e3-9965-a6d90e41f8ed | 2022-08-16T20:01:15Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/verify/monkeypox-verify/no-evidence-monkeypox-spread-wastewater-transmission/536-995aad6b-8dae-49e3-9965-a6d90e41f8ed | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Arlington County Fair is back for five days of merriment in and around Thomas Jefferson Community Center this week.
“Every year, we look for new and innovative ways to highlight what makes Arlington so special,” said Barbi Broadus, who chairs the non-profit board that has overseen the fair for the past 46 years.
Events will run Aug. 17-21. Highlights include midway games, amusement rides, entertainment, competitive exhibits, family activities, a beer garden and shopping, plus uniquely fair-like (or just plain unique) events such as a pie-eating competition, goat yoga and even ax-throwing.
Admission is free. While some on-site parking is available, there also will be plentiful alternatives for those who wish to park elsewhere and take shuttle buses, use public transportation or bicycle/walk to the event.
For full details and a schedule of events, see the Website at www.arlingtoncountyfair.us.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/arlington-county-fair-draws-ever-closer/article_99cfde12-1d8a-11ed-99fe-1379c741f133.html | 2022-08-16T20:02:54Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/arlington-county-fair-draws-ever-closer/article_99cfde12-1d8a-11ed-99fe-1379c741f133.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Arlington County Treasurer’s Office will be sending out approximately 50,000 fewer car-tax bills this year, and for a many people, that will mean – hooray! – no tax is owed for the year.
Arlington County Board members as part of their annual budget process eliminated the $33-per-vehicle decal fee (the name being a remnant of when vehicle owners put decals on their windshield to signify payment).
Previously, the administrative fee was paid on every vehicle, even those assessed at less than $3,000 and therefore not owing any tax.
About 20,000 vehicles will thus have nothing owed on them, and the treasurer’s office has decided not to send notices to them.
An additional 30,000 county residents who own two or more vehicles under the same name will see their billing information consolidated into a single mailing in order to achieve “significant savings on paper and postage,” Treasurer Carla de la Pava said in an Aug. 15 letter that is accompanying tax bills.
(For technical reasons, about 1,000 households will continue to receive separate bills.)
The treasurer’s office – which collects the taxes, but doesn’t set tax rates – plans to offer paperless-billing options in the future, and “if you have ideas for how I may better serve you, I welcome your feedback,” wrote de la Pava.
As part of the fiscal 2023 budget process in the spring, County Board members voted to cut the taxable portion of a vehicle’s value from 100 percent to 88 percent, an effort to combat the very unusual situation that has seen prices of used vehicles rise substantially in recent years.
As part of a state subsidy program, there is 100-percent relief on taxes owed on the first $3,000 of the value of vehicles used for non-work-related activities, and 28-percent relief for valuations between $3,000 and $20,000.
An an example: A vehicle (in this case a 2014 Subaru Forester) assessed at $12,975 would have taxes assessed on $11,418 of the value when counting the 12-percent discount. The total bill would be $570.90 at the current tax rate of $5 per $100 valuation, of which $267.85 would be covered by the state subsidy, leaving a bill of $303.05 for the vehicle owner to pay.
(Clean-fuel vehicles also receive rebates, but at a different rate.)
Car-tax bills are slated to arrive in the mail in coming days, and are due by Oct. 5. De la Pava encouraged those who have not signed up for the Customer Assessment and Payment Portal, or CAPP, to do so. There, they can manage accounts for taxes, utilities and pet licenses online.
“CAPP is one of the most visited county-government Websites, with nearly 1 million pages viewed last year alone,” de la Pava said, noting that residents paid nearly $387 million in local taxes and fees through the system in 2021.
For information, see the Website at capp.arlingtonva.us.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/change-to-car-tax-billing-in-arlington-will-save-some-trees/article_f18540d4-1d8a-11ed-aab4-db3c6970c36d.html | 2022-08-16T20:02:57Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/change-to-car-tax-billing-in-arlington-will-save-some-trees/article_f18540d4-1d8a-11ed-aab4-db3c6970c36d.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Supporters of Northern Virginia’s opera scene are hoping to reanimate the dormant Opera Guild of Northern Virginia, which through the years has raised funds and provided other support to opera organizations as well as promoting fellowships among those who appreciate the art form and introducing children to the unique and inclusive nature of opera.
The Opera Guild of Northern Virginia never actually died (“it has its own internal structure, staff and volunteers, as well as its own accountant,” supporters said) but in recent years has been inactive.
Miriam Miller, president of Opera Nova – a professional opera organization that succeeded Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia following its 2011 closure – said the time was right to bring it back to support the arts.
“We are just pushing love, love they neighbor, love your family, love the common good,” Miller said in a recent appeal to supporters of Opera Nova to back the initiative.
A resuscitated Opera Guild of Northern Virginia would serve as a conduit to Opera Volunteers International, which “will give Opera Nova a seat at the top level of the opera world,” Miller said.
Jose Sacin, artistic director of Opera Nova, said the organization is “standing on the shoulders of 60 years of creative expression,” and praised efforts to promote opera through performances designed to appeal to young students.
“I want all children to experience the sheer magic of a live operatic experience,” he said.
For information on Opera Nova and efforts to breathe life into the Opera Guild of Northern Virginia, see the Website at https://www.operanova.net.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/n-va-opera-aficionados-aim-to-rebuild-supportive-guild/article_b5cfc190-1d8a-11ed-aca8-bf6772481964.html | 2022-08-16T20:03:00Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/n-va-opera-aficionados-aim-to-rebuild-supportive-guild/article_b5cfc190-1d8a-11ed-aca8-bf6772481964.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The new president of the Arlington-Alexandria Gay & Lesbian Alliance (AGLA) wants to build on past successes while also creating a bridge to the future.
“Now more than ever, AGLA can and should shine like a diamond in our community and serve as a model nationally and globally,” said T.J. Flavell, who has taken the reins of leadership from longtime president Bruce Hightower.
It is not Flavell’s first time in the post; he previously served as president and in 2018 was a recipient of the organization’s Equality Award. The organization on Aug. 14 hosted a fund-raiser to support its Tiffany M. Joslyn Scholarship Fund, and in September will host its annual ice-cream social as a lead-in to other events.
Flavell is planning to host an “AGLA Listening Tour” at local restaurants and other venues to “hit it out of the ballpark for members and for the community-at-large.”
For information on the organization, see the Website at www.agla.org.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/new-leader-of-local-lgbt-group-aims-to-listen-then-build-footprint-in-community/article_d6735556-1d8a-11ed-a52c-bf369a359f9c.html | 2022-08-16T20:03:01Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/new-leader-of-local-lgbt-group-aims-to-listen-then-build-footprint-in-community/article_d6735556-1d8a-11ed-a52c-bf369a359f9c.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Daniel Phoenix Singh, who served as McLean Community Center’s (MCC) executive director for 16 months, resigned July 26, center officials said Aug. 9.
Fairfax County officials issued a terse statement regarding the departure.
“Fairfax County is working with the MCC Governing Board on the assignment of an interim director to lead the MCC,” officials said in a statement after a Sun Gazette inquiry about the circumstances of the departure. “MCC operations and programs will continue uninterrupted. The Governing Board plans to begin a search for a new executive director in the near future.”
County officials provided no further details about Singh’s departure, but on Aug. 11 announced that Evan Braff, countywide coordinator in the Office of the County Executive, would serve as MCC’s acting executive director starting Aug. 15.
During Braff’s 28-year career with the county, he has served as division supervisor of Therapeutic Recreation, Teen Services, and After-School Programs; division supervisor of Senior Centers; and Regional Services and Center Operations Region 4 manager.
Singh in April 2021 succeeded George Sachs, who retired after 11 years of leading the community center. Sachs had been preceded by a pair of executive directors who served only for only two years each.
Singh set out an ambitious agenda from the get-go, planning to hold public listening sessions on the center’s strategic plan, convene a poetry celebration for Asian and Pacific Heritage Month and resurrect MCC’s former artist-in-residence program.
Singh also hoped to form relationships with Child and Family Services and other organizations outside McLean to fill service gaps and make initial preparations for MCC’s 50th-anniversary celebrations in 2025.
But the community center during this period also became a lightning rod for controversy. The facility received national media attention in June 2021 when it co-sponsored with Dolley Madison Library a “Drag Queen Story Hour” as part of Pride Month. Critics slammed the offering for what they said was indoctrinating children as young as 3 to view “deviant” lifestyles as normal.
The center’s Governing Board came under scrutiny in March this year when the McLean Citizens Association’s board of directors sent the board a letter criticizing its potential re-examination of the board’s memorandum of understanding with Fairfax County.
The existing agreement “enshrines the principle of pairing taxation with public accountability, through an elected Governing Board and strong protections for each resident’s right both to vote and to comment on the MCC’s policies and operations,” wrote MCA president Scott Spitzer.
In response, MCC officials provided an earlier statement from Governing Board chairman Barbara Zamora-Appel that the body neither had proposed changes to the agreement nor begun deliberations on them.
Another controversy cropped up this spring when detractors decried what they said was politicization of the MCC Governing Board’s elections. In May, three candidates backed by some members of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee defeated more conservative challengers.
Before coming to the McLean Community Center, Singh spent a year and a half as division chief of tourism and cultural arts for Baltimore County, Md. He previous did stints as an activation manager at Montgomery Parks in Maryland (one year) and executive director of New Spire Arts (14 months).
Singh earlier had spent slightly more than 20 years working in a variety of capacities for the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Singh also since 2003 has served as artistic and executive director of Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/fairfax-officials-largely-mum-on-departure-of-mclean-community-center-head/article_0ca60ede-1d8b-11ed-949a-03fb1407b7ee.html | 2022-08-16T20:03:01Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/fairfax-officials-largely-mum-on-departure-of-mclean-community-center-head/article_0ca60ede-1d8b-11ed-949a-03fb1407b7ee.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 2 unanimously approved additional traffic-safety measures on a pair of streets in Oakton and McLean.
Motorists will need to proceed extra cautiously on Blake Lane in Oakton, where supervisors OK’d the installation of “$200 Additional Fine for Speeding” signs along that road between Route 29 and Sutton Road.
State law allows maximum fines of $200, plus other applicable penalties, for motorists caught speeding on appropriately designated residential roadways. Those streets must have speed limits of 35 mph or less and have a verified existing speeding problem.
The signs will be financed using $500 from the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) secondary-road construction budget.
Also on Blake Lane, supervisors at the meeting approved installation of a pair of “Watch for Children” signs. The county has proposed placing the signs adjacent to 3011 Steven Martin Drive and 9684 Lindenbrook Street. County officials will finance the signs with $500 from the traffic-calming program’s budget.
The county’s Residential Traffic Administration Program (RTAP) permits such signs near primary entrances to residential neighborhoods or other locations where there are high concentrations of children, such as day-care centers, playgrounds or community centers.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation reviews such sign requests to ensure their placement will be effective and not interfere with other traffic-control devices, county officials said.
County officials have shown keen interest in improving traffic safety along Blake Lane after a June 7 collision at the street’s intersection with Five Oaks Lane killed two Oakton High School students and injured a third, all of whom were walking on an adjacent sidewalk.
Authorities have filed two involuntary manslaughter charges against an 18-year-old motorist, who allegedly was driving 81 mph in a 35 mph zone when his vehicle struck another and then hit the pedestrians.
The Board of Supervisors on Aug. 2 also signed off on the installation of two speed humps on Peabody Drive in McLean’s Pimmit Hills neighborhood.
One sign will be located near 1810, 1812, 1813 and 1815 Peabody Drive and the other adjacent to 1830, 1831 and 1832 Peabody Drive.
Under RTAP, county transportation officials review traffic-calming requests submitted by district supervisors on behalf of homeowners or civic associations. Transportation staffers conduct engineering studies to determine if the proposals meet qualifying criteria, work with the supervisor’s office and community on whether the measures will be viable, then submit the staff’s adopted plan to residents in the surrounding community for approval.
The county’s Department of Transportation on June 29 received verification from the Dranesville District supervisor’s office that the community supported the traffic-calming plans on Peabody Drive.
The project’s $16,000 cost will be financed from the county’s traffic-calming and transportation-improvements funds.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/traffic-calming-project-okd-in-mclean-oakton/article_5122e240-1d8a-11ed-aee6-f3daa8069ef0.html | 2022-08-16T20:03:14Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/traffic-calming-project-okd-in-mclean-oakton/article_5122e240-1d8a-11ed-aee6-f3daa8069ef0.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Family members of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle gathered on what would have been his 37th birthday for the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
According to NPR, his sister, Samantha Smith; his grandmother Margaret Boutte; and his fiancée, actress Lauren London spoke at the ceremony, with Boutte accepting the honor on behalf of the family.
"I think I speak for the entire city of LA when I say that we've always known that Hussle was destined for greatness," London said during the ceremony, ABC News reported. "Nip would've been honored by this moment."
The Grammy Award-winning rapper, whose real name is Ermias Asghedom, was fatally shot on March 31, 2019, in the parking lot of his clothing store, NBC News reported.
He was 33.
In July, the Associated Press reported that Eric Holder was convicted of the first-degree murder of the rapper.
The news outlet reported that Holder, scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 15, faces a possible life sentence in prison. | https://www.wtxl.com/entertainment/nipsey-hussle-posthumously-receives-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame | 2022-08-16T20:05:30Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/entertainment/nipsey-hussle-posthumously-receives-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Grape Harvest Festival returns from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, August 20 at the FAMU Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research, 6361 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee.
The 20th Annual Grape Harvest Festival is expected to draw more than 2,000 participants who will celebrate family, food, fun, and agricultural discovery to recognize the University’s role as a national leader in viticulture research. This is the first grape harvest festival since 2019.
“The FAMU Grape Harvest Festival is not only one of the highlights of the summer, but it is also one of the most fun, family-friendly, health and wellness promoting events in Tallahassee. We are looking forward to welcoming the community back to the Viticulture Center,” said First Lady Sharon Robinson, honorary chair of the Grape Harvest Festival Committee.
Featured activities include vineyard trailer rides, wine-making workshops, grape and wine sampling, mobile marine lab, water slides, grape throwing competition, hula hoop competition, live entertainment, the 5K/2K fun vineyard run and walk-a-thon, grape picking, a health fair, and dozens of community exhibitors and vendors.
The opening ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. featuring remarks from President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., and Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Maurice Edington, Ph.D.
In addition to the various family-friendly activities, participants will have an opportunity to tour more than 45 acres of the University’s premier research vineyards. There will also be wine and cheese tasting as well as a wine-making workshop. Of course, the highlight for many festival fans is grape picking. Registered attendees will be provided a 5-pound durable multi-colored bag to venture into the vineyard and pick their own grapes.
The FAMU Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research is recognized internationally for excellence in warm climate grape research and facilitating outstanding academic programs for experiential learning and student training. Founded in 1978 by an act of the Florida Legislature, the Center is the only specialized research program among the 1890 land-grant colleges and universities dedicated to grapes and wine. It is a national leader in muscadine grape research.
By the USDA charter, the FAMU/Viticulture Center maintains the most extensive muscadine grape germplasm collection in the world and is serving as one of the five National Clean Plant Centers for Grapes.
Capitalizing on the close industry-clientele partnership, the economically feasible and accelerated breeding pipeline has allowed only within the last two years to release three new patented American native grape cultivars: ‘Floriana,’ ‘Florida Onyx’ and ‘Blanc du Soleil.’ Viticulture scientists have also focused on the anti-toxins in muscadine grapes.
Tickets can be purchased on-site the day of the event. General admission is $10. Children under the age of 12 and FAMU students with valid ID are admitted for free.
Senior discount of 20 percent for participants 65 and above; a 50 percent discount for non-FAMU students is available with a valid ID.
Onsite registration for the 2022 Grape Harvest Festival is available at https://my.famu.edu/event/ghf2022.
Festival Parking at the Antique Car Museum, 6800 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, will be open at 7:30 a.m., on the day of the event. A complimentary bus shuttle to the festival ground is provided every 10–15 minutes. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/famus-grape-harvest-festival-returns-august-20 | 2022-08-16T20:05:36Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/famus-grape-harvest-festival-returns-august-20 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The FBI’s National Threat Operations Center in West Virginia gets about 4,500 tips a day.
The information has made a difference in high-profile cases like the attack on the U.S. Capitol, the mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and the recent murders of Muslim men in New Mexico.
“I can tell you, on a daily basis, we are saving lives, whether we’re stopping school shootings, mass casualty events, bomb threats," said FBI Section Chief Sid Patel.
Earlier this year, a public tip led to the arrest of a man in Arizona who was accused of threatening to carry out mass shootings.
The FBI officials say they are now getting more tips because of high-profile cases and more places to make threats, including gaming platforms and apps.
The FBI would prefer for tipsters to leave their information so an agent can follow up, but they will still accept anonymous tips.
If the information is deemed credible and within their jurisdiction, the information gets passed along to a field office.
The FBI also works with local and state jurisdictions and other federal agencies and may determine it’s a matter for their officials. Tipsters may also be referred to 911 or 988.
The FBI handles all sorts of issues from public corruption to civil rights matters.
The FBI wants the public to get comfortable with reporting threats and crimes.
“When in doubt, or when you feel that there is a federal nexus, call the FBI," Patel said. "We’re here to help serve the community and keep you safe."
People can reach the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or by visiting https://tips.fbi.gov/contact. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/fbi-reports-an-uptick-in-tips-following-high-profile-incidents | 2022-08-16T20:05:48Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/fbi-reports-an-uptick-in-tips-following-high-profile-incidents | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PONTIAC, Mich. — Dodge announced the end of an era at the M1 Concourse Monday night as they revealed that its Charger and Challenger production would end in 2023.
The announcement was also streamed on Dodge's YouTube channel.
The Stellantis subsidiary is holding Dodge Speed Week at the Pontiac facility, with three days of announcements ahead of this weekend's Woodward Dream Cruise.
The company says the current production of the two muscle cars will end at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, in December of next year.
“We are celebrating the end of an era — and the start of a bright new electrified future — by staying true to our brand,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer – Stellantis, in a news release. “At Dodge, we never lift, and the brand will mark the last of our iconic Charger and Challenger nameplates in their current form in the same way that got us here, with a passion both for our products and our enthusiasts that drives us to create as much uniqueness in the muscle car community and marketplace as possible.”
Dodge is sending the Charger and Challenger out in style, 7 special-edition models, each of which will have a special "Last Call" plaque under the hood. Six of the new models will pay homage to the heritage of Dodge muscle cars and the Demon, Hellcat, Redeye, Scat Pack, Shaker, and Jailbreak models. Details and specific information on six of the vehicles will be released later this year.
The seventh is being touted as the last of its kind. It will be unveiled at the Las Vegas Specialty Equipment Market Association show.
That show is scheduled for Nov. 1-4.
The new models will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis at top-selling Dodge dealerships. The allocation of all 2023 Charger and Challenger models will take place at one time, allowing customers to decide which dealer to go to.
The list of dealerships will be shared on DodgeGarage.com, which will include information on all 2023 Charger and Challenger inventory at each Dodge dealership.
While Dodge hasn't announced what will be taking the place of the Charger and Challenger in the automaker's lineup, they did tease ahead to Tuesday's announcement, which they said would be about the "first new electrified Dodge." They also teased ahead to Wednesday, when they would announce "something totally new."
Ordering and pricing information for the 2023 Dodge Charger and Challenger will be announced closer to the on-sale date, which is expected to be in October.
Many industry news outlets say Dodge is ready to announce an electric muscle car soon. Motortrend posted an article on the possible car in July. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/last-call-dodge-announces-production-for-charger-challenger-ending-in-2023 | 2022-08-16T20:05:54Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/last-call-dodge-announces-production-for-charger-challenger-ending-in-2023 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SOCORRO, N.M. — Nearly 11,000 feet above sea level, where you feel like you can nearly touch the sky, that's where we followed researcher Richard Sonnenfeld underground.
"The Indians had kivas, so we ended up calling it a kiva," he said. “So, lightning can strike the top of it and no problem."
Sonnenfeld is a professor of physics at New Mexico Tech University and part of a team of researchers studying lightning at the Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research.
"No pun intended: I get a charge out of my work," Sonnenfeld said.
The underground kiva structure is part of a series of labs at the top of the Magdalena Mountains in New Mexico. It’s a place where lightning gets up close and personal, as captured in a video the lab shared with us.
"It's a place where we can put a variety of instruments to measure electric fields, to measure particles, to do high-speed photography,” Sonnenfeld said. "Thunderstorm research is a fairly small field. You can't just go out and buy the state-of-the-art instruments that we use."
Studying lighting is a huge part of the nearly 60-year-old Langmuir Lab's mission. During that time, researchers here made important discoveries.
"Lightning rods were actually improved for the first time since Ben Franklin. They learned that a completely pointy rod, which is still allowed, is not as effective as a somewhat rounded rod," Sonnenfeld said.
Lightning rods are critical tools that help protect people worldwide from lightning, for example, by attracting lightning to the top of tall buildings so it doesn't hit the ground.
"It's immensely complex,” he said. “It's a spark that can last up to a second, that can travel ten miles. It can travel more."
It can also kill.
So far this year, 13 people have been killed by lightning strikes in states from coast to coast, including in Florida, California, Ohio, Kentucky, and Maryland.
Earlier this month, three people were killed when lightning hit a park near The White House. Among the three killed were James and Donna Mueller, a married couple from Wisconsin who were in their 70s.
"It is just a shock to process that,” said their neighbor, Jacqui Hein, “and it's a shock to process that it happened to people that are so close to you."
At Langmuir Lab, much is still to be discovered about what causes these powerful electric bolts.
"I've been working on it for 20 years and still have a lot to learn,” Sonnenfeld said.
That includes how climate change is affecting lightning and its impact on the ground, particularly in starting wildfires in the West.
“Lightning is going to be an increasing problem with climate change,” Sonnenfeld said. “A lot of instrumentation we've developed can give firefighters earlier warning of a dangerous lightning strike -- and they're already starting to use it -- but we can do that even better."
In the meantime, researchers say people should remember one important thing: to protect themselves and respect this powerful aspect of the planet's weather.
"The best thing to know about lightning safety is if you can hear thunder, you really should be inside,” Sonnenfeld said. “Journalists often ask, 'Well, what do I do if I'm outside?' and the best answer is, 'Go Inside.'" | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/mountaintop-lab-on-the-cutting-edge-of-lightning-research | 2022-08-16T20:06:00Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/mountaintop-lab-on-the-cutting-edge-of-lightning-research | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Every new school year, districts across the country look to update their safety measures in the event of an active shooter, but emerging research shows few things have the same effect as simply performing lockdown drills.
“There’s a lot of emotional arguments when it comes to school safety, but we wanted to say if we do careful research about school safety, what will it tell us about this topic?’” said Amanda Nickerson, a school psychology professor at the University of Buffalo and co-author of a new study that looks at the effectiveness of lockdown drills. “Anytime we can give you some more control or agency, as you say, about what specifically to do, it can presumably help to decrease that worry and anxiety and also increase the preparedness.”
The research is the largest study of lockdown drills in U.S. history as it surveyed more than 10,000 students and accrued data from hundreds of schools nationwide.
According to Nickerson and her co-author Jaclyn Schildkraut, the study shows:
- Participation in training and drills led to increased perceptions of preparedness for both students and educators.
- There is no evidence to suggest that any hardening approaches, like arming teachers, metal detectors, and increased armed security, etc., are effective. Nickerson and Schildkraut found they often make students more fearful, disproportionately impact students of color, and require hefty financial measures to maintain them.
- Securing behind a locked door has been identified as the most effective way to prevent injury or death during an active shooter situation.
- Students did not exhibit greater anxiety after participating in lockdown drills; rather, they actually reported feeling better overall, which may be a result of feeling more prepared. Drills may even have had positive effects by empowering students with the skills necessary to respond in an emergency including increased knowledge and awareness of disaster response.
“You know, I have so many people misconstrue lockdowns as we’re teaching students just to passively hide and pray futures and we’re not,” said Schildkraut, a criminal justice professor at the Oswego State University of New York. “We know these are concrete steps that can help save lives in one of these events, so we want people, when we talk about being active, to stay aware of their surroundings.” | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/study-lockdown-drills-most-effective-way-to-prepare-students-during-emergency | 2022-08-16T20:06:06Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/study-lockdown-drills-most-effective-way-to-prepare-students-during-emergency | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
If a person has to go to the bathroom while out in public, it may be difficult to find a toilet without some sort of catch. Often, it’s in a coffee shop, a convenience store, a pharmacy, or another private building, so it’s not a true public toilet.
The U.S. has eight public toilets per 100,000 people. That number is comparable with the rate in Botswana and far behind Iceland’s world-leading 56 public toilets per 100,000.
So why is it so hard to find a public toilet in the U.S.?
It’s a question with a complicated answer, and that has a long history. Surprisingly, it relates to many different issues, including public health, social services, and almost every form of discrimination imaginable.
Public toilets were a fact of life in the U.S. and elsewhere for centuries — at least as far back as the Roman Empire. But they were pretty public, without any walls or barriers between them. The expectation for privacy while going to the bathroom in a public space emerged in the 19th century, with the industrial revolution and houses with modern plumbing.
Later on, in the 19th century and into the early decades of the 20th century, sanitation became a greater priority. As leaders began understanding sanitation's role in containing outbreaks of waterborne diseases, cities built and celebrated their public toilets.
Temple University history professor Bryant Simon, who has studied and is writing an upcoming book on the history of toilets, shared more about how toilets used to be a big deal.
"City officials get on their soapboxes and brag about how much they spend on public bathrooms," Simon said. "They brag about the touch points in these bathrooms. They brag about the brass fittings. They brag about the marble countertops. They brag about the floors. They're proud of their accomplishment."
Bathrooms quickly became points where people were segregated. Bathrooms were split up by gender, as they still frequently are. But the splits can be broader than that and lead to discrimination against many different groups.
For example, public toilets started closing as early as the 1930s, with the LGBTQ community as a target.
"Beginning in the 1930s, 1940s, that early, public officials begin to complain about perversions," Simon said. "They begin to complain about same-sex sex in bathrooms. As there are fears about gay sex in bathrooms, there's fear about people drinking in bathrooms. It's not a very popular city sort of thing to build anymore."
In the first half of the 20th century, bathrooms often were segregated by race, with Black Americans, or Latinos in the Southwest, having their own separate facilities.
"The bathroom sort of operates as a kind of hardware of inequality because, essentially, you needed a public bathroom or a bathroom of some sort in order to be out and in public," Simon said.
Racial segregation in toilets may sound like a distant thing or a footnote, but that legacy extends into the present.
In 2018, two Black men were blocked from using the restroom at a Starbucks location in Philadelphia’s Center City. The incident prompted Starbucks to act as America's de facto public toilet. It changed its policy to allow people to use the restrooms at its more than 15,000 U.S. locations without buying anything.
While money can be a barrier to private toilets in stores, historically, it’s limited access to public standalone toilets. By the 1960s and '70s, public toilets requiring small payments sprung up, but those ended up closing after concerns about gender discrimination.
The other big push to remove public toilets came in the 1980s as part of a broader push to drive unhoused people to the edges of cities by taking away their access to public spaces and aggressively enforcing public urination laws.
Now if you don’t have a home of your own, it can put access to a restroom pretty far away.
"Most of us are used to having our own bathroom," said Raven Drake, Street Roots ambassador program manager. "Where I lived when I was unhoused, the nearest bathroom was a one-mile walk away. Imagine walking a mile to the bathroom, and most of us can't fathom walking 50 feet to our bathroom, much less a mile."
Drake works with unhoused people in Portland as part of the local newspaper Street Roots. She’s an advocate for bathroom access as a central part of addressing homelessness, and she was unhoused herself in late 2019 and early 2020 during some of the strictest shutdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We ran a survey around bathrooms, around the importance of bathrooms and access to clean water with the Joint Office of Homeless Services, and a resounding amount of people answered that they had no access to public restrooms," Drake said. "So we took forth on this initiative of placing throughout the city 172 port-a-potties."
Underinvestment has been a major concern, too. If public toilets aren’t funded or attended to, they can fall into disrepair. They can potentially become unsafe or unhygienic.
Starbucks announced in July that it would close 16 stores due to safety concerns. CEO Howard Schultz said in June that the coffee giant might restrict its currently public restrooms to customers only as part of its broader push for store safety.
So, if Starbucks decides to no longer serve as America’s public restroom, where will people be able to go? Even if a person isn't homeless, bathroom access advocates like American Restroom Association president Steven Soifer point out this is an issue.
"For everyone, for people with shy bladder, for people with incontinence, for people with bladder issues of different sorts," Soifer said. "People who had health issues and families with children who often struggle to find a place."
Soifer is calling on government officials to step up here, but it may have to be local officials taking the lead.
"There are going to be fewer and fewer options for people to be able to relieve themselves, and that becomes a public health issue as well," Soifer said.
The consequences can be deadly for communities if no bathrooms are available. In 2017, at least 16 people died, and hundreds more got sick in San Diego in an outbreak of hepatitis A.
The disease spread largely due to contact with fecal matter and public defecation.
The city acknowledged that a lack of public restrooms, especially for unhoused people, was part of the issue and helped contain the outbreak by installing public toilets and handwashing stations.
But even then, a lack of funding or upkeep can quickly lead to toilets disappearing. Earlier this year, San Diego State University researchers reported that many toilets were closed after the COVID-19 pandemic. That nearly half the county’s census tracts, home to 40% of the population, had no public restrooms.
Other cities are moving ahead with plans to install new public toilet facilities, including Portland, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. But there’s still a shortage of public toilets in the U.S., and it’s pretty dire.
In 2011, a United Nations independent expert, Catarina de Albuquerque, studied water and sanitation rights on a mission to the U.S. Her report found an instance in Sacramento, California, where public restroom closures and enforcement of public urination and defecation laws led to a homeless person traveling miles to dump a whole community’s human waste.
In the report, she indicated that the laws had a discriminatory effect and led to "a violation of human rights that may amount to cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment.”
Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/where-do-you-go-when-you-gotta-go-americas-public-bathroom-shortage | 2022-08-16T20:06:24Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/where-do-you-go-when-you-gotta-go-americas-public-bathroom-shortage | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — A few waves of moisture are scattered across the Atlantic basin waters. One of them is located in the southernmost section of the Caribbean Sea, just east of Nicaragua, set to move west over land in the next couple of days. Because of its movement through Central America, there won't be significant development of this disturbance. It is projected to emerge over the Bay of Campeche later this week, where the warm waters there can support some strengthening and organization as it moves northwest. This feature won't play a role in the Big Bend's weather pattern this week.
Other systems remain positioned to move west from the African continent, but the air mass nearby is still considerably dry. That will hinder short-term development efforts. | https://www.wtxl.com/weather/tuesday-evening-first-to-know-tropics-check-08-16-2022 | 2022-08-16T20:06:37Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/weather/tuesday-evening-first-to-know-tropics-check-08-16-2022 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s chief justice fired all the members of the Public Defense Services Commission on Monday, frustrated that hundreds of defendants charged with crimes and who cannot afford an attorney have been unable to obtain public defenders to represent them.
The unprecedented action comes as Oregon’s unique public defender system has come under such strain that it is at the breaking point. Criminal defendants in Oregon who have gone without legal representation due to a shortage of public defenders filed a lawsuit in May that alleges the state is violating their constitutional right to legal counsel and a speedy trial.
In a letter to the commission members, Chief Justice Martha Walters pointed out that their duty is to “ensure that Oregon provides public defense services consistent with the Oregon Constitution, the United States Constitution, and Oregon and national standards of justice.”
“Unfortunately, it is now clear that it is time to reconstitute the current commission,” she said.
Oregon’s public defender system is the only one in the nation that relies entirely on contractors: Large nonprofit defense firms, smaller cooperating groups of private defense attorneys that contract for cases and independent attorneys who can take cases at will.
But some firms and private attorneys are periodically refusing to take new cases because of the workload. Poor pay rates and late payments from the state are also a disincentive. The American Bar Association found that Oregon has only 31% of the public defenders it needs.
Walters said “systemic change” is called for and that the commission must collaborate with Oregon’s executive and legislative branches and the public defense community “to create a better system for public defense providers.”
The Public Defense Services Commission currently has nine members, in addition to Walters who as chief justice serves as ex-officio permanent member. Walters made the dismissals effective on Tuesday and said that if any members want to serve on a reconstituted commission, they should apply by noon Tuesday.
The commission is an independent body that governs the Office of Public Defense Services and appoints its executive director. Walters told the commission last week that Executive Director Stephen Singer failed to lead the agency out of crisis, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The commission considered firing Singer but didn’t.
Commission member Thomas Christ told the newspaper that Walters wants Singer removed and that he believes she “decided to just fill the commission with people who’ll vote the way she wants on that issue.”
Commission member Steven Wax, who was the U.S. Public Defender for the Oregon district for 31 years and is currently legal director of the Oregon Innocence Project, said he is unhappy about the chief justice’s action.
“The commission has been working tirelessly on difficult issues and reforms,” Wax said. “Disagreement is inevitable. I was sorely disappointed to receive the chief justice’s letter.”
The chief justice appoints the commission members and can remove them, according to Oregon law.
“I never anticipated exercising this authority, but this issue is too important, and the need for change is too urgent, to delay,” Walters said.
Todd Sprague, spokesman for the Oregon Judicial Department, said that to his knowledge, the entire commission has never been dismissed before.
Oregon’s backlog has led to the dismissal of dozens of cases.
Jesse Merrithew, an attorney representing plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said being deprived of a lawyer right after an arrest causes problems that are almost impossible to overcome later on, for example in obtaining surveillance video before it is erased that could back up a defendant’s case.
Oregon’s system was underfunded and understaffed before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the backlog grew amid a slowdown in court activity because of safety protocols. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national/oregon-justice-fires-panel-due-to-lack-of-public-defenders/ | 2022-08-16T20:06:38Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national/oregon-justice-fires-panel-due-to-lack-of-public-defenders/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
THE DALLES, Oregon (AP) — Wilbur Slockish Jr. has been shot at, had rocks hurled at him. He hid underground for months, and then spent 20 months serving time in federal prisons across the country — all of that for fishing in the Columbia River.
But Slockish, a traditional river chief of the Klickitat Band of the Yakama Nation, would endure it all again to protect his right of access to the river and the fish that his people believe were bestowed to them by the Creator.
“It’s a sacred covenant,” he said. “Nothing’s more important.”
Tribal fishermen like Slockish have drawn the ire of commercial and sport fisherman as well as government officials over the decades for engaging in an act of faith. For Slockish and his ancestors, who have inhabited the Columbia River Basin “since the beginning of time,” stewardship of the land, the river and its fish, animals and plant life is a divine contract at the core of a millennia-old religious practice. They’ve fished in the river not just to practice their faith, but also to eke out a livelihood.
Tribal fishing rights along the Columbia have spurred bitter, drawn-out legal and legislative battles. This is despite an 1855 treaty with the federal government stating that the tribes would cede most of their lands, but retain their fishing rights.
In April 1983, Slockish and four other fishermen were convicted in U.S. District Court for selling salmon caught out of season to undercover federal agents in a sting that became known as “Salmon Scam.” Slockish was charged with illegally taking 16 fish from the river.
Tom Keefe Jr., a Washington-based civil rights lawyer who represented the fishermen in that case, said federal agents maintained 40,000 salmon were missing from the river but later discovered that the fish had migrated to tributaries because of pollution.
Keefe said that for Slockish and the other fishermen, the fight to save the river and its resources has always been about religious freedom. A practicing Catholic, Keefe said representing the fishermen gave him a window into the spiritual lives of the “river people.”
“To them the Columbia River is a giant cathedral that stretches from the mouth of the Pacific Ocean to the mountains of Canada,” he said.
Slockish is “a man of integrity and commitment,” Keefe added. His voice cracked with emotion as he described the moment the Klickitat chief removed his wedding band right before heading to prison, placing it in Keefe’s palm for safekeeping.
Slockish hasn’t stopped fighting for the river. After his release from prison, he focused his efforts on water quality and health issues related to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Benton County, Washington, which was decommissioned in 1989. The plant released significant amounts of radioactive waste into the river, causing irreparable ecological harm.
For the past two decades, Slockish has made presentations at local elementary schools around Thanksgiving about the spiritual significance of the river and its fish. He has represented the Yakama Nation on several river-related commissions and committees and still serves on the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, which represents the tribes and their rights along the river.
Slockish and the other fishermen’s high-profile case has helped bring attention to their issues and given tribes better access to the river, said Jeremy FiveCrows, the organization’s spokesman.
The 20 months Slockish spent in prison “were hell,” but it’s all about keeping a promise he made as a 14-year-old — to the first salmon he ever caught — to be a good steward of the land.
Slockish still recalls the way that fish looked him “dead in the eye” as if to say: “I’ve done my job. Now you do yours.”
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national/river-chief-imprisoned-for-fishing-fights-for-sacred-rights/ | 2022-08-16T20:06:44Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national/river-chief-imprisoned-for-fishing-fights-for-sacred-rights/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The son of an Afghan refugee suspected in the shooting deaths of four Muslim men in New Mexico will remain in custody pending trial on a charge that he allegedly provided a false address on a form when purchasing a gun last year.
Shaheen Syed, 21, appeared in U.S. district court in Albuquerque on Monday, with the judge granting a motion by federal prosecutors to keep him behind bars pending the ongoing investigation.
In their motion, prosecutors pointed to cellphone records that they say show Syed possibly helped his father track Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan who was fatally shot on Aug. 5 in the parking lot of a refugee resettlement agency in southeast Albuquerque.
“The evidence that agents have been able to gather thus far in this rapidly unfolding investigation is obviously alarming with respect to the defendant’s short and frequent communications with his father both before and after the murder of Naeem Hussain,” the motion stated.
Albuquerque police have charged Muhammad Syed, 51, with murder in the deaths of Aftab Hussein and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain. Hussein, 41, was slain on the night of July 26 after parking his car in the usual spot near his home. Afzaal Hussain, a 27-year-old urban planner who had worked on the campaign of a New Mexico congresswoman, was gunned down on the night of Aug. 1 while taking his evening walk.
The elder Syed is the primary suspect — but hasn’t been charged — in the death of Naeem Hussain and the slaying of Muhammad Zahir Ahmadi, a 62-year-old Afghan immigrant who was fatally shot in the head last November behind the market he owned in the city.
Court documents filed in federal court provided more details about Naeem Hussain’s killing, saying it appeared he had been followed to Lutheran Family Services, the resettlement agency, following funeral services for two of the other shooting victims. Shots were fired at his SUV around 4 p.m., striking him in the head and the arm.
Prosecutors claim that Shaheen Syed spoke with his father when his phone was somewhere in the general area of the Islamic Center of New Mexico and soon after his father’s phone pinged in an area that included Lutheran Family Services.
After Hussain was fatally shot, Shaheen Syed’s phone moved to an area closer to the crime scene, according to the motion. Ten minutes after the shooting, the motion states the men shared a second call as their phones remained in the “general area of the murder.”
Syed’s attorney argued that prosecutors gave no indication of the size of the area that his phone was in relative to the shooting.
The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services.
John Anderson, Shaheen Syed’s attorney, did not return messages seeking comment but said in court filings that the allegations against his client were “thin and speculative.”
“The United States’ motion boils down to an effort to detain defendant for a crime with which he has not even been charged,” Anderson argued, referring to the slayings of the Muslim men.
Anderson also included a photo of a Florida driver’s license issued to Shaheen Syed in 2021, contradicting prosecutors’ claims that he misrepresented himself as a Florida resident while making a purchase at an Albuquerque gun store.
Prosecutors also presented prior police reports of Shaheen Syed allegedly beating his father and sister and an unrelated incident in which he and his brother were allegedly involved in a shooting outside a Walmart.
Court documents state that two guns purchased by Syed and his father at an Albuquerque gun store in July had been partially painted white. The guns were seized during a search of the family’s home; and testing determined bullet casings found at the July 25 and Aug. 1 shootings matched the rifle that belonged to Muhammad Syed.
Casings found at one of the crime scenes also matched a handgun found in the elder Syed’s vehicle when he was taken into custody, according to a criminal complaint.
Muhammad Syed is scheduled to appear before a state district judge Wednesday as prosecutors seek to have him detained without bond pending trial on the two counts of murder. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national/son-of-suspect-in-muslim-slayings-to-remain-in-custody/ | 2022-08-16T20:06:50Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national/son-of-suspect-in-muslim-slayings-to-remain-in-custody/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
What are the best bell-bottom jeans?
Bell-bottoms, also called flares, are a beautiful type of trousers popular in the ’60s and ’70s and commonly worn with clogs and boots. Over time, they have made a comeback, loved for their ability to make bold yet simple statements whenever they’re put on. From simple bell-bottoms to dramatic ones, they can give your outfits a little retro style.
For a pair of stylish bell-bottom jeans, the CuteCherry Bell-Bottom Jeans are a top pick.
What to know before you buy bell-bottom jeans
Length
Bell-bottom jeans that are the right length for you make your legs look elongated. A pair that’s too short will sit at an awkward length above your ankles and shorten the appearance of your legs. On the other hand, a too-long pair will drag along the ground and pick up dirt. The ideal length is about half an inch off the ground. This gives enough room to show off a little of your legs and shoes without appearing shorter than you are.
Body shape
Bell-bottom jeans are not flattering on all body types. If you have a wider, more defined frame, it’s best to get bell-bottoms that fit snugly from the thighs and flare dramatically from the knees downward. On the other hand, a smaller, narrower body goes best with a regular fit from the waist and a bootcut-like flare. A bootcut flare fans out only slightly and accentuates slimmer body shapes.
Personal style
Bell-bottom jeans can come plain or patterned. A minimalist will likely prefer plain jeans while a more outgoing or maximalist style goes with jeans that incorporate more patterns and a bigger flare. The pants can also come in different shades of denim, although blue and black are the most common. Pick a shade that suits your style, skin tone and other things in your closet.
Pairing
Because of their bell-shaped design, bell-bottoms have a tendency to look baggy if paired with the wrong shirt or blouse. Those with wider flares look more flattering with form-fitting blouses and crop tops that balance the shape out. Smaller flares can go with slightly loose-fitting tops or shirtdresses that are billowy and have a bohemian style.
What to look for in quality bell-bottom jeans
Heavy denim
With denim, a heavier weight usually indicates higher quality. A high-quality pair is made of strong denim that feels thick and luxurious. The heavy denim may make your jeans feel stiff at first, but the material softens out after the first few wears. To speed up this process, try soaking them in a mixture of vinegar and hot water.
Type of stitching
A heavy, uniform stitch around the hems, side seams and pockets is a sign of good-quality jeans. The stitches could either be double stitches or chain stitches made with a durable and thick thread. These stitches won’t pull apart or unravel too quickly. Before making your purchase, stretch it gently at the seams. If the stitches stay put and don’t loosen up, then you have a good pair of jeans.
Selvage
This refers to the border that runs down the length of your jeans. A good pair will have a tight selvage seam to keep it from unraveling. This ensures that there are no loose threads along the jeans’ seams and they will last for a long time.
How much you can expect to spend on bell-bottom jeans
They usually cost around $25-$70, depending on the brand.
Bell-bottom jeans FAQ
How often should I wash my jeans?
A. Jeans should be washed at least every three weeks of active wear.
Should my bell-bottoms drag on the floor?
A. Most will skim the surface of the ground, but they shouldn’t drag along unless that’s the look you’re trying to achieve.
Can I machine-wash my bell-bottom jeans?
A. Most are machine-wash safe, but you should always check the label for care instructions.
What’s the best pair of bell-bottom jeans to buy?
Top bell-bottom jeans
What you need to know: This is a stylish pair of slim-fit jeans with a zipper closure and two back pockets.
What you’ll love: They’re high-waisted, with an elastic fit that makes them comfortable and easy to wear. The frayed hems provide a retro, edgy look that makes a fashion statement without doing too much.
What you should consider: They’re made with some spandex that makes them stretch over time, so you may have to buy a size down.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top bell-bottom jeans for the money
Free People Just Float On Flare Jerico Blue Jeans
What you need to know: These laid-back jeans have an effortless ’70s look.
What you’ll love: Their high-rise fit and dramatic flares give the appearance of an hourglass shape when worn. They can be dressed up or down and come in six different colors.
What you should consider: They may run too long and may have to be paired with high heels or boots.
Where to buy: Amazon
Worth checking out
Ldnine Vintage Stretch Bell-Bottom Jeans
What you need to know: These dark old-school jeans can be worn in any season.
What you’ll love: The thick material has a little stretch that makes it comfortable to wear and allows a full range of movements. The jeans are great for everyday wear and have stylish pockets that add a little flair.
What you should consider: They may not be true to size and may run too long.
Where to buy: Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/bottoms-br/best-bell-bottom-jeans/ | 2022-08-16T20:07:30Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/bottoms-br/best-bell-bottom-jeans/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A new sheriff in town: Feyen will walk through November election to Larimer County post
It's practically official: John Feyen will be Larimer County's next sheriff.
Feyen will be the only candidate for sheriff on November's election after defeating GOP opponent Jeff Fisher in the Republican primary in June. There are no Democratic candidates running, and no one has filed to run against Feyen in the general election as a write-in or unaffiliated candidate, Larimer County Clerk Angela Myers confirmed.
Feyen has been an assistant chief with Fort Collins Police Services since 2018 and before that spent nearly 20 years with the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.
Current Sheriff Justin Smith is term-limited and running for Larimer County District 1 commissioner against incumbent Democrat John Kefalas.
Feyen said — while acknowledging it sounds cliché — it's bittersweet to leave Fort Collins police and go back to an agency where he's spent so much of his career. His four years at Fort Collins Police Services has shown him a different way of policing and helped him make many connections in the community he says will help him as sheriff.
“I’ve got to talk to a lot of great community organizations that I necessarily wouldn’t have had that opportunity to if I hadn’t made the move (to Fort Collins police), some that have stretched my thought processes and some that have given me different perspectives on things,” Feyen said. “I love those kinds of conversations, and I hope to continue those at the sheriff’s office.”
Feyen said having conversations with the community — from city and county leaders to residents — is one of the main things he will focus on before officially becoming the sheriff-elect after the November election.
"Community engagement starts from the top down," Feyen said. To him, that means going to city council and town board meetings to introduce himself and meeting residents at neighborhood and homeowner association meetings to hear about their specific concerns and expectations of the sheriff's offices.
“Everybody wants to feel safe … and deserves to feel safe,” Feyen said. “But every community has nuanced concerns and approaches to that.”
Feyen said he hopes to work closely with the towns the sheriff's office contracts services with, including Wellington and Berthoud, to hear what they expect from the sheriff's office.
“While we have different nuances in the ways of approaching it, the goals are the same, and that’s to keep people safe,” Feyen said. “So how do we compliment each other instead of compete with each other?”
Feyen said he is starting to have conversations with sheriff's office leadership to begin understanding the challenges the county and agency are facing and how to tackle them.
One of the first things Feyen hopes to do after he takes office in January is establish a cybercrime unit "that proactively interdicts people who are exploiting children and who are victimizing children on an ongoing basis."
Some things will come later, he said, like working through any challenges that may come with the completion of the Larimer County Jail expansion project, which is set to be nearly done when Feyen takes office.
"There's so much there to figure out, but it's exciting as well," Feyen said of serving as sheriff.
The general election will be held Nov. 8, and ballots will be mailed the week of Oct. 17.
Who is running for office in Larimer County's November election?
- Assessor: David Eisenbraun (R) and Bob Overbeck (D, incumbent)
- Clerk and Recorder: Toni Baker (D) and Angela Myers (R, incumbent)
- Commissioner District 1: John Kefalas (D, incumbent) and Justin Smith (R)
- Coroner: Matthew Canaga (R) and Stephen Hanks (D)
- Sheriff: John Feyen (R)
- Surveyor: Tom Donnelly (R)
- Treasurer: Irene Josey (R, incumbent)
- County Court Judge: Katharine Ellison and Thomas Lynch | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/08/16/larimer-county-sheriff-candidate-john-feyen-november-election-ballott/65385890007/ | 2022-08-16T20:09:13Z | coloradoan.com | control | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/08/16/larimer-county-sheriff-candidate-john-feyen-november-election-ballott/65385890007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PSD welcomes kids back to the classroom, and at 2 new schools, without COVID protocols
If you noticed more traffic Tuesday morning, more kids with backpacks and on bikes, or more parents around town without kiddos in tow, you weren’t imagining things: School is back in session for Poudre School District.
PSD schools welcomed back tens of thousands of students and teachers to their halls on Tuesday morning, and staggered start continued at the district’s two new schools in Wellington and Timnath.
More:Why you need to know Colorado's bus stop arm law before heading back to school
Two new middle-high schools open their doors
Hundreds of students in the past few days have entered the new Wellington Middle-High School and Timnath Middle-High School for the first time, many commenting on the newness of the building and expressing excitement to start the year.
On Tuesday, Timnath Middle-High School had its third and final transition day, welcoming sixth-graders to the new building before all sixth- through 10th-graders arrive together Wednesday. Students were greeted with high-fives at the doors and a rally inside before starting their day.
Timnath’s principal, Jesse Morrill, told the Coloradoan on Tuesday that the school was focused on “figuring out the new space” and “building a real positive culture (and) healthy relationships with the students.”
“It's just been awesome to see the kids' reaction to the school, to the building, the way they're treating each other,” Morrill said. “We've just got a really great community. And we knew this was coming, but it's been really fun to see that.”
The creation of the two schools — along with Bamford Elementary School, which opened last fall in the southeast corner of the district — was approved by voters through a bond initiative back in 2016 as a way to deal with the rapid growth of these smaller towns.
At full capacity, each school can serve about 1,500 students. This year, they’re opening with just grades 6 through 10, and an additional grade will be added until it offers grades 6 through 12.
Morrill said Tuesday they had about 1,030 kids enrolled.
Related:We analyzed how PSD's new teacher pay package compares with other districts in Colorado
A more normal back to school
In addition to the opening of two new schools, this fall also marks the return of a more normal back-to-school season: For the first time since 2020, students, teachers and staff coming back to the classroom are not required to wear masks.
PSD remains a “mask-friendly” district, meaning students and staff who want to wear masks are able to, but there are very few situations in which a mask is required.
According to the PSD website, masks are required only when a student or staff member is returning to school on days 6-10 after a quarantine or if a student becomes symptomatic at school and is waiting in the precautionary room.
PSD has also scaled down contact tracing.
The district works with the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment to conduct investigations only when there is an outbreak or cluster; individual school-based exposures are no longer traced.
Cases will still be tracked by school and grade level on PSD’s COVID-19 site. As of Tuesday morning, two cases had been reported across the district.
PSD news:Liberty Common expands with new Aristotle Campus
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misstated the location of Bamford Elementary School. The school is located in northeast Loveland, in the southeast corner of Poudre School District boundaries.
Molly Bohannon covers city government for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter @molboha or contact her at mbohannon@coloradoan.com.
Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today. | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/08/16/poudre-school-district-starts-school-year-2-new-schools-open/65404159007/ | 2022-08-16T20:09:19Z | coloradoan.com | control | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/08/16/poudre-school-district-starts-school-year-2-new-schools-open/65404159007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Biden administration says it's giving states twice as many doses of monkeypox vaccine than previously anticipated.
Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it is making 442,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine available to combat the monkeypox outbreak.
About half of those doses were scheduled to go out later in August, according to HHS. However, the department says it was able to provide the additional doses earlier because the Food and Drug Administration revised its dosing guidelines.
The new guidelines allow for the vaccine to be injected intradermally (in the upper skin layer), as opposed to subcutaneously (underneath the skin layer). The new method saves on the amount of vaccine needed by up to five-fold, according to HHS.
“Since the first case of monkeypox was reported, we have been working with state and local public health partners to contain the outbreak,” said CDC director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky. “And since FDA’s decision last week to authorize intradermal injection of the JYNNEOS vaccine, the CDC has conducted extensive outreach and engagement with clinicians across the country and released multiple resources to ensure they can effectively administer the vaccine."
Anyone can get monkeypox. It is spread through close contact and intimate contact, according to the CDC. | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/hhs-delivering-nearly-500k-does-of-monkeypox-vaccine-to-states | 2022-08-16T20:12:53Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/hhs-delivering-nearly-500k-does-of-monkeypox-vaccine-to-states | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Every new school year, districts across the country look to update their safety measures in the event of an active shooter, but emerging research shows few things have the same effect as simply performing lockdown drills.
“There’s a lot of emotional arguments when it comes to school safety, but we wanted to say if we do careful research about school safety, what will it tell us about this topic?’” said Amanda Nickerson, a school psychology professor at the University of Buffalo and co-author of a new study that looks at the effectiveness of lockdown drills. “Anytime we can give you some more control or agency, as you say, about what specifically to do, it can presumably help to decrease that worry and anxiety and also increase the preparedness.”
The research is the largest study of lockdown drills in U.S. history as it surveyed more than 10,000 students and accrued data from hundreds of schools nationwide.
According to Nickerson and her co-author Jaclyn Schildkraut, the study shows:
- Participation in training and drills led to increased perceptions of preparedness for both students and educators.
- There is no evidence to suggest that any hardening approaches, like arming teachers, metal detectors, and increased armed security, etc., are effective. Nickerson and Schildkraut found they often make students more fearful, disproportionately impact students of color, and require hefty financial measures to maintain them.
- Securing behind a locked door has been identified as the most effective way to prevent injury or death during an active shooter situation.
- Students did not exhibit greater anxiety after participating in lockdown drills; rather, they actually reported feeling better overall, which may be a result of feeling more prepared. Drills may even have had positive effects by empowering students with the skills necessary to respond in an emergency including increased knowledge and awareness of disaster response.
“You know, I have so many people misconstrue lockdowns as we’re teaching students just to passively hide and pray futures and we’re not,” said Schildkraut, a criminal justice professor at the Oswego State University of New York. “We know these are concrete steps that can help save lives in one of these events, so we want people, when we talk about being active, to stay aware of their surroundings.” | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/study-lockdown-drills-most-effective-way-to-prepare-students-during-emergency | 2022-08-16T20:12:59Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/study-lockdown-drills-most-effective-way-to-prepare-students-during-emergency | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
There's something about the meme stock game that a segment of market participants love. It's the combination of notoriety, options trading, an infatuation with easy money and short squeezes.
Whatever it is, there's a bull market in it.
A month ago, it looked like the meme stock era was over and now it looks like it's a permanent part of the stock market landscape.
But what can you say about it? For sure there's opportunity here but it's almost pure gambling.
At the end of the day, you want to invest in companies that are improving in some way and not just companies that are heavily shorted.
In any case, this one is still up 16% today that's a great day for just about any stock... except one that was up 80% a few hours ago. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/the-meme-stocks-give-and-the-meme-stocks-take-away-20220816/ | 2022-08-16T20:13:22Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/the-meme-stocks-give-and-the-meme-stocks-take-away-20220816/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The EURGBP moved above the key 100 day MA to end the trading week on Friday. The high price extended to a swing area target between 0.8488 and 0.8494. Seller leaned and the price subsequently moved back below the broken 100 day MA.
ON Mondya, the price in the early European session and retested the 100 day MA. Sellers leaned and the price moved back lower, falling below the 100 hour MA and 200 day and 200 hour MA in the process.
Today (like on Monday), the corrective move higher stalled against the broken technical levels. This time it was the 200 day and 200 hour MAs (green lines in the chart above). Sellers leaned and extended to the next target.
Overall, the price is down 3 days in a row, and on each day, the MA levels (whether 100 or 200), acted as barometers for the bias.
What next?
The moving averages are now in the rearview mirror (i.e. above current levels). The targets are now swing areas. The 1st is between 0.8409 and 0.8414. The price fell below the low of that area and failed, but has reentered over the last few minutes of trading. A break back below 0.8409 have traders next targeting a swing area between 0.8393 and 0.83999. 0183999. Move below that level and it opens the door for further downside momentum The sellers would add to their control.
If buyers are able to hold the 0.8409 level we could see a rotation back higher with the above MA cluster between 0.8436 to 0.8443 as resistance. | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/eurgbp-retests-a-lower-swing-area-steps-lower-for-the-3rd-day-in-a-row-20220816/ | 2022-08-16T20:13:35Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/eurgbp-retests-a-lower-swing-area-steps-lower-for-the-3rd-day-in-a-row-20220816/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) – A report from the district attorney’s office states that no charges will be filed in the December 2021 accidental shooting that left a three-year-old child dead.
The incident happened near a residence on Spicer Grove Road in Henderson County. 3-year-old Aylee Gordon died on December 29 from an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound on Christmas Day.
Henderson Co. child dies following accidental shooting on Christmas Day
A report from the office of the District Attorney for the North Carolina 42nd Prosecutorial District states that on the day of the incident Gordon’s parents took her and her siblings down the paved road from their home on Spicer Grove Road to play with their presents.
Just prior to driving down the road Gordon’s older family member, without the parents’ knowledge, placed a loaded and holstered gun in the passenger-side door storage slot of the truck to temporarily store the weapon, the report states.
The report adds that after about an hour of playing with the presents down the road, Aylee was placed in the passenger seat of the truck to head back to the house. In the brief moment following, a gunshot was heard and the family rushed to get her medical attention.
“I am completely convinced Aylee Gordon was killed due to the accidental discharge of a Glock Model 43 9 millimeter pistol while she handled the firearm,” District Attorney Andrew Murray stated.
Gordon survived emergency surgery, but was declared brain dead and removed from life support on December 28.
Murray stated in the report that while the family member made “a terrible decision,” no North Carolina laws were violated as a result. That’s because the family member did not reside at the same residence as Aylee, and was not her parent or supervisor.
“Based on all the facts and evidence in this matter, I have determined that the death of Aylee Gordon was a catastrophic accident resulting from the improper storage of a loaded and unsecured firearm,” Murray concluded. | https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/no-charges-filed-in-accidental-death-of-henderson-co-child/ | 2022-08-16T20:14:12Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/no-charges-filed-in-accidental-death-of-henderson-co-child/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Explosions and fires ripped through an ammunition depot in Russian-occupied Crimea on Tuesday in the second suspected Ukrainian attack on the peninsula in just over a week, forcing the evacuation of more than 3,000 people.
Russia blamed the blasts in the village of Mayskoye on an “act of sabotage,” without naming the perpetrators.
Separately, the Russian business newspaper Kommersant quoted residents as saying plumes of black smoke also rose over an air base in Crimea’s Gvardeyskoye.
Ukraine stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility for any of the blasts, including those that destroyed nine Russian planes at another Crimean air base last week. Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and has used it to launch attacks against Ukraine in the war that began nearly six months ago.
If Ukrainian forces were behind the explosions, that would represent a significant escalation in the war. Such attacks could also indicate that Ukrainian operatives are able to penetrate deeply into Russian-occupied territory.
In another reported act of sabotage, Russia’s Tass news agency quoted the FSB security agency as saying Ukrainian operatives blew up six high-voltage transmission towers earlier this month in Russia’s Kursk region, close to Ukraine.
The Kremlin has demanded that Kyiv recognize Crimea as part of Russia as a condition for ending the fighting, while Ukraine has vowed to drive Moscow’s forces from the peninsula on the Black Sea.
Videos posted on social media showed thick columns of smoke rising over raging flames in Mayskoye, and a series of explosions could be heard. The Russian Defense Ministry said a power plant, electrical lines, railroad tracks and apartment buildings were damaged.
“We came out to take a look and saw clouds of smoke coming from the cowshed where the military warehouses are,” said resident Maksim Moldovskiy. “We stayed there until about 7-8 a.m. Everything was exploding — flashes, fragments, debris falling on us. Then the emergency guys came and said they were evacuating everybody.”
Crimea’s regional leader, Sergei Aksyonov, said two people were injured and more than 3,000 evacuated from two villages.
“The detonations are rather strong. Ammunition is strewn all over the ground,” he said, adding that several homes burned down.
In what may have been retaliation for the attacks in Crimea, Russian warplanes fired missiles at a military airfield in Zhytomyr, 87 miles (140 kilometers) west of Kyiv, damaging a runway and vehicles, Ukrainian officials reported.
Crimea is a popular summer destination for Russian tourists, and last week’s explosions at Crimea’s Saki air base sent sunbathers on beaches fleeing as flames and pillars of smoke rose over the horizon.
Ukrainian officials warned Tuesday that Crimea would not be spared the ravages of war.
Rather than a travel destination, “Crimea occupied by Russians is about warehouse explosions and a high risk of death for invaders and thieves,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter.
Russia blamed last week’s explosions on an accidental detonation of munitions, but satellite photos and other evidence — including the dispersed blast sites — pointed to a Ukrainian attack, perhaps with anti-ship missiles, military analysts said.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said in an intelligence update that vessels in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet are in an “extremely defensive posture” in the waters off Crimea, with ships barely venturing out of sight of the coastline. Russia’s flagship Moskva went down in the Black Sea in April, and last month Ukrainian forces retook strategic Snake Island.
The Russian fleet’s “limited effectiveness undermines Russia’s overall invasion strategy,” the British said. “This means Ukraine can divert resources to press Russian ground forces elsewhere.”
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu charged that in addition to supplying arms to Ukraine, Western allies have provided detailed intelligence and instructors to help Ukraine operate weapons that can hit deep in occupied territory.
“Western intelligence agencies not only have provided target coordinates for launching strikes, but Western specialists also have overseen the input of those data into weapons systems,” Shoigu said.
In other developments:
— A U.N.-chartered ship loaded with Ukrainian grain set out for the hunger-stricken Horn of Africa in the first such relief delivery of the war. The shipment was made possible by an internationally brokered deal to free up grain trapped in Ukrainian ports by the fighting and establish safe corridors through the mined water of the Black Sea.
— U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres plans to travel to Ukraine for a meeting Thursday in the western city of Lviv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They are expected to discuss the grain shipments and a possible fact-finding mission to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling. Guterres will also visit Odesa on Friday.
During Guterres’ last trip to Ukraine, in April, Russia forces launched an airstrike on Kyiv while he was visiting the capital.
— Russian shelling killed at least two civilians in the industrial Donbas region in the east and in the city of Kharkiv in the northeast, Ukrainian authorities said. | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/explosions-rock-crimea-in-suspected-ukrainian-attack/ | 2022-08-16T20:14:36Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/explosions-rock-crimea-in-suspected-ukrainian-attack/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Some Kansas counties are rushing to collect staff and start a hand recount of abortion amendment votes after an advocacy group demanded a partial recount despite a decisive loss.
The nine counties selected for the recount have just five days to finish the process. But officials for some of the largest counties involved said they are still confident they will be able to finish in time.
The largely symbolic recount is the latest development in the months-long fight over the amendment that would have said there’s no right to abortion in the state constitution. The campaign drew even more attention after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights, meaning state abortion rights are all that remain.
Andrew Howell, election commissioner for Shawnee County, said Tuesday morning that he believes the hand recount won’t take all five days. But his office is spending the first day preparing and making sure the process works as intended.
Howell, a former Republican state lawmaker, said the hand recount will likely be slightly different than the ballots counted by machines because the human counters will be able to consider ballots more thoughtfully. But he said he’s still confident that the recount in Shawnee County will show the current process is accurate.
“I look at it as an opportunity to demonstrate that democracy does work,” Howell said. “It just will end up being a confirmation that the way the ballots are handled, either way, comes out very much the same.”
Howell said he hopes the hand counting will start Wednesday morning. His county, which includes Topeka, will need to hand count more than 64,000 votes.
“We're going to have a very careful, consistent and somewhat plodding process,” Howell said. “I don’t want to rush it.”
The recount won’t change the outcome of the election because the vote wasn’t close. Voters defeated the amendment by an 18-point margin, or 165,000 votes.
Whitney Tempel, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s Office, said the nine counties have until Saturday to finish the recount.
The nine counties selected for the recount include some of the largest, such as Johnson, Sedgwick, Shawnee and Douglas counties. All nine are from eastern and central Kansas and rejected the amendment, except for one — Thomas County. That’s the home of Melissa Leavitt, the Colby woman who led the recount effort. Voters there overwhelmingly supported the amendment.
Meanwhile, in Douglas County, Democratic County Clerk Jamie Shew said his office is working off a recount plan that was in place for these types of scenarios.
The hand recount of the county’s 47,000 ballots will be conducted by a board of Douglas County residents who have previously conducted recounts in smaller races. He said the board is made up of people from across the political spectrum.
“The board members are split up among unaffiliated, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian,” Shew said. “So it’s not any one party.”
Shew said that his office was hoping to begin recounting Tuesday morning, but was still awaiting word from the state. However, he said he was confident the board would be able to finish the count before the deadline on Saturday.
“I have the board ready to go,” Shew said.
Shew said the county also expects to be reimbursed for the cost of the recount from the bond.
The only way the county would not be reimbursed is if the result of the vote changes, flipping from the county rejecting the amendment to accepting it. But that won’t happen because Douglas County, which includes the Democratic stronghold of Lawrence, saw 81% of voters reject it.
That means the activists who requested the recount will likely see the money they put up for the the effort disappear.
Leavitt started the push with an online fundraising campaign. She initially wanted a recount of the entire state at a cost of nearly $230,000, but later scaled back the request.
“We are just praying for exposure of anything that may have been nefarious,” Leavitt said in a social media post. “And just some answers to put the voters of Kansas at peace.”
The scaled down version of the recount will cost nearly $120,000. Leavitt continues to raise money online, collecting more than $45,000 as of Tuesday.
Tempel said Wichita anti-abortion activist Mark Geitzen paid $118,000 of the bond through a credit card. The remaining $1,500 was paid through a credit card from an unnamed third party.
The recount is not being supported by the main advocacy group that pushed for the amendment. The Value Them Both Coalition was the main force behind the amendment, and that group accepted defeat on election night after the loss became clear.
“This outcome is a temporary setback,” the group said after the loss, “and our dedicated fight to value women and babies is far from over.”
The Value Them Both Coalition and the powerful advocacy group Kansans For Life have instead shifted their focus to the fall election and the coming legislative session.
Dylan Lysen reports on politics for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanLysen or email him at dlysen (at) kcur (dot) org.
Blaise Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or email him at blaise@kcur.org.
The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy.
Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished by news media at no cost with proper attribution and a link to ksnewsservice.org. | https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-08-16/kansas-counties-start-recounting-abortion-amendment-votes-but-it-wont-change-the-blowout-defeat | 2022-08-16T20:17:37Z | kcur.org | control | https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-08-16/kansas-counties-start-recounting-abortion-amendment-votes-but-it-wont-change-the-blowout-defeat | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The 2001 death of Alice Stewart Trillin devastated her husband. The educator, writer and television producer died of congestive heart failure at the age of 63.
“I think of her every day. I don’t think that’s going to ever change,” Calvin Trillin told KCUR's Up To Date. “She said what she thought, and it was often quite interesting.”
“And she was very pretty,” he added.
A journalist and humorist, Calvin Trillin, now 86, has published 31 books, including political verse, humor columns and writings about food. His memoir “About Alice,” published in 2006, paid tribute to his beloved wife a few years after her death.
Trillin worked with Theatre for a New Audience in Brooklyn, New York, to adapt "About Alice" as a two-person play, which premiered in 2019. This week, Kansas City Actors Theatre opens the Kansas City premiere at Union Station’s City Stage, which runs Aug. 17-28.
Alice and Calvin were married for 35 years. Alice was described as “sometimes his subject, and always his muse.”
They met at a Manhattan party in 1963, for what Trillin described as a “failing magazine of political satire” called Monaco.
“Their parties got better as their financial situation got worse and worse,” he said with a laugh.
When she was in her late 30s, Alice, a nonsmoker with parents who smoked, was diagnosed with lung cancer. A lobe of her left lung was removed, and she had chemotherapy treatments. She wrote about the experience in a 1981 article for the New England Journal of Medicine.
“We were lucky to find each other," he said. “We were very lucky until Alice got sick, I think.
As for seeing actors on stage portraying him and his wife, Trillin said, "It's an odd feeling." In the Kansas City Actors Theatre production of "About Alice," actors David Fritts and Jen Mays play the roles.
“If the actors are good — and I have every reason to believe these will be — that feeling goes away,” he said, “and you’re watching a play.”
Trillin grew up in Kansas City, and went on to write columns for Time and The Nation magazines. He is often credited with putting his hometown's barbecue on the map.
In a 1972 article for Playboy magazine, he described Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue, at 1727 Brooklyn Avenue, as “the single best restaurant in the world.”
“Arthur Bryant’s is where I went as a kid, so I had a kind of nostalgia feeling,” he said.
Trillin has also written for The New Yorker since 1963. For a time, he traveled the country for his magazine columns, often writing about food. Some of these essays featured his wife and two daughters, Abigail and Sarah, and were turned into the books “Alice,” “Let’s Eat” and “American Fried.”
“I was writing about eating partly as a way of making jokes, and a way of writing about other things,” he said. “It was a way of writing about the country in a lighter way.”
Trillin plans to return to Kansas City this weekend for the Kansas City Actors Theatre production of "About Alice" and what he called a “micro-family reunion,” including his daughters, sister and nephews.
According to Trillin, his sister is scheduled to pick him and one of his daughters up from the airport and head straight to another famed food establishment: Winstead’s.
Trillin said, “Since childhood, (it's) one of the places that sort of spelled Kansas City for me."
Kansas City Actors Theatre presents "About Alice," Aug. 17-28 at City Stage in Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, Missouri 64108. | https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2022-08-16/writer-calvin-trillin-returns-to-his-hometown-for-the-kansas-city-premiere-of-about-alice | 2022-08-16T20:17:43Z | kcur.org | control | https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2022-08-16/writer-calvin-trillin-returns-to-his-hometown-for-the-kansas-city-premiere-of-about-alice | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
New survey shows most Americans not saving enough for retirement
Make sure to take advantage of employer 401(k) and matching funds
InvestigateTV - A new study by Clever Real Estate shows the average American is not saving enough for retirement and 37% are not saving at all.
The survey of a thousand people goes on to report that only one in three current retirees have enough in retirement savings and that 75% carry debt.
Danetha Doe with Clever Real Estate said if your employer offers a 401(k), sign up and if your company offers a match, put enough of your paycheck aside to get it.
“Matching is when your employer will match the amount of money that you are also putting into your retirement account. So, it’s essentially free money,” Doe explained. “If you have access to that as an employee, definitely take advantage of that.”
Doe also encouraged people to take advantage of Health Savings Accounts or HSA plans. She said these accounts offer a “triple” tax advantage because you are not taxed on the money going into the account or the earnings you accrue. It’s also tax free when you pull the money out when you are ready to retire.
If you are 50 or older, the IRS allows tax-free “catch-up” contributions over regular limits on certain accounts.
If you are under 50, or just starting to save for retirement, USA.gov has a great overview of the basics of retirement planning. The Department of Labor also has a reference guide for the top 10 ways to plan for retirement.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.witn.com/2022/08/16/new-survey-shows-most-americans-not-saving-enough-retirement/ | 2022-08-16T20:22:53Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/2022/08/16/new-survey-shows-most-americans-not-saving-enough-retirement/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Notes of Interest: ● Go Bowling, Stewart-Haas Racing, and Aric Almirola have teamed up yet again to present one of the largest bowling activations of the year – at one of the largest motorsports events of the year. Almirola will pilot a never-before-seen Go Bowling paint scheme on his No. 10 Ford Mustang and race for the win in the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on Sunday, August 21. While Almirola’s partnership with Go Bowling dates back to 2013, the partnership at Stewart-Haas Racing is stronger than ever with new activations and strategic campaigns to continue to drive NASCAR fans and bowlers to the No. 1 participatory sport in the world. ● Watkins Glen Stats: In 10 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Watkins Glen, Almirola has five top-20 finishes with a best of 12th in the 2019 race. He has also competed in two NASCAR Xfinity Series races there with a best finish of fifth in the 2018 race while driving the No. 98 Go Bowling Ford. He also finished eighth in the 2011 Xfinity Series race. ● Driver Points: Almirola arrives at Watkins Glen 16th in the driver standings with 552 points, 330 out of first. ● Playoff Points: The No. 10 Ford driver sits 18th in the playoff standings, 214 points behind the top-16 cut line. With just two races remaining in the regular season, Almirola and the No. 10 team’s only path to the playoffs is by race win. ● Almirola’s career: In 412 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Almirola has earned three wins, 28 top-five finishes, 91 top-10s, three poles, and has led 899 laps. ● Race Weekend Activations: Race fans attending the Go Bowling at the Glen will have a full menu of Go Bowling activities to engage in at the Go Bowling Fan Experience Tent in the fan midway at the track. Fans can win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sit in the No. 10 team’s pit box during the Go Bowling at The Glen Cup Series race on Sunday. Fans can enter a national promotion to earn a special VIP Bowling Experience for a grand prize winner and a companion to Go Bowling with Aric Almirola and the PBA’s Kyle Troup. Fans can bowl FREE on regulation bowling lanes installed in the Go Bowling Fan Experience Tent for the entire race weekend. Fans will also enjoy celebrity appearances including Aric Almirola, Drew Blickensderfer, crew chief of the No. 10 Go Bowling Ford Mustang, PWBA competitor Stefanie Johnson and PBA’s Anthony Simonsen. Go Bowling America League: Go Bowling is using this national platform to raise top-of-mind awareness both locally and nationally for the sport. Go Bowling America Leagues are running nationally, where bowlers receive equipment and Go Bowling America-inspired jersey designs. Go Bowling at The Glen Bowling Leagues are being run in the Northeast, which provide participating bowlers with a Go Bowling NASCAR crew jersey, tickets to the race, and other VIP Race Day experiences. ● Almirola was the only NASCAR Cup Series driver to finish in the top-10 in this year’s opening three races. He finished fifth in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, sixth at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, and sixth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Almirola’s top-10 streak ended with a 12th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway despite running inside the top-10 throughout the race. Aric Almirola, Driver of the No. 10 Go Bowling Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing: Have you enjoyed the road-course racing at Watkins Glen? “Watkins Glen is one of my favorite road courses. It’s so flowy and fast and you get in such a rhythm going through the bus stop. It’s unlike anything we do anywhere else. It’s incredible to drive a racecar to its limits and go through that chicane at 120 to 130 miles per hour. I remember before I ever went and made a lap at Watkins Glen, I walked back there to the backstretch and stood and watched Cup practice before I went out in an Xfinity car. And I watched the Cup cars go through there and was like, ‘Whoa! You want me to do that? Like, I don't know if I can do that.’ But it’s just an awesome place. It’s a really great racetrack. We have a great fan base there up in New York and it’s always a packed house.” As a family man, what does it mean to you to represent the sport of bowling on and off the racetrack? “Well, bowling is a lifetime sport enjoyed by all ages. I love to bring my family bowling whenever we can. Whether you’re a casual or avid bowler, you can have fun on the same lane, rain or shine. Just like racing, it’s a family sport. My grandfather got me into racing and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him introducing me to the sport, and the same goes for bowling. Bowling is a sport that a lot of people learn at a young age as a family and I love that aspect of the sport.” You have been with Go Bowling since 2013 and have continued to grow the sport through racing. Why has it been so successful? “It’s a mix of the hard work from everyone at Go Bowling, Strike Ten Entertainment and the race team, and the NASCAR fans being the perfect demographic to market to. NASCAR fans are the most sponsor-loyal fans in the world with American values and, in this case, the sponsorship is a sport that every single one of them can participate in. When you look at all of the creative activations Go Bowling does, like bringing the lanes to the racetrack, setting up appearances to talk to fans about racing and bowling, and the fun opportunities that are provided through sweepstakes, you see a heightened level of excitement at the lanes. Not to mention, the millions of fans at home watching the No. 10 Go Bowling Ford Mustang at the Go Bowling at The Glen. It’s a win for everyone – especially race fans.” You had a solid run at Richmond last weekend. How does that help your confidence heading to the final two races of the regular season? “When the clouds came and the track cooled, we kind of lost it. The first couple runs of the race we were so fast. We drove from 32nd up to the top-five. Our car was really good on the long run. We took care of the tires really well and it did everything I needed it to do. As the pace picked up and the track cooled off, I just couldn’t get the car to rotate like I needed it to and just couldn’t quite carry the speed those other cars could. It was a good day. We have had a rough month, so to go there and rebound and have a good run was important. We need a win, but to have a good run is a confidence booster.” TSC PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72096-no-10-go-bowling-ford-racing-watkins-glen-race-advance | 2022-08-16T20:23:14Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72096-no-10-go-bowling-ford-racing-watkins-glen-race-advance | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Todd Gilliland comes into Watkins Glen with nothing but great finishes. In NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, Gilliland finished second. Once he graduated to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Gilliland finished fourth. Now, Gilliland comes back to the track in the NASCAR Cup Series and with confidence.
His last race on a road course, Gilliland finished fourth on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s his best finish to date and now he’s ready repeat his success this weekend.
“Each time we go to the track I make it my goal to learn as much as I possibly can and improve from each session,” says Gilliland. “There is such a difference between any other series and the Cup Series, that it truly is a one-of-a-kind feeling. The big thing this season for myself is being patient and understanding that there is going to be a learning curve at every track we visit.”
“The team and I were elated to get a top-five on the Indy Road Course, and that really gave us a lot of confidence in our process. For myself it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders and showed that we can run well like we deserve. I’m really looking forward to the race this weekend in Watkins Glen and hope we can get another great finish.
Gilliland and MDS Trucking team will race this Sunday at Watkins Glen at 3:00 pm. ET on the USA network.
FRM PR
Gilliland Hopes Indy Performance Carries Over to Watkins Glen
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- Christopher Buescher | Watkins Glen Advance
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- Ford Performance NASCAR: Ford and Driver Kevin Harvick Going For Third Straight Cup Win This Weekend | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72098-gilliland-hopes-indy-performance-carries-over-to-watkins-glen | 2022-08-16T20:23:20Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72098-gilliland-hopes-indy-performance-carries-over-to-watkins-glen | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The iconic Watkins Glen International road course in upstate New York has hosted a myriad of different racing series over the years, including Formula One races for two decades in the 1960s and ‘70s, and has since been an iconic stop on the NASCAR and IMSA schedules.
So perhaps it is only fitting that for the first-time in NASCAR Cup Series history a record seven different countries will be represented by the competitors this weekend in the Go Bowling at the Glen on August 21 (3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio); including the multiple drivers representing the United States, Daniel Suárez from Mexico, sportscar aces Mike Rockenfeller from Germany and Kyle Tilley from England, NASCAR Euro Series champ Loris Hezemans from the Netherlands, and a pair of former F1 drivers Kimi Raikkonen, of Finland and the talented Russian driver Daniil Kvyat.
Raikkonen’s involvement is the result of a new relationship NASCAR team owner Justin Marks (Trackhouse Racing) hopes to build between NASCAR’s premier series and some of the world’s most renowned drivers from other racing disciplines. Raikkonen will be driving the No. 91 PROJECT91 Chevrolet, marking the debut of the team’s part-time third entry - an innovative concept for the sport in attracting a worldwide superstar like Raikkonen to the grid.
For Raikkonen, 42, this will not only mark his NASCAR Cup Series debut, but it will be his first NASCAR start since 2011 when he competed in a NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“Really before all the work got done to build a brand and actually build out what PROJECT91 was, I had to find somebody that would give immediate legitimacy to it and be interested in doing it," Marks explained. “And to me, really quickly, it was Kimi. He obviously has interest in NASCAR because he’s competed in it before. And he’s newly-retired so he has time to do it.”
“The genesis of PROJECT91 was just my desire as a race fan to see cool things happen in racing," Marks added. “A Formula One driver coming to NASCAR and being competitive at the Cup level is a cool thing.”
That’s certainly been the universal reception to Marks’ idea.
Having former F1 drivers in NASCAR isn’t necessarily new. Juan Pablo Montoya won 13 grand prix in six years of Formula One competition (2001-06) and then raced fulltime at the NASCAR Cup Series level from 2007-‘12 winning two races. Just this February, the 1997 Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve competed in NASCAR’s biggest event, the Daytona 500. And Kvyat will be making his second NASCAR Cup Series start for Team Hezeberg after competing on July 31 at the Indianapolis Road Course.
But the idea of having a rotating list of championship-level drivers from other racing disciplines is a fresh take on the concept. And it’s been well-received all around the racing world.
“I wasn’t looking to race again, but Justin came to my home in Switzerland and convinced me how serious he was about putting together a top-notch program," said Raikkonen, who drove for such iconic teams as McLaren, Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo in his celebrated 19-year F1 career.
“This will be fun, but it’s something I will take very seriously. I know how competitive the NASCAR Cup Series is and it will be a big challenge."
A big challenge perhaps, but Raikkonen will show up in America this week balancing hefty expectations.
Romain Grosjean, a former Haas F1 Team driver who competed against Raikkonen in Formula One and is now a fulltime driver for Andretti Autosport in the NTT IndyCar Series, fully believes Raikkonen is capable of a good competitive finish, if not a win. No matter where Raikkonen finishes, Grosjean says the whole experience is a win-win situation.
“And I’m sure he’s going to have a warm welcome from the drivers," Grosjean added. “He’s a world champion and had an incredible career. And the guys know that it’s a pretty good driver they get to compete against."
Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion, would agree with Grosjean on that. And Busch – driver of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Cup Series - is similar to Raikkonen in that he has competed in a wide variety of racing disciplines too – from the National Hod Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Stock class to winning Rookie of the Race with a 12th-place finish in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 in the NTT IndyCar Series.
“I think he’s going to do well," Busch said without hesitation. “He’ll make an incredible impression with our sport. His professionalism and what he brings from the F1 world and all he’s done in his career will be a nice refreshing boost for some of the guys to be looking at and some of the guys to race against."
Raikkonen jumped in a stock car at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) last week before heading up to New York for the race this weekend. Plus, he’s been doing some SIM training, and already Raikkonen is optimistic about the experience.
“I always enjoyed my races there," Raikkonen said of his United States experience a decade ago. “Hopefully, I’ll have a good drive and good fun."
Just the opportunity to expand the competitive pool is reason enough to feel the PROJECT91 team will be successful. It’s a great chance for fans to witness a more diverse, and certainly, acclaimed racing lineup.
“I think the interest has always been there, it’s just because NASCAR is so unique and it’s viewed around the world as this interesting form of racing that’s huge in our country that doesn’t exist anywhere else," Marks said. “I think for people that are true motorsports competitors at that level, they all would love to try it and see what it’s like to run a NASCAR race because there’s just nothing else in the world like it.
“Hopefully PROJECT91 is a springboard for more participation internationally in the sport because we’re going to showcase to the motorsport world that we’ve got a car that you can come in and you can race and be competitive with as long as the effort around you is right.
“So, I’m hoping this is the beginning of big things." | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72100-nascar-will-have-an-international-flair-at-watkins-glen-project91-to-make-debut | 2022-08-16T20:23:25Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72100-nascar-will-have-an-international-flair-at-watkins-glen-project91-to-make-debut | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota Camry TRD News and Notes
- TRUEX AT WATKINS GLEN: Martin Truex Jr. is a former NASCAR Cup Series winner at Watkins Glen International after earning a victory during his 2017 championship season. That afternoon, he started third and led a race-high 24 laps on the way to victory lane. In his past four trips to Watkins Glen, Truex has not finished worse than third, including a third-place run last August where he led 34 laps and won stage two.
- RICHMOND RECAP: Truex finished seventh in last weekend’s race at Richmond Raceway. After battling the handling during the first half of the race, Truex fell off the lead lap at one point before rallying to pass the race leader late in stage two to rejoin the lead lap. During the final stage, he crept his way up the leaderboard and found his way to seventh after pitting later than most of the competition and taking advantage of fresher tires in the closing laps.
- TIRE TEST: Truex and the No. 19 team participated in a two-day Goodyear tire test at Watkins Glen International on May 24-25.
- RESER’S FINE FOODS: Truex’s No. 19 Camry will feature the Reser’s Fine Foods colors for Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen International. Since 1950, the family-owned company has been a proud sponsor of good times and great foods at racetracks, picnics, BBQs, music festivals, and family meals.
- JGR AT WATKINS GLEN: Joe Gibbs Racing has earned seven NASCAR Cup Series victories at Watkins Glen International. In 73 combined starts at the track, the organization has racked up 29 top-five finishes, 45 top-10s, four pole awards, and 555 laps led. While the team has not won at the track since 2016, in the past four trips to the New York road course, JGR drivers have claimed 12 top-five finishes, 14 top-10s and a 5.0-average finishing position in 16 combined starts. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Tony Stewart have taken JGR to victory lane at Watkins Glen.
- TUNE IN: Coverage of this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International begins Sunday, August 21, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota Camry TRD
What makes Watkins Glen International so special?
“There’s a lot of history if you look at how far back it goes to when they used to race down into town. Now, there’s obviously a great fan following with the racetrack and the local fans show up and really blow it out. The camping there is amazing. Overall, it’s just a fun track; the fastest road course we go to. It’s definitely unique in its own right, but it’s a really fun track to race on and one I’ve always enjoyed going to.”
JGR PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72102-martin-truex-jr-no-19-reser-s-fine-foods-toyota-camry-trd-preview-nascar-cup-series-at-watkins-glen-international | 2022-08-16T20:23:29Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72102-martin-truex-jr-no-19-reser-s-fine-foods-toyota-camry-trd-preview-nascar-cup-series-at-watkins-glen-international | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet:
(Indianapolis Road Course; August 2021)
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet:
(Circuit of The Americas; March 2022)
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet:
(Sonoma Raceway; June 2022)
Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet:
(Road America; July 2022)
(Indianapolis Road Course; July 2022)
· Chevrolet has 61 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins on road courses – starting with Buck Baker at Watkins Glen International in 1957. There have been 154 road-course races in Cup history dating back to 1949.
· Three of the five first-time NASCAR Cup Series winners in 2022 are Chevrolet drivers, with all three recording their first career NCS wins on a road course circuit:
Ross Chastain – Circuit of The Americas (March 2022)
Daniel Suarez – Sonoma Raceway (June 2022)
Tyler Reddick – Road America (July 2022)
· All behind the wheel of a Chevrolet, Chase Elliott has recorded seven road-course victories in his NASCAR Cup Series career, the most of all active NCS drivers.
> Elliott ranks third on the NCS all-time road course wins list behind NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (nine wins, all with Chevrolet) and Tony Stewart (eight wins).
> Elliott’s victories have been recorded at five different road courses, a series record.
“We are proud of the competitive performance that our drivers and teams have demonstrated to deliver Chevrolet 10 consecutive NASCAR Cup Series road-course victories,” said Dr. Eric Warren, Chevrolet Director of NASCAR Programs. “From time spent in the simulator to our partnership with the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School, Chevrolet strives to provide opportunities and resources for its drivers to continually improve their skills behind the wheel. With six drivers from four different Chevrolet teams contributing to this streak of victories, the on-track results are a testament to the work our drivers are putting in on and off the track to enhance their road racing abilities.”
--Eric Warren, Chevrolet Director of NASCAR Programs,
on Chevrolet’s road course racing success
GM PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72106-chevrolet-racing-watkins-glen-bound-with-10-consecutive-ncs-road-course-wins | 2022-08-16T20:23:54Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72106-chevrolet-racing-watkins-glen-bound-with-10-consecutive-ncs-road-course-wins | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NIAGARA COUNTY, N.Y., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sierra Club's New York Atlantic Chapter has officially endorsed Cypress Creek Renewables' proposed Bear Ridge Solar Project, located in the Towns of Cambria and Pendleton in Niagara County. The endorsement comes after the Niagara Group of the Sierra Club completed a favorable assessment of the 100MW solar project under development by Cypress Creek Renewables.
The Sierra Club is an influential grassroots environmental organization with a goal to promote the responsible use of the Earth's ecosystems and resources and restore the quality of the natural and human environment. The club's endorsement of the Bear Ridge Solar Project is a significant achievement since it is based on an examination of the project's qualitative and quantitative attributes to ensure the project meets the club's commitment to renewable energy in a manner that preserves nature and provides a just transition that respects communities.
"We worked hard with the Sierra Club to win their endorsement," said Keith Silliman, Director of Regulatory Compliance for New York at Cypress Creek. "They were meticulous and thorough in their assessment."
Prior to making its endorsement, the Sierra Club conducted a thorough evaluation of the project, which received a notice of complete application from the New York Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) on August 2, 2022. The Sierra Club's evaluation focused on nine categories including impacts on forested land, wetlands and riparian areas, birds and other wildlife, and food and production workers. They also assessed local labor agreements, the tax base, community engagement and listening efforts made by the developers, wider community benefits of the project and conducted an Indigenous Nations consultation. Representatives of the Sierra Club also toured the project location where they met with one of the project's landowners, an active dairy farmer.
"Coming on the heels of the NYSERDA Renewable Energy Credit Award and the ORES Notice of Complete Application, the Sierra Club endorsement is a significant milestone for Cypress Creek as we move forward with the development of the Bear Ridge Solar Project," said Sarah Slusser, CEO of Cypress Creek. "We look forward working with the Sierra Club on both Bear Ridge and other projects we're developing across the country."
Cypress Creek Renewables is a leading renewables developer and independent power producer. It develops, finances, owns, and operates utility-scale and distributed solar and energy storage projects across the United States with a mission to power a sustainable future, one project at a time. Since inception, Cypress Creek has developed more than 11GW of solar projects. Today it owns 2GW of solar facilities in operation and has a 15GW development pipeline. Cypress Creek's leading O&M services business operates and maintains 4GW of solar projects for customers across 19 states. For more information about Cypress Creek, please visit www.ccrenew.com.
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ADVANCE NOTES
Weekend Format
- The traditional weekend format is on tap this weekend with practice split into two groups Saturday afternoon, immediately followed by group qualifying.
Buescher at Watkins Glen
- Buescher lines up for his seventh Cup start from The Glen this weekend where he has a best finish of 11th (2017). Last season he finished 17th.
- He has a best qualifying effort of 16th which came in 2019, and overall has a 22.3 average starting position.
- Buescher also made two Xfinity Series starts there in 2014-15, earning a third-place finish in 2015 after starting fifth for Jack Roush.
Scott Graves at Watkins Glen
- Graves has two career top five finishes in Cup at The Glen with a third-place finish in 2017, and a fourth-place finish in 2018 – both of which came with Daniel Suarez. He most recently finished 25th with Ryan Newman the last two seasons.
- In his first-ever NASCAR National series race at The Glen back in 2012, Graves led Carl Edwards to a win, and followed that with a third-place run with Buescher in 2015, and a fourth-place finish in 2016.
QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Watkins Glen:
“I’m excited. I’m ready for the win.”
Last Time Out
Buescher had one of the best drives of his career Sunday at Richmond, finishing third after a strong showing in the Fastenal Ford.
On the Car
Fastenal, in its 12th season with RFK in 2022, makes its 14th appearance with the No. 17 this weekend. In its early days with RFK, Fastenal originally was a partner with the No. 99 team before moving over to the No. 17 team since. They were also the primary partner on the No. 60 Xfinity Series entry that captured the owner’s championship in 2011.
Fastenal will feature top suppliers Georgia Pacific, DeWalt, Klever Innovation and ACS Motorola on Buescher’s Mustang as he competes this weekend. For more information on these suppliers, visit Fastenal.com, and stay up-do-date on social @FastenalCompany.
RFK PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72112-christopher-buescher-watkins-glen-advance | 2022-08-16T20:24:13Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72112-christopher-buescher-watkins-glen-advance | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ADVANCE NOTES
Weekend Format
- The traditional weekend format is on tap this weekend with practice split into two groups Saturday afternoon, immediately followed by group qualifying.
Keselowski at Watkins Glen
- Despite not having a win to his credit at Watkins Glen, the New York track stands as Keselowski’s best road course statistically with a 13.4 average finish in 11 starts.
- He has six top-10 finishes, including four inside the top five, with three career runner-up results. He first finished second back in 2011, and followed that with two more P2 results in 2012 and 2013. He also has a third-place finish in 2016, and most recently ran ninth in 2019.
- Keselowski also carries an average starting position of 11.3 with six starts inside the top-10, including a P1 start last season when qualifying metrics during COVID determined starting lineups.
- Keselowski also has 10 starts in Xfinity at WGI with one win (2013) and nine top-10s.
Matt McCall at Watkins Glen
- McCall will be atop the box for his seventh Cup race at The Glen where he has three top-10s and an average finish of 15.3.
- He’s finished 14th or better in all but one race, and has a career-best P7 finish in 2018. Most recently he finished 13th (2021) and 10th (2019) with Kurt Busch.
QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Watkins Glen:
“Watkins Glen is a place I’ve felt really good at over the years, but have just missed out on a win there a handful of times. Our road course program has seen significant improvements and we’re again excited to show that off this weekend, and also have a great notebook from a test Chris did earlier this year. We know what we’re up against, just have to go execute this weekend.”
Last Time Out
Keselowski finished 15th in Richmond last Sunday after finishing fourth in stage one.
On the Car
Violet Defense returns to Keselowski’s No. 6 this weekend for its fifth appearance with the No. 6 team in 2022.
RFK PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72113-brad-keselowski-watkins-glen-advance | 2022-08-16T20:24:19Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72113-brad-keselowski-watkins-glen-advance | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The expanded support provides visibility into query-level metrics and detailed explain plans so all Microsoft customers can benefit from Database Monitoring
NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Datadog, Inc. (NASDAQ: DDOG), the monitoring and security platform for cloud applications, today announced expanded monitoring for Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Azure database platforms. The announcement builds on Datadog's Database Monitoring product, which launched in August of last year.
With this expanded support, engineers and database administrators can quickly pinpoint and address database performance issues such as costly and slow queries, incorrect indexes in SQL Server or Azure databases and bottlenecks in their applications.
"We launched Database Monitoring last year because we wanted to help our customers reduce database costs, troubleshoot performance inefficiencies and increase collaboration between engineers and database administrators," said Omri Sass, group product manager of Application Performance Monitoring at Datadog. "By adding support for SQL Server and Azure database services, Microsoft users are better able to accomplish these goals and discover and implement the right database improvements while saving time communicating and reconciling information."
"Microsoft Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance are fully managed database services that feature built-in security controls, automated maintenance and are always up to date," said Ramnik Gulati, senior director, product marketing, data & AI at Microsoft. "The expanded support of Datadog's Database Monitoring product further strengthens this collaboration by providing Microsoft customers with deep insights into their managed and self-hosted SQL Server, PostgreSQL and MySQL databases, enabling them to build and scale workloads with confidence."
Datadog Database Monitoring for Microsoft SQL Server and Azure database platforms includes the following features:
- Valuable Query Metrics: View metrics such as average latency, total execution time and number of rows queried in order to identify problematic queries and use historical query performance data to track long-term trends.
- Explain Plan Analysis: Visualize differences between multiple explain plans for individual queries to identify hotspots and seamlessly pivot from explain plans to related metrics in order to understand how inefficiencies impact performance.
- Centralized Query, Database and Infrastructure Metrics: View and monitor query-level and host-level metrics together to better understand how resource constraints affect database performance.
Database Monitoring is now generally available for Microsoft customers using SQL Server or Azure Database Platforms. To learn more, please visit: https://www.datadoghq.com/product/database-monitoring/
Datadog is the monitoring and security platform for cloud applications. Our SaaS platform integrates and automates infrastructure monitoring, application performance monitoring and log management to provide unified, real-time observability of our customers' entire technology stack. Datadog is used by organizations of all sizes and across a wide range of industries to enable digital transformation and cloud migration, drive collaboration among development, operations, security and business teams, accelerate time to market for applications, reduce time to problem resolution, secure applications and infrastructure, understand user behavior and track key business metrics.
This press release may include certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended including statements on the benefits of new products and features. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and are subject to a variety of assumptions, uncertainties, risks and factors that are beyond our control, including those risks detailed under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2022, as well as future filings and reports by us. Except as required by law, we undertake no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, changes in expectations or otherwise.
Contact
Dan Haggerty
press@datadoghq.com
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BOSTON, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DTiQ, a Digital Alpha Advisors portfolio company and the leading provider of next-generation video intelligence, analytics, and managed solutions for restaurants and retail locations, is announcing two solutions to help clients optimize revenue and retain loyal customers.
DTiQ enhances its customers' ability to influence operation excellence by adding new solutions such as speed of service and multi-lane drive through (MLDT).
Our speed of service solution provides real-time alerts and historic trend reports. These help your team identify what KPIs are being met and which are not. By using the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and computer vision technology, we can continue improving our solution to help you optimize revenue and customer satisfaction.
To help ensure order accuracy, DTiQ offers a MLDT solution. It provides operators with an intuitive way of confirming order accuracy. DTiQ's solution integrates POS sales day, computer vision and artificial intelligence to match orders with vehicles. With MLDT, you'll be able to increase order accuracy, improve speed of service, and retain loyal customers.
In addition to expanding its solution capabilities, the company has also invested in growing its team and strategically hiring top talent to ensure customers get the best protection of their assets. These include:
- Steve Habermas – Chief Product & Technology Officer
- Michael Grimes – VP, Marketing
- Ted Dolan- VP, Strategy & Corporate Development
- Ryan Plescia – VP, Product Marketing
- Matt Dollard – VP, Sales Operations
- Morris Porter – VP, Enterprise Sales
- Tim Pincelli – VP, Channel Partnerships and Strategic Alliances
Lastly, the company announced that Mike Coffey is stepping away day-to-day CEO of DTiQ. Coffey has been CEO since January 2018 and has guided the organization through a period of incredible transformation, including a global pandemic. He is leaving to begin the next exciting chapter of his career. Marc Litz, who has served as CFO of DTiQ since May 2018, has assumed the role of interim CEO.
"Mike's passion for this business has led us to where we are now. It's certainly a bittersweet time, but we wish Mike all the success as he embarks on a new journey," Litz said.
"Marc has been with DTiQ just as long as I have and is very well prepared for this role. He knows each of you, our customers, our lenders, our shareholders, and that will serve all of you," Mike Coffey said.
Litz said that during the transition, DTiQ would remain committed to its employees and customers, and building products that enhance client security and protection. Those values have been the company's cornerstone and will continue moving forward.
"I'm proud to be leading such a strong company with an experienced and dedicated team. We are committed to our clients, partners, and employees and will continue to provide the highest standards of service, support and technology," Litz said.
Rick Shrotri, Founder and Managing Partner of Digital Alpha, adds, "We want to thank Mike Coffey for his leadership. We are excited about the strategy, solutions, and the impressive people that make up the company. Marc Litz has also been an integral part of the DTIQ success and we are pleased to be partnering with him in his capacity as CEO."
We offer state-of-the-art video surveillance to improve loss prevention efforts for restaurants and retail locations. With over 20 years of experience, we've successfully enhanced over eight million consumer experiences a day, all while protecting trillions of dollars in assets. We work with over 45,000 businesses, including Adidas, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Golf Town, Hard Rock Café, KFC, McDonald's, Pandora, Subway, Swarovski. Taco Bell, US Polo, Vineyard Vines and Yankee Candle. For more information, visit www.dtiq.com
Digital Alpha Advisors, LLC is an investment firm focused on digital infrastructure and services required by the digital economy with total assets under management of over $1.5B. The firm has a strategic collaboration agreement with Cisco Systems, Inc. As part of this agreement, Digital Alpha has preferred access to Cisco's pipeline of commercial opportunities requiring equity financing. In addition, Digital Alpha has cultivated strategic partnerships with other Silicon Valley technology leaders, with whom it has already executed deals. Digital Alpha believes that it is the first firm focused on making private equity investments in the significant growth opportunities required to underpin the Digital Economy, including smart cities, next-generation broadband networks, and enterprise data management and communication solutions. Digital Alpha was founded in 2017 by Rick Shrotri, former Head of the Global Infrastructure Funds (GIF) team at Cisco, and closed its latest Fund – Digital Alpha Fund II, LP – in early 2021. For more information, please visit www.digitalalpha.net.
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Today the top roofing company in Alabama, Alabama Roofing Professionals, was announced as the primary sponsor for Spencer Boyd’s No. 12 Chevrolet Silverado at Talladega Superspeedway for the third time. The paint scheme that visited victory lane in 2019 has been redesigned and will be easy to spot in the pack of NASCAR Camping World Trucks drafting around the iconic Super Speedway.
“This one is for Alabama!” Spencer Boyd said about the upcoming race at Talladega. “The team over at Alabama Roofing Professionals has such pride in serving their community that it raises the stakes for me to put a good run together for them. Our Young’s Motorsports team has won two of the last three races at Dega so we feel good about making the whole state of Alabama proud with this year’s effort.”
The experts in both residential and commercial roofing were on board when Boyd scored his first career win in 2019 at this same race. As always, there are free estimates for all NASCAR fans.
“We’ve got you covered with three locations across the state whether it is for an insurance claim, gutter or insulation upgrades, or just regular maintenance,” said Mike Parlier, owner of Alabama Roofing Professionals. “But when Spencer comes to Talladega, the track is headquarters. With this new red paint scheme and a show truck appearance nearby, we will be turning some heads. We are as proud to support Spencer as we are to be there for our community and the roofs over their heads.”
Spencer and the memorialized truck that won the 2019 race will make an appearance in the area the weekend of the race.
Unlike previous years, all three of NASCAR’s national touring series will race Talladega Superspeedway this fall with trucks and the Xfinity Series racing on Saturday and the Cup Series on Sunday - making it one of the most exciting weekends in all motorsports.
The Talladega 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, October 1, 2022 airs live on FS1 at 11:30am ET and marks Alabama Roofing Professionals third primary race with Spencer Boyd and Young’s Motorsports.
Spencer Boyd PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-truck-series-news/72103-new-paint-scheme-for-alabama-roofing-professionals-and-spencer-boyd-at-talladega | 2022-08-16T20:24:32Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-truck-series-news/72103-new-paint-scheme-for-alabama-roofing-professionals-and-spencer-boyd-at-talladega | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The biggest weekend of Central Illinois racing begins this Friday night August, 19th at Lincoln Speedway featuring MOWA Sprint Cars, followed by the Springfield Mile Saturday afternoon, August 20 with USAC Silver Crown and Sportsman and Macon Speedway Saturday night with POWRi National Midgets. Completing the weekend will be Sunday afternoon, August 21 with ARCA and Sportsman at the Illinois State Fair.
The staple events of the weekend are Saturday, August 20th with the USAC Silver Crown National Championship 59th Bettenhausen 100 Presented by Hunt Brothers Pizza and the ARCA Menards Series Atlas 100 plus the Sportsman Nationals on Sunday afternoon, August 21st. The whole weekend is presented by MiteXstream.
The long standing USAC Silver Crown race has been a staple for the Illinois State Fair capping off the final weekend of the fair. USAC star Kody Swanson leads in points for the 2022 USAC Silver Crown season. Swanson has dominated the last three USAC Silver Crown events taking home the win at Toledo, Winchester, and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Swanson also took home the win last year at the Mile, besting a field of 31 competitors to take home the win at the historic Mile. A great field of USAC stars is expected for what is just one of two mile long dirt races for the Silver Crown Series.
The ARCA Menards Series has the chance to make history at the Springfield Mile as two female competitors will get the shot to be the first female champion of the famed dirt mile. Toni Breidinger and Amber Balcaen sit both 5th and 6th in championship points in ARCA. While both have had good runs this season they both look to the Mile for their first ARCA Menards Series win. The ARCA Menards Series have seen some fantastic racing this year from a group of young and upcoming racing talent. A diverse field of cars will grace the Mile for just one of two dirt races for the ARCA series.
Advance tickets for the Illinois State Fair races are available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200, by calling the Illinois State Fair box office at 217-782-1979, or by stopping by the Illinois State Fair box office. Advance sale discounted tickets for the ARCA Menards Series event on Sunday, August 21 can be purchased in Central Illinois area Menards stores for a price of just $20.
Top Stories:
*The national touring USAC Silver Crown National Championship and ARCA Menards Series return to the Historic Springfield Mile Saturday, August 20th and 21st
*The ARCA Menards Series has the chance to make history with two female drivers entered in the Atlas 100 on Sunday afternoon, no female has won at the historic Mile in all of these years
*Two local dirt track shows also highlight the weekend with Lincoln Speedway starting the racing weekend off Friday Night and Macon Speedway running Saturday Night after the Bettenhausen 100 Presented by Hunt Brothers Pizza
*USAC Silver Crown Star, Kody Swanson, has had a dominating run this year in the Silver Crown Series winning the last three races in the series, Swanson is also the defending champion at the Springfield Mile
*All of the top USAC and ARCA stars are expected out this weekend to test their skills at one of the countries most historic dirt tracks
Track Enterprises PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/racing-news/72094-usac-arca-set-to-headline-big-race-weekend-in-central-illinois | 2022-08-16T20:24:39Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/racing-news/72094-usac-arca-set-to-headline-big-race-weekend-in-central-illinois | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader, is pleased to announce the appointment of Eileen K. Murray as an independent member of its board of directors, effective September 1, 2022. Following Ms. Murray's appointment, Broadridge's expanded Board will consist of 12 members, 10 of whom are independent.
Ms. Murray is currently the Chair of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), where she has served on the Board of Governors since 2016. Her term as the Chair and member of the Board of FINRA is ending on August 19, 2022. Ms. Murray is the former Co-Chief Executive Officer of Bridgewater Associates, one of the world's largest hedge funds. Prior to joining Bridgewater in 2009, she served as the Chief Executive Officer of Investment Risk Management LLC and as co-CEO of Duff Capital Advisors.
"Eileen is an accomplished executive with deep experience leading complex financial and technology-driven organizations," said Rich Daly, Executive Chairman of Broadridge's Board of Directors. "As the financial services industry continues to undergo a digital transformation, Eileen's expertise will help ensure that Broadridge remains at the forefront of innovation as we continue to provide the infrastructure and technologies to support our clients' growth and ultimately, enable better financial lives."
Ms. Murray began her professional career in 1984 at Morgan Stanley, where she held several senior positions over the next 18 years, including Controller, Treasurer, and Chief Accounting Officer, as well as Chief Operating Officer for the firm's Institutional Securities Group. From 2002 to 2005, she was a Managing Director and Head of Global Technology, Operations and Product Control at Credit Suisse First Boston and served on the firm's management board. She returned to Morgan Stanley and served as Managing Director, Head of Global Technology and Operations from 2005 to 2007. Ms. Murray earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Manhattan College, where she was also awarded an honorary doctorate.
"I am excited to join Broadridge at such a pivotal time for the financial services industry," said Ms. Murray. "The company is a trusted partner for change, and I look forward to working with management and the rest of the Board to ensure Broadridge continues developing and delivering the critical infrastructure technologies our clients need to keep pace with the industry's evolution."
Ms. Murray is on the boards of Guardian Life Insurance Company and HSBC Holdings, as well as the Irish Arts Center. She has also served on the board of directors of the Business Council for International Understanding and The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation.
About Broadridge
Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with $5 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance, and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions that drive business transformation for banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. Our technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of more than $9 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work®, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500® Index, employing over 14,000 associates in 21 countries. For more information about us, please visit www.broadridge.com.
Investors:
W. Edings Thibault
Investor Relations
+ 1 516-472-5129
Edings.Thibault@broadridge.com
Media:
Linda Namias
Corporate Communications
+1 631-254-7711
Linda.Namias@broadridge.com
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SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/eileen-k-murray-appointed-broadridge-board-directors/ | 2022-08-16T20:24:40Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/eileen-k-murray-appointed-broadridge-board-directors/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As students return to the classroom, it's going to be a busy time for teachers, school staff and the Tennessee Department of Child Services.
Dr. Debbie Lowen the Child Health Deputy Commissioner with the Tennessee Department of Child Services said the school year is typically when there is an uptick in reported child abuses.
“Number one, we have eyes on kids, the school lunch room, their friends, maybe even their friends parents or coach, when there’s more eyes on a child there’s more possibility of abuse getting recognized,” said Dr. Lowen.
She said if a child was abused over the summer and did not see many people, they may confide in a familiar teacher or counselor when they return to school.
"When school is in session we do see an uptick in cases being reported by school personnel, whether it’s the teacher, a lot of schools have a primary reporter who do the reporting.”
Signs of abuse can range from bruises in unusual places like the cheeks and ears to a change in a child’s behavior.
“A child who was last year just doing great and this year is withdrawn isolating themselves," she explained.
A child wearing clothes that do not match the season, such as long sleeves in pants during the hot summer months and child who isn't growing can also indicate to teachers that there's abuse happening at home.
"A school personnel can just talk to the child and say you doing okay? How’s everything going?"
Teachers who suspect abuse must report it immediately to the Department of Child Services or to local law enforcement. Dr. Lowen said that you don't need proof of abuse, suspicion is enough to make the call.
"People should not wait until they’re sure it’s abuse. We don’t want late people even school teachers doing their own investigation.”
In Tennessee everyone is a mandated reporter of child abuse. If you believe there is a case of child abuse you can call the DCS Hotline at 877-237-0004 or fill out a report on the on the DCS website, click here. You can remain anonymous when you make a report. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/child-abuse-cases-rise-in-tennessee-as-new-school-year-begins/article_3275f174-1d68-11ed-979e-d31678d33a71.html | 2022-08-16T20:24:58Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/child-abuse-cases-rise-in-tennessee-as-new-school-year-begins/article_3275f174-1d68-11ed-979e-d31678d33a71.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federation for American Immigration Reform issued the following statement, as well as a deeper dive into the growing border crisis, based on data quietly released yesterday by the Biden administration:
Earlier this month, President Biden took credit for the July inflation rate being "only" 8.5 percent. Now that July border numbers are finally public, the White House may take credit for the fact that "only" 199,976 illegal aliens crossed our border, down from 207,416 in June. A minor drop in border encounters is not encouraging. Traditionally, numbers drop in the hottest summer months, and last month's figures actually represent a 325 percent increase over the average number of July apprehensions under the Trump administration. More significantly, July numbers bring the total of illegal aliens crossing our borders since President Biden took office to 4.9 million, including some 900,000 "gotaways" who eluded apprehension and have since disappeared into American communities.
"Roughly the equivalent of the entire population of Ireland has illegally entered the United States in the 18 months President Biden has been in office, with many being released into American communities. In that time, the Biden administration has blamed an unprecedented surge of illegal immigration on all sorts of external factors, except their own sabotage of our nation's immigration laws. The endless flow of illegal aliens and the incursion of lethal narcotics pouring across our border will not end until this administration demonstrates a willingness to enforce our laws," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR.
FAIR Border Snapshot for July 2022
- Since President Biden took office, nearly 4.9 million illegal aliens have crossed our borders.
- CBP had 199,976 encounters at the Southwest border in July 2022, including 134,362 single adults, 51,822 family units, and 13,299 unaccompanied minors.
- CBP reports that 10 individuals on the FBI's terror watchlist were apprehended between ports of entry at the Southwest border in July, bringing the total for the current fiscal year to 66.
- The Biden administration continues its crusade to end the Title 42 public health authority, despite extending other COVID-related national emergencies.
- 2,071 pounds of fentanyl and 12,989 pounds of methamphetamine were seized at the southern border in July, with much more getting through because Border Patrol agents are busy processing illegal aliens.
- The amount of fentanyl seized in July is equivalent to 469 million lethal doses.
To schedule an interview with one of FAIR's National Spokespersons contact: Ron Kovach, 202-328-7004 or rkovach@fairus.org.
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.
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SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/fair-analysis-49-million-illegal-aliens-have-crossed-our-borders-since-president-biden-took-office/ | 2022-08-16T20:25:00Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/fair-analysis-49-million-illegal-aliens-have-crossed-our-borders-since-president-biden-took-office/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Judge rejects plea agreements in submarine secrets sale case
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A Navy nuclear engineer and his wife withdrew their guilty pleas Tuesday in a case involving an alleged plot to sell secrets about American nuclear-powered warships after a federal judge rejected plea agreements that had called for specific sentencing guidelines.
Jonathan and Diana Toebbe of Annapolis, Maryland, pleaded guilty in February in federal court in Martinsburg, West Virginia, to one count each of conspiracy to communicate restricted data.
The sentencing range agreed to by lawyers for Jonathan Toebbe had called for a potential punishment between roughly 12 years and 17 years in prison. Prosecutors said Tuesday that such a sentence would be one of the most significant imposed in modern times under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Prosecutors also sought three years for Diana Toebbe.
U.S. District Judge Gina Groh said that while she generally honors plea agreements, in this case she said the sentencing options were “strikingly deficient” considering the seriousness of the charges.
Groh said the act to which the couple pleaded guilty was done “for selfish and greedy reasons, but could have caused great harm” to the Navy and others.
“I don’t find any justifiable reasons for accepting either one of these plea agreements,” Groh said.
Wearing orange jail jumpsuits and seated at separate tables, the couple then separately withdrew their guilty pleas, leading Groh to set a trial date for Jan. 17.
Prosecutors said Jonathan Toebbe abused his access to top-secret government information and repeatedly sold details about the design elements and performance characteristics of Virginia-class submarines to someone he believed was a representative of a foreign government but who was actually an undercover FBI agent.
Diana Toebbe, who was teaching at a private school in Maryland at the time of the couple’s arrest last October, was accused of acting as a lookout at several prearranged “dead-drop” locations at which memory cards containing the secret information were left behind.
The memory cards were devices concealed in objects such as a chewing gum wrapper and a peanut butter sandwich. The couple was arrested after he placed a memory card at a dead drop location in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
None of the information was classified as top secret or secret, falling into a third category considered confidential, according to testimony Tuesday.
The FBI has said the scheme began in April 2020, when Jonathan Toebbe sent a package of Navy documents to a foreign government and wrote that he was interested in selling to that country operations manuals, performance reports and other sensitive information. He included in the package, which had a Pittsburgh return address, instructions to his supposed contact for how to establish a covert relationship with him, prosecutors said.
That package was obtained by the FBI in December 2020 through its legal attaché office in the unspecified foreign country. That set off a monthslong undercover operation in which an agent posing as a representative of a foreign country made contact with Toebbe, ultimately paying $100,000 in cryptocurrency in exchange for the information Toebbe was offering.
Jonathan Toebbe, who held a top-secret security clearance through the Defense Department, had agreed as part of the plea deal to help federal officials with locating and retrieving all classified information in his possession, as well as the cryptocurrency paid to him.
The country to which Jonathan Toebbe was looking to sell the information has not been identified in court documents and was not disclosed in court.
FBI agents who searched the couple’s home found a trash bag of shredded documents, thousands of dollars in cash, valid children’s passports and a “go-bag” containing a USB flash drive and latex gloves, according to court testimony last year.
During a December 2021 hearing, Diana Toebbe’s lawyers denied prosecution assertions that cited 2019 messages exchanged by the couple in which she had contemplated fleeing the United States to avoid arrest. Instead, the defense said it was contempt for then-President Donald Trump as the reason behind the couple’s emigration plans.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wave3.com/2022/08/16/judge-rejects-plea-agreements-submarine-secrets-sale-case/ | 2022-08-16T20:25:02Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/2022/08/16/judge-rejects-plea-agreements-submarine-secrets-sale-case/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Normal, Illinois’ Bill Hendren, current car owner of 2020 Atlas Allen Crowe 100 winner Ryan Unzicker, has decided to retire after this season. Bill is the longest known participant of the stock car events at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, having served in some capacity since 1974.
Bill’s journey began with fellow McLean County resident Ken Rowley and together they won the 1974 USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year award. The duo also finished 9th at Springfield behind winner Roger McCluskey. Over the next few seasons Ken and Bill enjoyed runs on the USAC Stock Car circuit, including usually making the dirt shows at Springfield and Du Quoin.
Bill stepped away from ownership for over a decade but remained involved in some form or another, at times helping financially or as a crew member. Bill returned to ownership several years ago, Ken Rowley set two track records at Du Quoin and nearly won the 1993 Allen Crowe 100 giving the team its best (3rd) Springfield finish. Unfortunately, Ken Rowley was forced to retire after the 1998 season. Hendren then turned to veteran Bob Strait who promptly set the team’s Chevrolet on the pole for the 1999 event. Strait ran sporadically for the Hendren outfit for the next few seasons, with the team helping Mark Littleton for a few years before Unzicker became the selected shoe for Hendren Motorsports.
Unzicker led laps at Du Quoin and equaled Rowley’s 3rd in 2016 but had yet to lead a lap at Springfield. All that changed in 2020, when he led a record 102 of 103 laps and gave Hendren a long sought-after Springfield victory. Earlier this year Hendren announced this year would be his last. To Bill Hendren we say so long, and it’s been a great ride.
The event is all part of a huge weekend of racing that begins Friday night, August 19 at Lincoln Speedway featuring MOWA Sprint Cars, Saturday afternoon, August 20 with USAC Silver Crown and Sportsman at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Saturday night at Macon Speedway with POWRi National Midgets, and Sunday afternoon, August 21 with ARCA and Sportsman at the Illinois State Fair.
Advance tickets for the Illinois State Fair races are available by calling the Track Enterprises office at 217-764-3200, by calling the Illinois State Fair box office at 217-782-1979, or by stopping by the Illinois State Fair box office. Advance sale discounted tickets for the ARCA Menards Series event on Sunday, August 21 can be purchased in Central Illinois area Menards stores for a price of just $20.
Track Enterprises PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72105-longtime-illinois-race-car-owner-to-make-final-springfield-appearance | 2022-08-16T20:25:03Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72105-longtime-illinois-race-car-owner-to-make-final-springfield-appearance | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
With the NASCAR Cup Series’ regular season finale Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway less than two weeks away, seven – yes seven - former DAYTONA Champions are in a “must-win” situation if they want to have a chance to make the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs.
After this weekend’s upcoming Go Bowling at The Glen, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 will serve as the last-chance race for drivers to make the 16-playoff grid for the third consecutive year. For every driver who enters the Coke Zero Sugar 400 outside of the top 16, going to Ruoff Mortgage Victory Lane will be their only option in order to make the championship battle.
There have been 15 drivers to win thus far in 2022, which leaves just one spot available in the drive for the title. On the outside looking in are the ’lucky seven,’ former winners at the iconic “World Center of Racing.” They include:
- Brad Keselowski (No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford), the 2016 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion. His resume is stellar at DIS with three top-five efforts and six top-10s in 26 starts.
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., (No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet), the 2017 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion. In addition, he has a pair of top-five results. His other career triumph came at Talladega Superspeedway.
- Erik Jones (No. 43 Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet), the 2018 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion and 2021 Busch Clash at Daytona Champion. He has another top-five result, along with three top 10s. Jones also captured the 2021 Busch Clash at Daytona.
- Aric Almirola (No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford), the 2014 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion. In 21 races, he also has three top-five and four top-10 efforts.
- Justin Haley (No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet), the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion. In just four races, he has a pair of top-10 results.
- Austin Dillon (No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet), the 2018 DAYTONA 500 Champion. In 18 races at DIS, he has one win and three top-five finishes.
- Michael McDowell (No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford), the 2021 DAYTONA 500 Champion. He has three top-five efforts at Daytona, as well as eight top-10 results.
And let’s not forget the two drivers who are second and fourth in the standings – Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex, Jr. respectively – who have yet to win, as well as the Bubba Wallace, who has been one of the hottest drivers over the last five races.
- Blaney, the defending Coke Zero Sugar 400 Champion, currently is the 16th seed, and if a ’22 non-winning driver wins one of the next two races, he will be eliminated from playoff contention. A victory erases any doubt of making the playoffs.
- Truex, who has a pair of runnerup finishes at Daytona in the DAYTONA 500 and Coke Zero Sugar 400, is the first driver on the outside looking in, and needs a triumph to advance.
- Wallace also has second-place finishes in both the DAYTONA 500 and Coke Zero Sugar 400. While searching for his first victory of 2022, he has results of third, eighth, fifth, second and 13th over the last handful of premier series events.
Fans can catch this exciting conclusion to the regular season by purchasing tickets starting at $49 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Fans who purchase tickets to the race can also purchase access to the UNOH Fanzone for $60 (plus grandstand ticket). Here, fans can participate in events before the race that includes the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Pre-Race Concert featuring Better Than Ezra, pre-race ceremonies, driver introductions, access to the large grass ballfield, and signing the start/finish line through the middle of the 18-degree, banked trioval. Also scheduled is LIVE entertainment on the main UNOH Fanzone Stage, including NASCAR Personalities Fan Q&A.
Tickets to the Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola are also available, starting at $35 for adults and FREE for kids 12 and under. The Wawa 250 takes place the day before the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Friday, Aug. 26, and access to the UNOH Fanzone will be available before this race as well! A Two-Day Pass is available which includes access to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday, and the Wawa 250 on Friday.
Tickets for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola can be purchased online at www.
Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the all-new NASCAR Tracks App, for the latest speedway news.
DIS PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72108-must-win-seven-yes-seven-former-daytona-champions-need-historic-coke-zero-sugar-400-victory-to-have-shot-at-nascar-cup-series-playoffs | 2022-08-16T20:25:09Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72108-must-win-seven-yes-seven-former-daytona-champions-need-historic-coke-zero-sugar-400-victory-to-have-shot-at-nascar-cup-series-playoffs | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Fourteen years after R. Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges in Illinois, he is back in his hometown facing more federal charges that involve some of the tapes and victims from his previous state trial.
Kelly, who was convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges at a Brooklyn federal trial in September and sentenced to 30 years in prison, will now face charges at the Chicago federal trial that he sexually abused five minors in the late 1990s and created multiple explicit videos with four of them.
The trial will center around child pornography and obstruction counts and includes two former associates of Kelly's as his co-defendants. Derrel McDavid was charged with child pornography and obstruction, and Milton "June" Brown faces one count of conspiracy to receive child pornography. Kelly, McDavid and Brown each pleaded not guilty to the charges. CNN has reached out to their attorneys for comment.
Prosecutors are expected to show multiple tapes of child pornography allegedly involving Kelly having sex with underage girls. The public and media will not be permitted to view the tapes, as they are considered contraband, but jurors will.
US District Judge Harry Leinenweber has questioned nearly 100 prospective jurors for the trial beginning Monday, and may select a jury and begin opening arguments as early as Tuesday afternoon. Twelve jurors and six alternates are expected to be selected.
Kelly worked closely with McDavid and Brown at the height of his career in the 1990s.
McDavid worked for Kelly as a business manager from 1991 until about 2014, according to an indictment, which claims that part of his job was to "protect Kelly's image, reputation and assets" against active and potential criminal investigations, as well as lawsuits filed by people who claimed they were victims of sexual abuse by Kelly.
Prosecutors allege that Kelly and McDavid worked with others to pay victims and witnesses to ensure they wouldn't cooperate with law enforcement and "cover up evidence" including alleged child porn videos involving Kelly.
Brown worked for Kelly from 1997 to 2018, and prosecutors allege that he, Kelly and McDavid conspired to receive multiple alleged child pornography tapes.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/r-kelly-chicago-federal-trial-will-revisit-2008-accusations-that-ended-in-acquittal/article_395e8461-9a72-55be-9103-0e56640135f7.html | 2022-08-16T20:25:12Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/r-kelly-chicago-federal-trial-will-revisit-2008-accusations-that-ended-in-acquittal/article_395e8461-9a72-55be-9103-0e56640135f7.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Darlington Raceway and the United States Auto Club (USAC) .25 Series announce the Cook Out .25 Midget Series will compete at the Darlington Raceway facility during the Shriners Children’s presents Darlington Labor Day Race Week on Sept. 1-4. This will be the first time since 2019 that the Cook Out .25 Midget Series will compete over Darlington’s traditional Labor Day race weekend.
“We are proud to welcome back the action-packed Cook Out .25 Midget Series to Darlington Raceway,” said Kerry Tharp, Darlington Raceway President. “As a family-friendly series, the Cook Out .25 Midget Series has been the start for many future NASCAR Cup Series stars’ careers. We look forward to hosting the competitive action of the next generation of racing superstars at Darlington Raceway.”
While Cook Out .25 Midget Series was formed in 2009, quarter midget racing has been around since before World War II. It is a family-oriented motorsport that involves children ages 5-16 racing in specially-prepared cars. A quarter midget is a scaled down version of an actual midget racer, approximately 1/4th scale. The cars, rules and safety procedures are designed specifically for kids. The racing environment is all about the children and family as kids learn valuable lessons and sportsmanship while making lifelong friends from all over the country.
Many former and current NASCAR drivers began their racing careers in the Cook Out .25 Midget Series including NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte, and current NASCAR Cup Series stars Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, and Harrison Burton.
The Cook Out .25 Midget Series will compete to the east of Darlington Raceway outside Turns 1-2 across the street from Race Track Road. The Cook Out .25 Midget Series schedule includes practice on Thursday, Sept. 1 from 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and racing competition on Friday, Sept. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free for fans to watch some of the future stars of the sport compete. Fans can enter via Race Track Road or Odom Street.
For more information about the Cook Out .25 Midget Series, visit www.usac25.com.
Darlington Raceway PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72111-darlington-raceway-to-host-cook-out-25-midget-series-on-sept-1-4 | 2022-08-16T20:25:15Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72111-darlington-raceway-to-host-cook-out-25-midget-series-on-sept-1-4 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Gabriela Montero at Prager Family Center for the Arts Brings Yuja Wang,
Paquito D'Rivera, Joshua Bell for Exclusive Musical Series in Easton, MD.
Adding a Music Education Program for Underserved Youth
EASTON, Md., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pianist-composer, Gabriela Montero, started her studies earlier than most – at just four years old – making her solo debut with an orchestra in her home country of Venezuela at age seven. She went on to receive a scholarship to attend school in the U.S., and later became a graduate and fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in London. Montero has showcased her phenomenal musicality and rare improvisational ability internationally – from Carnegie Hall to the 2008 Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. Come this fall, Montero will be performing, along with a selection of GRAMMY-winning musical artists, like Yuja Wang, as part of the Gabriela Montero at Prager series in the newly restored Ebenezer Theater at Prager Family Center for the Arts, Easton, Maryland. Comprised of eight concerts, beginning September 2022, and continuing through the summer of 2023, Montero and some of the most influential musicians of modern times – representing China, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Cuba, and the United States – will bring sounds from around the world to Easton.
Season One of the series will feature Montero and seven of the music world's brightest stars, including esteemed talents like Joshua Bell, the GRAMMY-winning and Emmy-nominated violinist. Bell was selected to play for the first musical mission to Cuba commissioned by President Obama to celebrate the renewed cultural diplomacy between the U.S. and Cuba; he was named "Instrumentalist of the Year" by Musical America, and his genre-crossing collaborations – with musicians like Sting and Chick Corea – along with contributions to the Academy Award-winning film, Red Violin, have made the Indiana native a musical legend. Yuja Wang, the Beijing pianist and the youngest of the visiting artists, is known for her charismatic stage presence and her fashionable and bold attire that reflects the energy of her performances. In addition to her four GRAMMY nominations, Wang has been recognized with Gramophone's prestigious "Young Artist of the Year" award, and the Musical America "Artist of the Year" award; she's a fresh and youthful voice in the classical world. Paquito D'Rivera, with 14 Grammy awards to his name, discovered his love for the saxophone and clarinet early in his home country of Cuba, performing at age 10 with the National Theater Orchestra in Havana. Known for his ability to blend Latin jazz and classical music, he was honored with the National Medal for the Arts by President George W. Bush. Larisa Martinez, born and raised in Puerto Rico, joined the previously mentioned artist Joshua Bell in Cuba as part of the delegation sent by President Obama. The Soprano singer has toured with tenor Andrea Bocelli; she won the Metropolitan Opera's National Council Audition in Puerto Rico; and her talents were showcased on the Emmy-nominated PBS special "Live From Lincoln Center, Seasons of Cuba." Regarded as Ireland's finest tenor, Anthony Kearns toured with the acclaimed group, The Irish Tenors. Kearns performed during several of President Obama's Inauguration events and he regularly makes time to sing in support of important causes such as musical education and autism awareness. Vanessa Perez is a pianist; at age 11, she was invited to make her concert debut in Caracas, Venezuela. Today, Perez is the performance partner of actor Bill Murray, and recently played a major role alongside Murray in the concert documentary, "New Worlds: Cradle of Civilization." Her presentation at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, was filmed by director Andrew Muscato and became an official selection of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. She was interviewed by Jane Pauley on CBS Sunday Morning and has performed on the Stephen Colbert Show. The final artist joining Montero is Marc-André Hamelin, a Canadian musician who began playing piano at the age of five. Hamelin is a recording artist for Hyperion Records; with a discography that spans more than 70 albums, he has nearly 30 compositions to his name. Hamelin has received seven Juno Awards and 11 GRAMMY nominations.
Ensuring inclusivity, up to 20 seats at each performance will be allocated at no cost to underserved communities through the Access to Excellence ticket program. In addition to the performances, Montero is introducing three new programs to Easton. Back to School with Gabriela brings the world-renowned artists to community youth, with showcases at Talbot County Public Schools the day before each of their performances at the Prager Family Auditorium. The Gabriela Montero Piano Lab offers year-round mentoring to the next generation of concert pianists from across the globe. She'll be leading live, digital instruction to nine piano fellows, each of impeccable talent and skill. The 90-minute Open Door Piano Lab Sessions offered throughout the year will allow the Easton community exclusive access to observe Montero's mentoring work.
Given Paul Prager's proclivity for restoring historic buildings in Easton, Maryland, it comes as no surprise that he is behind the ambitious revival of the Ebenezer Theater, within the Prager Family Center for the Arts. The historic building of 1856 was built to house the Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church. Sold in the mid-20th century, it was the headquarters of the Historical Society of Talbot County, which initiated the transition from a place of worship to an auditorium. When Prager, as principal of Bluepoint Hospitality, acquired the property in 2014, he created something almost as spiritual as the original building - a performing arts venue. At the Ebenezer Theater, Bluepoint Hospitality has created a rich atmosphere of Victorian Gothic and Aesthetic Movement design, taking its cue from the original features like stained-glass windows and gothic arches. Period wallpapers from Bradbury & Bradbury embody the high ideals of mid-19th century interior design. The pressed-tin ceiling has been transformed by 24-karat gold leaf, hand-applied by Maryland artist Kelly Walker, who also created a dramatic celestial canopy over the stage. Thanks to the latest 21st-century technology, the auditorium's acoustics now set the stage for memorable performances. Completing the Prager Family Center for the Arts is Zachariah Hall, adjacent to the theater, adding space for programs that present literary, visual, and performing arts for the enrichment of the community. Bluepoint Hospitality looks forward to 'sharing the stage' with Gabriela Montero at Prager.
For further details and scheduling of the eight select concerts at Ebenezer Theater, please visit the website of www.bluepointhospitality.com.
For More Information:
Simone Rathlé | Misi Cooney
simoneink, LLC
simone@simoneink.com | misi@simoneink.com
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SOURCE Prager Family Center for the Arts | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/grammy-artists-residence/ | 2022-08-16T20:25:29Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/grammy-artists-residence/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthcare compliance professionals can get a comprehensive look at the latest industry insights from the comfort of their home or office at two upcoming virtual conferences from Health Care Compliance Association® (HCCA®). The Clinical Practice Compliance Conference will be held October 11–12, and the Healthcare Enforcement Compliance Conference is scheduled for November 7-9.
As the healthcare landscape evolves with new technologies, virtual care, and increased specialization, these annual conferences provide essential updates and strategies for developing and managing organizational compliance initiatives. Both conferences will feature live educational sessions led by industry leaders and provide attendees the opportunity to earn live Compliance Certification Board (CCB)® continuing education units (CEUs).
The Virtual Clinical Practice Compliance Conference
Held October 11–12, 2022, this virtual conference focuses on government initiatives related to physicians, clinics, and physician integrity trends. Experienced compliance professionals will share best practices for compliance initiatives in a clinical setting. Sign up by August 30 to save on registration.
This year's agenda includes:
- Patient portals
- Coding and billing
- Duty of confidentiality in investigations
- Stark Law
- Compliance risk communication strategies
- Cybersecurity Act Section 405(d)
- Conflict of interest
- CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule
To view the full agenda and register, visit the conference website: hcca-info.org/2022clinicalpractice.
The Healthcare Enforcement Compliance Conference
Held November 7–9, attendees of the Healthcare Enforcement Compliance Conference will hear firsthand from government enforcement leaders about regulatory changes, expectations, and key priorities. Discounted early bird registration runs through September 21.
Educational sessions will cover:
- Anti-Kickback and Stark Law
- False Claims Act
- Internal investigation, repayment, and self-disclosure
- Federal/state enforcement and the opioid crisis
- Hospital and physician compensation arrangements
- Cybersecurity in healthcare privacy
- Criminal and civil enforcement and telehealth
For more information or to register, visit the conference website: hcca-info.org/2022hecc.
About SCCE & HCCA
Health Care Compliance Association® (HCCA®) was founded in 1996 to serve the healthcare compliance profession and expanded in 2004 with the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics® (SCCE®) to serve the global compliance and ethics community across all industries. With a combined 19,000+ members in 100 countries, SCCE & HCCA is one of the largest associations furthering the interests of the compliance and ethics profession. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, SCCE & HCCA exists to champion ethical practice and compliance standards and to provide the necessary training, publications, certifications, and other resources for ethics and compliance professionals.
Visit the SCCE website at corporatecompliance.org or call 888.277.4977
Visit HCCA's website at hcca-info.org or call 888.580.8373
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SOURCE Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/hcca-announces-fall-2022-continuing-education-opportunities-clinical-practice-compliance-healthcare-enforcement-compliance/ | 2022-08-16T20:25:35Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/hcca-announces-fall-2022-continuing-education-opportunities-clinical-practice-compliance-healthcare-enforcement-compliance/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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