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The Uvalde school board agreed Wednesday to fire Pete Arredondo, the school district police chief broadly criticized for his response to the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, in a vote that came shortly after he asked to be taken off of suspension and receive backpay.
Arredondo, widely blamed for law enforcement’s delayed response in confronting the gunman who killed 21 people at Robb Elementary, made the request for reinstatement through his attorney, George E. Hyde. The meeting came exactly three months after a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at the school.
“Chief Arredondo will not participate in his own illegal and unconstitutional public lynching and respectfully requests the Board immediately reinstate him, with all backpay and benefits and close the complaint as unfounded,” Hyde said in a statement.
Arredondo didn’t attend the meeting, citing death threats made against him.
But about 100 people, including relatives of the shooting victims, showed up for the vote. Many chanted “coward” and “no justice, no peace.” Four people spoke during a public comment period before the seven-member board went into closed session to deliberate Arredondo’s employment, criticizing the decision to not discuss the matter in front of the public.
[…]
In his statement Wednesday, Arredondo’s lawyer said that the school district violated his constitutional due process rights by failing to provide him notice of the complaints against him and conduct an investigation of his response to the mass shooting ahead of the termination hearing.
Arredondo’s lawyer said that he received an email from the district on July 19, recommending his termination based on his failure to establish himself as the incident commander during the shooting, but argued the letter should have been sent earlier and in a physical format.
Arredondo was listed in the district’s active-shooter plan as the commanding officer, but the consensus of those interviewed by the House committee was that Arredondo did not assume that role and no one else took over for him, which resulted in a chaotic law enforcement response.
See here and here for some background. I wasn’t particularly inclined to be sympathetic to Pete Arredondo, though I do agree that not all of the blame for the law enforcement response at Robb Elementary is his and I will push back against DPS’ self-serving efforts to scapegoat him, but that’s about as far as I’ll go. Seeing him refer to this as a “lynching” and whining about his “constitutional rights” in an employment matter confirms to me that I’m in the right place. Go away and find another line of work, dude. We’ll all be better off that way. | http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=106723 | 2022-08-26T10:55:13Z | offthekuff.com | control | http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=106723 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
We are slowly moving towards finally having some kind of result in this saga.
Lawyers for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued Wednesday that a Kaufman County judge should toss a lawsuit alleging he acted unethically in a legal challenge that sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
The first public hearing in the case inside a near-empty Kaufman County courtroom was not to determine the merit of the lawsuit lodged by a disciplinary commission of the state bar, but whether the group can seek sanctions against Texas’ top lawyer.
Paxton’s lawyers said the case, which could threaten his law license, is an unconstitutional attempt to control his office’s work and could have a chilling effect on future attorneys general. But an attorney for the commission countered that all lawyers should be subject to the same rules of professional conduct, no matter their position.
Judge Casey Blair, a Republican, did not issue a decision from the bench Wednesday. The outcome could establish the limits of the commission’s power to sanction lawyers who serve in high-ranking elected positions.
Any ruling will likely be appealed, meaning it could be months before the bar’s complaint over Paxton’s 2020 election lawsuit is heard in court, if ever.
[…]
In the hearing Wednesday, Christopher Hilton, a state attorney representing Paxton, argued that if the court allows the lawsuit to go forward, then “every future attorney general will have to fear for their law license rather than represent the state of Texas to the best of their ability and the way their voters expect that they would do.
“They would be hamstrung on unelected bureaucrats,” he said.
Royce LeMoine, a lawyer for the commission, said Paxton is being sued for his actions as a lawyer, not as the state’s attorney general, and that this is not a “select prosecution.”
“The commission’s disciplinary rules do not violate the respondent’s ability to advocate for his clients and the state of Texas,” LeMoine told the judge.
See here, here, and here for the previous updates. The Chron had a preview story on Tuesday.
“I hope it proceeds,” said Jim Harrington, one of the Texas lawyers who filed the State Bar complaint. “I hope [the judge] bites the bullet and denies the plea because it’s the right thing to do.”
[…]
In seeking to dismiss the disciplinary case, Paxton’s lawyers argue that it would violate the separation of powers doctrine for the Texas courts to “police” what they say was an executive branch decision. They also claim Paxton is protected by sovereign immunity, the legal principle that generally shields public officials from lawsuits.
In a separate motion, the attorney general’s office is asking the judge to allow the agency to intervene in the case on Paxton’s behalf.
The 2020 suit was not “dishonest, fraudulent, or deceitful,” they write in filings, and the State Bar’s issues with it essentially amount to a “political disagreement.”
“If Texans disapprove of the how the Attorney General exercises his authority, the remedy is to vote him out of office,” Paxton’s attorneys write. “The bar has no veto over how the Attorney General exercises his constitutional authority.”
Paxton was not the first attorney general to be asked to spearhead the case, and lawyers in his own office, including then-Solicitor General Kyle Hawkins, had argued against it, according to the New York Times. Hawkins, who would normally represent the state in such litigation, had no involvement in the case when it was filed and resigned within a month.
Top lawyers at the Florida attorney general’s office ridiculed the suit as “bats—t insane,” emails revealed.
Recent polls have shown the attorney general’s race is highly competitive between Paxton and his Democratic opponent Rochelle Garza, a former ACLU attorney. Garza, who has portrayed herself as the candidate who will bring integrity to the attorney general’s office, isn’t buying Paxton’s legal argument in this case.
“Political disagreements have to do with policies, not facts,” Garza said in a statement. “Even first-year law students know that legal accusations of wrongdoing require evidence, yet two years later, Paxton continues peddling his baseless lies about the 2020 election. Texans deserve an attorney general who believes in the rule of law and ethically uses the power of the office to serve Texans, not for their own political ends.”
Any decision in the case could foreshadow the result of a suit filed against Paxton’s First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster by the Texas Bar for his involvement in the 2020 Supreme Court petition. Webster is also seeking to dismiss his case, and a hearing will be held Sept. 6 in Williamson County.
Paxton and Webster are being represented by lawyers from the attorney general’s office, as well as outside counsel. The office has not responded to questions about why they need both. The cost to taxpayers so far is over $46,000, and that’s before today’s initial proceedings.
The attorney general’s office has said the four in-house attorneys working on the case are not keeping track of their billable hours. The office did not explain why no timekeeping was done, despite its policy of doing so for other types of cases.
“To me, it’s really outrageous they’re using taxpayer money,” Harrington said. “This has nothing to do with his role as attorney general, absolutely nothing. It’s only his role as an attorney. Even if the State Bar disbars him, it has no effect on him being attorney general.”
You will not be surprised to know that I am on the State Bar’s side in this dispute. Paxton’s argument has merit to the point that elected officials should not be held accountable for political decisions by non-political offices like the State Bar. Where that falls apart is that he was also acting as a lawyer, and in doing so was violating the ethical and professional rules that lawyers are supposed to abide by. The evidence for that is overwhelming, from the sheer brazen falsity of the the claims he was making to the way similar lawsuits had been routinely batted aside by a myriad of courts to the fact that his own Solicitor General, whose job it is to make these arguments in court, refused to participate. If he can’t be held accountable for that then he has a blank check to do anything. That cannot be the right answer.
Anyway. If Paxton is found guilty, he will be subject to discipline from the State Bar, which could be anything from a scolding to being disbarred. While the latter seems unlikely to me – from what I have observed, it’s usually lawyers that do things like misappropriate clients’ money that get the boot – I don’t think it would be inappropriate given the seriousness of the issue. If that did happen, Paxton would still be able to hold the office of Attorney General. We’re not getting rid of him that easily. I don’t know what to expect and I don’t know how long it might take. With Paxton, we’re used to waiting on these things. Reform Austin has more. | http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=106725 | 2022-08-26T10:55:21Z | offthekuff.com | control | http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=106725 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As expected. You know where this goes from here.
A federal judge on Wednesday blocked Idaho from enforcing a ban on abortions when pregnant women require emergency care, a day after a judge in Texas ruled against President Joe Biden’s administration on the same issue.
The conflicting rulings came in two of the first lawsuits over Biden’s attempts to keep abortion legal after the conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized the procedure nationwide.
Legal experts said the dueling rulings in Idaho and Texas could, if upheld on appeal, force the Supreme Court to wade back into the debate.
[…]
In Idaho, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill agreed with the U.S. Department of Justice that the abortion ban taking effect Thursday conflicts with a federal law that ensures patients can receive emergency “stabilizing care.”
Winmill, who was appointed to the court by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, issued a preliminary injunction blocking Idaho from enforcing its ban to the extent it conflicts with federal law, citing the threat to patients.
“One cannot imagine the anxiety and fear (a pregnant woman) will experience if her doctors feel hobbled by an Idaho law that does not allow them to provide the medical care necessary to preserve her health and life,” Winmill wrote.
The Justice Department has said the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act requires abortion care in emergency situations.
“Today’s decision by the District Court for the District of Idaho ensures that women in the State of Idaho can obtain the emergency medical treatment to which they are entitled under federal law,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a written statement.
“The Department of Justice will continue to use every tool at its disposal to defend the reproductive rights protected by federal law,” Garland said. The DOJ has said that it disagrees with the Texas ruling and is considering next legal steps.
See here for the background. TPM goes deeper into the two rulings and also provides copies of them, but the bottom line is that the Texas judge said that the federal guidance went too far, didn’t go through the formal rule-change process (even though it was guidance on an existing rule and not a change), didn’t take the rights of the fetus into account, and could only apply when the mother’s life was in danger, not just when her health was threatened. The Idaho judge didn’t do any of that.
Both rulings will be appealed, and as Idaho is in the more liberal Ninth Circuit, there’s a very good chance that this ruling will be upheld. The same is true for Texas, where the radical and lawless Fifth Circuit will get its paws on it. While it is usually the case that a split in the appellate courts means that SCOTUS will weigh in, it seems possible to me that they will duck the issue, perhaps on the grounds that this is really a dispute over state laws, and since the Texas case applies only to Texas, there’s no need for them to step in. I’m just guessing, I could easily be wrong. We’ll know soon enough. DAily Kos has more. | http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=106727 | 2022-08-26T10:55:28Z | offthekuff.com | control | http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=106727 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
This is utterly chaotic. And completely out of the blue.
A legal opinion released by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton last week will almost certainly throw county elections offices into chaos after November, experts say, exposing election clerks to possible criminal charges and materially reducing the security of every ballot cast in the state.
Federal and state law require that ballots be kept secure for 22 months after an election to allow for recounts and challenges — a time frame Texas counties have had set in place for decades. Paxton’s opinion, which doesn’t stem from any change to state law, theoretically permits anyone — an aggrieved voter, activist or out-of-state entity — to request access to ballots as soon as the day after they are counted. Such requests have been used by activists all over the country as a way to “audit” election results.
The opinion from Paxton doesn’t carry the force of law, but experts say it will almost certainly serve as the basis for a lawsuit by right-wing activists. The opinion has already impacted elections administrators across the state, who told Votebeat that they’ve seen an onslaught of requests since Paxton released it.
“[Paxton’s office wants] to throw a monkey wrench into the operations of vote counting, especially if they think they might lose, and Paxton is in a close race as far as I can tell,” said Linda Eads, a professor at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and a former deputy attorney general for litigation for the state of Texas. She said she was “shocked” by the opinion.
[…]
Paxton’s office sought input from the secretary of state’s office prior to issuing the decision, which was requested by state Sen. Kelly Hancock and state Rep. Matt Krause, both Republicans. In no uncertain terms, the secretary of state’s office — which is run by a Republican appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott — recommended keeping the current waiting period.
“The voted ballots are the core of the election process and the prohibition on disturbing the ballots (except in limited circumstances as permitted by the Election Code) preserves the integrity of the election itself,” wrote Adam Bitter, general counsel for the office, in a letter obtained by Votebeat through a public records request. “Handling of the voted ballots themselves opens up the possibility of accidental or intentional damage or misplacement that could call into question the election after the fact.”
Paxton’s office did not respond to specific questions about why he disagreed with Bitter’s conclusion, nor did he respond to requests for comment.
For months, election administrators in Texas and across the country have been fielding records requests from activists intent on re-examining every ballot cast in every election since November 2020 — or, in some cases, even earlier. In Tarrant County, volunteers with a conservative group occupied a room in the elections office for weeks this summer, examining 300,000 ballots from the March 2020 primary, which were made available by the county 22 months after the election.
Ballots are kept in secure lock boxes for 60 days, and then transferred to another secure facility for the remainder of the waiting period in order to comply with the Civil Rights Act of 1960, a federal law which, in part, requires ballots be securely stored for 22 months. In 2017, the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature even amended state law to specify “22 months,” updating state standards to mirror federal requirements.
In the letter to the attorney general’s office, Bitter, the general counsel for the secretary of state’s office, wrote that an election clerk may effectively have to break state law in order to comply with a request for ballots so soon after an election.
Texas law says that if the ballots’ legal custodian, typically a local election official, “makes unauthorized entry into the secure container containing the voting ballots during the preservation period, or fails to prevent another person from making an unauthorized entry, the custodian has committed a Class A misdemeanor,” Bitter wrote.
Paxton’s opinion, experts say, does not appropriately address the potential criminal exposure.
Matthew Masterson, who previously served as the Trump administration’s top election security official and now is Microsoft’s director of information integrity, said that Paxton’s opinion will make it impossible for election administrators to appropriately ensure that ballots are kept secure. The security controls exist for a good reason, he said, and undermining them has serious implications.
“If you open up the floodgates and give anyone access to the ballots throughout that process, you have broken that chain of custody to the point where you would not be able to prove that this was the ballot a given voter cast,” Masterson said.
The opinion itself provides little guidance as to how long or for what reasons election administrators can block access to such ballots, leaving administrators across the state concerned about their ability to appropriately comply.
“If I read this literally as a layman, I think I’m required to provide ballots the day after an election before the results have even been canvassed,” said Chris Davis, elections director in Williamson County, who said such a release would make it impossible for counties to confidently conduct recounts that would stand up to legal scrutiny.
“I don’t know if the drafters of this opinion have a firm grasp on how ballot security and ballot processing is done at the county level,” he said.
There’s more, go read the whole thing, and add on this tweet thread from story author Jessica Huseman. There’s absolutely no justification for this – state and federal law are clear, and nothing has changed about them. It’s just chaos intended to give a boost to Big Lie enthusiasts, and as the story notes later on, it’s potentially a conflict of interest for Paxton since he himself is on the ballot this year, and everyone agrees it’s likely to be a close race.
County election officials around the state are already reporting getting a bunch of requests, some of which appear to be part of a coordinated effort. I think Harris County has the right response here.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee says the county is not releasing the ballots, arguing the opinion Paxton issued in the name of election integrity last week runs afoul of the law.
“Attorney General Ken Paxton is distorting the law to fuel conspiracy theories, encouraging reckless behavior that erodes public trust in our democratic process,” Menefee said in a statement. “The law is clear that these voted ballots are confidential and it’s a crime for anyone to access them unless authorized by law.”
Menefee said Harris County had received more than three dozen requests to inspect ballots since Paxton issued his opinion. The county attorney’s office did not respond to a request for more information about the requests, including who submitted them.
[…]
Federal and state laws requires ballots be securely stored for 22 months after an election, in part to preserve them for recounts or challenges to election results. Menefee said Paxton’s opinion “directly contradicts” a separate opinion his office issued last month, as well as an opinion issued by the AG’s office more than 30 years ago, which both concluded that ballots are confidential for 22 months following an election.
“Our election workers should not have to fear being criminally prosecuted because the attorney general wants to play politics and try to rewrite laws,” Menefee said. “Everyone who has closely read the law agrees the ballots are confidential: the Secretary of State’s Office, counties across the state, and his own office just a month ago. Harris County will continue to follow Texas law, not the Attorney General’s ‘opinion.’”
That’s what I, a non-lawyer who has no responsibilities in these matters, would have done. It is highly likely that a lawsuit will result. No one wants that, but sometimes having the fight is the most straightforward way to resolve the dispute. If that’s what we have to do, then so be it. | http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=106735 | 2022-08-26T10:55:36Z | offthekuff.com | control | http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=106735 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Torrence Puts Brakes on Skid; Eyes Yet Another Top Fuel Title
Steve Torrence has ended the second-longest victory drought of his NHRA pro career, launching a late-season bid to secure a fifth consecutive Top Fuel world championship.
Nine months removed from hoisting his most recent Wally Trophy, Torrence drove past eight-time Top Fuel world champ Tony Schumacher during Sunday’s finals of the 40th annual NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota.
Remarkably, the win was Torrence’s first since prevailing last November at the 2021 season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.
Torrence’s 52nd career win may wind up among his personally most satisfying, as his dragster trailered fellow-Texan Schumacher in a showdown between two of the most dominant drivers in Top Fuel history.
Torrence’s second straight win at BIR propelled him past Justin Ashley and into third place in driver points with just one race remaining in NHRA’s “regular season,” before points are adjusted for the Countdown to the Championship Playoffs.
“We knew that if we kept putting ourselves in position that eventually we’d get another one of these little gold men to take back home to Kilgore,” said Torrence, referring to the NHRA hardware. “It’s amazing. You get used to winning and then you have a year like this one and it puts everything in perspective.
“It’s not easy to win out here. But there’s nobody I’d rather be fighting the battle with than these Capco boys. They stuck with it and now it looks like maybe we’re peaking at just the right time. I can’t wait to get into the Countdown and see if we can hurt some feelings. It’s gonna be fun.”
Funny Car’s Bob Tasca III also won at the 15th of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
It was the second final round in as many weekends for Torrence, who avenged last week’s loss to Antron Brown at Topeka, Kan., by winning a second-round pedal-fest against the three-time world champ.
As was the case in Topeka, traction was an issue at BIR all day as evidenced by Torrence’s winning times of 4.945-seconds and 5.400-seconds in Rounds 2 and 3, the latter enough to get past No. 1 qualifier and point-leader Brittany Force of John Force Racing. In the final, Torrence powered past Schumacher’s dragster with a solid 1,000-foot pass in 3.866-seconds at 322.04 mph.
Torrence said that for a driver, patience is the key when dealing with traction issues. “When it starts smoking the tires, you have to let it settle down before you get back in the throttle, and that’s very hard to do,” Torrence said. “Your first instinct is to jump back on the gas. I’m just glad I was able to do my job a couple rounds to give Hoagie (Richard Hogan) and Bobby (Lagana Jr.) a chance to figure it out for the final.”
Torrence posted his ninth win in 11 final-round meetings with Schumacher, who returned to fulltime competition in 2023 after racing an abbreviated schedule the last two seasons. Torrence improved to 5-0 against Schumacher in eliminations this year, while also picking up his first win in four final-round appearances.
The win was the third in the last four Brainerd races for Team Capco, which prevailed in 2018 with Billy Torrence, Steve’s father and the founder/CEO of Capco Contractors. The elder Torrence made the most of his fourth appearance of the season by beating Austin Prock of JFR for his 100th round-win in Top Fuel.
Steve Torrence took out a ladder of standouts, including Salinas, Topeka winner Brown and 2016 world champ Force before facing Schumacher.
“We didn’t forget how to win but, dang, it sure felt like it,” Torrence said. “I have all the confidence and faith in the world in this team because that car is always bad to the bone. Maybe we’re getting our stuff together at the right time because we’re charging for that (fifth world title).
“A day like today is one you’re most proud of a driver. On days like today when the car doesn’t do quite what it’s supposed to do, you have to earn your keep as a driver. It’s wins like this you’ll always cherish and remember as a driver.”
Brit Force’s championship lead now stands at 94 points over Salinas.
Schumacher advanced to his second final in the past three races and 156th in his standout career via round-wins against Doug Kalitta, Josh Hart and Justin Ashley. The semifinals featured another pedal-fest between Schumacher and Ashley, with the 86-time winner relying on his two-plus decades of driving experience to set off the win light.
“Pedaling the car every single run, until the final round, it just kicks your butt,” said Schumacher, a three-time Brainerd event champion. “These cars are beautiful machines but violent as the day is long, and it was epic.
“Second round, we couldn’t even get our car to start. We didn’t even fire the thing up on nitromethane before we went up against Josh Hart. I thank him for waiting, he’s a class act. It was one of those things where you pretty much knew you and whoever you’re racing, you’re both going to smoke the tires so you’ve got to focus on what you’ve got to do; the track was so bald.
“Situational awareness is important. Understanding who you’re racing, understanding what the track is going to do, and what the car is more than likely going to provide for you, and being able to react to it is key to going rounds and reaching the finals on a day like today.”
In the final, Schumacher moved first and was charging before his machine started to haze the rear tires near the eighth-mile mark, allowing Torrence to pull ahead for the win.
“By the time we got to the final round I thought, ‘Man, if we can get down this track, we’re going to win it,’^” Schumacher said while debriefing with his Maynard Family Racing crew. “I swore at half-track, I thought we had it won. We were so far out and it started spinning the tires and I still thought, ‘No way two of us are going down this racetrack; it’s too hot, too slippery.’ But we got some good points this weekend and had a good run; we’re happy. I’m proud of my guys, they work so damn hard, it’s simply insane what they had to go through.
“We’ve got momentum, we’ve got a good car. We’re going to go back, go through our parts and get everything ready because the sole thing on our mind right now is winning Indy.”
Schumacher was referring to the prestigious Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals set for Aug. 31-Sept. 5 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The event will feature a unique points-and-a-half format. Schumacher returns to Indianapolis for the final event of NHRA’s “regular” season as a 10-time event winner _ most of any NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series competitor.
Funny Car’s Bob Tasca III continued his incredible summer run by winning his second straight race and third in the past four events. Tasca was the only driver in both nitro categories to make clean runs on every pass Sunday, finishing the final with a 1,000-foot lap in 3.945-seconds at 329.42 mph in his Ford Mustang against Ron Capps.
While most teams struggled during the second and third rounds, Tasca got better _ making four three-second runs to knock off Dale Creasy Jr., Chad Green and point-leader Robert Hight to reach the final.
Tasca, who now has advanced to the final round in five of the past six races, followed with another stout performance against two-time/reigning world champ Capps to win for the first time in Brainerd. With the Countdown to the Championship approaching, Tasca and his team appear to be peaking.
“I’ve said this many times but what we’ve done lately has been amazing,” Tasca said. “We’ve not backed into any win and performed at a high level throughout. This is incredible execution by the team, and I mean every single person. This team has performed flawlessly. The package we have is unlike anything I’ve ever had in my driving career. (My team) always has an answer and when that happens, as a driver you just have to go out and do your job.
“All weekend, I was fighting the car down the track. It was spinning and moving around. If you let it get out of the groove, it will spin the tires. Keeping it in the center of the groove is critical, especially today. I’m so proud of what we’ve done. We have a lot of unfinished business ahead of us and we’re all chasing the same trophy at the end of the year.”
Capps reached his 135th career final via wins against longtime rival and 16-time world champ John Force, Bobby Bode and Alexis DeJoria to stay third in points. Hight, a three-time world champion, maintained a comfortable point lead over fellow-three-time champ Matt Hagan of Tony Stewart Racing, while Tasca moved to fourth.
“This whole weekend at Brainerd was a lot of adversity,” said team-owner/driver Capps, a six-time Brainerd event champ. “We always talk about Brainerd being integral in a championship run because we’re into the Playoffs and the Countdown in just a couple of races. The thing about Brainerd is that it has such a great track surface and when conditions are great, you can throw anything at it as we saw in qualifying. And when it’s hot out like race day, you have to be savvy and that’s what Guido (Dean Antonelli) and (John) Medlen and our entire NAPA AutoCare group did all day long.
“We almost won and that would have been fantastic. This was a great, feel-good weekend for our team. You have to be Countdown-ready at Brainerd and I don’t care where you are in the points, you need to be ready for the Playoffs. We needed this.
“We’re going to Indy and I’ve never won that race. We have a great Toyota race car and a lot of confidence. For me as a driver, to get to drive this NAPA GR Supra, I can’t wait to get there to IRP.”
###
Final finishing order (1-16) at the 40th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway. The race was the 15th of 22 events on the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule:
Top Fuel _ Steve Torrence; 2. Tony Schumacher; 3. Justin Ashley; 4. Brittany Force; 5. Shawn Langdon; 6. Billy Torrence; 7. Antron Brown; 8. Josh Hart; 9. Clay Millican; 10. Krista Baldwin; 11. Leah Pruett; 12. Austin Prock; 13. Mike Salinas; 14. Doug Kalitta; 15. Scott Farley.
Funny Car _ 1. Bob Tasca III; 2. Ron Capps; 3. Alexis DeJoria; 4. Robert Hight; 5. Chad Green; 6. J.R. Todd; 7. Matt Hagan; 8. Bobby Bode; 9. Cruz Pedregon; 10. Dale Creasy Jr.; 11. John Force; 12. Steven Densham; 13. Blake Alexander; 14. Jim Campbell; 15. Tim Wilkerson.
Final Pro and Sportsman results from the 40th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at BIR:
Top Fuel _ Steve Torrence, 3.866-seconds, 322.04 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 3.942-seconds, 286.50 mph.
Funny Car _ Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.945, 329.42 def. Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 4.007, 327.66.
Top Alcohol Dragster _ Shawn Cowie, 5.218, 276.75 def. Matthew Cummings, 5.282, 267.27.
Top Alcohol Funny Car _ Shane Westerfield, Chevy Camaro, 5.529, 265.53 def. Bob McCosh, Camaro, 6.117, 203.28.
Competition Eliminator _ Brett Speer, ’23-T Ford, 7.272, 180.67 def. Bruno Massel, Chevy Cobalt, 7.023, 195.17.
Super Stock _ Mike Mans, Pontiac Firebird, 8.807, 138.61 def. Wyatt Wagner, Chevy Camaro, 9.697, 133.50.
Stock Eliminator _Tracy Fairchild, AMX, 10.904, 110.79 def. Ron Feist, Ford Fairlane, Foul/Red Light.
Super Comp _Tony Leonard, Dragster, 8.903, 162.82 def. Craig Anderson, Dragster, 8.920, 188.12.
Super Gas _Trevor Larson, Chevy Camaro, 9.890, 164.69 def. Kevin Dyck, Chevy Corvette, 9.881, 171.34.
Top Sportsman presented by Vortech Superchargers _ Brian Antony, Dodge Avenger, 6.904, 199.79 def. Michael Chitty, Chevy Cavalier, 6.702, 196.59.
Top Dragster presented by Vortech Superchargers _ Dylan Hough, Dragster, 6.823, 191.43 def. Anthony Bertozzi, Dragster, 7.197, 177.88.
Pro Modified _ Rickie Smith, Ford Mustang, 5.791, 250.92 def. Doug Winters, Chevy Chevelle, 5.997, 240.34.
Mountain Motor Pro Stock _ JR Carr, Chevy Camaro, 6.345, 221.05 def. John DeFlorian Jr., Camaro, Broke.
Pro Mod Snowmobile _ Robbie Lowe, Thunder Cat, 5.014, 134.52 def. Louie Wirbel, SRX, 5.081, 136.00.
D-Wagon Pro Mod Shootout _ Kris Thorne, Chevy Camaro, 5.762, 250.88 def. Steve Jackson, Camaro, 6.864, 126.85.
Final round-by-round results from the 40th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at BIR:
TOP FUEL
ROUND ONE _ Josh Hart, 3.710, 334.73 def. Scott Farley, 14.412, 36.59; Antron Brown, 3.688, 328.22 def. Clay Millican, 3.721, 327.51; Brittany Force, 3.646, 333.58 was unopposed; Justin Ashley, 3.720, 331.94 def. Krista Baldwin, 3.817, 319.52; Shawn Langdon, 3.760, 329.34 def. Leah Pruett, 3.822, 279.85; Steve Torrence, 3.755, 313.37 def. Mike Salinas, 5.286, 136.36; Tony Schumacher, 3.940, 292.27 def. Doug Kalitta, 5.349, 118.13; Billy Torrence, 4.050, 236.38 def. Austin Prock, 4.480, 237.21;
QUARTERFINALS _ Schumacher, 4.227, 201.16 def. Hart, 10.848, 78.57; Force, 4.394, 255.63 def. B. Torrence, 4.586, 213.40; S. Torrence, 4.945, 255.19 def. Brown, 5.335, 247.25; Ashley, 3.726, 330.63 def. Langdon, 3.807, 324.44;
SEMIFINALS _ S. Torrence, 5.400, 276.07 def. Force, 10.392, 66.09; Schumacher, 4.336, 226.32 def. Ashley, 4.936, 292.71;
FINAL _ S. Torrence, 3.866, 322.04 def. Schumacher, 3.942, 286.50.
FUNNY CAR
ROUND ONE _ Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 9.940, 71.63 was unopposed; Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.891, 330.63 def. Dale Creasy Jr., Charger, 3.967, 327.43; Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.874, 329.02 def. Steven Densham, Mustang, Foul/Red Light; Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 3.931, 325.45 def. John Force, Camaro, 4.022, 284.99; Bobby Bode, Mustang, 3.931, 316.08 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.947, 322.65; Chad Green, Mustang, 3.975, 311.85 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 9.807, 99.47; J.R. Todd, Supra, 3.898, 327.90 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.637, 181.57; Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.967, 299.80 def. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 4.241, 295.21;
QUARTERFINALS _ Capps, 8.539, 87.94 def. Bode, Broke; Tasca III, 3.945, 326.24 def. Green, 4.089, 284.15; Hight, 4.356, 284.27 def. Todd, 4.451, 221.16; DeJoria, 5.712, 229.31 def. Hagan, 6.187, 259.81;
SEMIFINALS _ Capps, 3.955, 329.99 def. DeJoria, Foul/Red Light; Tasca III, 3.926, 326.08 def. Hight, 4.646, 200.44;
FINAL _Tasca III, 3.945, 329.42 def. Capps, 4.007, 327.66.
Point standings (top-10) following the 40th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at BIR:
Top Fuel _1. Brittany Force, 1,206; 2. Mike Salinas, 1,112; 3. Steve Torrence, 1,076; 4. Justin Ashley, 1,070; 5. Josh Hart, 797; 6. (tie) Shawn Langdon, 761; Leah Pruett, 761; 8. Tony Schumacher, 703; 9. Doug Kalitta, 692; 10. Antron Brown, 668.
Funny Car _1. Robert Hight, 1,411; 2. Matt Hagan, 1,161; 3. Ron Capps, 1,105; 4. Bob Tasca III, 1,043; 5. John Force, 1,033; 6. J.R. Todd, 789; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 775; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 752; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 645; 10. Chad Green, 524.
Pro Stock _1. Erica Enders, 1,156; 2. Aaron Stanfield, 1,030; 3. Kyle Koretsky, 798; 4. Greg Anderson, 781; 5. Troy Coughlin Jr., 696; 6. Dallas Glenn, 668; 7. Mason McGaha, 604; 8. Camrie Caruso, 570; 9. Matt Hartford, 553; 10. Bo Butner, 528.
Pro Stock Motorcycle _1. Joey Gladstone, 724; 2. Angelle Sampey, 660; 3. Eddie Krawiec, 628; 4. Steve Johnson, 621; 5. Matt Smith, 615; 6. Angie Smith, 577; 7. Jerry Savoie, 541; 8. Karen Stoffer, 534; 9. Marc Ingwersen, 378; 10. Ryan Oehler, 298.
Editor’s Note: John Sturbin is a Texas-based journalist specializing in motorsports. During a near 30-year career with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, he won the Bloys Britt Award for top motorsports story of the year (1991) as judged by The Associated Press; received the National Hot Rod Association’s Media Award (1995) and several in-house Star-Telegram honors. He also was inaugural recipient of the Texas Motor Speedway Excellence in Journalism Award (2009). His list of freelance clients includes Texas Motor Speedway, the Dallas Morning News, New York Newsday, Rome (N.Y.) Daily Sentinel, Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller Times, NASCAR Wire Service, Ford Racing and Used Car Dealer magazine).
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Injury Ends Kurt Busch’s Title Hopes
Kurt Busch, driver of the 23XI Racing No. 45 Toyota, will miss the start of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs as he continues to recover from an injury sustained at Pocono Raceway. Kurt’s health and well-being continue to be of utmost importance to 23XI and the team fully supports his decision to focus on taking the time to get better.
The decision will also result in the team withdrawing the medical waiver that was requested for Busch to remain eligible for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, should he have been cleared to return to competition in time.
Busch, the 2004 Cup champion, effectively earned a spot in the playoffs with a win at Kansas Speedway in May. The victory marked Busch’s ninth consecutive year with a win and earned him a spot, at the time, in the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season.
While Busch will no longer be eligible for the Driver’s Championship, the No. 45 team will continue to compete for the Owner’s Championship.
Ty Gibbs will continue to substitute for Busch.
Busch’s situation means two Playoff spots are up for grabs this weekend at the Race in Daytona.
“Kurt has elevated our entire organization this year,” said 23XI team president, Steve Lauletta. “Although Kurt will not be competing for a championship this season, he will continue to play a vital role in the organization as he works with our competition group to keep improving and strengthening the team.”
“As much as I wanted and hoped to be able to get back in the No. 45 car to make a playoff run with our team, it’s still not the right time for me,” Busch said. “In addition to not being cleared to return to racing, I know that I am not ready to be back in the car. I respect the sport of NASCAR, my fellow drivers and the fans too much to take up a playoff spot if I know I can’t compete for a championship this season. The decision was not an easy one, but I know it is the right thing to do. I will continue to take time to heal and strengthen as I prepare to be back in the car and will do all I can to help 23XI continue the success we have had this season.”
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Philly's biggest eyesores, according to readers
While Philly has plenty of world-class architecture and historical charm, it also has its share of flops and fails.
State of play: We asked readers to call out the worst offenders in the City of Brotherly Love and they delivered.
- Yes, but: No clear consensus emerged. Readers spread their disdain throughout the city.
Here are a few of our favorite answers:
25th Street Viaduct in South Philly
This eyesore is not only crumbling and dangerous but it's a magnet for illegal dumping.
- The hulking railroad bridge stretches over a mile and ugly netting was installed to catch collapsing concrete from its underside.
What they're saying: "It not only looks straight from a scary movie, it is also collapsing on moving vehicles and pedestrians in real time," Axios Philly reader Perla C. writes.
The intrigue: Transportation company CSX, which owns the bridge, has yet to follow through with promises to renovate the dilapidated viaduct for years.
The Philadelphia Mint
This faceless building on N Independence Mall East is an easy target to loathe.
Reader Marcus S. writes that the huge, industrial U.S. Mint facility's lack of windows isn't even in "mint" condition.
- "It needs to be torn down in favor of homes, businesses, historic educational and recreational spaces," he said.
Of note: The Philadelphia Mint is the largest mint in the world, covering more than five acres.
PECO Building
Some could do without the 27-story PECO building and its crown of lights that overlook the Schuylkill River on Market Street.
What they're saying: "I have a grudge against the PECO building for being so hideous and for blasting every window in a 15-block radius with moving, changing, colored lights all night," wrote one reader.
Comcast Technology Center
OK, I was a little surprised by this one.
The slender, 60-story glass-and-steel tower is the tallest in the city and among the tallest in the U.S. — if you count the switchblade mast.
- It was completed in 2019 and cost $1.5 billion.
What they're saying: "I'm all for a little Philly sass, but does our city's most prominent building really have to be flipping us all off?" writes Anne C.
- She also called out the "building's stiff, central appendage" for being purely to score additional height.
Thought bubble: The building looks like a giant vape pen to me!
Hyatt Centric Center City
This modernist hotel seems a little out of place among its historic neighbors, according to one reader.
- Located in Rittenhouse Square at 17th and Chancellor Streets, the hotel opened its doors in 2020 in the teeth of the pandemic.
What they're saying: "It belongs in a shopping mall not in a historic area where its ugly flat motel room exterior rear overwhelms beautiful St. Marks Church and the other historic buildings," writes Bonnie S.
Flashback: The development led to the demise of the much-loved Little Pete's diner, which sat on the ground floor below a parking garage.
And, some notable mentions:
- The light poles along North Broad Street
- All of I-76
- S Christopher Columbus Boulevard and "all its strip clubs"
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New York Deli's Carytown rooftop bar is now open
It's been two weeks since New York Deli quietly soft opened its long-awaited rooftop bar, but now it's here, and regular hours are in effect.
Flashback: In April 2021, one of Richmond's oldest restaurants announced plans to build Carytown's first rooftop bar, available for daily dining and private events — and for occasional outdoor movies, coordinated in partnership with its neighbor, the Byrd Theatre.
- Much of the effort was funded through Kickstarter, where 291 backers pledged $170,153.
Details: The 800-square-foot rooftop bar includes a full food menu, featuring seafood items to work with what the restaurant is calling the "Rockaway Beach Tiki Lounge" theme.
- The staircase for the rooftop is on the existing back patio.
Yes, but: While the rooftop is finally open, they're still making improvements and adding features, New York Deli co-owner Charlene Tsiptsis tells Axios.
What's next: An "awesome tiki cocktail menu," with custom tiki glasses customers can take home will be added in the coming weeks, Tsiptsis says.
- Awnings for shade, cabanas for lounging and a VIP space are also in the works.
Movies may take a little longer: "We still have a little work to do to make it happen. We will need to build a booth to house the projection equipment, so we have to get permits, etc.," Lisa Rogerson with the Byrd tells Axios.
Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 6pm-midnight; Thursday through Saturday, 6pm-2am (except when there's a private event, which there is this Saturday. Check Instagram for updates).
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After a blockbuster debut, Duck Creek Technologies (NASDAQ:DCT) has not been able to keep its promise of giving strong returns to its investors. The company is grappling with several headwinds like high inflation levels, geopolitical issues, and staffing concerns. Also, the overall pessimism in the market, due to the rising interest rate environment, might have weighed on DCT stock, which has already lost 60.1% so far this year.
What Does Duck Creek Do?
Boston-based Duck Creek is a prominent low-code SaaS provider of core systems for the property and casualty (P&C) insurance industry. The company’s portfolio offering is built on its advanced technology foundation, the Duck Creek Platform, which aims at enhancing the operational efficiency of insurance processes like policy administration, claims management, and billing.
A Snapshot of DCT’s IPO
Duck Creek became a member of the Nasdaq after an upsized initial public offering (IPO) of its 17,250,000 shares of Class A common stock for $27 per share. Through the IPO, the company raised $429.2 million in net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering costs).
Shares of the company closed at $40 on the first day of trading (on August 14, 2020), up nearly 48.1% from the IPO price. DCT’s stock touched its all-time high closing price of $59.36 in February 2021.
Presently, Duck Creek commands a market capitalization of $1.61 billion.
Recent Developments at Duck Creek Look Promising
The software company has been witnessing solid customer engagement, along with rising interest in transitioning core systems to the cloud. Duck Creek has also been making efforts to expand its offerings and business relationships. The company widened integration with Verisk (VRSK) by adding its new accelerator, Verisk’s Lightspeed Small Commercial, which will support DCT’s customers in doing business with small businesses that need quotes rapidly.
Expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, the APAC regional product development team of the company has launched some software packages and implementation accelerators for the New Zealand insurance market.
Further, to provide insurers with remote property intelligence and risk management solutions, Duck Creek has collaborated with Betterview.
During the last reported quarter, the company announced striking a major deal with a mid-market personal lines insurer for its complete OnDemand portfolio.
The company has also taken strategic initiatives to deepen its partner ecosystem. In this regard, it expanded its strategic relationship with Microsoft by making its cloud-based, SaaS delivery solution, Duck Creek OnDemand, available on the Microsoft Azure marketplace.
Is Duck Creek Technologies a Buy?
As of now, Duck Creek Technologies seems to be a decent Buy. The Street is cautious but optimistic about the stock, which carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating on TipRanks.
Interestingly, DCT stock scores a ‘Perfect 10’ on TipRanks’ Smart Score rating system, indicating that the stock has strong potential to outperform the market. Also, financial bloggers are 75% Bullish on DCT stock, compared to the sector average of 66%.
TipRanks data shows that hedge funds, too, are positive about the company, as they have bought 2.2 million shares of DCT stock in the last quarter.
Key Takeaways for DCT Investors
Duck Creek is making efforts to expand its portfolio offerings and grow inorganically. The management remains confident about the company’s long-term growth potential and profitability. Further, Duck Creek’s average price forecast of $18.17 implies upside potential of 46.1%. However, the company is facing several macroeconomic headwinds. Lastly, with the company lowering its guidance for the Fiscal Year 2023, investors may want to observe the stock for some time.
Read full Disclosure. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/whats-up-with-the-newly-listed-duck-creek-tecnologies-nasdaqdct-stock | 2022-08-26T11:03:21Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/whats-up-with-the-newly-listed-duck-creek-tecnologies-nasdaqdct-stock | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Shares of Cassava Sciences (SAVA) are surging higher in pre-market trading today after director Richard Barry disclosed buying shares worth $860,223. SAVA stock also jumped Thursday’s after-hours trading following the news.
Cassava Sciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a focus on detecting and treating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
As per a Form 4 filing, Barry purchased 36,159 shares of Cassava at a weighted average price of $23.79 on August 23. Shares were bought in multiple transactions with prices ranging between $23.52 to $23.92.
Post the recent purchases, Barry now owns 186,159 shares of SAVA stock indirectly through a trust. As per TipRanks, this is Barry’s first informative buy of SAVA stock over the past year.
Notably, as per TipRanks’ Insider Trading Activity tool, Insider Signal is currently Very Positive on Cassava Sciences, with corporate insiders buying $3.0 million worth of SAVA stock in the last quarter.
TipRanks’ Insider Trading Activity tool also provides a comprehensive list of daily insider transactions and even shows the top corporate insiders. Interestingly, TipRanks also includes a list of hot stocks that boast either a Very Positive or Positive insider confidence signal.
Is Cassava Sciences a Buy or Sell?
The Wall Street community is cautiously optimistic about SAVA stock. On TipRanks, SAVA has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on three Buys versus one Sell. The average Cassava Sciences price forecast of $50.67 implies a whopping 85.7% upside potential to current levels. Meanwhile, the stock has lost 43.1% so far this year.
What is the future of SAVA stock?
Cassava has an ongoing investigation regarding allegations of manipulation of clinical trial results of its Alzheimer’s drug, simufilam. Recently, the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (JPAD) announced that on investigation, it did not find any convincing evidence of data manipulation.
The company has constantly denied any wrongdoings in the matter. Remi Barbier, President & CEO of Cassava said, “I’m hopeful that written pronouncements from neutral and independent science experts will help close the chapter of baseless attacks against our science. At some point, it becomes irrational for our detractors to repeat over and over again the same old tired mantra of data manipulation.”
Budding confidence by corporate insiders surely seems to be helping SAVA stock. Moreover, the company is receiving a clean chit from several agencies regarding the allegations, which also bodes well for the stock. Once the company’s drugs are ready and approved by the authorities for commercial use, SAVA stock will see a more stable upward trajectory. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/cassava-sciences-nasdaqsava-surges-after-director-buys-shares | 2022-08-26T11:03:27Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/cassava-sciences-nasdaqsava-surges-after-director-buys-shares | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Hot homes: 5 D.C.-area homes for sale under $1 million
This week's hot homes roundup features five properties on the market between $485,000 and $999,000.
3503 38th Ave. - $485,000
Why we love it: This cottage-style home comes with a new HVAC and hot water heater, and a flagstone patio.
- Neighborhood: Brentwood, Md.
- Specs: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,774 square feet
- Listed by: Bryan Kerrigan at Redfin
- Features: Fireplace, central A/C, hardwood flooring
1159 Neal St. NE #2 - $839,000
Why we love it: This spacious penthouse had three outdoor patio areas, including a roof deck with panoramic views of the Capitol and Washington Monument.
- Neighborhood: Trinidad
- Specs: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1,551 square feet
- Listed by: Ann Young at Coldwell Banker Realty
- Features: Fireplace, central A/C, hardwood flooring
624 Pickford Pl. NE - $849,899
Why we love it: This two-story townhouse is just steps away from Union Station and H Street.
- Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
- Specs: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,292 square feet
- Listed by: Christopher Suranna and Colin Johnson at RLAH Real Estate
- Features: Exposed brick, fireplace, central A/C.
2402 Sanford St. - $899,000
Why we love it: This brick colonial includes a fire pit, swing set, and vegetable garden.
- Neighborhood: Alexandria
- Specs: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, 1,495 square feet
- Listed by: Cheryl Hanback at Redfin
- Features: Hardwood flooring, fenced-in backyard, central A/C
1207 V St. NW - $999,000
Why we love it: This townhouse is in a great location, just steps from U Street, Logan Circle, 14th Street, Shaw, and two blocks away from Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park.
- Neighborhood: Harrison Square
- Specs: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,555 square feet
- Listed by: Casey Aboulafia and Eva Davis at Compass
- Features: Garage parking, central A/C, exposed brick
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Where to eat, play, and stay in Staunton, just 3 hours from D.C.
About an hour away from the West Virginia border, Staunton, Virginia is a mountain town with lots to experience, from wine and cheese tasting to watching Shakespeare.
Here's what to do, where to eat/drink, and where to stay.
🏨 Where to stay
Just 12 minutes from Staunton, this pool house in the country gives you the feeling of seclusion but is near all the cultural, culinary, and outdoor recreation amenities of the Shenandoah Valley.
- Features: Private pool, barbecue grill, free parking on site.
- Rate: $179+ per night
- Location: Swoope
Located in the heart of downtown Staunton, Gibson's Warehouse is a premier boutique hotel with custom-designed rooms.
- Features: Free wifi, Smart TV, full kitchen with dishwasher, mobile check-in, on-site laundry.
- Rate: $208+ per night
- Address: 19 Middlebrook Ave.
This three-bedroom re-imagined sanctuary includes a functional bell tower and is near Historic Staunton and the Appalachian Trail.
- Features: Free washer/dryer on site, central A/C, Roku TV, free wifi.
- Rate: $353+ per night
- Location: Historic Staunton
🍽 Where to eat
1. Zynodoa
A popular farm-to-table restaurant, Zynodoa is located in a historic building in downtown Staunton.
- Hours: Monday-Friday 5-9:30pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-2pm, 5-9:30pm.
- Address: 115 E. Beverley St.
The Green Room is a go-to spot for natural wine, craft beers, and ciders.
- Hours: Sunday-Thursday noon-9pm (closed Tuesdays), Friday-Saturday noon-midnight.
- Address: 130 W. Beverley St.
Byers Street Bistro offers popular Southern-style bites such as pimento bacon mac and cheese and fried green tomatoes, along with their other typical American fare.
- Hours: Sunday-Monday 11am-4pm, Tuesday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.
- Address: 18 Byers St.
🎭 What to do
A former apple-orchard-turned-vineyard, Barren Ridge offers tours, tastings, and live music.
- Hours: Monday-Thursday noon-6pm, Friday-Saturday noon-6pm, Sunday 1-6pm.
- Address: 984 Barrenridge Rd.
2. Humpback Rock
Nature lovers can head about 23 miles southeast of Staunton for hiking at Humpback Rock.
- Location: Humpback Gap Overlook
3. American Shakespeare Center
Shakespeare fans and thespians alike can see one of The Bard's 38 plays inside of the world's only re-creation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre.
- Hours: Check here for performance dates and times.
- Address: 10 S. Market St.
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I've always felt there's something a bit too self-conscious about movies that are explicitly about the magic of storytelling. Really, the best way to pay tribute to storytelling is to simply tell a good story, not rattle on and on about how timeless stories are. That may explain why I felt both mildly charmed and a little worn out by the new movie Three Thousand Years of Longing.
It's adapted from a short story by the English writer A.S. Byatt, and much of it unfolds in an Istanbul hotel room where Idris Elba, taking a page from Scheherazade and her 1,001 nights, regales Tilda Swinton with one fantastical tale after another. Some of these tales are vivid and involving, but what they add up to is less than the sum of its many shimmering parts.
Even still, the movie has its undeniable pleasures. The Australian director George Miller might be best known for his thrilling Mad Max series, but he's always had a flair for fantasy, as he's shown in marvelously inventive films like Babe: Pig in the City and Happy Feet. In Three Thousand Years of Longing, which he co-wrote with his daughter, Augusta Gore, Miller unveils an outlandish premise with a sly wit that's initially hard to resist.
Tilda Swinton plays Alithea Binney, a modern-day literary scholar who specializes in the study of narratives, the way the same tropes and symbols tend to pop up in stories from different cultures and eras. While attending a conference in Istanbul, Alithea goes shopping in the bazaar and purchases a small glass bottle as a memento.
Later, while she's cleaning the bottle in her hotel room, out in a burst of smoke pops an enormous Djinn, played by Elba. After some amusing awkwardness — how would you react if confronted by a giant otherworldly intruder with hairy blue legs and pointy ears? — the two settle into a long, heady and whimsical conversation. Also, they're both wearing those plush white hotel bathrobes, in the movie's most charming visual.
The Djinn tells Alithea that he was trapped in the bottle roughly three millennia ago by King Solomon. The only way for him to be freed is to grant three wishes to any human who possesses the bottle. You'd think that Alithea would jump at the chance, but being an expert on stories, she knows that wishes have a way of backfiring. And so she refuses to play along.
Alithea has long seemed content with her solitary existence. She was married once but now has no family, and books have provided the only companionship she needs. But as she talks to the Djinn, her long-forgotten desires for love and connection begin to surface. The movie's point seems to be that these desires, or longings, lie at the heart of every great story.
The Djinn knows this firsthand: He tells Alithea about all the women he's fallen for over the centuries, starting with his first great love, the Queen of Sheba. More recently, his bottle fell into the hands of a brilliant 19th-century woman who used her wishes not to acquire power or riches, but rather to gain more knowledge about the world. Their love burned bright for a spell but ended, like the others, in tragedy. This is why the Djinn has never been able to break free; his love for the humans who command him proves his undoing.
Miller dramatizes those stories in vibrant flashbacks decorated with all manner of ornate visual effects; sometimes the results can be garish, but sometimes they're genuinely entrancing. At their best, the Djinn's stories achieve the quality of a great page-turner. But the movie becomes less effective as it raises the possibility of romance between Alithea and the Djinn. Swinton and Elba are both superb and have a sweet, touching chemistry, but they never forge the kind of bond that feels passionate enough to transcend time and space.
The movie tosses off some fascinating ideas in the closing stretch, including the way a Djinn might feel redundant in a world where technology has become its own modern-day magic. But Three Thousand Years of Longing ends on a muted, uncertain note. It left me faintly curious about what might happen next, which is not quite the same thing as wanting more.
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Selena became an international superstar in the 1980s and '90s because of her warm stage presence and emotional singing style. She died in 1995, when she was only 23.
But on a new album, Moonchild Mixes, out Friday, she no longer sounds like her early-20s self. Instead, these remixes employ digital technology to age her voice. Take her 1986 song "Dame tu amor," which was recorded when she was a teenager; in the remixed version, her voice has been pitched down a semitone. It's also fuller, especially at the low end.
"We worked on her vocal track to make her sound more mature," said Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla, who, along with other members of Selena's family, collaborated with Warner Music Latina on the new release. "It'll make you think that she recorded the songs this morning."
But some Selena devotees aren't on board with this approach. After Warner Music Latina dropped a preview track a few weeks in advance of the album's release, fans took to social media to express their displeasure.
The human ear is such a complex, precise apparatus. It will sound weird and messed up, no doubt about it.
— Wenceslao Prince (@hoverboardthief) August 2, 2022
"Her voice is timeless," said Brandon Hunter, a die-hard Selena fan who lives in Tampa, Fla. "Don't touch it."
Hunter said he would have preferred the new album to include rare releases from Selena's back catalog instead of heavily-produced remixes of hits.
Fellow Sacramento, Calif.-based fan Ruben Moody said he worries that her music will now sound overly polished — which would be too bad, because fans love her voice as it was.
"While I welcome new Selena music, it bothers me to know that her brother and others are unnecessarily editing her vocals," Moody said. "There's no need to guess how Selena would sound as an older singer. Just give the fans the unreleased material as a posthumous album or a deluxe version of an existing album."
The use of digital audio processing technologies like Autotune and Melodyne to adjust or add special effects to performers' voices is now ubiquitous in pop music production. And for many people, that's a good thing.
"If these new technologies can expose and create new music fans, then I'm all for them," said Taurin Barrera, executive director of a music technology program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and a longtime Selena fan himself.
However, Barrera said he doesn't like the use of technology to lower Selena's voice. "Her original recordings are so raw and incredible. But when they pitched the music a little bit lower so that it would sound like a more mature version of Selena, that's not really how us fans of Selena envision her."
But he said because Selena's original recordings pre-date contemporary audio production techniques, it's easy to understand why her family would want to use them to bolster her visibility in a pop landscape packed with noisy, heavily-produced music.
Rupal Patel, a speech scientist at Northeastern University, said although some fans may be uncomfortable, the producers of Moonchild Mixes haven't created a whole new synthetic voice or voice clone for Selena. They've just tweaked her original tracks. Yet, she said, the singing voice carries so much emotional weight, it can make people acutely sensitive even to tiny changes in the voices of the singers they love.
"Whereas for speech, we're listening for the information content, for music, we're listening for the pleasure, how it moves us," Patel said.
Then there's the fact Selena isn't around today to give consent to her new mature-sounding voice.
"Was she someone who would never want to be seen or heard in a way that sounds older than she is, or unauthentically her than what she was?" Patel said.
The Quintanilla family didn't respond to NPR's questions about the ethics of manipulating Selena's voice or address the fans' criticisms.
"This is just breathing life into older music for the new generation," said Selena's sister Suzette Quintanilla in defense of the new album.
Despite the detractors, many Selena fans — old and new alike — are all for it.
"We have the original recordings, for example, 'Santa La Ranita,' a really funny song about a frog that she did when she was so young," said University of Chicago undergrad Vivian Benishek, who currently lives in Houston, Texas. "And now I'm looking forward to hearing it fast forward, you know, years later with a different sound."
"Personally, I'm excited that it's something new," said another Selena devotee, Kyra Fortenberry from Shefield Lake, Ohio . "You can only go through the existing albums so many times."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-music/npr-music/2022-08-26/new-selena-album-moonchild-mixes-sparks-voice-aging-debate | 2022-08-26T11:05:50Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-music/npr-music/2022-08-26/new-selena-album-moonchild-mixes-sparks-voice-aging-debate | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
They say that a dog is a man’s best friend. People who own dogs usually say that a dog is not only a best friend but they are also a family member. Last month Southern California open wheel racer Jeff Dyer’s beloved pug Roxy passed away. At this week’s California Lightning Sprint Car Series/Bay Cities Racing Association Civil War races at the Silver Dollar and Placerville Speedways, there will be a remembrance of Roxy displayed on Dyer’s #4 car.
Roxy was a regular at the races and was well known and liked by everyone in the CLS pit area. The first week Dyer got her, the tiny pup was at the races at Perris Auto Speedway meeting new friends and getting used to the noise of race cars. From that day on she would be greeted, petted, and held by a stream of friends who would stop by to see her at Dyer’s trailer at the races. She was loved by all.
Last month, unexpectedly, Roxy passed away. The racer who makes his living as a California Highway Patrol officer and his family were devastated. To pay homage to his lovable companion, beginning this week Dyer will have a likeness of her with angel wings, a halo, and her name on the side of his car.
“I really miss my dog,” Dyer said via phone on Wednesday. “People say it is like losing a part of your family and it really is. She died unexpectedly and it put a hole in our family for sure. I am trying to keep her memory alive racing with her this week.”
“We used to bring her all of the time,” Dyer continued. “Ever since she was a puppy, she was coming to the races. The last race she went to was at Ventura. I think it was in June. Just her and I went and she sure had a good time. She loved her In N’ Out Cheeseburger afterward. Wish I would have known that was the last time I took her racing.”
With Roxy on his car and on his mind, Dyer, who lives in Yucca Valley, California, has hopes of continuing with his successful season. In the first 10-point paying races of the year, Dyer has finished out of the top 10 once. All told he has five second-place finishes, two third-place results, and came home fourth one time. The consistent finishes see him heading into this weekend’s races in second place in the CLS championship standings. He is only 39-points out of the lead.
“I have been there one time, but it was a few years ago,” Dyer said of racing at Chico. “I remember it to be pretty fast and pretty hooked up. I had issues in the heat race so I had to start at the back of the main. I went from about 20th up to third before the sideboard fell off of my wing and I think I finished like fifth.”
At his last appearance at Placerville in November of 2021 during the three-night Hangtown 100, Dyer’s best finish was a fifth on the first evening of competition.
In addition to Jeff Dyer competing at the two Northern California tracks this weekend, his son Seth will be making his debut at both. The teen will be contesting his sixth CLS race. Thus far his best results are a pair of 10th-place finishes. He enters this weekend’s race 13th in the series point standings.
For fans who wish to be on hand to see the Dyers race at Chico, spectator gates will open at 5:00 PM with racing at 6:00. Tickets are $10 each for everyone 12 years of age and older. Everyone who is 11 years old or younger, will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Advance tickets are available at the following link https://www.eventsprout.com/event/back-to-school-kids-bike-night. Silver Dollar Speedway is located at 2357 Fair St, in Chico (95928). For more information check out the track website at https://www.silverdollarspeedway.com/ or call the office at 530-332-8881.
Adult tickets at Placerville are $18.00. Juniors aged 12-17, seniors 62 and over, and military get in for $16.00. Kids 6-11 are $8.00 and children 5 and under are free. Spectator gates will open at 3:00 p.m. with racing at 6:00. Advance tickets are available at the following link https://www.eventsprout.com/event/points-race-16.
Placerville Speedway is located on the El Dorado County Fairgrounds at 100 Placerville Drive in Placerville, California (95667). For more information please visit the track website at https://www.placervillespeedway.com/ or call the office phone at (530) 344-7592.
Jeff is racing in memory of his grandfather Glenn Sels throughout the 2022 season.
Dyer would like to thank the following for making the 2022 season possible in the #4 Lightning Sprint Car. Dependable Machine Inc., Haircuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, LBA Investigations, and Dyer Motorsports.
For the USAC/CRA #39 sprint car, Straight Time Stirrups, Dependable Machines Inc., Hair Cuts By Susie, Jobu Racing, Justice Brothers, and Specialty Fasteners make it all possible.
If you would like to be a part of Dyer Motorsports in 2022, call (760) 267-0298 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Dyer Motorsports PR | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/racing-news/72355-roxy-riding-with-jeff-dyer-in-cls-races-at-chico-and-placerville | 2022-08-26T11:05:56Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/racing-news/72355-roxy-riding-with-jeff-dyer-in-cls-races-at-chico-and-placerville | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
There are those who heed the warning "don't mess with Texas," and then there are those who do the exact opposite.
Activist Chaz Stevens is in the second group.
He's taking on a Texas law that requires public schools to display signs and posters with the national motto "In God We Trust" in "conspicuous places." The law requires that the signs were either donated or purchased from private donations to the school.
Stevens, who lives in Florida and is known for his petitions to local governments, heard of the law about a week ago and told NPR he was irritated by the move to bring religion — in this case, Christianity — into schools.
"That should be irritating for you, regardless of what God or not-God you believe in," he said.
As far as he could tell, there was no requirement that the motto be written in English. He decided to start a fundraising campaign to send posters to schools around the state with the motto written in Arabic instead.
"They didn't say anything about language," Stevens said. "And as an artist, it's always art forward for me. So I thought, well, know what looks good ... and then it occurred to me that Arabic is beautiful."
He said his goal with this campaign is the same as with his previous endeavors.
"It's simple — it's empowering hypocrisy itself, turning bureaucracies against themselves, figuring out what the bureaucratic hypocrisy is," Stevens said.
The Texas law passed during the last legislative session
The law was passed last summer. At the time, there were more concerns about the pandemic than the signs – and only now are more being donated, The Texas Tribune reports.
Republican state Sen. Bryan Hughes authored the bill and has shared updates as groups have started making donations to different districts and schools.
The law requires the posters or signs to be donated or "purchased from private donations," and the U.S. flag and Texas state flag must be represented on the poster as well. It "may not depict any words, images, or other information."
Though the law does not mention English being the only language that can be displayed, Hughes responded to news of Stevens' campaign.
"Read the bill. Sign must contain "In God We Trust" US flag, Texas flag and "may not depict" any other words or images," Hughes wrote. "Print what you like, but only these signs qualify under the law."
Despite that, Stevens is continuing with his plan. In less than a week, he has raised more than $18,000 and counting to fund the purchase of the signs.
He said overall the response has been "wildly supportive," including a shoutout from filmmaker Quentin Tarantino on Instagram.
Stevens is expanding the design to include more languages
The feedback from the public also led Stevens to broaden his design. He plans to include Spanish, Hindi and other languages. To ensure he has the translations right, Stevens said he is hiring translators in each language.
There's still some design work to be done, but Stevens is hopeful his posters will start arriving at schools in Texas in the next two to three weeks.
Other organizations -- including the Yellow Rose Texas Republican Women group and Patriot Mobile, which calls itself a Christian conservative wireless service provider — have donated posters printed in English to schools outside of Houston as well as in the Dallas metropolitan area.
Stevens said he doesn't have a list of specific schools in mind, but he's aiming to send the signs to politically liberal and conservative areas.
"If I send out 500 signs, I expect 98% of them not to go up. And that's a win for me," Stevens said. "Maybe two out of a hundred go up on a wall. And I wanted the two. ... It proves the point."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-26/an-activist-plans-to-test-texas-in-god-we-trust-law-with-signs-in-arabic | 2022-08-26T11:05:56Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-26/an-activist-plans-to-test-texas-in-god-we-trust-law-with-signs-in-arabic | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
To honor one of its most-beloved employees – and an American Icon – Daytona International Speedway unveiled the “Lightnin’ Epton Ticket Office” on Thursday, a huge, emotional surprise to the 102-year-old who still comes to work each day.
Juanita “Lightnin’” Epton, who recently celebrated a birthday on July 15, has been a member of the Speedway’s ticket office operations at the storied 2.5-mile track dating back to 1958 when the historic venue was being built by NASCAR founder “Big” Bill France in preparations for the inaugural DAYTONA 500 in 1959. The rock of the ticket office for so many years, Lightnin,’ whose warmth and kindness has made her a part of the fabric of the iconic track, will again be working in the ticket office this weekend for the Wawa 250 and Coke Zero Sugar 400 – the Saturday night ‘last-chance’ event to make the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
“I just don’t know what to say,” said an emotional Epton, who is not only loved by the Speedway and NASCAR, but by the fans, teams and drivers who attend Daytona races. “This place and these people mean so very much to me, I can hardly express my emotions with this honor. I truly feel so grateful to be standing here today, seeing my name, forever being a part of this speedway. It feels so surreal.”
The ceremony took place just outside the main entrance of the new Lightnin’ Epton Ticket Office. A huge crowd of NASCAR employees gathered for the celebration, including NASCAR and IMSA Chairman Jim France, NASCAR Executive Vice Chair Lesa France Kennedy and Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher.
“The France family has meant so much to me over the years,” said Epton, who says her nickname “Lightnin’” was coined by her late husband Joe when they first got married, claiming he never knew when and where she’d strike. “I remember Bill Sr. told me years ago that as long as I wanted to work I could – and I’ve taken him up on that offer.”
The Eptons shared a love of racing, and Joe was NASCAR’s first chief scorer from 1947- 1985. The couple had first met “Big Bill” at the fairgrounds in Spartanburg, S.C. in 1945, where Joe was scoring races. While having worked the Daytona beach/road course events prior, they made the full-time move to Florida when France began building Daytona International Speedway in ’58. It was then that Lightnin’ started working at the ticket office alongside Anne B. France, Big Bill’s wife.
Epton has always believed her place was in the ticket office but had never even seen the iconic DAYTONA 500 race in person until 2018, when she watched a portion of the event from a suite. An institution at the track for more than six decades, NASCAR’s oldest employee and Grenada, Miss. native will now have her name as a permanent piece in the iconic Speedway’s history.
“We wanted to do something special to honor Lightnin,’ to show her how important she is and has been to so many people,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “She has seen this Speedway from its birth to what it’s become today. She has been so inspirational to so many through the years, and the backbone of the ticketing operation. She really deserves this, and we are incredibly proud to be with her today.”
The new “Lightnin’ Epton Ticket Office” sign is just to the left of the main entrance of the Speedway’s Ticket & Tours Building.
Fans can pick up their tickets at the Lightnin’ Epton Ticket Office for the action-packed race weekend this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 26-27. Friday’s Wawa 250 Powered by Coca Cola begins at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 gets the green flag at 7 p.m., as drivers fight for their last shot to make the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
For information regarding ticket purchasing or further details about the upcoming race weekend at the World Center of Racing, visit www.
Fans can also 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://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72357-daytona-international-speedway-s-lightnin-epton-ticket-office-unveiled-honoring-102-year-old-legendary-inspirational-and-beloved-staff-member-juanita-lightnin-epton | 2022-08-26T11:06:03Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72357-daytona-international-speedway-s-lightnin-epton-ticket-office-unveiled-honoring-102-year-old-legendary-inspirational-and-beloved-staff-member-juanita-lightnin-epton | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Two organizations that play vital roles in their respective areas in Northeast Tennessee were honored today as Neighborhood Heroes by Bristol Motor Speedway during a news conference at the Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy in Morristown.
The two recipients, Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Northview/Kodak Fire Department, were named BMS Neighborhood Heroes and will be officially honored on Saturday, Sept. 17, during pre-race ceremonies for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, a Round of 16 Playoff race in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“In 2018 we started a mission that has become very important to us at Bristol Motor Speedway,” said Jerry Caldwell, president of Bristol Motor Speedway. “We started a very special program called the Bristol Motor Speedway Neighborhood Heroes that recognizes first responders, military members and others in our regional communities who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their professions to make significant impacts in the lives of others. Over the years we have honored many very deserving individuals from cities all around Bristol Motor Speedway.
“We are extremely blessed to be able to host races and entertain our guests who come out to Bristol Motor Speedway to enjoy the events in a worry-free manner. All of that is possible because of the great efforts of our first responders and military who work tirelessly around the clock to keep us safe.
“We are so proud to name the Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Northview/Kodak Fire Department as BMS Neighborhood Heroes for 2022 and we look forward to honoring them on Saturday night, Sept. 17, prior to the green flag during America’s Night Race.”
The Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy is being honored for the great work it does in replenishing quality law enforcement staff for a variety of agencies. Their cadets fill a variety of positions for law enforcement groups throughout the region and the state of Tennessee. Their most recent class, No. 125, features 51 cadets who will graduate on Sept. 15, 2022. Many of those cadets will be in attendance as guests of Bristol Motor Speedway at the upcoming Bass Pro Shops Night Race. Travis Stansell, director of the Walters State Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy, will accept the award on the pre-race stage along the track’s frontstretch.
Another honoree holds a very special place in our hearts. The fire fighters of the Northview/Kodak Fire Department are being honored for the bravery they displayed in doing a most difficult job and fighting the recent Wears Valley Wild Fires in the Smoky Mountains which burned over 3,700 acres and forced hundreds of evacuations. During the fire, their truck became instantly surrounded by fire. As it seemed their fate would be the worst and there was no way out, the crew began to call family members to say their goodbyes. Miraculously, before the flames overtook their truck and destroyed it, a forestry bulldozer was spotted across the ridge that made a path that led to a forestry truck that came out of nowhere to haul them away to safety. Members of the Northview/Kodak Fire Dept. will be in attendance at America’s Night Race as guests of BMS. Northview/Kodak Fire Chief John Satterfield accept the award on behalf of his fire unit on the pre-race stage along the track’s frontstretch.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship contender Grant Enfinger, driver of the No. 23 Chevy for GMS Racing, attended the event today and assisted BMS officials in making the presentation. Enfinger is currently second in the Camping World Truck Series Playoff points standings and he finished second in the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics last year at BMS.
Enfinger told both recipients that they can look forward to a great time during the pre-race ceremonies, where each group will be presented with a commemorative BMS Neighborhood Heroes plaque.
“Congratulations for this honor, this is a really cool deal. Thank you both for your service,” Enfinger said. “Every NASCAR track has great pre-race ceremonies but at Bristol they always seem to take it up a notch, so you are in store for a cool experience.”
Enfinger gave rides to the media in the BMS Pace Car around the Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy’s road course that they use to get the cadets up to speed on how to handle a police cruiser. Enfinger was followed around the road course by one of the police training vehicles piloted by one of the academy’s training officers, which also gave media rides. On each lap, Enfinger pulled away at the controls of the BMS Pace Car, a powerful Chevy Camaro.
“It was a lot of fun out here today,” Enfginer says. “At first I didn’t feel comfortable running away from the sirens but it got easier with every lap so I don’t know what that says about me. I was very impressed with the Camaro we have here, it’s got a lot of power. It was fun to drive and it’s definitely fun to be on a course like this where if you mess up you don’t really have much of a price to pay. It was definitely a lot of fun out there.”
Enfinger also checked out one of the Northview/Kodak Fire Dept. trucks and was able to spray water from the truck’s powerful hoses, learn about how the truck works and pose for photos with the members of the Northview/Kodak Fire Dept.
The America’s Night Race weekend begins on Thursday, Sept. 15 with Enfinger, Zane Smith, John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes and defending winner Chandler Smith battling for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoff victory in the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics (Sept. 15, 9 p.m., FS1, MRN Radio). The rising stars in the ARCA Menards Series also will take on the challenging half-mile bullring in the Bush’s Beans 200 as part of the Thursday night doubleheader (Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m., FS1, MRN Radio).
On Friday, Sparks are sure to fly in the Food City 300, as NASCAR Xfinity Series favorites A.J. Allmendinger, Noah Gragson, Justin Allgaier, Ty Gibbs and Josh Berry will be trying to lock in their Playoff positions in the season’s final regular season race (Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m., USA Network, PRN Radio). The stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will take to the track on Saturday for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m., USA Network, PRN Radio), you’ll get to see all of your favorite drivers racing hard to advance in the first elimination race of the Playoffs.
To purchase tickets, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158. Fans can also purchase tickets at any Food City location through Sept. 6.
BMS PR | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72358-walters-state-regional-law-enforcement-training-academy-and-northview-kodak-fire-department-named-bms-neighborhood-heroes | 2022-08-26T11:06:04Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/speedway-news/72358-walters-state-regional-law-enforcement-training-academy-and-northview-kodak-fire-department-named-bms-neighborhood-heroes | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A Chipotle restaurant in Lansing, Mich., voted Thursday to unionize, making it the first of the chain's nearly 3,000 locations to do so.
The employees are seeking improved schedules and higher wages, and first filed for a union election July 5.
"Today's victory is an amazing moment for our team that has worked so hard and spent many months organizing," said Samantha Smith, 18, a crew member who has worked at the location for over two years. "We set out to show that our generation can make substantial change in this world and improve our working conditions by taking action collectively.
Employees at the location first filed for a union election July 5. They are being backed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a union with 1.2 million members across professions such as warehouse workers, pilots, public defenders and more.
"Forming a union will allow us to have a true voice on the job and force Chipotle to address our concerns," said Harper McNamara, 19, a crew member who, like Smith, has also been there for more than two years. "I am so proud of all those who were involved in this effort, and showed the courage needed to take on a huge corporation."
An Augusta, Maine, location filed a union election petition in July, but Chipotle permanently closed the restaurant later that month, according to reports.
A Chipotle spokesperson acknowledged the employees' action, saying the company was "disappointed" by the vote.
"At Chipotle, our employees are our greatest asset, and we are committed to listening to their needs and continuing to improve upon their workplace experience," Chipotle's chief corporate affairs officer Laurie Schalow said in a statement. "We continue to believe that working directly together is best for our employees."
Schalow touted various employee benefits at Chipotle, such as tuition reimbursement, health care and quarterly bonuses that totaled $37 million between 100,000 employees.
The vote in Lansing is the latest move in unionization efforts at some of the country's largest companies, such as Starbucks, Amazon and Apple.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-26/a-chipotle-restaurant-in-michigan-becomes-the-first-in-the-chain-to-unionize | 2022-08-26T11:06:15Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-26/a-chipotle-restaurant-in-michigan-becomes-the-first-in-the-chain-to-unionize | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Attention, auto enthusiasts: The "holy grail" of Chicago license plates is up for auction.
A black-and-white aluminum plate stamped with just the single numeral "1" gives bidders a chance to earn a piece of automotive history. The plate was made in 1904, the first year that Chicago made metal license plates, and the only year the city made plates from thin, stamped aluminum, according to the item's description on the auction site.
"Only (a) handful of these were made," said Mike Donley of Donley Auctions. "And it's number 1. It doesn't get any lower than that."
Before Illinois began making statewide license plates, Chicago issued its own plates between 1903 and 1907, Donley said. From that era, auctioneers said, those made in 1904 are the rarest. For the next few years that followed, the flimsy and damage-prone aluminum plates were replaced with heavy-duty solid brass.
Even more rare, this plate is graded "VG," or very good condition.
The plate's first owner was a founding member of AAA
This particular plate was issued to prominent Chicago lawyer and art collector Arthur Jerome Eddy, who in 1900 became the first person in Chicago to receive a license badge for a motor vehicle. Before plates were distributed, license badges, meant to go on drivers' coats, were issued to drivers as a way to tax city residents for funding road projects, Donley said.
Eddy was an early adopter of automobiles, Donley said. He set an auto distance record in 1901 by driving 2,900 miles from Chicago to Boston and back over two months, The New York Times reported. He even published a book about it the following year — one of several he authored — titled Two Thousand Miles On An Automobile.
Eddy also helped found the Chicago Motor Club in 1902, to advocate for driver rights and promote safe vehicles and roads. That club has since evolved into the American Automobile Association (AAA). He's also credited with putting Chicago on the map of the modern art world, according to auctioneers, by drawing interest to the Art Institute of Chicago.
More recently, this plate belonged to Lee Hartung, a well-known collector of motor vehicles, who died in 2011. Much of his personal collection was auctioned off years ago but, Donley said, when his partner was recently preparing to sell their house, she found a stash of more auto memorabilia — including the No.1 plate.
Donley estimated the plate will sell for around $4,000 to $6,000 at the auction, which ends on Sunday. But the intrigue Donley said it has garnered could hike up the bids. The auctioneer took the plate to a license plate show over the weekend in Wauconda, Ill., where he said the item attracted collectors from out of state to see the plate and gauge its authenticity.
"There's a lot of interest in this," Donley said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-26/a-rare-first-of-its-kind-chicago-license-plate-is-up-for-auction | 2022-08-26T11:06:21Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-26/a-rare-first-of-its-kind-chicago-license-plate-is-up-for-auction | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is set to release Friday a heavily blacked out document explaining the justification for an FBI search of former President Donald Trump's Florida estate earlier this month, when agents removed top secret government records and other classified documents.
The document, expected by noon, is likely to offer at least some new details about an ongoing criminal investigation that has brought fresh legal peril for Trump just as he lays the groundwork for another presidential run. Though Justice Department officials are expected to have removed sensitive details about witnesses, and the scope and direction of the probe, the affidavit may offer the fullest explanation yet about the events leading up to the Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago.
The document being released is the redacted form of an affidavit, or sworn statement, that the FBI submitted to a judge so it could obtain a warrant to search Trump's property. Affidavits typically contain vital information about an investigation, with agents spelling out to a judge the justification for why they want to search a particular property and why they believe they’re likely to find evidence of a potential crime there. But affidavits routinely remain sealed during pending investigations, making the judge’s decision to reveal portions of it all the more striking.
In an acknowledgment of the extraordinary public interest in the investigation, U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on Thursday ordered the department by Friday to make public a redacted version of the affidavit. The directive came hours after federal law enforcement officials submitted under seal the portions of the affidavit that they want to keep secret as their investigation moves forward.
The redactions proposed by the Justice Department are likely to be extensive given the sensitivity of the investigation, lessening the likelihood that the document will offer a comprehensive look at the basis for the unprecedented search or significant insights about the direction of the probe. Yet even a redacted affidavit can contain at least some fresh revelations about the investigation, and is likely to help explain why federal agents who had tried for months to recover sensitive government records from Mar-a-Lago ultimately felt compelled to obtain a search warrant.
Documents already made public show the FBI retrieved from the property 11 sets of classified documents, including information marked at the top secret level. They also show that federal agents are investigating potential violations of three different federal laws, including one that governs gathering, transmitting or losing defense information under the Espionage Act. The other statutes address the concealment, mutilation or removal of records and the destruction, alteration or falsification of records in federal investigations.
It's possible that the affidavit, particularly in its unredacted form, could shed light on key unanswered questions, including why sensitive presidential documents — classified documents, among them — were transported to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House and why Trump and his representatives did not supply the entire tranche of material to the National Archives and Records Administration despite repeated entreaties.
It could also offer additional details on the back-and-forth between Trump and the FBI, including a subpoena for documents that was issued last spring, as well as a June visit by FBI and Justice Department officials to assess how the materials were being stored.
The Justice Department had earlier contested arguments by media organizations to make any portion of the affidavit public, saying the disclosure could contain private information about witnesses and about investigative tactics. But Reinhart, acknowledging the extraordinary public interest in the investigation, said last week that he was disinclined to keep the entire document sealed and told federal officials to submit to him in private the redactions it wanted to make.
In his order Thursday, Reinhart said the department had made compelling arguments to leave sealed broad swaths of the document that, if disclosed, would reveal grand jury information; the identities of witnesses and “uncharged parties"; and details about the investigation's “strategy, direction, scope, sources and methods.”
But he also said he was satisfied “that the Government has met its burden of showing that its proposed redactions are narrowly tailored to serve the Government’s legitimate interest in the integrity of the ongoing investigation and are the least onerous alternative to sealing the entire Affidavit.” | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-affidavit-release/507-66b68060-4464-48ba-ac33-88cccc8bc6a5 | 2022-08-26T11:09:40Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-affidavit-release/507-66b68060-4464-48ba-ac33-88cccc8bc6a5 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HONOLULU-- A moment of calm, before the action. Fans say they're ready
"For people who don't know about UH, it's gonna be a good atmosphere. It's always loud. And it's gonna be the first time in a while that people get to have fun and do fun stuff at the game," a fan named Anthony told KITV.
Players also say they're ready.
"So we can be there for them and turn little games into big games. Open up pass opportunities. open up run lanes. That'll be big for us. It's been big for us, just bringing everyone together and putting the community in as well," running back Dedrick Parson told Press.
And as far as the fan experience is concerned, this will be the first home game since COVID restrictions disrupted the last two school years. Those restrictions are no more. Food and beverages are back. Masks are optional. And-did you know, each home game has a color coordinated them day!
"Wear your green shirt. And if you don't have your green shirt, the book store, the H zone will be selling apparel here on campus as well as the stadium," said Associate Athletics Director of external affairs Vince Baldemor.
There are other other options for viewing the action, including out in town, at home- or even at the movies.
It's 15 dollars to catch the action on the big screen in Mililani, Kailua or Koko Marina.
Otherwise, there are plenty of options around town. There's the comfort of home, or it will be watching football on campus, like many haven't had a chance to experience in their lifetime.
"We've got a sold out crowd coming to the first home game under coach Timmy Chang. So a lot of excitement. He and the team have really done a great job building that community," Baldemor concluded. | https://www.kitv.com/news/uh-football-commences-countdown-to-gameday/article_a1230600-251c-11ed-b247-5f051a70d371.html | 2022-08-26T11:14:14Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/uh-football-commences-countdown-to-gameday/article_a1230600-251c-11ed-b247-5f051a70d371.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/miniso-group-holding-limited-loss-submission-form/?id=31173&from=4
This lawsuit is on behalf of persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired publicly traded MINISO securities pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus issued in connection with MINISO's October 2020 initial public offering.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until October 17, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, MINISO Group Holding Limited issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants and other undisclosed related parties owned and controlled a much larger amount of MINISO stores than previously stated; (2) as a result, MINISO concealed its true costs; (3) the Company did not represent its true business model; (4) defendants, including the Company and its chairman, engaged in planned unusual and unclear transactions; (5) as a result of at least one of these transactions, the Company is at risk of breaching contracts with People's Republic of China authorities; (6) the Company would imminently and drastically drop its franchise fees; and (7) as a result, defendant's statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
1140 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, New York 10036
T: (212) 867-4490
F: (212) 537-5887
View original content:
SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/mnso-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-miniso-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-17-2022/ | 2022-08-26T11:15:56Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/mnso-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-miniso-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-17-2022/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
New Delhi: When India's richest man Gautam Adani this week unveiled plans for his firm to control a majority stake in New Delhi Television (NDTV), it was the stealth approach in executing the transaction that drew most attention in the news industry.
But NDTV, one of nation's most popular news networks, is seeking to block the takeover attempt by the billionaire tycoon's group, saying regulatory restrictions prevent the bid from proceeding.
The takeover attempt has triggered concerns among journalists and politicians that a change of ownership could undermine its editorial integrity.
This is how the firm controlled by the Adani family went about planning the takeover and how NDTV is trying to resist it.
A company called VCPL
Much of the spotlight on Adani's two-stage takeover bid is on one, little-known Indian company: Vishvapradhan Commercial Private Limited (VCPL), founded in 2008.
More than a decade ago, NDTV founders Prannoy and Radhika Roy took 4 billion rupees ($50 million) in loans from VCPL, and in exchange issued warrants that allowed the company to acquire a 29.18% stake in the news group.
Those warrants were convertible at any time. Adani Group said on Aug. 23 it had acquired VCPL and exercised those rights, which should give it the stake in NDTV.
Adani Group's takeover bid is without NDTV's consent, the news organisation said hours later. Internally, an NDTV memo referred to the move as "entirely unexpected."
An open offer plan
Adani Group's indirect control of a stake above 25% means it must put forward an open offer to purchase at least 26% more from existing shareholders in NDTV to give them an opportunity to exit, according to Indian regulations.
That's what Adani did. Laying out its plan, the Adani Group said the open offer will be at 294 rupees per NDTV share for a total consideration of up to $62 million.
If the two-stage plan works, Adani Group would get 55.18% of the popular news network.
NDTV pushes back
Although NDTV has said Adani's move was without its consent, four lawyers who spoke to Reuters said Adani Group was well within its legal rights in the deal process so far.
NDTV had said it was given two days to transfer the shares due to the Adani Group after it made the takeover bid.
But as that deadline neared, NDTV has threw a spanner in the works by disclosing on Aug. 25 that its founders were currently prohibited from dealing in India's securities market.
That was due to a 2020 regulatory decision in a case of suspected insider trading of NDTV shares, the news network said, meaning it can't tranfer shares Adani was trying to secure.
The regulatory restriction is in place until November this year, and a lawyer said NDTV's effort at best can "stall or slow down the process" of Adani's takeover.
Other lawyers have said NDTV should have foreseen the situation as its founders had issued warrants to VCPL years ago and there was always a possibility a company could execute them to acquire a stake.
One option would be for the NDTV founders to make their own open offer at a higher price to try to increase their stake and challenge Adani, said Shriram Subramanian, founder of proxy advisory firm InGovern. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/26/adani-ndtv-takeover-vcpl-explained.amp.html | 2022-08-26T11:18:35Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/26/adani-ndtv-takeover-vcpl-explained.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Bookings for the new Land Cruiser LC 300 have started in India. The all-new Land Cruiser, which has received a huge reception globally, has a booking amount of Rs 10 lakh in the country. In all likelihood those who book the vehicle will have to wait for almost a year.
The Toyota Land Cruiser 300 was launched in 2021. Auto enthusiasts have already bought this dream vehicle from abroad and brought it to India. Now Toyota is giving an opportunity to anyone to own a vehicle in India without any additional hurdles.
Cool features
In the new model, Toyota has taken care to include features that help people recognise that it is a Land Cruiser at a glance. The large grille with a Land Cruiser touch and head lamps give the vehicle an impressive look. The Land Cruiser 300 is available in a total of five colours in India.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available on 12.3-inch or 9-inch touchscreens.
The LC 300 will also get JBL speakers. There are indications that the LC 300 models available in India are 5-seaters. Toyota has equipped the new vehicle with new features like 360-degree parking camera, electric adjustment on the steering wheel and fingerprint authentication.
Off-roader's dream
The Toyota Land Cruiser 300 is offered in two engine options. It has a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine and a 3.3-litre diesel V6 engine. Both the engines have a 10-speed automatic gearbox. Toyota will offer only diesel engine in India.
An off-roader's dream vehicle, the new model of the Toyota Land Cruiser has a ground clearance of 230 mm. Along with four-wheel drive, Toyota's multi-terrain select system is set to provide a new driving experience. The LC 300 has a camera attached even to the bottom of the vehicle. Toyota has also provided a new speed control system for off-road trips in this vehicle.
Four-year wait
Toyota's latest flagship, the Land Cruiser 300, is in high demand globally. Earlier this year, news had surfaced that one would have to wait four years in Japan to get the Land Cruiser 300 after booking it. Even though the bookings are said to have started in India, the final price of the vehicle is still not announced. The expected price of Land Cruiser 300 will be around Rs 2 crore. Land Cruiser also offers a warranty of three years or up to one lakh kilometres. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/26/book-toyota-land-cruiser-rs-10-lakh.amp.html | 2022-08-26T11:18:39Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/26/book-toyota-land-cruiser-rs-10-lakh.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Bookings for the new Land Cruiser LC 300 have started in India. The all-new Land Cruiser, which has received a huge reception globally, has a booking amount of Rs 10 lakh in the country. In all likelihood those who book the vehicle will have to wait for almost a year.
The Toyota Land Cruiser 300 was launched in 2021. Auto enthusiasts have already bought this dream vehicle from abroad and brought it to India. Now Toyota is giving an opportunity to anyone to own a vehicle in India without any additional hurdles.
Cool features
In the new model, Toyota has taken care to include features that help people recognise that it is a Land Cruiser at a glance. The large grille with a Land Cruiser touch and head lamps give the vehicle an impressive look. The Land Cruiser 300 is available in a total of five colours in India.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available on 12.3-inch or 9-inch touchscreens.
The LC 300 will also get JBL speakers. There are indications that the LC 300 models available in India are 5-seaters. Toyota has equipped the new vehicle with new features like 360-degree parking camera, electric adjustment on the steering wheel and fingerprint authentication.
Off-roader's dream
The Toyota Land Cruiser 300 is offered in two engine options. It has a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine and a 3.3-litre diesel V6 engine. Both the engines have a 10-speed automatic gearbox. Toyota will offer only diesel engine in India.
An off-roader's dream vehicle, the new model of the Toyota Land Cruiser has a ground clearance of 230 mm. Along with four-wheel drive, Toyota's multi-terrain select system is set to provide a new driving experience. The LC 300 has a camera attached even to the bottom of the vehicle. Toyota has also provided a new speed control system for off-road trips in this vehicle.
Four-year wait
Toyota's latest flagship, the Land Cruiser 300, is in high demand globally. Earlier this year, news had surfaced that one would have to wait four years in Japan to get the Land Cruiser 300 after booking it. Even though the bookings are said to have started in India, the final price of the vehicle is still not announced. The expected price of Land Cruiser 300 will be around Rs 2 crore. Land Cruiser also offers a warranty of three years or up to one lakh kilometres. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/26/book-toyota-land-cruiser-rs-10-lakh.html | 2022-08-26T11:18:46Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/26/book-toyota-land-cruiser-rs-10-lakh.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Swastika Mountain in Oregon to get new name
PORTLAND, Ore. (Gray News) – The Oregon Geographic Names Board met last week to consider proposals to re-name several geographic features in several Oregon counties.
The board agreed that Swastika Mountain, which refers to a symbol of the German Nazi Party, will be changed.
Mount Halo and Umpqua Mountain are two names that have been submitted for consideration so far, but Mount Halo will likely be the new name.
Halo refers to Chief Halotish, a 19th century leader of the Yoncalla-Kalapuya tribe.
The board is expected to make a final decision on the new name for the mountain in December.
The mountain is located within the Umpqua National Forest and is more than 4,000 feet tall.
According to a name change proposal form on the board’s website, the mountain was originally named for a nearby town called Swastika, which took its name from a cattle ranch where the owner branded his cattle with the symbol before it was used by the Nazis.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.witn.com/2022/08/26/swastika-mountain-oregon-get-new-name/ | 2022-08-26T11:18:49Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/2022/08/26/swastika-mountain-oregon-get-new-name/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Chennai: Credit growth outpaced deposit growth for commercial banks in June, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its quarterly statistics on deposit and credit of commercial banks for June 2022 released on Thursday.
As credit growth is outpacing deposit growth in the recent period, credit-deposit (C-D) ratio has been on the rise: In June it stood at 73.5 per cent at the all-India level (70.5 per cent a year ago) and 86.2 per cent for metropolitan branches of banks (84.3 per cent a year ago), the RBI said.
According to RBI, the credit growth (y-o-y) accelerated further to 14.2 per cent in June from 6 per cent a year ago and 10.8 per cent a quarter ago.
Credit growth has been broad-based: All the population groups (i.e., rural, semi-urban, urban and metropolitan), all the bank groups (i.e., public/private sector banks, foreign banks, regional rural banks, small finance banks) and all the regions of the country (i.e., central, eastern, north-eastern, nothern, southern and western) recorded double-digit annual credit growth in June, the RBI said.
Aggregate deposit growth (y-o-y) has remained in the range 9.5-10.2 per cent during the last five quarters: Metropolitan branches continue to account for over half of the bank deposits and their share increased marginally over the last one year.
The share of current account and savings account (CASA) deposits in total deposits has been increasing over the last three years (42.0 per cent, 43.8 per cent and 44.5 per cent in June of 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively). | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/26/credit-growth-outpaced-deposit-growth-banks-june-rbi.amp.html | 2022-08-26T11:18:52Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/26/credit-growth-outpaced-deposit-growth-banks-june-rbi.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Mumbai: Adani Group said on Friday that regulatory restrictions imposed on New Delhi Television Ltd's (NDTV) founders do not affect the conglomerate's attempt to buy a majority stake in the news network.
NDTV on Thursday sought to block tycoon Gautam Adani's move, saying its founders Prannoy and Radhika Roy have since 2020 been barred by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) from buying or selling shares in India's securities market.
NDTV said a deal between the Roys and Adani would require approval from SEBI, the market regulator.
On Friday, Adani Enterprises argued in a statement that NDTV's top shareholder, an investment vehicle which is held by the Roys and which is the subject of the Adani bid, was not covered by the SEBI order, meaning the takeover offer can proceed without specific SEBI approval.
Meanwhile, shares in NDTV hit the upper circuit limit for the third straight day in the opening trade on Friday.
The company's shares have been rising after Adani group's hostile takeover bid with the announcement of an open offer on Tuesday to acquire an additional 26 per cent stake.
The scrip opened at Rs 423.85, its highest trading permissible limit for the day as well as the fresh 52-week high level, on BSE. This was a 5 per cent increase compared to Thursday's closing level of Rs 403.70 apiece.
As the session progressed, the shares were trading at Rs 422.10 apiece, a gain of 4.56 per cent.
On NSE too, the company's shares reached the upper circuit limit of Rs 427.95, which was also its 52-week high on the bourse, after opening at Rs 421.90.
The scrip marginally shed the gains and was 3.48 per cent up at Rs 421.80. On Thursday, it closed at Rs 407.60.
(With PTI inputs.) | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/26/regulatory-curbs-do-not-restrict-bid-to-take-over-ndtv--adani.amp.html | 2022-08-26T11:19:01Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/26/regulatory-curbs-do-not-restrict-bid-to-take-over-ndtv--adani.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Outset Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: OM).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/outset-medical-loss-submission-form/?id=31161&from=4
This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased Outset Medical common stock between September 15, 2020, and June 13, 2022.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until September 6, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, Outset Medical, Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company's flagship product, Tablo Hemodialysis System ("Tablo"), would require an additional 510(k) application to be filed with The United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), as defendants had "continuously made improvements and updates to Tablo over time since its original clearance"; (2) as a result, the Company could not conduct a human factors study on a cleared device in accordance with FDA protocols; (3) the Company's inability to conduct the human factors study subjected the Company to the likelihood of the FDA imposing a "shipment hold" and marketing suspension, leaving the Company unable to sell Tablo for home use; and (4) as a result, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and /or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
JAKUBOWITZ LAW
1140 Avenue of the Americas
9th Floor
New York, New York 10036
T: (212) 867-4490
F: (212) 537-5887
View original content:
SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/om-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-outset-medical-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-6-2022/ | 2022-08-26T11:20:42Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/om-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-outset-medical-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-6-2022/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Tampa-based medical innovation company recognized by Inc. Magazine for continued growth.
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominent business magazine Inc. listed Tampa-based medical innovation company PainTEQ as #149 in their annual Inc. 5000 ranking of America's fastest-growing private companies.
This is the third consecutive year that PainTEQ has been included on the Inc. 5000 list, which is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious honors for high-performing businesses in the country.
"I get asked a lot about PainTEQ's success, talent and how we dominate the SIJ market. It simply comes down to our people; my teammates are the best because they are intelligent, humble, tenacious and have an amazing capacity to focus on making SIJ patients better. It is just an incredible team, company, and opportunity we all share together- we are the clear leader in Safety, Efficacy and Durability for SIJ dysfunction market" said Michael Enxing President of PainTEQ.
As the fourth fastest-growing company in the Tampa Bay area according to Inc. Magazine, PainTEQ is the developer of the LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System, a minimally invasive procedure that aims to reduce and eliminate chronic low back pain from sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction.
"I'm grateful to be part of such a fantastic group of people," stated Sean LaNeve, PainTEQ's Chief Executive Officer. "Our team has done amazing work getting the LinQ therapy into the hands of physicians across the country. Patients' lives have been improved because of our team's hard work. Annual awards are a byproduct. The really meaningful achievements happen every day."
About Inc. 5000: The Inc. 5000, through good times and challenging times, represents nearly 40 years of exceptional American growth stories. Every year, Inc. Magazine ranks the top 5000 "fastest-growing private companies in America." Visit Inc.com/inc5000/2022.
About PainTEQ: PainTEQ was built to bring interventional procedures to the market. Working with pain management specialists to help reduce and eliminate SI joint dysfunction, PainTEQ's LinQ implant aims to immediately provide clinical benefits to individuals living with incapacitating lower back pain through a minimally invasive outpatient procedure.
About LinQ: The LinQ SI Joint Stabilization System provides patients with a minimally invasive option to combat pain. After a thorough diagnostic process, physicians may help alleviate, and in many cases eliminate, chronic pain by placing a single LinQ allograft into the SI joint. With its large graft window, this single implant helps create an ideal environment for long-term fusion.
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SOURCE PainTEQ | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/painteq-ranked-149-inc-5000-list-fastest-growing-private-companies-america/ | 2022-08-26T11:20:48Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/painteq-ranked-149-inc-5000-list-fastest-growing-private-companies-america/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, leaders from Peach State Health Plan and the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University announced the official 2022 "Peach State Scholars" during a ceremony on Augusta University's campus. The seven students make up the second class of Peach State Scholars participating in the Medical College of Georgia's MCG3+ Primary Care Pathway Program.
The program, which launched in 2020, allows selected students to finish medical school in three years rather than four and go directly into a primary care residency in Georgia. In exchange for their commitment to serve in a rural or underserved area of the state, these students will receive a scholarship for tuition, which was made possible by a $5.2 million donation from Peach State Health Plan in 2021.
"We are excited to see the MCG3+ Primary Care Pathway Program expand into its second year with the 2022 Peach State Scholars," said Wade Rakes, Chief Executive Officer, Peach State Health Plan. "These medical students will soon be on the frontline of medical care in Georgia's underserved communities. As this innovative program continues, together we'll help develop more doctors throughout the state of Georgia."
Governor Brian Kemp matched Peach State Health Plan's initial donation to kickstart the program, adding another $5.2 million in funding. This year, Governor Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly added an additional $8.7 million to the program.
"I am always proud to see public and private organizations in Georgia come to together to create innovative solutions to health care problems in the state," said Governor Brian Kemp. "The state of Georgia is proud to support the work Peach State Health Plan and the Medical College of Georgia are doing to put more doctors in our rural and underserved areas."
"Our partnership with Peach State Health Plan has been critical to getting the MCG3+ Primary Care Pathway Program off the ground to address Georgia's doctor shortages," said Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel, PhD. "Georgia is losing doctors in many of its underserved areas for a variety of reasons, including retirement of aging doctors and the desire of young doctors to open practices in more populated areas. These Peach State Scholars will help address these shortages for years to come."
The 2022 Peach State Scholars, their hometowns, and intended specialty are as follows:
Reginald D. Benson, Jr.
Douglasville, GA
Emergency Medicine
Sarah K. Chappell
Alpharetta, GA
Pediatrics
M. Raine Foulkes
Macon, GA
OB/GYN
Ganesh Maduraiveeran
Cumming, GA
Internal Medicine
Adir Mohaban
Hahira, GA
Emergency Medicine
Edil Nour
Lawrenceville, GA
Psychiatry
Bailey Rodgers
Marietta, GA
OB/GYN
The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University is one of the nation's largest medical schools by class size, with 264 students per class. The educational experience is anchored by the main campus in Augusta, regional clinical campuses for third- and fourth-year students across the state and a second four-year campus in Athens in partnership with the University of Georgia. MCG's expanding partnerships with physicians and hospitals across Georgia currently provides about 350 sites where students can experience the full spectrum of medicine, from complex care hospitals to small-town solo practices. MCG and its teaching hospitals also provide postgraduate education to more than 500 residents and fellows in more than 50 different Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-approved programs.
Peach State Health Plan is a Care Management Organization that serves the needs of Georgians through a range of health insurance solutions. Peach State Health Plan serves the Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® population in partnership with Georgia Families. The organization also focuses on under-insured and uninsured individuals through its federal insurance marketplace plan, Ambetter, and its Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan. Peach State Health Plan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multi-line healthcare enterprise. For more information visit www.pshp.com.
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SOURCE Peach State Health Plan | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/peach-state-health-plan-medical-college-georgia-augusta-university-select-2022-peach-state-scholars/ | 2022-08-26T11:20:55Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/peach-state-health-plan-medical-college-georgia-augusta-university-select-2022-peach-state-scholars/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of TG Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TGTX).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/tg-therapeutics-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=31164&from=4
The lawsuit seeks to recover losses for shareholders who purchased TG Therapeutics between January 15, 2020 and May 31, 2022.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until September 16, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
According to a filed complaint, TG Therapeutics, Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) clinical trials revealed significant concerns related to the benefit-risk ratio and overall survival data of the Company's therapeutic product candidates, Ublituximab and Umbralisib; (ii) accordingly, it was unlikely that the Company would be able to obtain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the Umbralisib marginal zone lymphoma and follicular lymphoma New Drug Application, the Biologics License Application for Ublituximab in combination with Umbralisib, the supplemental New Drug Application for Ublituximab in combination with Umbralisib, or the Ublituximab relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis Biologics License Application in their current forms; (iii) as a result, the Company had significantly overstated Ublituximab and Umbralisib's clinical and/or commercial prospects; and (iv) therefore, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
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SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/tgtx-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-tg-therapeutics-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-16-2022/ | 2022-08-26T11:21:07Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/tgtx-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-tg-therapeutics-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-16-2022/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
T.G.I.F, everyone! Our Friday will feature another day with mostly cloudy skies, and the potential for a few afternoon downpours to develop. Of course, any of these could feature some frequent lightning, heavy rain, and gusty winds so keep that in mind for any outdoor activities. High temperatures will warm into the mid to upper 80s for most.
The weekend will feature a mix of clouds and sunshine and only a slight chance for a pop-up here or there. Highs will be in the upper 80s and lower 90s, with overnight lows back in the lower 70s. The humidity will increase, leading to heat indices during the afternoon hours in the mid to upper 90s!
Another bout of afternoon storms looks likely as we move into next week, but again no washout is expected. | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/mostly-cloudy-warm-with-a-few-friday-afternoon-downpours/article_86e446c6-2523-11ed-b5b7-2f9bda32ae58.html | 2022-08-26T11:22:41Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/local-news/mostly-cloudy-warm-with-a-few-friday-afternoon-downpours/article_86e446c6-2523-11ed-b5b7-2f9bda32ae58.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The recently signed "Inflation Reduction Act" is stirring up new interest in electric vehicles, with recent tax credits for both new and used EVs starting next year.
But does that mean you should wait until January to buy?
It's confusing because some vehicles that currently get the credit may no longer receive them after the first of the year.
Marketing director Kevin Frye of the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family has his hands full these days, trying to help buyers at his group of dealerships sort out the new credits.
EVs that lost their credits may have them again.
Frye hopes the new law brings in new buyers now that manufacturers will no longer be limited to selling less than 200,000 vehicles to give a tax break.
"There will no longer be a limit on the number of EV credits manufacturers get," Frye said, "so manufacturers like Tesla, Toyota, are going to have no problem from that point."
He explained that Tesla and Toyota's Prius had used up their credits.
But buyers will be happy to know that those credits will restart in January, as will credits for GM's Chevy Bolt.
And the numbers are generous if your car qualifies.
Starting next year, you can get up to a $7,500 credit for many new EVs.
For some used vehicles, you'll get up to a $4,000 credit for the first time.
Some vehicles won't qualify anymore
So far, so good.
But the problem is a complicated new law: Some EVs that qualify for a tax break this year may no longer allow after January 1st.
That's because:
- EVs must be assembled in North America to qualify (many are not).
- Car buyers have to meet income guidelines.
- Only vehicles below a specific price will be eligible.
Karl Brauer with the auto deal site iSeeCars.com also worries some manufacturers may use the credits as a reason to raise prices.
"Any justification they can get to raise the price, such as a $7,500 to be offset by raising the price by around that same amount some are taking, because it's hard to be profitable on these vehicles," he said.
He also says there are insufficiently used vehicles to keep up with demand.
"Remember, there's only so many used EVs, "he said, "and they're going up in price already without that credit."
He says if you have the cash, this fall may be the time to buy when you can still get tax credits on EVs assembled outside the US.
However, the law is not finalized and could change by January, allowing more cars to get the credit.
Still confused?
The website Electrek lists which cars will qualify and won't qualify for tax credits.
Kevin Frye, meantime, says to talk to a local dealer, like his Mercedes dealership, that has salespeople who specialize in EVs.
"They communicate directly with the manufacturer to let you know which car qualifies and which credit is best for you.
That way, you don't waste your money.
___________
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For more consumer news and money-saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. | https://www.katc.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/should-you-buy-an-electric-vehicle-now-or-wait-till-january | 2022-08-26T11:22:43Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/should-you-buy-an-electric-vehicle-now-or-wait-till-january | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
220820-N-CS075-1015 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (August 20, 2022) Rear Admiral Paul Spedero, commander, carrier Strike Group Eight, speaks with the wardroom during a scheduled visit aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) in the Mediterranean Sea, August 20, 2021. USS Cole is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Christopher Stachyra)
This work, USS Cole DV Visit [Image 16 of 16], by SN Christopher Stachyra, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7389224/uss-cole-dv-visit | 2022-08-26T11:27:49Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7389224/uss-cole-dv-visit | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
220818-N-CS075-1006 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (August 18, 2022) Sailors prepare to secure an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, attached to the “Dragonslayers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11, during a vertical replenishment with the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) in the Mediterranean Sea, August 18, 2022. Cole is part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Christopher Stachyra)
This work, USS Cole Conducts a replenishment at sea with USNS Supply [Image 16 of 16], by SN Christopher Stachyra, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7389228/uss-cole-conducts-replenishment-sea-with-usns-supply | 2022-08-26T11:28:14Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7389228/uss-cole-conducts-replenishment-sea-with-usns-supply | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
On Thursday, Kansas football redshirt freshman wide receiver Tanaka Scott and redshirt junior wide receiver Trevor Wilson were arrested as suspects in an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon case.
A man was sitting in his car on Haskell Avenue approaching 23rd Street when one of the alleged football players pulled up right next to him, got out of the car, said some words and displayed the weapon. The other suspect, driving a separate car, passed by the man and displayed a weapon.
Police were called to the QuikTrip on 23rd and Haskell when the man reported the problem.
“We are aware of a situation involving two of our student athletes and take all allegations very seriously,” Kansas Athletics Assistant Athletics Communications Director Daniel Berk said. “We are working to gather more information and will have no further comment at this time.” | https://www.kansan.com/news/kansas-football-players-tanaka-scott-and-trevor-wilson-were-arrested-thursday/article_9175b3aa-24e1-11ed-bd2e-bb418ed013e1.html | 2022-08-26T11:32:18Z | kansan.com | control | https://www.kansan.com/news/kansas-football-players-tanaka-scott-and-trevor-wilson-were-arrested-thursday/article_9175b3aa-24e1-11ed-bd2e-bb418ed013e1.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As the fall semester begins, students can be found traveling to campus by the University of Kansas transit buses. However, many students have started to notice a change in the bus routes.
On Monday, Aug. 1, phase one of changes to bus routes and schedules began. Six of the eight KU routes, and both coordinated routes (co-funded by the University and the City of Lawrence), changed in some way.
“This was part of a comprehensive route redesign process that we started almost two years ago in anticipation of the construction of the city’s new transit hub, which has not actually started yet,” Margretta de Vries, transit program coordinator said.
Routes 11 and 12 saw significant improvements, both routes working to improve their travel times while still serving South Iowa retail and housing through Ridge Court, 24th Street and Naismith Drive transfer to route 10 to get downtown.
“All of the on campus construction was completed last week. At this point, there is still some construction on 19th & Alabama, which is impacting route 27 (between the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University) and on Naismith Drive south of 23rd Street, which is impacting route 11,” Vries said.
Route 34 now intertwines with route 38, which serves both Jayhawk Boulevard and the Central District. These new routes hope to bring improvements and faster travel times, but many students don’t believe these new routes show improvements.
“Since I am a freshman, I am not sure how the routes worked before, but right now I feel like they are kind of slow and bus arrivals are unpredictable,” freshman Bella Karel said.
Karel isn’t the only one having trouble with the bus times, as many other students are facing problems with the arrival times of the buses.
“The bus drivers are awesome, but if I miss the first bus, the next one doesn’t arrive until 40 minutes later,” junior Grace Swift said. “I have heard a ton of people complaining about the construction and bus routes.”
Austin Stiffler, KU’s student transportation coordinator, recommends that students take up their questions and concerns with the Student Senate.
“Since KU Student Senate funds transit operations here at the University, they are the people to go to with comments and suggestions on how to improve quality, quantity and access to transportation for everyone in the community and university,” Stiffler said.
The city and the University hope to have the redesign of the routes done by early 2023; phase two will also begin in early 2023, which will introduce Sunday microtransit service, as well as fare-free service system-wide. | https://www.kansan.com/news/ku-and-lawrence-bus-routes-receive-changes-for-fall-2022/article_bdeae376-24a8-11ed-b82e-bfc5bbfb96f5.html | 2022-08-26T11:32:24Z | kansan.com | control | https://www.kansan.com/news/ku-and-lawrence-bus-routes-receive-changes-for-fall-2022/article_bdeae376-24a8-11ed-b82e-bfc5bbfb96f5.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Former Kansas guard Devonté Graham held a free camp at his former high school this past Sunday in Raleigh, North Carolina, to celebrate the town’s Devonté Graham Day one year after the town proclaimed the holiday on Aug. 21.
Dewanna King, Graham’s mother, said that making this camp at Broughton High School, Graham’s alma mater, completely free was important to them, as she remembers not being able to afford to sign Devonté up for professional camps, when he was a child.
“When it came to paying for extra curricular activities I had to make a decision to be late on a bill or pay for an activity and most often I was late,” King said. “That’s the only way he was able to participate. We don’t want to put families in that position.”
The camp included children in first grade up to eighth grade learning basic basketball skills and also working with a professional NBA Trainer. Graham worked one-on-one with the kids, playing against them in pick up games, and also signing autographs.
The camp also included a special appearance from professional basketball player and former teammate Dwayne Bacon, who also worked one-on-one with the kids. Vernon Taylor, another professional basketball player, was also at the camp.
“Devonté is my brother, our families are really close, and he also took the time to come out to my camp, so it was only right that I returned the favor,” Bacon said in an interview.
The day wasn’t over just yet. After the camp ended, Graham encouraged everyone to head over to Fletcher Park—a public park across from the camp, where vendors and food trucks were in place.
This event was open to the community, and included bouncy houses, free COVID-19 tests, free haircuts, and more. The unexpected rain didn’t stop Raleigh natives from coming out to see the New Orleans Pelicans guard and show support for one another.
Councilman Corey Branch, Councilwoman Stormie Fortie, and Judge Damion McCullers took the time to speak at this event, alongside health care professionals and small businesses.
The community event received outpouring support from sponsors such as Body Armor, Healthy Blue, Keller Williams, Big Prime Hauling, and Galatians Community Health, which all contributed to Graham being able to give away exclusive book bags from his Beli4ve foundation that had yet to be released on the site, as well as back to school items and water bottles with “Beli4ve” engraved on them.
Graham said that he was overwhelmed with the support from his city, and he can’t wait to do it again next year. | https://www.kansan.com/sports/ku-basketball-alum-devont-graham-holds-free-camp-in-north-carolina/article_aaf4a2dc-24b9-11ed-97da-5b7ff863381f.html | 2022-08-26T11:32:31Z | kansan.com | control | https://www.kansan.com/sports/ku-basketball-alum-devont-graham-holds-free-camp-in-north-carolina/article_aaf4a2dc-24b9-11ed-97da-5b7ff863381f.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Rhône grapes, Rhône Valley, Rhône-style wines, Rhône rangers. … You may have heard these terms bandied about, but what do they mean?
The Rhône, a major river in France, rises in the Alps and flows south to the Mediterranean Sea. This river lends its name to the southern French wine region on its banks, the Rhône Valley.
The indigenous grape varieties that grow in the region, like syrah, grenache, mourvèdre, viognier and roussanne, are often referred to as Rhône grapes. Regardless of their place of origin, wines made from these grapes are said to be Rhône-style wines the world over.
During the 1990s, syrah, one of the most notable Rhône varietals, fell out of favor with consumers. Vineyards in California had been over-planted, flooding the market with bargain-priced grapes. The over-production and questionable quality caused everyone to pull back. The wine was difficult to sell.
Meanwhile in Washington, syrah was just getting started. Mike Sauer planted the state’s first syrah at his Red Willow Vineyard in 1986.
Shortly after, Joe Hattrup, owner of Elephant Mountain Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, was planting test plots with various grape varieties to determine what would grow well on his steep, rocky site. He discovered that Rhône-style grape varieties were well suited to the heat of his high-elevation vineyard.
The fruit from Elephant Mountain is exceptional. Its quality has created demand from vintners all over the state. Winemakers purchasing grapes from the vineyard encouraged him to plant more Rhône varieties: “They saw the opportunity for a new style of wine in Washington state,” said Hattrup.
“Winemakers drove the interest. It’s something new and a good way for wineries to expand their portfolio,” Hattrup explained, adding, “There is plenty of syrah available; by adding grenache and mourvèdre, winemakers can make a nice GSM. It’s a style that discerning wine consumers might be familiar with.”
Once considered difficult to sell, the demand for syrah and other Rhône-style varieties continue to rise. Much of that goes into single varietal syrah, but more and more is becoming part of Washington’s growing Rhône-style wine scene, notably blends such as GSM.
Following are three examples of exceptional Yakima Valley Rhône-style wines. They are a perfect wine for anything barbecued, making them an excellent choice for these last days of summer. But don’t save them just for the barbecue; these wines are excellent year round.
Wines to try
• 2016 Latta Wines Mourvèdre Upland Vineyard Yakima Valley. Sourced from Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain in the Yakima Valley. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice, and violet. Juicy and youthful with dark berry and mineral flavors. This wine is deeply savory with a balancing berry intensity with a crushed berry character through the finish.
• Mark Ryan 2017 Lost Soul Red Willow Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley. Fruit for this wine comes from Red Willow, the first vineyard in the state to plant syrah. Aromas of black raspberry, dried fruit and herbs lead to ripe, rich fruit flavors through to the finish.
• 2016 Co Dinn GSM Red Blend Lonesome Spring Ranch Vineyard, Yakima Valley. The supple, rounded and fruited 2016 GSM Red Blend Lonesome Spring Ranch Vineyard offers candied cherry and black raspberry fruit, notes of spice, violets and white pepper with a clean, balanced, enjoyable style.
Ask your local retailer or scan the list of Rhône wines being served at restaurants around town. There is a reason these wines have become popular — they are delicious! Or consider taking a road trip to visit these wineries; you can taste Yakima Valley wines throughout the entire Northwest.
• Barbara Glover is executive director of Wine Yakima Valley, an industry group representing member wineries. Her column runs every other week in Friday’s Explore section. | https://www.yakimaherald.com/explore_yakima/wine-scene-popularity-of-rh-ne-style-wines-continues/article_43c2f4dc-23d4-11ed-863b-f7165e0bb969.html | 2022-08-26T11:34:49Z | yakimaherald.com | control | https://www.yakimaherald.com/explore_yakima/wine-scene-popularity-of-rh-ne-style-wines-continues/article_43c2f4dc-23d4-11ed-863b-f7165e0bb969.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Words of Wisdom from Brendan Leonard, the Everyman of Ultrarunning
A conversation with Semi-Rad’s Brendan Leonard on the life-affirming joys of type-two fun
Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+.
In his collection of running essays, Have Fun Out There Or Not, my fellow Outside columnist Brendan Leonard writes that, “Like anything worth doing, running long distances is about 90 percent tedious bullshit and 10 percent wonderful.” It’s hard to disagree. Leonard, who began running ultras in his mid-thirties, has a talent for chronicling his type-two exploits in a manner that is both earnest and wryly self-deprecating. He affectionately refers to other ultrarunners as his “fellow idiots.”
But there’s more going on here than just poking gentle fun at people whose idea of a good time is spending 24 hours lumbering in the wilderness, eating gels, and trying not to throw up on their Hokas. Leonard’s writing is a reminder that the bizarre rituals and obsessions of runners often reflect something more fundamental. For instance, in one illustrated essay, he elaborates on why he will do laps around a parking lot at the end of a run to round up the mileage on his GPS watch. For him, this isn’t merely an obsessive way to pad his Strava stats, but a kind of psychological safeguard to prevent his life from devolving into chaos and unproductivity. The notion is absurd—and for fellow runners, entirely relatable.
I spoke with Leonard about what drew him into ultrarunning, finding a balance between fun and “fun,” and why we shouldn’t knock participation trophies.
OUTSIDE: You start out your book by establishing that you only really got into running when you started doing ultras in your thirties? What was the appeal?
LEONARD: Ultramarathons are really hard, but for me there was a sense of: regular people do these things. I never thought of someone like David Goggins, who ran a ridiculous amount of miles, as some high-achieving superhero—a non-human who exists on a plane above us all, like LeBron James or Michael Jordan. That made it seem like I could be one of these people who does ultramarathons. When I started running these races, I would look around at the starting line and, while there were a few elite people, mostly it was just normal folks out there being idiots and trying something really hard. I find that really refreshing. I’ve looked around at the starting line of an ultramarathon and thought: if you took this group and stood them up in front of an audience somewhere and said: these people are very impressive athletes who are going to run 100 miles, the response would be, like: Really? These people? Including myself. It’s such a great thing for an everyperson to do, because it’s literally just about dogged persistence and doesn’t necessarily require real athletic talent. You don’t need to look like a gazelle when you run, you just need to keep powering through.
Before you were an ultrarunner, you were a climber. One of the essays in your book describes an episode where you witnessed someone take a bad fall and how your desire to keep climbing waned after that. Did ultrarunning become a substitute for climbing? Do the two pursuits scratch a similar itch?
Yeah, I think ultrarunning is all the pain and suffering of climbing without the constant fear. I love doing hard things, but in climbing I just never got strong or had good technique before I tried things that were hard for me. So I spent a lot of time having a ton of fear and anxiety about the things that I would be attempting. So it just got less and less fun and more of an anxiety-producing thing. And that incident really brought it home that I could fall 25 feet on one of these climbs and land on my face. It was a very visceral thing to be sitting there and watching this kid and realizing that he may not make it. He ended up being OK, but when you see that you are reminded that, yes, you can fall, and that there are these incidents where something small went wrong—a missed knot—and someone died or got really messed up. For me, it was worth it for a long time, but then it wasn’t worth it anymore. Also, I have a pretty frazzled workday, and running for an hour or two is such a great way for me to get away from all that stuff and really have some stillness in my life for a while. Running became a place for idea generation and just thinking.
In your book, you make the point that running often involves a lot of tedium with a few moments of bliss every now and then—a claim which, by the way, I think could also be made about writing. Can you elaborate on that?
There’s that saying: Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. It’s not total bullshit but, honestly, I gave a graduation speech a few years ago where I said that if you love, say, 30 percent of what you do and tolerate the rest of it, well then you’re winning. I think nothing is 100 percent fun, except eating pizza and a few other things. And, usually, the things that are 100 percent enjoyable aren’t that rewarding. When I say: That was a great run! it usually means that if I’ve spent two hours on the trail, I probably had three or four minutes of being really present and thinking: Wow, that’s a great view! or, Listen to the birds! or, The creek is burbling! I’m not out there thinking these things the entire time.
In one of your essays, you mention that you host a podcast where you like to ask your guests how they are getting better at running without necessarily getting faster. How would you answer that question?
Oh man, that’s like my entire approach to running, really: enjoying it without focusing on speed. I think that might be more of a trail and ultrarunning mindset. If you’re into road running I could see how getting faster might be the most interesting part, but trail running, at least for me, has always been a means for exploration. I don’t know if I’m getting better at it, but the way I have “improved” to myself is that I have acquired not only the fitness, but the mental tools to be able to go out 25, 30 miles just by myself and go explore and see a new area, whether it’s a trail at the edge of town or running the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim. The whole goal for me was to see if I could get through these things.
In some circles, there’s an animosity towards the “participatory athlete,” someone who is more interested in experience than performance. Some of your essays seem like a refutation of that idea. Do you think that’s fair to say? Do you ever think of yourself as someone who is making the case for the participatory runner?
Yeah, I think I’m just in favor of more people leading fuller lives. I don’t want to be the person who tells other runners that they are somehow doing it wrong—even though that’s a really good way to get clicks on stories. I just feel that everybody is out there for a different reason. I’ve run a bunch of marathons. I don’t generally try to run very fast; it’s more of a tourism activity for me. It’s just fun to go out and see a city. I’m not trying to brag or anything, but running a marathon is not the biggest deal in the world to me now, and there are people out there who are just battling and it’s their first marathon and the biggest thing they’ve ever done athletically. And maybe they are doing it in someone’s memory, or for some other cause. I think in sports we tend to focus on the elite people, but in doing that we can miss a lot of the joy of a lot of people who are out there just doing it. One thing I love about ultrarunning is the way the last place person sometimes gets more cheers than the winner—especially in the really long races. One of my favorite clips of all time is when Gunhild Swanson finished, like, four seconds before the cutoff at Western States. She was 70. And in the clip people are going fucking bananas. I think the Western States belt buckle is the hardest-won participation trophy in sports. People who say, “Fuck participation trophies, if my kid gets one I’m giving it back,” I’m like: What do you want? Would you rather your kid is at home, sitting on their ass? I’d rather they get out and live a little bit. | https://www.outsideonline.com/health/running/culture-running/brendan-leonard-semi-rad-running-wisdom/ | 2022-08-26T11:35:39Z | eonline.com | treatment | https://www.outsideonline.com/health/running/culture-running/brendan-leonard-semi-rad-running-wisdom/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Kochi: Kerala High Court has clarified that Muslim men have the right to pronounce talaq (divorce) or remarry as per the Muslim Personal Law.
The HC division bench constituting Justice A Muhammed Mushtaq and Justice Sophy Thomas observed that if the law ensures protection, the Court cannot restrain someone from remarrying as per his religious customs, faith and conscience.
The plea
The High Court was considering an appeal from youth from Kottarakkara challenging the family court’s order on his wife’s plea restraining him from pronouncing the third or final (irrevocable) talaq and remarrying.
The Family Court in Kollam ordered a stay on the third talaq on the woman’s plea against the irrevocable talaq, right after the husband has pronounced the first and second talaq. The woman had also pleaded against the man’s remarriage in another petition. This was also allowed by the Family Court.
HC's reasoning
The High Court set aside both these Family Court orders and clarified that the Family Ccourt order would be an encroachment on the constitutionally protected rights of the man.
The Court cannot restrain people from invoking personal law remedies. The Constitution not only allows one to profess religion but also to practice the same. A Family Court cannot restrain one from the following something as per the personal law.
The petitioner has not pronounced the third and final talaq. The Court can decide if it is as per the personal law only after the proceedings are complete. Remarriage too is also allowed as per personal law.
According to the division bench judgement, if the woman has complaints that it has been done illegally, she could approach the Court again after the proceedings are complete.
What Triple Talaq law envisages
The Triple Talaq (talqa-e-biddah) has been banned by Indian government as per the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.
The law in force since August 1, 2019 makes ‘instant divorce’ of wives by Muslim men a criminal offence. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/26/high-court-remarriage-talaq.html | 2022-08-26T11:40:38Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/26/high-court-remarriage-talaq.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Munnar: A teenage boy and his two sisters are struggling to eke out a living amid miseries after a wild elephant trampled their mother to death and the father remarried.
With the Forest department yet to allocate compensation for their mother's death, the son, 19-year-old Manoj, was forced to discontinue studies to work as a daily wage labourer and support his two younger sisters.
Manoj, Preethi (16), and Priyadarshini (13) are children of Mahendra Kumar and the late Viji, who resided in the Vaguvarai estate of Kannan Devan company here.
A wild elephant attacked and killed Viji in the wee hours of September 24, 2021. She was riding pillion on a motorbike, and the couple was terrified to see a wild tusker standing in the middle of the road on the Pooppara bend. They fell down from the bike even as the tusker attacked the duo. While Kumar managed to escape, the elephant trampled Viji to death.
Kumar remarried just four months after Viji's death and left his children behind. Manoj was then forced to drop his studies and work as a daily wage labourer. He finances his sisters' education and enrolled both of them at a hostel in Tamil Nadu. Preeti studies in Pus one while Priyadarshini is a Class 8 student.
The Forest department had handed over Rs 10, 000 as an immediate allowance but failed to provide the Rs five lakh compensation so far. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/26/mother-killed-elephant-attack-children-struggle-livelihood.amp.html | 2022-08-26T11:40:56Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/26/mother-killed-elephant-attack-children-struggle-livelihood.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Asda has issued a major announcement that it is getting rid of best before dates on almost 250 items. The items will affect fresh fruit and vegetables and the changes will be introduced across all UK stores from September 1.
Citrus fruits, potatoes, cauliflowers and carrots will have the dates replaced by a new code which will be used by store staff to ensure freshness and help customers cut waste and save money. Asda is also providing guidance online and on packaging to help customers store and prepare fresh food as well as tips on how to reduce waste.
It follows the Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap) saying that "best before" dates on fruit and vegetables are unnecessary and contribute to climate change, Nottinghamshire Live reports. Wrap figures suggest that the average family throws away £60 worth of food and drink each month.
Read more: Man left with life-threatening injures in hospital after Maidstone assault
Asda head of technical Andy Cockshaw said: “Reducing food waste in our business and in customers’ homes is a priority and we are always looking at different ways to achieve this. We know for customers, this has become more important than ever in the current climate as many families are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and are looking to make savings wherever they can.”
Catherine David, director of collaboration and change at Wrap, said: “We are delighted by this development from Asda to help tackle food waste in our homes. Our research has shown that date labels on fruit and veg are unnecessary – getting rid of them can prevent the equivalent of seven million shopping baskets’ worth from our household bins.
“The influence of no date label or the right date label on what we use and what we throw away is huge. More supermarkets need to get ahead on food waste by axing date labels from fresh produce, allowing people to use their own judgement.”
Waitrose and Marks & Spencer have announced this year that they are removing the dates from hundreds of fresh products, while Tesco led the way when it got rid of them from more than 100 items in 2018. In January, Morrisons announced plans to remove "use by" dates on milk and encourage consumers to use a “sniff test” instead to determine if it is okay to consume.
Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE .
Read next: | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/asda-announces-huge-change-250-7513805 | 2022-08-26T11:43:26Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/asda-announces-huge-change-250-7513805 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
People are calling for people with second homes not to get the £400 government grant. Every home in the UK will receive the grant to help with the cost of living crisis this winter.
The grant is being administered directly by energy suppliers and consumers will get the payments over six months, starting from October 2022. But people with more than one home will receive the payment for every property they own, meaning second homeowners will get additional money, even if they are not using the property.
Initially, a £200 reduction was going to be paid back in instalments over five years. But, the discount was subsequently doubled, and no longer has to be repaid, Cornwall Live reports.
Read more: Man left with life-threatening injures in hospital after Maidstone assault
Crowdfunder, based in Newquay, has set up the #DonateTheRebate campaign to help facilitate donations from the expected £5.4million in rebates that will go towards the energy bulls of 13,500-second homes in Cornwall. But CEO and co-founder of Crowdfunder Rob Love hopes the scheme will be a template not just for Cornwall but for the rest of the country.
He said: "At Crowdfunder we see real people stepping up everyday to fill the void and bring all of this together to help each other – our #DonateTheRebate campaign represents a ‘levelling up’ for and by the people. We’re starting at home in Cornwall, before all of our welcome tourists and second home owners disappear up country once more. Looking forward, we want this to be a template for the rest of the country; it’s a simple mechanism that gets the money to the right places.”
Kim Conchie, CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and chair of Cornwall Community Foundation, said: “People shouldn’t have to choose between feeding their families or turning the heating on this winter. That’s why #DonateTheRebate is such an important initiative for Cornwall, where so many people are facing these difficult decisions."
It comes after energy prices have soared by 80% as Ofgem confirmed the price cap of £3,549 from October. Along with stagnant wages, rocketing inflation and a recession on the horizon, this winter could mean a serious financial crisis for both the country and households across the UK.
The cap will come into effect for around 24 million households in England, Scotland and Wales on default energy tariffs on October 1, and will remain in place until December 31, when it will be adjusted again. Ofgem’s chief executive Jonathan Brearley warned of the hardship energy prices will cause this winter and urged the incoming Prime Minister and new Cabinet “to provide an additional and urgent response to continued surging energy prices”.
Based on Wednesday’s gas prices, experts at consultancy Auxilione think the cap will reach £5,210 in January 2023 and £6,823 in April. Then it will fall, but only to £6,106 in July and £5,668 next October.
Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE .
Read next: | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/cost-living-crisis-second-home-7513074 | 2022-08-26T11:43:36Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/cost-living-crisis-second-home-7513074 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Firefighters were called to a grass fire in Ramsgate last night (August 25). Kent Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to Jackey Bakers recreation park around 10.30pm after reports of the blaze.
Witnesses saw a huge plume of smoke and large flames tearing through the park in New Cross Road, in Ramsgate. An area of grass and scrubland was seen ablaze.
It is not thought anyone was injured in the recreation park fire and the cause is not yet known. But fire crews were called to the scene.
Read more: Martin Lewis 'death' fears as energy price cap hiked to 'hideous' amount
A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were sent to the scene of a fire on New Cross Road in Ramsgate at around 22:30. One fire engines attended, and crews used a hose reel jet to extinguish a fire spreading to an area of grass and scrubland."
Firefighters left the scene less than 15 minutes later - at 10.43pm.
If you ever see or hear about anything you think we should be covering, email kentlivenewsdesk@reachplc.com, contact us on Facebook or Twitter.
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First look at Folkestone seafront development specialist brickwork as scaffolding removed
Kent weather: County to bask in 'Subtropical High' this Bank Holiday after torrential downpours
A2 London bound traffic after lorry hits central reservation near Dunkirk | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/dramatic-video-shows-high-flames-7513227 | 2022-08-26T11:43:46Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/dramatic-video-shows-high-flames-7513227 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The best gaming mice for 2022
Complete your at-home set-up with a programmable and highly responsive gaming mouse. We’ve listed our absolute favourites here.
If you’re a PC gamer of any kind, you know the value of a decent mouse. The best gaming mice on the market come with lots of clever features to give you precise control and rapid responses during even the most intense gameplay. Look for high USB report rates for quick responses between clicks and on-screen action, and good DPI (dots per inch) and IPS (inches per second) settings to give you perfect precision.
These days, some of the best gaming mice are wireless, but it’s worth considering wired options for lower latency, so you can be sure your mouse can keep up. The mouse’s size, weight and ergonomics are also important, and you may want to look out for designs with RGB to light up your gaming area.
If you’re ready to upgrade your station, keep scrolling to find the best gaming mice you can buy right now.
The best gaming mice to buy in 2022
Logitech G502 HERO
Known for its large selection of high-quality computer equipment, Logitech has become one of the brand leaders when it comes to gaming mice. The G502 HERO is an Amazon best seller - and for good reason.
As the name implies, this mouse uses Logitech’s most accurate sensor, the HERO 25K. Plus, it's super-fast, with the ability to move at over 400 IPS, thanks to the adjustable 100-25,600 DPI.
The adjustable weighting system sets the HERO apart from the rest. Add up to five 3.6g weights in different locations around the mouse until you’ve found the perfect distribution.
You’ll also get 11 fully programmable buttons and rubberised grips on the side.
Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless Gaming Mouse
Another popular option from Logitech, the G Pro X Superlight has plenty of clever features. Like the G502 HERO, it has an adjustable DPI of 100-25,600 and a top speed of 400 IPS. The USB report rate is 1 millisecond, so you’ll be able to enjoy high-intensity games without any annoying delay.
At just 63g, the G Pro X Superlight is almost 25% lighter than Logitech’s regular G Pro wireless mouse, making quick and nimble manoeuvres easy.
Plus, this mouse is completely carbon neutral, thanks to the manufacturer’s focus on renewable energy and carbon offsetting.
SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless Gaming Mouse
Recognisable for its eye-catching honeycomb grill, the SteelSeries Aerox 5 is a stylish option - perfect for dedicated gaming dens. The RRP is around £130, so it’s one for the hardcore gamers among us.
While you might think the honeycomb shell is included just for aesthetic reasons, it actually reduces the mouse’s weight by 20g, making it easier to achieve rapid adjustments on the fly. The maximum 18,000 DPI setting, 400 IPS and ultra-fast data transmission also help to reduce latency for a seamless gaming experience.
Nine programmable buttons, including five quick-action side keys and an up/down flick switch allow for accurate and precise responses.
As for the battery, you’ll get up to 180 hours of gameplay, and charging for just 15 minutes gives you 40 hours of power. Alternatively, you can use the detachable USB-C Super Mesh Cable.
Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed
Known for its wide selection of gaming equipment, including keyboards, screens and hardware, Razer is a trustworthy brand to consider for your next mouse.
Impressive battery life is the standout feature of the Basilisk X Hyperspeed, so it’s a great choice if you’re after a wireless mouse. This one lasts for 285 hours, but by using Bluetooth you can push its battery life up to 450 hours.
A maximum 16,000 DPI optical sensor comes included as standard, along with six programmable buttons.
Trust GXT 105 Izza Wired Gaming Mouse
If you’re looking for a leftie-friendly mouse with LED lights at an affordable price, you can’t go wrong with the Trust GXT 105. It’ll change colour depending on your cursor speed, which you can adjust between 800 and 2,400 DPI.
With six external buttons, the GXT 105 has fewer keys than other mice on the market, but it outshines others when it comes to ergonomics. The mouse’s casing has a rubberised finish for extra comfort and grip - and you can use it with either hand.
Corsair Harpoon RGB Pro Wired Gaming Mouse
Known for its gaming hardware, Corsair is another brand to look out for when browsing PC accessories. Here, it offers a streamlined gaming mouse with a contoured body and rubber side grips.
The total weight is just 85g to allow flicks of the wrist to go further than ever. The optical sensor provides a maximum DPI of 12,000; lower than other gaming mice, but enough to keep you in control.
Corsair keeps things simple with six programmable buttons and a quick set-up, so you can get going almost as soon as the mouse is out of the box.
Razer Naga X Gaming Mouse
Designed with a total of 19 programmable buttons, the sleek Razer Naga X gives you a high level of control during gameplay. You’ll get an exceptional 12-key mechanical thumb grid on the left, and a rare tilting scroll wheel, which moves side to side, as well as up and down.
Other impressive features include the 0.2ms response time - among the fastest on the market - and the 50g acceleration, which will enhance your immersion with lightning-fast responses.
This mouse is ideal for gamers with medium to large hands, or for those who use a claw grip while playing.
Read more:
Authors
Alice is a digital writer with a knack for tracking down the most innovative and exciting products to hit the market. Working across several of Our Media's special interest brands, she's written for publications including Countryfile, Gardens Illustrated and Science Focus. Outside of work - and lusting over homeware and gardening products - you’ll find her rambling in the great outdoors or watching an old film.
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- Receive every issue delivered direct to your door with FREE UK delivery. | https://www.sciencefocus.com/buyers-guides/best-gaming-mice/ | 2022-08-26T11:46:41Z | sciencefocus.com | control | https://www.sciencefocus.com/buyers-guides/best-gaming-mice/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
This week, NASA prepares to launch Artemis I into orbit. This is the first uncrewed test mission of the new space launch system, and will hopefully pave the way for a Moon visit by 2025. The hope is that future missions might even land people on Mars.
A continuing theme this week has been the many droughts recorded around the world. Rivers have dried up in China and North America, as well as much of Europe and the UK.
Meanwhile, the James Webb Space Telescope has found definitive evidence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a gas giant planet orbiting a Sun-like star 700 light-years away. This amazing discovery is another demonstration of the power of this new telescope.
Red sky at night This image, released on 22 August 2022, shows bright red streaks known as 'red sprites' above the Atacama desert in Chile. These sprites are an elusive form of lightning that occur high up in Earth’s atmosphere, much higher than regular lightning. Red sprites are also cooler in temperature than the white lightning we usually see, and appear much fainter. Red sprites are very difficult to catch: the first photographic evidence for them was only taken in 1989. This photograph was taken at the platform of ESO’s 3.6m telescope at La Silla. Photo by Zdenek Bardon/ESO
Mammoth delivery This endangered baby Asian elephant was born on 22 August 2022, at Whipsnade Zoo, United Kingdom. The not-so-tiny infant was born to mum Donna in the early hours of the morning, surrounded by the rest of the females in the herd. These elephants provided reassurance and support with gentle trunk nudges and murmurs to 13-year-old Donna as she delivered her calf. Photo by Zoological Society of London
Jupiter in all of its glory This NIRCam composite image taken by the James Webb Space Telescope shows the great storms and auroras on Jupiter in amazing detail. Photo by NASA/ESA/CSA/Jupiter ERS Team/Judy Schmidt
Drone on This drone made a test flight in Antwerp, Belgium, on 23 August 2022, transporting human tissue from one hospital to another for analysis. It was the first delivery of its kind in Europe and could save valuable time during surgery. Photo by Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images
Broad church This photograph taken on 23 August 2022 shows a general view of the swamp of Sau and the ruins of the church of Sant Romà de Sau, located in the province of Girona in Catalonia, Spain. The swamp of Sau is a reservoir on the Ter river, created by a dam located in the municipality of Vilanova de Sau. The marsh, built from 1947 to 1962, covered the village of Sant Romà de Sau. The church is the world's oldest one that has survived underwater. Photo by Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images
Fossil friends A fossilised skull of a dinosaur known as Lesothosaurus is shown in this image released on 24 August 2022. A new study of their fossils by the Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, suggests that Lesothosaurus lived in herds which roamed southern Africa, providing some of the earliest evidence of social living in these dinosaurs. Photo by Trustees of the Natural History Museum
More images from Science Focus :
Train of thought A train powered entirely by hydrogen is pictured in Bremervoerde, Germany, on 24 August 2022. A fleet of 14 trains provided by French industrial giant Alstom to the German state Lower Saxony, has replaced diesel locomotives between the cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude near Hamburg. Photo by Carmen Jaspersen/AFP/Getty Images
Street fighting Visitors play a game at the Retro Area during the press day at the 2022 Gamescom gaming trade fair at Messe, Cologne, Germany, on 24 August 2022. Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Lettuce through your door An autonomous KFC food vending vehicle drives along a street in Beijing, China, on 25 August 2022. Photo by Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images
No sting in the tail Stingless bees are seen in their hive at an apiary in Blang Bintang, Indonesia's Aceh province on 25 August 2022. As their name suggests, stingless bees cannot use their smaller stings for defence, but some species do have a powerful bite. Photo by Chaideer Mahyuddin/AFP/Getty Images | https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/red-sprites-and-jupiter-the-best-images-in-science-this-week/ | 2022-08-26T11:46:47Z | sciencefocus.com | control | https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/red-sprites-and-jupiter-the-best-images-in-science-this-week/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(The Hill) – President Biden’s approval rating rose to 44 percent during the month of August in a new Gallup poll, the latest sign of the president recovering some ground amid a series of legislative wins and a steady decline in gasoline prices.
According to the Gallup poll out Thursday, 44 percent of U.S. adults approve of Biden’s handling of his job as president, a clear improvement after his presidential approval rating hit a record low of 38 percent in July.
While less than the 57 percent approval he enjoyed upon taking office, according to Gallup, Biden’s current approval rating is his highest in a year. He last registered a result higher than this in August 2021, when 49 percent of respondents said they approved of the job he was doing as commander in chief.
The Gallup survey is the latest in a string of polls suggesting that Biden is recovering in popularity, after about a year during which his approval rating languished in the low 40s and high 30s amid worries about inflation.
A Morning Consult-Politico poll released on Wednesday, for instance, found that 43 percent of registered voters approve of Biden’s job performance, whereas 55 percent disapprove; earlier in August, 39 percent said they approved and 59 percent disapproved.
The Gallup survey polled 1,006 U.S. adults between Aug. 1 and 23, a successful period for the Biden presidency.
In the past month, Biden saw Democrats in Congress finally pass his climate, health care and tax package. A bill to boost the domestic semiconductor industry also passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support.
Gas prices have steadily declined, an indication of inflation potentially easing. Biden also announced a successful counterterrorism operation that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan earlier this month.
The uptick in Biden’s approval among voting-age Americans comes at a critical moment as Democrats embark on the final two months of campaigning before the midterm elections.
There has been a widespread belief that Republicans are likely to win control of at least the House and potentially the Senate, but Biden’s improving poll numbers are likely to offer some new hope to Democrats.
The president is preparing to promote his accomplishments on the road. The White House on Thursday announcing plans for Biden to travel to Ohio on Sept. 9 to attend the groundbreaking of a new Intel semiconductor facility in Ohio.
Biden will also appear at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser and rally on Thursday evening to discuss his accomplishments as he seeks to draw a contrast with Republicans. | https://www.wwlp.com/hill-politics/biden-sees-highest-approval-in-a-year-in-latest-gallup-poll/ | 2022-08-26T11:53:08Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/hill-politics/biden-sees-highest-approval-in-a-year-in-latest-gallup-poll/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Elton John and Britney Spears have collaborated for the first time, creating the slinky, club-ready single “Hold Me Closer” that sees the pop icons take old sounds and fashion something new.
The funky, piano-driven single uses John’s 1971 hit “Tiny Dancer” as the skeleton and adds elements from his songs “The One” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” all with Spears voice soaring and fluttering.
While John has been releasing new music in the past few years — including the 16-track 2021 album “The Lockdown Sessions” — the song represents Spear’s first new music since her 2016 album “Glory” and her first offering since the ending of her contentious conservatorship.
“She truly is an icon, one of the all-time great pop stars and she sounds amazing on this record. I love her dearly and am delighted with what we’ve created together,” John said in a statement. Spears, in her statement, told John it was an honor to be asked: ”I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to work with you and your legendary mind.”
The track is produced by Andrew Watt, who has worked with such acts as Ed Sheeran, Eddie Vedder, Ozzy Osbourne, Justin Bieber, Post Malone and Miley Cyrus.
The song begins with both stars singing the opening lyrics of “The One” — “I saw you dancing out the ocean/Running fast along the sand/A spirit born of earth and water/Fire flying from your hands.” It then seamlessly moves to ”Tiny Dancer”: “Hold me closer, tiny dancer/Count the headlights on the highway/Lay me down in sheets of linen/You had a busy day today.”
The track calls to mind last year’s hit “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix),” which melded John’s songs “Kiss the Bride,” “Rocket Man,” “Where’s the Shoorah?” and “Sacrifice” into a dance bop featuring vocals by Dua Lipa.
John and Spears first met in 2014 at an Oscar viewing party and she later tweeted her love of “Tiny Dancer,” sowing the seeds for the latest collaboration. John is in the midst of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/elton-john-and-britney-spears-team-up-on-new-dance-single/ | 2022-08-26T11:53:15Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/elton-john-and-britney-spears-team-up-on-new-dance-single/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
In its determination to fight cholera outbreak among children under 5 years caused by the rotavirus, the Bauchi State government has launched a 7-day vaccination of all children which will eventually lead to the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine into its routine immunisation schedule.
The official flag-off of the vaccination exercise was done at the Kofar Dumi Primary Healthcare Centre in Bauchi metropolis by the executive chairman of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed.
He said the availability of the vaccine in the country was long overdue considering that 90 per cent of diarrheal diseases were caused by the rotavirus based on studies by various researchers coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
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Rilwanu Mohammed added that most of the children that were presented to healthcare facilities with diarrhea were victims of rotavirus calling on parents to bring out their children to get vaccinated as it is an oral one and found to be effective.
According to him, “Rota vaccine is meant to protect your under five children against diarrhoeal diseases, dehydration and hospitalization.”
The BASPHCDA EC appealed, “Ensure that your children get the required doses of the rota vaccines at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age. All vaccines are effective, safe and free,” Dr Mohammed urged mothers and caregivers.
He also disclosed that the Bauchi State government has received 200,000 doses from the federal government and that more will be received in due course as the state is expecting a total of 900,000 doses.
He thanked the federal government and international partners for making available the rota vaccines, assuring that they will be judiciously utilised across all the 20 local government areas of the state.
The state coordinator, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA) Bashir Maidabino said that the launching of the rota vaccine in the state could not have come at a better time than now, especially looking at the damage diarrhoea is causing among the vulnerable children.
He also appealed to the mothers to complement the efforts of health agencies by imbibing the culture of hand washing, sanitation and personal hygiene, WASH, at the household level stressing that all children across the globe get infected before the age of five years by rotavirus.
In his remarks, a representative of the World Health Organisation, (WHO) in Bauchi State, Mr Tarik Beru said that the rotavirus vaccine is not new as it is being used in almost all developing countries with a view to guard children against diarrheal diseases.
Tarik Beru congratulated the state for launching ROTA vaccine and also mainstreaming it into their RI campaign.
Director, primary healthcare development, Bauchi local government area, Sulaiman Abdu Kirfi said that if children are fully vaccinated, they will be protected from diarrheal diseases, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality rate among them.
Represented by the Ɗan Kade of Bauchi, Alhaji Zailani Mahmud, the district head of Bauchi commended the BASPHCDA, NPHCDA and other donors as well as development partners for always supporting the state to boost its health sector.
The BASPHCDA executive chairman then led other dignitaries in administering the rota vaccines to the children under 5 years to officially begin the routine immunisation. | https://tribuneonlineng.com/bauchi-introduces-rota-vaccination-into-routine-immunisation-begins-7-day-vaccination/ | 2022-08-26T11:54:11Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/bauchi-introduces-rota-vaccination-into-routine-immunisation-begins-7-day-vaccination/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Parent Teachers Association of Nigeria (PTAN) has debunked the news trending on social media that each parent would contribute N10, 000 each to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to enable them to call off their six months strike.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna, on Friday, the national president of the parent-teachers, Alhaji Danjuma Haruna denied that PTAN had never resolved to contribute money to ASUU.
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“We want to distance ourselves as we have never met to discuss that. So, Nigerians should disregard the news.
Haruna also warned those peddling such unfounded statements to desist from such acts as well as to stop using its name to cause confusion in the country.
“We are not involved in any statements related to contributing money to ASUU for them to call off the ongoing strike,” he stressed.
“Our stand since the inception of the strike is for both ASUU and the federal government to come to an agreement. But not to contribute money to ASUU.”
Besides, the statement noted, “PTAN is still insisting on negotiation between ASUU and government so that the ongoing strike that is affecting the quality of education in the country will end.
Meanwhile, the president PTA also appealed to the federal government to rescue all remaining kidnapped secondary school students across the country that are still in bandits’ den.
Haruna decried the current situation of Yawuri kidnapped female students that are still in captivity for over 400 days. | https://tribuneonlineng.com/ptan-debunks-alleged-n10000-donation-to-asuu/ | 2022-08-26T11:54:37Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/ptan-debunks-alleged-n10000-donation-to-asuu/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
UTSA football favored to win Conference USA. Here's why and our predicted order of finish
The Daily News Journal's Cecil Joyce and the News Star's Emely Hernandez broke down the outlook for Conference USA football in 2022.
Below are predicted order of finish, who will win the conference title game and why:
Joyce's predicted order of finish
1. USTA
2. UAB
3. Western Kentucky
4. MTSU
5. UTEP
6. Florida Atlantic
7. North Texas
8. Charlotte
9. Rice
10. Louisiana Tech
11. Florida International
Hernandez's predicted order of finish
1. UTSA
2. UAB
3. Western Kentucky
4. North Texas
5. Florida Atlantic
6. UTEP
7. Charlotte
8. MTSU
9. Louisiana Tech
10. Rice
11. Florida International
Championship prediction
Joyce: UTSA 31, UAB 26
Hernandez: UTSA 35, UAB 28
Why USTA?
Hernandez: Behind sixth-year quarterback Frank Harris and third-year head coach Jeff Taylor, the Roadrunners have a well-established culture. Last season, Harris was responsible for 566 rushing yards for six TDs and 3,177 passing yards for 27 TDs to establish eight new UTSA single-season records. Returning to the offensive alongside Harris are handful of wide receivers to facilitate a strong passing core.
Joyce: The Roadrunners lost the league's top running back in Sincere McCormick but have plenty of weapons back from last year's 12-2 squad, including all-conference quarterback Frank Harris and his top three receivers in Joshua Cephus, Zakhari Franklin and De'Corian Clark). If UTSA can effectively reboot the defense, another title is well within grasp. With that said, UTSA and UAB are both very good, and you could almost flip a coin on which will win the title.
Blue Raiders predictions:How many wins for MTSU football this season? Here are our game-by-game predictions
LA Tech news:Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie names Matthew Downing starting QB
Joyce: Why will MTSU finish fourth?
The Blue Raiders lost some key defensive pieces to both the NFL and transfer portal, but return consensus all-conference selection Jordan Ferguson and some veterans around him. The secondary was young last season and will be young again with the departure of Reed Blankenship (graduated) and transfers Greg Grate (Jackson State) and Quincy Riley (Louisville). But a strong front seven, including all four returning starters on the line, should help alleviate the stress put on the defensive backs.
The Blue Raiders offense should be strong, with returning quarterbacks Chase Cunningham and Nick Vattiato both capable of beating conference foes. Sophomore wide receiver/returner Jaylin Lane is a preseason All-American. If MTSU can establish a better running game, the offense has the potential to put up big numbers in 2022.
The talent is there to accomplish a top-four finish. Winning key matchups at home against rival Western Kentucky and Florida Atlantic will be vital if MTSU is to finish that high. Stealing a road win at UTSA or UAB could further enhance the Blue Raiders' chances of a strong league finish.
Hernandez: Why will Louisiana Tech finish ninth?
The Bulldogs are under reconstruction with first-year coach Sonny Cumbie after the team went 3-9 overall and 2-6 in C-USA play a season ago.
Although Cumbie is entering the new gig having enjoyed success at Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech will inevitably face growing pains. The offense has huge holes to fill and the defense was ranked 106th in the nation last season.
Starting quarterback Matthew Downing played for Cumbie in 2020. The TCU transfer will be making his second career start to open the season against Missouri and will have to shake off some rust. | https://www.dnj.com/story/sports/college/mtsu/2022/08/26/conference-usa-football-predictions-utsa-expected-win-another-league-title/7846095001/ | 2022-08-26T12:04:16Z | dnj.com | control | https://www.dnj.com/story/sports/college/mtsu/2022/08/26/conference-usa-football-predictions-utsa-expected-win-another-league-title/7846095001/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Roughly 1.1 million households receiving Tax Credits will get the first half of the £650 cost of living payment from September 2, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed when payments will be made by so households expecting to receive the fee know when to look out for it.
The payment is available to households on means-tested benefits and was announced by the Government back in April. Most claimants will already have received their first payment back in July, with the second due in September.
However, those on Tax Credits will get their payments later. This is because Tax Credits - Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit - are being phased out and replaced by Universal Credit, the Mirror reports.
Read more:Shell Energy company to pay out £500,000 after overcharging customers
Payments for those on Tax Credits are expected to be made by September 7, HMRC confirmed. The Government is paying people on Tax Credits later to avoid making two payments to the same person if someone swaps to Universal Credit.
This means that Tax Credit claimants will get a £326 government payment into their bank accounts between September 2 and 7 2022. People on Tax Credits will then get their second payment in the winter, following a similar interval to other claimants.
Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi said: "I know people are really concerned by rising prices so I’m glad that over a million more low earners will shortly receive their first cost of living payment."
Tax Credit claimants who also get other benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions will have already had their first cost of living payment from July 2022. The first HMRC payments will amount to around £360million in total.
Aside from these cost of living payments, the UK Government has announced various other schemes to help households cope with the cost of living crisis. This includes the £150 council tax rebate being issued to those living in council tax A to D properties to help with the rising cost of bills, a £150 payment for those who claim certain disability benefits, and a £300 payment for pensioners in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments.
Every home in England, Scotland, and Wales will also receive £400 off their energy bills, spread out over six months from October. No action needs to be taken in order to benefit from this discount.
Read more:
Martin Lewis 'death' fears as energy price cap hiked to 'hideous' £3,549
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The five worst 'energy-guzzling' appliances at home amid energy price cap rise
Sports Direct code allows parents to get £50 school shoes for £4.50 | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/exact-date-11-million-people-7514035 | 2022-08-26T12:09:31Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/exact-date-11-million-people-7514035 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
British Airways passengers have been warned of a new scam preying on tourists who are waiting for their lost or missing luggage. Holidaymakers had stormed to Twitter to raise problems over lost luggage or delayed refunds, with the airline's official Twitter channel @British_Airways about their issues.
However, a fake account @CareBritish was responding, requesting their personal details and money to get their luggage sent back, reports the Independent. The account has subsequently been suspended.
It's worth noting that airlines won't charge you when sending back your lost bags, and they never ask for personal details on public forums such as social media, the Mirror writes. If you're being asked for personal details or to part with cash, it's best to then get in touch with an airline direct via their official website, or calling up their customer service line.
If you are trying to get in contact and want to use social media, make sure you're dealing with verified accounts - this can be checked by identifying the blue tick next to the account's name. Meanwhile, Brits are still being warned over common holiday scams, and not just for the summer holidays.
In fact, Jet2 recently issued a warning for holidaymakers over a COVID test scam. The budget airline said that scammers were taking advantage of lingering coronavirus testing rules which require passengers to take a PCR or lateral flow to enter some countries.
In a tweet, Jet2 warned: "Important reminder. Only contact us using the methods shown on the Contact Us pages on the Jet2 and Jet2holidays websites.
"Do not purchase any form of Jet2.com or Jet2holidays credit notes via social media as they are unlikely to be honoured. Always check company telephone numbers and documentation.
"Scammers may pretend to be a legitimate company. We do not call from 0203 numbers.
"You should only book Jet2 flights or Jet2 holidays directly with us or through one of our approved ABTA registered Trade Partners. We would never ask you to pay money directly into an individual’s private bank account."
Read next:
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Brits could save up over £600 by switching from this energy-sucking appliance
- Good Morning Britain's Robert Rinder devastates fans as he reveals he's leaving ITV show
- Jet2, BA, Ryanair, easyJet: The five countries which still have tough travel rules in force
- Ryanair,easyJet and Jet2: Airline employee shares genius TikTok hack to avoid baggage fee with special backpack | https://www.kentlive.news/news/uk-world-news/british-airways-jet2-issue-urgent-7513180 | 2022-08-26T12:09:42Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/uk-world-news/british-airways-jet2-issue-urgent-7513180 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
2 women in critical condition after shooting in West Rogers Park
CHICAGO - Two women are in critical condition after being shot while sitting in a parked car in West Rogers Park Thursday night.
Around 10 p.m., a 29-year-old woman and an unidentified woman about 20 years old were sitting in a car in the 6400 block of North Bell Street when they were struck by gunfire, according to Chicago police.
The younger woman was struck once in the face and was listed in critical condition. The 29-year-old woman was struck once on the neck and is also in critical condition.
Both victims were taken to St. Francis Hospital for treatment.
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There is no one in custody and Area Three detectives are investigating. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/2-woman-in-critical-condtion-after-shooting-in-west-rogers-park-thursday-night | 2022-08-26T12:12:53Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/2-woman-in-critical-condtion-after-shooting-in-west-rogers-park-thursday-night | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Austin woman flees crash scene, leaves 4-year-old child behind to crawl out of rolled vehicle
AUSTIN, Texas - A 35-year-old Austin woman is behind bars after she fled the scene of a collision, leaving her four-year-old son behind to crawl out of a rolled-over vehicle by himself.
Yolanda Olvera has been charged with Failure to Stop and Render Aid and is in the Travis County Jail.
According to the arrest affidavit, Austin police responded to a report of a vehicle rollover collision at the 3300 block of N IH35 northbound around 5:17 a.m. on August 22.
Witnesses were giving updates to officers while they were en route to the scene, adding that the female driver of the rolled vehicle fled the scene and left her child inside the car.
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Officers arrived at the scene to find a vehicle fully turned over onto its roof. The driver's side tire was ripped off, and the windows were broken out the affidavit states. Four witnesses told police they saw the suspected driver run away from the scene.
One witness said he observed the driver, a Hispanic female, crawl out of the driver's seat. She then took a car seat out of the back of the vehicle and attempted to take a child out from the backseat. She then fled the scene before getting the child out of the vehicle. The witness said the child had to crawl out of the car through broken glass and debris.
A witness held the child in his arms before police arrived.
Police could not locate the suspected driver at the scene. The child, referred to in the arrest affidavit as L.A., told officers his mother's name was Yolanda and gave a description of her that matched those of witnesses. L.A. also told police his mother appeared to be "drunk." The turned-over vehicle was also found to be registered under Yolanda's name.
L.A. was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries.
According to the affidavit, police received a missing child report five hours after the collision. It was from a woman claiming her grandson had been missing from 6-8 a.m. and that his mother was involved in a car crash. The woman was identified as L.A.'s grandmother.
Police detained Yolanda as she was leaving a hospital. The officers interviewed her, and she confirmed to them that she was driving from a friend's house who lived off of Oltorf Road around 5-6 a.m.
Yolanda was subsequently arrested, and charged with a felony. She remains in the Travis County Jail. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/austin-crash-mother-child-crawl-police-texas | 2022-08-26T12:12:59Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/austin-crash-mother-child-crawl-police-texas | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Gunman sought in attempted robbery at Blue Line station
CHICAGO - Chicago police are trying to identify the suspect who tried to hold up a CTA rider at gunpoint Sunday in the Homan Square neighborhood.
The suspect was seen approaching a victim with a handgun drawn just before midnight Sunday at the Kedzie-Homan Blue Line station located at 530 S. Kedzie Ave., according to police.
No further information was immediately available.
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Anyone with information is asked to contact mass transit detectives at (312) 745-4443. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/gunman-sought-in-attempted-robbery-at-blue-line-station | 2022-08-26T12:13:05Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/gunman-sought-in-attempted-robbery-at-blue-line-station | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Fort Collins City Council again considers changes to U+2. Here's what a resident survey said.
The city has considered changes to its occupancy and rental regulations 10 times since 2005, when council adopted U+2, which prohibits more than three unrelated adults from living under one roof.
But this time around, staff believes there could be some real movement.
Council most recently began revisiting U+2 at a work session in July 2021. Then in October, the city said stakeholder engagement would begin in 2022 and council and staff would then decide if they want to move forward with a one-year pilot program for rental licensing and revisions to occupancy limits. After that, according to previous Coloradoan reporting, if the council is satisfied, they could move forward with a full program rollout over another four years.
U+2 began being enforced as it is now in 2005, and efforts to revise it in the past have been met with strong opposition from residents, specifically those near Colorado State University, who say the policy keeps parties, parking troubles and disruptive neighbors out of their neighborhoods while also freeing up more homes for families.
However, staff previously found that Fort Collins’ limits are fairly strict. According to Coloradoan reporting, a study of other cities found that the most common limit was five unrelated people per household in peer cities and four to five unrelated people per household in Colorado cities.
The Fort Collins rental market is also changing. In 2005, students made up an estimated 71% of U+2 violations. But in 2018, students made up just 47% of violations, indicating that a number of families and young professionals were also breaking the code.
Advocates for changing U+2 argue that the city's nuisance code could address noise complaints and that the occupancy policy makes it more difficult for renters to access housing in a tight rental market, where rents have climbed 68% since 2011 and about 97% of units are occupied, according to city staff.
For subscribers:Young renters in Fort Collins caught in cycle of unaffordability as costs rise
The city conducted months of community engagement — from surveys to a task force — to find out what the community wants to see done in terms of occupancy limits. City Council discussed the information at a work session Tuesday.
Survey says: Change harsh occupancy limits
Now the city seems to be ready for change.
Nearly 70% respondents — and 80% of respondents identifying as renters — to the city’s occupancy survey felt that Fort Collins’ occupancy limit should not stay as is.
The survey results also showed that 56% of respondents think occupancy should increase to more than three unrelated occupants and that the city should prioritize regulating nuisance rather than occupancy. Sixty-two percent said extra occupancy should be allowed in more parts of the city and 59% said the process to approve extra occupancy should be easier.
City staff presented a number of different occupancy options in the survey, though none seemed to be overwhelmingly popular with respondents or council.
One option presented, which got 51% of support in the survey, was to adjust occupancy limits to match the number of bedrooms in a home. Another option — which had 48% support — was to regulate it based on household functionality rather than family relatedness.
The task force, made up of renters, landlords and homeowners, recommended that council either change the occupancy code to align with the number of bedrooms or allow extra occupancy rentals citywide and evaluate extra occupancy through an administrative permit process rather than land use.
Coloradoan Conversations:Does Fort Collins' U+2 roommate rule make housing more or less affordable? Things to consider
There’s support for change, but council still unsure how to move forward
Despite there being clear desire for change in occupancy limits, council is still unsure the best way to go about it, and some members are unsure if changing it is the right call.
Council member Kelly Ohlson, who represents a large part of the area around CSU, said Tuesday he will never support getting rid of U+2 and he doesn’t believe staff understand the real issue with occupancy.
“It's not about the occasional party and some parking,” he said. “It's about investors not taking care of the properties externally. I wouldn't have been watering the lawn either when I was 20 years old, by the way, and the upkeep of the yards … it’s about the maintenance and the deterioration of the neighborhoods and those kinds of things.”
Ohlson said he is proud of and protective of this issue and will continue to fight for it, adding he believes there’s a long way to go before a change could be made.
“I can't think of a thing that has had more positive impact on the lower- and moderate-income neighborhoods in this community that I've ever been part of than the occupancy ordinance,” he said.
Most other council members, however, seem at least open to changing the ordinance.
Council member Shirley Peel, who campaigned on abolishing U+2, is unsure of what’s best and is still thinking about where she stands, she said Tuesday.
“I've had the opportunity to visit neighborhoods, I've had the opportunity to visit with people who've been affected by this,” she said. “I think the one thing that has stuck out with me is that if we take this away, what recourse are they going to have to keep the integrity of their neighborhoods?”
Council members Tricia Canonico and Emily Francis said they are open to U+2 changing and are open to finding the best way to do it that still protects renters. They proposed that more data and options be brought in.
“U+2 has been one tool and I think it was effective when we started,” Francis said. “However, I think our demographics and our city and the way people have to live together and choose to live together because the costs of living are so high … I am not sure that ... limiting that is really addressing what we're trying to achieve.”
Julie Pignataro didn’t commit to keeping or changing the ordinance but had a few matters she felt strongly about. She said if occupancy stays the same, she wants to see variances tied to the landlord rather than the house, adding that the way it is now is “rife with all sorts of problems.”
Pignataro said she’s not comfortable with the idea of regulating by functionality or bedrooms, saying that “getting into people's business of bedrooms, families or even household functionality, we need to avoid it because it’s not our business.”
Mayor Jeni Arndt had similar thoughts on that, saying she is concerned about the government trying to define a family and she encouraged staff to keep “thinking outside the box” to find the best solution to address occupancy.
“I don't think taking down U+2 is, it's not one-size-fits-all,” Arndt said. “It's just so complex, I think that we can go back and reimagine some of these things.”
Rental housing strategies will be brought back to council later in the fall, though no date is set on the council’s six-month calendar.
For subscribers:'Attainable' duplexes in early stage of development in south Fort Collins
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/2022/08/26/fort-collins-city-council-again-considers-changes-to-u2-resident-survey/65420380007/ | 2022-08-26T12:15:05Z | coloradoan.com | control | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/08/26/fort-collins-city-council-again-considers-changes-to-u2-resident-survey/65420380007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
On tipping and hiring, conversations center on what's fair, what gets the job done
This week, let's take a look back at a couple questions we asked around employment. First, a discussion about employers:
The Fort Collins labor shortage has shown up recently with a lack of Transfort bus drivers and Poudre School District entering its school year with 225 job openings.
We wanted to know what readers thought and asked: What could help employers fill their job openings?
Take a look at these ideas (outside of the obvious answer of increasing wages) from Coloradoan Conversations commenters:
"Employers' consideration of work/life balance can have a huge impact on attracting and retaining employees. When I had part-time jobs, I was always frustrated by the variation of my work schedule from week to week," Harry S. said. "I would have loved knowing that I would always be working on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 4-10 rather than having to wait until my work schedule came out to plan the rest of my life. How many jobs could be worked by young moms from 9-2 and then taken over by college students from 2-7? Think about rearranging schedules to work better with other responsibilities in employees' lives. "
Deborah C. said: "Consider hiring a two-person team to fill a full-time job. Each team member could fill in for the other in case of emergencies."
Anthony R. suggested more than just increasing pay: "ownership stakes in the business for *all* employees ... You give up decades of your precious time on this planet, you should get more than a paycheck in return."
Gavin E. suggested a little help with marketing: "Protective patrons can and should offer to promote jobs in their favorite businesses. It doesn't need to take hours of your time, simply note the locations you love that need help and mention to those who might be seeking employment. If the businesses are paying fairly, they'll be filled faster, though maybe not fast enough. We are a community, a whisper (or referral) can be symbiotic."
Brian A. suggests a well-rounded approach: "The key to retention is good pay and benefits, reliable and safe equipment for the job and supportive leadership that believes in and empowers their workforce." For his bus-driver relative, that would require keeping bus fleets repaired, technologically up-to-date and air-conditioned.
R_R. suggested employers consider their COVID-19 restrictions: "People would rather be their own boss than work under COVID restrictions and constant testing. People would rather home-school their kids than be subject to quarantines, masks, and remote learning."
So: When is a tip really needed and how much is warranted?
COVID-19 ushered in some new behaviors when it came to tipping, often to help struggling businesses and employees through a tough time. But things are much closer to normal now. So what do we do? We asked you: When is a tip needed?
Here's how Coloradoan Conversations participants felt about it:
"If I order delivery takeout, I tip 10-12% of the total," Laura M. said. "I’m not going to stiff someone whose income is nearly all tip-based. Additionally, I accept that my laziness (not cooking or not picking up takeout) comes with a premium. For places where you order at the counter and pick up at the counter, I might offer $1-$2, but it depends on the place. A $5 bottle of water at Coors Field does not get a tip. Two slices of pizza, a couple of hot dogs, a soda, and a beer at Coors Field gets a small tip. On the last example, I imagine that, if every patron tipped $1-$2 for a family-sized order that they stood in line to get, each person working might get a few extra dollars that evening, and that might make a difference for their family."
"If all the person is doing is filling my order and I pick it up whether to eat in or take away I don't tip," Wm_R. said "They haven't provided any extra or out of the ordinary service."
If you want good delivery service, you'd better tip well, Ann F. said: "If you are ordering delivery from Door Dash or Grub Hub, it is better to tip well. If you don't, forget about getting your food in a timely manner."
Here's perspective from a delivery person himself: "I agree, tipping at Subway and the like, where the 'service' is someone handing you your sandwich, is a little out of control. But there's the other side. I'm a delivery driver, chances are I've delivered to some of you if you live actually in town. ... And I'm confounded by some of the tipping. Pizza delivery hasn't changed much over the years, other than the method used to place your order. Tipping has always been a part of the delivery business, and I do my absolute (best) to get your food to you as fast and as hot (or cold, if it's a cold item) as I possibly can. Long story short, I work my *** off. And when I drive out to 80528, to deliver your one small pizza, and I'm told 'leave it at the door' and there's no tip, how do you think I feel? South of Harmony is 5-6 miles from the store. ... To those of you who have been repeat customers, thank you. I genuinely enjoy my job, I like talking to the customers, and frankly, once it's not 100 degrees, it's nice to ride around at night."
"During pandemic times I tipped well for pickup orders," Charles H. said. "I really wanted to make sure staff was getting paid and we didn’t lose the restaurants I love. With the lessening of pandemic restrictions I personally have tipped less and less in this situation. I also have found it ridiculous that a restaurant or other place essentially encourages a 20% to 25% tip for me to buy something myself. For example, I sat on a patio this week: Ordering was via phone. Payment was via phone. I had to use my phone to get a “server” to bring me a to go box. No one checked on us, no other effort was given. The app 'recommended' a 23% tip. That is beyond ridiculous."
"Tipped workers make very low wages, and wishing this was not the case unfortunately doesn’t make it so," Robert S. said. "Tip as generously as you can, they are depending on you. 20%-25% is now the norm."
But Andy O. contends tipped employees don't need their base wage to be as high as it is: $9.54 per hour.
"In my experience as a bartender (in my younger years), we didn't need to make $9.54 per hour from our employer. We were making $30 to $40 per hour from our customers, sometimes much more. I hate to say it but, there is no need to tip 20% in Colorado anymore. ... I'm not going to be the one to start a tip-less movement but I wouldn't rally against it either. Lower the tipped minimum wage."
That idea received some pushback:
"I have yet to hear one server say that they can afford a house in Fort Collins, much less their own apartment," John M. said.
And Fred C.'s perspective: "With the (bad) service people have to deal with, $9.54 is nowhere near enough."
Our question also mentioned an idea to get rid of tipping altogether and instead restaurants would pay a regular wage to employees and prices would be set accordingly.
But Stacie J. suggested that would not help servers at all: "Many people in the service industry, especially tip heavy positions, would never want tips replaced with wages. A relative of mine was a bartender in college and on busy nights over an 8-hour shift she would sometimes make $400-$500 during a shift in tips. You tell me, what restaurant that wants to stay open is going to pay servers and bartenders $50/hour to replace tips? Even on slow nights she would still make $200 in tips, which would be $25/hour. A restaurant would be out of business in short order if they paid those kind of wages with the thin profit margins they operate under."
Thanks to everyone who participated in these conversations, which are still open for your participation at Coloradoan.com/opinion. | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2022/08/26/on-tipping-and-hiring-issues-coloradoan-conversations-commenters-talk/65420227007/ | 2022-08-26T12:15:11Z | coloradoan.com | control | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2022/08/26/on-tipping-and-hiring-issues-coloradoan-conversations-commenters-talk/65420227007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Colorado 2022 election: What questions do you have for Larimer County candidates?
Coloradoan Conversations is the Coloradoan's opinion forum. Each Friday we'll pose conversation-starting questions online at Coloradoan.com/opinion and moderate online discussion through the following Wednesday, recapping the best discussion points online the following Friday and in Sunday's printed edition.
This week's Coloradoan Conversation Starter:
With ballots for Colorado's 2022 general election set to be mailed in less than two months, the Coloradoan newsroom is organizing our pre-election coverage and could use your help. With Denver-area and statewide political media focusing on the top-ballot horse races for Congress and the state's top elected offices, we'll focus the bulk of our efforts on the races most closely tied to Larimer County at the state legislative, county and municipal levels.
Over the coming months, we'll meet with candidates and issue committees to dive into their backgrounds, qualifications and priorities in order to help you make the most informed decision possible by Nov. 8. As we ask candidates our questions, we also want to help get answers to yours. So, if you have a question for a specific candidate or issue committee, share it with us online in the comments section, or at opinion@coloradoan.com, and we'll add it to our list for our pre-election interviews.
Here's a look at the races that we'll focus on:
House of Representatives
- Colorado Second District: Joe Neguse (D, incumbent) vs. Marshall Dawson (R)
Colorado Legislature
- Senate District 15 Janice Marchman (D) vs. Rob Woodward (R, incumbent)
- House District 49: Judy Amabile (D) vs. Kathryn Lehr (R)
- House District 52: Cathy Kipp (D, incumbent) vs. Deborah “Dee Dee” Vicino (R)
- House District 53: Andrew Boesenecker (D, incumbent); Donna Walter (R); Drew Haugen (UNAF)
- House District 65: Lisa Chollet (D) vs. Mike Lynch (R)
Larimer County
- Commissioner District 1: John Kefalas (D, incumbent) vs. Justin Smith (R)
- Clerk and recorder: Angela Myers (R, incumbent) vs. Toni Baker (D)
- Assessor: Bob Overbeck (D, incumbent) vs. David Eisenbraun (R)
- Coroner: Matthew Canaga (R) vs. Steven Hanks (D)
Municipal ballot issues
- Fort Collins ranked-choice voting
- Fort Collins November municipal elections
- Fort Collins increased City Council compensation
- Timnath November municipal elections
- Timnath Town Council redistricting
In Fort Collins:FAQ: How ranked-choice voting works, and why Fort Collins voters should pay attention
In Timnath:Timnath voters will decide town's election timing, future of redistricting in November
Click on the "View Comments" box at the top or bottom of this story at Coloradoan.com/opinion to join the conversation. Print readers can participate online or by sending their thoughts to opinion@coloradoan.com. | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2022/08/26/what-questions-do-you-have-for-larimer-county-2022-election-candidates/65419984007/ | 2022-08-26T12:15:17Z | coloradoan.com | control | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2022/08/26/what-questions-do-you-have-for-larimer-county-2022-election-candidates/65419984007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The redesigned 2023 Kia Sportage SUV has earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, the insurance-industry funded safety agency announced Thursday. The coveted safety award applies only to the top Prestige grades of the compact crossover, however.
To earn a Top Safety Pick award a vehicle must earn “Good” ratings on all six crash tests performed by the IIHS, and its available automatic emergency braking system must earn at least an “Advanced” rating in avoiding or mitigating crashes with other vehicles and pedestrians.
The final criterion, and the hardest one for automakers to meet, has been the headlight test. Since most fatal crashes happen at night, the IIHS expects cars to earn at least an “Acceptable” rating to qualify for a TSP, and those headlights must be standard across all trims to earn a Top Safety Pick+ award, widely considered to be the most rigorous independently tested safety award.
The 2023 Kia Sportage compact crossover came up short on the headlight test, with only the SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige attaining “Acceptable” headlight scores. The other grades earned a “Poor” rating for visibility. The Prestige models cost more than $35,000, whereas the base 2023 Sportage LX starts at about $27,000.
The Sportage earned top marks on all six crash tests, and both its standard and available automatic emergency braking systems earned top ” Superior” ratings. Automakers sometimes install better headlights mid-production cycle to comply with the stringent requirements of the IIHS.
Conversely, as more automakers meet the safety standards set by the IIHS, the independent nonprofit raises the safety bar. It launched headlight testing in 2016 and incorporated the criteria into the 2018 model year awards. Nearly 90 models qualified. By 2022, more than half of the 225 models tested earned at least a TSP designation, indicating that automakers continue to meet the standards set by the IIHS.
The IIHS is raising the bar again with a new side crash test intended to reflect the changing composition of today’s car fleet. Last updated 20 years ago, the side impact test that replicates a T-bone crash now uses a heavier crash vehicle with a higher ride height to approximate the proliferation of SUVs and trucks. Starting in 2023, a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating in the new side-impact test will be necessary to earn a TSP, while a “Good” rating will be required for a TSP+.
The 2023 Kia Sportage did not undergo the new test and results have been mixed for other cars so far.
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- Mercedes-Benz E-Class, CLS, AMG GT recalled for increased fire risk | https://www.wspa.com/automotive/internet-brands/2023-kia-sportage-crossover-suv-qualifies-for-top-safety-pick-status/ | 2022-08-26T12:17:10Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/automotive/internet-brands/2023-kia-sportage-crossover-suv-qualifies-for-top-safety-pick-status/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BMW, Ford, and General Motors are partnering with California not-for-profit utility Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) on a pilot program that will incentivize off-peak EV charging.
The pilot program will allow utility customers in California’s state capital to take advantage of lower electricity rates, while helping to balance the grid, SMUD said in a press release.
The three participating automakers will allow access for remote home-charging management, creating charging schedules so that vehicles are plugged in at the optimal time.
“Customers with EVs from participating automakers will receive incentives for enrolling, and quarterly incentives for participating in the pilot program,” the release explained, although specific details on those incentives weren’t provided.
Charging EVs at off-peak times, when there is less general demand for electricity, makes use of otherwise excess capacity, keeping the level of demand more considerate. This balancing of the grid reduces strain on infrastructure.
Recent California heat waves have accelerated the quest for solutions that will ease the load on the grid while growing renewables. That includes use of bidirectional charging to allow EVs to discharge power back into the grid during periods of high demand, sometimes referred to as vehicle-to-grid (V2G). California has proposed wide-ranging V2G plans—although smart charging will go a long way to help the situation too.
Another California utility, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), has expanded bidirectional charging pilots. One such program will incentivize EV owners $2,500 plus up to $2,175 depending on the level of participation.
California is a good location for these utility pilot programs. It not only has the nation’s largest EV fleet, but also leads in home-charging installation, so there’s a much larger pool of utility customers able to participate in these programs than in other states.
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- Report: EV tax credit rules might accelerate Hyundai timeline for US-built EVs | https://www.wspa.com/automotive/internet-brands/bmw-ford-gm-will-help-incentivize-california-ev-drivers-to-charge-off-peak/ | 2022-08-26T12:17:31Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/automotive/internet-brands/bmw-ford-gm-will-help-incentivize-california-ev-drivers-to-charge-off-peak/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
California is taking a big step toward a goal of ending new internal-combustion vehicle sales by enshrining the planned 2035 end date as policy.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in September 2020 calling for a ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars by 2035. On Thursday, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the powerful regulatory agency that sets the state’s emissions standards, is expected to vote to implement the ban, as part of its standards for 2026 and beyond.
The number of zero-emission vehicles sold in California is expected to gradually ratchet up until it reaches 100% by 2035. But even that could leave room for plug-in hybrids with substantial electric range and minimal tailpipe emissions (if drivers do plug in daily).
In some respects, California is heading in the right direction. It leads the nation in home EV charger installation, according to a recent study, and reached a cumulative one million plug-in vehicle sales earlier this year.
But California’s electrical grid will have to shift to use of renewable energy on a more consistent basis to minimize emissions, and top California utilities have also said the grid will need massive upgrades to be fit for shifting entirely away from the sale of gasoline vehicles by 2035. In April, the grid was powered entirely—or nearly so—by renewable energy, but use of more carbon-intensive sources was expected to increase over the summer due to droughts that limit hydropower generating capacity. Last year’s heat waves prompted alerts about EV charging habits.
California is able to implement the internal-combustion sales ban because the Biden administration restored the state’s Clean Air Act waiver, which allows California to set its own, stricter emissions rules, after the Trump administration moved to revoke it.
Several automakers, including General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis), and Toyota supported the effort to limit California’s emissions authority. Toyota was the last holdout, only this week acknowledging California’s authority and ending the fight.
This is going to extend well beyond California, and it will be a catalyst for EV adoption in ways that can’t fully be assessed quite yet. States that have decided to follow California’s emissions rules represent about a third of the U.S. auto market, and they each may also adopt the new targets.
—
with Bengt Halvorson
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- 2023 Kia EV6 GT: US details revealed—but not price or range quite yet | https://www.wspa.com/automotive/internet-brands/california-puts-2035-end-date-for-new-ice-vehicle-sales-into-policy/ | 2022-08-26T12:17:38Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/automotive/internet-brands/california-puts-2035-end-date-for-new-ice-vehicle-sales-into-policy/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — Anticipation for one of the fall’s likeliest bestsellers has been growing all year.
For months, Colleen Hoover’s millions of fans on TikTok, Instagram and elsewhere have been talking up and posting early excerpts from her novel “It Starts With Us.” By summer, the author’s sequel to her bestselling “It Ends With Us” had already reached the top 10 Amazon.com. It might have climbed higher but for competition from other Hoover novels, including “Ugly Love,” “Verity” and, of course, “It Ends With Us,” the dramatic tale of a love triangle and a woman’s endurance of domestic abuse that young TikTok users have embraced and helped make Hoover the country’s most popular fiction writer.
Hoover’s extraordinary run on bestseller lists, from Amazon.com to The New York Times, has been Beatle-esque for much of 2022, with four or more books likely to appear in the top 10 at a given moment. “It Starts With Us” had been so eagerly desired by her admirers — CoHorts, some call themselves — that she broke a personal rule: Don’t let “outside influences” determine her next book.
“I never allowed myself to entertain a sequel, but with the amount of people emailing me every day and tagging me in an online petition to write about (those characters), their story began to build in my head in the same way my other books begin,” she told The Associated Press in a recent email. “Eventually I craved telling this story as much as I did my other stories, so I owe the readers a big thank you for the nudging.”
Hoover’s new book should help extend what has been another solid year for the industry. Booksellers are looking forward to a mix of commercial favorites such as Hoover, Anthony Horowitz, Beverly Jenkins and Veronica Roth alongside what Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt calls a “really strong” lineup of literary releases, including novels by Ian McEwan and Kate Atkinson.
The fall also will feature new fiction from Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk and Pulitzer Prize-winners Elizabeth Strout and Andrew Sean Greer. Celeste Ng’s “Our Missing Hearts” is her first novel since “Little Fires Everywhere.” Story collections are expected from George Saunders, Andrea Barrett and Ling Ma, along with novels by Percival Everett, Barbara Kingsolver, Kevin Wilson, N.K. Jemisin, Lydia Millet and Yiyun Li.
Joe Concha’s “Come On, Man!: The Truth About Joe Biden’s Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Presidency” is the most colorfully named of the latest round of books attacking an incumbent president — a long and profitable publishing tradition. But the most high-profile works of political reporting dwell on Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, among them “Confidence Man,” by The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman, and “The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017–2021,” by Peter Baker of the Times and Susan Glasser of The New Yorker.
Michelle Obama’s “The Light We Carry” is her first entirely new book since her worldwide bestseller from 2018, “Becoming.” Benjamin Netanyahu’s “Bibi” is the first memoir by the former Israeli Prime Minister, while American politicians with new books include Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke.
Celebrity books include Bono’s “Surrender,” Matthew Perry’s “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing” and Geena Davis’ “Dying of Politeness.” Bob Dylan reflects upon an art form he helped reinvent in “The Philosophy of Modern Song,” while the title of Jan Wenner’s memoir invokes the Dylan classic that helped inspire the name of the magazine he founded, “Like a Rolling Stone.”
History books will cover the famous and the overlooked. Among the former are Pulitzer-winner Jon Meacham’s “And There Was Light,” the latest entry into the canon of Abraham Lincoln scholarship, and Pulitzer-winner Stacy Schiff’s biography of Samuel Adams, “The Revolutionary.” Fred Kaplan, who focused on Lincoln’s prose in “Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer,” now assesses Thomas Jefferson in “His Masterly Pen: A Biography of Jefferson the Writer.”
Releases highlighting those less remembered include Kevin Hazzard’s “American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America’s First Paramedics,” and Katie Hickman’s “Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West.” With the overturning last summer of Roe v. Wade, Laura Kaplan’s “The Story of Jane” is a timely reissue of her 1995 book about the underground abortion counseling service founded in Chicago in 1969, four years before the Supreme Court’s historic Roe ruling.
Bruce Henderson’s “Bridge to the Sun” centers on the recruitment of Japanese-Americans, some of whom had been in internment camps, to assist in U.S. intelligence gathering during World War II.
“It was really hard to research because many of them had been working on top secret projects, and, even after they had been discharged, were reminded that they were under the National Security Act and that military secrets had to be kept,” Henderson says. “We had to do a lot of digging and contact families and see what the veterans had left behind. Of the six guys that I follow in my book, only one was still alive.” | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-fall-books-a-broad-mix-of-literary-and-commercial-favorites-2/ | 2022-08-26T12:19:08Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-fall-books-a-broad-mix-of-literary-and-commercial-favorites-2/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — Fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as the labor market continues to stand out as one of the strongest segments of the U.S. economy.
Applications for jobless aid for the week ending Aug. 20 fell by 2,000 to 243,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
The four-week average for claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week volatility, rose by 1,500 to 247,000.
The number of Americans collecting traditional unemployment benefits fell by 19,000 the week that ended Aug. 13, to 1.42 million.
First-time applications generally reflect layoffs and are often seen as an early indicator of where the job market is headed.
Hiring in the United States in 2022 has been remarkably strong even as the country faces rising interest rates and weak economic growth.
U.S. employers added 528,000 jobs in July, according to the Labor Department, more than double what forecasters had expected. The unemployment rate dipped to 3.5%, tying a 50-year low reached just before coronavirus pandemic slammed the U.S. economy in early 2020.
But there are other challenges. Consumer prices have been surging, rising 8.5% in July from a year earlier — down slightly from June’s 40-year high 9.1%. To combat inflation, the Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark short-term interest rate four times this year.
On Friday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell will deliver a speech that could shed more light on how high or how fast the central bank may raise interest rates in the coming months.
Higher borrowing costs have taken a toll. The economy contracted in the first half of the year — one measure suggesting the onset of a recession. But the strength of the job market has been inconsistent with an economic downturn. | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-fewer-americans-claim-jobless-benefits-last-week/ | 2022-08-26T12:19:22Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-fewer-americans-claim-jobless-benefits-last-week/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A regional office of the National Labor Relations Board says Starbucks is violating U.S. labor law by withholding pay hikes and other benefits from stores that have voted to unionize.
The labor board’s Seattle office filed the complaint late Wednesday against Starbucks. The complaint is based on charges filed by Workers United, the union trying to organize Starbucks’ 9,000 company-owned U.S. stores.
The complaint adds to an already lengthy paper trail in the acrimonious relationship between Starbucks — which opposes unionization — and Workers United. More than 220 U.S. Starbucks stores have voted to unionize since late last year.
The complaint is one of at least 20 that NLRB regional offices have filed against Starbucks alleging unfair labor practices. Starbucks has also filed complaints against the board and the union. Last week, the company asked the NLRB to halt union elections entirely, saying it has evidence that a regional office improperly coordinated with union officials. A decision in that case is pending.
In the case filed Wednesday, the NLRB said Starbucks violated labor law by offering raises and benefits — including increased training, career development opportunities, expanded tipping and looser dress code policies — only to non-union stores.
Starbucks announced the $200 million in added worker pay and benefits in May after a series of meetings with workers around the country. At the time, Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz said U.S. labor law requires union stores to negotiate their own contracts with the company.
“We do not have the same freedom to make these improvements at locations that have a union,” Schultz said in a conference call with investors.
Starbucks reiterated that argument in a statement Thursday.
“Wages and benefits are mandatory subjects of the collective bargaining process,” the company said. It rejects the union’s argument that it could offer the wage and benefit enhancements to unionized stores at any time.
But in its complaint, the NLRB’s regional office said Starbucks’ action violates laws that prohibit interfering with employees’ right to form a union.
The complaint seeks back pay for affected employees. It also would require Schultz to hold an employee meeting and a read a statement explaining workers’ right to organize.
Unless Starbucks and the union reach a settlement, the complaint will be considered by an NLRB administrative law judge at a hearing set for Oct. 25. Once a decision is reached, either side can appeal to the full National Labor Relations Board in Washington.
Maggie Carter, a Starbucks barista from Knoxville, Tennessee, praised the NLRB’s complaint and said the company shouldn’t have denied raises at a time of skyrocketing inflation.
“I look forward to the day Howard Schultz must apologize to us for violating our rights and provide the benefits he so callously denied us,” Carter said in a statement distributed by Workers United.
Dan Cornfield, a professor of sociology and political science at Vanderbilt University who has studied labor unions, said the store-by-store organizing currently happening at Starbucks and other big companies — like Trader Joe’s and REI — is a relatively new phenomenon so there aren’t a lot of examples of non-union workers being treated differently from union workers within the same company.
But the practice of non-union companies offering enhanced wages and benefits to its workers in order to pre-empt labor organization has a long history. In the 1950s, he said, non-union companies rapidly expanded wages and benefits to match the unionized auto industry.
“It’s a very powerful strategy, and it works to the extent that the main concerns of the workers are wages and benefits,” Cornfield said. “But once the concerns of non-union workers enter the realm of non-economic issues, like justice and respect, it becomes a bit more challenging for a large corporation to try to pre-empt the union.”
As recently as 2019, the full National Labor Relations Board ruled that employers are free to treat union and non-union employees differently, but only if the employer doesn’t have an anti-union motive for doing so.
In that case, the board ruled in favor of the pharmaceutical company Merck, which gave non-union employees an extra paid holiday. Merck, like Starbucks, argued that it couldn’t give union employees another holiday without going through the bargaining process. | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-labor-board-files-complaint-against-starbucks-over-pay-offer/ | 2022-08-26T12:19:44Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-labor-board-files-complaint-against-starbucks-over-pay-offer/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A pipeline operator said Thursday that it has reached a settlement with Southern California tourism companies, fishermen and other businesses that sued after a crude oil spill off the coast last year near Huntington Beach.
Amplify Energy Corp., which owns the pipeline that ruptured and faces a criminal charge for its oversight, said in a statement that claims have been settled in the class-action lawsuit filed by businesses affected by the October spill of about 25,000 gallons (94,600 liters) of crude into the Pacific Ocean.
The company did not say how much the businesses would be paid but said its insurance policies will cover the cost of the settlement, which would still need to be approved by a federal court.
“Although we are unable to provide additional detail at this time, we negotiated in good faith and believe we have come to a reasonable and fair resolution,” Martyn Willsher, Amplify’s president and chief executive, said in the statement.
The pipeline rupture sent blobs of crude washing ashore in surf-friendly Huntington Beach and other coastal communities.
While less severe than initially feared, the spill about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) offshore shuttered beaches for a week and fisheries for more than a month, oiled birds and threatened wetlands that communities have been striving to restore.
Attorneys for the businesses that sued said in a statement that the settlement includes monetary relief but they didn’t provide details. The agreement doesn’t apply to the operators of ships accused of dragging anchors in the harbor and causing damage to the pipeline months before the spill.
“All rights to continue pursuing claims against the ship related entities are expressly reserved by both the Class Plaintiffs and the Amplify entities,” the statement said.
The settlement also doesn’t resolve Houston-based Amplify’s claims against an organization that helps oversee marine traffic.
Amplify contends that two ships during a January 2021 storm dragged their anchors across the pipeline that carried crude from offshore oil platforms to the coast.
Amplify also faces a criminal charge related to the pipeline leak.
U.S. prosecutors charged Amplify and two of its subsidiaries with illegally discharging oil and claimed the companies failed to respond to eight leak detection system alarms over a 13-hour period that should have alerted them to the spill. Amplify has said workers believed they were false alarms. | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-oil-spill-settlement-reached-with-california-businesses/ | 2022-08-26T12:19:58Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-oil-spill-settlement-reached-with-california-businesses/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Providence’s mayor proposed spending $10 million in federal coronavirus pandemic aid on financial literacy and homeownership, workforce training, small business development and other programs recently recommended by the city’s reparations commission.
Mayor Jorge Elorza’s spending plan, released Thursday, also calls for using $250,000 in federal money to launch a legal defense fund for residents facing eviction, $400,000 dedicated to directly support Black and Native American residents displaced and negatively impacted by urban renewal and $500,000 to expand the guaranteed income program for low income residents that launched last summer, among other initiatives.
The Democratic mayor also signed an executive order formally apologizing on behalf of Rhode Island’s capital city for its role in slavery, urban renewal and other racist and discriminatory practices. The spending proposal now goes to the city council for approval.
“While we cannot undo the harm that has been done, I am confident these programs and investments will make great strides in closing the racial wealth and equity gaps that exist in Providence,” Elorza said.
Rodney Davis, who chaired the Providence Municipal Reparations Commission, applauded the mayor for issuing a formal city apology, as the commission had recommended. But he demurred when asked if he thought the spending proposal was the best use of the federal money, given the commission’s many recommendations.
“We feel like $10 million is nice, but it’s definitely not enough for true reparations,” he said. “We also recognize this is a city effort and true reparations have to be on a larger scale. It has to not just be government, but also private enterprise.”
Ray Rickman, a prominent Black historian and former state lawmaker who attended Thursday’s announcement, was surprised Elorza wasn’t more forceful in calling on Brown University to contribute to the city’s efforts. The Ivy League college, located on the city’s wealthy East Side, has faced its own calls in recent years to pay reparations to slave descendants.
Terrell Osborne, a Black resident who also attended the announcement, said he’d like to see the city form a foundation to help coordinate the myriad efforts proposed and to marshal more resources and support from outside groups.
“All I see is ‘Let’s spend the money.’ But then what?” he said. “Who is implementing these things? Where’s the follow up coming from?”
The reparations commission report released Monday listed a range of programs and efforts Providence could undertake to begin atoning for its extensive ties to the transatlantic slave trade and the centuries of racism and discrimination that followed.
But it didn’t recommend giving out direct payments to Black and Native American residents impacted by slave and other discrimination, as some had called for. Instead, it defined “reparations” as efforts that close the “present-day racial wealth and equity gaps.” | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-rhode-island-mayor-proposes-10m-reparations-spending-plan/ | 2022-08-26T12:20:05Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-rhode-island-mayor-proposes-10m-reparations-spending-plan/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As the North American session begins, the EUR is the strongest and the NZD is the weakest. Today key US core PCE data will be released at 8:30 AM ET. The data is a favorite measure of inflation for the Fed. The expectations are for a gain of 0.3% for the year on year to rise by 4.7%. That inflation report is a prelude for the Fed chair Powell's speech at Jackson Hole which commences at 10 AM ET.
How far will he go outside the expected boundaries of higher rates, data dependent, 50 or 75 basis points (the market is pricing in 60% chance of 75 basis points), fight inflation to the end?
Will he bang the table with his shoe? Will he bring up QT?
The EUR is the strongest despite dire prospects for energy prices in the winter. The expectation is for annual cap on typical fuel bill to be $4188 a year with higher levels to come in January with the next review. As a result, the inflation expectations in the EU which the BOE sees at 13%, is expected to be much higher (Citi sees as high as 18%).
In other markets as NA traders enter shows:
- Spot gold is trading down $13.59 or -0.78% at $1744.35.
- Spot silver down six cents or -0.33% at $19.16
- Crude oil up $1.02 at $93.54
- Bitcoin is trading down -2.06% at $21207
in the premarket for US stocks, the major indices are trading lower ahead of the Fed Powell's speech NPCA data
- Dow industrial average is trading down -40 points points after yesterday's 322.55 point rise
- S&P index down -9.8 points after yesterday's 58.35 point rise
- NASDAQ index down -45 points after yesterday's 207.74 point rise
In the European equity markets, the major indices are mixed:
- German DAX -5.16 points or -0.03%
- France's CAC -14.14 points or -0.22%
- UK's FTSE 100 +5.21 points or +0.07%
- Spain's Ibex -11.52 points were -0.14%
- Italy's FTSE MIB -155.2 or -0.69%
In the US debt market, yields are moving back to the upside:
- two year 3.382%, +1.2 basis points
- five year 3.191%, -3.4 basis points
- 10 year 3.067%, +3.7 basis points
- 30 year 3.279%, +3 point basis points
In the European debt market, the benchmark 10 year yields are also trading higher: | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/the-eur-is-the-strongest-and-the-nzd-is-the-weakest-as-the-na-begins-20220826/ | 2022-08-26T12:20:11Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/the-eur-is-the-strongest-and-the-nzd-is-the-weakest-as-the-na-begins-20220826/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — Two Florida residents have pleaded guilty in a scheme to peddle a diary and other items stolen from President Joe Biden’s daughter to the conservative group Project Veritas for $40,000, prosecutors said Thursday.
Aimee Harris and Robert Kurlander “sought to profit from their theft of another person’s personal property,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.
Harris, a 40-year-old from Palm Beach, and Kurlander, 58, of nearby Jupiter, face the possibility of up to five years in prison. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines.
Harris’ lawyer, Sam Talkin, said she “has accepted responsibility for her conduct and looks forward to moving on with her life.” Kurlander’s lawyer, Florian Miedel, declined to comment.
While authorities didn’t identify anyone in the case except the defendants, the details of the investigation have been public for months.
Ashley Biden, the president’s daughter, was moving out of a friend’s Delray Beach, Florida, home in spring 2020 when she stored the diary and other belongings there, prosecutors said in a court filing.
They said Harris then moved into the same room, found the items and got in touch with Kurlander, who enthused in a text message that he would help her make a “ton of money” from selling it, adding an expletive before “ton.”
The two initially aimed to sell some of the purloined property to then-President Donald Trump’s campaign, but a representative turned them down and told them to take the material to the FBI, according to the court papers.
The campaign “can’t use this,” Kurlander explained to Harris in a September 2020 text message, adding: “It has to be done a different way.”
Their next stop was Project Veritas, which paid for the two to bring some of the material — including the diary and a digital device with family photos — to a New York luxury hotel, prosecutors said.
Project Veritas staffers met with Kurlander and Harris in New York and agreed to pay an initial $10,000, saying more money could come if they retrieved more of Ashley Biden’s items from the home, partly in order to authenticate the diary, according to the court filing.
Back in Florida, Kurlander texted Harris a blunt assessment of what would come of the exchange, prosecutors said.
“They are in a sketchy business and here they are taking what’s literally a stolen diary and info … and trying to make a story that will ruin” Ashley Biden’s life and possibly affect the impending presidential election, he wrote, according to the court papers. He added that the two needed “to tread even more carefully” and get “anything worthwhile” out of the Delray Beach house, according to the court papers.
Prosecutors said Kurlander and Harris took Ashley Biden’s stored tax documents, clothes and luggage as Kurlander pressed Project Veritas in a message to commit to a bigger payout: “We are taking huge risks. This isn’t fair.”
A Project Veritas staffer soon flew to Florida, the employee shipped the items to New York and the group paid Harris and Kurlander $20,000 apiece, prosecutors said.
Project Veritas identifies itself as a news organization. It is best known for conducting hidden camera stings that have embarrassed news outlets, labor organizations and Democratic politicians.
“Project Veritas’s news gathering was ethical and legal” in the diary affair, the group said in a statement Thursday. The organization said earlier that it turned the journal over to law enforcement after receiving it from “tipsters” who maintained that it had been abandoned in a room.
“A journalist’s lawful receipt of material later alleged to be stolen is routine, commonplace and protected by the First Amendment,” Project Veritas added Thursday.
Neither Project Veritas nor any staffers have been charged with a crime.
The FBI searched the group’s New York offices and the homes of some of its employees as part of the investigation. A court in New York appointed a former federal judge to review material that was seized in those searches, so as to ensure that investigators couldn’t look at material protected by journalistic or attorney-client privileges.
Generally, media organizations aren’t culpable for receiving material that might have been stolen, if they weren’t involved in the theft. But there can be criminal liability for orchestrating theft and then knowingly paying for stolen material.
“There is no First Amendment protection for the theft and interstate transport of stolen property,” the U.S. attorney’s office wrote in a court filing last year.
O’Keefe has said that Project Veritas ultimately could not confirm that the diary belonged to Ashley Biden. The group did not publish information from it.
He added that there was “no doubt Project Veritas acted appropriately at each and every step.”
Ashley Biden, a 41-year-old social worker, is the daughter of the president and of first lady Jill Biden. His eldest daughter and his first wife were killed in a 1972 car accident.
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Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak contributed from Philadelphia. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-2-plead-guilty-in-scheme-to-sell-bidens-daughters-diary/ | 2022-08-26T12:20:19Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-2-plead-guilty-in-scheme-to-sell-bidens-daughters-diary/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Thursday said Arkansas can’t enforce its ban on transgender children receiving gender-affirming medical care.
A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a judge’s ruling temporarily blocking the state from enforcing the 2021 law. A trial is scheduled for October before the same judge on whether to permanently block the law.
Arkansas was the first state to enact such a ban, which prohibits doctors from providing gender-confirming hormone treatment, puberty blockers or surgery to anyone under 18 years old, or from referring them to other providers for the treatment. There are no doctors who perform gender-affirming surgery on minors in the state.
“Because the minor’s sex at birth determines whether or not the minor can receive certain types of medical care under the law, Act 626 discriminates on the basis of sex,” the court’s ruling Thursday said.
The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the law on behalf of four transgender youth and their families, as well as two doctors who provide gender-confirming treatments.
“The Eighth Circuit was abundantly clear that the state’s ban on care does not advance any important governmental interest and the state’s defense of the law is lacking in legal or evidentiary support,” Chase Strangio, deputy director for Transgender Justice at the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project, said in a statement. “The state has no business categorically singling out this care for prohibition.”
Arkansas argued that the restriction is within the state’s authority to regulate medical practices.
Republican Attorney General Leslie Rutledge will ask the full 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to review the ruling, said spokeswoman Amanda Priest, adding that Rutledge was “extremely disappointed in today’s dangerously wrong decision by the three-judge panel.”
The 8th Circuit covers Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and the Dakotas. The ruling on Arkansas’ law comes after the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that covers Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia ruled last week that gender dysphoria is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Experts and advocates have said that decision could help block conservative political efforts to restrict access to gender-affirming care.
Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed Arkansas’ ban last year, and GOP lawmakers overrode him. Pediatricians, social workers and the parents of transgender youth said the measure would harm a community already at risk for depression and suicide. Hutchinson has said he would signed such legislation if it only focused on gender-confirming surgery.
On Thursday, he called Arkansas’ ban the “most extreme law in the country” and urged lawmakers to scale it back next year “with a more narrow focus to protect our children.”
“No other state has passed such a law that interferes with a parent making health care decisions for minor children based upon a doctor’s recommendations when the recommendations are based upon generally accepted medical guidance,” Hutchinson, who leaves office in January, said in a statement.
Multiple medical groups, including the American Medical Association, oppose the ban and have said the care is safe if properly administered. The Justice Department has also opposed the ban as unconstitutional.
An attorney for the ACLU told the appeals panel in June that reinstating the restriction would create uncertainty for families.
A federal judge in May blocked a similar law in Alabama. A Tennessee ban that was enacted last year on transgender treatments for youth, which is limited to providing gender-confirming hormone treatment to prepubescent minors, remains in effect.
In Texas, child welfare officials have been blocked from investigating three families of transgender youth over gender-confirming care the minors have received. A state judge is considering whether to prevent additional investigations. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-court-arkansas-cant-ban-treatment-of-transgender-kids/ | 2022-08-26T12:20:25Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-court-arkansas-cant-ban-treatment-of-transgender-kids/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PEARL, Miss. (AP) — Large fans hummed noisily Thursday to try to dry out the carpet at The Exchange Church, a day after storms rapidly dumped several inches of rain and pushed water into the one-story brick building in central Mississippi.
Bryant May is lead pastor of the Southern Baptist congregation in the Jackson suburb of Pearl. He said it was the second time in four years the church flooded. The church will conduct online services this weekend, and May said he hopes the building will be in working order soon after that.
“The good news in it is that we have a little bit of experience — that’s good news/bad news — so we have a little bit of a game plan on how to attack it,” May said Thursday.
Weather radar showed heavy rainfall Thursday in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and in the Florida panhandle.
Several flash flood warnings were issued, and the Mississippi Department of Transportation reported water covering highways Thursday from the central part of the state down to the Gulf Coast. Flowing water washed away part of a state highway in rural Newton County, between Jackson and Meridian.
The National Weather Service predicted the Pearl River near Jackson, Mississippi, will crest early next week at nearly the level it reached during flooding in 2020. Emergency officials said residents in low-lying areas near the river should prepare for the possibility of evacuating in the next several days.
After Wednesday’s deluge caused creeks to overflow, law enforcement officers carried toddlers out of a flooded day care center in Florence, Mississippi, south of Jackson. The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department posted video on Facebook of deputies walking through brown, knee-deep water to take children to an elevated truck, placing them gently on benches.
Rankin County sheriff’s deputies also helped move more than 40 residents out of a flooded nursing home Wednesday in nearby Brandon.
Tony Banks said Thursday that when he returned to his apartment in the Jackson suburb of Flowood after work Wednesday, the parking lot was knee-deep in water. He said a creek overflowed, flooding some cars and trucks. Banks said he caught a fish near the vehicles.
“He was flopping around in the parking lot and I grabbed his mouth,” said Banks, 35. He said he tossed the bass back into the water.
In Alabama, vehicles traveling along flooded roads created boat-like wakes on low-lying Dauphin Island, a popular beach community off the coast, but police said the water was not deep enough Thursday morning to pose a major threat. Flooding was likely across southwestern Alabama through nightfall, forecasters said, and Mississippi temporarily closed a welcome station on Interstate 10 because of flooding.
A few schools around Mobile, Alabama, dismissed early because of flooding or power outages. The National Weather Service said rain was falling at a rate of as much as 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) an hour along the coast, and roads and parking lots were flooded in Foley on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay.
Joy Lester owns a second-hand store in Pearl, Mississippi, near The Exchange Church. She said she will have to throw away most of the couches, dining room sets and inventory that was soaked by flooding.
“All of this is just a waste. It’s got to go,” Lester said as she surveyed the damage Thursday.
Three Mississippi cities set one-day rainfall records Wednesday, the weather service said. Jackson received just over 5 inches (12.7 centimeters), Meridian received 4.6 inches (11.7 centimeters) and Vicksburg received 2.9 inches (7.4 centimeters).
On Wednesday, Jackson also surpassed its previous record for rainfall for the month of August, at 11.57 inches (29.4 centimeters). The previous record for the month was 11.51 inches (29.2 centimeters) in 2008, the weather service said.
The National Weather Service said flooding was expected near several rivers in central and southern Mississippi. The Pearl River was above flood stage in the Jackson area Thursday and was expected to continue rising. That means streams and creeks are unable to drain into the river, and water could threaten homes and businesses.
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Associated Press writer Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama, contributed to this report. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-flash-flooding-toddlers-rescued-fish-flop-in-parking-lot/ | 2022-08-26T12:20:32Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-flash-flooding-toddlers-rescued-fish-flop-in-parking-lot/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
They’re going to drop it like it’s hot.
Iconic rappers Eminem and Snoop Dogg are set to bring the heat at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.
And if their past on-stage ventures are anything to go by, it’s going to be a night to remember.
Their performance, which takes place in Newark, New Jersey, will be the first time the pair have collaborated together in over 20 years.
As die-hard Slim Shady fans know, the 15-time Grammy Award-winning rapper last performed at the VMAs 12 years ago, while Snoop Dogg graced the stage 17 years ago.
MTV told The Hollywood Reporter the collab will be the “first of its kind” filled with hits, including the pair’s track “From the D 2 The LBC.”
Their performance is set to be inspired by the world of the Otherside metaverse, stemming from the video game developer’s software.
Otherside’s game “blends mechanics from massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) and web3-enabled virtual worlds,” according to its website.
“Think of it as a metaRPG where the players own the world, your NFTs can become playable characters, and thousands can play together in real-time,” the website adds.
The two rappers join a star-studded line-up of performers at this year’s VMAs, including Nicki Minaj, Anitta, Lizzo, and BLACKPINK.
The last time Eminem and Snoop Dogg performed together was at this year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, where they joined Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar.
It’s been reported that Johnny Depp is gearing up to perform at the VMAs, where he’s expected to dress up as a real-life Moon Person, the silver astronaut statue that VMA winners are awarded.
Bad Bunny is also set to perform, however, his set will be broadcast from The Bronx.
The network will stream the Puerto Rican rapper’s performance from Yankee Stadium, where he’ll be as part of his “World’s Hottest Tour.”
This will be the first time the VMAs have gone live from Yankee Stadium. The segment will include never-before-seen choreography, though it is unknown what song or songs will be featured in the set.
LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj, and Jack Harlow are all set to host the show. | https://nypost.com/2022/08/26/eminem-snoop-dogg-to-perform-at-mtv-vmas-in-first-of-its-kind-show/ | 2022-08-26T12:21:27Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/08/26/eminem-snoop-dogg-to-perform-at-mtv-vmas-in-first-of-its-kind-show/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Which flaxseed oil is best?
Consuming a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids has a whole host of health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol levels. While fish oil supplements are a popular way to up your omega-3 intake, if you don’t eat fish, consuming flaxseed oil is a great alternative.
A plant-based oil, flaxseed also contains anti-inflammatory omega-6s and 9s. You can take flaxseed oil in capsule or liquid form. For adding to smoothies or salad dressing, Barlean’s Organic Lignan Flax Oil is the top choice for liquid flaxseed.
What to know before you buy a flaxseed oil
Uses
Flaxseed oil not only boasts health benefits but can also be used for cooking and beauty purposes.
- Heart health: Alpha-linoleic acid, the type of omega-3 found in flaxseed oil, may lower the risk of some heart diseases and decrease LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels.
- Lowering blood pressure: Consuming 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day may lower blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.
- Cancer prevention: Flaxseed is rich in lignans — plant compounds studied for their cancer-fighting properties. It contains up to 800 times more lignans than any other plant and may lower the risk of breast cancer.
- Improving digestion: Flaxseeds contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Consuming flaxseed oil can promote regular bowel movements. If you have a sensitive stomach, however, use caution in consuming this fiber-rich oil.
- Hair and skin care: Flaxseed oil can be applied topically to the hair as a deep conditioning hair mask for healthier, shinier strands. Consuming it internally can help improve hydration levels of the skin, leading to softer, more supple skin.
- Culinary uses: To add more fatty acids to your diet, you can drizzle liquid flaxseed oil over food, use it to make salad dressing or pour it into your smoothie. Flaxseed has a mild nutty flavor.
Liquid vs. capsules
Flaxseed oil is a vegetarian alternative to fish oil. It can come in softgel form, which doesn’t have an aftertaste as fish oil pills can. Flaxseed oil capsules don’t need to be stored in the refrigerator. Liquid flaxseed oil is more versatile and can be used in recipes or consumed by the spoonful. However, it must be refrigerated so it doesn’t go rancid.
Dosage
The recommended daily amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is 1.6 grams for adult males and 1.1 grams for adult females. Typically, a tablespoon of liquid flaxseed or one to three softgels will meet the RDA. Always check the label to see how potent each capsule is as some contain a higher amount of the plant-based omega-3 than others.
What to look for in a quality flaxseed oil
Organic
Opt for an organic flaxseed oil if you want a healthier choice that doesn’t contain any pesticides or other agrochemicals. Organic oils are also not genetically modified (non-GMO). Organic options are widely available in both liquid and capsule form.
Cold-pressed
Cold-pressed oils are made without the use of heat and minimal processing: the seeds are crushed at high pressures to extract their oil. This is believed to preserve the nutritional value, and flavor, of the oil that heat could otherwise degrade.
Fatty acid content
Flaxseed oil contains a ratio of omega 3-6-9s. You want to consume a diet with a higher amount of omega-3s than omega-6 fatty acids (two to four times fewer omega-6s). A diet too high in omega-6s can lead to inflammation. Flaxseed oil contains a healthy ratio of omega 6s to omega 3s at 0.3:1.
How much you can expect to spend on flaxseed oil
A 16-ounce bottle of liquid flaxseed costs $8-$22. For a 120-count bottle of capsules, expect to pay $9-$15.
Flaxseed oil FAQ
Are flaxseed oil capsules vegan?
A. While liquid flaxseed is almost always vegan-friendly, some softgels are made with gelatin, which is derived from animal sources. Check that the capsule’s shell is made from a plant-based ingredient, such as vegetable starch or glycerin.
Can flaxseed oil be heated for cooking?
A. We don’t recommend using flaxseed for sauteing or frying foods. It has a low smoke point and isn’t suitable for heating. Plus, exposing its high fatty acid content to heat will degrade its nutritional value and taste.
What’s the best flaxseed oil to buy?
Top flaxseed oil
Barlean’s Organic Lignan Flax Oil
What you need to know: This lignan-infused flaxseed oil includes an additional plant compound with powerful antioxidant benefits.
What you’ll love: The unrefined oil contains lignan particulates, which are polyphenols found in green tea and red wine. It’s highly rated for its slightly nutty taste and good flavor. It’s organic, vegan and perfect for culinary purposes.
What you should consider: You’ll need to keep an eye on the expiration date and store the oil properly to keep it from going bad after opening.
Where to buy: Sold by iHerb and Amazon
Top flaxseed oil for the money
What you need to know: Organic doesn’t always mean pricey, and this low-cost supplement is made from organic flax seeds.
What you’ll love: These softgels are easy to take and have no aftertaste. People report that they can be used as a natural laxative. Users also rave about their skin benefits and menopause relief.
What you should consider: The dosage is three softgels once or twice a day with food, which is high-maintenance for some.
Where to buy: Sold by iHerb
Worth checking out
NatureWise Organic Flaxseed Oil
What you need to know: This high-quality flaxseed oil supplement is made from non-GMO, organic seeds.
What you’ll love: The softgels are free from a whole host of common allergens and pass third-party purity testing. The oil is cold-pressed without the use of heat or solvents. Many find that this supplement is the remedy for their dry eyes.
What you should consider: These are not vegetarian capsules and contain gelatin.
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Ana Sanchez writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wspa.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/oils-br/best-flaxseed-oil/ | 2022-08-26T12:23:13Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/oils-br/best-flaxseed-oil/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins canceled their joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday after a stomach bug sidelined multiple players, coach Mike McDaniel said.
“That was a unique curveball early this morning,” McDaniel said. “We don’t really know totally where it was coming from and are just trying to be overly cautious.”
McDaniel added “more than a couple” players have been affected and are exhibiting the normal symptoms of a stomach bug. A few members of the Dolphins staff have been affected and it appears to be contagious, he said.
The Dolphins, as of now, will still play the Eagles on Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium in their preseason finale. It isn’t yet known which of the starters, if any, will play.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said no one on the team had exhibited any stomach bug symptoms. The Eagles held their own practice Thursday.
The Eagles and Dolphins practiced jointly on Wednesday in a session that highlighted what is expected to be a formidable connection between quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Tyreek Hill, who the team traded for in the offseason.
Hill caught a 30-plus-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa, beating veteran cornerback Darius Slay on a play. Slay appeared to be limping after, and he grimaced as he walked back to the sideline. He was in and out of practice for the rest of the day.
The same quickness and speed that Hill displayed in his career as a Kansas City Chief seemed to present issues for the Eagles secondary on Thursday as he continued to find soft spots in the coverage for wide open catches.
Tagovailoa, who is entering his third year in the NFL, showed timing and accuracy in his throws, getting the ball out quickly on one play when the Eagles sent a blitz and spreading the ball to multiple receivers.
Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, who was traded from the Titans earlier this year, opened the joint session for the Eagles’ first-team offense with a one-handed snag as he darted past Dolphins defensive back Xavien Howard.
The Eagles defensive front stopped most of Miami’s attempts at running the ball. Most of the Dolphins’ rushing attempts were either stopped for losses or short gains, which is an extension of their run game so far in the preseason.
“More than anything really this preseason, we haven’t got stuff going because it’s been one or two guys off, which I’m more concerned about the players, whether they learn from that or not,” McDaniel said. “Joint practices generally you’re a little more comfortable doing, not the one-on-one version of your run game, pass game, defense.”
NOTES: Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle, who was held out of practices last week due to an undisclosed injury, returned this week. He didn’t participate in team drills Wednesday, but he did get work on the jug machine after practice ended. DeVonta Smith, his former Alabama teammate, later joined him. … Cornerback Nik Needham, who was hurt in the first quarter last week against the Raiders, left practice early and didn’t return. McDaniel said he is day to day, but the injury is “nothing to be concerned about.”
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-dolphins-cancel-joint-practice-due-to-stomach-bug-outbreak/ | 2022-08-26T12:24:29Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-dolphins-cancel-joint-practice-due-to-stomach-bug-outbreak/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DETROIT (AP) — California will require all new cars, trucks and SUVs sold in the state to run on electricity or hydrogen by 2035 in an ambitious move away from gasoline-powered vehicles and the pollution they emit.
The requirements come in phases starting in 2026, and it will take 13 years for them become fully effective. But there are many challenges to meeting them.
EVs now cost substantially more than gas-powered vehicles. There are shortages of precious metals needed for their batteries. The U.S. has little battery manufacturing capacity.
But a lot can change in 13 years. Here’s what we know about the problem areas and what’s being done about them:
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WILL AUTOMAKERS BE ABLE TO MAKE ENOUGH ELECTRIC VEHICLES?
More than likely. During the first half of this year, electric vehicle sales accounted for about 15% of California’s new vehicle market. New vehicle sales in the state normally run around 2 million per year. That’s roughly a 1.5 million difference that has to be made up by 2035. But almost every day, automakers are announcing new EV models, battery factories and assembly plants. Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Hyundai-Kia, Stellantis and VinFast have announced plans for 10 U.S. battery plants.
“New plants are coming in and old plants are being converted,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president of AutoForecast Solutions. “The plans are in place for a large amount of vehicles being ready for the U.S. and global markets.”
The big ifs, though, are whether there will be enough precious metals, such as lithium, to make the batteries, and whether EV prices will come down quickly enough. Laurie Holmes, senior manager of government affairs for Kia, told California officials Thursday that the industry could have difficulty meeting sales targets. She urged the state to support incentives for consumers to buy EVs and to help build out a charging system.
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CAN THE ELECTRIC GRID HANDLE THE LOAD?
The California Energy Commission expects electric vehicles to add only a small amount of power use in the next 10 years. The commission estimates that 3.7 million light-duty electric vehicles will be in use in the state in 2030, and they will account for only about 2.6% of electricity use during peak hours. David Reichmuth, a senior engineer for the Union of Concerned Scientists, said EV charging can be timed to off-peak hours, especially during the day when wind and solar power are more available. Utilities will be able to send messages to cars to start or stop charging depending on electricity demand, he said.
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WON’T ELECTRIC VEHICLES BE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MANY PEOPLE?
That’s possible, although prices are coming down, and they are expected to get lower as costs are spread out among more vehicles and new battery chemistries are developed that don’t use many expensive precious metals. Currently most U.S. EVs are targeted at higher-income luxury or pickup-truck buyers and start at $40,000 or more, beyond the reach of many. But prices are starting to come down. For instance, General Motors says it will offer a small Chevrolet SUV with a starting price tag of around $30,000 that’s expected to get close to 300 miles (500 kilometers) per charge. The federal government next year will offer $7,500 tax credits for EVs made in North America, bringing purchase prices down. And California is offering cash, rebates and special financing for low-income buyers. Also, EV buyers will save on fuel and maintenance costs.
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DO EVS REALLY POLLUTE LESS, GIVEN MANUFACTURING AND MINING OF METALS FOR BATTERIES?
Multiple studies, including some by the Massachussets Institute of Technology, say yes. While there is pollution from mining, EVs are so much cleaner than gas vehicles on the road that it only takes a short time for them to make up for the mining. A study released this summer by the Union of Concerned Scientists looked at lifetime emissions, including the manufacturing process.
“Altogether, the lifetime emissions for an electric car or and electric pickup are less than half that of a gasoline vehicle,” Reichmuth said. The gap between gas and electric will grow as more electricity comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar, he said.
“There’s nothing that we’re going to do when it comes to aggressively promoting electrification that will be worse for the planet than burning fossil fuels,” said Margo Oge, chair of the International Council for Clean Transportation and a former top U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official.
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WILL OTHER STATES FOLLOW CALIFORNIA?
Currently 17 other states have adopted California’s greenhouse gas emissions requirements, most on the coasts. In total they account for about 40% of all U.S. new vehicle sales. The state of Washington has already started the process to follow the EV sales requirements, and others are expected to. It will take the other states longer to go through the process, and many don’t have the electric vehicle demand or charging infrastructure that California does.
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Ronayne reported from Sacramento, California. | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-explainer-california-ev-requirements-face-some-obstacles/ | 2022-08-26T12:26:08Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-explainer-california-ev-requirements-face-some-obstacles/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — A lawyer for c onspiracy theorist Alex Jones invoked his right against self-incrimination Thursday during a civil court hearing in Connecticut over the possible improper disclosure of confidential medical records of relatives of some of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims.
New Haven-based attorney Norman Pattis refused to answer questions citing his Fifth Amendment rights during a hearing on whether he should be disciplined for giving the confidential records to unauthorized persons — other lawyers for Jones in Texas. He has denied any wrongdoing. A judge did not decide Thursday if any discipline is warranted.
The hearing was connected to a Connecticut lawsuit filed by Sandy Hook families against Jones for calling the 2012 shooting that killed 20 children and six educators in Newtown a hoax. State Judge Barabara Bellis in Waterbury found Jones liable for damages in November 2021 and a jury trial over how much he should pay is scheduled to begin next month.
Bellis, who oversaw Thursday’s hearing, said it was “unusual” for a lawyer to invoke the Fifth Amendment during a disciplinary hearing.
One of Jones’s Texas-based lawyers, Andino Reynal, also testified before Bellis on Thursday as he also faces possible discipline over the records disclosure. Reynal said he was surprised and embarrassed when he found out about the disclosure.
“It was the worst day of my legal career,” he said.
Reynal represented Jones during a trial in Austin, Texas — where Jones and his Infowars web show are based — in a similar lawsuit over his claims the school shooting was a hoax. That trial ended earlier this month when a jury awarded the parents of one of the children killed in the massacre nearly $50 million in damages. Reynal has said Jones will appeal the verdicts.
According to court documents and testimony, Pattis sent a large number of records from the Connecticut defamation case within the past month to a third lawyer for Jones who represented Jones’ companies in a bankruptcy case. That lawyer then sent the records to Reynal, who in turn gave the records to the attorney who represented the Sandy Hook parents in the Texas trial.
The documents were given to Pattis by lawyers representing Sandy Hook families in the Connecticut case as part of discovery. It has not been made clear what the documents included. But lawyers associated with the case have said there were some folders with titles suggesting they included confidential medical records of the Sandy Hook plaintiffs.
The records also apparently included texts from Jones’ cellphone. In a surprise move during the Texas trial, the Sandy Hook parents’ lawyer, Mark Bankston, revealed that Reynal had mistakenly sent him the records, including Jones’ texts. Reynal said Thursday that he didn’t look at the records before sending them to Bankston.
Bankston reportedly has sent Jones’ phone records to the U.S. House committee examining the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot that sought to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election. The panel’s chairman has accused Jones of helping to organize a rally near the Capitol that preceded the insurrection. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-alex-jones-lawyer-takes-the-fifth-during-sandy-hook-hearing/ | 2022-08-26T12:26:35Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-alex-jones-lawyer-takes-the-fifth-during-sandy-hook-hearing/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON (AP) — For millions of Americans, President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation offers a life-changing chance to escape the burden of debt. But for future generations of students, it doesn’t fix the underlying reason for the crisis: the rising cost of college.
The specter of heavy debt will still loom over current high school seniors — and everyone after them — since the debt cancellation only applies to those who took out federal student loans before July 1.
Among the main causes is rising college tuition: Today’s four-year universities charge an average of nearly $17,000 a year in tuition and mandatory fees, more than double the inflation-adjusted average from 30 years ago, according to federal data.
Biden’s failure to tackle the broader problem drew reproach from Republicans along with some of his fellow Democrats.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., said the loan cancellation “doesn’t address the root problems that make college unaffordable.” Instead she called for expanded Pell Grants reserved for low-income students, and targeted forgiveness for borrowers in need. Other critics included Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., who said the forgiveness should have been joined by action to address the “absurd” cost of college.
“We cannot continue to trap another generation of Americans in this cruel cycle,” Bennet said.
The issue is top of mind for 17-year-old Ariel Wolfe. The high-school senior in Borden, Indiana, has older siblings who qualify for forgiveness, but she won’t. Wolfe has saved about $2,000 for college and hopes to avoid loans, but she doesn’t know if she can. She wishes Biden’s debt plan, or something like it, would be available to her and her peers, saying it would be “an incentive to have more people go to college.”
In Olathe, Kansas, high-school senior Natalie Ren said it’s frustrating that today’s college students will get relief but her class, less than a year away from college, won’t.
“So to me, it’s just like, Well, why are they getting the $10,000 taken off of their student loan debt?” said Ren, 17. “Meanwhile, we’re still going to have to take on that full responsibility.”
There’s no doubt that Biden’s debt forgiveness plan has a big upside for many Americans, if it survives the court challenges that are likely coming. More than 20 million will be eligible to get their federal student debt erased entirely, and 23 million more could get it reduced, the administration said. The plan cancels $10,000 per borrower and another $10,000 for Pell Grant recipients, for those who earn less than $125,000 a year or $250,000 per household.
Biden also extended a pandemic-era pause on federal student loan payments for what he called the “final time.” Payments are now expected to restart in January.
But without broader action, the nation’s federal student loan debt will return to today’s levels — $1.6 trillion — within five years of the cancellation, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonprofit that advocates for lower deficits.
“This doesn’t fundamentally solve the student debt problem,” said Marc Goldwein, the budget group’s senior policy director. “It will be a one-time clean slate that wipes a bunch of people off the rolls. But they’re just going to be replaced by new borrowers.”
It also creates an expectation that future presidents may forgive some share of student debt, which could make borrowers feel safer taking on debt and in turn encourage colleges to raise prices further, Goldwein said.
“This has the potential to worsen college affordability,” he said.
Even higher-education leaders said Biden’s plan should be seen only as a first step toward college affordability. The American Council on Education, a group that represents college and university leaders, called on Congress to simplify repayment options and limit student loan interest, among other changes.
“To avoid forcing current and future students into the same debt morass, we must act in a comprehensive manner to modernize the federal student loan program,” said Ted Mitchell, the group’s president.
Mitchell pointed to state cuts in higher education as a “big reason” for tuition increases at public universities and more student debt.
Anticipating criticism, Biden’s plan came with a separate proposal that aims to lower federal student debt payments in the future. The proposed regulation would create a new repayment plan with monthly payments capped at no more than 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income, down from 10% in similar existing plans.
It would also forgive any remaining balance after 10 years — down from 20 years in existing options — and it would raise the floor for repayments, meaning no one earning less than 225% of the federal poverty level would need to make monthly payments.
The idea was well received even by some critics, but taken as a whole, many saw the moment as a missed chance to pursue broader changes.
Major updates to the federal student debt system would require approval from Congress, but there has been bipartisan support for an overhaul. There are disagreements about the details, but lawmakers from both parties have shown support for expanded Pell Grants, simplified loan repayment options and a system to hold colleges accountable when their students get stuck with debt they can’t afford.
Instead of canceling debt, critics say the Biden administration should have brokered a deal to overhaul the federal loan system through legislation.
“It’s a real disappointment that we didn’t see that happen, and that instead we had this effort which to me is much more of a political solution than a policy one,” said Beth Akers, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.
Others question whether a sharply divided Congress would be able to reach an accord even on student debt. Biden previously pushed hard for free community college, which many Democrats see as an answer to rising debt, but he was ultimately unable to get unified support even from his own party.
After Biden’s free community college proposal was cut from a spending bill last year, he vowed to make it happen “in the next several years,” but the effort has yet to be revived.
Even without a federal program, a growing number of cities and states have experimented with free college programs of their own in recent years.
Still the momentum around student debt has sparked hope that broader change is possible. Responding to Biden’s plan, Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, chair of the House education and labor committee, called on Congress to take the next step. He said it will take “bold action” to make sure every student gets an education that leads to a good career.
Without bigger investments in education and improvements to the federal loan system, he said, “students will continue to take on more debt and borrowers will continue to face rising debt levels.”
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Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth and Arleigh Rodgers contributed to this report. Rodgers is a corps member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
___
The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Find more on student loan coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans | https://www.wspa.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-student-loan-crisis-awaits-new-generation-despite-biden-plan/ | 2022-08-26T12:27:33Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-student-loan-crisis-awaits-new-generation-despite-biden-plan/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
What is the best It Cosmetics foundation?
It Cosmetics is a beauty brand founded in 2008 by American entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima. The “IT” in the name stands for innovative technology — the brand focuses on creating solutions for skin problems by making products with the help of plastic surgeons and dermatologists.
It Cosmetics was created due to Lima’s skin issues — rosacea and thin brows. She says her mission is to empower people and make them confident by meeting skin care and makeup needs while treating the skin.
For an amazing foundation that will treat your skin and help it glow, the It Cosmetics Bye-Bye Foundation is the number one choice.
What to know before you buy an It Cosmetics foundation
Skin tones and undertones
The best shade of foundation is one closest to your skin tone. For the most flattering shade, consider both your skin tone and your undertone. The skin tone is the appearance of the skin that is most obvious, while the undertones are more subtle but still affect your skin’s overall hue. Your undertones could be cool, warm or neutral. Warm undertones work best with warmer shades of foundation while cool undertones go best with cooler shades.
The color of the veins on the inside of your palm can help you know what undertones you have. Veins that appear green suggest warm undertones while veins that appear blue indicate cool undertones. Those that blend with the skin tone and are not so obvious are seen as neutral tones.
Skin type
The kind of skin you have affects the kind of foundation you need.
- Dry skin: A hydrating foundation is best for you. The moisturizing component nourishes your skin and gives it a dewy finish.
- Oily skin or large pores: Go for a foundation that is not oil-based so that you don’t clog your pores or appear too oily after a while.
- Sensitive or acne-prone skin: You’ll benefit most from hypoallergenic foundations.
- Combination skin: You can use almost any foundation type without a problem.
Coverage
It Cosmetics foundations can either be light, medium or full coverage. If you have skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation or scars that you want to cover, a high coverage foundation gives you a smooth, even finish. A foundation with light coverage is subtle and only covers up blemishes on a minimal level.
Skin sensitivity
Foundations are usually made from water, oil or wax and a talc base. Other ingredients are then added based on skin needs and the brand’s formulas. The combination of ingredients may irritate users with sensitive skin, so check every bottle for ingredients you’re allergic to.
If you’re not sure what you’re allergic to, do a patch test before buying. Apply a drop of product to a clean patch of skin and blend it in with a makeup brush.
What to look for in a quality It Cosmetics foundation
Results
It Cosmetics creates foundations that target and treat people’s concerns. With data and clinical insights from its growing user base, the brand creates skin care and makeup solutions for common problems such as acne, redness, wrinkles, sparse brows, fine lines, hyperpigmentation and color correction. Your skin doesn’t just look good — it starts to heal, too, making you even more beautiful and confident.
Easy application
Some It Cosmetics foundations have a silver cap in their packaging, a sleek, modern detail many people love. They can also either come in tubes or bottles with pumps for easy application. Every product is easy to open and apply with your hands or a makeup brush.
Paraben-free
Paraben is a type of preservative used to prevent growth of mold and bacteria in cosmetic products. It can, however, cause allergic reactions. It Cosmetics foundations use safer alternatives and are completely paraben-free, minimizing chances of an allergic reaction.
How much you can expect to spend on It Cosmetics foundation
Expect to spend about $15-$65, depending on the foundation’s formula and size.
It Cosmetics foundation FAQ
Is It Cosmetics cruelty-free?
A. Yes, it is a cruelty-free brand — it does not test any of its products on animals.
Is It Cosmetics vegan?
A. No, it is not. Some of its products contain ingredients derived from animals.
What is the shelf life of an It Cosmetics foundation?
A. Foundations usually expire 12 to 18 months after they’ve been opened.
What’s the best It Cosmetics foundation to buy?
Top It Cosmetics foundation
It Cosmetics Bye-Bye Foundation
What you need to know: This is a full coverage foundation created with 3D skin flex technology that minimizes creases or flaking off.
What you’ll love: It provides protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays with a Sun Protection Factor of 50 while moisturizing the skin to give a smooth finish. Its full coverage and long-lasting properties work best for people with concerns such as hyperpigmentation and dark spots. It’s also great for all-day wear and events.
What you should consider: It may appear cakey after wearing it for an extended period.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top It Cosmetics foundation for the money
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation
What you need to know: This is a water-light foundation with medium coverage.
What you’ll love: The hyaluronic acid and aloe vera in this foundation improve your skin’s hydration, making it plump and healthy. Its medium coverage gives a natural finish that mimics your skin, and it is available in about 40 shades.
What you should consider: It has a creamy texture and may not be suitable for people with oily skin.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Kohl’s
Worth checking out
It Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Lightweight Foundation
What you need to know: This is a color-correcting foundation with medium coverage.
What you’ll love: It’s infused with green tea extract that is soothing and gentle on the skin. Its color-correcting properties give a subtle glow and a dewy finish that are great if you have dry or combination skin.
What you should consider: Some people with oily skin found it a little too greasy after an extended period.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Kohl’s
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Nentapmun Gomwalk writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which iPhone 13 Pro Max case is best?
There is no gentle way to explain that Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max is an expensive mobile phone. The model with the smallest internal storage retails for just over $1,000, while the 512-gigabyte version costs $1,399. Therefore, you must protect it from accidental damage as much as you can.
But that doesn’t mean you must lock it away in a safe or handle it with soft white gloves. You’d look pretty silly doing that, but there is a more practical way. A solid case ensures that no serious damage comes to your phone, and the OtterBox Commuter Series Case is an excellent option.
What to know before you buy an iPhone 13 Pro Max case
Consider the level of protection
You obviously want to protect your iPhone 13 as much as you can, but there are cases best suited for specific conditions. There’s no need for a rugged, robust case if you just want to keep your phone from getting scuff marks. Likewise, a soft silicone case won’t provide adequate protection if you use the phone outdoors or on camping trips.
You don’t need to buy the official Apple case
There is a substantial selection of iPhone 13 cases, but no doubt an Apple sales representative will try to convince you to buy the official case. While it provides great protection, it cost a lot more than third-party cases. You essentially pay for the brand name, as other cases give you more security at a fraction of the price.
Battery power vs. storage
Most people get a case to ensure that their phones don’t get scratched. But others look at a case for storing cards and cash or for an extra boost in battery power. And yes, there are cases that can provide you with both.
While it makes the iPhone 13 much thicker, a wallet case gives you a few slots for credit cards so you don’t need to carry your wallet around. If you power through your phone’s battery before you get home, it’s a great idea to look for a case that has a built-in power bank.
What to look for in a quality iPhone 13 Pro Max case
Anti-yellowing, if it’s a clear case
Anybody who has ever used a clear case on a mobile device knows that it tends to discolor after some time. The yellowing effect is caused by sunlight and materials not suited for exposure. A good-quality clear case is treated with special compounds that prevent the clarity from fading or getting an unsightly yellow shade.
Reinforced corners for rugged use
If you’re planning on taking your iPhone 13 into the woods, you’re probably looking for a rugged case. But there is a trick to ensuring that all aspects of your device are covered. Most robust cases protect the screen and side during a fall, but a good-quality case for outdoor use has reinforced corners.
The most damage to a phone’s screen happens when it falls on a corner, with the force shattering the display. Reinforced corners absorb the shock and dissipate it away from the glass.
MagSafe-compatible
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is compatible with Apple’s MagSafe technology for wireless charging. A good-quality case won’t block the electromagnetic signals, so you can charge your phone without having to take the case off. While you might think that all cases are MagSafe-compatible, remember that cases with card wallets or built-in power banks aren’t suitable for wireless charging.
How much you can expect to spend on an iPhone 13 Pro Max case
The average price of a case for the iPhone 13 Pro Max depends on the protection level and manufacturer. A case with minimal protection costs $10-$15, while a rugged case with maximum protection costs $40-$50.
iPhone 13 Pro Max case FAQ
Why do some people say a case is bad for your phone?
A. A phone case is an excellent method for protecting the delicate display and ceramic backing. But powerful phones such as the iPhone 13 tend to get hot when used often. Due to poor heat dissipation, a case can damage the circuitry.
Can you use a screen protector with an iPhone 13 case?
A. Yes, and it is recommended that you do. A screen protector is a thin plastic layer that clings to the glass display. It prevents cracks or chips and is a great way to keep it clean. They are so thin that they won’t affect the fit of the case.
What’s the best iPhone 13 Pro Max case to buy?
Top iPhone 13 Pro Max case
OtterBox Commuter Series Case For iPhone 13 Pro Max
What you need to know: Otterbox’s Commuter cases can survive three times as many drops and falls as other covers and are coated in antimicrobial technology.
What you’ll love: The case protects your phone through a dual-layer system that doesn’t add too much thickness. The inside has a microfiber lining, while the outer shell is hard plastic.
What you should consider: It can be challenging to open and close the port covers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top iPhone 13 Pro Max case for the money
Spigen Ultra Hybrid Crystal Clear Case For iPhone 13 Pro Max
What you need to know: If you want to protect your phone while still showing off the Apple logo and the color, a clear case is best.
What you’ll love: It has a rigid see-through backing while the sides and corners are softer. The raised bezels around the screen and camera lens lift it off flat surfaces, and the buttons are easy to press.
What you should consider: Some users said the phone’s fit isn’t as snug as expected.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Tauri 3-In-1 Defender For iPhone 13 Pro Max Case
What you need to know: This clear case is treated with anti-yellowing technology so your phone will always be visible and look brand new.
What you’ll love: It comes in three parts: the primary protective case, a two-pack screen protector and a special two-pack clear cutout that protects the camera lenses. It’s compatible with MagSafe chargers.
What you should consider: It’s excellent for protection against dirt and fingerprint, but doesn’t offer much against bumps or fall damage.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Charlie Fripp writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which tax preparation software is best?
When the taxman comes to the door, there’s no need to turn your house into a rummage sale just to pay your dues. All you need is the right tax preparation software. The best software for you should only be as complex as your finances. Otherwise, you can end up paying more for no extra benefit.
The best tax preparation software for the average person is Intuit TurboTax Deluxe Federal And State 2021. It covers all the most common deductions and credits and has an easy-to-understand interface.
What to know before you buy tax preparation software
Tax preparation software complexity
Some people’s taxes are simple enough to take 15 minutes once a year, while others must carefully track income and expenses all year. Varying levels of software match those needs.
- Basic software is for those with little to no complication and small incomes. If you’re filing taxes for the first time, start here.
- Advanced software is for those with complications and good-sized incomes. If you’re married with dependents and have a few revenue streams, go with this.
- Premium software is for those with several revenue streams and many complications. If you’ve ever considered an accountant due to your tax complexity, this is your best bet.
- Self-employed software is for freelancers and gig workers, etc. It covers the basics of expenses on top of premium offerings.
- Small-business software is more for year-round accounting than tax-time inputs.
- Business software is also for year-round accounting but for those with bigger businesses.
Operating system compatibility
Most tax preparation software can be used on only one operating system. The most common operating systems are Windows, found on the majority of computers, and macOS, found on Apple computers. Most tax prep software comes with a version for each, so make sure you order the right one.
What to look for in quality tax preparation software
Easy data import
The best tax preparation software makes importing your data as simple as possible. This can include uploading a picture of your files rather than needing to input them manually or letting you import your various accounts’ info.
E-filing
Most tax preparation software includes the ability to e-file your taxes with the Internal Revenue Service. Double-check that yours does before you buy, or you’ll have to print and mail your return instead.
Customer support
Tax preparation software customer support includes the usual help with technology issues, but the best also includes support for those with tax questions. Software that includes tax question customer support is a lifesaver for those new to filing taxes and those with complex returns.
How much you can expect to spend on tax preparation software
Basic tax software can be found for free, as you aren’t required to pay the IRS to file your taxes. More advanced software can cost as little as $20 or as much as $100-plus. All-year accounting software usually starts around $100 and can cost $1,000-plus.
Tax preparation software FAQ
Should I do my own taxes or hire an accountant?
A. Neither course of action is better than the other. It comes down to how complex your taxes are, how good you are with numbers and whether you’re willing to spend the time it takes to prepare everything.
If you run a business and it’s your first tax time after opening it then you may want to hire an accountant who can both do your taxes and explain to you how to do them on your own next year.
If you have multiple sources of income and complicating factors such as being married, having kids and paying student loans, it’s a bit of a toss-up. An accountant is more expensive than software, but you save time and effort and might get a bigger refund.
If you have one income source and few to no complicating factors, free tax software or services that walk you through the steps are probably best.
I’ve never done taxes before. Where do I start?
A. The first step is to collect every piece of information you have on what money came in and what money went out. The more information you have, the more complex software you need. If you’re really lost, hire an accountant.
What’s the best tax preparation software to buy?
Top tax preparation software
Intuit TurboTax Deluxe Federal and State 2021
What you need to know: This is an excellent balance of simplicity and depth for those with more complex returns.
What you’ll love: It covers 350-plus deductions and credits and walks you through each of them while skipping those that don’t apply to you. You can import most of your tax files quickly and easily, including previous returns if you’ve used this software before.
What you should consider: This is last year’s version. The 2022 version comes out in November. Some consumers had issues installing it. State filing can be prepared but not e-filed.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Dell and Staples
Top tax preparation software for the money
What you need to know: If your taxes are simple, there’s no need for anything more complex.
What you’ll love: It covers simple income for both single and married people, whether filing jointly or individually. It also covers basic tax deductions and credits for those with dependents, such as children. It’s available for Windows and macOS systems. State taxes are available for an extra fee.
What you should consider: Like TurboTax, this is last year’s version with the 2022 version coming in November. A few customers found the font too small and the interface confusing.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Dell and Staples
Worth checking out
Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Premier Plus With Payroll
What you need to know: This is the best software you can get if you run a small business with employees.
What you’ll love: This software covers everything you need to keep your finances clean and precise, from tracking expenses to preparing your taxes. It can even create paychecks and lets you set up direct deposits for your employees. Your data is automatically backed up.
What you should consider: It’s only available as a yearly subscription and it’s among the most expensive. It’s complex and can take time to get the hang of.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Dell and Staples
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wspa.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-accessories-peripherals-br/best-tax-preparation-software/ | 2022-08-26T12:28:26Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/computer-accessories-peripherals-br/best-tax-preparation-software/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CINCINNATI (AP) — Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald repeatedly swung a helmet at Cincinnati Bengals players in a brawl between the two teams Thursday, putting an early end to their joint practice session.
Players threw fists and helmets during scuffles leading up to the final free-for-all. Donald, a three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year and eight-time Pro Bowler, was thrown to the ground after swinging a helmet.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor downplayed the event, saying: “Emotions run high. We’ve been working together for two days now, and that’s just some real competitive guys getting into it.”
Any punishment for the brawl would have to be issued by the Rams and Bengals because the NFL doesn’t impose discipline for conduct at practice, a league official told The Associated Press.
Things got chippy in the middle of the second day of the joint practice, when Cincinnati offensive lineman La’el Collins blocked Donald as quarterback Joe Burrow completed a long pass to Ja’Marr Chase. On the next play, Collins scuffled with linebacker Leonard Floyd, ripping off the defender’s helmet and tossing it.
Collins was involved in another scuffle before the final sideline-clearing fight.
The Bengals and Rams, who played in the Super Bowl in February, face each other in the final preseason game on Saturday night in Cincinnati.
In 2019, the Browns’ Myles Garrett was suspended six games for using his helmet to smash Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph over the head during a regular-season game.
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More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-aaron-donald-swings-helmet-in-brawl-between-rams-bengals/ | 2022-08-26T12:28:39Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-aaron-donald-swings-helmet-in-brawl-between-rams-bengals/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CLEVELAND (AP) — JC Tretter’s days blocking defensive linemen are over. He’s not through going up against the NFL.
The former Cleveland Browns center and current NFLPA president announced his retirement on Thursday, saying on Twitter that he ended a playing career that started in Green Bay and spanned nine seasons “on my own terms.”
However, Tretter said in an interview that he believes his work with the union played a role in him not being re-signed after the Browns released him in March.
“There are teams right now that I would say are desperate for a center based off how camp’s going,” Tretter told Sports Illustrated. “Still no calls.”
Tretter, who plans to stay on and serve his second term leading the union, missed only one game for Cleveland over the past five seasons despite playing on bad knees. He rarely practiced so he could get treatment but always managed to be ready for games.
The 31-year-old didn’t miss a snap until last season, when he tested positive for COVID-19 before a Christmas game in Green Bay.
“Incredible how he was able to fight through injuries and all of those type of things,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Just think about some of the injuries he dealt with in Green Bay and then came here and did not miss much time — I don’t even know if he missed any time.
“Never wanted to come out of the game. An impressive example for the young guys about how to make it to Sunday.”
The Browns released Tretter — days after he was elected to a second term as president — in a salary-cap move. There had been speculation Cleveland might bring him back after starter Nick Harris suffered a season-ending knee injury in the exhibition opener.
However, the Browns elevated Ethan Pocic to the starting lineup and Tretter remained unsigned before deciding to retire.
Tretter was instrumental in setting up team COVID-19 protocols and helping the league navigate pandemic-related challenges during the 2020 season. He was also a strong advocate for player safety and believes some of that work resulted in him being shunned as a free agent.
While he was still playing, Tretter thought his efforts off the field would have an impact on his future.
“Guys would be like, ‘Oh, like how are your knees doing?’” Tretter told SI. “And I always said, ‘My NFLPA job is gonna end my career well before my knees end my career.’”
Green Bay drafted Tretter in the fourth round in 2013 out of Cornell. He broke his ankle during the offseason and didn’t play his first year. In 2014, he played in eight games, missing time with a knee injury.
He spent three seasons with the Packers before the Browns signed him as a free agent in 2017.
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-former-browns-center-nflpa-president-jc-tretter-retires/ | 2022-08-26T12:29:14Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-former-browns-center-nflpa-president-jc-tretter-retires/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Children’s Therapy Center (CTC) is not here to advocate limits–the company stretches across the Northeast coast, serves kids from birth to 21 years old, and helps with anything from picky eating to ADHD. The Gainesville center offers physical, occupational, speech, and feeding therapy, and is here to tackle what our children are dealing with as they emerge from the throes of COVID 19.
Pandemic pains
Occupational Therapist and Manager of CTC Gainesville Alyssa Diprofio noted that executive function and social skills got hit hard enough that they are only now seeing kids return to pre-COVID routines in those areas. Without the usual structure in place of interaction in public learning spaces, “it’s like they forgot everything in the last year because it’s been turned upside down,” Diprofio said.
When safety takes priority, development is sometimes relegated to the backseat. Director of Community Outreach Kelly Marriott noted the trade-off between masks and communication, saying, “for those kids who have a hard time reading nonverbal communication, the masks add another barrier.” Alyssa added that “seeing the way your lips move and how you produce different sounds is important for language development.”
Diprofio highlighted that the pandemic involved a loss of control, so children found ways to regain control–over what they wear, eat, and do. VP of Sales and Marketing Laurie Watkin summarized that all the effects of getting through the pandemic were factors contributing to kids’ anxiety. The result is a cognitive rigidity that confines their life.
Teaching progress
CTC responds by giving kids grounding techniques, coping strategies, and methods to help them “regulate their body to be able to function, get through their day, and enjoy their day,” Alyssa said. She emphasized that their focus is on “working with some cognitive flexibility to be okay with things going differently… as well as some of the anxiety around the unknown.”
Watkin noted how they personalize their approach to each child and their circumstances.
“It’s important to show them progress, so maybe we’ll break a goal down into smaller steps,” she said.
“It’s a combination of developing these coping strategies [and] involving parents… As the kids become better with using these coping strategies, the hope is for them to identify their emotions independently,” Diprofio said.
A passion for education
The community’s role in reinforcing positive behaviors for the children is essential. CTC will teach that child’s community about offering adult-selected choices (start your day by brushing your teeth or getting dressed–you choose). They also show kids zones of regulation with colors to reflect stimulation–such as blue for low arousal or red for anger.
Incorporating the community requires CTC to reach out to the adults in each child’s life–family, teachers, and even physicians. They want to encourage consistency in the support of each child.
“We try to get information out there so people are in a better place to help their kids and identify if their kids are struggling,” Laurie said.
They’re passionate about organizing educational services, doing school assemblies, and arranging parent support groups. They’ve also ramped up teletherapy, held Facebook lives, hosted webinars, created newsletters, and made resources virtual wherever possible.
Accessible solutions
Whether COVID-related or not, it’s difficult to find time for all the things we benefit from. Marriott acknowledged that parents are busy, and insurance might prove an obstacle to getting therapy. That’s why CTC has flexible evening and weekend hours and works with insurance for proper coverage.
Watkin added that it can be overwhelming to realize your child has a challenge that they could use help with. They also know that the bigger task of meeting a child’s distinct needs is built on the small breaks along the way. For helping in the home, CTC has diverse activity videos (mommy and me yoga!) that give kids and parents a break when they need something new.
Director of Marketing Lauren Maynard pointed out that “things that a pediatrician might be seeing, where they would recommend services, could be missed for a year or more;” since medically necessary doctor visits were prioritized over wellness visits throughout COVID. CTC bridges that gap by doing preschool screenings to evaluate the need for services. They hope that the more accessible and familiar their services are, the more likely families will be to reach out.
What you’ll find at CTC Gainesville
CTC embraces community from all angles–going out or bringing it in. Laurie said, “We provide the therapy services in every environment that a family can access–schools, early intervention, outpatient services” and more. For their Facebook live sessions, “Parents could ask questions and have experts in different areas available to help support them… everything from a developmental pediatrician to a sports trainer,” she added.
From directors to managers, they are no strangers to the struggles that our children face as we get comfortable without structure. Alyssa has a toddler–a “COVID baby”–who couldn’t socialize because of the pandemic and benefits from some of the same things that CTC offers (one favorite is the yoga classes). The issues and solutions that CTC deals with are not far removed from team members’ lives.
No matter where someone is in the process of identifying and meeting their child’s needs, Watkin said, “If a child is struggling, even if you’re not sure they’re struggling, have them evaluated so we can determine if they would benefit from services–the earlier the better.” Diprofio chimed in, “it can’t hurt anything.”
Being here to help and not hurt is at the heart of CTC Gainesville. “The kids come and they have a ball,” Laurie laughed, “because we incorporate functional play… they look forward to it.”
This feature appears in the August 2022 issue of Haymarket-Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine. | https://www.insidenova.com/lifestyles/making-up-for-lost-time-improving-kids-lives-post-covid/article_5ba57aa0-2534-11ed-810f-372d3b8373bf.html | 2022-08-26T12:29:56Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/lifestyles/making-up-for-lost-time-improving-kids-lives-post-covid/article_5ba57aa0-2534-11ed-810f-372d3b8373bf.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Once the Arlington County government wraps up imposing its will on residents increasingly concerned about the “Missing Middle” zoning free-for-all later this year, it is likely to turn its attention to facilitating increased urbanization of the Langston Boulevard corridor.
County officials are out with a 135-page concept design for the five-mile stretch of east-west roadway that runs from Rosslyn out to the Falls Church border, and it is in line with expectations.
The document envisions a general increase in urbanization, with more businesses coupled with amped-up housing and transportation options.
“By 2050, Langston Boulevard will become a ‘Green Main Street’ of vibrant neighborhoods, linking iconic local businesses, mixed-use activity nodes, sufficient and mixed housing supply and signature public spaces,” planners predicted in the document.
Whether or not such a proposal – coming from both staff and, ultimately, County Board members who do not live in the corridor – will gain favor with those who actually live there remains to be seen. Critics already are contending that the proposal goes too far, too fast, and ignores the interests of many residents along the route.
And indeed, the report acknowledges that a one-size-fits-all approach is not the appropriate route to successful implementation.
“The Langston Boulevard neighborhoods are complex,” the report says. “Each area has its own unique culture, built form and urban functionality. Residents, workers and visitors see and understand the neighborhoods along the corridor differently.”
How much resonance any complaints from those who currently own property in the corridor will have as the process plays out in coming months is an open question. The County Board as currently comprised seems firm in its efforts to shoehorn more development – residential and commercial – into the county’s 26 square miles, even as there are growing alarms raised about the impact on transportation, schools and the management of stormwater runoff.
(For their part, county staff in the Langston Boulevard report contend that school enrollment won’t be significantly increased by the plan and that “increased traffic from new growth is largely offset by the proposed mobility enhancement.”)
In a survey conducted earlier this year, respondents in all parts of the corridor said that pedestrian improvements were the most important upgrade that needed to be made, followed by tree preservation. Far down the list were the types of things planners salivate over, such as public art and imposition of “green” building requirements.
Adding affordable-housing options to the corridor ranked in the middle of priorities among current residents of the neighborhoods but was ranked much higher by those living outside the corridor, an indication of the fissures between advocacy groups and neighborhood residents. And while County Board members of years gone by used to be fearful of the political power of (and therefor responsive to) single-family neighborhoods such as those in large swaths of Langston Boulevard, the current body these days seems to be under sway of advocacy groups pressing for the increasing urbanization, particularly in single-family neighborhoods and areas that abut them.
The recently unveiled concept plan builds on a “vision study” for the corridor completed in 2016. The Plan Langston Boulevard effort began in 2019 under the roadway’s former name, Lee Highway.
Arlington officials are teeing up a number of online community meetings to discuss the plan, starting on Sept. 14 and running through October.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/more-urbanization-proposed-for-arlingtons-langston-blvd-corridor/article_9e5ae886-2533-11ed-a2dc-37acc45a201f.html | 2022-08-26T12:30:02Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/more-urbanization-proposed-for-arlingtons-langston-blvd-corridor/article_9e5ae886-2533-11ed-a2dc-37acc45a201f.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ATLANTA (AP) — Masters champion Scottie Scheffler might have had a roller coaster of an opening round Thursday at the Tour Championship if only he had been paying attention to the scoreboards.
Scheffler started with a two-shot lead as the No. 1 seed in the FedEx Cup. He led by as many as six shots on the front nine. Then his lead was down to two. And when he finished with three straight birdies for a 5-under 65, he was five strokes ahead of Xander Schauffele.
“I didn’t know any of that,” he said. “I was just trying to go out and shoot a good number.”
Rory McIlroy’s day at East Lake was far more wild. And he knew it.
A two-time FedEx Cup champion, McIlroy started six shots behind. He teed off in a downpour and hooked his tee shot over the fence and out-of-bounds. He reloaded and found a bunker. He missed a 6-foot putt and took triple bogey, and just like that was nine shots behind.
And then he went rough-to-rough to make bogey on the next hole. McIlroy had only one par on the front nine and remarkably salvaged a 67.
“Not the best way to start,” McIlroy said. “The golf course is really gettable, so I knew there was a lot of holes out there that you could birdie. I knew my game was good. It was just one of those things. Not the ideal way to start, but proud of how I bounced back from that.”
Equally impressive was British Open champion Cameron Smith, playing for the first time since the opening FedEx Cup playoffs event because of a hip injury that gets aggravated in soft conditions. East Lake wasn’t quite a real lake, but overnight rain and the downpour made for a good walk spoiled.
He still managed a 67 and joined McIlroy at eight shots back. They were a curious attraction because McIlroy has been the biggest voice for the PGA Tour and its battle with Saudi-funded LIV Golf, and reports indicate Smith will be the next to go.
Inside the ropes, it’s golf.
“Business as usual,” McIlroy said. “Cam and I get on really well — always have done. Again, I keep saying no matter what decisions are made or what choices are made by anyone, it doesn’t make them a bad person. Does it make me disagree with them? Of course it does. But I disagree with a lot of people that I like and love.”
And so began the final leg in the chase for the FedEx Cup and the $18 million prize. Scheffler has had the best year with his Masters victory among three wins against strong fields. He would love nothing more than to finish it off, and he played that way.
His 3-iron from 230 yards up the hill to 15 feet led to eagle on the sixth hole. He dropped only one shot, going from bunker over the green at the par-3 ninth and having to make an understated 10-foot putt to escape with bogey.
And then he had a big finish, capped off by going from the left rough over the water to 30 feet for a two-putt birdie to reach 15-under par (which accounts for his 10-under start).
U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick finished with an eagle for a bogey-free 64 and was six shots behind — he matched the best round of the soggy day and gained only one shot on Scheffler — while Joaquin Niemann (64) and defending champion Patrick Cantlay (70) were another shot behind.
Schauffele is dangerous as ever, and his record at East Lake is astounding for someone who has never left Atlanta in possession of a trophy. This was his 21st round in the Tour Championship, and his 19th round under par. The other two were even-par 70s.
He had the low 72-hole score in 2020 but started too far behind to catch Dustin Johnson.
“It’s a weird event,” Schauffele said. “We do this once a year, and it’s one of the bigger events for us to do it. Because of those things, you just have to try your best to stay in the present and not get ahead of it. Tuck your head and play your best golf.”
Weirder still was an injury that Scheffler mentioned from the weekend at the British Open, where he went into Sunday in the mix and shot 74. He had never disclosed it and wasn’t entirely comfortable getting into the details except to say he was in pain.
“I had what’s called a pilonidal infection. It’s an infection at the top of your butt crack,” he said, trying not to crack a smile. “You can look it up. It was really hard for me to bend down. It was really hard for me to make a swing on Sunday. Walking was actually extremely difficult.
“Just one of those things that happened.”
All part of what already has been a remarkable year, and now is 54 holes away from becoming even more memorable.
___
More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-scheffler-starts-with-tour-championship-lead-and-expands-it/ | 2022-08-26T12:30:02Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-scheffler-starts-with-tour-championship-lead-and-expands-it/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Some 400 local residents, community representatives and volunteers on Aug. 14 attended the second annual “Oakton Day in the Park,” held in Oakton Community Park on Hunter Mill Road.
With the backdrop of music from local performer Chris Devine, attendees enjoyed a wide range of activities. Children painted rocks, played bean-bag toss and flew wood gliders.
Adults and youth enjoyed seeing the inside of the historic Oakton schoolhouse, built in 1897, and hearing the schoolhouse’s history from a Girl Scout working on her Gold Star award.
Invasive-plant specialists led attendees on guided walks through the woods, which over the past year have been made increasingly free of the non-native vines and plants that once choked them.
The Friends of Oakton Library was represented, selling books to support the library. New this year, Settle Down Easy Brewing sold some of its local brews and Luciano’s Pizzeria sold pizza slices and cannoli. The event also drew a face-painter and various representatives from local nonprofits.
Oakton Day also was marked by the launch of the first-ever Oakton Community Directory, a guide to local businesses and government services. The Greater Oakton Community Association (GOCA) published the directory and organized the event. Both were intended to build a sense of community, promote local businesses and showcase the promise of the park and schoolhouse as resources for Oakton.
Beyond this event, GOCA has been working with the Fairfax County government to make the schoolhouse more frequently accessible and to try to extend the sidewalks that reach it so that this historic building once again can serve as a community gathering spot, much as it did in its early years.
[https://sungazette.news provides content to, but otherwise is unaffiliated with, InsideNoVa or Rappahannock Media LLC.] | https://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/oakton-day-in-the-park-draws-a-crowd/article_3b91ba4a-2533-11ed-ae7f-bb14445bc712.html | 2022-08-26T12:30:09Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/oakton-day-in-the-park-draws-a-crowd/article_3b91ba4a-2533-11ed-ae7f-bb14445bc712.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It’s easy to misjudge Ty Gordon.
You look at his 6-foot-2, 267-pound frame and wrongfully assume he’s immobile. Then you watch him play football or basketball and he crushes those preconceptions.
Line Gordon up at defensive tackle and watch him break through the line into the backfield and stuff the running back for a loss.
Have him bring the basketball up the court and watch him deliver a spot-on pass to a teammate or effortlessly execute a crossover dribble.
In those cases, and plenty of others, Gordon takes control by gliding into the right spot at the right time and leaving opponents grabbing for air. It’s a natural outgrowth of tireless effort.
“To the eye test, you think he can’t move,” said Battlefield boys basketball coach Randy Bills. “If he beats you once, you think he can’t do it again. But he’s going to expose someone trying to cover him … He’s the ultimate glue-guy. He’s team first.”
1. BATTLEFIELD (13-1 in 2021)
ALWAYS ON THE GO
Gordon came into his own on the football field last fall when he agreed to play defensive tackle for the first time.
Early in the preseason, Battlefield head coach Greg Hatfield asked Gordon to switch from linebacker. He liked Gordon’s footwork. So did defensive coordinator Steve Francese.
“You see this bull in the china shop with nimble feet,” Francese said. “He demonstrated the physical parts, but he was more of a skill guy instead of just a physical one. Fortunately he had both.”
Gordon fit Battlefield’s defensive scheme and dominated upfront on his way to earning second-team all-state honors as the Bobcats went 13-1 and reached the Class 6 state semifinals.
Gordon’s success boosted his football recruiting profile, but he needed his basketball skills to solidify interest from at least one school, Old Dominion University.
Without any idea an assistant football coach from ODU was watching, Gordon showed up for basketball practice and did what he always did on the court by displaying his agility. Remaining inconspicuous, the ODU coach took note and continued to track him.
As the recruiting process unfolded, Hatfield kept telling Gordon to stay patient. Offers would come. Gordon trusted his coach on the position change and he trusted him now.
On Feb. 4, the wait ended when Hatfield told Gordon to prepare for an important phone call. During the last period of the school day, Gordon received a call from ODU. The school wanted to let him know they were extending a football scholarship offer, the first one he received. The news set off a celebration with no one happier than Bills.
“I had tears of joy,” Bills said. “He does that to people.”
Bills remembers first meeting Gordon when he attended a summer workout at Battlefield going into Gordon’s freshman year. Bills had heard about Gordon’s skill so he decided to see for himself if this kid lived up to his reputation. He soon had his answer.
“I put him on my team and he crossed over a rising senior,” Bills recalls.
From that point on, Bills knew he had a special basketball player in Gordon. After starting his freshman year on the junior varsity, Gordon received a late-season promotion to varsity.
He soon became a fixture in the lineup with an expanded role – none bigger than this past season when he earned second-team all-Cedar Run District honors and played an integral part in Battlefield reaching the Class 6 final for the first time.
Putting his versatility to good use, Gordon gave Battlefield the opportunity to create mismatches. He could use his size and strength to post up and grab rebounds. Or he could take opponents off the dribble. It’s why Bills considers Gordon Battlefield’s version of the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green.
And it’s also why he’s so effusive in praising Gordon as a player and as a person. Gordon is someone whose play and attitude benefits everyone no matter the athletic arena.
“It’s rare now with everything so specialized,” Bills said. “He shows you can do both. High school is the last time you can do this type of stuff.”
GOING FOR TWO
Maddux Tennant is another person who can’t say enough good things about Gordon.
“On the basketball floor he is the fastest person with the ball and can change direction so fast your head will spin,” Tennant said. “He can also out jump you for any rebound using his technique and power. On the football field you will notice he is fast off the snap of the ball and his feet don't stop moving until the play is dead. Also he will be the first one to the ball every time.”
The two have known each other since the third grade, when they played on opposing rec-league basketball teams. They are now basketball teammates at Battlefield, and starting this season, football teammates.
Hatfield had approached Tennant, a first-team all-district basketball player, about becoming the team’s kicker after the graduation of second-team all-state selection Vadin Bruot. But Tennant, a senior with a soccer background, also liked the idea of playing football alongside Gordon.
“He’s always played in my element,” Tennant said. “I thought it would be awesome to go into his element.”
From the get-go, Tennant saw Gordon’s deceptive speed.
“Ty has never had slow feet,” Tennant said. “From when he was young he was always practicing and training using agility work.”
Tennant credits Gordon’s work ethic and humility to Gordon’s family. The Gordons own and operate the Thai Peppers restaurants in Haymarket, Bristow and Alexandria. Ty works at the family business a couple times a week when not in sports season, doing anything from waiting tables to being a delivery driver.
“He’s respectful and he cares,” Tennant said. “And that has its roots in his family. They are great people.”
Gordon is someone Tennant leans on, and the feeling is mutual.
“We’re like anchors to each other on and off the court,” Tennant said. “We have each other’s back and push each other to higher limits.”
Gordon considered playing basketball in college, but chose football instead based on his build.
On a team dominated by youth and inexperience, the mental toughness and ability to rise to the occasion shown by seniors was a key component i…
Wanting to get his college decision situated before the start of the season, on July 27, the day before the start of practice, Gordon announced his commitment to ODU.
“It was a good time to commit because with all the support from my family and coach Hatfield I felt great about my choice and I was comfortable with the decision,” Gordon said. “And with that being said I wanted to just fully focus on my senior season so there was no real reason to prolong it.”
Gordon does not plan to graduate early and enroll at ODU in January. Instead he will focus on enjoying his entire senior year and helping Battlefield football and basketball reach new heights after coming so close last season. Tennant, for one, can’t wait to join his long-time friend in this quest.
“[He and I] are aiming for two state championships this year,” Tennant said. | https://www.insidenova.com/sports/prince_william/battlefields-ty-gordon-has-athletic-success-ty-mes-two/article_8ed9f6b0-224d-11ed-adf7-837a18659434.html | 2022-08-26T12:30:15Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/sports/prince_william/battlefields-ty-gordon-has-athletic-success-ty-mes-two/article_8ed9f6b0-224d-11ed-adf7-837a18659434.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
On a team dominated by youth and inexperience, the mental toughness and ability to rise to the occasion shown by seniors was a key component in Gar-Field’s 10-6 non-district victory over visiting North Stafford Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.
Nowhere were these attributes more important in the game than in its waning seconds. Moments after completing a 12-yard pass to senior running back Yayah Conte and a 17-yard pass to Jackson McFarland, North Stafford freshman quarterback Brendan Perkins, who did not start at quarterback in favor of junior Jack Pearson, had the Wolverines (0-1) in a position to win the game.
1. BATTLEFIELD (13-1 in 2021)
Facing 4th and goal from the Gar-Field 5 with 30 seconds left, Perkins threw a well thrown sideline pass near the 3, but senior strong safety Kalvon Sanders jumped in front of the intended receiver and batted the pass away to preserve the victory.
Sanders also played well offensively, carrying 15 times for a game-high 101 yards and scoring the Red Wolves lone touchdown. Gar-Field took a 10-0 lead with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter when Diego Coca-Hernandez booted a 20-yard field goal.
Gar-Field coach Tony Keiling lauded the play of several of his team’s seniors—Sanders, running back/defensive back Jordan Terry, quarterback/strong safety Adric Johnson, and linebacker Malachi Wood-Valentine.
“(Those guys) are really a testament to mental toughness, and Kalvon made the big play at the end there to seal the victory,’’ Keiling said. “He’s a firecracker.’’
North Stafford stalled offensively early, which may have had as much to do with Gar-Field’s defense, a hallmark of the team since Keiling took over as coach, as with the sometimes stifling heat and humidity. Keiling also praised North Stafford and first year coach Marquez Hall.
“They have a new coach and they were very motivated to win for their coach,’’ Keiling said. “But I am very proud that my young team found a way to stop them (North Stafford) inside the 10 (yard line). It’s not easy to win the first game. I’ve never gone. 1-0. I’ve gone 0-3 my first three years, so I will take 1-0."
After the Wolverines had difficulty finding an early offensive rhythm, Hall decided to play Perkins, evidently hoping it would light a spark under a team that had amassed just four passing yards and 57 yards rushing before the fourth quarter.
Perkins did just that, completing 6 of 14 passes for 99 yards and the 11-yard scoring pass to Micah Brown during the quarter.
“This was the case of a team that is mostly young rising to the occasion when it counted,’’ Keiling said. “We had a lot of penalties, but that’s a mark of a young team. We are going to take what we learned from this and fix our mistakes.’’
Among the mistakes were one lost fumble, a few near special teams breakdowns, and 100 yards in penalties despite holding North Stafford to 185 yards of total offense in the game.
“I’ve got a young team and a young coaching staff, but it’s good to have the mental toughness to stop them late in the game,’’ Keiling said.
NORTH STAFFORD (0-1) 0 0 0 6—6
GAR-FIELD (1-0) 7 0 3 0—10
Scoring Summary
First quarter
G-F—Sanders 1 run (Coca-Hernandez kick), 3:36
Third Quarter
G-F—FG Coca-Hernandez 20, 2:16
Fourth Quarter
NS—Brown 11 pass from Perkins (pass failed), 7:48
Individual statistics
RUSHING—North Stafford, Killings 8-42, Conteh 10-27, Perkins 3-13, Pearson 5-3; Gar-Field, Sanders 15-101, Johnson 10-26, Ferrufino. 8-13, Jackson. 2-13, Terry 5-2.
PASSING—North Stafford, Pearson 1-9-1-4, Perkins 6-14-0-99; Gar-Field, Johnson 5-10-0-56.
RECEIVING—North Stafford, McFarland. 4-55, King 1-25, Conteh 1-12, Brown 1-11; Gar-Field, Gardner. 2-59, Terry 2-(minus 7), Carroll 1-4. | https://www.insidenova.com/sports/prince_william/gar-field-holds-off-north-stafford-with-last-minute-defensive-stand-to-win-season-opener/article_bd0881c6-1e49-11ed-b71a-e75e803dcd5b.html | 2022-08-26T12:30:21Z | insidenova.com | control | https://www.insidenova.com/sports/prince_william/gar-field-holds-off-north-stafford-with-last-minute-defensive-stand-to-win-season-opener/article_bd0881c6-1e49-11ed-b71a-e75e803dcd5b.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(The Hill) — The Biden administration has committed nearly $13 billion worth of military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded six months ago.
The scope and power of those weapons have increased over time, with Ukrainian officials arguing that firepower is crucial to defend not only their country, but democracy worldwide.
“Finally it is felt that the Western artillery — the weapons we received from our partners — started working very powerfully,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last month.
On Wednesday, the United States greenlighted another military assistance package to Ukraine, preparing to send nearly $3 billion in arms and equipment to meet Kyiv’s medium- and long-term needs as it beats back Russia’s military.
Major weapons
- High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and ammunition
- The U.S. has committed 16 HIMARS since late May. It is a lighter-wheeled system that can allow Ukrainians to hit Russian targets within Ukraine from further distances.
- 1,500 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles
- Manufactured by Raytheon, the TOW missiles are long-range precision, anti-tank and assault weapons that can hit targets up to 4,500 meters away.
- 155mm Howitzers
- A towed field artillery piece that can hit targets up to 30 km, or 18 miles away. The U.S. has sent 126 of these howitzers, along with 806,000 155mm artillery rounds and 126 tactical vehicles to tow the howitzers.
- 105mm Howitzers
- The U.S. committed to sending 16 105mm howitzers and 108,000 105mm artillery rounds to go with the howitzers. The United Kingdom has already provided the L119 model, which is a lightweight howitzer that can provide direct fire support at armored vehicles or buildings or indirect fire to support combat arms in ranges over 10 km, or 6 miles.
- 120mm mortar systems
- The U.S. Army uses three versions of the 120mm mortar systems, but they are designed to provide close-range, quick-response indirect fire during tactical combat. The U.S. has sent 20 of these systems, as well as 85,000 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition.
- National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS);
- The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, also known as the Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, are advanced air-defense systems that can hit targets up to 100 miles away. The U.S. has committed to sending eight NSAMS, along with munitions for the systems.
- Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems
- The U.S. has committed approximately 700 Phoenix ‘Ghost’ drones to Ukraine between April and July. The systems, made by AEVEX Aerospace, are designed to attack targets.
- Switchblade Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems
- The U.S. has sent over 700 Switchblade drones to Ukraine since March. There are two types of Switchblade drones and the U.S. has sent both, those its unclear how many of each type Washington has sent.
- The Switchblade 300 weighs about five pounds and can fly roughly 6 miles, and is intended to target personnel and light vehicles. However, the Switchblade 600 can fly more than 24 miles and can stay in the air for 40 minutes.
- Puma unmanned aerial systems
- The Pentagon awarded AeroVironment $19.7 million in April to produce the Puma AE RQ-20 system for Ukraine. Designed for reconnaissance and surveillance, it has a range of 20 km, or about 12 miles, and has over three hours of flight endurance.
- Mi-17 helicopters
- The U.S. has provided 20 of the Soviet-era transport helicopters that can also be used as a helicopter gunship. Can carry as many as 30 passengers or 9,000 pounds of cargo
- Harpoon coastal defense systems
- The U.S. announced in June that it would provide two vehicle-mounted Harpoon systems, which are intended for coastal defense. The U.S. said in June that it would provide the launchers, while allies and partners would provide the missiles.
- Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Systems
- The U.S. sent 15 Scan Eagle systems as part of its Aug. 19 package to Ukraine for reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. These systems are just under four feet in length and have an altitude of 16,000 feet above ground level. The Aug. 24 weapons package included support equipment for these systems.
- VAMPIRE Counter-unmanned aerial systems
- The U.S. first committed to providing the VAMPIRE system in its $2.98 billion weapons package announced on Aug. 24. Colin Kahl, the Pentagon’s top policy official, said the VAMPIRE uses small missiles to shoot drones out of the sky.
- Stinger anti-aircraft systems
- The U.S. has provided over 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. The Stinger has a range of 5 miles and can attack targets up to 15,000 feet.
- Javelin anti-armor systems
- The U.S. has provided over 8,500 Javelin surface-to-air missiles. Javelin is a portable anti-tank system that can hit targets from 65 meters to 4,000 meters away in most operational circumstances.
- High Speed, Anti-Radiation Missiles
- The Aug. 19 weapons package included an undisclosed amount of High-speed Anti-radiation (HARM) missiles. The Pentagon first disclosed in early August that it has sent these missiles, but didn’t specify which kind or how many. However, CNN reported that the U.S. has sent the AGM-88 HARM, an air-to-surface tactical missile that has a range of at least 30 miles, and is designed to find and destroy radar-equipped air defense systems.
- Over 27,000 other anti-armor systems
Other equipment and small arms
Radars
- 50 counter-artillery radars
- Four counter-mortar radars
- Four air surveillance radars
- Counter-battery radar systems
Vehicles/Boats
- Four Command Post vehicles
- Unmanned Coastal Defense Vessels
- Hundreds of Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles
- 50 armored medical treatment vehicles
- 200 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers
- 18 coastal and riverine patrol boats
- 40 MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles with mine rollers
Explosives, Small Arms, Ammunition, Munitions
- M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions (command-detonated fixed-direction fragmentation weapon for use against personnel)
- C-4 explosives, demolition munitions, and demolition equipment
- Over 10,000 Grenade launchers and small arms
- Over 59,000, 000 Small arms ammunition
Equipment
- 75,000 sets of body armor and helmets
- 22 Tactical Vehicles to recover equipment
- Laser-guided rocket systems
- Tactical secure communications systems
- Night vision devices, thermal imagery systems, optics, and laser rangefinders
- Commercial satellite imagery services
- Explosive ordnance disposal protective gear
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment
- Medical supplies
- Electronic jamming equipment
- Field equipment and spare parts
- Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment
- Mine clearing equipment and systems
Sources:
Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine – Aug. 24 (DOD)
Sources: $1 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine – Aug. 8 (DOD)
Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine – Aug. 8 (DOD)
Pentagon confirms anti-radiation missiles sent to Ukraine – Aug. 9 (The Hill) | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/heres-every-weapon-us-has-supplied-to-ukraine-with-13-billion/ | 2022-08-26T12:32:20Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/national/heres-every-weapon-us-has-supplied-to-ukraine-with-13-billion/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – In just 21 days, the Big E will be upon us, and 22News has gathered data on which foods and drinks fairgoers are looking forward to based on an Instagram poll.
From flame-grilled vegan burgers to noodle bowls and bubble tea, there is no shortage of new options for fair-goers. There are even upgrades to old favorites like the Big E Cream Puff, which will also come in chocolate this year. And the fair is also expanding its beverage menu to include chocolate moonshine and Downeast Cider Garden. Springfield’s Place 2 Be is also to make an appearance with Cotton Candy and Maple Vanilla flavored milkshakes.
In the Instagram poll, 22News asked users which Big E food they were most excited to try. There were 4 options to choose from, including pumpkin/apple fritters, grilled cheese with cool ranch Doritos, chocolate cream puffs, or cotton candy/maple vanilla milkshakes. These milkshakes
Results of the poll:
- Pumpkin/Apple Fritters (33 votes): 30%
- Cool Ranch Doritos Grilled Cheese (27 votes): 24%
- Chocolate Cream Puff (17 votes): 15%
- Cotton Candy/Maple Vanilla Milkshakes (34 votes): 31%
By 31% of the votes, milkshakes won. The new foods and drinks will be available from September 16th through October 2nd at this year’s Big E. | https://www.wwlp.com/news/poll-what-is-the-most-anticipated-big-e-food-or-drink-item/ | 2022-08-26T12:32:26Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/news/poll-what-is-the-most-anticipated-big-e-food-or-drink-item/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Google Flights Changed How It Calculates Emissions, Making Air Travel Look Cleaner
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In a July update, Google changed the methodology of its carbon calculator, a component of its flight search aggregator service, to stop accounting for non-carbon dioxide emissions caused by airplanes. In July, Google notified users of this, divulging that it arrived at this decision “following recent discussions with academic and industry partners.”
Air travel is known to cause immense damage to the planet. The burning of aviation fuel alone produces a large amount of not just carbon dioxide, but includes other greenhouse gases responsible for global warming and climate change. Apart from this, aircrafts and ground support equipment also shed a class of hazardous air pollutants called ultra-fine particles. Aviation is also the main source of ozone, a substance that can adversely affect human respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Although only 1% of the world’s population causes half of the global aviation pollution, and almost 90% have never traveled by air in their life, commercial aviation made up about 2.4% of global CO2 emissions in 2018. Since then, the volume of air travel has only increased — and given that CO2 isn’t the only pollutant resulting from air travel, underestimating emissions has disturbing implications.
Google’s move, first observed and reported by BBC, stands to depict the environmental impact of airplanes as almost half of their actual damage. Experts say this “airbrushes” the true environmental impact of air travel.
Given growing concerns over the climate crisis, several people are increasingly conscious of their carbon footprints, choosing to travel by other alternatives to reduce the same. They’re also demanding transparency from airline operators to make more informed, ethical decisions about their traveling.
Related on The Swaddle:
Why Food Tastes Bad on Airplanes
So far, the Travel Impact Model on Google Flights is one method that allowed consumers to check the pollution that an airplane would generate. Until recently, a flyer could choose their airline of choice based on a figure that accounted for both CO2 and other emissions of the plane.
It is important here to remember, however, that even the existing travel impact model by Google emphasizes individual carbon footprint for passengers. It raises questions about the efficacy of relying on carbon footprints as a strategy to combat climate change.
Previous reports and research have found that carbon footprints are a concept pushed by fossil fuel companies to nudge individual consumers towards personal accountability — while evading accountability themselves. This allows the bigger structural issues related to mass industrialization to remain unaddressed, even as the lie at the root of large-scale carbon pollution. Carbon footprint is a strategy that pushes the guilt of climate change upon the consumer for using fuel, shifting responsibility from the corporations that manufacture it in the first place. It tries to suggest that individual action can make up for the scale at which industries operate.
When Google underestimates the polluting impact of airlines, then, the malleability of the carbon footprint approach keeps vital information about emissions from people, while providing the impression of sustainability. The incident speaks to the insufficiency of relying on carbon footprints as a strategy to address climate change. When BBC approached the tech giant for a comment on the situation, Google replied by saying the company wanted to prioritize the “accuracy of the individual flight estimates” for consumers.
Google’s Travel Impact Model then not only highlights how “academic and industry partners” in the aviation sector not only continue to push the burden of environmental responsibility on consumers, but also prevent transparency that people require for making consumption decisions. It points to a systemic undermining of people’s individual agency — showing more than ever the need for sustained, collective action against climate change. | https://theswaddle.com/google-flights-modified-its-carbon-calculator-to-mask-non-co2-emissions-making-air-travel-look-less-polluting-than-it-is/ | 2022-08-26T12:33:19Z | theswaddle.com | control | https://theswaddle.com/google-flights-modified-its-carbon-calculator-to-mask-non-co2-emissions-making-air-travel-look-less-polluting-than-it-is/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – A third person has been charged in relation to the case of a fallen Wake County deputy.
This time, court documents show Andrew Culbreth, 56, faces a half dozen charges for taking items belonging to Ned Byrd after the deputy was killed.
Real estate records show Culbreth owns the property where Byrd lived. Arrest records listed Culbreth’s residence as the same residence as Byrd on the 700 block of East Whitaker.
Culbreth faces five charges of larceny of a firearm, one count felony larceny, and one count breaking and entering for crimes on Aug. 13 — two days after Deputy Byrd was shot and killed.
Court records said on or about Aug. 13, Culbreth broke into Byrd’s home on the 700 block of East Whitaker Mill Road with the intent to commit a felony. Culbreth is accused of felony larceny for taking three mountain bikes, a bike helmet, a brown hat and dive ammo cases belonging to Byrd. The items were estimated to have a value of $10,000.
Culbreth is also accused of taking five guns from Byrd resulting in his larceny of a firearm charges. Court records say those items included a shotgun, pistol, tactical case, and ammunition.
Court documents show Culbreth was given a $75,000 secured bond.
Byrd, 48, died of multiple gunshot wounds along Auburn Knightdale and Battle Bridge roads, CBS 17 previously reported, after he exited his patrol vehicle. Byrd was in protective gear, but his K-9 officer remained in the car, signaling he wasn’t in any danger at the time of his murder.
Byrd was shot just after 11 p.m. and found approximately two hours later by another deputy. He spent 13 years serving Wake County – first as a detention officer before becoming a deputy.
There was no indication over the sheriff’s office radio communications that Byrd had been shot, Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker said, but enough time elapsed “to check on his welfare” leading to the discovery of the shooting.
Two men have been indicted on murder charges in Byrd’s death. Alder Alfonso Marin-Sotelo, 25, was indicted for first-degree murder this week. The first man, Arturo Marin-Sotelo, 29, was indicted Friday, the same day as Deputy Byrd’s funeral. | https://www.wspa.com/news/top-stories/fallen-wake-county-deputys-landlord-charged-with-stealing-guns-valuables/ | 2022-08-26T12:35:24Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/top-stories/fallen-wake-county-deputys-landlord-charged-with-stealing-guns-valuables/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
by: Fred Cunningham Posted: Aug 26, 2022 / 08:11 AM EDT Updated: Aug 26, 2022 / 08:12 AM EDT SHARE MILL SPRING, N.C. (WSPA) – Thank you for your service, Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Medical Services! | https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/first-responder-friday-polk-county-sheriffs-office-ems/ | 2022-08-26T12:35:36Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/first-responder-friday-polk-county-sheriffs-office-ems/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
1 hour ago - World
IAEA mission expected to visit Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
A mission from the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to visit the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station next week in an effort to stabilize the nuclear and security situation, the agency said.
Driving the news: The logistical details of the visit are being worked out, said Lana Zerkal, an adviser to Ukraine’s energy minister. Russia is trying to block the visit, she said.
- "Despite the fact that the Russians agreed for the mission to travel through the territory of Ukraine, they are now artificially creating all the conditions for the mission not to reach the facility, given the situation around it," she said, AP reports.
- Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the agency, said Thursday that he had "technical discussions" on the organization's "imminent mission" to the nuclear power station.
The big picture: The planned visit comes after the plant "temporarily" lost connection to the power grid earlier on Thursday and amid reports of shelling overnight, per AP.
- The plant, Europe's largest nuclear station, has been occupied by the Russian military since March, but is still operated by its Ukrainian staff, Axios' Jacob Knutson reports.
- Ukrainian officials warned last week the Russia was planning a "false flag" attack on the plant. Russia lobbed the same accusation at Ukraine.
Go deeper... Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant reconnected to power grid | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/26/iaea-mission-zaporizhzhia-russia-ukraine | 2022-08-26T12:36:12Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/26/iaea-mission-zaporizhzhia-russia-ukraine | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
White House marks day of action on reproductive rights
The Biden administration is marking a day of action Friday on reproductive rights, recognizing the impact the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson has had on access to abortion in the last two months, officials said.
Driving the news: The administration and the Department of Health and Human Services are hosting a meeting at the White House with state and local elected officials from across the country to discuss how states can protect access to care and how their efforts can supported at the federal level.
Meanwhile: HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure are issuing a letter to governors to underscore that state anti-abortion laws don't negate providers' responsibilities to comply with federal laws that protect access to emergency health care.
- The letter also invites states to apply for Section 1115 Medicaid waivers to provide increased access to care.
Of note: Also Friday, the HHS is releasing its report in response to Biden's executive order calling for the protection of access to reproductive health care services in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overturned.
- The report outlines an action place for access to medication abortion and contraception, access to care under the law, protecting patient privacy, access to information, and access to data.
Catch up quick: Biden's executive order signed in July called on HHS to identify policy options to provide access to reproductive health coverage, including through Medicaid, and including for people traveling across state lines.
- Biden issued another executive order earlier this month to protect people's ability to travel out of state to access abortion.
Go deeper: Where abortion has been banned now that Roe v. Wade is overturned | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/26/white-house-marks-day-action-reproductive-rights | 2022-08-26T12:36:24Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/26/white-house-marks-day-action-reproductive-rights | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The homeless encampment in Phoenix has grown to over 800 people from about 250 last year. Service providers say rising rents, high inflation and the end of the eviction moratorium play a role.
Copyright 2022 NPR
The homeless encampment in Phoenix has grown to over 800 people from about 250 last year. Service providers say rising rents, high inflation and the end of the eviction moratorium play a role.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-26/the-population-at-an-arizona-homeless-encampment-swells-but-resources-fall-short | 2022-08-26T12:36:55Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-26/the-population-at-an-arizona-homeless-encampment-swells-but-resources-fall-short | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sky back in WNBA semifinals against the Sun
👋 Hi, Everett here. I'm an editor at Axios Chicago here to tell you to cancel your Sunday night plans.
What's happening: The defending champion Chicago Sky survived the first round to again face the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA semifinals.
Tip: 7pm at Wintrust Arena, and on ESPN2.
- Resale tickets start at $24.
Flashback: The Sun had the WNBA's best record, the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage last year against the sixth-seeded Sky, but Chicago pulled out a couple of nail-biters to win the series, 3-1.
- Eleven days later, the Sky beat the Phoenix Mercury to win their first WNBA championship.
The intrigue: This year, the tables are flipped. No. 2 Chicago is the higher seed, has home court advantage and dominated the regular-season series.
- Chicago won all four matchups, though each by a single-digit margin and two by just three points, per ESPN.
- The WNBA has not, incredibly, seen a repeat champion since 2002.
Yes, but: The Sky are better than last season.
- Veteran forward Emma Meesseman has been a revelation playing alongside Candace Parker, while coach/general manager James Wade was named 2022 Executive of the Year for improving an already loaded roster.
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Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Chicago. | https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/08/26/sky-wnba-semifinals-connecticut-sun | 2022-08-26T12:37:03Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/08/26/sky-wnba-semifinals-connecticut-sun | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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