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World-famous Shelbyville Optimist Donuts share spotlight with Tennessee walking horses
Just inside the gates of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration show grounds in Shelbyville, the aroma of doughnuts wafts above the smell of sawdust and horses.
Since 1960, Shelbyville Optimist Club has been serving the world-famous doughnuts that have drawn the taste buds of millions over the past six decades.
You can only purchase the deep-fried and glazed doughnuts during the 10-day show, which begins two weeks before Labor Day and spotlights Tennessee walking horses. And to many, the doughnuts are as memorable as the show.
"Growing up going to the Celebration was always something we looked forward to every year," said Mandy Pinion, of Eagleville, who has been attending the show since she can remember. "Getting to hang out with friends, trying to pick the winners and eating fried doughnuts are core memories that will last my lifetime."
For civic and nonprofit organizations throughout Shelbyville, the TWHNC is a big money-maker. Each club sells a variety of concessions, like burgers from the football boosters to cotton candy sold by the band, and doughnuts from the Optimist Club.
The doughnuts were late-comers to the concession lineup, however.
After the Shelbyville Optimist Club was formed in 1958, members wanted in on the revenue action. The TWHNC board told the group they'd need to come up with a unique product to sell. Clubs were already selling foods like hot dogs, candy apples and burgers.
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In 1959, club member George Baker, who sold breakfast and lunch to factory workers from his mobile food service, suggested they could sell the same doughnuts he made.
"He told them they could sell doughnuts and coffee and (club members) laughed at him," said Brent Pewitt, who runs the doughnut booth operations.
By the next year's Celebration, club members were a little more eager to listen to Baker's idea. They approached the board, who agreed to the club's plan.
Members expected to have a booth under the bleachers inside the Celebration like all the other groups. Instead, the board offered up a portion of a barn outside the arena gates. The club, which had a membership of 50 at the time, would have to do their own renovations to make the crude building usable.
So they poured a concrete floor, built a wall and put a window at the front.
"By the second night, the line was all the way to the road," Pewitt said.
Doughnuts were 10 cents a piece or $1 for a dozen.
Popularity of the doughnuts grew, so club members approached the board and asked for additional space.
"They renovated that barn and then they built a kitchen on the back, probably in the late 1960s," Pewitt said.
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A decade after beginning, the club once again approached the board with a request — and the money — to build a new building. Optimist Club members demolished the original barn-turned-booth and built the one standing today.
Same recipe for more than 60 years
The original operation was not quite as streamlined. But over time, the process improved. What hasn't changed is the recipe: it's the same mix and glaze used 62 years ago.
But now the process is much more efficient and runs like a well-oiled operation, literally and figuratively. An industrial-size mixer from the old Whitman's Bakery is used to make the batter, which is then dropped into a boiling vat of cooking oil. Workers — both paid and volunteers — use wooden dowels to turn the doughnuts as they fry.
Once the doughnuts are golden brown, they are lifted from the oil onto a metal tray to drain momentarily before each one is drenched in a sweet glaze. From there the doughnuts are sorted and slid onto a serving pan while volunteers on the other side package and serve.
The entire process from start to serve takes about 15 minutes.
But the result is one that perks up taste buds from across the globe. People ship them all over the world, Pewitt said.
"You can also freeze them," Pewitt said. "I can attest to that because as as a kid, I would eat them for breakfast six months out of the year. My dad (Earl Pewitt) would bring them home and I would freeze them."
About three of the doughnuts can keep your hunger at bay until lunchtime, when you're ready for the next trio of treats, Pewitt joked.
Coming up:M.L.Rose Craft Beer & Burgers coming to Murfreesboro
One-of-a-kind 'magical' flavor
Frozen or fresh, the taste is something akin to magic, Pinion said.
"I don’t know if they put magic in the doughnut batter or the grease they’re fried in, but they are truly one-of-a-kind and extremely addictive," Pinion said. "Only being able to buy them 10 days out of the year also makes them irresistible."
For many, it's about memories as much as taste.
Lisa Mitchell, whose father Jim Puckett was a walking horse trainer, was able to introduce her 5-year-old grandson to the Celebration — and the doughnuts — this year. And she's been able to enjoy them herself.
"They are warm with just the right amount of sweetness," Mitchell said. "I don’t like them day old. Only fresh and hot while at the show with icy cold milk."
You don't have to attend the Celebration to get your own dozen of Optimist Donuts. During daytime hours, just enter the main gates entering from Jessup Place. Take a right just beyond the arena and look for the booth, located across the way from the Blue Ribbon Circle event venue. Anyone on the show grounds can point you in the right direction.
Doughnuts are $8 a dozen and can also be purchased individually and by the half-dozen. Proceeds benefit community projects funded by the Shelbyville Optimist Club. Check out the group's doughnut booth page on Facebook.
Reach reporter Nancy DeGennaro at degennaro@dnj.com. Keep up with restaurant news by joining Good Eats in the 'Boro (and beyond) on Facebook and follow Murfreesboro Eats on TikTok. | https://www.dnj.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/08/30/shelbyville-optimist-donuts-doughnuts-share-spotlight-tennessee-walking-horse-national-celebration/7864821001/ | 2022-08-30T15:40:10Z | dnj.com | control | https://www.dnj.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/08/30/shelbyville-optimist-donuts-doughnuts-share-spotlight-tennessee-walking-horse-national-celebration/7864821001/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Smyrna police: Clerk dead after Shell station shooting, suspect on the loose
Rachel Wegner
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
A gas station clerk is dead after a shooting early Tuesday morning, the Smyrna Police Department said.
The shooting happened at Shell Fuel Station around 3 a.m. Tuesday on Stonecrest Boulevard, according to police. An unidentified male entered the gas station, pulled out a gun and demanded money from the register. He then shot the clerk and fled, according to police.
The clerk was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and later died, police said.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Det. Steve Hannah of the Smyrna Police Department at (615) 267-5146.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Find reporter Rachel Wegner at rawegner@tennessean.com or on Twitter @rachelannwegner. | https://www.dnj.com/story/news/crime/2022/08/30/smyrna-gas-station-clerk-dead-shooting/7937845001/ | 2022-08-30T15:40:16Z | dnj.com | control | https://www.dnj.com/story/news/crime/2022/08/30/smyrna-gas-station-clerk-dead-shooting/7937845001/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Cal commitment Ben Marshall to miss Blackman football game vs. Riverdale after ejection
Blackman will travel to Riverdale on Friday for the Backyard Brawl, a huge Region 4-6A high school football contest, without one of its top players.
According to the TSSAA, senior tight end Ben Marshall, who has committed to California, was ejected in last week's 42-33 win over Gallatin after receiving his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and cannot play this week.
The official's report sent to TSSAA stated, "Number 14 for Blackman collected 2 unsportsmanlike penalties. 1st one was 2:37 in the 3rd quarter as he danced in the end zone after a TD. This was thrown by the back judge. 2nd unsportsmanlike penalty was 1:57 of the 4th quarter as he scored a TD he grabbed the other players face mask and shoved his head away well after the play was over after he had already scored. We had numerous flags from other officials on this play."
Article III, Section 7 of the TSSAA handbook shows that an ejected football player must miss one game.
Blackman coach Chandler Tygard declined to comment on the ejection.
JOYCE:We learned a lot about Murfreesboro area football teams the first two weeks
WEEK 2 TOP PERFORMERS:Murfreesboro area high school football week 2 top performers: Quarterbacks have big week
Marshall, who committed to Cal on Aug. 12, has arguably been Blackman's most productive offensive player this season. Through two games he has nine receptions for 266 yards and three touchdowns, as well as nine carries for 79 yards and a rushing touchdown. He had 77 yards rushing and a TD in last week's win.
Friday's matchup will be the first region game for both the Blaze (1-1) and Warriors (2-0).
Marshall was a first-team all-area tight end last season, catching 65 passes for 834 yards and seven TDs, rushing for 139 yards and two scores and passing for 46 yards.
That success brought a bevy of Division I offers before Marshall committed this month.
Blackman opened the season with a 23-14 loss at Brentwood before defeating Gallatin. Riverdale has wins over Franklin (14-10) and Rossview (31-7). | https://www.dnj.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/08/29/tn-high-school-football-blackman-ben-marshall-suspended-after-ejection/7934360001/ | 2022-08-30T15:40:18Z | dnj.com | control | https://www.dnj.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/08/29/tn-high-school-football-blackman-ben-marshall-suspended-after-ejection/7934360001/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Chicago police issue burglary alert for Southwest Side businesses
CHICAGO - Chicago police are urging businesses in Bridgeport, Brighton Park and McKinley Park to exercise caution after a spate of recent break-ins.
Between July 24 and Aug. 27, the suspects broke into seven different businesses by smashing the front glass or the glass door, police said.
The incidents occurred:
- about 5:50 a.m. Aug. 27 in the 4100 block of South Archer Avenue;
- between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. Aug. 24 in the 3500 block of South Western Boulevard;
- about 12:32 a.m. Aug. 20 in the 3400 block of South Morgan Street;
- about 5:30 a.m. Aug. 14 in the 3100 block of South Ashland Avenue;
- between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. July 25 in the 3400 block of South Western;
- between 10:50 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. July 24 in the 2300 block of West 35th Street;
- about 12:44 a.m. July 25 in the 3600 block of South Archer Avenue.
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The burglaries were all reported between the hours of midnight and 5:50 a.m., police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Area One detectives at (312) 747-8382. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-police-issue-burglary-alert-for-southwest-side-businesses | 2022-08-30T15:41:44Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-police-issue-burglary-alert-for-southwest-side-businesses | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NW Indiana sheriff's officer charged with stalking ex-domestic partner
LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - A Lake County, Indiana sheriff's officer was charged Tuesday with using police resources to stalk and harass his former domestic partner.
Patrol officer Nicholas Katalinic allegedly made false statements to the Lake County 911 Center in early July in order to find out the location of his ex, according to Indiana State Police.
Katalinic is also accused of using Lake County Sheriff's "Spillman" program, which is a type of police software, to determine his ex's location, officials said.
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An investigation into Katalinic revealed he made several unwanted phone calls to the victim, including ones where he made specific references to her location and the well-being of their shared child, officials said.
Katalinic was charged with one felony count of stalking and harassment by means of telephone, which is a misdemeanor. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/lake-county-sheriff-officer-charged-stalking-ex-partner | 2022-08-30T15:41:56Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/lake-county-sheriff-officer-charged-stalking-ex-partner | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Serena Williams’ daughter pays tribute to mom’s tennis career, wears matching outfit at US Open
Like mother, like daughter.
People on social media were quick to notice Serena Williams’ daughter, Olympia, not only wore an outfit matching her mother’s at the U.S. Open Monday evening, but she also paid tribute to Williams' tennis career with her choice of hairstyle.
Olympia wore white beads in her hair, a nod to her mom's hairstyle when she won her first U.S. Open in 1999 at age 17.
FILE - Serena Williams wins her first U.S. Open in 1999. (Mark Sandten/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Olympia, who sat alongside her father, Alexis Ohanian, and grandmother during the match cheered on her mom from the stands while also snapping photos with what appeared to be a pink disposable camera.
US player Serena Williams' daughter Alexis Olympia takes a picture before her mother plays against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic during their 2022 US Open Tennis tournament women's singles first round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis C (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Williams' outfit was revealed ahead of her first match on Monday and not only was it flashy and fit for a superstar athlete of her merit, but it also had some subtle tributes to her career.
Williams’ diamond-encrusted Nike tennis sneaker went together with a matching figure-skating-inspired outfit. Her skirt had six layers — a nod to the six singles U.S. Open titles she’s won at Flushing Meadows. A matching jacket and tote bag also adorned her.
US player Serena Williams shoes are pictured as she plays against Montenegro's Danka Kovinic during their 2022 US Open Tennis tournament women's singles first round match. (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Nike said Williams provided the "control, providing the full vision and dialing the details for a thrilling design created to make her feel comfortable and confident."
"Inspired by graceful competition dresses worn by figure skaters, the embellished bodice and the skirt place Serena in the spotlight and allow her freedom of movement," Nike said in a news release. "The skirt includes six layers, a nod to her six previous title wins in Flushing. With a matching jacket and tote, the deep hue and crystal-encrusted bodice refracts light and shines brightly, alluding to the night sky at the tournament.
"The look is paired with the NikeCourt Flare 2—a custom Serena PE featuring a diamond-encrusted Swoosh design and her initials on the medial side. The solid gold deubrés on the laces feature 400 hand-set diamonds in black ceramic created in collaboration with Serena Williams Jewelry."
The 40-year-old revealed earlier this month in an essay published in Vogue magazine she will likely walk away from the sport after the U.S. Open.
If so, she will leave the sport with 23 Grand Slam titles — the most in the Open Era and second most all-time behind Margaret Court. She will get one more chance to tie the court’s record. She lost in the first round of Wimbledon earlier in the summer.
The Associated Press and FOX News contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/serena-williams-daughter-pays-tribute-to-moms-tennis-career-wears-matching-outfit-at-us-open | 2022-08-30T15:42:08Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/serena-williams-daughter-pays-tribute-to-moms-tennis-career-wears-matching-outfit-at-us-open | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A brush fire burning in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa charred an estimated 100 acres as of Monday afternoon, Aug. 29.
The Gulch fire was burning upslope in a west-northwest direction, said Dana Dierkes, a spokeswoman for the Angeles National Forest. The fire was burning in two areas, both considered to be a part of the same incident, along Highway 39 mile markers 19.49 and 21, Dierkes said.
The blaze forced the closure of Highway 39 north of Azusa.
Authorities found out about the fire around 11:40 a.m. Monday. The blaze started along San Gabriel Canyon Road or Highway 39 near San Gabriel Dam.
|𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲| #𝗚𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 is now 100 acres in size and burning upslope west/northwest. Hwy 39 is closed north of Azusa. There is no access to San Gabriel Canyon at this time. Thank you to @LACoFDPIO, @LACOFD, @LASDHQ, @CHPBaldwinPark for assistance. pic.twitter.com/v5JjAentYx
— Angeles National Forest (@Angeles_NF) August 29, 2022
No structures were immediately threatened by the blaze, although there are power lines running through the area.
The fire’s cause was under investigation, Dierkes said.
It is the second brush fire to break out in the forest within the past five days. The East fire started Thursday afternoon, Aug. 25, near East Fork Road. By Sunday night, the East fire had burned about 150 acres and was 93% contained, said Dierkes.
Staff writer Quinn Wilson and City News Service contributed to this story.
Join the Conversation
We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/29/brush-fire-burning-in-forest-above-azusa/ | 2022-08-30T15:46:08Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/29/brush-fire-burning-in-forest-above-azusa/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Almost a year to the day after evacuating during the devastating CZU Lightning Complex fires in August 2020, Judy Osborn learned she’d been dropped by her home insurance company.
Her two-bedroom house in the Santa Cruz Mountains had become too risky to cover, her provider explained, and Osborn was left to seek out a new policy in the middle of fire season.
“It was just like adding insult to injury,” Osborn said. “It triggered a whole lot of memories and fear.”
Following a string of destructive and deadly fires in 2017 and 2018, insurance companies have ended coverage for tens of thousands of California homeowners as providers have pulled out of high fire-risk areas – forcing many homeowners to buy policies through the expensive California FAIR Plan, the state’s insurer of last resort.
Now, heading into what could be the worst of this year’s fire season, many more homeowners may soon be in jeopardy of losing their policies.
“It’s that time of year, and here we go again,” said Osborn, who eventually found new private coverage for the home she’s owned since 1985.
In response to growing uncertainty in the insurance market, the state has imposed new wildfire regulations in recent years aimed at bringing down costs and protecting homeowners. But the insurance industry has pushed back hard against the reforms, arguing the state should instead overhaul how it regulates policy rates to account for more frequent catastrophic fires.
“Risks are getting worse, and rates are going to have to go up to ensure insurers are solvent and operational in California,” said Seren Taylor, senior legislative advocate with the Personal Insurance Federation of California, an industry trade group.
In 2018, former Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law prohibiting insurance companies from canceling or refusing to renew homeowners’ policies in areas impacted by a wildfire until twelve months after the blaze. In 2019, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara ordered the FAIR Plan to expand its coverage beyond fire to include liability, theft and other parts of a traditional homeowner’s policy. Insurance companies, which manage and fund the state-created FAIR Plan, have challenged the regulation in court.
And later this year, the state insurance department is expected to begin requiring that providers offer lower rates to homeowners who fireproof their homes.
While consumer advocates have cheered the new rules, some in the insurance industry worry they could lead to providers scaling back their presence in the state even further.
“If (Commissioner Lara) reaches too far, and he already has several times, insurance companies will just say, ‘We’re leaving California – we’re not going to write that product anymore,’” said Edan Cassidy, a broker with Cassidy Insurance Agency in Scotts Valley near Santa Cruz.
Early this year, high-end home insurers American International Group Inc. and Chubb Ltd. drastically reduced coverage in California in the wake of recent fire seasons. And this summer, Geico closed all of its brick-and-mortar sales offices in the state, though company officials said it will continue offering policies online.
Department of Insurance spokesperson Michael Soller said the agency is working with the industry to understand their concerns and refuted the notion the new rules could push many insurers out of the state.
“We have a strong insurance market statewide, even with massive wildfires we’ve seen over the past few years,” Soller said.
In 2020, insurers ended coverage for over 212,000 properties in California, according to the most recent state data. More than 77,000 homeowners couldn’t find private insurance that year and signed up for the FAIR Plan. That was a slight increase from 2019, but more than triple the number of new FAIR Plan policies in 2018.
To reverse that trend, insurance companies argue they must be allowed to set rates based on the wildfire risk caused by the climate crisis. The industry wants to use computer models to predict future fire danger and guide the approach to policies. That would increase premiums, but it would also enable insurers to write policies for more high-risk areas and drop fewer homeowners, insurance companies say.
“We’re dealing with regulations that say we can only look backward and we can’t look forward,” said Taylor, with the Personal Insurance Federation. “That’s what’s missing from the conversations to increase availability.”
The state insurance department – which under a voter-approved 1988 law called Prop. 103 must sign off on changes to insurance companies’ policies – currently requires insurers to determine rates based on historical damages. Providers have been able to raise rates in recent years, but they contend it’s not enough to shield their risk.
State insurance officials and consumer advocates say changing that policy and allowing so-called “catastrophe modeling” could unfairly raise rates for homeowners through an opaque and potentially discriminatory process.
“The insurance companies have been claiming ‘we need to use algorithms to set insurance rates,’” said Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog. “But under Prop. 103, they’re required to use historic data, which is empirical.”
With seemingly no resolution on the horizon, that could mean more lost policies and rising premiums in the years ahead.
Sean Murawsky had to buy a FAIR Plan policy after his insurer stopped covering his home in Boulder Creek following the CZU fires. His annual premium is now around $3,000, roughly three times what he was paying before.
Despite the increased cost and growing wildfire threat, he has no plans of moving his family from the area.
“I’m not scared off,” he said. “I know there’s high risk, but there’s high risk in many areas of California.”
Join the Conversation
We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/29/california-homeowners-could-continue-losing-insurance-as-wildfire-threat-looms-2/ | 2022-08-30T15:46:10Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/29/california-homeowners-could-continue-losing-insurance-as-wildfire-threat-looms-2/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Pac-12 experienced unprecedented coaching turnover last year with four schools making changes and three coming during the regular season in monthly, rat-a-tat fashion.
USC axed Clay Helton for poor performance on Sept. 13, Washington State canned Nick Rolovich for violating the school’s vaccine policy on Oct. 18, and Washington fired Jimmy Lake on Nov. 14 following a one-week suspension for misconduct.
Add Oregon coach Mario Cristobal leaving for Miami, his alma mater, on Dec. 6, and the normally staid Pac-12 had quite a walk on the wild side.
We don’t expect a comparable level of tumult this season, but the several head coaches are sitting on warm, if not hot seats.
Our assessment is below, listed in descending order of heat.
Salary figures taken from media reports (links provided).
Arizona State’s Herm Edwards
Signed through: 2024 season
Salary: $3.7 million (Source)
Seat temperature: Death Valley, July
Comment: The Sun Devils had a premium opportunity to take charge of the South when Edwards arrived in December 2017: USC was cycling down, UCLA was floundering, and Utah had yet to rise. Five years later, ASU is facing a double whammy: The championship window has closed with the program mired in a recruiting scandal. We expect the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations (NOA) to include charges against Edwards directly. Hard to imagine ASU retaining him in that case. But will the NOA arrive during, or after, the season?
Colorado’s Karl Dorrell
Signed through: 2024 season
Salary: $3.6 million
Seat temperature: Better bring the sunscreen
Comment: This feels like a make-or-break year for Dorrell. Yes, it’s only his second season post-COVID, but that’s precisely why so much rides on the next three months. Dorrell must prove that CU’s 2020 success wasn’t a fluke within that unprecedented season but, rather, the standard fans should expect. If the results are comparable to last year (4-8/3-6), that becomes the reality. A dismissal this winter seems unlikely — CU is desperate for continuity — but Dorrell would be under intense pressure in ’23.
USC’s Lincoln Riley
Signed through: undisclosed
Salary: undisclosed
Seat temperature: shorts and flip-flops
Comment: Heat takes two forms. In Riley’s case, there is no imminent danger of dismissal. Even if things go wrong, incomprehensibly wrong, he will be back for 2023. But the combination of his resume, USC’s pedigree, the roster additions and the resulting hype has created substantial Year One heat. The Hotline doesn’t value the pressure to meet expectations in the same manner as the pressure to stave off termination. But the former cannot be discounted entirely, especially at USC.
Stanford’s David Shaw
Signed through: undisclosed
Salary: $6.15 million
Seat temperature: Thawing
Comment: Stanford’s last conference title (2015) feels like eons ago, and not just because of the pandemic. Could Shaw’s seat actually be warming? The Cardinal is bringing basketball coach Jerod Haase back for his seventh season despite having zero NCAA appearances. Would it really fire a football coach who owns three conference titles and a Stanford degree? Unlikely, but Shaw’s huge salary cannot be ignored. If there’s anything Stanford officials know how to calculate, it’s ROI.
Oregon’s Dan Lanning
Signed through: 2027 season
Salary: $4.85 million
Seat temperature: internal convection setting
Comment: Before settling on our assessment of Lanning’s seat heat, we pondered the following: Would our view of his situation be any different if Georgia had lost the national championship game, or if he had compiled a similarly impressive resume for another program? Our conclusion: Nope, because the pressure on Lanning is rooted in expectations that Oregon has established for itself. With their recent success and loaded recruiting classes, the Ducks are bordering on playoff-or-bust mode. That’s especially true for one particular 84-year-old alum.
Arizona’s Jedd Fisch
Signed through: 2025 season
Salary: $2.6 million
Seat temperature: Poised to climb
Comment: Two trajectories emerged in the first 20 months of Fisch’s tenure: On the field, the Wildcats struggled; off the field, they thrived. That’s all well and good during the honeymoon phase, but the scoreboard must begin to reflect the roster upgrades. Put another way: Fisch needs to haul Arizona out of the cellar this season. The high side of .500 isn’t necessary, but the coaching staff must show a minimum level of aptitude for developing talent. Less than four wins, and the seat heat will begin to rise.
Washington’s Kalen DeBoer
Signed through: 2026 season
Salary: $3.1 million
Seat temperature: global warming-ish
Comment: DeBoer faces more pressure than any of his predecessors (Steve Sarkisian, Chris Petersen and Jimmy Lake) experienced in their first year on Montlake because of the Pac-12 landscape. In the same hiring cycle that USC grabbed an A-lister, Lincoln Riley, and Oregon lured the hottest assistant on the market, Dan Lanning, the Huskies went with a vastly lower-key candidate — and are paying him substantially less. Fair or not, that backdrop will assist the UW faithful in their deliberations over the next two or three years.
UCLA’s Chip Kelly
Signed through: 2025 season
Salary: $4.7 million
Seat temperature: Cooler, but not cool
Comment: Typically, a four-year contract extension would be cause for a significant dissipation in seat heat. Not so with Kelly and UCLA, for two reasons: 1) The extension announced in January was based on a single winning season and doesn’t leave the school with severe financial exposure in the event of a future dismissal, and 2) The Big Ten move ratchets up the need for additional momentum. Put another way: The Bruins can’t set foot in their new conference in Aug. ’24 with the program stagnating and Kelly still at the helm.
Washington State’s Jake Dickert
Signed through: 2026 season
Salary: $2.7 million
Seat temperature: on ice, for now
Comment: In one sense, it’s all downhill for Dickert, who navigated a brutal situation, won the Apple Cup in dominant fashion under pressure-free (interim) circumstances, then watched his players plant the colors in the Husky Stadium turf. That led to a promotion, a raise and all the heat that comes with it. Pressure is relative, depending on the campus and the circumstances. Dickert’s pass isn’t free this season, but it’s discounted. Starting in 2023, however, the scrutiny gets real.
Cal’s Justin Wilcox
Signed through: 2027 season
Salary: $4.75 million
Seat temperature: frozen solid
Comment: Anywhere else, a sub-.500 record through five seasons would place the head coach in danger of termination and surely wouldn’t result in a four-year contract extension. But that’s precisely what Wilcox received last winter. Of course, there is no place like Cal, where institutional impediments to success and COVID-related obstacles found nowhere else combined to derail the Bears’ pre-pandemic momentum. If coaching contracts were based on the frequency of school-induced headaches, Wilcox would have a lifetime deal.
Oregon State’s Jonathan Smith
Signed through: 2027
Salary: $3.77 million
Seat temperature: Vladivostok, January
Comment: All Smith has done in four seasons is rebuild the program faster than expected, make brilliant use of the transfer portal, endure the pandemic, lead the Beavers to their first victory at USC in six decades and their first bowl berth in eight years. He’s not going anywhere … unless he wants to. With another winning season, Smith will be one of the hottest names on the market. Would he actually leave his alma mater? We’re skeptical, but never say never.
Utah’s Kyle Willingham
Signed through: doesn’t matter (2027 season)
Salary: whatever he wants ($6 million)
Seat temperature: there is no seat (it’s a throne)
Comment: Nothing to say, nothing to see. Whittingham will coach until he no longer feels like coaching. And Utah fans should relish every moment.
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High school football schedule, Sept 1-3
All games start at 7 p.m., unless noted
Thursday’s games
Bassett vs. Whittier at Pioneer
Monrovia at El Rancho
St. Pius X-St. Matthias at St. Paul, 7:30 p.m.
Los Osos vs. La Serna at California
Mountain View vs. Gladstone at Citrus College
Pasadena at Damien
Los Angels Angelou at Ganesha
Banning at Muir, 7:30 p.m.
Friday’s games
Alhambra at Temple City
Azusa vs. Century at Citrus College
Bonita at La Salle
Chino at Baldwin Park
Covina at Diamond Bar
Crescenta Valley at West Covina
Diamond Ranch at Adelanto
Glendora at Charter Oak
Hamilton at Cantwell-Sacred Heart
Hoover at Gabrielino
Kennedy vs. Sonora at La Habra HS
Keppel at Duarte
La Mirada vs. Servite at Excelsior Adult School
Lawndale at Arcadia
Linfield Christian vs. Rio Hondo Prep at Kare Park
Maranatha at Garey
Montebello at South El Monte
Northview vs. South Hills at Covina District Field
Norwalk at El Monte
Pasadena Poly at San Gabriel
Rosemead at San Marino
Rowland at Wilson
San Dimas vs. Santa Fe at Pioneer
Schurr at ArroyoSegerstrom at California
Sierra Vista at Nogales
St. Francis at Millikan
St. John Bosco at Bishop Amat
Upland vs. Villa Park at El Modena
Walnut at Los Altos
Franklin at La Canada
La Habra at Chula Vista Eastlake
LA Marshall at South Pasadena
Whittier Christian at San Diego O’Farrell, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday’s game
Maywood CES at Bosco Tech, 10 a.m.
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By Martine Paris | Bloomberg
Following some of the worst box office weekends of the year, thousands of movie theaters are banding together to offer $3 tickets, a price not seen since the early 1980s.
With few new releases on tap, the Cinema Foundation is organizing National Cinema Day on Sept. 3, hoping the lure of “inflation relief” will draw audiences back to the big screen for blockbusters like “Top Gun: Maverick” and the Imax big-screen experience, which is also being priced at $3. Re-releases of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and the 1975 blockbuster “Jaws” are planned as well.
Theater owners see a chance to boost attendance over the typically slow Labor Day weekend. Ticket sales have stalled in August, with revenue on some weekends falling from a year ago in the absence of big new releases. One operator, Regal owner Cineworld Group Plc, has been considering a bankruptcy filing in the US.
The winner of the weekend is expected to be “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul,” according to Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore Inc.’s senior analyst. The comedy from Focus Features, which stars Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown, is expected to open in 1,800 theaters. The $3 price is the lowest since theaters charged an average $2.94 in 1982, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners.
“It’s tough to say right now how much impact the promotion will have on weekend results,” said Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at Boxoffice.com, the official publication of the theater association. He calls the weekend a tossup, saying “Spider-Man,” “Top Gun” and even “Jaws” has a chance to lead the box office.
So far, advance sales appear slow. As of midday Monday, an AMC theater in the Century City neighborhood of Los Angeles had a sold just four seats each to early evening showings of “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” and “The Invitation,” the No. 1 movies in the US over the past two weekends.
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Before Phoebe Bridgers stepped onto the main stage at This Ain’t No Picnic festival in Pasadena on Sunday, the event had hosted terrific performances by musicians from around the world, including Argentina, Niger, the Isle of Wight and Bristol, England.
But none laid claim to the festival grounds at Brookside at the Rose Bowl as credibly or charmingly as Bridgers did after opening her hour-long set with strong performances of “Motion Sickness” and “DVD Menu.”
“I learned how to drive in this parking lot,” Bridgers told one of the largest crowds of the two-day festival weekend. “Yeah, I grew up like eight minutes from here.”
Bridgers’s performance at This Ain’t No Picnic was almost identical to her Coachella sets in April. Same stage outfit, same setlist with the addition of one song, “Waiting Room,” on Sunday.
But she’s been touring a lot this year and it shows. This was an intimate performance on a very big stage, and that’s not always easy to do with music that relies on nuance and emotion more than bombast and power.
Bridgers was one of the highlights Sunday. Here’s what else we loved most on Sunday.
Sharp Strokes: The New York City indie rock stars don’t tour as much as some of their peers, but they’ve been on the road a good part of this year and it showed in the sharp headline performance they delivered to close out the festival on Sunday night.
Singer Julian Casablancas sounded great as he rock ‘n’ roll crooned songs such as “Meet Me In The Bathroom” and “Bad Decisions,” the latter of which featured terrific guitars from Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr.
Casablancas was also his usual sardonic self between songs, telling fans at one point that they really ought to be watching Godspeed You! Black Emperor at the other end of the grounds, and threatening them if they didn’t stop yelling the name of the local baseball team at him.
“You keep asking me to say Dodgers; I’m just gonna say Mets,” he warned them.
Highlights included “Hard To Explain” and “Someday,” a pair of songs from their 2001 debut “Is This It,” which also provided “New York City Cops,” the first song of the encore.
Anger is an energy: Some of the best sets on Sunday didn’t hold back, making it a louder day all around.’
The post-punk band Idles was terrific in its main stage set. Singer Joe Talbot had a feral magnetism as he barked out the lyrics to “Colossus,” the band’s opening number, that also saw guitarist Lee Kiernan go into the crowd as he played. Songs such as “Car Crash” and “Mother” continued in that same vein of aggressive, cathartic passion.
At the opposite end of the field, the Baltimore band Turnstile drew one of the most intense crowds of the day for their brand of melodic hardcore.
A slight hill to one side of the stage offered an amazing sense of the way a band can connect with its fans. As singer Brendan Yates and the rest of Turnstile played, the huge crowd surged like waves in response to the rhythm and beat.
Southern California punk legends the Descendents were less angry – they always look like they’re having a blast – but just as rapid-fire loud and aggressive in their performance Sunday. This is where you found the old punk fans on Sunday, singing along to songs such as “Silly Girl” and “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up.”
Shake a Leg: The indie band Wet Leg is quickly becoming the most popular export from Great Britain’s Isle of Wight since actor Jeremy Irons? Musician Robyn Hitchcock? TV personality and adventurer Bear Grylls?
Their afternoon set demonstrated how they’ve so quickly found fans since the release of their quirky debut single “Chaise Longue” in June 2021. It, like the band, is an unexpected treat, rock ‘n’ roll delivered from an off-kilter perspective.
Singer-guitarists Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers deliver songs in a kind of deadpan sing-song style that’s inviting and easy to sing along with, and the rest of the band wraps a kind of indie garage psychedelia around the lyrics.
“Chaise Longue” came last in their set – always a smart move when it’s the first and best-known song in your still-short catalog – but Wet Leg was equally fun on other songs, with “Supermarket,” “Ur Mum,” and “I Want To Be Abducted (By a UFO)” particularly strong.
Fast riffs: Guitarist Mdou Moctar is from Niger and plays in the style of the Tuareg people to which his family belongs – think of it as the rock and blues of the desert. Moctar arrived on the main stage with his band, all of them dress in traditional knee-length shirts over pants with scarves around their heads and faces, and proceeded to shred like a Saharan Jimi Hendrix. There’s no language barrier to electric, eclectic music like this.
Sparks, the beloved L.A. duo of brothers Russell and Ron Mael, had a very enthusiastic crowd for their set on the Greens stage. All in black except for Russell Mael’s now-trademark electric yellow pants, they played a delightful collection of songs including “The Number One Song in Heaven” and “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us.”
Caroline Polachek, like Bridgers, hewed close to her Coachella performance, using the same impressionistic stage set and visuals, and delivering her electronic pop songs with all the drama and dance moves for which she’s known. Her highlights included numbers such as “Bunny Is A Rider” and “So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings.”
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People are taking out loans for their shopping as the cost of living crisis bites. Below we list everything you need to know about the scheme including the risks.
Budget supermarket Iceland has begun offering interest-free loans of up to £100 to help people struggling with the cost of living. But the Iceland Food Club scheme could potentially affect your credit score.
The Iceland scheme is not necessarily free and can be very risky. So it is important to be careful and know the risks before taking a loan out.
READ MORE: 21 beautiful Kent walking routes to try as autumn closes in
What is the Iceland Food Club?
The Iceland Food Club offers interest-free loans ranging between £25 and £100 accessible through a pre-loaded cart with repayments set at £10 a week. You can get up to six loans a year.
Customers apply for a loan from Fair For You and receive a prepaid Mastercard they can use in Iceland. Chief executive for Mastercard, Simon Dukes, said: "We do not charge penalties: customers can delay, take a breather or overpay. As long as the person remains in contact with us we will help them through the period.”
Missed payments
When you apply for an Iceland food loan, Fair For You will perform a hard credit check that will on your credit file. But if you miss a weekly repayment, that will be recorded on your credit file and will be a red flag to other lenders, Moneysavingexpert.com reports.
This means you could find it more difficult to get credit in the future. Also if you miss four consecutive repayments and Fair For You cannot get in touch with you within 30 days then you will receive a warning letter warning you about repayment defaults.
And a fee of £9.50 will be charged to cover the cost of the letter. If you know you will miss a deadline then contact Fair For You as soon as possible. It may be able to set up a repayment plan.
Be careful when applying for loans for everyday living costs
MoneySavingExpert.com deputy editor, Helen Saxon, said: "If you're struggling for money to pay for groceries, think very carefully before applying for one of these loans.
"If you're doing it because money's tight now, but you know you've cash coming in to pay it off in a week or two's time, that's one thing. But if you're doing it because money's tight now, and there's no real prospect of it being less tight in the coming weeks, you're just kicking the can down the road and storing up problems for future weeks, when you'll need to both pay back the loan and also find money for that week's food.
"Yet if you are going to borrow to cover your supermarket shop, it's better to do it interest-free with one of these loans than it is to take a payday loan or any other loan with high interest or fees. Just keep in the back of your mind that you will need to find a way to pay this loan back, starting the week after you take it."
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- Napier Barracks refugees and asylum seekers use music as a 'soft tool' to connect with people outside | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/cost-living-loans-what-iceland-7525636 | 2022-08-30T15:56:10Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/cost-living-loans-what-iceland-7525636 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
YORK, Penn.-
The D.F. Stauffer biscuit company is voluntarily recalling its White Fudge Animal Cookies, due to possible metal contamination.
The recall comes after a small piece of metal wire was found in a cookie.
The cookies come in a 44 ounce clear plastic jug shaped like a bear and are stamped with lot number Y052722, they are usually sold at Target.
Consumers should stop eating the cookies and return them to the location where they purchased them for a full refund. | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/animal-cookies-recalled/article_bd0eb33a-2875-11ed-8722-fffcb21aca7e.html | 2022-08-30T15:56:26Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/animal-cookies-recalled/article_bd0eb33a-2875-11ed-8722-fffcb21aca7e.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Our county has numerous stunning beaches to boast that see visitors flock to them from far and wide during the summer seasons. In fact, Kent’s coastline is one the county’s most celebrated features, offering a variety of incredible spots to enjoy the British seaside.
While countless visitors come to these locations and leave glistening reviews to reflect their stay, others however, have clearly been left unimpressed. Taking to Tripadvisor, we can see a number of Kent beachgoers and outsiders really did not enjoy their stay for one reason or another, though it seems some people may have their standards raised just a little too high.
While some offer totally valid complaints, usually relating to parking, others are a little more on the extreme or hilarious side. So, here are some of the most scathing reviews that Kent’s beaches have been handed by the people who left their day by our waters quite clearly unhappy.
Read more: Direct train from London to Disneyland Paris facing the axe
Joss Bay, Broadstairs - smells of wee
While Joss Bay does have a very impressive overall rating of 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor, four people deemed their stay as terrible, while six others felt it was poor. One reviewer had their entire trip ruined by a lack of toilets.
Fiona B stated: “We were not impressed that the public lavatories were closed. We live in Eastbourne and all our facilities are open, so this was a great disappointment to us, hence the one star.”
Meanwhile, Bobby190 took issue with the smells in the area, saying: “Spend some of the thousands of pounds made by car parking on improving toilets. Absolutely disgusting. The smell of urine was dreadful.”
Deal Beach - too stony
With an overall rating of 4 stars, a number of particularly harsh reviews have been left for this popular beachfront. Ian W took issue with this being a shingle beach, saying: “Not my idea of a beach....just seems to be miles of stones,the only sign of sand being at the water's edge, plenty of other sandy beaches not too far away.”
Sidney121 however took issue with the way some beach-goers were spending their trip. They said: “Pebble beach dirty. Groups of adults drinking no toilets. On a busy road. Wouldn't go back”
Tankerton Beach - Too much dog mess and too many cyclists
While considered one of the best beaches in Kent by many, one reviewer really took issue with some key things. User SimeyWimey’s review reads: “Dog mess, cyclists, broken glass, dog mess, cyclists, dogs off leads, cyclists, dogs, selfish dog owners, no parking when busy, cyclists, dogs mess.”
This user may have had an issue with cyclists and dog mess, hard to tell though. One other reviewer found the area simply rather dull, with user skiqueenaustria stating: “Apart from beach huts nothing much else to see”, earning this beach a two star review in their eyes.
Margate Main Sands - filthy and depressing
Right off the bat, these reviewers are pulling no punches for what is one of Kent’s most celebrated beaches. Susan V clearly took issue with the popularity of the beach, saying: “Always extremely busy with very, very large groups of people together, music far too loud, sand was always full of litter every morning when we walked along promenade volunteers were always cleaning up other people's rubbish.”
Meanwhile, TripAdvisor user Clareybird branded the area as ‘filthy and depressing’. They continued on to say: “I have never seen a beach so badly cared for in the UK. It was insanely busy, with never a hope of using the ladies toilets, and we just felt totally surrounded by people without a care for others around them.”
Viking Bay, Broadstairs - dirty and dangerous
Even a beach that has been proven time and time again to be popular with the masses is not immune to some harsh criticism. Deborah P went on a tirade against the locals saying: “The locals are unfriendly. Empty bottles and cans of alcohol fill the already overflowing bins which come from locals.
“We won't be back. Dirty dangerous place.” Supes323 meanwhile had a whole range of criticisms to flag. Here are some of the best.
“If you are a chav or the elderly or both you will love this beach as you will be greeted with open arms and fit in perfectly. We visited mid week at the end of September and yet this place was packed with the unemployed.
“Despite the high numbers of people there was still more seagulls then people! If you like the Hitchcock film ‘The Birds’ you will love this place”.
They end by saying: “This place is so awful I can't be bothered to write anymore. Such a disappointment.” Harsh.
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School uniform cost support: DWP government grant to Asda, Tesco and M&S deals | https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/family-kids/kent-beachgoers-furious-over-too-7526466 | 2022-08-30T15:56:30Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/family-kids/kent-beachgoers-furious-over-too-7526466 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM PDT
WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Temperatures of 99 to 104 are expected.
* WHERE...In Oregon, Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon. In
Washington, Kittitas Valley, Yakima Valley and Lower Columbia
Basin of Washington.
* WHEN...From 11 AM to 8 PM PDT Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Hot temperatures are expected to continue
Thursday and Friday but daytime temperatures should be
slightly cooler than Wednesday and overnight temperatures
should be several degrees cooler.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
&& | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/back-to-school-bus-safety-tips-from-the-wsp/article_e9a32634-286f-11ed-abb7-47d16b7e66fe.html | 2022-08-30T15:56:32Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/back-to-school-bus-safety-tips-from-the-wsp/article_e9a32634-286f-11ed-abb7-47d16b7e66fe.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LITTLE NACHES, WA - What once was a thriving habitat for fish before the 1970s is now getting a makeover to try and repopulate the area with endangered native salmon, steelhead, and trout.
The Little Naches River Restoration Project has been in the making for the past 4 years.
"It's really been very poor habitat for salmon and steelhead since the late 70s," said Gary Torretta a Fishery Biologist for Naches Ranger District in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
In the 1970s floods came through the Little Naches region and brought a lot of wood and debris into the river. The U.S. Forest Service was concerned with the amount of wood and gravel causing issues for the fish passing through so they took a lot of that out.
This ended up doing the opposite of what they wanted for the environment and caused the river to decline with the native fish species.
Now, many different agencies have been working together to restore the land to what it once was.
"We're really hoping that with the wider flood plane and all the roughness of the whole trees we put in there it's going to capture those gravels and it's going to make small side channels and that should be the areas that will help improve habitat for spawning and rearing life stages," said Torretta.
Large chunks of wood and gravel are very important in fish habitats according to Rebecca Wassell the Yakima Basin Program Director from the Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group.
"If you see a stream that is just happily flowing over rocks you kind of have to shift your image and think oh the wood is missing in this picture," she said.
In many watersheds, large woody debris is the main factor controlling the shape of the stream and helping create gravel in which salmon and other fish can lay their eggs.
The agencies on the project have built the river bed 3 feet higher than it was in the 70s, brought in a lot more trees from the forest service, and made the river much wider.
"One of the most exciting parts of this type of restoration is that you're introducing an element of chance and a little bit of beneficial chaos into the echo system," said Wassell.
Salmon is one of the key elements in the Pacific Northwest.
Columbia Basin salmon play an important role in the ecosystem of the region, returning ocean nutrients to the rivers and streams where they were born, feeding wildlife and even the forests with their bodies, according to the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.
That's why it's so important to have the fish species repopulate in the area.
"Humans are dependent on salmon, wildlife is dependent on salmon," said Wassell. "The forests themselves are dependent on salmon as the nutrients they bring back from the ocean fertilize the forest so right now they are part of the ecosystem that is really just barely functioning in many places."
The US Forest Service, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan have been working with the Yakama Nation in this restoration because this area is part of their treaty area.
So far funding has come from 3 different agencies:
DOE Streamflow Restoration Grant - $1,144,898USFS
Central WA Initiative - $440,000
YBIP - $171,297
Total Funding secured $1,756,195
The project is expected to be finished with this part of the restoration as soon as this Friday. | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/little-naches-restoration-project-finishing-up/article_5d020c66-2862-11ed-b9c7-bb7788b1cda7.html | 2022-08-30T15:56:39Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/little-naches-restoration-project-finishing-up/article_5d020c66-2862-11ed-b9c7-bb7788b1cda7.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A popular Herne Baycurry house has won big at this year's 11th English Curry Awards. Masala Bay, in High Street, took home Takeaway and Home Delivery of the Year for the South East region at the event at the Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport-NEC last Monday (August 22). These awards aim to celebrate local businesses and the English curry industry as a whole.
Co-owner and chef at Masala Bay, Mohammed Rahman said: “It’s a pleasure to pick up this accolade, it demonstrates our continued and consistent commitment to providing the best food and service to our customers. “Our dedicated team has been serving the very best to Herne Bay for nearly two decades now". This is not the first time that the hard work of Masala Bay has been noticed, in fact the restaurant has previously been the Regional Winner in the Takeaway of the Year category at the English Curry Awards 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2017 for South East England.
Winners at these awards are a true reflection of exceptional quality and customer service as they are chosen by members of the public. The awards recognised the hard work, determination, impeccable service and efforts of the best English curry establishment and professionals that create and serve delicious dishes at an excellent standard.
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Mohammed, who has worked within the business for nearly 17 years, spoke to KentLive about the impact this success has had, and how they ensure they operate to a high standard. The 38-year old began: "We’ve been winning awards since 2013, we were really motivated to win at the English Curry awards.
"Whatever we wanted to do, we wanted to do the best we could and me and my other colleagues worked so hard. We’re so happy to be receiving awards constantly and we use them to make us work even harder. We can’t compromise when it comes to quality so we will always try to maintain the quality and make sure everything is as fresh as possible, we will always try our best. There can’t be any compromise between service and quality."
He went on to discuss how the awards have impact their local reputation. Mohammed continued: "Even just since last Monday, lots more people are coming. The customers are returning and we’re also receiving lots of new customers as well. In terms of business, we are doing very good because we have won the award so people want to come and try our food and they are happy." Mohammed went on to talk about how the restaurant fared during the recent pandemic.
He continued: "The past few years, as you know, have been tough for every single business during the pandemic. Firstly we decided to close the shop and then me and my colleagues we thought there was no point to close the business, we needed to give the service for the local people.
"So what we did, we served our customers but we only did deliveries door to door. We had extra drivers to make sure we were giving good service on time so we were there to serve the customers. "
Clearly Masala Bay has no intentions of slowing down as he added: "Winning awards means we have more responsibilities, when we get the award it doesn't mean everything’s over, no. It means we need to make more effort and we have to make sure we are doing everything okay and we need to work harder and make all of the customers happy.
"We are trying to build this business, build a bigger takeaway, bigger kitchen, bigger front, create some more space and recruit more staff and then we can work even harder. I’d like to thank all of the local customers and all of the local people who have supported us."
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The next time you buy a can of whipped cream in New York, be prepared to show some ID.
A little-known state law banning sales of cartridges used in cans of whipped cream to those under 21 has only recently been noticed — and enforced — to the amusement of customers unaware of the not-so-new regulation.
The age limit was enacted nine months ago to curb teens’ possible abuse of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. The nitrous oxide found in whipped cream canisters, when it is abused as a narcotic, is commonly referred to as “whippits” or “whip-its.”
Meghan Massey, 43, couldn't understand why she was being carded this month at her Hannaford Supermarket in Watertown.
"I thought: 'What is going on?' I was looking in my cart. What am I being ID'd for? I was so confused," a laughing Massey said Monday. "I was mortified. Why am I being ID'd? What is going on right now? I'm 43 with gray hair."
While Massey was having a laugh, Kent Sopris, the president of the New York Association of Convenience Stores, or NYACS, isn't so amused about the regulation, which he claimed is burdening members.
"Requiring age verification when purchasing whipped cream is another classic compliance burden placed on convenience stores in New York State," he said in a statement.
"We hear constantly how important small businesses are to New York politicians but quite frankly laws like this prove otherwise."
The age requirement for nitrous oxide cartridges went into effect Nov. 25. But Sopris said it wasn't until recent weeks that his members became aware of it.
"We did not receive any notice that the bill had been acted upon by the governor — nor did any of our business colleagues," he added. "When NYACS realized the law was in effect we immediately alerted our membership and advised them of the change in the law."
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, sponsor of the bill that became law, said Monday that stores shouldn't be carding for canned whipped cream.
He said the law targets cartridges sold separately from typical whipped cream cans.
In theory, a youngster could buy a can of Reddi-wip, break it open and remove the cartridge of nitrous oxide, he said, but that's not his target.
"It's actually the cartridge or charger" that's being banned from sale to young people, Addabbo said Monday. "It's a small 2-inch charger or cartridge. Those are the words in the bill."
He said of stores carding over canned whipped cream: "That was never the intent of the bill."
Erica Komoroske, a spokeswoman for Stewart’s Shops based in Ballston Spa, said her company took action in recent weeks only when employees noticed signs on display over canned whipped cream at other stores.
The chain now has hand-drawn signs educating customers about the 21-and-over whipped cream policy.
"I know it does seem silly," Komoroske said Monday. "But we definitely see that there are certain teenagers that are abusing cans of whipped cream. So on the flip side we see that, as well." | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/want-to-buy-canned-whipped-cream-in-new-york-state-don-t-forget-your-id/article_fb4c04b2-2862-11ed-bdf2-1f317f0feea7.html | 2022-08-30T15:56:45Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/want-to-buy-canned-whipped-cream-in-new-york-state-don-t-forget-your-id/article_fb4c04b2-2862-11ed-bdf2-1f317f0feea7.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Tesco shoppers must use their old Clubcard vouchers before they expire at the end of August. The vouchers are issued every three months - in February, May, August and November - and are valid for two years, The Mirror reports.
This means that vouchers issued in August 2020 must be used before the end of August 31 (tomorrow). They can be used in Tesco stores or online and customers can check if they have any forgotten vouchers by logging into the Tesco Clubcard website.
Tesco announced a big blow for online customers last week as Clubcard vouchers will no longer be as valuable when buying delivery plans. At the moment shoppers get three times the value of their Clubcard vouchers when purchasing these plans but from November 14 the vouchers will only be worth their face value.
READ MORE: Big change for Asda shoppers starts this week
Customers can currently save on their deliveries by using their Tesco Clubcard points with the Delivery Saver Code scheme. For every 50p in Clubcard vouchers, shoppers can get £1.50 in reward partner codes to put towards the cost of a delivery plan. This would mean the most expensive plan - at £83.33 a year - would cost just £28 of Clubcard vouchers.
However, last Tuesday shoppers received an email giving them a three month deadline to use delivery codes in exchange for a bargain pass.
The retail giant's delivery plans vary from six to 12 month passes. With the year-long membership, customers can chose between off-peak plans (delivering the next day after 3pm) costing £47.88 or the more expensive any-time pass, for an annual fee of £83.88.
Six month passes can be bought for £29.94 (off-peak) and £47.94 (peak). Shoppers can also pay monthly, with the cost either £2.49, £4.99 or £7.99.
Many customers expressed their disappointment on social media over the change, especially considering the cost of living crisis. Posting on the Scrimping on a Budget Facebook page, one shopper said: "I got the email too... glad I stopped using Tesco.. I always used Clubcard for saver."
Another added: "Gutted! One of the main reasons I use Tesco."
Some people on Twitter said the change may lead them to shop elsewhere. One said: "Very disappointed with email just received about Clubcard voucher only having 1x value instead of 3x for delivery saver plans.
"Once next renewal ends I'll have to cancel. Shame, have been a customer for years and the 3x delivery saver voucher was only way I could do it."
A Tesco spokesperson said: "Clubcard is how our customers get the best value from shopping with Tesco; from Clubcard Prices on thousands of products to Clubcard points on food, fuel, clothing and more in store and online.
"Our Delivery Saver plans provide great value for our customers, starting from as little as £2.49 per month for our Click & Collect plan and £3.99 per month for our cheapest home delivery plan.
"Clubcard customers will still be able to get three times the value of their vouchers on Tesco Delivery Saver plans until the 14th November."
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Airmen conduct hot pit refueling for a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing during an Agile Combat Employment capstone exercise at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee, Aug. 25, 2022. The ACE concept underpins the Air Force’s ability to mitigate the risks of adversarial technological advances through maneuverability and speed to prevail in conflict. The capstone exercise included 72-hours of continuous air refueling operations and a historic 58-hour KC-135 flight in a simulated contested environment focused on a notional theater of operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings)
This work, 6th ARW accelerates change with ACE capstone exercise [Image 16 of 16], by A1C Joshua Hastings, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7394291/6th-arw-accelerates-change-with-ace-capstone-exercise | 2022-08-30T15:58:15Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7394291/6th-arw-accelerates-change-with-ace-capstone-exercise | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON (CN) — In a move certain to rile progressives in the base, the Biden administration urged the Supreme Court this week to pass on the opportunity to overrule a series of early 20th century decisions widely denounced as racist.
The rulings — known as the Insular Cases — denied residents of U.S. territories full constitutional rights by concluding that the Constitution applies in full to incorporated territories but only in part to unincorporated territories. While the court has yet to overturn these rulings, it appeared the justices might be primed to do so if the right opportunity arose. In a concurring opinion this term, Justice Neil Gorsuch called for overturning the Insular Cases.
“The time has come to recognize that the Insular Cases rest on a rotten foundation,” the Trump appointee wrote. “And I hope the day comes soon when the Court squarely overrules them.”
Gorsuch was not the only justice to signal a need to overturn these rulings. Justice Sonia Sotomayor also criticized the cases this term. Gorsuch and Sotomayor stand on opposite sides of the ideological spectrum on the court, indicating that there might be wide support to overturn these rulings on the court.
John Fitisemanu, Pale Tuli and Rosavita Tuli — who have all been denied citizenship because they were born in American Samoa — presented the court with an opportunity for the court to overturn these rulings next term.
Fitisemanu was joined by the Southern Utah Pacific Islander Coalition — a nonprofit organization serving the Samoan community — in a lawsuit challenging the government’s denial of citizenship rights to residents of U.S. territories. Fitisemanu claims a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act denying residents from territories citizenship is unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause.
U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups said the Insular Cases should not apply in this case since they do not concern the 14th Amendment. The Utah judge then interpreted the 14th Amendment under common law following the court’s precedent and granted summary judgment in favor of Fitisemanu.
At the 10th Circuit, however, a panel disagreed on the Insular Cases role in the case and reversed summary judgment. While the panel acknowledged the historical context of the Insular Cases, the judges said the rulings should apply in the case. A divided court denied Fitisemanu’s en banc rehearing request.
Fitisemanu then petitioned the Supreme Court, asking the justices to use this case to overrule the Insular Cases. Fitisemanu claims text, history and precedent all support the argument that U.S. territories are entitled to birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, and that the statute denying resident citizenship is unconstitutional.
“The choice for this Court, then, is clear: it can either give its sanction to the panel majority’s extension of the Insular Cases, or it can uphold the original meaning of and binding precedent interpreting the Citizenship Clause, and thereby safeguard the right to birthright citizenship for people born in U.S. Territories,” Matthew McGill, an attorney for Fitisemanu with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, wrote in the petition.
Civil rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Campaign urged the court to take up what they characterized as a rare opportunity to address these problematic precedents.
“The Insular Cases have long been a stain on this Court’s jurisprudence, poorly reasoned, unfounded in the text, and resting on racial stereotypes,” Alejandro Ortiz, an attorney with the ACLU, wrote in the group’s amicus brief. “This case presents an opportunity to repudiate the decisions once and for all.”
Civil rights groups say the rulings represent bigotry and harm residents of U.S. territories. While the court has previously said the Insular Cases should not be extended, the groups say lower courts need a stronger statement from the justices on this point.
“Despite the bigotry they represent, the Insular Cases remain on the books,” Ortiz wrote. “Their doctrine casts a pall on the rights of residents of the territories — including American Samoa. And notwithstanding the Court’s clear warnings against extending them, lower courts, including the Tenth Circuit here, continue to apply them to new contexts.”
Despite some justices' interest in overturning these rulings and civil rights groups’ input, however the Biden administration urged the court not to take up the case. The Department of Justice said the 10th Circuit’s ruling did not improperly apply the framework from the Insular Cases, and that this case is not the appropriate vehicle for overruling those cases.
“The government does not rely on the premise that citizenship is not ‘fundamental,’ or on the view that extending birthright citizenship to American Samoa would be ‘impracticable and anomalous,’” U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote in the government’s brief. “And the government in no way relies on the indefensible and discredited aspects of the Insular Cases’ reasoning and rhetoric that petitioners highlight here.”
Prelogar said the government’s argument instead concerns the text of the Citizenship Clause and the court’s precedents prior to the Insular Cases. The Citizenship Clause, Prelogar said, states that citizenship only applies to people born in the United States.
“The ordinary tools of constitutional interpretation — including text, context, historical practice, and precedent — establish that the term ‘the United States,’ as used in that provision, does not include American Samoa,” Prelogar wrote. “The multi-step framework from the Insular Cases is therefore beside the point. As a result, this case would be an unsuitable vehicle for reexamining those cases — cases which, petitioners emphasize did not apply the Citizenship Clause.”
The government also argues that the court should not take up the case because the people of American Samoa have not agreed that they are in favor of United States citizenship. Prelogar notes that, after the 10th Circuit issued its ruling in this case, the American Samoan Legislature unanimously passed a resolution respecting the decision and expressing opposition to imposing citizenship on them without their consent. Citizenship, the government argues, should be a result of legislation, not judicial decisions.
“If this Court were now to accept petitioners’ invitation to hold that the Citizenship Clause imposes U.S. citizenship on all persons born in American Samoa, it would eliminate the opportunity for the American Samoan people to consider the issue democratically and to develop a consensus as to its proper resolution,” Prelogar wrote.
The court is currently in its summer recess and will return to the bench next term on Oct. 3.
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(AP) — Elon Musk and Twitter lobbed salvos at each other Tuesday in the latest round of legal filings over the billionaire Tesla CEO's efforts to rescind his offer to buy the social media platform.
Musk filed more paperwork to terminate his agreement to buy Twitter, this time based on information in a whistleblower complaint filed by Twitter’s former head of security. Twitter fired back by saying his attempt to back out of the deal is “invalid and wrongful.”
In an SEC filing, Musk said his legal team notified Twitter of “additional bases” for ending the deal on top of the ones given in the original termination notice issued in July.
In a letter to Twitter, which was included in the filing, Musk's advisors cited the whistleblower report by former executive Peiter Zatko — also known by his hacker handle “Mudge."
Zatko, who served as Twitter’s head of security until he was fired early this year, alleged in his complaint to U.S. officials that the company misled regulators about its poor cybersecurity defenses and its negligence in attempting to root out fake accounts that spread disinformation.
The letter, addressed to Twitter's Chief Legal Officer Vijaya Gadde, said Zatko's allegations provide extra reasons to end the deal if the July termination notice “is determined to be invalid for any reason.”
Billionaire Musk has spent months alleging that the company he agreed to acquire undercounted its fake and spam accounts, which means he doesn't have to go through with the $44 billion deal. Musk's decision to back out of the transaction sets the stage for a high-stakes legal battle in October.
In a separate SEC filing, Twitter responded to what it called Musk's latest “purported termination,” saying it's “based solely on statements made by a third party that, as Twitter has previously stated, are riddled with inconsistencies and inaccuracies and lack important context."
The company vowed to go through with the sale at the price agreed with Musk.
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Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday. | https://www.courthousenews.com/elon-musk-cites-whistleblower-as-new-reason-to-exit-twitter-deal/ | 2022-08-30T16:00:37Z | courthousenews.com | control | https://www.courthousenews.com/elon-musk-cites-whistleblower-as-new-reason-to-exit-twitter-deal/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
STRASBOURG, France (CN) — Europe’s top rights court on Tuesday sided with a woman who wore a knitted balaclava to a protest, calling Moscow’s enforcement of face covering rules part of a campaign to scare the opposition.
Russia violated Naylya Ibragimova’s right to freedom of expression, the European Court of Human Rights ruled, when authorities charged her with an administrative offense and fined her 10,000 Russian rubles ($163) for wearing a green knit ski mask during a protest.
Ibragimova wore the face covering while staging a one-woman protest denouncing the trial of the protest punk band Pussy Riot, known for wearing similar masks, in 2012. The girl group was imprisoned after a highly publicized and unauthorized performance inside a Moscow cathedral that year. In a 2018 decision, the ECHR found Russia violated the band members' human rights.
The now 34-year-old Ibragimova held a sign that read “Don’t extend your hand to someone else’s fate. Free Pussy Riot” during her solo rally in the northwestern port city of Murmansk. Ibragimova was not attempting to conceal her identity - she spoke to journalists and removed the balaclava before leaving Five Corners Square after an hour. Nearby police officers never attempted to intervene.
She was charged a month later after several articles about her protest appeared on local news websites. Ibragimova contested the charges but ultimately lost before Russia’s Constitutional Court. Under the Public Events Act, protesters in Russia are forbidden from wearing masks or disguises.
Moscow argued there had been no violation of Ibragimova's right to express herself, as she had been allowed to complete her protest and other European countries have also outlawed face coverings during demonstrations.
Under the European Convention of Human Rights, which created the Strasbourg-based rights court in 1959, Europeans are entitled to freedom of expression. In its ruling Tuesday, the court criticized the Russian court for failing to consider the broader context of Ibragimova’s offense. It “did not explore in a meaningful manner whether there had been any intent or conduct preventing the applicant’s identification during her demonstration,” the ECHR's Third Section wrote.
The seven-judge panel found that since 2012, fines for administrative offenses at protests had increased ten-fold and this had a “chilling effect” on legitimate protest. Russia lost another pair of cases for prosecuting protesters in 2019, when the ECHR sided with two men who organized a rally against President Vladimir Putin's return to office for a third term.
The court awarded Ibragimova 242 euros ($242), the equivalent of the fine she was forced to pay in 2012, as well as 7,500 euros ($7,501) for non-monetary damages.
In an unrelated case on Tuesday, the ECHR also sided against Russia for seizing a laptop and hard drives belonging to journalist Sergey Sorokin, who had published a story about a high-ranking police officer abusing the power of his office in 2008 and was subsequently investigated for disclosing state secrets.
Sorokin’s apartment was searched and police confiscated his computer, four hard drives and an audio cassette. Ultimately, the charges against him were dropped but he argued the search was illegal and the case violated his right to a fair trial.
The ECHR awarded Sorokin 13,500 euros ($13,531) in total.
Moscow withdrew from the Council of Europe, the body which oversees the court and the convention, in March. The council had already voted to expel Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. Cases pending before the court involving Russia will still be completed.
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BEERSHEBA, Israel (AP) — An Israeli court on Tuesday sentenced the Gaza director of a major international charity to 12 years in prison after the court earlier convicted him of terrorism charges in a high-profile case in which independent investigations found no proof of wrongdoing.
Mohammed el-Halabi, the Gaza director for the international Christian charity World Vision, was arrested in 2016 and accused of diverting tens of millions of dollars to the Islamic militant group Hamas that rules the territory. The trial, and his prolonged detention, have further strained relations between Israel and humanitarian organizations that provide aid to Palestinians. The sentence is likely to continue to affect those ties.
The trial sheds light on the way Israel's legal system handles sensitive security cases, with the defense team given only limited access to evidence, which was also not made public. Critics say the courts too often side with the evidence brought forward by Israel's security establishment.
“It's inconceivable,” el-Halabi's lawyer, Maher Hanna, said of the length of the sentence. “They insist that injustice will persist throughout the whole process."
Both el-Halabi and World Vision have denied the allegations and an independent audit in 2017 also found no evidence of support for Hamas. Australia, which was the biggest single donor to World Vision’s humanitarian work in Gaza, came to similar conclusions in its own review.
In a statement, World Vision said the sentence stood in sharp contrast to the evidence and facts of the case.
“The arrest, six-year trial, unjust verdict and this sentence are emblematic of actions that hinder humanitarian work in Gaza and the West Bank," the group said. "It adds to the chilling impact on World Vision and other aid or development groups working to assist Palestinians.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the sentence in a statement, saying Israel would continue to prevent “any diversion of humanitarian funds for terrorist purposes.” It also said it was committed to cooperating with and facilitating the work of aid groups, including World Vision, in a way that didn't violate security considerations.
In June, the district court in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba said el-Halabi was guilty of several charges, including membership in a terror organization, providing information to a terror group, taking part in militant exercises and carrying a weapon.
It said he diverted “millions” of dollars every year, as well as equipment, from World Vision and its donors to Hamas. It said Hamas used the funds for militant activities, as well as children’s counseling, food aid and Quran memorization contests for its supporters. Pipes and nylon diverted to Hamas were used for military purposes, it said.
The court appeared to rely heavily on a confession by el-Halabi that has not been made public. Hanna, his lawyer, has said the confession was given under duress to an informant and should not have been admitted as evidence. He also said the defense team was granted “very limited access” to the evidence.
“The court left no stone unturned in this case,” said prosecutor Moran Gez, who added that the prosecution had asked for a 16- to 21-year sentence.
Hanna said el-Halabi intended to appeal the verdict and the sentence to the country’s Supreme Court. Hanna said el-Halabi turned down several plea bargain offers on principle that would have allowed him to walk free.
Israeli authorities have repeatedly said they have proof that Hamas had infiltrated the aid group and was diverting funds from needy Gazans. Then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu trumpeted the charges in an online video shortly after el-Halabi’s arrest.
Critics say Israel often relies on questionable informants. They allege that Israel smears groups that provide aid or other support to Palestinians in order to shore up its nearly 55-year military occupation of lands the Palestinians want for a future state.
Rights lawyers also criticize what they say is a relationship that is too cozy between the courts and the security system, which leads to an imbalance in how evidence is treated and assessed.
“It’s not this objective courthouse where two sides can sit together and discuss and argue,” said Adi Mansour of the legal rights group Adalah. “It is an unequal situation where the court sides with the security agencies and the state.”
Israel says it supports the work of aid organizations but must prevent donor funds from falling into the hands of armed groups like Hamas that do not recognize it and attack its citizens. It views its courts as independent and objective.
Last year, Israel outlawed six Palestinian civil society groups over alleged terror ties and earlier this month shuttered the West Bank offices of some of them. Israel has provided little evidence to back up its accusations. Nine European countries have rejected Israel’s charges against the groups, citing a lack of evidence.
After el-Halabi’s arrest, World Vision suspended its activities in Gaza, where over 2 million Palestinians live under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed when Hamas seized power nearly 15 years ago. Israel says the restrictions are needed to contain Hamas, while critics view them as a form of collective punishment.
An independent audit of World Vision's activities in Gaza found no evidence that el-Halabi was affiliated with Hamas or had diverted any funds. Instead, it found that el-Halabi had enforced internal controls and ordered employees to avoid anyone suspected of Hamas ties.
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By AMI BENTOV Associated Press
Associated Press writer Emily Rose contributed to this report from Jerusalem.
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BAGHDAD (AP) — Armed supporters of a powerful Iraqi cleric who clashed with security forces in the capital began to withdraw from the streets Tuesday, restoring a measure of calm after a serious escalation of the nation's political crisis.
Following two days of deadly unrest that sparked fears instability might spread throughout the country and even the region, cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, 48, told his supporters to leave the government quarter where they had rallied. Within minutes, some could be seen heeding the call, dismantling their tents and walking out of the area known as the Green Zone.
The cleric's supporters packed up their belongings and trucks ferried away bundled up mattresses. Mounds of trash littered thoroughfares and the steps leading up to Iraq's parliament building. A portrait of al-Sadr waving was placed against a tree as his followers rolled up carpets, tea glasses and the remnants of their four-week sit-in.
Iraq’s military also announced the lifting of a nationwide curfew, further raising hopes that the immediate crisis was ebbing, though the larger political crisis remained unresolved. Al-Sadr's move to de-escalate tensions raised questions of how issues such as the dissolution of parliament and the holding of early elections will be handled between rival groups.
Protesters supporting al-Sadr's rivals also withdrew from their demonstration outside the government zone.
Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government. That led to months of political infighting between al-Sadr's Shiite followers and his Iran-backed Shiite rivals before it became violent Monday.
The chaos began when al-Sadr announced he would resign from politics. Many dismissed the move as a ploy to gain greater leverage, and his supporters stormed the Green Zone, once the stronghold of the U.S. military and now home to Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies. They eventually breached the gates of the government palace, rushing into its lavish salons and marbled halls.
On Tuesday, his followers could be seen on live television firing both machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades into the heavily-fortified Green Zone, while security forces sporadically returned fire and armored tanks lined up. Some bystanders filmed the gunfight with their mobile phones, though most hid behind walls, wincing when rounds cracked nearby.
At least 30 people were killed, officials said, before al-Sadr urged those loyal to him to go home, following pleas for restraint from several Iraqi officials and the United Nations.
“This is not a revolution,” the cleric said in a televised address.
Al-Sadr, who spurred his followers to storm the parliament in July with calls for revolution and reform, apologized to the Iraqi people and said he could not support the violence.
The immediate shift on the streets underscored his enduring control over his loyalists, and by extension his influence over the Iraqi political class.
In addition to the dozens killed, over 400 were wounded, two Iraqi medical officials said Tuesday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to release the information to journalists.
In a sign of the fear that the unrest would spread, Iran closed its borders to Iraq earlier Tuesday, though even before al-Sadr’s order, streets beyond the capital’s government quarter largely remained calm. The country’s vital oil continued to flow, with global benchmark Brent crude trading slightly down.
Later on Tuesday, Iran resumed flights to Iraq, Iranian state TV reported.
Members of Iraq's majority Shiite Muslim population were oppressed when Saddam Hussein ruled the country for decades. The 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam, a Sunni, reversed the political order. Just under two-thirds of Iraq is Shiite, with a third Sunni.
Now, the Shiites are fighting among themselves, with those backed by Iran and those who consider themselves Iraqi nationalists jockeying for power, influence and state resources.
It’s an explosive rivalry in a country where many are wary of the Iranian government’s influence even though trade and ties between people remain strong. Iraq and Iran fought a bloody war in the 1980s that saw a million people killed.
Al-Sadr’s nationalist rhetoric and reform agenda resonates powerfully with his supporters, who largely hail from Iraq’s poorest sectors of society and were historically shut out of the political system under Saddam.
Al-Sadr's initial announcement that he would leave politics implicitly gave his supporters the freedom to act as they see fit. His speech on Tuesday, effectively reined them back in.
Before that, the unrest led neighboring countries to issue warnings to their citizens and one embassy closed.
In addition to closing its borders, Iran urged its citizens to avoid any travel to the neighboring country, citing the unrest. The decision came as millions prepared to visit Iraq for an annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites.
Kuwait, which shares a 254-kilometer- (158-mile-) long border with Iraq, called on its citizens to leave the neighboring country. The state-run KUNA news agency also encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert for U.S. citizens urging them to avoid the Green Zone and other areas where demonstrations are occurring as well as a Do Not Travel advisory.
The Netherlands evacuated its embassy in the Green Zone, Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra tweeted early Tuesday.
“There are firefights around the embassy in Baghdad. Our staff are now working at the German embassy elsewhere in the city,” Hoekstra wrote.
Dubai's long-haul carrier Emirates stopped flights to Baghdad on Tuesday. The carrier said that it was “monitoring the situation closely.” It did not say when flights would resume.
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By SAMYA KULLAB and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Associated Press
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(CN) — Skeletons found inside a medieval well discovered outside of London have clued scientists in to the genetic history of Ashkenazi Jews.
The development of a shopping center in Norwich, a city northeast of London, was halted in 2004 when a well containing 17 skeletal remains were discovered on site. The bodies appeared to have been thrown in, all on top of each other, in contrast to other medieval mass burial sites where bodies were usually neatly arranged.
The bodies were later dated to the early Middle Ages, and preliminary genetic investigation in 2010 identified the bodies as Ashkenazi Jews. Now, in a study published Monday in Current Biology, researchers present new findings based on these remains, which give new insight on the history of Ashkenazi Jews in the U.K.
Although mass burials could suggest other mass fatality events like disease or famine, the revelation that the individuals had been Ashkenazi Jews led researchers to theorize that the bodies in the well had been victims of antisemitic violence. Early 12th century Norwich has been categorized as an era of particularly severe antisemitic sentiment and is even credited as the documented origin of the blood libel myth.
“These are the oldest Jewish genomes,” said Mark Thomas, co-author of the paper and a professor of evolutionary genetics at University College London.
He emphasized the unique scientific opportunity of the Norwich remains.
“In general, there are no ancient Ashkenazi genomes because it is prohibited to disturb Jewish graves, particularly for scientific study. However, in our case, there was no way of knowing whether they were Jewish or not until we had done the genetic studies; of course, if they had been known to be Jewish at that time, we wouldn’t have been able to do this work in them,” Thomas said.
Researchers utilized updated technology that were not yet available to them even a decade ago when the remains were first identified as having Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, to uncover even more information about the bodies in the well.
“The technology that’s been available to do the kind of work that we do has just improved over time. Twelve to thirteen years ago, when we first did the work, the technology was not as advanced as it is now, so we were working with at a few hundred base pairs of DNA sequence, as opposed to the millions of base pairs currently,” said paper co-author Ian Barnes of London’s Natural History Museum. Barnes was one of the initial researchers that first identified possible Ashkenazi Jewish heritage in the remains.
Significantly, results modelled by these updated computer simulations indicated that the Ashkenazi population to which the individuals in the well belonged had gone through a bottleneck event, where a population undergoes sudden and extreme population reduction, perhaps earlier than previously thought.
“If you look at the scientific literature, most publications where they’ve tried to estimate when that bottleneck took place, place it in the last 800 years. What that means is that most theories about when that bottleneck that drove up the frequencies of certain genetic diseases in Ashkenazi Jews took place, is that it took place after when these individuals were alive,” Thomas said. “If that’s the case, then that predicts that the population from which these individuals come would have a lower frequency of these genetic diseases than Ashkenazi Jews today.”
Bottleneck events are a large part of studies into Ashkenazi genetic history. Frequent bottleneck events and endogamous marriage practices have led to heightened risk for certain hereditary disorders in Ashkenazi populations. Based on these previous studies, researchers expected that disease allele frequencies of the remains to be closer to frequencies of the general European population.
The presence of genetic disorders carried by the individuals in the well showed disease variations in the remains that were unexpectedly nearly level with modern-day numbers.
With the updated technology, researchers were also able to approximate some of the bodies’ physical characteristics and could even determine familial links between several the remains. The 17 individuals in the well were revealed to be a mixture of both children and adults, with the youngest estimated to be toddler aged. Three of the skeletons were discovered to have belonged to sisters.
Although researchers have speculated as to the possible antisemitic fates of the Norwich well individuals, the true reason for their death may never be learned for certain, the study noted, as the bones themselves do not actually show signs of violent trauma.
Genetic testing has given, at least, a context for the remains. After the initial testing revealed signs of Ashkenazi heritage, the remains were able to be reburied in a Jewish ceremony by Norwich’s thriving Jewish community in 2013, centuries after their deaths.
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BEIJING (AP) — China has placed millions of its citizens under renewed lockdown following fresh outbreaks of Covid-19, authorities reported Tuesday, as the government persists in its hard-line policy on containing the virus.
The measures affected about half of the 6 million residents of the port city of Dalian, along with an undisclosed number in Chengde and Shijiazhuang in Hebei province, both around three hours from the capital Beijing.
Dalian’s lockdown was due to last five days, although authorities have in past extended restrictions depending on the number of new cases.
Beijing has been relatively unaffected thus far, although travel in and out of the capital has been discouraged and residents are subject to testing on an almost daily basis.
Partial lockdowns have also been imposed on cities such as Chengdu in the southwest, Shenyang in the northeast and Jishui in the southeast.
Such measures are mandated under China's “zero-Covid" policy, which contrasts starkly with moves by other nations to coexist with the virus through gradual easing of restrictions, vaccinations, improved therapeutics and voluntary isolation.
China has largely kept its borders closed to foreign visitors, while requiring those who do come to submit to more than a week of quarantine in hotels where sanitary conditions are often poor. Masking and regular testing are also standard and anyone found to have been in close contact with a person confirmed to have the virus is forcibly transported to field hospitals.
The World Health Organization has called China's policy unsustainable and on Monday, a Chinese think tank issued a rare public disagreement with the ruling Communist Party, saying the curbs that have shut down cities and disrupted trade, travel and industry must change to prevent an “economic stall.”
The Anbound Research Center gave no details of possible changes but said President Xi Jinping’s government needs to focus on shoring up sinking growth. It noted the United States, Europe and Japan are recovering economically after easing anti-disease curbs.
“Preventing the risk of economic stall should be the priority task,” the think tank said in a report titled, “It’s Time for China to Adjust Its Virus Control and Prevention Policies.”
Previous lockdowns have seen tens of millions confined to their homes, sometimes for weeks. A strict lockdown in the largest city and commercial hub of Shanghai earlier this year led to protests online and in person over lack of food and medical services.
China on Tuesday reported 1,717 cases of local transmission, 52 of them in Liaoning province where Dalian is located. Most of the cases were reported in Sichuan province, whose capital is Chengdu, and the vast majority were asymptomatic.
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(CN) — An ongoing water crisis in Mississippi’s largest city escalated late Monday when Governor Tate Reeves announced that equipment failures and lack of staffing at a treatment plant have essentially rendered Jackson's water system inoperable.
The city's 160,000 residents have been under a boil-water notice since late July, but now pumps at the facility are unable to keep up with demand.
Water pressure is so low it cannot reach the upper floors of buildings essential to state government and education, while the system’s treatment processes have also failed. Currently, the lines are filled with raw water from the Ross Barnett Reservoir, which has swelled in recent days due to weeks of heavy rain.
But Reeves was unable to say if the failures were weather-related, or when emergency repairs may be complete. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is establishing an incident command center at the OB Curtis Water Treatment Facility, where it will coordinate with other agencies to distribute both potable and nonpotable water for 180,000 customers of the water system.
“Until it is fixed it means we do not have reliable running water at scale,” Reeves said at a news conference Monday evening in which he declared a state of emergency. “It means the city cannot produce enough water to fight fires or reliably flush toilets and meet other critical needs.”
Reeves called the state’s response to the crisis “a massively complicated logistical task” that will prioritize fire safety, sanitation and public health. The Mississippi National Guard will be activated to assist. He nodded toward the city of Jackson’s leadership for responsibility for the crisis, but said Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has expressed a spirit of cooperation, while the city and state are expected to evenly split the cost of emergency repairs. Reeves also ensured contractors they would be paid for their work on the project.
“There is no silver bullet fix,” the governor cautioned, adding it could be days or weeks before the problem is solved. State Health Officer Dr. Daniel Edney said the health concerns are “significant” and customers should boil water for at least three minutes before use.
The water problems, which are also affecting the neighboring city of Fondren, have caused schools, restaurants and doctors' offices to close. Some legislators have requested a special session to address the crisis, but Reeves was hesitant. A permanent fix could cost upwards of $1 billion.
In a separate news conference Monday, Lumumba said the crisis was indeed due to water infiltration during the recent rains, but expressed gratitude that a larger flood threat had been averted as the water began to recede. The Pearl River, which feeds the reservoir, crested just below its flood stage Monday after the area received as much as 20 inches of rain in recent weeks.
The city’s water system has suffered in recent years due to mismanagement and a lack of funding, according to local news reports. In February 2021, Jackson water customers were under a nearly one-month boil-water notice after a winter storm froze pipes and water mains.
“It is no secret we have a very fragile water treatment facility,” Lumumba said. “This is a citywide challenge they are working diligently to recover from … but this is an outage that could potentially last for a few days.”
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SYDNEY (AP) — An Australian man was convicted on Tuesday of murdering his wife 40 years ago after a renewed police investigation that was triggered by a popular podcast.
Christopher Dawson, 74, faces a possible life sentence. He opted for a trial by judge instead of a jury in the New South Wales state Supreme Court due to his notoriety from “The Teacher’s Pet” podcast, which 60 million people have listened to since 2018. The podcast set out a circumstantial case that Dawson had murdered his wife, Lynette.
Justice Ian Harrison found that Dawson killed his wife in 1982. At the time, Dawson was a high school teacher who was in a sexual relationship with a teenage former student and babysitter for his two daughters, identified in court as J.C.
The judge found the husband killed his wife because he feared losing his lover.
Harrison rejected the possibility that the wife abandoned her husband and children to vanish without a trace. He also dismissed claims the wife had been seen alive after January 1982 or that she had contacted her husband.
“The whole of the circumstantial evidence satisfies me that Lynette Dawson is dead, that she died on or about Jan. 8, 1982, and that she did not voluntarily abandon her home,” the judge said.
The wife had a strong attachment to her husband and daughters, was no “shrinking violet,” and had limited funds to support herself. This led the judge to reject the idea that she had left with only the clothes on her back.
“The proposition is ludicrous,” the judge said.
In his reasons for the guilty verdict, Harrison found that Dawson had lied about phone calls he claimed to have received from his wife after her disappearance.
J.C. and Dawson married in 1984 and separated in 1990.
Outside court, Lynette's brother, Greg Simms, appealed to his brother-in-law to reveal the location of her body.
“The journey is not complete. She is still missing. We still need to bring her home. We would ask Chris Dawson to find it in himself to finally do the decent thing and allow us to bring Lyn home to a peaceful rest,” Simms said.
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MOSCOW (AP) — Russian prosecutors at the trial of a former journalist asked the court Tuesday to hand him a 24-year prison sentence on treason charges.
Ivan Safronov. who worked as a journalist for a decade before becoming an adviser to the head of the Russian space corporation Roscosmos, has been in custody since his July 2020 arrest in Moscow. He has rejected the charges of passing military secrets to Czech intelligence and insisted on his innocence.
Safronov's case reflects the challenges faced by Russian journalists, which have grown even tougher amid Moscow's military action in Ukraine.
Safronov, who covered military and security issues for the leading Russian business daily Kommersant before joining Roscosmos, stated that he had collected all the information from open sources in the course of his work and did nothing illegal. He has argued that the investigators have failed to spell out the treason charges and explain what secrets he had allegedly revealed.
Many Russian journalists and human rights activists have pushed for Safronov’s release, and some have alleged that the authorities may have wanted to take revenge for his reporting that exposed Russian military incidents and shady arms deals.
Roscosmos has said that Safronov didn’t have access to state secrets, and claimed that the charges didn’t relate to Safronov’s work for the corporation, which he joined in May 2020.
Rights activists, journalists, scientists and corporate officials who have faced treason accusations in Russia in recent years have found it difficult to defend themselves because of secrecy surrounding their cases and a lack of public access to information.
Safronov’s father also worked for Kommersant covering military issues after retiring from the armed forces. In 2007, he died after falling from a window of his apartment building in Moscow.
Investigators concluded that he killed himself, but some Russian media outlets questioned the official version, pointing to his intent to publish a sensitive report about secret arms deliveries to Iran and Syria.
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By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press
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Jordan Carr, from Eldora, spent her summer as a Water Resources Intern with the Conservation Learning Group (CLG) based at Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames.
Jordan Carr, from Eldora, spent her summer as a Water Resources Intern with the Conservation Learning Group (CLG) based at Iowa State University (ISU) in Ames. This month she will enter her senior year at ISU majoring in environmental science and this opportunity to get her feet wet in public outreach and field research offered some amazing experiences.
As an intern, Jordan was excited to expand her experience in public outreach while learning more about environmental and conservation topics important to Iowa.
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A two-vehicle accident near the intersection of Highway 65 and County Road D65 (south of Hubbard) resulted in a fatality Sunday evening.
According to a report released by the Iowa State Patrol, Madrid resident Joel Jeffress was traveling eastbound in a Volvo station wagon on County Road D65 at approximately 9:21 p.m. when he failed to stop at a stop sign.
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BUCKEYE
Colleen Bahr, 83, of Buckeye, passed away Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, at Mary Greely Medical Center in Ames. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 31, at Linn’s Funeral Home. A time of visitation will be from 2 p.m. until service time at Linn’s Funeral Home. Burial will be at Buckeye Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family: Colleen Bahr Memorial, c/o Linn’s Funeral Home, 1521 Washington Ave., Iowa Falls, IA, 50126.
Colleen Clara Harding was born July 17, 1939 to Lewis and Marjorie (Gibbins) Harding in Clarion. Colleen graduated from Popejoy High School with the class of 1957. Colleen had three children: Bonnie, Kenneth, and Ray. Colleen was united in marriage to Don Bahr on May 25, 2002. She worked at Farmland Foods as a meat cutter until the plant closed. She then worked as a bartender until retirement. Colleen liked to play cards and play with her grandson Hunter. She enjoyed all her grandchildren.
Colleen is survived by her husband Donald Bahr; her children: Bonnie (Mickey) Morgan of Alden, Ray (Audra) Morgan of Alden, Kevin (Brooke) Bahr of Alden, Danielle (Nathan) Kinnetz of Iowa Falls, Chris Bahr of Alden; two sisters: Pat Johansen, and Kathi Dohrmann both of Hampton; one brother Larry (Dixie) Harding of Maui; eleven grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Lewis and Marjorie Harding; a son, Kenneth Morgan; a grandson, Ashtyn; a brother, Jim Harding; and a sister, Jeanette Zoske. | http://www.timescitizen.com/obituaries/bahr-colleen-july-17-1939-aug-25-2022/article_4f16a8c6-2873-11ed-a5a0-c3d56b806ba7.html | 2022-08-30T16:02:51Z | timescitizen.com | control | http://www.timescitizen.com/obituaries/bahr-colleen-july-17-1939-aug-25-2022/article_4f16a8c6-2873-11ed-a5a0-c3d56b806ba7.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — One of the men shot to death at a Safeway store in Bend, Oregon, Sunday night died a hero after confronting the shooter, police said Monday.
Investigators say Donald Surrett Jr., who worked at the Safeway, was one of two people killed Sunday night after he reportedly tried to disarm the shooter, who was carrying an AR-15-style rifle in the grocery’s produce section.
The other person killed was 84-year-old Glenn Bennett, who was slain when the shooter entered the store. Police identified the suspected shooter as 20-year-old Ethan Miller, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police are still working to determine a motive and say their investigators are looking into several posts the suspected shooter made on social media leading up to the tragedy.
Many people stopped by the scene Monday, some dropping off flowers and others giving water to law enforcement officers on scene.
Miller reportedly came from an apartment complex that borders the shopping center and shot a gun several times, including at a Big Lots a few stores down from the Safeway. Police say he entered the Safeway and shot Bennett before Surrett tried to stop him.
Surrett was a part of the Disabled American Veterans chapter in Bend and was in the Army for more than 20 years before being honorably discharged in 2000. He was decorated 13 times and was the Treasurer and Adjutant for Central Oregon DAV.
George McCart, who was in the Central Oregon Disabled American Veterans with Surrett, said that his friend was a “really nice guy and personable as all get out.” He also said that Surrett’s actions were based on his training.
“When you’re trained to do things like that, and he was trained, it becomes an instant reaction. When things go south, you react,” McCart said.
People in Bend are not surprised that one of their own took action to save lives.
“That’s Bend, everyone here, for the most part, the people I grow up with, they will stand up for whoever whenever. They’ll say something because they care and because they probably know you,” said Bend resident Sophia Rodriguez. She went to high school with Miller, she said.
There were reports of two shootings Sunday, but police say there is only evidence of this one, and that there is no evidence of a second shooter.
A vigil took place at Drake Park, remembering the lives that were lost.
“I just knew that our community was hurting and that we can feel better being together,” said Brandy Steelhammer, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action who helped organize the vigil.
“I really trust that being in relationship, knowing that neighbors caring about one another, seeing the employees from Safeway, the community that they’ve developed, that’s what will get us through,” added Reverend Erika Spaet. “That’s what community looks like. And I think that’s what we’re all longing for. And when communities take care of one another and are creative about keeping one another safe, I think these kinds of things don’t happen.” | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/army-veteran-died-a-hero-confronting-oregon-safeway-shooter/ | 2022-08-30T16:06:28Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/army-veteran-died-a-hero-confronting-oregon-safeway-shooter/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – Two Brink’s guards were tasked with transporting millions of dollars in jewelry and gemstones from San Mateo, California, to a secure storage yard in Los Angeles in July. But the delivery didn’t go according to plan, a new lawsuit explains.
Following a San Mateo gem and jewelry show on July 10, an armored big rig was loaded with 73 bags containing jewelry, according to a separate lawsuit filed by Brink’s on Aug. 4 in federal court in New York. The truck left around midnight with the shipment ultimately intended for a jewelry show in Pasadena.
As they made the roughly 370-mile trip, one guard slept while the other drove “in compliance with Department of Transportation regulations,” according to the Brink’s suit. The truck briefly stopped at the Buttonwillow Rest Area on Interstate 5, just west of Bakersfield, for the driver to use the bathroom.
At 2:05 a.m. on July 11, they arrived at the Flying J in Lebec, about 40 miles south of Bakersfield. The driver left his partner in the sleeping berth and went inside for food.
Upon returning at 2:32 a.m., the driver noticed both the plastic seal around the truck and its rear lock had been cut, but the guard who had been sleeping said he “did not see or hear anything unusual,” the suit stated.
In the 27 minutes the driver was gone, thieves allegedly stole nearly two dozen bags of jewelry, according to a suit filed by jewelers impacted by the incident.
The guards “failed miserably,” jewelers wrote.
“One left a truckload of jewelry and gemstones for a half-hour completely out of his sight at a remote truck stop while he was buying food, and the other literally was asleep on the job, snoozing away just a few feet from where thieves were stealing approximately $100 million of plaintiffs’ property,” according to the jewelers’ lawsuit, which was filed on Aug. 19 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The heist left the “small, mostly older jewelers, without the means to earn their living,” their suit reads. Of the 73 large orange bags the truck had been carrying, 22 were missing.
The jewelers accuse Brink’s of negligence and breach of contract, among other causes of action, and name Flying J as a defendant, arguing the plaza had inadequate lighting and video or other surveillance of the parking area.
The actual value of jewelry and gemstones reportedly stolen is also under dispute.
Brink’s argues the manifests for the missing bags list them as having a total value of $8.7 million, much less than the $100 million the jewelers alleged.
“On information and belief, Brink’s believes that each defendant seeks to recover more from Brink’s than is permitted under the contract,” according to the security company’s suit filed in federal court in New York.
The Los Angeles Times first reported the suits last week. While the sheriff’s investigators have acquired video related to the theft, no arrests have been made. | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/brinks-guard-slept-as-thieves-stole-jewelry-worth-millions-during-truck-stop-heist-lawsuit-alleges/ | 2022-08-30T16:06:36Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/national/brinks-guard-slept-as-thieves-stole-jewelry-worth-millions-during-truck-stop-heist-lawsuit-alleges/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Rian Johnson Defends The Last Jedi as an Affirmation of Star Wars
Generally, nobody would expect a director who was given relative creative freedom to turn on their own work. So while some fans may have hoped Rian Johnson would take their criticisms of his Star Wars movie to heart, a new Empire magazine interview won’t deliver what they wanted. For those who did like the film, however, the director affirms that in many ways, it’s about them.
“I think it’s impossible for any of us to approach Star Wars without thinking about it as a myth that we were raised with, and how that myth, that story, baked itself into us and affected us,” Johnson says. “The ultimate intent was not to strip away – the intent was to get to the basic, fundamental power of myth. And ultimately I hope the film is an affirmation of the power of the myth of Star Wars in our lives.”
RELATED: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Trailer Debuts At Star Wars Celebration
Empire‘s only running a short excerpt of the interview online. So far, he makes no mention of the way Episode IX somewhat took back some of his story swerves. But after acknowledging, “When I was up at bat, I really swung at the ball,” Johnson disputed the criticism that The Last Jedi is too much of a deconstruction of Luke Skywalker.
“The final images of the movie, to me, are not deconstructing the myth of Luke Skywalker, they’re building it, and they’re him embracing it,” he says. “They’re him absolutely defying the notion of, ‘Throw away the past,’ and embracing what actually matters about his myth and what’s going to inspire the next generation.”
Johnsons’ s comments may well ignite debate all over again, but it’s only natural he’d stand by a film that was very clearly his vision of Star Wars. Let us know what you think in comments.
Recommended Reading: Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order – Dark Temple
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Q: Doug McCormick said there’s a problem in his Chino Hills community of runners and walkers using the bike lanes and/or traffic lanes while exercising, including at dusk and in the early mornings when it’s somewhat dark out and hard to see. “They do this despite having access to city sidewalks or even graded shoulders available to them. In addition some run/walk with traffic and some run/walk against traffic,” our reader said, adding that this is happening on major streets and highways. McCormick asked if there are laws that address this and why local police are not doing more about what he called a hazardous condition.
A: California Vehicle Code 21966 says pedestrians should stay out of bike lanes wherever there is an adjacent adequate pedestrian facility, said Gloria Huerta, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, which contracts with the city of Chino Hills for policing.
“Our Chino Hills Traffic Division takes concerns regarding drivers and pedestrians very seriously. This is the first we have heard regarding pedestrians in bike lanes in recent months, not to say it is not happening,” Huerta said. If there are specific locations where pedestrians are often in the bike lanes, especially on major roads and highways, Huerta said, deputies would like to know about it. She said the Traffic Division takes into account citizen concerns and information so deputies can know where to focus their efforts and provide extra patrols. This information is also useful to help educate pedestrians, whether in person or on social media, she said.
The safety of pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as drivers, is a high priority, said Huerta. She asked those with concerns such as our readers to contact the Chino Hills station and provide locations where there are possible safety issues.
Q: Two readers from Moreno Valley, Patti Johnson and Bill Wilson, asked about the status of the Moreno Beach Bridge overpass over the 60 Freeway in Moreno Valley. They said construction work came to a standstill several months ago.
A: Indeed, the work stalled in late spring due to business/performance problems with the contractor, Spectrum Construction Group, based in Irvine (the company’s website is no longer active on the Internet and their phone has been disconnected). An effort is underway to seek another contractor to take over the project which began last summer. The Moreno Beach Bridge project will replace the existing two-lane bridge with a new seven-lane bridge with enhanced safety features, simplified on- and off-ramps, and underground storm drain facilities to mitigate flooding, according to the city.
Here’s an update via email from Steven B. Quintanilla, interim city attorney for Moreno Valley, “The Surety, which is the entity that provided the bonds to ensure the performance of the work and completion of the State Route 60 interchange project, immediately solicited several bids from highly responsible and experienced contractors to complete the project in a safe and timely manner. The Surety has reviewed all the final bids and is in the process of reviewing the top contractor’s subcontractors’ bids. Once the Surety completes this very critical review process, and the city approves the requisite agreement, work will immediately commence.”
He said the Moreno Valley Public Works Department and city engineering staff, plus the City Attorney’s Office, have joined the effort to make sure all legal and technical issues are completed as fast as possible to avoid more delays. In the meantime, the city has been conducting regular inspections of the project’s completed portions to ensure its safety, he said.
Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Spend a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write ontheroad@pe.com or call 951-368-9670.
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Observant foodies like Redondo Beach resident Jackie Cuevas, took notice of the Day of the Dead-themed restaurants that began popping up all over the area.
She spotted the first one a few months ago after moving into her new neighborhood. She was drawn in by the bright, graffiti-style artwork painted on the dark walls. She also took note of the Latin, reggaeton and rap music being played, the creatively presented cocktails and the sizzling plates of food that passed by at the busy Kalaveras restaurant. Pressed for time, she wasn’t able to break for a bite, but it definitely caught her attention.
A couple of weeks later, while on her lunch break, she came across a similar-style restaurant on Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles.
“It was another Kalaveras and this time I decided to give it a shot, and wow, I’m all about it now and I’m always looking out for them,” she said as she sat inside the West Los Angeles location. Kalaveras is a rapidly growing restaurant chain whose young trio of owners are looking to redefine modern Mexican dining in neighborhoods around Southern California as they build a family-backed restaurant empire.
“This is the future of Mexican restaurants,” said 31-year-old Isaias Ocampo Brito, who along with his cousins, 32-year-old Angel Bahena and 29-year-old Daniel Brito, are behind the expanding chain. “It’s a restaurant that every city needs. It’s popping with bright colors, music and not just traditional Mexican food, but with more of a twist.”
The first Kalaveras location opened in Bellflower in 2016. Currently, the cousins own and operate 13 Kalaveras restaurants, including eateries in Montebello, Redondo Beach, Whittier, San Pedro, Chino Hills, West Los Angleles, Puente Hills, Pasadena, Riverside, Silver Lake and the newly opened locations in Rancho Cucamonga and Santa Monica.
But, the young restaurateurs are far from being done with the expansion.
Within the next year, the cousins plan on doubling their local footprint with 13 more restaurants opening in Burbank, Covina, Monrovia, North Hollywood, Corona, Marina Del Rey, Simi Valley, Temecula, Long Beach, Montclair, Orange, Newport Beach and Fullerton.
“It’s wonderful,” Bahena said. “It’s amazing. I think it’s beautiful to see an empire build up and who better to do it with than your family.”
Cuisine and cocktails
Like Cuevas, Redondo Beach resident Jesse Bobbett gave Kalaveras a shot after seeing the inviting decor and energy of the place.
“It feels like Mexico City when you’re here,” said Bobbett, a regular at the Redondo Beach location. “It’s the environment, it’s vibrant, it’s colorful, it’s festive.”
But the cousins know that while those things might get people through the door, it’s the food and drinks that will turn them into loyal customers. So they created a chef-driven menu with dishes that aren’t found at typical mom and pop Mexican restaurants.
A good example of that is the Pasta a La Diabla, which mixes grilled shrimp and penne pasta with a house made Salsa Diabla served with cotija cheese. There are also dishes that blend Latin cuisines like the carnitas, which is made of traditional carnitas drenched in a green sauce, but served with plantains, that are more traditionally found in Central American cuisine.
“You have Latinos from everywhere here, it’s not all Mexican,” Ocampo Brito said. “So our food will have ingredients that they use in El Salvador, Peru, Guatemala.”
Meanwhile the drink menu includes dozens of mezcals, tequilas and cocktails, alcoholic slushies and margaritas.
A family business
Ocampo Brito, who came to the United States from Mexico at the age of 16, created the concept for Kalaveras after working for his uncles, who have owned various restaurants for decades.
“I started as a dishwasher at Spires, which was owned by my uncles and I moved up to busboy, cook, server … all the positions in the restaurant,” he said.
After really learning the business, he decided to share his ideas with his uncles.
“I wanted to do something different,” he said. He wanted to create a place that not only served good modern Mexican food, but he wanted to do it within a hip and stylish environment with high end mixed drinks that would attract millennials.
“Acapulco, El Torito, these places are dated,” he said. “I wanted to create a place where I wanted to go drink, where I wanted to hang out with my friends. A celebration, destination place.”
The family invested in the new restaurant and his cousins, who also grew up in the restaurant business working for their fathers, loved the idea and helped refine the concept.
“This here is about an ambiance, it’s about an experience, it’s about identity,” Bahena said.
“What makes us unique is that we’re a family,” Brito added. “We can work together and expand the brand and keep it within the family.”
Growing Kalaveras
According to restaurant experts like Alonso Castañeda, vice president of brand strategy and development at Savory Restaurant Fund, the family seems to me making all the right moves to grow their empire by putting as much effort into its style as they do the cuisine.
“Growing from one to all those locations in six years, that is very talented, that is huge growth,” said Castañeda, whose company partners with new restaurant owners to expand their concepts into multiple locations.
“The consumer right now is looking for eatertainment when they go out, and based on the description, it sounds like they fit that profile,” he added.
Owning and operating multiple locations was always the goal. By 2019, they had a total of five restaurants and plans for more until the industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“We pretty much shut down during the pandemic because we were an experience, a destination place,” Ocampo Brito said. “That was really bad for us. We’re such a big family, so we had a couple of family members stay at each location and do take out.”
Despite struggling through the very dark days of the pandemic, there was a silver lining for the burgeoning chain.
“Once we opened back up it just blew up,” Ocampo Brito said. “Night clubs and mass events were still closed, so restaurants were the only destination. And if you wanted to have fun, you had to go to a restaurant like ours. So, we were doing double our numbers from before.”
The plan to move forward with the expansion was back on and now each cousin owns a handful of the restaurants in an arrangement that’s become sort of a family-only franchise.
“We all invested together in the first few locations and then we started each opening our own locations,” Bahena explained. “And it’s beautiful that we’re all around the same age and we’re all ambitious and we have our sights set on the moon.”
For more information and a complete list of Kalaveras restaurant locations, go to kalaveras.com.
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By Deidre McPhillips | CNN
The pace of new monkeypox cases reported in some major cities — and in the US overall — has started to slow recently, but experts say it’s too early to know if the trend will last.
On Friday, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that she is “cautiously optimistic” about the downward trend, but warned that the overall case count is still growing.
“The rate of rise is lower, but we are still seeing increases and we are of course a very diverse country and things are not even across the country. So, we’re watching this with cautious optimism,” she said.
Last week, there were an average of 337 new cases of monkeypox reported each day in the US, according to CDC data. That’s a 24% drop from two weeks earlier — a difference of more than 100 cases a day.
A few factors are “working together to bend the curve,” Walensky said, including vaccination, behavior changes and harm reduction messages “being heard and implemented.”
But many more factors are still in flux, leaving questions unanswered.
Key factors to watch
Local health departments say they are working hard to understand the factors driving case trends.
Washington, DC, has been an epicenter of the outbreak since the beginning; the city has had nearly 12 times more cases per capita than the country overall.
The local health department has seen a “slight decrease” in cases over the past week, but said that “education and vaccines” are two key factors that will drive trends going forward.
And “with 100,000 students that will return to DC within the next week, it is too early to project the trends,” they said.
The California health department said that state trends over the last several weeks suggest “stabilizing rather than increasing transmission levels” and daily cases “leveling off.”
“The trend could continue but will depend on vaccination and behavior change as noted previously,” they said.
New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan said last week that the city has also seen “cases begin to fall and transmission slow” in recent days.
Even if cases rise again, Donal Bisanzio, a senior epidemiologist with the nonprofit research group RTI International, predicts that there will be a “rapid reduction” at some point. Monkeypox “is a disease that gives you full protection after you get it,” he said. Reinfections aren’t a factor.
But no one knows for sure what’s next.
“I think every public health response that I have ever worked, we want a crystal ball. It’s just exceedingly hard to get there really early on, even for things that we have understood much better for years,” said Janet Hamilton, executive director of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. “Tell me when influenza season is going to end. I can’t. “
Outbreak’s many moving parts
Experts say that the ongoing outbreak is a rapidly evolving situation, making it difficult to know what to expect in the coming weeks and months.
“There is a very strong interest in using models and thinking about what the trajectories would be in different scenarios,” Hamilton told CNN.
All data-driven models require that at least some reasonable assumptions are incorporated. But with monkeypox, the United States is still collecting some of the foundational “shoe leather epidemiology, boots on the ground pieces,” Hamilton said. It’s a “highly infectious disease that’s spreading very rapidly that we don’t fully understand.”
Some of the stigma attached to the current outbreak may make people reluctant to seek medical attention, discuss recent contacts or come forward to get vaccinated, experts say.
“I’m always concerned about stigma and discrimination, as it can hinder trying to control an outbreak like this,” said Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University who has researched HIV, emerging infections and other diseases.
It could mean people aren’t “taking advantage of the important tools we have at hand to stop this outbreak.”
Generally, only about 15 to 25% of contacts are being identified, which can skew the understanding of the rate of disease spread, Hamilton said.
“That ends up being a very distinct challenge that then would directly impact what those models look like.”
While men who have sex with men have been disproportionately affected in the current outbreak, anyone can get monkeypox and a growing number of cases reported recently have been among women and children — potentially changing the transmission map even more.
And a recent shift in the federal vaccination strategy — that potentially expands the existing vaccine supply by as much as five times, but poses other challenges — marks a major change to another key forecasting factor.
More than 1 million vials of the Jynneos vaccine have been allocated to states and other local jurisdictions, according to data from the US Department of Health and Human Services. However, only about 208,000 doses have been reported to the CDC as administered.
In June, researchers from RTI International published work that estimated the potential burden and duration of the monkeypox outbreak that did not yet have endemic disease. They projected that every three cases could cause 18 secondary cases if no prevention measures were put in place, with outbreaks lasting about six to nine months. Contact tracing and vaccination of close contacts could cut that risk by more than 70%, according to the model.
But new knowledge and information has led them to adjust the model and rerun it, with updated estimates due out in a few weeks.
“We are talking about a model that was done just in the first month of transmission outside Africa. We were thinking that everything was going well,” said Bisanzio, who is a co-author of RTI report. The model assumed that the public health response would be quick and effective, especially coming on the heels of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We know that this story then evolved in a different way,” he said, with a lag in response time, hesitancy around vaccination and transmission concentrated within one high-risk community that no one expected. “I can tell you that the numbers (in the updated model) are much higher than the ones that we first estimated.”
That said, another one of the biggest adjustments to their model comes from a recent survey of men who have sex with men, in which about half of respondents said they changed their behaviors to protect themselves amid the ongoing outbreak.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington built an influential Covid-19 forecast model early on in the pandemic, but will not be doing the same for monkeypox.
“In our mind, this disease is not going to spread into the community as wide as we’ve seen with Covid,” said Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist and professor of health metrics sciences at IHME.
There are some similarities to HIV that are concerning, but “we don’t see that being replicated here,” he said, with monkeypox moving out of the body much faster and being much less deadly.
While extensive data-driven models may be largely absent, experts say they are keeping a close watch on trends.
“You don’t need a model to tell you that, at this point in time, the strategy has to be to identify those high risk individuals and vaccinate as many as possible,” Hamilton said.
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We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/30/monkeypox-infections-are-slowing-in-the-us-will-it-last/ | 2022-08-30T16:08:39Z | pasadenastarnews.com | control | https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/08/30/monkeypox-infections-are-slowing-in-the-us-will-it-last/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a leading presidential contender, is skilled at appealing to Republicans who resent the censorious self-righteousness of woke progressives. But instead of defending free inquiry and open debate, DeSantis seems bent on fighting intolerance with intolerance.
When he signed the Individual Freedom Act in April, DeSantis bragged that it would “prevent discriminatory instruction in the workplace,” striking a blow against “the far-left woke agenda.” But as a federal judge explained last week, the law’s restrictions on employee training blatantly violate the First Amendment.
The IFA expanded Florida’s definition of “unlawful employment practices” to include “any required activity” that promotes one or more of eight forbidden concepts. Some of those ideas are plainly illiberal (e.g., linking moral status to race) or patently silly (e.g., viewing virtues such as excellence, hard work and fairness as white supremacist constructs), while others are ambiguous or debatable (e.g., the notion that “members of one race, color, sex, or national origin cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race, color, sex, or national origin”).
Whatever you think of those ideas, the government has no business decreeing whether and how they can be discussed in private workplaces. Yet that is what the IFA does: It allows discussion “in an objective manner without endorsement of the concepts” while forbidding speech that “espouses, promotes, advances, (or) inculcates” them.
As U.S. District Judge Mark Walker noted when he issued a preliminary injunction against those restrictions, they amount to “a naked viewpoint-based regulation on speech,” which is presumptively unconstitutional. “Under our constitutional scheme,” Walker observed, “the ‘remedy’ for repugnant speech ‘is more speech, not enforced silence.’”
DeSantis argued that the IFA aims to prevent a “hostile work environment” created by ideas that might discomfit employees. Walker thought that was a stretch because that term encompasses speech only when it is “both objectively and subjectively offensive and when it is sufficiently severe or pervasive” — requirements that provide “shelter for core protected speech.”
More to the point, conservatives have long criticized discrimination claims based on an allegedly hostile work environment, precisely because they can transform otherwise protected speech into illegal “harassment.” Yet DeSantis is not only defending that concept; he is extending it to cover even a single “required activity” that “espouses” ideas he does not like.
The governor’s support for Florida’s social media law evinces a similar lack of principle. That 2021 law prohibits platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube from removing or limiting access to content they deem objectionable, including material produced by “journalistic enterprises” and posts by or about political candidates.
As DeSantis saw it, the law would “ensure that ‘We the People’ — real Floridians across the Sunshine State — are guaranteed protection against the Silicon Valley elites.” He said it would combat the “Big Tech censors” who “discriminate in favor of the dominant Silicon Valley ideology.”
DeSantis likened Facebook et al.’s moderation decisions to the “censorship and other tyrannical behavior” of Cuban and Venezuelan despots. But as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit pointed out when it blocked enforcement of Florida’s law last May, such comparisons elide a constitutionally crucial distinction.
Unlike “Big Tech censors,” an unconstrained government has the power to ban and punish controversial speech by force of law, as Florida sought to do with the IFA. The First Amendment, which aims to guard against that danger, does not impose any limits on the editorial judgment of private organizations.
To the contrary, the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the First Amendment guarantees the right to exercise such discretion. But in Florida, Walker wryly noted, “the First Amendment apparently bars private actors from burdening speech, while the state may burden speech freely.”
That backward view is not just diametrically wrong but dangerously shortsighted. Depending on the vicissitudes of elections, a government with the powers DeSantis has claimed easily could use them to advance “the far-left woke agenda” that keeps him awake at night.
Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason magazine. Follow him on Twitter: @JacobSullum.
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Literacy is a fundamental piece of being able to live an engaged, successful life. However, learning can be a lot more difficult for some people than others, which is where organizations like SLD Read come into play by helping bridge the gap for those who need it.
SLD Read is looking for more people who are willing and able to help teach children and adults how to read, write, and other literacy skills.
The mission of SLD Read is to help individuals with dyslexia, learning differences, and other reading challenges to develop lifelong language skills through their program. They also assist educators by learning how to identify these challenges by providing training and techniques to enhance their reading curriculum.
For anyone who wants to help in this mission, SLD Read needs tutors to help advance the education of people in need of these services. They are accepting positions for part-time and full-time tutors.
To become a tutor, participants must sign up for a training class, where they will learn all the skills they need to know to assist others seeking out SLD Read. Classes are on September 6, 15, 19, and 29 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Tutors must meet the following criteria:
- High School diploma. Associate or Bachelor’s Degree preferred
- Experience working with children
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Experience with computer programs and database software applications preferred
- Strong interpersonal skills, including an ability and desire to work and interact with people from diverse backgrounds
- Complete Orton-Gillingham training program and participate in ongoing in-services and training courses
- Commit to 10—12 months of consecutive tutoring, dependent upon placement
Learn more by visiting sldread.org or calling 616-361-1182. | https://www.fox17online.com/morning-mix/sld-read-searching-for-tutors-to-teach-reading-and-writing-skills | 2022-08-30T16:10:41Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/morning-mix/sld-read-searching-for-tutors-to-teach-reading-and-writing-skills | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Home 7 Day Cruises Vikas-2D0190763-1 Vikaspedia Dibi Gopaleshwarsar Temple , West Bengaltripuraonline7 Day Crui...,750Waterfall GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) is partnering with the Safe Alliances for Everyone (SAFE) Task Force to buy back guns from the community next month.
The buyback event, the third in Grand Rapids, will take place Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Burton Heights Lot from 1–3 p.m., according to the city of Grand Rapids.
Participants are asked to bring guns unloaded and stored in the trunks of their vehicles.
We’re told personal information will not be requested and all weapons will be collected without question.
The city says participants will receive $100 gift cards in exchange for rifles, shotguns and revolvers. Gift cards valued at $200 will be reportedly be distributed in exchange for assault rifles and semi-automatics.
“This program will help us continue to get guns off the street and provide community members who no longer want to have firearms in their home a place to safely dispose of them,” says Chief Eric Winstrom. “Removing these weapons will make the community safer by limiting access to firearms by those emboldened to use them in criminal acts.”
Gift cards are available in limited supply, city officials add.
We’re told a total of 267 guns were collected between the first two buyback events. | https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/police-to-buy-back-guns-in-grand-rapids-sept-17 | 2022-08-30T16:10:53Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/police-to-buy-back-guns-in-grand-rapids-sept-17 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HOLLAND, Mich. — Holland State Park has issued a red flag warning amid hazardous conditions along the lakeshore Tuesday morning.
The public is asked to stay clear of Lake Michigan while the warning is in effect.
WATCH: Ottawa County releases Red Flag PSA to promote water safety
Ottawa County releases Red Flag PSA to promote water safety
We’re told waves have reached heights of three to five feet and the water is notably dangerous near all piers.
The park also says winds will remain above 15 miles per hour for the majority of Tuesday. | https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/lakeshore/red-flag-warning-issued-at-holland-state-park-amid-hazardous-lake-conditions | 2022-08-30T16:11:05Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/lakeshore/red-flag-warning-issued-at-holland-state-park-amid-hazardous-lake-conditions | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
1 hour ago - Health
Texas reports first death of person with monkeypox in U.S.
Texas health officials on Tuesday confirmed the death of a person diagnosed with monkeypox, which, if confirmed as the cause, would be the first known death from the virus in the U.S.
Driving the news: The person was a Harris county resident who was "severely immunocompromised." An investigation is underway to determine "what role monkeypox played" in their death, the state's Department of State Health Services said in a press release.
- The agency confirmed the person was an adult but did not disclose further details.
- It is the first death of someone diagnosed with the virus in Texas, the press release added.
What they're saying: "Monkeypox is a serious disease, particularly for those with weakened immune systems," John Hellerstedt, DSHS Commissioner, said in the press release.
- "We continue to urge people to seek treatment if they have been exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms consistent with the disease," he added.
The big picture: The Biden administration declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency earlier this month.
- Last month Spain and Brazil reported the first monkeypox-related deaths outside of Africa during the current outbreak.
- The U.S. has been contending with a limited supply of the monkeypox vaccine. To that end, the Biden administration struck an $11 million deal on Monday to support the domestic packaging of the vaccine and bolster supplies. | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/30/texas-reports-first-death-monkeypox | 2022-08-30T16:11:08Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/30/texas-reports-first-death-monkeypox | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — The South Haven Area Emergency Services Dive Team recovered quite the haul of sunken treasure during a recent training drill.
SHAES says the dive team was invited to dive at Lake Arvesta for a training opportunity utilizing motor skills to search in a zero-visibility environment.
During the drill, divers recovered 142 pairs of sunglasses/prescription glasses, 11 Apple Watches, two Fitbits, three wrenches, five pairs of goggles and a wallet with an Indiana driver’s license and two credit cards.
In a Facebook post, SHAES said “the results were amazing.
According to SHAES, the items were turned over to Lake Arvesta officials and will be matched to the list they have of reported lost items. Individuals will be contacted and their lost items will be returned. | https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/south-mi/van-buren/shaes-dive-team-recovers-142-pairs-of-glasses-11-apple-watches-from-bottom-of-lake | 2022-08-30T16:11:11Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/south-mi/van-buren/shaes-dive-team-recovers-142-pairs-of-glasses-11-apple-watches-from-bottom-of-lake | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Exclusive: Time makes first acquisition since Meredith sale
Time has bought Brandcast, a company that licenses software for easy-to-build marketing websites, Time's editor-in-chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal told Axios.
Why it matters: The deal marks Time's first acquisition since Marc and Lynne Benioff bought the publication in 2018.
Details: With the purchase, which closed earlier this month, all of Brandcast's 14 employees moved over to Time as a part of a new division called Time Sites, which replaced the Brandcast name.
- Time Sites is led by Brandcast CEO Ashok Santhanam, who joined Time's executive team as president of Time Sites. Santhanam reports to Ian Orefice, president and chief operating officer of Time & Time Studios.
- "When we want to make this technology available to more customers than we do today, we believe that association with a brand like Time can only be helpful," Santhanam said when asked why the company chose to sell instead of raising more money to stay independent.
- While executives declined to disclose the deal's terms, they did note that the acquisition does not require any sort of regulatory review, which is required for deals over $101 million.
The backstory: Marc Benioff was an early investor in Brandcast, which is how Time executives became familiar with the company, Felsenthal told Axios.
- Brandcast has raised over $33 million since it launched in 2013. In addition to Marc Benioff, Shasta Ventures, TPG Growth and Buchanan Investment have all invested in the company.
- Time previously used a different vendor to build custom content websites for its advertising partners, but decided it preferred Brandcast's capabilities after Benioff introduced Time to the firm, Orefice told Axios.
Between the lines: Time Sites plans to use Brandcast's talent and technology first with Time's business-side operations and then eventually with its newsroom as well.
- On the business side, Time Sites will be used to more quickly and efficiently build out custom content websites for Time's advertising clients. In will also power enterprise website solutions for Time's NFT division, Time Pieces.
- On the editorial side, the tech can be used to build out sites for smaller verticals, similar to Time's expansion into workplace content via its partnership with Charter. It could also one day be used to help build websites for other editorial projects, like newsletters or event websites.
The big picture: The creation of Time Sites is part of a greater effort by Time to diversify its revenues away from print and across a variety of digital channels.
- In the past few years, Time has launched a lucrative TV and film licensing business called Time Studios, a branded content division, a live events business for its Time 100 franchise, and a web3 platform that includes a profitable NFT community.
By the numbers: Time has vastly expanded its product offerings, with a focus on digital transformation, since the Benioffs bought it four years ago.
- Print accounts for less than 44% of Time's total revenue today, compared to 83% in 2019.
- The company now has nearly 250,000 digital subscribers, Felsenthal said, in addition to roughly 1.3 million print subscribers.
- Time is still on pace to bring in at least $200 million in revenue this year, a 30% growth rate over last year, Felsenthal said, with roughly one-quarter of that revenue coming from Time Studios.
The bottom line: "For decades, the conversation about Time when it was part of Time Inc. or Meredith was a shrinking version, in revenue and in the brand. Over the past four years, I think you've seen the exact opposite," Orefice said.
- "We're a completely different company than we were four years ago when Marc and Lynne bought us," Felsenthal said. "They put us on a completely different trajectory than where we were in our past life." | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/30/time-first-acquisition-benioffs-brandcast | 2022-08-30T16:11:14Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/30/time-first-acquisition-benioffs-brandcast | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Ada Vox, Drag Legends to Headline Greensboro Pride Festival
The festival takes place on September 18 in downtown Greensboro
Greensboro, NC – Performer Ada Vox and several drag legends will headline the 15th Greensboro Pride Festival. The festival will take place Sunday, September 18 from 11:00am-6:00pm along South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro.
Ada Vox is an accomplished vocalist, songwriter, and drag queen who found success pushing boundaries as a contestant on the hit singing competition series American Idol, becoming the first drag artist to place in the top 10 in the show's history. Ada most recently appeared on Queen of the Universe, the brand new international drag singing competition, and finished as the runner-up!
Queens Featured in the book "Legends of Drag: Queens of a Certain Age" (available at Scuppernong Books):
Dana St. James Dana St. James has been a female impersonator for almost 30 years. She is a long time house cast member of Legends Nightclub in Raleigh, NC. A former NC USofA and NC FFI (for Female Impersonators), Dana now concentrates on performing up and down the east coast along with judging and assisting in many local pageantry systems.
Ebony Addams began her career as a Female impersonator in 1998. She went on to win all the bar titles in North Carolina and became Miss North Carolina USA. She’s competed nationally at Miss Gay USA and Miss Continental. She appeared in episode 4 of "Our Kind of People" also on the house cast in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ebony has been in the business for 35 years.
Lawanda Jackson has been performing for almost 40 years. LaWanda has traveled the world and performed in places such as Tokyo, Brazil, Austria and Aruba. LaWanda's titles include former Miss Texas, Miss Gay USofA and Miss Gay USofA Classic. LaWanda has appeared at the Apollo Theater in New York City. Lawanda's many appearances have also included television and movies, including Miss Congeniality II with Sandra Bullock. LaWanda is currently a National Pageant Coach. LaWanda is a stroke survivor and continues to travel and perform.
Also taking over the stage, local drag legends including Paisley Parque, Crystal Frost, Tia Chanella, and Rose Jackson. Returning performers include Ed E. Ruger and child performer Finn Phoenix. To see the full list of performances, please visit GreensboroPride.org/performances.
The Greensboro Pride Festival is FREE and open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to attend.
Greensboro Pride is still looking for volunteers for the festival. If you are interested, sign up at GreensboroPride.org/volunteer. The most-needed shifts are early in the morning for setup and in the evening for breakdown..
Learn more about Greensboro Pride at GreensboroPride.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
About Alternative Resources of the Triad
The Greensboro Pride Festival is the headlining annual event for Alternative Resources of the Triad (ART), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. ART’s mission is to improve the emotional and social wellbeing of LGBTQIA2+ individuals in Greensboro by promoting inclusivity and building resources, safe spaces, and social events. | https://www.yesweekly.com/music/ada-vox-drag-legends-to-headline-greensboro-pride-festival/article_f36c8d5a-2873-11ed-946c-e34e42370684.html | 2022-08-30T16:11:18Z | yesweekly.com | control | https://www.yesweekly.com/music/ada-vox-drag-legends-to-headline-greensboro-pride-festival/article_f36c8d5a-2873-11ed-946c-e34e42370684.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The United States has cities with some incredible structures, like the elegant Art Deco design of the Chrysler building, the impeccable acoustics of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, or the locally-sourced limestone of the historic Alamo Mission. These buildings give us a taste of American history, from the grand ambitions of its founding to peeks at bygone eras.
But something like India’s Sanchi Stupa— a temple from the 3rd century BC believed to house the ashes of Buddha— hits a little different compared to something built mere decades ago. The US was founded in the 1700s, so it’s a baby compared to some other countries, but people existed in North America as early as 20,000 years ago, long before colonial settlers arrived and claimed the land for their own. With that in mind, it sometimes feels like history has been swept under the rug in favor of shiny, new buildings that exude strength and greatness, but not much else.
So what can be done in the United States to ensure old architecture and new building developments honor the past and maintain a city’s character? If the population of America continues to grow (even at a slower rate than previous years), why shouldn’t its cities focus on uniform high-rises and condos? And when is it appropriate to demolish a building?
While these are all complex questions, the problem is not exclusive to the United States. Cities around the world struggle in their own ways with historic building preservation.
In Vietnam, concrete, glass, and steel structures are gradually replacing the iconic buildings that made Saigon “the Pearl of the Far East.” In the late ‘90s and early 2000s, Hanoi’s Old Quarter saw a drastic drop in French and European-style buildings. This was a symbolic gesture in the aftermath of Vietnam declaring independence from France in 1945, but while that history may be challenging to face, it is also a fact of their past.
For building preservation in the US, federal protection seems like an obvious solution. This can come from the National Register of Historic Places, but earning this status “places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property up to and including destruction.” The designation protects the building from being demolished by a federal agency, but otherwise, anything is fair game. That means rules and regulations are established most often on a local basis, and these can vary widely based on resources and demand from city to city.
In Boston, for example, buildings (as well as memorials, monuments, and parks) can be designated as historically significant in one of two ways, either individually or as an area of the city. On the flip side, the historic river town of Cairo, Illinois, has seen a steady decrease in population, and the lack of demand makes it challenging to raise the kind of funds necessary to preserve abandoned buildings.
In Tennessee, Nashville History on Tour CEO David Ewing explained that the city’s individual buildings cannot be protected; instead, protected areas are designated in city blocks.
“There’s a quasi-judicial board called the Metro Historic Zoning Commission,” Ewing told me. “Those are appointed by the mayor and approved by our city council, and those people hear cases in one of these districts. These districts have to be introduced by the Metro Council, and usually they’ll only introduce a district if a majority of his constituents and property owners want it.”
These laws mean that owners give up property rights to ensure that buildings don’t get torn down, replaced, or redesigned into something more modern. Ewing also said that the district protection dictates the scale of the buildings, so a high-rise won’t pop up in a place where there were previously only shorter buildings.
“We had the NFL Draft three years ago,” he continued. “If you look online at pictures of the NFL Draft, there’s this district of three and four-story buildings, and there are 200,000 people in the streets, and people on the rooftops, and it just looks like a cool, fun entertainment district. We wouldn’t have had that if we didn’t have the overlay, because most of those buildings probably would have been torn down in the last five or six years, and tall, glass, modern buildings would have been put there. It just doesn’t have the same vibe, and the same feel of that.” Ewing admitted that, as a historian, he’s always looking at the past, and that the architecture of Nashville changes day by day.
This sense of ephemerality sadly rings true for the US as a whole, where many historic buildings have been threatened or demolished. During the Trump administration, Arizona’s UNESCO-honored Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument saw catastrophic damage from controlled blasting in order to build a border wall. In Washington, the landmark status of a 60-year-old school affiliated with the region’s Native American population wasn’t enough to stop Seattle Public Schools from demolishing it. Stories like this, along with the homogenization of modern cities, can make it feel like America wants a pass on the past in favor of a fresh, sanitized start.
The land that eventually became the United States has a deeper history beyond what began in 1776, and it’s not a particularly pretty one, born from colonization and oppressors claiming what they want as theirs. Since this past is a source of pain for many people, its preservation requires nuance, work, and careful consideration of what to keep or demolish. So what can that work look like?
Last year, a community in British Columbia pushed for the demolition of a building that housed a residential school, colonial institutions that aimed to strip indigenous children of their identity. Students were forbidden from speaking their native language, forced to conform to the culture of their oppressors, and often experienced assault and abuse. These schools started popping up in Canada in the 1880s, and the last one didn’t go out of service until the 1990s.
The community for the school in the Lower Post didn’t want this constant reminder of dark history, and locals fought for decades to have it taken down. “The residential school was a place of abject loneliness and unspeakable trauma for children forced apart from their families,” said B.C. Premier John Horgan. Residents got to determine what would be built in its place, such as a memorial, to go along with a newly constructed community center nearby. While the past can’t be undone, the people here can at least work towards a brighter future.
In this situation, the solution came from restoring power to the people, rather than a government prioritizing a bottom line with urban development goals. While federal government protection might be nice, the truth is that historic preservation in the United States is a relatively new concept. In an article for The Washington Post, Roger K. Lewis wrote, “Fifty years ago, few Americans talked or thought about ‘historic preservation,’ a term never heard when I studied architecture in the 1960s. Historic preservation was neither a public policy issue nor part of America’s architectural, planning and real estate development culture. Historic-preservation laws didn’t exist.” It might take a while for action to take place at the widespread rate it’s needed, but for now, protecting historic places happens more effectively on a local level.
Local politics doesn’t always offer a level playing field for folks, but communities can still make a difference outside of local elections, too (especially when armed with knowledge on how to be a preservationist). Ewing mentioned that one of the reasons Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium survived a bid for destruction was due to a group of like-minded people banding together. Individuals initiated that change, and as a result, the Ryman is one of the most well-known venues in the music industry. Every state has resources like community organizations, historical groups, developers passionate about preservation, and State Historic Preservation Officers that strengthen the protection of historic buildings.
Every individual place is inevitably different, but the people who live there should ultimately have a say in the design of a town or city, as well as what historic buildings should remain. After all, who better knows the history, character, and quirks of a place than the people who actually live there?
Header photo of Nashville, TN by David Ewing of Nashville History on Tour | https://www.printmag.com/architecture/why-are-there-so-few-old-buildings-in-america/ | 2022-08-30T16:11:21Z | printmag.com | control | https://www.printmag.com/architecture/why-are-there-so-few-old-buildings-in-america/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
That Girl Lay Lay coming to Tanger Center Back 2 School Bash 2022 October 15
Tickets on sale this Friday at 10 a.m.
Greensboro, N.C. – The Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts and today announced that the Back 2 School Bash 2022, featuring That Girl Lay Lay, will be taking the stage on Saturday, October 15.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, September 2 at 10 a.m. at TangerCenter.com.
The youngest kid ever to land a record deal in the history of Hip Hop, Lay Lay’s music has graced both soundtracks and commercials. With a major social media following, Hip Hop juggernauts T.I., 50 Cent and more are among her fans. What’s life like for an 11 year old superstar, who’s constantly growing and evolving right before our very eyes? | https://www.yesweekly.com/music/that-girl-lay-lay-coming-to-tanger-center-back-2-school-bash-2022/article_90a03b60-286c-11ed-9ac1-ef32c95dc374.html | 2022-08-30T16:11:24Z | yesweekly.com | control | https://www.yesweekly.com/music/that-girl-lay-lay-coming-to-tanger-center-back-2-school-bash-2022/article_90a03b60-286c-11ed-9ac1-ef32c95dc374.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Ozzy Osbourne is returning to the U.K.
In an interview with The Guardian, Osbourne said he's selling his California home because of gun violence in the U.S.
"I’m fed up with people getting killed every day," he said. "God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings."
The rocker also noted the mass shooting at a concert in Las Vegas, calling it "crazy."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of homicide by firearm in 2020 was at its highest level since 1994.
Osbourne's wife, Sharon, didn't specifically cite gun violence as their reason to move. However, she did note a shift in the country.
"America has changed so drastically. It isn’t the United States of America at all," she said. "Nothing’s united about it. It’s a very weird place to live right now.”
Ozzy added that he doesn't want to die in America.
“I’m English," he said. "I want to be back." | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/ozzy-osbourne-says-hes-leaving-the-u-s-because-of-gun-violence | 2022-08-30T16:11:30Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/ozzy-osbourne-says-hes-leaving-the-u-s-because-of-gun-violence | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Winston-Salem man collects $322,865 Cash 5 jackpot
RALEIGH – Rolf Ozamiz of Winston-Salem took a chance on a $1 Cash 5 ticket and won the $322,865 jackpot in the March 3 drawing.
Ozamiz claimed his prize two days before his ticket’s expiration date. Winners have 180 days to claim their prize before it expires.
Ozamiz bought his lucky Quick Pick ticket from the Speedway on Yadkinville Road in Winston-Salem. He arrived at lottery headquarters Monday to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $229,267.
Cash 5 is one of four lottery games in North Carolina where players have the option of buying their tickets through a retail location or Online Play, either through the lottery’s website or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. Cash 5 tickets are $1 and drawings are held every night. Tuesday’s jackpot is $146,000.
Ticket sales from draw games such as Cash 5 make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $2.5 million a day on average for education. For details on how $21.4 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Forsyth County in 2021, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section. | https://www.yesweekly.com/news/winston-salem-man-collects-322-865-cash-5-jackpot/article_c834e70c-286b-11ed-910d-0f29dd95eb1a.html | 2022-08-30T16:11:30Z | yesweekly.com | control | https://www.yesweekly.com/news/winston-salem-man-collects-322-865-cash-5-jackpot/article_c834e70c-286b-11ed-910d-0f29dd95eb1a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Why Atlanta Is a Great City for Dog Owners
There are many cities that are ideal for people who own dogs, and one of these is Atlanta. In fact, last year the city was rated 6th among the top emerging dog-friendly cities, so it is a great place to visit and live if you own pets. Many people who live in Atlanta own dogs, and they are able to provide their pets with healthy, happy, and comfortable lives thanks to the wide range of facilities and amenities available in Atlanta for dogs.
If you are wondering whether this is a good city to visit or move to with your pet, the answer is that it definitely is because it offers such a host of facilities. From being able to find top vets in Atlanta to being able to visit some fantastic outdoor areas for dogs, you will find that this city has plenty to offer. In this article, we will look at some of the great facilities that Atlanta can offer to dog owners, which makes it a great choice.
Some Great Facilities for Dogs and Owners
There are plenty of great facilities and amenities in Atlanta for dogs and their owners, and this has made it a popular choice for those with pets. Some of the key ones include:
Wide Choice of Pet Healthcare Services
One of the things that you will find in Atlanta is a wide choice of pet healthcare services catering to all needs. This means that you can ensure your pet is properly cared for and has access to all sorts of healthcare services from preventative care to routine treatment, emergency services, and alternative medicine, to name but a few. You can also access telehealth services in Atlanta, which is ideal for those who want greater convenience and ease.
Plenty of Outdoor Spaces
Another thing that you will find in Atlanta is plenty of excellent outdoor spaces that are geared toward dogs. You will find many different dog parks where you can get your pet, and some offer separate areas for big and small dogs for your reassurance. In addition, many provide a range of amenities such as water stations and waste stations, so your pet will have everything it needs for a morning or afternoon of fun, frolics, and socializing.
Range of Pet-Friendly Accommodation
If you are planning to rent a property in Atlanta, you will also find a wide range of pet-friendly accommodations, so you can move with your beloved four-legged friends by your side. Of course, you should always check with the landlord before you commit, and make sure you let them know what types and how many pets you have. As a pet-friendly city, you should have no problem finding landlords who are perfectly happy to accommodate your pets in the rented property.
These are just some of the reasons why Atlanta is a great city for dog owners, and many people in this city enjoy the fun and companionship that comes with owning a dog. | https://www.yesweekly.com/why-atlanta-is-a-great-city-for-dog-owners/article_4c2a04e2-2877-11ed-95c7-9314efcc5e56.html | 2022-08-30T16:11:36Z | yesweekly.com | control | https://www.yesweekly.com/why-atlanta-is-a-great-city-for-dog-owners/article_4c2a04e2-2877-11ed-95c7-9314efcc5e56.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
For all our friends who are into making soap to help reduce influx for chemical-heavy soap or you' are interested with this soap made of plant as one your option you probably also aware that sometimes we get our natural oil too strong to our taste to blink our tongue it means either our blessed soap are going on stage when they were not quite good for bath-living we will feel they smelly with bad stale,\nThe key idea about of our soap blink The only thing better than fall flavors is fall scents, and this season, you’ll find some seasonal scents from a place you might not expect: Dairy Queen.
In celebration of the ice cream shop’s Fall Blizzard Treat Menu, Diary Queen has launched a line of festive throw pillows that not only look adorable but are also scented. They’ll add some serious fall vibes to your home by filling it with smells like cinnamon, pumpkin and more.
The pillows come in flights of three pillows apiece. The first set offers a pillow scented and shaped like a slice of pumpkin pie, complete with whipped cream, in celebration of the return of the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard. The pumpkin pie pillow is accented by one square pillow that features chocolate, caramel and cream for the new Snickers Brownie Blizzard and an orange pillow that is scented like the Reese’s Take 5 Blizzard.
The second set includes a soft cinnamon roll-shaped pillow that looks and smells like a fresh cinnamon roll, in honor of the new Cinnamon Roll Centers Blizzard Treat. The cinnamon roll pillow is accompanied by a square accent pillow in shades of cocoa and cream for the Oreo Hot Cocoa Blizzard and another in red and pink for the Very Cherry Chip Blizzard.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to head to your local Dairy Queen and pick up the pillows. Instead, you’ll have a chance to win one of the two flights by heading to Dairy Queen’s Instagram, Facebook or Twitter between Sept. 7-16. Just look for posts dedicated to the Fall Blizzard Treat Menu Pillow Flight.
Once on their social media pages, you can enter by following @DairyQueen. Comment with your favorite Fall Blizzard flavor using the hashtag #DQPillowSweepstakes. There is a limit of one comment per post. You can find the full sweepstakes rules on Dairy Queen’s website.
Even if you don’t win the pillows, you can find the actual Blizzards on Dairy Queen menus nationwide now for a limited time. The fall Blizzard menu includes returning favorites Very Cherry Chip, Oreo Hot Cocoa and the always popular Pumpkin Pie Blizzard.
New flavors include Snickers Brownie, which blends vanilla soft serve with Snickers pieces, brownie pieces and caramel; the Reese’s Take 5, which has Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, caramel topping, whole peanuts and pretzels; and Cinnamon Roll Centers, which blends soft cinnamon roll pieces and brown butter cinnamon topping.
What are your favorite fall scents?
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.fox17online.com/win-scented-pillow-collection-dairy-queen | 2022-08-30T16:11:48Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/win-scented-pillow-collection-dairy-queen | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
\\begindocumentmark[\\baselineskip ]{}B.\\addcontentsline{lotbaber}{Forthenard \\'egeron : }For then\\index{Forthenard!egre }% we shall go where egros hunt, to Eorl'n 'o\\index{-Eorrul 'o}\\smark\nNas and Nar, in hood-boots that have holes that\nrun down past middes the If you’re having trouble coming up with dinner ideas after a long workday, Kellogg’s is offering up some serious cash if you’re willing to have breakfast for dinner. Specifically: a bowl (or two) of cereal.
Now through National Breakfast Day on Sept. 26, Kellogg’s is looking for five people willing to share how they enjoy having cereal for dinner. In exchange, they’ll award each winner $5,000, plus a year’s supply of Kellogg’s cereals, like Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops and Frosted Mini-Wheats.
For a chance to win, simply make a post on Instagram explaining why you love cereal for dinner. You’ll need to use #KelloggsCerealforDinnerEntry and make sure your Instagram is public so that Kellogg’s can see your post.
One winner will be chosen each week, with the pool of entries restarting after each winner is chosen. You can enter once daily for each day of the contest. You’ll have to make a new post each time, but your odds of winning increase with every post.
Why cereal for dinner? Kellogg’s says their cereals provide essential nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, and are an easy, inexpensive dinner, with a serving of cereal, milk and fruit coming out to about $1 depending on prices where you live.
“Cereal for dinner is a low-prep, low-mess and low-price meal option, so you can spend less time cooking and cleaning and more quality time with your loved ones every week,” Sadie Garcia, director of brand marketing at Kellogg All Family Cereal, said in a press release.
There is no purchase necessary, and your Instagram photo can be of your family enjoying any dinner, cereal or otherwise. The photo just has to be of you and your family eating dinner.
You can read the official rules on Kellogg’s website.
Have you ever had cereal for dinner?
This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money. Checkout Don't Waste Your Money for product reviews and other great ideas to save and make money. | https://www.fox17online.com/you-can-get-paid-5000-to-eat-cereal-for-dinner | 2022-08-30T16:11:54Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/you-can-get-paid-5000-to-eat-cereal-for-dinner | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Emerging High-Intensity Interval Training Concept to Enter Boston and Kansas City Markets for the first time and will expand presence in Minneapolis-St. Paul
WOODBURY, Minn., Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Basecamp Fitness, an emerging fitness franchise concept, announced today the signing of franchise development agreements to bring seven units to Boston, Kansas City and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The new studios will become the first Basecamp Fitness locations in Boston and Kansas City and will expand the brand's existing presence in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market. Basecamp Fitness's latest growth comes on the heels of the brand's recent announcement to enter Florida with a 20-unit development agreement in partnership with long-time Anytime Fitness franchisees.
Basecamp Fitness is a hyper-condensed high-intensity interval training (HIIT) group workout that packs 50 minutes of supercharged exercise into only 35. Coach-led throughout the session, participants alternate every 60 seconds between heart-thumping cardio on the air bike and strength moves on the floor that keep muscles guessing. The workout unites those who love to push hard, sweat hard and celebrate wins together, creating an intensity training experience unique to the fitness industry.
"High-Intensity Interval Training has become an increasingly popular mode of exercise across the country, and at Basecamp, we craft efficient workouts to help our clients accomplish their fitness goals without disrupting their daily routines. The concept has proven to resonate in each market we enter and, in turn, has translated to the development success we've achieved since the start of the year," said Ben Camper, president, Basecamp Fitness. "With unparalleled support from Self Esteem Brands, Basecamp provides a rewarding opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs in the fitness industry who are looking to build a business that makes a positive impact in their community."
"We are thrilled to continue expanding our footprint and help franchisees successfully launch Basecamp studios in new markets. Our workouts secret sauce is its efficiency and effectiveness, enabling members to accomplish their fitness goals without disrupting their daily routines. The concept has proven to resonate in each market we enter and in turn, has translated to the development success we've achieved since the start of the year," said Ben Camper, president, Basecamp Fitness. "As part of the Self Esteem Brands portfolio, Basecamp and our franchisees receive unparalleled support with a demonstrated success record of scaling brands. We believe this makes Basecamp a rewarding opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs in the fitness industry who are looking to build a business that makes a positive impact in their community"
Part of Self Esteem Brands' portfolio of health and wellness brands, Basecamp has accelerated its expansion by targeting new regions across the country. In Kansas City, former Basecamp studio managers, Brian and Christie Cook, have agreed to build three new studios in the city's surrounding suburban towns, and Anytime Fitness franchisee, Matthew Gulino, is set to develop the first Basecamp studio in Boston. Additionally, the brand has successfully expanded its footprint in existing markets including the Greater Minneapolis metropolitan region. Tonya DeGregorio, a studio manager with the brand, will be leading the development of three new locations in the area.
"Working as studio managers for several years in Southern California, Christie and I fell in love with Basecamp's culture and sense of community. It's a unique and effective workout for all fitness levels, and its short duration allows us to schedule more sessions each day," says Brian Cook. "Born and raised in Kansas City, we are excited to be bringing Basecamp to our hometown and to a market that has experienced an influx of new residents over the last couple of years."
Since the beginning of 2022, Basecamp Fitness has added over 35 new studios to its development pipeline, with plans to expand its footprint in new markets including Detroit, Miami, New York and San Diego. Franchise opportunities are available in regions across the U.S., and internationally. Candidates should have fitness and business experience, along with a minimum net worth of $500,000 and liquid capital of $200,000. For more information about development opportunities, visit basecampfitness.com/franchise.
About Basecamp Fitness
Basecamp Fitness is the all-in, high-intensity group workout that packs 50 minutes of supercharged calorie burn into just 35, making it the most efficient and effective workout on the market. Alternating between heart-thumping cardio on the air bike, to strength moves on the floor that will keep muscles guessing, the workout unites those who love to push hard, sweat hard and celebrate wins together. Additionally, an optional 10 minutes follows each workout and features a wide array of core exercises, which means participants benefit from intense cardio, strength training and abdominal training during every session. No other high intensity training experience, and no other workout period, will transform someone in a shorter amount of time. Members also get access to Basecamp's proprietary app allowing them to conveniently monitor and validate their Basecamp workout, results and health data, schedule classes, and stay connected with their community all in real-time from one device. For more information on franchising opportunities, visit https://franchise.basecampfitness.com/.
About Self Esteem Brands
Our purpose is to improve the self-esteem of the world. Self Esteem Brands (SEB) is the parent company of Anytime Fitness (the world's largest fitness franchise), Basecamp Fitness, The Bar Method and Waxing the City. Combined, most of our nearly 5,000 franchise locations are locally operated across nearly 40 countries worldwide by independent, small business owners. SEB is also the parent company to affiliates Provision Security Solutions and Healthy Contributions. Leading with a culture anchored in the values of people, purpose, performance and play, plus a charitable focus through the HeartFirst Foundation®, SEB seeks to enrich the lives of all who interact with our brands and businesses. Our vision is a world of self-esteem for every human to rise from their challenges. For more information, please visit https://www.sebrands.com/.
Contact:
Nate Rubinstein
Fish Consulting
954-893-9150
nrubinstein@fish-consulting.com
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SOURCE Basecamp Fitness | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/basecamp-fitness-signs-development-agreements-add-seven-studios/ | 2022-08-30T16:12:34Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/basecamp-fitness-signs-development-agreements-add-seven-studios/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Envision AESC breaks ground in Bowling Green
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) - Envision AESC, an electric vehicle battery technology company, along with Gov. Andy Beshear, broke ground Tuesday on its gigafactory in the Kentucky Transpark in Bowling Green.
The 30 GWh plant will create 2,000 new, skilled jobs for the region, producing battery cells and modules to power the next-generation EVs produced for multiple global automotive manufacturers.
“When Envision AESC announced plans to locate in the commonwealth four months ago, it solidified Kentucky’s place as the leader in the emerging electric-vehicle sector. Today’s groundbreaking signifies another major step forward for Envision and our state,” Beshear said. “I want to once again welcome this incredible company to Kentucky. The 2,000 jobs associated with this project will greatly benefit families throughout the region and set the foundation for even more growth in the future as we continue to build out a supplier network to serve Envision’s needs.”
Today’s groundbreaking of Envision AESC’s approximately 3 million-square-foot Kentucky operation marks the next step for one of the largest economic development projects in the state’s history.
The company will produce new generation battery cells that provide 30% more energy density than the current generation, leading to reduced charging time and increased range and efficiency for EVs.
The Bowling Green operation is expected to power up to 300,000 vehicles annually by 2027.
“Envision is delighted to join with Kentucky and Bowling Green today to break ground at the site of our new state-of-the-art gigafactory,” said Envision AESC U.S. Managing Director Jeff Deaton. “We are extremely grateful for the level of support they have shown to get us to this important point, which highlights the strength of our enduring partnership and shared ambition to be national leaders in the e-mobility transformation in the United States.
“Our new gigafactory and supporting ecosystem will provide a catalyst for further investment in the local supply chain and whole lifecycle opportunities of batteries, creating thousands of new jobs in the heart of Warren County and securing Kentucky’s leading role in the automotive industry of the future,” Deaton added. “We look forward to developing the next stages of this important project together.”
The operation will make electric vehicles more accessible and affordable for motorists by implementing high-tech capabilities to increase cost-competitiveness and technological expertise of EV battery production in Kentucky and in the United States. The gigafactory will be powered by 100% renewable energy, supplied by onsite generation, and purchased locally from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
“This groundbreaking is a monumental event for our region and is the largest investment announcement our community has ever seen,” said Judge-Executive Mike Buchanon. “The economic impact of this project will generate $20 billion over the next decade, and at full employment, will generate over $233 million in new spending in the community annually.”
“We are thrilled that Envision AESC picked Bowling Green as their next home,” said Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott. “Their decision to choose us is a testament to our community, our schools, and our business community which we know Envision will be a vital and active member of for years to come”
Copyright 2022 WBKO. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbko.com/2022/08/30/envision-aesc-breaks-ground-bowling-green/ | 2022-08-30T16:12:54Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/2022/08/30/envision-aesc-breaks-ground-bowling-green/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
"Next Level Real Estate Asset Protection" by Clint Coons is released with Forbes Books
This release is posted on behalf of Forbes Books (operated by Advantage Media Group under license).
NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Level Real Estate Asset Protection: Comprehensive Strategies for Investors by Clint Coons, the founding partner of Anderson Business Advisors, is now available. The book is published with Forbes Books, the exclusive business book publishing imprint of Forbes, and is available on Amazon today.
Clint Coons, Esq. wrote Next Level Real Estate Asset Protection to unravel the discrepancy between a real estate investor's needs and those of a run-of-the-mill real estate buyer. Drawing from his decades of experience building a real estate portfolio, Coons shares what it takes to kickstart a career in real estate investment and start growing generational wealth.
Coons takes readers beyond the mindset of a casual real estate investor to demonstrate that real estate investment is a true business. As both an investor and an attorney himself, he knows too well what can happen to a person entering the real estate business without a solid legal foundation. Next Level Real Estate Protection is designed to give readers a crash course in asset protection, owning via entities, working with lenders, and long-term activities for developing multiple streams of passive income. Above all else, Coons wants to teach readers how to eliminate fear so they can make the right bold moves to supercharge their portfolios.
Coons' advice roots itself in the insights he's uncovered while working with ultra-wealthy real estate investors who treat their portfolios like a business. For Coons, this mindset shift makes all the difference – successful investors invest in themselves and aggressively pursue opportunities that present themselves.
"Most of the people who are paid to give advice to real estate investors are selling products and services. They don't invest in real estate themselves," Coons said. "So, while the advice they give might be 100 percent accurate from a tax perspective or a legal perspective or a banking perspective, it doesn't take into consideration the whole picture of what you, as an individual investor, are trying to accomplish at this stage of your investing career."
About Clint Coons
Clint Coons is a founding partner of Anderson Business Advisors. Since its inception in 1999, Clint has helped grow the business into a nearly 500-person organization spanning four states. A passionate advocate for real estate investment, Clint speaks to audiences across the country about the practices he uses to create sustainable, protected wealth for clients.
Clint earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and his JD from Seattle University School of Law. He lives and works in Tacoma with his wife Tracy and their two children.
About Forbes Books
Launched in 2016 in partnership with Advantage Media Group, Forbes Books is the exclusive business book publishing imprint of Forbes. Forbes Books offers business and thought leaders an innovative, speed-to-market, fee-based publishing model and a suite of services designed to strategically and tactically support authors and promote their expertise. For more information, visit books.forbes.com.
Media Contacts
Lisa Loeffler, Anderson Business Advisors: lloeffler@andersonadvisors.com | C: 424.281.0417
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LAS VEGAS, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GID, a vertically-integrated real estate company with corporate offices in Atlanta and Boston, has announced the acquisition of 4027-4075 E. Post Road, two functional warehouses located in the Airport submarket of Las Vegas.
The 39k+ sq ft property is well located in the most supply-restricted submarket in Las Vegas and will allow tenants to benefit from the proximity to McCarren International Airport and its central location to all major Las Vegas freeways.
The buildings have four dock-high doors and seven drive-ins between the two with an average clear height of 28 feet. Each of the buildings also has one suite with an average square footage of 19k sq ft.
The property further expands GID's growing industrial presence in Las Vegas and acts as a complement to the company's other recent acquisitions in the market, including Nellis Industrial Park and SunPoint Commerce Center.
To learn more about GID Industrial, visit www.gid.com/invest/industrial.
GID is a privately held, vertically-integrated real estate company that owns and operates a portfolio of multifamily and industrial assets, as well as develops mixed-use projects. With corporate offices in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, New York, and San Francisco, GID is an experienced real estate private equity investor and manager supported by an integrated operating platform and has 60+ years of experience across multiple asset classes. GID's existing and under-development properties are valued at over $26.7 billion as of March 31, 2022.
The current portfolio includes over 46,000 residential units, more than 20 million square feet of industrial space, and one million square feet of retail and office space. More information is available at www.gid.com.
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FG to review ASUU strike, summons Pro-chancellors, VCs
The Federal Government has summoned Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of Councils and the Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities to Abuja for review of the indefinite strike action declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
ASUU had on Monday decided to proceed on indefinite strike action after about 199 days of rollover strike, which ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, described as period of endless negotiation without result.
Osodeke in a statement announcing the indefinite strike said the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU, “observed with regret that the Union had experienced a lot of deceit of the highest level in the last five and half years as the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) engaged ASUU in fruitless and unending negotiation without a display of utmost fidelity.”
However, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, is to meet with the Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, to review the strike action by ASUU.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
The invitation letter to the Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of Councils and the Vice-Chancellors from the National Universities Commission (NUC), and signed by Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), Chris Maiyaki, was entitled: “Industrial Action by Universities-based Unions: Invitation to a Special interactive meeting with the Honourable Minister of Education.”
The letter read in part: “As the Pro-Chancellors and Chairmen of Councils and the Vice-Chancellors are quite aware, the industrial action by University-based Unions has led to the closure of the institutions since February 2022.
“You are also aware that the non-teaching Unions have suspended their industrial actions with effect from August 24, 2022, while a final decision is being awaited from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
“It has become necessary for the Governing Councils and the Managements of the Universities to be briefed on the decisions and actions taken by the Federal Government so far, to allow for a well-coordinated review of the situation, including building consensus around succeeding actions.
“Consequently, I am to invite the Pro-Chancellors & Chairmen of Councils as well as Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities to a special interactive meeting with the Honourable Minister of Education (HME).”
EDITORIAL: NPF-PSC’s Endless Clashes
FG to review ASUU strike, summons Pro-chancellors, VCs
This Is Our Last Chance —Tinubu
FG to review ASUU strike, summons Pro-chancellors, VCs | https://tribuneonlineng.com/fg-to-review-asuu-strike-summons-pro-chancellors-vcs/ | 2022-08-30T16:15:50Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/fg-to-review-asuu-strike-summons-pro-chancellors-vcs/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Department of Veterans Affairs Approves Purchase of FMCNA Products in Five Categories
WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresenius Medical North America's (FMCNA) Renal Therapies Group, the leading provider of kidney care products, will be a company of choice to help treat the more than 35,000 military veterans receiving dialysis from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA awarded a five-year contract to FMCNA in five different categories, the most of any medical device company, including home dialysis machines, critical care equipment, water purification systems, and in-center hemodialysis.
"We are extremely proud to continue our decades-long relationship with Veterans Affairs and serving the men and women who have given so much for their country," said Joe Turk, President of the Renal Therapies Group at Fresenius Medical Care North America. "This contract is a testament to our innovation, industry-leading technology, and our ability to meet the needs of our veterans, whether they require dialysis in the hospital, in an outpatient setting, and more increasingly at home."
Under the five-year national contract, the VA's 106 hospitals and clinics can purchase Fresenius Medical Care's complete in-center, acute, and home dialysis offerings. This commitment by the VA allows our veterans access to a continuity of care by the industry's leading provider.
The VA endorsement includes the industry leading 2008T BlueStar hemodialysis machine which provides life-sustaining dialysis care with the addition of the industry's only integrated fluid management technology. The contract also includes the NxStage® System One S™ with NxView for hospital systems to provide Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) to patients with acute kidney injury, as well as the The AquaC UNO H, a portable water treatment system featuring a compact footprint.
Two home dialysis systems from Fresenius Medical Care also received this VA endorsement, including the company's NxStage Versi™HD and Liberty® Select Cycler. Empowering more patients to choose home dialysis is a key priority for the company and the government as it can provide veterans greater lifestyle flexibility and independence.
"Fresenius Medical Care has been a leader in dialysis services for many decades," said Dr. Mink Chawla, the former chief of critical care at the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center. "Our veterans deserve the best care, and I am delighted they will have access to Fresenius Medical Care's state-of-the-art devices and services."
The contract is effective from August 1, 2022, through July 31, 2027.
Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) is the premier healthcare company focused on providing the highest quality care to people with renal and other chronic conditions. Through its industry-leading network of dialysis facilities and outpatient cardiac and vascular labs, Fresenius Medical Care North America provides coordinated healthcare services at pivotal care points for hundreds of thousands of chronically ill customers throughout the continent. As the world's largest fully integrated renal company, it offers specialty pharmacy and laboratory services, and manufactures and distributes the most comprehensive line of dialysis equipment, disposable products, and renal pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit the Fresenius Medical Care North America website at https://fmcna.com/.
Media Contact:
Fresenius Medical Care
Scott Sayres
Corporate Communications
Scott.Sayres@FreseniusMedicalCare.com
+1 (940) 297-5678
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SOURCE Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/fresenius-medical-care-wins-major-award-support-us-veterans-with-industry-leading-dialysis-care/ | 2022-08-30T16:16:03Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/fresenius-medical-care-wins-major-award-support-us-veterans-with-industry-leading-dialysis-care/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Naomi will be joining the leading provider of medical device cybersecurity following a 6.5-year career at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MedCrypt, Inc., the proactive cybersecurity solution provider for medical devices, today announced Naomi Schwartz as their new Senior Director of Cybersecurity Quality and Safety. Prior to MedCrypt, Naomi was a premarket reviewer and consumer safety officer for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health (OIR). With over 20 years of systems engineering experience, Naomi's primary focus at MedCrypt will be to lead analysis of cybersecurity designs for medical devices and help medical device manufacturers (MDMs) optimize their cybersecurity framework to meet guidelines set by the FDA.
During her time with the FDA, Naomi approved the software and cybersecurity for the world's first regulated Automated Insulin Dosing (AID) System and created Class II pathways for the three major components of AID systems, a game-changer for supporting patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. She was also the FDA's liaison on standards for cybersecurity of diabetes devices and for EMC of In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) devices. Prior to that, Naomi spent 15 years supporting the Department of Defense as a contractor, specializing in radar system requirements and performance analyses, system design, and independent verification and validation. Additionally, throughout her career, she has received multiple industry achievement awards, including:
- The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) Plain Language Award
- The CDHR Group Recognition Award for the Urgent 11 Response Team
- The Outstanding Customer Service Award from the CDRH for her time with the FDA
- The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal: "Management Excellence: Courtney Lias, Stayce Beck and the FDA Artificial Pancreas Team (2017)"
"Interoperability is the future of medical devices, and of healthcare overall, and I'm very excited to join MedCrypt to develop tools and services for manufacturers that will improve their cybersecurity processes," said Naomi Shwartz, MedCrypt's new Senior Director of Cybersecurity Quality and Safety. "MedCrypt is doing such important work and I'm looking forward to advancing the public health mission by providing security solutions that ensure patients and healthcare providers have access to world-class devices."
In her role at MedCrypt, Naomi will lead analyses of cybersecurity designs for medical devices and help MDMs optimize their cybersecurity implementations. She will also evaluate manufacturer and cybersecurity processes to develop tools that will improve the integration of cybersecurity into quality management systems and reduce the burden and uncertainty of postmarket management.
"Amid the rise in cybersecurity needs within the medical industry, we're thrilled to welcome Naomi to our expanding team," said Shannon Lantzy, Vice President of Consulting at MedCrypt. "Her previous experience at the FDA, as well as multiple roles in systems engineering, will help our clients accelerate their innovation pipeline while reducing cybersecurity risk and uncertainty."
"In the years that I've known Naomi, I've seen the impact she's had on the way we approach cybersecurity through her work with two of the largest government security teams in the country," said Seth Carmody, MedCrypt's Vice President of Regulatory Strategy. "Her experience with the FDA will help orient MedCrypt's methodology to provide device manufacturers with a balanced approach to cybersecurity to achieve timely, security designs without compromising safety."
Naomi is joining MedCrypt alongside Jamell Pentecost, who was recently announced as MedCrypt's Senior Director of Product Security Services along with Ken Hoyme, who joined MedCrypt's Advisory Board. MedCrypt currently provides enhanced security features and services for seven of the top 10 medical device manufacturers as well as startups and mid-sized companies.
About MedCrypt
MedCrypt is the first firm to combine cybersecurity technology products with management consulting, decision science, and regulatory strategy that is 100% focused on supporting medical device manufacturers. MedCrypt has raised more than $9.4 million in funding to date with participation from Eniac Ventures, Section 32, Y Combinator, and more. For more, please visit www.medcrypt.com.
Contact:
BAM for MedCrypt
medcrypt@bamtheagency.com
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SOURCE MedCrypt | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/medcrypt-is-joined-by-former-fda-premarket-reviewer-consumer-safety-officer-naomi-schwartz-new-senior-director-cybersecurity-quality-safety/ | 2022-08-30T16:16:05Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/medcrypt-is-joined-by-former-fda-premarket-reviewer-consumer-safety-officer-naomi-schwartz-new-senior-director-cybersecurity-quality-safety/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
‘Shoppers abroad buy items from African local stores, pay easily with Flutterwave’
Shoppers from all parts of the world buy items from African local stores and pay easily with Flutterwave.
This was revealed recently by Mr Olubankole Falade, the Chief Regulatory Affairs, and Government Relations Officer of Flutterwave, while participating as a panellist at the Second Economic Update of the American Business Council of Nigeria (ABC) in partnership with the Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University.
According to him, “We have proprietary API technology that allows individuals to pay businesses through various modes of payments including — cards, mobile money, QR, depending on what markets and payment methods are acceptable in that market. For example, with Flutterwave, my elder brother in the US can pay for shoes from a vendor in Lagos and have them delivered to our mother in Abeokuta, Ogun State.”
Other panellists at the event were Mr Solomon Omorodion, Group Software Channel and Distribution Business Lead West Africa, IBM; Mrs Rita Amuchienwa, Country Executive for INTEL West Africa; Mrs Oluwafunto Olasemo, the Vice President of Financial Markets AFEX and the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, represented by Dr Falilat Jimoh.
Mr Falade, who was responding to concerns around the accessibility of emerging technologies in Nigeria at the grassroots expressed by the moderator of the panel discussion, Prof Olayinka David-West, Associate Dean of the Lagos Business School, noted that with Flutterwave’s technology, there are zero barriers to sales and business growth for grassroots small businesses in Nigeria.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Flutterwave’s effort to support small businesses took a leap during the lockdown in 2020, when the company launched the Flutterwave Store as part of its ‘Keeping the Lights on Campaign’ to support small businesses during the pandemic. This campaign helped small businesses in Africa to sell online easily and has helped bring over 30,000 small businesses online to date. In addition, Flutterwave launched Market – an extension of its Flutterwave Store service – that brings together a collection of merchant stores in one place to help scale small businesses’ growth.
Responding to the issue, Mrs Amuchienwa shared Intel’s work with the World Bank, partnering with Zinox to upskill communities and provide tools for digital transformation. “The Intel Skills for Innovation Initiative empowers decision makers and educators in adopting technology to create innovative learning experiences that actively engage students in all learning environments—virtual, at school, or blended,” she said.
Mrs Olasemo spoke on financial inclusion for rural farmers, stating the need for financial institutions to understand the needs of rural farmers. She focused on AFEX’s effort to have available, accessible data that can be interpreted easily to make important decisions for farmers and investors.
Dr Jimoh emphasised the need for the private sector to respond positively to invitations from the government for collaboration. “For emerging technologies to succeed, the right environment needs to be created and both private and public contributions need to be made,” she said.
Mr Omorodion spoke on how IBM uses emerging technologies to solve problems such as post-harvest food loss in Africa. He stated that the cloud-based solution gives visibility to the food supply chain by capturing data at every stage, such that a buyer knows the production date of the food purchased.
The event concluded with a general consensus that there is a need for trust to be built between the private and public sectors. Such trust would enable collaborative efforts between both parties and consequently foster the use of emerging technologies for the benefit of society.
This Is Our Last Chance —Tinubu
Shoppers abroad buy items from African local stores, pay easily with Flutterwave | https://tribuneonlineng.com/shoppers-abroad-buy-items-from-african-local-stores-pay-easily-with-flutterwave/ | 2022-08-30T16:16:23Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/shoppers-abroad-buy-items-from-african-local-stores-pay-easily-with-flutterwave/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Rwanda is known as the land of a thousand hills. Rwanda’s stunning scenery and warm, friendly people offer unique experiences. It is among the 48 visa-free countries Nigerians can travel to. It is blessed with extraordinary biodiversity, with incredible wildlife living throughout its volcanoes, montane rainforests, and sweeping plains.
Travelers come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the magnificent gorillas, yet there is so much more to see and experience. Here are some facts about Rwanda.com
1. THE PEOPLE OF RWANDA
According to Britannica.com, the people of the Republic of Rwanda speak the Bantu language known as Rwanda (also known as Kinyarwanda). The Rwandan people are divided into two main groups: the Hutu, traditionally farmers; and the Tutsi, traditionally cattle-owning pastoralists. A small third group, the Pygmy Twa, are hunters and potters. The Rwanda language is mutually intelligible with Rundi, which is spoken in Burundi. Rwanda’s people live as refugees in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Uganda. More than 12 million people speak the Rwanda language.
2. RELIGION
According to africa.upenn.edu, the majority of Rwandans, about 65%, are Roman Catholic, with another 9% Protestant. Only about 1% of the population is Muslim. About a fourth of Rwandans are adherents of indigenous beliefs. However, these numbers and divisions are not clear-cut. Many Rwandans practice both their traditional religion and Christianity at the same time.
Rwandans believe that one’s ancestors, the abazima, can protect and benefit living family members if they are honored and remembered through sacrifices. When they are not, and sacrifices are not performed, they can cause illness or other misfortunes. Diviners are called upon by family members to interpret the wishes of abazima and to recommend ways to appease angered ancestors.
3. CLIMATE
According to Karellafrica.com, Rwanda is located just south of the equator, and as a result, the temperate tropical climate does not change much throughout the year.
However, due to high elevation, temperatures are lower than in typical equatorial countries. Rwanda experiences frequent rains throughout the year, with an average annual rainfall of about 40 inches. The heavy rain seasons are from January through April and from October through December.
Average daytime temperatures in Rwanda are about 75 degrees Fahrenheit, while nighttime temperatures can drop into the low 50s. Kigali, in the centre of the country, has a typical daily temperature range between 12 °C (54 °F) and 27 °C (81 °F), with little variation throughout the year.
4. POPULATION
According to gov.rw, the total population of Rwanda is 12.3 million people, Rwanda is a relatively young country. 50 percent of the Rwandan population is under 20 years old, with the median age standing at 22.7 years old.
5. CURRENCY
According to visitrwanda.com, the Rwandan franc (Rwf) is the principal currency, although US dollars are widely accepted. Expect to pay for local services in cash, in Rwandan francs. The greater the amount, the more likely US dollars or other hard currencies are preferred, such as gorilla tracking and upmarket hotels.
A growing number of places accept credit and debit cards, with Visa being more widely accepted than MasterCard. It’s best to check when making a booking. ATMs can be found in Kigali and nearly all major cities. Cash can be exchanged at banks and private forex bureaux (bureau de change). Both are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
6. LANGUAGE
Language is central to the culture and belief system of the Rwandan people. According to worldatlas.com, the people of Rwanda mainly speak three major languages: Kinyarwanda, French, and English. These three languages are also official. Interactions with other members of the East African community have led to the introduction of the Swahili language into the country, especially for trade purposes. The pre-colonial, colonial, postcolonial, as well as post-genocide periods of the country, have influenced the adoption and use of these languages.
Kinyarwanda
Kinyarwanda is a national language and the most widely spoken in the country, with about 93% of the population using the language. Being an official language, Kinyarwanda is used as a medium of instruction in Rwandan institutions, administration, media, and commerce for daily business transactions.
French
Since Rwanda is a former Belgian colony, it adopted French as an official language. However, despite being the colonial language, only about 0.1% (mostly the educated) of the Rwandan population speak French.
English
English is the third official language in Rwanda, spoken by about 0.2 % of the population. English became an official language in Rwanda in the late 20th century and was introduced in schools in 2008.
Swahili
The Rwandan government in February 2017 passed legislation making Swahili an official language in the country. The adoption of the language as an official language came following requests by the East African community for members to include Swahili as one of the official languages.
7. CULTURE
According to benjamindada.com, you will have a much easier time fitting in if you already have someone waiting for you there. If you don’t, you will need some patience. While Rwandans are welcoming of foreigners, they are also weary of people to an extent. If you come on too strong, you will risk alienating a lot of people.
It is natural to want to make friends as soon as you can but you shouldn’t approach people in groups. Most will be intimidated by you and most are not comfortable using a second language and you might therefore find yourself met with silence or simply ignored.
Instead, approach individuals. Express interest in them and they will express interest in you. With their friends around, most of them feel a lot more comfortable speaking a second language, however, broken it might be. The individual will then introduce you to their friends who will easily accept you.
Habits don’t die easily. When you hang out in a group, now and then, your Rwandan friends will switch to using Kinyarwanda. If you see them laughing, ask one of them to share the joke.
8. Visa-Free, E Visa, or Visa On Arrival? How long can you stay?
According to rwandaimmigration.org, Nigerian travelers require a visa to enter Rwanda, even for short stays. However, Nigerian citizens will be pleased to hear that they can obtain a Rwanda e-visa. The Rwanda electronic visa allows travelers from more than 100 countries, including Nigerian citizens, to enter the African country for up to 30 days.
A Rwanda e-visa for Nigerians allows visitors to access Rwanda without having to visit an embassy in person, submit multiple documents, or wait months for a reply. Rwanda has many e-visa requirements for Nigeria, which must be met to apply for a visa online.
These requirements include submitting a variety of documents and other items in support of the visa application. Nigerian travelers should have these items on hand when filling out the online form.
- A valid Nigerian passport: A Nigerian passport that is valid for at least 06 months from the date of your arrival. The passport must also have at least two blank pages for stamps when entering and leaving the country.
- Digital Photo: Another important requirement is a passport-sized photograph in PNG or JPEG format. This photo should be taken in color against a white background.
- Email address: A valid email address is required for all applicants. Rwanda electronic visas from Nigeria will be sent to successful applicants via email, so they need to have access to the email address they provide.
Because the Rwanda-approved visa is electronically linked to an individual passport, Nigerian citizens must use the same passport to complete the Rwanda e-visa application as they will use it to travel to this country. Those with dual nationality should keep this in mind.
How can you extend your stay?
According to migration.gov, an application for a visa extension is submitted to the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration offices. Detailed requirements are set out in the information for applicants for each class of visa. An extension of a visa should be applied for whilethe initial visa remains valid.
A grace period of five days after a visa has expired is allowed for a person to either depart or renew their visa without a penalty; otherwise, the person will be subjected to a penalty and a visa extension may be denied.
9. ATTRACTIONS
According to thecrazytourist.com, these are the top attractions in Rwanda.
KIGALI
Since the dark days of the Rwandan genocide, the city of Kigali has done a U-turn. Where once marauding gangs and death patrols roamed, today there are bustling markets and spice-scented street stalls.
The ramshackle barrios now ooze the energy of day-to-day bustle, while the appearance of shimmering steel skyscrapers on the horizon is just another sign of the flow of foreign investment in these parts.
There are a couple of things you simply need to see: the moving Genocide Memorial and the grand presidential palace. Apart from that, it’s just a case of taking in the newfound national confidence, shopping for Rwandan handicrafts in the bazaars, and sinking cold ones in the raucous nightclubs.
HUYE
Huye was once known as Butare, and most locals still call it that today. But whatever its moniker may change to, there’s no altering its prestigious history.
Huye is the home of the National University and the National Institute of Scientific Research, along with countless other revered learning centers. That makes it something like Rwanda’s answer to English Oxford, or Massachusetts’ Cambridge.
It also makes it a place rich with cultural attractions. Visitors can hear tales of the old Tutsi monarchs at the National Museum of Rwanda; they can eat alongside erudite students, and they can delve into the stalls and handicraft emporiums of Huye Market.
KIBUYE
Kibuye juts its way into the blue-brown waters of Lake Kivu in a series of curved headlands and steep-sided bays.
It is one of the most beautiful towns in all of Rwanda, it’s surrounded by high hills that come dressed in wisps of mist by morning and offer sweeping views of the lake waters and the islands by afternoon. Between the streets, there are some earthy little eco-lodges on the shores, along with one interesting Catholic church, and a memorial to the Rwandan genocide.
There’s also a smattering of empty beaches around the center, and oodles of boats available for tours away from the banks.
NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Few protected forests can boast the same kind of superlatives as Rwanda’s mystical Nyungwe Forest National Park. This vast area of more than 940 square kilometers is the single largest enclave of montane forest remaining in this corner of the continent. The thick canopies of mahoganies and clambering jungle vines hide one of the most diverse arrays of simian life in the world.
There are chimpanzees and rare golden monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and big baboons all swinging through the boughs there.
Lake Kivu
While Lake Kivu is hardly a single destination, it’s worth a special mention on its own simply because of the sheer wealth of attractions and activities it offers travelers to Rwanda from its place on the extreme western border of the country.
It covers a vast area of more than 2,700 square kilometers, it ranges from Gisenyi in the north to the multicultural island of Ishwa in the south.
Along the way, visitors will be able to spot rustic fishing villages on stilts, clusters of trademark catamaran skiffs on the water, a speckling of pretty tropical islands, and perhaps even the more modern outlines of industrious natural gas extractors above the lake.
10. Average Monthly Salary
According to salaryexplorer.com, a person working in Rwanda typically earns around 692,000 RWF per month. Salaries range from 175,000 RWF (lowest average) to 3,090,000 RWF (highest average, the actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary, including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers.
According to rwandamigration.com, to get a job in Rwanda as a foreigner, you will need a visa to work in Rwanda. It is recommended to obtain employment there before applying, as your new employer can often sponsor your application.
To get a work permit, the following are the requirements according to rdb.rw
- Any genuine acceptable travel document valid for not less than 6 months.
- Payment of 150.000 Frw
- Business registration certificate
- Police clearance certificate from the country of residence for the previous six months
- Detailed curriculum vitae
- Photo with white background
- Completed permit application form
- Application letter to the Director General of Immigration and Emigration
11. CRIME RATE AND SECURITY
According to foreign-travel-advice.com, levels of crime remain relatively low in Rwanda, but there are cases of burglary, theft, bag snatching, and mugging in Kigali.
It is advisable to take sensible precautions. Take care when walking at night. Pre-arrange transport. Lock car doors when driving, don’t leave valuables in cars when parked and don’t leave cars unsupervised in the town center. Don’t carry large amounts of money or other valuables.
Also, some off-limits military zones in Kigali may not be well-lit or signposted. You should take extra care when walking around less populated zones, particularly at night time
12. AVERAGE COST OF LIVING
According to livingcost.org and rocapply.com, the cost of living in Rwanda is $664, which is 1.41 times less expensive than the world average. Rwanda ranked 127th out of 197 countries by the cost of living and the 101st best country to live in.
The average salary after taxes in Rwanda is enough to cover living expenses for 0.6 months.
13. FOOD PRICES IN RWANDA
- 12 eggs dozen, large is 12.50 RWF
- 1 beer pint in local shops and markets is 7 RWF
- 1 kg of tomatoes is 8.50 RWF
- Ample chicken 2kg is 38.75 RWF
- 1 liter 100% fruit juice is 8.50 RWF
- 1 package of cigarettes from imported brands is 25 RWF
- 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples is 7.50 RWF
- 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality is 48.95 RWF
- 2.5 liters of Coca-Cola is 0.95 RWF
- 1 Bread loaf standard is 9.50 RWF
- Whole fat Yogurt 500ml is 12 RWF
- 1×6 pack Dardanelle tuna is 18.50 RWF
- Heinz baked beans 1 tin is 8 RWF
- 1.5 kg Sugar is 10 RWF
- 2-liter cooking oil is 20 RWF
- Yum-yum noodles per pack are 2.00 RWF
- 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes is 5.50 RWF
- 1-liter milk is 8.50 RWF
- Fast food restaurant large serving/ take away is 25 RWF
14. COST OF UTILITIES
- Utilities per month (water, electricity, gas) for 2 people in a flat is 165 RW
- Wi-Fi monthly fee 8 Mbps (1 month) is 145 RWF
- Laundry detergent (bleach, sunlight liquid, washing surf) is 58.50 RWF
- The House Cleaning fee per day is 105 RWF
- Large Gas heater price range upwards is 200 RWF
- Original branded Electric Fans are 200 RWF
- The original branded Electric kettle is 120 RWF
- 40 inches Beko flat screen HD TV set is 2000 RWF
- Single bed Blankets are 120 RWF
15. COST OF PERSONAL CARE
- Avon for women and men cologne is 100 RWF
- Ladies’ hair painting is 60 RWF
- Ladies’ Sanitaryware (Pads and Tampons) is 18 RWF
- Men’s haircut is 40 RWF
- Ibuprofen, Panadol, Grandpa Painkillers box of 12 doses is 24.50 RWF
- Mobile package local network providers’ talk-time, data, and messages are 65 RWF
- 1 month of gym subscription is 105 RWF
- The earphones original (Samsung. iPhone) is 90 RWF
- Unisex Loris perfume is 30 RWF
- Gadgets maintenance and repairs cell phones, laptops, tablets) starting price is 100 RWF
- Smartphones (Samsung, Xiaomi, HTC, iPhone) price range upwards is 1000 RWF
- Laptops (Samsung, Lenovo, Hp, Monster, Dell, etc.) price range upwards is 3000 RWF
16. COST OF ENTERTAINMENT
- Boat cruise with refreshments and finger snacks is 120 RWF
- Go carting 30 mins is 120 RWF
- Movie House 3d cinema is 30 RWF
- Summer Festivals (jet, bumper cars, lucky deep(per ticket) is 15 RWF
- A photoshoot is 120 RWF
- Cappuccino/expresso/ coffee is 12.50 RWF
- A 3-course dinner local restaurant for two people is 96.50 RWF
- 3-course dinner classy, exotic restaurant with two people is 150 RWF
- Play station 4 console without games is 2000 RWF
- Spalding Basketball is 200 RWF
- The original branded Racket and Wilson’s tennis balls are 500 RWF
17. COST OF TRANSPORTATION
- Taxi fare on average 5-10km is 45 RWF
- Public transport per trip one-way maximum fare is 30 RWF
- 1-liter petrol/diesel is 6.50 RWF
- The 1-day rental car cost is 140 RWF
- Driver’s license is 2300 RWF
18. COST OF CLOTHES
- 1 pair of jeans (Denim or similar) is 150 RWF
- 1 pair of men’s formal shoes is 215 RWF
- 1 pair of original sport/casual shoes (Nike, Adidas, or equivalent brands) is 280 RWF
- 1 classy summer dress (Zara, H&M, or similar retailers) is 135.79 RWF
- Ladies’ formal shoes are original and durable is 120 RWF
- Back-pack, gym bag (Nike, Adidas, New Balance) is 150 RWF
19. TRAVEL COST TO RWANDA
The high season for flights to Rwanda spans from June to August and you should plan to pay 827.00$ and more for your return flight to Rwanda.
The period from January to March has considered the low season and the average fares for flights are generally cheaper: you can usually get a return flight for about 527.00$ on average. And if you’re lucky, you can even find a better deal.
20. AVERAGE HOTEL COST IN RWANDA
The high season in Rwanda runs from June to October. One night in a mid-range hotel during these months costs around 34.00$. The low season spans from March to May. You can get a room for a night for as low as 14.00$. Some nice bargains are usually also available, especially at the higher-end resorts.
21. AVERAGE COST OF HOTEL
According to hotelscombined.com, here is the average cost of hotel: The average price in Rwanda is $508/night and $12/night respectively.
The cheapest month is March while the most expensive month is December.
22. FOODS YOU CAN GET IN RWANDA
Rwandan food is neither spicy nor hot. People eat simple meals made with locally grown ingredients. The Rwandan diet consists mainly of sweet potatoes, beans, corn, peas, millet, plantains, cassava, and fruit.
Rwanda is also a fairly conservative country. No one will discriminate against you for your liberal views and thoughts, but if you express them very early on, it will alienate people.
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Despite overall approval of the plan, 73% of respondents are still somewhat or very concerned with the plan's impact on inflation
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Premise, a global on-demand insights company that democratizes the way data is sourced and analyzed, surveyed 903 American adult contributors about President Biden's recently announced student loan forgiveness plan. Premise announced the results of that survey today, finding overwhelming support for the president's plan.
On Wednesday, August 24th, President Biden announced his plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loans for Pell grant recipients and up to $10,000 for other individual federal loan recipients, both with a $125,000 income cap. The plan also further extended the COVID-19 pause on federal student loan repayments through the end of the year, with payments resuming in January 2023.
Those surveyed shared their thoughts on the plan itself, the fairness of it, whether it went far enough, and more. Here are some of the most significant findings:
- 73% of respondents strongly or somewhat approved of President Biden's plan, and 27% somewhat or strongly disapproved of it.
- Only 27% felt that the plan went too far, and 25% felt it didn't go far enough. Nearly half of respondents (48%) felt the plan went far enough.
- Only 27% of respondents were not concerned at all with the plan's impact on inflation, whereas 40% were somewhat concerned, and 33% very concerned.
- Despite overall approval of the plan, respondents had mixed feelings about the fairness of it.
- Concerning the extension of the payment pause through the end of the year, only 22% felt it should have gone longer. 21% felt it went too far and the majority (57%) felt it went just far enough.
- The announced program seemed to have no impact on President Biden's job approval, however. 28% said the program improved their opinion of his job approval, 28% said it diminished their opinion, and 44% said it did not change (or impact) their opinion.
"These poll results show why it's so important to look beyond just the headline," said Maury Blackman, CEO of Premise. "While the headline here shows that our poll respondents approve of President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan at a three to one ratio, it also shows that a majority of the same respondents feel the program unfairly punishes Americans who do not currently have student loan debt, indicating that some people feel the program is unfair but approve of it anyway or that messaging and the way you frame a question can really make a difference."
For more, see link here: https://www.premise.com/blog/premise-poll-loan-forgiveness
Methodology
These results are based on responses from 903 Americans collected between August 24th and August 25th via the Premise smartphone application. Premise randomly sampled its opt-in panel members, stratified on Age, Gender, Region, and Education, based on the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS). The results are weighted by Age, Gender, Region, and Education benchmarked against the 2019 ACS estimates. Respondents were compensated for their completion of the survey through the Premise app.
About Premise
Premise is an on-demand insights company. Its technology mobilizes communities of global smartphone users to source actionable data in real-time, cost-effectively, and with needed visibility. In more than 135 countries and 37 languages, Premise finds Data for Every Decision™. To learn more, please visit www.premise.com.
Contact: Taylor C. Pearson
tpearson@tridentdmg.com
202-235-3482
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SOURCE Premise | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/premise-poll-73-poll-respondents-approve-president-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-plan-only-27-feel-plan-goes-too-far/ | 2022-08-30T16:16:38Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/premise-poll-73-poll-respondents-approve-president-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-plan-only-27-feel-plan-goes-too-far/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Fiditi Progressive Union has lauded the commitment of Atobaase of Yorubaland, Dr Babajide Agunbiade, over the development of Fiditi.
In a release signed by their President, Samuel Oyekunle Adetunji, and made available to Tribune Online, the group said Agunbiade’s various philanthropic gestures are numerous to mention, which have led to various Community development both in Nigeria and outside the shores of the country.
The Union also congratulated him on the first anniversary of his conferment as Atobaase of Yorubaland by the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Dr Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, and also facilitated him on his conferment as Asiwaju of Fiditiland by Onifiditi of Fiditi, Oba Sakiru Oyewole Akanni Oyelere, describing it as the right cap that fits him more than any other personality in all ramifications based on his commitment to the development of Fiditi in the area of provision of social services.
“We also sincerely appreciate your patriotism to the progress of your fatherland Fiditi and Yoruba race in general. Your dogged determination, God being on your side, and unflinching support of the Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde ensured the installation of Onifiditi of Fiditiland after a long period of interregnum.
“It must be put on record as you have repeatedly stated that your vision is to ensure the development of our noble town through the Fiditi Initiative; based on this confession, we are still expecting more from you as Oliver Twist we continue to ask for more.”
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Strong Demand for Luxury Cruise Experiences Results in Third Record-Breaking
Launch Day of 2022
Enjoys 8 Record-Breaking Launches Since 2019
MIAMI, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the world's leading luxury cruise line, has once again topped its own single-day booking record with the launch of its 2024-2025 Voyage Collection as sales commenced on August 24, 2022.
Demonstrating the continued and growing appetite of luxury travelers for the Unrivaled Experience that Regent offers, the cruise line beat its previous largest booking day of August 18, 2021, when it launched its 2023-2024 Voyage Collection.
"This is an incredible achievement and is testament to the hard-working Regent teams across both our ships and shore-side offices around the globe. We thank our valued Travel Advisors we partner with and our loyal guests for their passion for luxury travel," said Jason Montague, president, and chief executive officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. "This year's voyage collection was highly appealing with more variety featuring over 160 new port-intensive itineraries that discover every part of the globe, including on board our newest ship Seven Seas Grandeur® once she joins The World's Most Luxurious Fleet in 2023."
Travel trends identified that guests are, like the previous year's launch day, most keen to book exotic destinations with the desire to travel longer with sailings including destinations in Africa, Asia, and South America making up approximately 70% of the top 10 itineraries reserved.
There was also a strong demand for the line's distinctive suites, as well as the palatial, 4,443 square feet Regent Suite. These trends illustrate that travelers are putting more value on their time and experiences and are willing to spend more to explore the world in luxury, enjoying the highest possible standards of service in lavishly designed restaurants, lounges, and suites.
Booking data also revealed that there was an increase of reservations made by Travel Partners compared to the previous year's 2023-2024 Voyage Collection launch. Additionally, the cruise line saw a large upsurge of sales made on the day by guests who were already sailing the five-ship fleet.
The feat is the company's eighth record-breaking launch since 2019 where it achieved its then largest World Cruise launch day. Regent has subsequently attained three more World Cruise launch day records through May 2022 when Regent's 2025 World Cruise was unveiled in June 2022, fully reserved before officially opening for bookings. The second launch day record of 2022 occurred when Regent launched its 2024-2025 Grand Voyage Collection in July. In addition, the cruise line has broken its own single biggest booking days each year since 2020 with successive Voyage Collection launches.
With 7 of the 10 most popular itineraries booked on the 2024-2025 Voyage Collection launch day including ports in Africa, Asia, and South America, it is clear that luxury travelers are keen to enjoy new experiences in unfamiliar and exotic locales, for extended periods of time.
No better was this illustrated than by Seven Seas Splendor's® 2024 Lisbon to Cape Town 24-night sailing. Hugging Africa's West Coast with visits to Dakar, Senegal; Banjul, Gambia; and Abidjan, Ivory Coast; the itinerary attracted more reservations than any other. A similar Barcelona to Cape Town 25-night sailing on board Seven Seas Voyager® also made the top 10 voyages.
Seven Seas Grandeur the most highly anticipated ship to be launched in 2023, had a strong launch day with 3 sailings in the top 10, which includes a 2024 Barcelona to New York 16-night transatlantic as the third most booked sailing. Sister ship to hugely successful Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Explorer®, Seven Seas Grandeur will be the next pinnacle in luxury cruising exemplifying Regent's heritage of perfection with unrivaled space, unparalleled service, exceptional cuisine, and transformative experiences.
Of the top ten voyages booked on the day, no single voyage had a duration lower than 16 nights, with the longest being 25 nights and entry-level prices for the line's spacious veranda and deluxe veranda suites ranged from $9,999 per guest and $21,199 per guest.
Other notable destinations featured in the top 10 sailings booked on the record launch day were the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South America sailings featuring the Amazon River.
The most spent on a single reservation overall (inside or outside of the top 10 voyages) was close to $275,000 for a Grand Suite on board Seven Seas Mariner®.
Regent's new 2024-2025 Voyage Collection, introduces alluring itineraries and new ports of call in the world's most beautiful destinations, showcasing 160 sailings with 130 overnight stays, 18 maiden ports of call, 4 Grand Voyages, and a 150-night World Cruise.
Voyages encompass every continent of the world, from Africa & Arabia to Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Canada & New England, Alaska, and Bermuda, plus favorites such as the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mediterranean, and Northern Europe.
Sailing with The World's Most Luxurious Fleet™, guests will experience exquisite comfort onboard with every luxury included, offering a truly unrivaled experience. With the 2024-2025 Voyage Collection, Regent invites guests to revel in unparalleled opportunities for immersion in local culture as it offers new ways to experience the world's finest destinations with FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions in every port of call, and all-new Eco-connect and Behind the Design Tours. Voyage fares also include round-trip business-class air on intercontinental flights from the U.S. and Canada, gourmet cuisine in a range of specialty restaurants and al-fresco dining venues, fine wine and spirits, entertainment, unlimited internet access, free valet laundry service, pre-paid gratuities, ground transfers, and one-night, pre-cruise hotel package for guests staying in Concierge-level suites and higher.
All the while, Regent's Unrivaled Space at Sea™ makes for the perfect place for rest and relaxation. The abundance of space aboard each elegant and perfectly sized ship, and one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios in the industry, ensures discerning guests receive the best in service and care.
A brochure showcasing Regent's new 2024-2025 Voyage Collection is available. For more information, please visit RSSC.com, call 1-844-4REGENT (1-844-873-2381), or contact your preferred travel advisor.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the leading luxury cruise line, delivering An Unrivaled Experience™, with every luxury included, for 30 years. Carrying no more than 732 guests, the line's spacious and stylish ships - Seven Seas Explorer®, Seven Seas Mariner®, Seven Seas Navigator®, Seven Seas Splendor®, Seven Seas Voyager® and from 2023 Seven Seas Grandeur™ - form The World's Most Luxurious Fleet™ and explore more than 450 immersive destinations globally. Offering Unrivalled Space at Sea™, guests enjoy sumptuous all-suite accommodations, nearly all with private balconies, which are among the largest at sea, as well as highly personalized service throughout lavish public areas and expansive outdoor spaces. Unique to Regent Seven Seas Cruises, unlimited complimentary shore excursions are available in every port, making it the only truly all-inclusive cruise line. Voyage fares also include round-trip business-class air on intercontinental flights from the U.S. and Canada, gourmet cuisine in a range of specialty restaurants and al-fresco dining venues, fine wines and spirits, entertainment, unlimited internet access, free valet laundry service, pre-paid gratuities onboard, transfers between airport and ship, and one-night pre-cruise hotel package for guests staying in Concierge-level suites and higher. For more information, please visit RSSC.com, call 1.844.873.2381 or contact a professional travel advisor.
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SOURCE Regent Seven Seas Cruises | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/regent-seven-seas-cruises-celebrates-largest-booking-day-companys-history-third-year-row/ | 2022-08-30T16:17:12Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/regent-seven-seas-cruises-celebrates-largest-booking-day-companys-history-third-year-row/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Teaching both classroom skills and lifelong lessons, Steamoji continues growth in Pacific North West
REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Steamoji – a STEM maker academy designed to enrich children's typical studies by introducing them to new technologies in fabrication, physical computing, engineering, digital arts, coding, and applied design – is excited to be reaching more families through their new franchising opportunity. The brand strives to provide students with the skills they'll need to succeed in our ever-evolving society, working to ensure they are exposed to subjects and skills that are becoming essential as we continue to see advancements in the tech space.
After Steamoji founder, Hank Horkoff, noticed the sheer lack of quality, long term STEM outlets for his school-aged children, he knew that he needed to make a change. Having spent most of his career working within the tech sphere, he knew the importance of having STEM-related skills and discussed his concern with other parents in his community. Together, they raised enough funding to get the ball rolling on a STEM education company. After recruiting a handful of experts in the field, and building out a talented team, Steamoji came to fruition in September of 2019.
"I had sent my kids to STEM camps in the past, but after picking them up at the end of the week, we were told 'See you next year!', there was no ongoing training," said Horkoff. "I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that there were so few outlets for my son to continue to explore the field, and I wanted to be able to give that opportunity to him."
The team has designed a unique course structure that allows kids to stay engaged in what they are learning, while also keeping their parents informed. Steamoji students, referred to as apprentices, have the ability to complete the 400-hour program over the course of 5 years, implementing gamification elements to the curriculum to encourage their continual learning. Additionally, parents receive a detailed progress map to monitor their child's development along with a mobile app filled with videos to watch after every session, avoiding the dreaded "I forgot" response after asking their child what they did each day.
"Parents and teachers everywhere should be working to get their kids involved in STEM," said Horkoff. "It is widely understood that as our society continues to advance, the need for workers with a STEM education will continue to grow. Sparking an interest in the field at a young age, and providing them with skills they will use for the rest of their lives, gives our apprentices an advantage that they will not find anywhere else. We truly believe that teaching these skills now will help them become more well-rounded in the future, regardless of the field they fall into."
Steamoji currently has 2 corporate locations open with another opening in the coming months, 1 franchise location open, and another 7 in development across the United States and Canada. The total investment to open a Steamoji franchise ranges from $210,500 to $488,000, with a $40,000 franchise fee included. For more information about Steamoji's franchising opportunities, please visit https://steamojifranchise.com/index.html
Founded in 2019 and franchising since 2021, Steamoji offers apprentices an enriching STEM maker academy designed to expand upon children's typical studies by introducing them to new concepts in fabrication, physical computing, engineering, digital arts, coding, and applied design. With over 400 hours of material designed to be completed over the course of 5 years, parents can rest assured that their kids will be challenged with new content to discover for years to come. The brand currently has 2 corporate locations open, 1 franchise open, and another 7 in development across the United States and Canada, and is gearing up to open another corporate location in Redmond, Washington before the end of the year. For more information, please visit https://www.steamoji.com/
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SOURCE Steamoji | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/revolutionary-stem-makerspace-designed-enrich-young-minds-launches-new-franchising-opportunity-united-states/ | 2022-08-30T16:17:30Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/revolutionary-stem-makerspace-designed-enrich-young-minds-launches-new-franchising-opportunity-united-states/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Dual-Channel Drive Strategy Brought a Record-High Revenue of 588 Million & Rebound with 22.8 Million Profit
The Group Continues to Explore the Blue Ocean Market in China
Results Highlights
- The Group taking the lead in developing cross-border e-commerce business and adopting an online and offline dual-channel drive strategy have achieved with results.
- Revenue of the Group for 1H2022 was HK$588.2 million, representing an increase of 54.5% compared to HK$380.7 million for 1H2021. Net profit of the Group for 1H2022 was HK$22.8 million (1H2021: loss of HK$10.2 million).
- The net profit of the Group for 1H2022, after excluding the fair value loss on investment, was HK$27.4 million.
- Gross profit of the Group for 1H2022 was HK$128.4 million, representing an increase of 112.7% compared to HK$60.3 million for the Last Period. Gross profit margin increased by 5.9 percentage points to 21.8%. Increase in gross profit and gross profit margin was primarily due to (i) the expansion of the Group's total revenue; (ii) the improvement in the gross profit margin of certain products; and (iii) the decrease in write-down of inventories from HK$11.1 million in the Last Period to HK$2.2 million in the Period.
- The successful turnaround from loss to profit is mainly attributed to the increase in overall revenue and gross profit of the Group, and the effect of a significant decrease in the write-down of inventories.
- The Group will continue to actively expand its e-commerce business and explore the blue ocean market in Mainland China.
- The Group currently is assisting several century-old local PCM brands to apply for registration in the GBA, and will further explore the business opportunities in the GBA.
- The Group will continue to source various high-quality healthcare and beauty products for local and Mainland China consumers so as to diversify the product portfolio and further internationalise the Group's businesses.
HONG KONG, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tycoon Group Holdings Limited ("Tycoon Group" or the "Group", Stock Code: 3390.HK), an omnichannel brand marketing and management service integrator of health and well-being related products in Hong Kong, announced its unaudited consolidated interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2022 (the "Period" or "1H2022").
In the first quarter of 2022, Hong Kong was at the height of the fifth wave of the epidemic. However, as the epidemic eased in the second quarter of 2022, the Hong Kong SAR government has gradually relaxed its anti-epidemic policies, coupled with the launch of electronic consumption voucher scheme, which further stimulated consumer sentiment, and brought about a recovery in the overall retail market in Hong Kong. During the Period, the revenue of the Group increased by 54.5% to approximately HK$588.2 million, as compared to HK$380.7 million for the six months ended 30 June 2021 (the "Last Period"). Net profit of the Group for 1H2022 was HK$22.8 million (1H2021: loss of HK$10.2 million).
During 1H2022, the gross profit of the Group increased by 112.7% to HK$128.4 million as compared to that of HK$60.3 million for the Last Period, and the gross profit margin increased by 5.9 percentage points to 21.8%. Increase in gross profit and gross profit margin was primarily due to (i) the expansion of the Group's total revenue; (ii) the improvement in the gross profit margin of certain products; and (iii) the decrease in write-down of inventories from HK$11.1 million in the Last Period to HK$2.2 million in the Period. The Group recorded a fair value loss of approximately HK$4.6 million on its investment for the Period. Excluding the fair value loss on investment, the Group recorded a net profit of HK$27.4 million for the 1H2022. The Board has resolved not to declare any interim dividend for 1H2022.
The successful turnaround from loss to profit is attributed to the increase in overall revenue and gross profit of the Group, and the effect of a significant decrease in the write-down of inventories. Reviewing the Group's performance since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, it is proven that the Group taking the lead in developing cross-border e-commerce business and adopting an online and offline dual-channel drive strategy are in right direction and have achieved with results. On the one hand, it injected new momentum into the performance growth of the Group during the peak of the epidemic; on the other hand, once traveller clearance between Mainland China and Hong Kong has resumed normal, both the distribution business and e-commerce business will keep pace, boosting the Group's revenue and profits and making the dual-channel drive strategy into harvest.
The growth in e-commerce business of the Group continued in 2022. For the Period, the revenue from e-commerce business of the Group increased by 28.2% to HK$296.3 million as compared to HK$231.1 million for the Last Period. The revenue from e-commerce business of the Group mainly derives from the cross-border e-commerce selling to Mainland China. It is believed that Mainland China consumers turned to online platforms for the purchase of reputable healthcare and anti-epidemic products as they were unable to visit Hong Kong through the Individual Visit Scheme. The Group will continue to actively expand its e-commerce business and explore the blue ocean market in Mainland China.
Revenue of Distribution business in Hong Kong recorded significant growth, grasping the opportunities in the GBA
During the Period, the Group actively sourced more overseas healthcare brands and optimised its product portfolio. The distribution business of the Group recorded a 2–fold increase to HK$291.9 million, as compared to HK$147.1 million for the Last Period.
The Group has set up a joint venture company in Mainland China with a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Resources Pharmaceutical Group Limited ("CR Pharma", Stock Code: 3320.HK), one of the substantial shareholders of the Company. The joint venture has commenced operation since the fourth quarter of 2021, leveraging on CR Pharma's sales network of more than 130,000 downstream customers and over 800 self-owned retail pharmacies across Mainland China to expand the distribution business and explore offline market in Mainland China for several renowned or century-old local PCM brand products. In addition, the Group has entered into a strategic cooperation framework agreement last year with CR Pharma and Hong Kong Guobiao Inspection and Testing to further the cooperation in various areas including the provision of integrated services for research and development and full commercial scale production of medicines in the GBA, exploring the business opportunities in the GBA. The Group currently is assisting several century-old local PCM brands to apply for registration in preparation for the cross-border trade.
Products of distributed brands and the Group's own brand both gained popularity, further internationalising our businesses
The Group actively develops the omnichannel brand marketing and management business which includes brand agent, promotion and marketing, management and distribution, providing one-stop services for brands as well as upgrading the Group's business chain and diversifying the Group's product portfolio and businesses. After obtaining of the sole distributorship in Mainland China for the world's No.1 probiotic brand, Culturelle®, and the offline distributorship in Mainland China for Australia's No. 1 hand cream brand, DU'IT, the Group has also successively obtained the exclusive distribution rights in Hong Kong for Japanese anti-hair loss and hair protection brand, Kaminowa, and France's No. 1 baby washing care brand, Biolane, which is the best-selling baby washing care brand in France. For Biolane, the Group has also obtained the exclusive distribution rights in Singapore and Malaysia recently.
In addition, the Group has set up a joint venture with a subsidiary of JBM (Healthcare) Limited (Stock Code: 2161.HK) in 2021 to develop own-brand products and jointly explore the healthcare product market. The own-brand "SEASONS (田心日辰)" and "Slimming Expert (修腩專家)" launched a number of healthcare products since 2021, and "SEASONS (田心日辰)" has launched 6 products in 2022 which are well received by consumers. As for sales channels in Mainland China, apart from the established cross-border e-commerce channels, the offline channel network of which the Group had laid the foundation in early years is strengthening. The Group is actively introducing more high-quality overseas healthcare brands to healthcare and beauty chain stores in Mainland China such as Mannings, Watsons, Olé, The Colorist, Sam's Club, PureH2B and Rainbow shopping mall etc.
In order to build a diversified sales network and enrich product portfolio, the Group continued to strengthen its overseas presence during the Period. In addition to its presence in Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Macau and Thailand, the Group also established sourcing centres in France and South Korea this year. As an integrated provider of omnichannel brand marketing and management services, the Group will continue to source various high-quality healthcare and beauty products for local and Mainland China consumers so as to diversify the product portfolio and further internationalise the Group's businesses.
Mr. Wong Ka Chun Michael, the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of Tycoon Group, said, "The Group fortified its positioning as an omnichannel brand marketing and management service integrator of healthcare and well-being related products after listing. The Group possesses great growth potential as its e-commerce business will continue to be a strong advantage and it has developed the offline distribution business in the GBA, plus normal traveller clearance of Mainland China and Hong Kong will hopefully be resumed soon. In the past few years, management of the Group has been working hard to diversify the Group's businesses despite the impact of the epidemic. Apart from strengthening of the business chain, the Group continued to develop its online and offline dual-channel distribution model, driving the growth of the Group and gradually entering the harvest period. In the future, the management will continue to take a prudent yet proactive attitude and explore different opportunities for collaborations. The management will continue to monitor and adapt to the market situation, maximizing the return for shareholders and reaping success in the future."
About Tycoon Group Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 3390)
Tycoon Group is a reputable omnichannel brand marketing and management service integrator of health and well-being related products. The Group specialises in providing one-stop services for PCM, health supplements, skincare, personal care and other healthcare products, including omnichannel brand agent, marketing, management, distribution and sales. The Group has established a strong online and offline sales network in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China by cultivating the industry for many years with the mission of bringing health and vitality to consumers in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Asia-Pacific. The Group has provided over 100 local and foreign brands. In addition, the Group has provided a number of anti-pandemic products in great demand in respond to the pandemic happened in Hong Kong, such as surgical masks, rapid antigen test kits, hand sanitisers and cleaning wipes, etc. With a vision of establishing its own brands of products, the Group develops Private Label Products under its well-received brands including "Boost Guard (BG 博健科研)", "和漢 (Wakan)", and "金門 (Kinmen)", as well as the own-brand "SEASONS (田心日辰)" and "Slimming Expert (修腩專家)" launched under the joint venture. Tycoon has established sound relationships with chain retailer customers, with the top two chain retailer customers operating over 470 stores in Hong Kong as at 31 December 2021. The Group is also one of the major distributors for PCM in Hong Kong. For more details, please visit the Group's official website: https://www.tycoongroup.com.hk/.
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FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clark Construction joined representatives from the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) on August 30 to celebrate the topping out of the Lifecycle Overhaul and Upgrade (LOU) Facility project in Fredericksburg, Virginia. At the celebration, the final steel beam was signed and placed atop the facility. Clark is serving as the contractor on the project.
The 33,500-square-foot facility, which broke ground in December 2020, supports the maintenance infrastructure required to carry out lifecycle repairs onsite, thus reducing out-of-service time for rolling stock, improving costs, and maintaining locomotives, railcars, and cab cars at the highest level of reliability. The facility more than doubles onsite workspace. Once complete, the maintenance facility will house industrial equipment such as a drop table and a wheel truing machine. Over the past months, crews have excavated more than 64,000 cubic yards of soil, placed 2,600 cubic yards of concrete, installed 5,300 linear feet of new track, and erected 40 tons of steel to bring the facility to full height.
In addition to the maintenance facility, the project also includes the construction of two new railroad tracks to accommodate four cars simultaneously.
"This milestone would not be possible without the strong partnership between Clark, VRE, Gannett Fleming, STV, and the other design and trade partners on this project," said Ed Hanley, vice president at Clark Construction. "The trust and support from these parties, coupled with the hard work and dedication of the project's talented craft workers, has enabled this critical infrastructure project to progress safely and successfully. I'm tremendously proud of this team that has worked 100,000 hours without a single recordable safety incident."
"The project team has brought us to this exciting achievement, the placement of the final beam, as we move toward delivery of this transformational facility," said Rich Dalton, chief executive officer of the Virginia Railway Express. "We look forward to our continued partnership, which will ensure the successful completion of the LOU."
With structural steel complete on the maintenance facility, the team will shift its focus on installing the maintenance equipment, overhead crane, and office areas within the facility. The project is slated to complete in Spring 2023.
For more than a century, Clark Construction Group has been transforming the ideas and visions of its clients into world-class projects that make the United States a stronger, safer place. As one of the nation's largest asset creators, Clark has offices strategically located across the country to serve the needs of its clients. For more information, visit www.clarkconstruction.com.
The nation's 13th largest commuter rail service, VRE connects Central and Northern Virginia with Washington, D.C. VRE has been the preferred travel option for tens of millions of commuters and day-trippers for the last 30 years. Safe, reliable, convenient, clean, and environmentally friendly, VRE runs 32 daily trains on two lines, Manassas and Fredericksburg. For more information, visit www.vre.org.
Media Contacts:
Carly Thayer
carly.thayer@allisonpr.com
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Strategic Investment Expands TIME's Storytelling Platforms
NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the global media company TIME announced the acquisition of Brandcast, the leading no-code platform for creating and managing enterprise-grade websites.
Through this acquisition, Brandcast's technology, which enables partners to quickly and easily turn content into dynamic, customized microsites, will become TIME Sites. TIME Sites is the newest offering in TIME's rapidly growing, 360° suite of products and platforms for storytelling, including the Emmy Award®-winning film and television division TIME Studios, a significantly expanded live events business, an industry-leading web3 division, an award-winning branded content studio, TIME's iconic magazine and digital platforms reaching more than 100 million people around the world, and more.
"TIME is the world's most trusted storyteller, and we are excited to work with Brandcast's world-class team to deliver innovative digital experiences that tell our customers' stories at quality, speed and scale," said TIME editor in chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal.
"Becoming part of TIME will further enable brands to distribute stunning digital experiences and stories," said Brandcast CEO Ashok Santhanam. "Our team is energized and committed to helping our customers grow, while using Brandcast's technology to allow TIME's customers to succeed in new ways."
TIME Sites will provide new opportunities for existing Brandcast clients and TIME partners. Additionally, TIME Sites will develop enterprise solutions for TIME's web3 division to support brands looking to enter the web3 space.
This is TIME's first acquisition since Marc and Lynne Benioff became TIME's owners in 2018. Since becoming an independent company, TIME has vastly expanded its product offerings, while prioritizing digital transformation and high-impact content across all of its platforms, which has resulted in nearly 250,000 digital subscribers to TIME's journalism, as well as a sustained period of record growth for TIME, including 30% year-over-year revenue increases in 2021 and 2022–the highest in more than a decade.
"TIME has been a wonderful partner in working with us to tell our story across platforms," said Linda Boff, CMO of GE. "We are excited to see how their growth will extend opportunities to create impactful digital content together moving forward."
"We are always looking for innovative ways to tell the Rubicon story, and TIME has been a fantastic partner to us," said Nate Morris, Chairman and CEO of Rubicon. "We are thrilled to have even more opportunities to work with the TIME team in the future as Brandcast becomes TIME Sites."
Brandcast is the first no-code digital platform for enterprise websites. Funded by industry-leading technology investors, including Marc Benioff, Shasta Ventures, TPG Growth, and Buchanan Investments, Brandcast is designed to transform the way global brands create personalized digital experiences for every stage of the customer journey. Brandcast's website building platform enables creative freedom and high-velocity marketing for the world's leading brands.
To learn more about TIME Sites and its customer capabilities, visit timesites.com.
Media Contact:
Kristin Matzen, TIME
Kristin.matzen@time.com
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The price of WTI crude oil Crude Oil Crude oil is the most popular tradable instrument in the energy sector, offering exposure to global market conditions, geopolitical risk, and economics. The instrument is strategically relied upon and situated in the global economy. Crude oil has proven to be a unique option for traders given volatility and the efficacy of both swing trading and longer-term strategies. Despite its popularity, crude oil is a very complex investing instrument, given the litany of fluctuations in oil prices, risk, and impact of politics stemming from OPEC. Short for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC operates as an intergovernmental organization of 13 countries, helping set and dictate the global oil market.How to Trade Crude Oil Crude oil is most commonly traded as an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or through other instruments with exposure to it. This includes energy stocks, the USD/CAD, and other investing options. Crude oil itself is traded across a duality of markets, including the West Texas Intermediate Crude (WTI) and Brent crude. Brent is the more relied upon index in recent years, while WTI is more heavily traded across futures trading at the time of writing. Other than geopolitical events or decisions by OPEC, crude oil can move due to a variety of different ways. The most basic is through simple supply and demand, which is affected by global output. Increased industrial output, economic prosperity, and other factors all play a role in crude prices. By extension, recessions, lockdowns, or other stifling factors can also influence crude prices. For example, an oversupply or mitigated demand due to the aforementioned factors would result in lower crude prices. This is due to traders selling crude oil futures or other instruments. Should demand rise or production plateau, traders will bid increasingly on crude, whereby driving prices up. Crude oil is the most popular tradable instrument in the energy sector, offering exposure to global market conditions, geopolitical risk, and economics. The instrument is strategically relied upon and situated in the global economy. Crude oil has proven to be a unique option for traders given volatility and the efficacy of both swing trading and longer-term strategies. Despite its popularity, crude oil is a very complex investing instrument, given the litany of fluctuations in oil prices, risk, and impact of politics stemming from OPEC. Short for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC operates as an intergovernmental organization of 13 countries, helping set and dictate the global oil market.How to Trade Crude Oil Crude oil is most commonly traded as an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or through other instruments with exposure to it. This includes energy stocks, the USD/CAD, and other investing options. Crude oil itself is traded across a duality of markets, including the West Texas Intermediate Crude (WTI) and Brent crude. Brent is the more relied upon index in recent years, while WTI is more heavily traded across futures trading at the time of writing. Other than geopolitical events or decisions by OPEC, crude oil can move due to a variety of different ways. The most basic is through simple supply and demand, which is affected by global output. Increased industrial output, economic prosperity, and other factors all play a role in crude prices. By extension, recessions, lockdowns, or other stifling factors can also influence crude prices. For example, an oversupply or mitigated demand due to the aforementioned factors would result in lower crude prices. This is due to traders selling crude oil futures or other instruments. Should demand rise or production plateau, traders will bid increasingly on crude, whereby driving prices up. has continued its fall and currently trades down $-5.47 at $91.58. In the process, the pair has moved back below its 200 hour moving average at $92.56. Last week, the price corrected down toward the 200 hour moving average only to find the dip dip buyers leaning against it. The price is also testing the 50% midpoint of the move up from the August low reached on August 16. That level comes in at $91.68.
The price of WTI crude oil has continued its fall and currently trades down $-5.47 at $91.58. In the process, the pair has moved back below its 200 hour moving average at $92.56. Last week, the price corrected down toward the 200 hour moving average only to find the dip dip buyers leaning against it. The price is also testing the 50% midpoint of the move up from the August low reached on August 16. That level comes in at $91.68. | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/crude-oil-continues-its-slide-20220830/ | 2022-08-30T16:20:17Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/crude-oil-continues-its-slide-20220830/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- It is with great enthusiasm that the Washington Speakers Bureau announces the addition of Ozan Varol - #1 Bestselling Author of Think Like a Rocket Scientist and one of the world's foremost experts in creativity, innovation, and critical thinking - to our exclusive speakers roster.
"We are proud to welcome Ozan to the WSB team," shared WSB President Ryan Heil. "His proven Moonshot thought process allows audiences across multiple industries to achieve extraordinary results while embracing uncertainty." Ozan, a rocket scientist turned award-winning professor, is one of the most innovative minds and dominant voices on the future of work today.
In his keynote, Ozan helps audiences understand the Moonshot Thinking process that will help them imagine the perceivably unimaginable and solve the seemingly unsolvable. Ozan is a master at simplifying complex topics and thoughtfully highlights the parallels between complicated scientific breakthroughs and personal achievements. With his hard-won wisdom and entertaining wit, Ozan captivates audiences and offers them practical insights they can immediately implement to level up in work and life.
Ozan is trusted by both start-ups and Fortune 500 giants such as Microsoft, Deloitte, Salesforce, and Adidas. In a time of pandemic-induced disruptions and continuous change, Ozan expertly advises companies and individuals on how to stay at the forefront of change, sharing research-backed tools and tactics for accelerating innovation in the post-pandemic world of work. Ozan's shared insight fosters a more engaged and motivated workforce, avoiding burnout and thriving in uncertain conditions.
Ozan's #1 bestselling book Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life has been named one of Amazon's Top 20 business books, one of Inc.com's "6 Business Books You Need to Read in 2020 (according to Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, and Adam Grant)," and was previously Adam Grant's #1 pick of top 20 leadership books. As #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink shared, "When the stakes are high, the unknowns are threatening, and the problems seem insurmountable, you need a superhero — which means you need Ozan Varol."
To book Varol for your next conference, meeting, or corporate engagement, visit:
https://www.wsb.com/speakers/ozan-varol/
WSB is the world's largest talent agency focusing solely on the corporate speaking and lecture circuit. For more than 40 years, we have represented the very best keynote speakers from a variety of fields, from fortune 100 CEOs, to athletes, coaches, authors, presidents, prime ministers, and thought leaders. We remain the first choice of the world's pre-eminent speakers through our relentless focus on integrity, discretion, and care of our speakers and our customers. We have been fortunate to have had the pleasure to represent 3 former U.S. Presidents, 6 former British Prime Ministers, 5 former Secretaries of State, iconic authors, business leaders, and countless others of the most impactful voices of the last 40 years.
Media Contact: marketing@wsb.com or 833-972-8255
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SOURCE Washington Speakers Bureau | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/washington-speakers-bureau-adds-bestselling-author-rocket-scientist-expert-creativity-innovation-critical-thinking-ozan-varol-exclusive-roster-immediately-available-bookings/ | 2022-08-30T16:20:26Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/washington-speakers-bureau-adds-bestselling-author-rocket-scientist-expert-creativity-innovation-critical-thinking-ozan-varol-exclusive-roster-immediately-available-bookings/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ADAIR, Iowa (KCAU) — A motorcyclist lost his life on Tuesday after allegedly attempting to elude deputies.
According to a crash report from the Iowa State Patrol, Benjamin Todd Wilber, 30, of Minnesota, was actively eluding an Adair County Deputy traveling east on White Pole Road.
The report stated that a Guthrie County Deputy was waiting to help with the pursuit and was stopped on Juniper Avenue on the south side of the intersection.
Wilber allegedly veered south from White Pole Road where the Guthrie County Deputy was waiting on Juniper Avenue and struck the rear driver’s side, according to the report.
Wilver was stated to have been thrown from the motorcycle and came to a rest in the southeast ditch. He was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the state medical examiner. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/iowa-news/motorcyclist-dies-after-attempting-to-elude-adair-deputies/ | 2022-08-30T16:22:26Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/iowa-news/motorcyclist-dies-after-attempting-to-elude-adair-deputies/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) was initially up in premarket trading on Tuesday due to tomorrow’s planned strategy meeting that will better detail the company’s larger turnaround plan. “Meme traders,” who have put quite a bit of backing into Bed Bath & Beyond already, rushed in to buy shares. However, it doesn’t appear that meme traders can help the stock at the moment because the double digits gains at market open quickly evaporated.
The last 12 months for Bed Bath & Beyond shares have been pretty volatile. The stock spent the last 12 months trading in a range between a little over $4 per share and just over $30 per share.
The general trajectory over the last 12 months, however, has been down. A couple of spikes notwithstanding, the company started off at just over $27 this time last year and now trades at less than half that, just over $12.
While there is certainly hope for Bed Bath & Beyond, that strategy meeting tomorrow is going to have to pull a miracle out of its hat to truly get anywhere. I’m bearish on this company overall because there are too many alternatives to its offerings and too many people who won’t want any of it anyway.
Investor Sentiment is Surprisingly Mixed for BBBY Stock
There’s one immediate problem with Bed Bath & Beyond’s investor sentiment: the aggregate. Right now, Bed Bath & Beyond has a Smart Score of 1 out of 10 on TipRanks. That’s the lowest level of “underperform” and the lowest score period as well. That makes it nearly certain that the retailer will ultimately lag the broader market. As bad as that is, it doesn’t seem to be daunting Bed Bath & Beyond insiders much. Currently, insiders are buying BBBY shares and doing so at a fairly rapid clip.
There’s one exception to this, however, and that’s kind of weighing on the average a bit. About two weeks ago, Ryan Cohen sold off a major portion of his holdings, valued at around $105.8 million.
When Cohen’s ultra-sale is removed from the picture, there’s actually much more buying than selling. Insiders staged 18 buying transactions in the last three months while only selling shares twice. Pulling back to the full year, meanwhile, shows more buying interest. Buyers again led sellers by a ratio of 34 buy transactions to 17 sell transactions. That’s two buyers for every seller.
A Fourth B for BBBY Stock: Bad News
Right now, the calculus just doesn’t work well for Bed Bath & Beyond. The company has already suffered just by being brick-and-mortar retail in a time when online retail is increasingly eating brick-and-mortar’s lunch.
Worse, its massive stores—which require quite a bit of heat, light, water, and other bills to keep them running—don’t really have all that much in them that people are looking for. Customers grow weary of product shortages.
How bad is it? Well, just a week ago, reports emerged that the company’s suppliers are outright halting shipments over unpaid invoices. Worse, those same reports are also noting that those suppliers can’t get credit insurance and short-term financing. Is Bed Bath & Beyond’s performance connected to those credit revocations? It may just be a coincidence, but the two did happen right around the same time.
It doesn’t exactly help that, in those same reports, CNN referred to Bed Bath & Beyond stores as “unkempt.”
However, there are some signs of a potential win to come with tomorrow’s strategy meeting. Investors already have several issues they’d like to see addressed during this meeting. The more of these Bed Bath & Beyond can address, the better off it will likely be.
Fresh supplies of cash, measures to bring customers back into stores, the issue of private label merchandise, problems with the supply chain, and the potential sale of Buybuy Baby are all in investors’ line of sight.
Some of these are already in progress. Reports of a $400 million loan from Sixth Street Partners have emerged, but no one will confirm. Some of Bed Bath & Beyond’s private label goods have proven more effective than others, and Buybuy Baby’s divestiture doesn’t seem likely; it was cited as a high point of April’s earnings call.
The farther the company can go toward reassuring investors that it’s working toward success along the lines investors have already stated they want to see, the better for the company overall. However, investors are likely to wind up balked in the areas of improvement they most want to see.
Bed Bath & Beyond’s earlier attempts to compete on price didn’t exactly go over well—it’s hard to compete with online stores on price, thanks to their lower overhead. Nevertheless, its private-label merchandise didn’t exactly get a lot of attention either.
Some are recommending the company go back to its earlier strategy of handing out discount coupons like candy at a parade. This isn’t a bad strategy; people feel increasingly pinched by inflation these days, so offering discounts does help.
Is BBBY Stock a Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, Bed Bath & Beyond has a Strong Sell consensus rating. That’s based on one Hold and 12 Sells assigned in the past three months. The average Bed Bath & Beyond price target of $3.54 implies 74.53% downside potential. Analyst price targets range from a low of $2 per share to a high of $7.50 per share.
Conclusion: A Likely Disaster is Brewing for BBBY Stock
There are some paths to success for Bed Bath & Beyond, but even these are of a limited sort. Yes, investors are pretty clear on what they want to see out of the company. However, what they want to see more than anything is profit, and right now, Bed Bath & Beyond doesn’t look like it’s in a good place to generate that profit.
It’s already trading at around double its highest price target. The meme stock trade has seemingly inflated the stock’s price beyond reason. Its ability to compete is somewhat limited, and we’re going into a set of macroeconomic conditions that will hamper most retailers.
That combination of factors adds up to bad news for Bed Bath & Beyond, and that’s exactly why I’m bearish. The odds of this company producing a viable turnaround strategy are minuscule. The company is already facing disaster on several fronts, and its odds of success are minimal, to say the least. It’s all bad news at Bed Bath & Beyond. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/bbby-stock-can-meme-traders-save-the-stock | 2022-08-30T16:25:45Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/bbby-stock-can-meme-traders-save-the-stock | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Klaytn blockchain network’s newest decentralized finance (DeFi) initiative, KLEX Protocol, has initiated a vampire attack to attract deposits from competing DeFi protocol KLAYswap. Per an official tweet, KLEX launched the vampire attack on August 29th, allocating $600,000 worth of KLAY tokens and 15 million KLEX tokens as incentives to lure users and investors away from KLAYswap.
In the context of DeFi, a “vampire attack” is a technique where one DeFi protocol offers better rates of returns than another, helping attract customers and investors. Just like a bank may offer higher interest rates on deposits to attract users from other banks, DeFi engages in similar practices. The underlying point of a vampire attack is creating powerful incentives for liquidity providers to migrate their liquidity to another platform.
KLEX’s ongoing vampire attack reflects the protocol’s drive to amass as much liquidity in the form of deposits as possible by offering the highest rates of return for DeFi depositors in the Klaytn blockchain ecosystem. Users who migrate and deposit funds into the liquidity pools can take advantage of these returns. Deposits for the ongoing “vampire attack” will remain open for 48 hours, wherein participants can choose to deposit their funds across several liquidity pools.
Using “Vampire Attacks” to Drive Liquidity
Vampire attacks are gradually gaining prominence in the blockchain ecosystem as a potential marketing tactic. DeFi applications and protocols rely on liquidity to operate; without any trading activity, a liquidity pool eventually dries up.
Through a vampire attack, a newly-created project aims to attract liquidity, users, and trading volume from other already established platforms. The first step of a vampire attack is to offer high incentives to liquidity providers currently using different platforms to deposit their liquidity pool (LP) tokens in a new platform.
One of the most famous vampire attacks in DeFi was performed by SushiSwap. Although it was an offshoot of Uniswap, SushiSwap implemented a more advantageous incentive mechanism to attract liquidity providers searching for the best rates of return.
Built by the anonymous “Chef Nomi,” SushiSwap positioned itself as the decentralized and community-governed alternative to venture capital-funded Uniswap. At that time, Uniswap was growing swiftly by offering liquidity providers LP tokens for providing liquidity on its platform. Post-launch, SushiSwap started offering additional incentives in the form of SUSHI tokens to liquidity providers who would stake Uniswap’s LP tokens on SushiSwap, which initially saw yields as high as 1000% APR.
SushiSwap’s vampire attack on Uniswap was so successful that within just a couple of hours of the launch, more than $150 million worth of LP tokens were deposited in its newly established liquidity pools. Just 11 days after launch, the total value locked (TVL) touched $1.8 billion. Meanwhile, as Uniswap’s liquidity providers migrated their LP tokens into SushiSwap, it drained around $800 million worth of Uniswap’s liquidity.
Other similar instances include Swerve protocol launching a vampire attack on Curve.fi, where it drained nearly $400 million from the latter’s TVL in a matter of days. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/klex-protocol-launches-vampire-attack-against-klayswap-to-attract-liquidity | 2022-08-30T16:25:51Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/klex-protocol-launches-vampire-attack-against-klayswap-to-attract-liquidity | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Weibo (WB) is slated to release its second-quarter earnings results on September 1, before the market opens. Weibo has consistently outperformed the Street’s expectations, reporting higher-than-expected earnings-per-share (EPS) figures in the last eight consecutive quarters. However, website traffic trends are currently negative for the company.
For Q2, analysts expect Weibo to post earnings of $0.43 per share. This is much lower than reported earnings of $0.79 per share in the year-ago quarter. Meanwhile, revenues are pegged at $446.88 million, also lower than the previous quarter’s tally of $473.98 million.
On June 1, Weibo reported upbeat Q1 results topping both earnings and revenue expectations.
Commenting on the beat despite disruptions from the COVID-19 resurgence in China, Weibo CEO Gaofei Wang stated, “Our user base and traffic continued to grow nicely with disciplined marketing spending, which demonstrated our core value in public conversation and enriched content ecosystem.”
Headquartered in Beijing, China, Weibo Corporation trades on the Nasdaq exchange under the symbol “WB.” It is a Chinese social media platform that allows people to create, distribute, and discover content in China. It operates through the Advertising and Marketing Services and Other Services segments.
Weibo’s Declining Website Traffic Raises Concerns
As per TipRanks’ Website Traffic Tool, the momentum in Weibo’s business shows a declining trend. According to the tool, the number of visits to weibo.com declined 7.33% quarter-over-quarter in Q2. Further, the footfall on the company’s website has declined 14.4% year-over-year.
The decline in website visits hints at a slowdown in revenues and monthly active users, which could have some impact on the company’s second-quarter revenues. Learn how Website Traffic can help you research your favorite stocks.
Is WB a Good Stock to Buy?
On TipRanks, Weibo has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on three Buys, two Holds and one Sell. Weibo’s average price forecast of $31.62 implies 62.2% upside potential.
Interestingly, hedge funds have a Very Positive outlook regarding WB stock. They collectively increased their WB holdings by 177,400 shares in the last quarter.
Conclusion: Investors Await Weibo’s Earnings
Weibo stock has lost over half of its market capitalization over the past year. However, the stock has somewhat stabilized in the past month. WB’s second-quarter results will help the stock pick a direction in the short term, but website traffic trends don’t look encouraging. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/weibo-nasdaqwb-q2-earnings-preview-website-traffic-hints-at-poor-results | 2022-08-30T16:26:03Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/weibo-nasdaqwb-q2-earnings-preview-website-traffic-hints-at-poor-results | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sponsor of ‘whippit’ bill clarifies confusion about whipped cream sales in New York
NEW YORK (Gray News) – A new law in New York banning the sale of whipped cream chargers has raised some confusion over the sale of canned whipped cream.
The legislation, sponsored by NY state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr., was passed in October 2021, and some stores had recently begun requiring ID to purchase the dessert topping.
The senator, however, issued a statement to clarify that is not necessary.
“My bill is not intended to prevent people under the age of 21 from buying whipped cream dispensers, but the small, individual charger or cartridge inside the whipped cream canisters,” Addabbo explained.
The misreading of the law had led some stores around the state to post signage notifying customers of an age limit and check the ID of customers buying whipped cream cans.
The goal of the law is to combat the use of whipped cream chargers, also known as “whippits,” as a way to get high.
The two-inch steel cylinders can be sold individually or in packs as refills to recharge whipped cream canisters.
“It is the individual charger or cartridge that is the sole target of the bill, which are accessible to younger residents and being used improperly to get the nitrous oxide high,” Addabbo said in the statement.
The whipped cream chargers contain the non-flammable gas, which is known to cause hearing loss, brain damage, limb spasms, heart failure or suffocation when inhaled, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Nitrous oxide is often used during oral surgery to relieve pain, but it is highly addictive if used improperly.
“Nitrous oxide is a legal chemical for legitimate professional use but when used improperly, it can be extremely lethal,” Addabbo said in an October 2021 statement. “Sadly, young people buy and inhale this gas to get ‘high’ because they mistakenly believe it is a ‘safe’ substance. This law will eliminate easy access to this dangerous substance for our youth.”
According to the law, any entity found in violation of selling whipped cream chargers to anyone under 21 would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $250 for an initial offense and up to $500 for each subsequent offense.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbko.com/2022/08/30/sponsor-whippit-bill-clarifies-confusion-about-whipped-cream-sales-new-york/ | 2022-08-30T16:30:14Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/2022/08/30/sponsor-whippit-bill-clarifies-confusion-about-whipped-cream-sales-new-york/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
While there are plenty of in-water activities around St. Thomas, one of the best is at the Coral World Underwater Observatory. At this interactive park, which is great for families, visitors can see marine life rescue efforts, play with crustaceans or hang out by the beach. They can also swim with the star residents of the observatory, the sea lions. Rescued several years ago from certain death, today the sea lions are crowd favorites. In a special interactive session you can learn more about the ongoing research and interact with them in a special pool. This activity is safe for the sea lions and the mental stimulation is an important part of their daily schedule.
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Swim with sea lions on St. Thomas
While there are plenty of in-water activities around St. Thomas, one of the best is at the Coral World Underwater Observatory. At this interactive park, which is great for families, visitors can see marine life rescue efforts, play with crustaceans or hang out by the beach. They can also swim with the star residents of the observatory, the sea lions. Rescued several years ago from certain death, today the sea lions are crowd favorites. In a special interactive session you can learn more about the ongoing research and interact with them in a special pool. This activity is safe for the sea lions and the mental stimulation is an important part of their daily schedule.
See anything inaccurate? Let our Editors know | https://www.afar.com/places/coral-world-marine-park-and-observatory | 2022-08-30T16:34:09Z | afar.com | control | https://www.afar.com/places/coral-world-marine-park-and-observatory | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Located on a bluff overlooking beautiful Charlotte Amalie Harbor, the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef is the ideal home base from which to explore the island. The capital city of Charlotte Amalie is a quick drive or ferry ride away and there are numerous self-drive options to explore the island on your own. The hotel also features an Adventures desk where you can book any number of fun, experiential activities.
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Relaxing escape on St. Thomas
Located on a bluff overlooking beautiful Charlotte Amalie Harbor, the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef is the ideal home base from which to explore the island. The capital city of Charlotte Amalie is a quick drive or ferry ride away and there are numerous self-drive options to explore the island on your own. The hotel also features an Adventures desk where you can book any number of fun, experiential activities.
Fly like James Bond on St. Thomas
Ever want to feel like James Bond? Then be sure to check out this water jet pack activity on St. Thomas. The adventure travel experts at St. Thomas Jetriders give visitors a chance to fly over the water thanks to their Jetlev JetRider, a 200-Horse Power marine engine, that pumps water up a 33-foot hose at over 1,000 gallons-per-minute generating an incredible 420 pounds of thrust. As the water reaches the jetpack, the rider uses two nozzles to control the jets and steer the pack. It’s different, it’s fun and it’s a must-try activity for any adventure traveler.
See anything inaccurate? Let our Editors know | https://www.afar.com/places/frenchmans-reef | 2022-08-30T16:34:16Z | afar.com | control | https://www.afar.com/places/frenchmans-reef | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Just a few short years after its opening, the NYUAD Art Gallery has made its presence known on Abu Dhabi‘s growing contemporary-art scene, with its unexpected exhibitions by students, local artists, and international creators like Chinese sculptor Ai Weiwei and Syrian-born Diana al-Hadid (Phantom Limb). The gallery hosts plenty of events, too, like an interactive spray-paint-art experience and the Seed, a “live-music, video, dance, and spoken-word performance mash-up.” After viewing whatever’s currently on display, be sure to stop by the new Blacksmith Coffee Company on campus for an espresso. The gallery space is easily accessible at the front of the NYUAD campus on Saadiyat Island, and admission is free.
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NYUAD Art Gallery
Just a few short years after its opening, the NYUAD Art Gallery has made its presence known on Abu Dhabi‘s growing contemporary-art scene, with its unexpected exhibitions by students, local artists, and international creators like Chinese sculptor Ai Weiwei and Syrian-born Diana al-Hadid (Phantom Limb). The gallery hosts plenty of events, too, like an interactive spray-paint-art experience and the Seed, a “live-music, video, dance, and spoken-word performance mash-up.” After viewing whatever’s currently on display, be sure to stop by the new Blacksmith Coffee Company on campus for an espresso. The gallery space is easily accessible at the front of the NYUAD campus on Saadiyat Island, and admission is free.
See anything inaccurate? Let our Editors know | https://www.afar.com/places/the-art-gallery-at-nyu-abu-dhabi | 2022-08-30T16:34:22Z | afar.com | control | https://www.afar.com/places/the-art-gallery-at-nyu-abu-dhabi | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
While the United Arab Emirates is young, the region’s rich heritage is timeless. Warehouse421 is an Abu Dhabi space like no other—it serves as a cultural center, museum, art gallery, and creative-community hub for regional artists who put together exhibitions and events based on Emirati traditions. Presentations focus on everything from the classic garb to the legendary perfumes of the UAE and the bedouin tribes whose existence here precedes the nation’s founding. Warehouse421 also hosts workshops where you can learn traditional art and object-fabrication skills from experts in their fields. On your way out, take a look across the street at the lot filled with old dhows waiting to return to the waters of the Persian Gulf in the shadow of the Abu Dhabi skyline. | https://www.afar.com/places/warehouse421 | 2022-08-30T16:34:28Z | afar.com | control | https://www.afar.com/places/warehouse421 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Today/tomorrow Aug 30, 2022 20 min ago Comments Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Today in Wyoming history: In 1916, a horse and rider were killed by lightning near Medicine Bow.Tomorrow in Wyoming history: In 1939, the Dome Lake station in Sheridan County reported 11 inches of snow for the month of August.(Thanks Wyoming Historical Society) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Tags Wyoming Rider Meteorology Horse Sheridan County Society Dome Lake August Recommended for you Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. comments powered by Disqus Trending Now Crumbl Cookies opens location in Cheyenne Police blotter 8-24-22 Hoss Woodard is doing all he can to give Cheyenne a 'Little Taste of Texas' Cheyenne day care worker to appeal manslaughter conviction New Unitarian Universalist minister finds home in Cheyenne Latest Special Section 2022 UW Football Preview To view our latest Special Section click the image on the left. Latest e-Edition Wyoming Tribune Eagle To view our latest e-Edition click the image on the left. | https://www.wyomingnews.com/today-tomorrow/article_cb6257ce-287b-11ed-94ba-b792bdccb2d2.html | 2022-08-30T16:36:27Z | wyomingnews.com | control | https://www.wyomingnews.com/today-tomorrow/article_cb6257ce-287b-11ed-94ba-b792bdccb2d2.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — A Cape Coral mother convicted of using a vegan diet that starved her 18-month-old son to death will spend the rest of her life in prison.
Sheila O'Leary was found guilty of first-degree murder back in June and was sentenced Monday.
"Anything you would like to say, ma'am, prior to sentencing," asked Judge Bruce Kyle before sealing Sheila O'leary's fate.
"No," she responded.
With a blank face, Sheila O'Leary learned her punishment for starving her toddler son Ezra O'Leary back in September 2019.
"I sentence you to life in the department of corrections," said Judge Kyle.
An additional 65 years was added for other charges dating back nearly three years when Cape Coral police pronounced the malnourished toddler dead.
MORE | See a complete timeline of events
Testimony during the June trial revealed the family follows a strict vegan diet. Investigators said the couple told them the family ate only raw fruits and vegetables, although the toddler also was fed breast milk.
The boy weighed just 17 pounds (8 kilograms) and was the size of a seven-month-old baby, a police report said.
"It was... it's a bad situation," said Sheila O'Leary's attorney, Lee Hollander about Ezra's death after the verdict. "I thought the outcome should have been different, but the jury decided what they decided."
Hollander also said that he believed there were various trial issues.
"One of the reasons is that the first charge was first-degree murder and the third charge was aggravated manslaughter of the same child," Hollander said. "Can you get convicted twice is the legal issue?".
The case is now closed, but getting to that point had many delays.
Her sentencing was delayed three times because of issues with the pre-sentence investigation—which is a recommendation for sentencing that comes from the Department of Corrections.
The State Attorney's office declined to comment because of the pending case they have against Ezra's father Ryan O'Leary.
He is facing murder charges for the death of Ezra, however, in early August he was hit with additional charges of sexual assault with a minor under the age of 12.
Two other children, aged 3 and 5 at the time, were found in similar states of malnutrition. A third child, age 11 at the time, was living out of state and had been the focus of a prior DCF abuse investigation.
Sheila O'Leary was found guilty of the following charges:
- First-degree murder
- Aggravated manslaughter of a child
- child neglect
- child abuse
She was ordered to have no contact with her children.
Her attorney plans to appeal the sentencing. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/florida-news/cape-coral-mother-gets-life-plus-65-years-for-sons-death | 2022-08-30T16:38:24Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/florida-news/cape-coral-mother-gets-life-plus-65-years-for-sons-death | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — They're trying to meet the needs where they exist. The only problem is increase costs thanks to inflation.
"Inflation has caused a real problem in trying to make these dollars go farther," said Beyond the Pantry Vice President Amy Thorn.
20% is how much the price for basic hygiene items has increased over the last year, according to the nonprofit organization, Beyond the Pantry.
Thorn said they have seen a growing demand in the community.
"Think about people living outside things that they need are socks and underwear because they go through them they can't really clean them regularly so they just get replaced and the deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpastes…those are the kinds of things," said Thorn.
So how does it work? First, Beyond the Pantry collects essentials like socks, underwear, deodorant, bug spray, sunscreen, body wipes, and period products.
Board member Kirsten Mood said one package of underwear has gone up $2 over the last year, a higher cost-burden on them which can help change someone's life.
"This can help generate that dignity, that basic respect, and added confidence that you smell great, look great, feel fresh when you walk into a job interview or just interacting on a daily basis with other people means a lot," said Mood.
Once Beyond the Pantry collects the items, they distribute them to different local partner organizations. The partner organizations then give out the products at pantries and drives across the community. This ensures products go where they're needed most so nothing goes to waste. Something Kirsten says "can have an enormous impact on an individual's life."
Beyond the Pantry is hosting a Summer Stock-Up Drive to collect physical and financial donations from the community. Their goal is to raise $3,000.
The Summer Stock-Up Drive is happening until September 30. The nonprofit organization is accepting basic needs items such as deodorant, sunscreen, bug spray, body wipes, charcoal briquettes, and period products.
They are also in need of volunteers to help package items. If interested in donating or volunteering, visit About – Beyond The Pantry. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/tallahassee-nonprofit-beyond-the-pantry-balancing-inflation-and-helping-the-community | 2022-08-30T16:38:30Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/tallahassee-nonprofit-beyond-the-pantry-balancing-inflation-and-helping-the-community | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The U.S. economy had about 11.2 million open jobs in July, a slight increase from June. It is the latest sign of strength in a historically strong labor market.
Since May 2021, there have been almost two open jobs for every person seeking work.
"It's still one of the best job markets that I've ever seen, and I've been doing this for 16 years," said Jason Wachtel, the co-founder of job placement firm JW Michaels & Co.
Some areas, like manufacturing and health care, saw increased available jobs compared to June.
But July's data reflected a cool down in other areas. There were fewer open jobs in construction, finance and the leisure and hospitality sector.
And there are signs that job-hopping has slowed down.
July's "quits rate," which measures how many people leave their jobs each month, was 3.9%.
While that's higher than historical levels, it is one of the lowest rates recorded in the last 18 months.
Wachtel said some people who recently switched jobs may choose to stay put.
"Because when people see people moving jobs constantly," Wachtel said, "and it's just about compensation, red flags do go up."
The lower quits rate could also reflect businesses' desire to hang on to their workers.
Some businesses "changed their tactics during the pandemic and stopped reaching out to employees on the weekends, or stopped reaching out to them at 9 o'clock at night unless it's an emergency," said Wachtel. "Those employers have done a really great job of eliminating or limiting the amount of people that leave."
Many analysts wonder how long the job market can remain strong. The Federal Reserve has said it will continue to raise interest rates in an effort to lower inflation.
Higher interest rates, historically, have led to layoffs and a weaker job market.
Wachtel said the current market is bucking the trend.
"We haven't heard one candidate say, 'Is it still a good market?'" Wachtel said. "They know it's a good market. They're getting called by a million recruiters. They're getting called by companies."
"I'm assuming there's gonna be some impact on hiring based on interest rates being raised," Wachtel said. "But where we are right now, even if it comes down ten percent, it's still an unbelievable job market for employees." | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/job-market-gains-momentum-in-july-despite-recession-signals-elsewhere | 2022-08-30T16:38:36Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/job-market-gains-momentum-in-july-despite-recession-signals-elsewhere | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Despite cases leveling off in the U.S., Texas on Tuesday reported the first monkeypox-related death in the nation.
Texas health officials said the Houston-area resident was severely immunocompromised. Officials are examining what role monkeypox had in the person’s death.
“Monkeypox is a serious disease, particularly for those with weakened immune systems,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, state health commissioner. “We continue to urge people to seek treatment if they have been exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms consistent with the disease.”
Monkeypox cases dropped slightly last week nationally compared to the week prior. To date, there have been 18,101 cases of monkeypox reported in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In most cases, monkeypox is painful but not life-threatening.
Typical symptoms of monkeypox include a rash, fever, malaise, headache, and muscle aches.
The federal government has been working to make scarce monkeypox vaccines available. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday the government is in the process of producing 1.1 million shots open to the public.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky said late last week that she is “cautiously optimistic” the U.S. is seeing mitigation measures begin to bring cases down.
“We’re actually seeing vaccines get out, behaviors change, harm reduction messages being heard and implemented. And all of that working together to bend the curve, if you will,” she said. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/texas-reports-first-us-based-monkeypox-related-death | 2022-08-30T16:39:01Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/texas-reports-first-us-based-monkeypox-related-death | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A person was killed after a train derailed in El Paso, Texas, Monday night.
According to the El Paso Fire Department, two train cars came off the tracks and crashed into a home's backyard. Officials said the cars struck a gas meter and about 50 residents were evacuated as a precaution.
They were allowed back into their homes after the gas line was shut down.
Officials have not said if the person who died was on the train or in the neighborhood.
It's unclear what caused the train cars to derail. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/train-derailment-leaves-1-person-dead | 2022-08-30T16:39:07Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/train-derailment-leaves-1-person-dead | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
If you’re having trouble coming up with dinner ideas after a long workday, Kellogg’s is offering up some serious cash if you’re willing to have breakfast for dinner. Specifically: a bowl (or two) of cereal.
Now through National Breakfast Day on Sept. 26, Kellogg’s is looking for five people willing to share how they enjoy having cereal for dinner. In exchange, they’ll award each winner $5,000, plus a year’s supply of Kellogg’s cereals, like Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops and Frosted Mini-Wheats.
For a chance to win, simply make a post on Instagram explaining why you love cereal for dinner. You’ll need to use #KelloggsCerealforDinnerEntry and make sure your Instagram is public so that Kellogg’s can see your post.
One winner will be chosen each week, with the pool of entries restarting after each winner is chosen. You can enter once daily for each day of the contest. You’ll have to make a new post each time, but your odds of winning increase with every post.
Why cereal for dinner? Kellogg’s says their cereals provide essential nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, and are an easy, inexpensive dinner, with a serving of cereal, milk and fruit coming out to about $1 depending on prices where you live.
“Cereal for dinner is a low-prep, low-mess and low-price meal option, so you can spend less time cooking and cleaning and more quality time with your loved ones every week,” Sadie Garcia, director of brand marketing at Kellogg All Family Cereal, said in a press release.
There is no purchase necessary, and your Instagram photo can be of your family enjoying any dinner, cereal or otherwise. The photo just has to be of you and your family eating dinner.
You can read the official rules on Kellogg’s website.
Have you ever had cereal for dinner?
This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money. Checkout Don't Waste Your Money for product reviews and other great ideas to save and make money. | https://www.wtxl.com/you-can-get-paid-5000-to-eat-cereal-for-dinner | 2022-08-30T16:39:25Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/you-can-get-paid-5000-to-eat-cereal-for-dinner | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
New Delhi: German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Monday named Keralite Santosh Iyer as the Managing Director & CEO of the Indian operations with effect from January 1, 2023.
Iyer, 46, is from Thrissur and works as Vice President, Sales & Marketing and would be the first Indian to lead Mercedes-Benz India operations.
Iyer replaces Martin Schwenk who will assume the responsibility as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz Thailand.
"As the company transitions into an exciting future with emerging mobility trends and unending possibilities, I am thoroughly convinced Mercedes-Benz will achieve new heights with the passion, vision and dynamic leadership that Santosh drives in," Schwenk noted.
Associated with Mercedes-Benz India since 2009, Iyer has been in leadership roles across diverse functions including sales, marketing, customer services, communications and Customer relationship management (CRM).
In 2016, he was appointed as Vice President, Customer Services & Retail Training business. In July 2019, he took over as the Vice President, Sales & Marketing leading digital transformation of the business and achieving the highest ever-online sales penetration.
"Mercedes-Benz is at the cusp of transitioning to an exciting, electrified future and it is a privilege for me to steer the internal brand, introduce emerging trends and continue to define new benchmarks for our customers," Iyer noted. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/30/keralaite-santosh-iyer-appointed-managing-director-amp-ceo-mercedes-benz-india.amp.html | 2022-08-30T16:41:47Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/30/keralaite-santosh-iyer-appointed-managing-director-amp-ceo-mercedes-benz-india.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
New Delhi: German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Monday named Keralite Santosh Iyer as the Managing Director & CEO of the Indian operations with effect from January 1, 2023.
Iyer, 46, is from Thrissur and works as Vice President, Sales & Marketing and would be the first Indian to lead Mercedes-Benz India operations.
Iyer replaces Martin Schwenk who will assume the responsibility as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz Thailand.
"As the company transitions into an exciting future with emerging mobility trends and unending possibilities, I am thoroughly convinced Mercedes-Benz will achieve new heights with the passion, vision and dynamic leadership that Santosh drives in," Schwenk noted.
Associated with Mercedes-Benz India since 2009, Iyer has been in leadership roles across diverse functions including sales, marketing, customer services, communications and Customer relationship management (CRM).
In 2016, he was appointed as Vice President, Customer Services & Retail Training business. In July 2019, he took over as the Vice President, Sales & Marketing leading digital transformation of the business and achieving the highest ever-online sales penetration.
"Mercedes-Benz is at the cusp of transitioning to an exciting, electrified future and it is a privilege for me to steer the internal brand, introduce emerging trends and continue to define new benchmarks for our customers," Iyer noted. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/30/keralaite-santosh-iyer-appointed-managing-director-amp-ceo-mercedes-benz-india.html | 2022-08-30T16:41:53Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/30/keralaite-santosh-iyer-appointed-managing-director-amp-ceo-mercedes-benz-india.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Ozzy Osbourne is returning to the U.K.
In an interview with The Guardian, Osbourne said he's selling his California home because of gun violence in the U.S.
"I’m fed up with people getting killed every day," he said. "God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings."
The rocker also noted the mass shooting at a concert in Las Vegas, calling it "crazy."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of homicide by firearm in 2020 was at its highest level since 1994.
Osbourne's wife, Sharon, didn't specifically cite gun violence as their reason to move. However, she did note a shift in the country.
"America has changed so drastically. It isn’t the United States of America at all," she said. "Nothing’s united about it. It’s a very weird place to live right now.”
Ozzy added that he doesn't want to die in America.
“I’m English," he said. "I want to be back." | https://www.katc.com/news/national/ozzy-osbourne-says-hes-leaving-the-u-s-because-of-gun-violence | 2022-08-30T16:47:34Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/ozzy-osbourne-says-hes-leaving-the-u-s-because-of-gun-violence | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DETROIT, Mich. (WXYZ)— In the midst of staffing shortages, hospitals are finding creative ways to become more efficient with the staff they have.
In Pontiac, Michigan, Trinity Health has been testing out two new robots named "Moxi" in hopes of easing the workload for nurses.
"Moxi" was made by Diligent Robotics and has been in operation at Trinity Health since mid-July.
Tanya Watson, a registered nurse, says Moxi is a huge help. With just a few clicks on a tablet, Moxi is able to make deliveries all around the hospital, fetching supplies, medication, and even lunch for patients on different floors.
“She runs errands for us basically when we can’t,” Watson said. "If she wasn’t able to do that for me I would have to stop what I was doing, run downstairs, go to logistics, pick up the lunch, come back upstairs, deliver it to the patient and then continue on with my day.
Carly Hayes, the nurse manager, says Moxi is used mostly during the night shift.
In a time where nurse burnout is high, Hayes says Moxi makes the job easier to manage.
According to a July 2021 survey by Nursing CE Central, 95% of nurses reported feeling burnt out at some point in the last three years.
“It's keeping the nurse where they want to be. Nurses want to be with the rooms, with their patients," Hayes said. "So if it can take off the tedious things, it can make your job what you want it to be.”
Although not a total solution to a national problem, these nurses say the help goes a long way. The hospital has two Moxi’s now, and possibly more to come.
"We need more Moxi," Watson said. "We need to see more of her.”
St. Joseph is the first hospital in Michigan to have Moxi. Trinity Health says if all goes well, you could see Moxi in more of their hospitals.
This story was originally Brett Kast on wxyz.com. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/robot-helping-nurses-with-everyday-tasks | 2022-08-30T16:47:40Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/robot-helping-nurses-with-everyday-tasks | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Despite cases leveling off in the U.S., Texas on Tuesday reported the first monkeypox-related death in the nation.
Texas health officials said the Houston-area resident was severely immunocompromised. Officials are examining what role monkeypox had in the person’s death.
“Monkeypox is a serious disease, particularly for those with weakened immune systems,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, state health commissioner. “We continue to urge people to seek treatment if they have been exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms consistent with the disease.”
Monkeypox cases dropped slightly last week nationally compared to the week prior. To date, there have been 18,101 cases of monkeypox reported in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In most cases, monkeypox is painful but not life-threatening.
Typical symptoms of monkeypox include a rash, fever, malaise, headache, and muscle aches.
The federal government has been working to make scarce monkeypox vaccines available. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday the government is in the process of producing 1.1 million shots open to the public.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky said late last week that she is “cautiously optimistic” the U.S. is seeing mitigation measures begin to bring cases down.
“We’re actually seeing vaccines get out, behaviors change, harm reduction messages being heard and implemented. And all of that working together to bend the curve, if you will,” she said. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/texas-reports-first-us-based-monkeypox-related-death | 2022-08-30T16:47:46Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/texas-reports-first-us-based-monkeypox-related-death | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A 93-year-old woman died from ingesting dishwashing liquid at a California senior facility Sunday night, KGO-TV reported.
Two other seniors were hospitalized, Atria Park of San Mateo told KGO.
The senior home said the residents were given the liquid instead of juice.
“We can confirm three of our residents were recently transported to the hospital after mistakenly being served dishwashing liquid as drinking juice,” the senior home said.
Local authorities do not believe the act was intentional. But District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe suggested employees may have been negligent.
“If it was people not being careful with the liquids and people suffered harm or death by it, that would be, of course, could be a very significant lawsuit out of it,” Wagstaffe said. “Or it could be, technically, there is a thing in the criminal law called criminal negligence.”
The employees involved have been suspended, Atria Park told KGO. | https://www.katc.com/news/national/woman-dies-after-senior-home-employees-switch-juice-with-dishwashing-liquid | 2022-08-30T16:47:58Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national/woman-dies-after-senior-home-employees-switch-juice-with-dishwashing-liquid | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A recent boil order issued for parts of Opelousas has been lifted.
Officials tell us the boil advisory for South, Oak and towards Landry Streets has been cleared and lifted.
A recent boil order issued for parts of Opelousas has been lifted.
Officials tell us the boil advisory for South, Oak and towards Landry Streets has been cleared and lifted. | https://www.katc.com/news/st-landry-parish/opelousas-boil-order-lifted-officials-say | 2022-08-30T16:48:04Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/st-landry-parish/opelousas-boil-order-lifted-officials-say | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A recent boil order issued for parts of Opelousas has been lifted.
Officials tell us the boil advisory for South, Oak and towards Landry Streets has been cleared and lifted.
A recent boil order issued for parts of Opelousas has been lifted.
Officials tell us the boil advisory for South, Oak and towards Landry Streets has been cleared and lifted. | https://www.katc.com/news/st-landry-parish/opelousas-boil-order-lifted-officials-say | 2022-08-30T16:48:04Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/st-landry-parish/opelousas-boil-order-lifted-officials-say | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Interstate 10 Westbound is blocked near Henderson.
An overturned 18-wheeler is blocking all lanes, DOTD's website states. The accident happened near Grand Point Highway, which is La. 115.
We'll post updates as we get them.
Interstate 10 Westbound is blocked near Henderson.
An overturned 18-wheeler is blocking all lanes, DOTD's website states. The accident happened near Grand Point Highway, which is La. 115.
We'll post updates as we get them. | https://www.katc.com/news/st-martin-parish/i-10-west-blocked-at-henderson-overturned-18-wheeler | 2022-08-30T16:48:10Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/st-martin-parish/i-10-west-blocked-at-henderson-overturned-18-wheeler | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Interstate 10 Westbound is blocked near Henderson.
An overturned 18-wheeler is blocking all lanes, DOTD's website states. The accident happened near Grand Point Highway, which is La. 115.
We'll post updates as we get them.
Interstate 10 Westbound is blocked near Henderson.
An overturned 18-wheeler is blocking all lanes, DOTD's website states. The accident happened near Grand Point Highway, which is La. 115.
We'll post updates as we get them. | https://www.katc.com/news/st-martin-parish/i-10-west-blocked-at-henderson-overturned-18-wheeler | 2022-08-30T16:48:10Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/st-martin-parish/i-10-west-blocked-at-henderson-overturned-18-wheeler | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | null |
France on Tuesday accused Moscow of using energy supplies as “a weapon of war” as Russian gas giant Gazprom GAZP.MM reduced deliveries to one of its main utilities and prepared to halt flows along the major pipeline to Germany from Wednesday.
European governments are trying to find a response to soaring energy costs for businesses and households and to find alternatives to Russian supply to store for winter.
Western nations fear that Moscow is driving up gas prices to try to weaken their resolve in opposing its invasion of Ukraine, a tactic Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday dubbed economic terrorism. Moscow denies it is doing this.
The Nord Stream 1 pipeline, the main conduit for Russian gas into Europe, has become a flash point in the economic war between Moscow and Brussels. Europe is already on notice that supplies will be squeezed as Gazprom shuts off Nord Stream 1 from Wednesday to Friday for maintenance.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that technological problems caused by Western sanctions are the only thing standing in the way of supplying gas via Nord Stream 1.
But France’s Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said on Tuesday: “Very clearly Russia is using gas as a weapon of war and we must prepare for the worst case scenario of a complete interruption of supplies.”
She was speaking to France Inter radio after French utility Engie ENGIE.PA said it would receive less gas from Gazprom from Tuesday because of an unspecified contractual dispute.
Russia has been pumping gas via Nord Stream 1 at only 20% of capacity and there are fears that this week’s outage could be extended.
“There are guarantees that, apart from technological problems caused by sanctions, nothing hinders the supplies,” the Kremlin’s Peskov said when asked if there are guarantees that Gazprom will restart gas flows via Nord Stream 1.
Rising bill
European energy ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Sept. 9 to discuss the crisis.
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is open to discussing a price-cap scheme on gas supplies at a European level, a source in Italy said, citing a text message Germany’s economy minister sent to his colleagues across Europe.
The source said Robert Habeck sent a message to European energy ministers flagging that Berlin was open to discuss the price cap at next week’s meeting.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has been pushing for a price cap, and has also called for steps to decouple the cost of electricity from the gas price. Such a move would allow European households to get the benefits from electricity produced from cheaper sources such as renewables.
There was some respite on Tuesday when benchmark Dutch wholesale gas prices eased as Europe almost reached its target of gas stores being 80% full, the idea of a price cap circulated and traders took profits following record high prices last week.
The front-month gas contract TRNLTTFMc1 was down 3% at 259 euros/MWh on Tuesday morning, off all-time highs hit last week, and is trading at levels more than five times those seen a year ago.
“Any action which caps power prices will limit the profitability of burning gas for power generation which could possibly feed through to lower gas demand,” ING analysts said.
The rising cost of the crisis was illustrated when EU member Austria said that it was preparing to pump billions of euros into the electricity company that supplies much of the capital Vienna after a price surge on power markets left it unable to afford the guarantees needed to cover market transactions. | https://nypost.com/2022/08/30/france-accuses-russia-of-using-gas-supply-as-weapon-of-war/ | 2022-08-30T16:50:14Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/08/30/france-accuses-russia-of-using-gas-supply-as-weapon-of-war/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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