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- Plant-Based Butter – 100% natural and sustainable product, without any type of chemical additive or artificial color;
- Ingredients from Brazilian biodiversity - Oils, butter, syrups, powders and extracts from pulps or seeds from Brazilian biomes in Amazon (tropical Forest), Cerrado (savannah) and Caatinga (exclusively from Brazil);
- Cold Pressed Oils – are special cold extraction and are directed to the food market, to the nutraceutical, functional food, and food supplements segments;
- Organic Liquid Sugars - Extracted with aggregated technology and developed with a focus on the food and beverage industries do not have any type of chemical additive, artificial or pesticide component;
- Lecture at Learning Garden – Highlighted for Bio Abundance Program, where reinforces the company's commitment to Brazilian biomes.
NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Concepta Ingredients is Sabará Group's business unit specialized in providing natural solutions for the food and beverage industry, is present at Plant Based World Expo (PBW), considered the only 100% vegetable fair in North America. Aimed at food service and retail professionals, distributors, investors and manufacturers, the event is held on September 8th and 9th, at the Javits Center in New York (NY) in The United States.
The highlights of Concepta Ingredients booth at the event are Plant-Based Butter, Arboreto Premium Ingredients range, Cold Pressed Vegetable Oils and Organic Liquid Sugars Muscovado and demerara. In addition, Marina Reis, the company's Account Executive, gives a lecture on September 8th, at Learning Garden, about all the work Concepta develops, its product portfolio and the recently launched Bio Abundance Program, where reinforces the commitment to Brazilian biomes.
"This is a unique opportunity to present to the international market all of our products and the genuinely Brazilian work carried out by Concepta Ingredients," said Lilia Kawazoe, Sales Manager of the company. "PBW visitors can learn about our operations in Green Economy in the food market, our concern with the conservation of Brazilian biomes as well as recent achievements such as the participation in the Sustainable Food Awards 2022, organized by Ecovia Intelligence as runner-up of Sustainability Leadership Award, the most important category with more than 150 registered companies", she added.
During the lecture at Plant Based World Expo, the company also highlights the recognition received in 2016 for the CEO of Sabará Group, Ulisses Matiolli Sabará, as a Local SDG Pioneer during the UN Global Compact Leaders conference.
Complete Portfolio of Ingredients
Exposed during The North American fair, Concepta Ingredients Plant-Based Butter is 100% natural and sustainable, without any type of chemical additive or artificial coloring, and stands out for pure production with organic certification. Because it has no gluten and is free of trans fat, canola, soy, and sodium fat, suitable for flexitarian and vegan diets, also a healthy alternative to milk butter.
The products of Brazilian biodiversity are composed of oils, butters, syrups, powders and extracts from pulps or seeds of Brazilian biomes Amazon (tropical forest), Cerrado (savannah) and Caatinga (exclusively from Brazil). The products are standardized and marketed with the highest quality required by the global market.
The new line of Cold Pressed Vegetable Oils has conventional ingredients, with special cold extraction and it is directed to the food market, to the nutraceutical, functional food, and food supplements segments. The products have a higher concentration of bioactive components and are able to preserve the flavor, color, and aroma characteristics of the seeds.
Plant Based World Expo (PBW) – North America
Location: Javits Center - New York (NY)
Booth of Concepta Ingredients: #552
Date: September 8th and 9th
For more information and enrolment: www.plantbasedworldexpo.com
About Concepta Ingredients:
Concepta Ingredients is part of Sabará Group and specialized in natural and technological solutions developed in accordance with Bio Abundance Program. From a work based on innovation and research, the company offers organic and conventional ingredients, supported in the training of families and indirect conservation of areas of different biomes in Brazil. Its complete portfolio has technological inputs from international partners and ingredients from biodiversity to meet the most specific demands of the industries in which it is present.
About Sabará Group
Sabará Group, with over 65 years of history, is genuinely Brazilian and recognized for its capacity for innovation and adaptation. For three generations, the Group has overcome challenges and excels in its markets. The company's commitment to the welfare of people around the world goes beyond the offering of innovative products and services. Its activities consider future generations with a focus on solutions to ensure sustainability through its various branches of activity. Sabará Group operates throughout the national territory and has a presence in countries in South America, North America, and Europe. It is specialized in the development of high-performance technologies, solutions, and raw materials, aimed at the water treatment markets in sanitation and industry, nutrition and animal health and the food and beverage industries. The development of its products relies on 100% national knowledge and technology, a factor which contributes to Brazil becoming a reference in product research for a sustainable world.
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SOURCE Grupo Sabará | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/plant-based-with-purpose-plant-based-world-expo-concepta-presents-portfolio-with-plant-based-butter-brazilian-biodiversity-ingredients-commitment-local-sociobiodiversity/ | 2022-09-02T17:59:00Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/plant-based-with-purpose-plant-based-world-expo-concepta-presents-portfolio-with-plant-based-butter-brazilian-biodiversity-ingredients-commitment-local-sociobiodiversity/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Singita Mara River Tented Camp sits amidst the 98,000 acres of northern Tanzania’s Lamai. It is one of the few permanent sites for travelers in this triangle of land sandwiched between the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and the Mara River in the south. Singita, however, still mimics the adventurous vibe of a mobile safari: Its tents are outfitted with everyday African objects that have been reimagined by local craftspeople. For example, decorative wire baskets mimic the shape and design of the ones traditionally used for sorting grain, and textiles with Maasai-inspired patterns in red, black, and blue add interest to the predominantly neutral interiors. And everything, from the pool pump to the cordless hair dryers, runs on the latest renewable-energy technology (the camp is completely off the grid).
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Unplug in the Bush
The Singita Mara River Tented Camp sits amidst the 98,000 acres of northern Tanzania’s Lamai. It is one of the few permanent sites for travelers in this triangle of land sandwiched between the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya and the Mara River in the south. Singita, however, still mimics the adventurous vibe of a mobile safari: Its tents are outfitted with everyday African objects that have been reimagined by local craftspeople. For example, decorative wire baskets mimic the shape and design of the ones traditionally used for sorting grain, and textiles with Maasai-inspired patterns in red, black, and blue add interest to the predominantly neutral interiors. And everything, from the pool pump to the cordless hair dryers, runs on the latest renewable-energy technology (the camp is completely off the grid).
See anything inaccurate? Let our Editors know | https://www.afar.com/places/singita-mara-river-tented-camp | 2022-09-02T17:59:05Z | afar.com | control | https://www.afar.com/places/singita-mara-river-tented-camp | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LEXINGTON, Ky., Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TruDiagnostic announced the launch of TruAge PACE: a revolutionary pace of aging test that tracks short-term changes in biological aging rate.
Biologically, aging is the process of human cells slowly losing function over time. This process can be tracked by examining molecular markers called methylation, and using advanced algorithms to sort those markers and calculate a person's 'biological age.' However, this ability to track aging is dependent on the ability of the algorithms themselves.
Until recently, most algorithms were trained on chronological age - they had poor responsiveness to interventions that are known to impact the biological course of aging.
The Dunedin Pace of Aging Algorithm (PACE) was created by researchers from Duke, and the University of Otago over the course of 50 years of longitudinal research. It offers a revolutionary way to track aging which looks at an individual's current rate of aging.
In aging studies, this algorithm has shown that those with accelerated aging rates (PACE value greater than 1.0) have greater risk of poor health outcomes such as increased risk of chronic disease diagnosis and death. Faster-aging cohorts also displayed a higher long-term risk of cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and other chronic diseases. Faster aging is also associated with quality of life-related metrics such as ability to balance, muscle mass, IQs and mental processing speeds, and even facial aging.
Additionally, PACE offered a high degree of precision, and strong ability to positively react to interventions known to improve phenotypes of aging. Read more about the benefits of this algorithm compared to others here.
With PACE, individuals now have the ability to detect rapid aging at an early age and head it off with preventative measures as a young adult, rather than trying to reverse the cumulative effects of aging that have begun to show outwardly later in life.
Older individuals can also use PACE to track the impacts of interventions, and real-time changes to lifelong health risks with a test that just takes a few drops of blood, and 2-3 weeks of lab processing.
TruDiagnostic is proud to be the first to offer this powerful, third-generation clock to the public at an affordable price through TruAge PACE.
For more information, contact:
TruDiagnostic Inc.
Hannah Went
937-570-0471
Support@TruDiagnostic.com
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SOURCE TruDiagnostic | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/trudiagnostic-announces-launch-first-3rd-generation-aging-algorithm-lower-cost-precise-tracking-age-interventions/ | 2022-09-02T17:59:22Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/trudiagnostic-announces-launch-first-3rd-generation-aging-algorithm-lower-cost-precise-tracking-age-interventions/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 31, UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD hosted a forum on "The Integration of the High Technology and the Elderly-care Service Industry " together with the launching of "The Global Strategy of Smart Elderly-care of UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD". Experts and professionals in the healthcare and elderly-care service industry came together to discuss the development and implementation of a technology-driven smart elderly-care system and shared the valuable experience and insights within the domain.
At the event, UBTECH announced its strategy of creating a smart elderly-care system with several sub-systems within specific elderly-care scenarios. They also launched several robotics products for the healthcare and elderly-care domain. In addition, UBTECH announced key strategic collaboration agreements with China Merchants Health Care, Medical Care Service Company Inc (MCS) in Japan (A joint venture company to be established this month), and China Academy of Transportation Sciences Group.
UBTECH combines intelligent robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, coordinated by the UBTECH Smart Elderly-care Cloud-based Platform, for the aged group. The whole system provides nursing services for senior citizens living at home or in community centers. The cloud platform-based solution focuses on six key scenarios: services management, daily care management, security and heath monitoring, memory-loss prevention, emotional support and rehabilitation. The goal of the system is to create a comprehensive system with high reliability and security to provide the elderly a happy, healthy, and high-quality way of living.
Huan Tan (Co-Chief Technology Officer, UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD and General Manager, UBTECH Healthcare Business Unit,), introduced how the company has been developing and integrating AI, robotics, and other high-tech approaches to improve the quality of life for our senior citizens. They apply this technology in the elderly-care industry to create new services, develop a new ecosystem, and generate substantially new values to the industry. The new services are brought by new technology, including the active interaction and companionship, autonomous navigation for uninterrupted and automated door-to-door care provider, the continuous monitoring of personal and environmental safety, precise evaluations, intervention plans, and rehabilitation exercises for the people with the cognitive, psychological and physical disabilities. The new ecosystem integrates robots and smart devices into an elderly-care service system that enables collaborative operations conducted by humans, robots, machines, devices, and IT infrastructure. These robots are regarded as intelligent service providers, a key innovation that can significantly improve the reliability and quality healthcare services for the elderly. Based on the new services and new ecosystem, new values are generated to the elderly-care service industry and the end-users with connected senior-care services in facilities, communities, and homes. The operations will be largely improved for the facilities and communities, whereas the senior people will receive some more precise, friendly, and active services, which bring high -quality lives than ever.
The UBTECH Healthcare Business Unit showcased five innovative and powerful service robots: Walking Assist Robot-Wassi, Containerized Delivery Robot-DR, Smart Wheelchair Robot - PathFynder, Open Shelf Delivery Robot-OSDR and Companion Robot-Welli. These robots directly address the challenges of the increasing shortage of caregivers, the fast-growing global aging populations, and the increasing demand for high-quality healthcare services, together with other hardware and software components within the smart elderly-care ecosystem. Additionally, UBTECH debuted a cloud-based Intelligent Elderly-care Service Platform, a "Super Brain", that can coordinate services between service robots and IoT devices for the elderly-care service domain. These robots can operate safely in nursing homes, assisted living communities, hospitals, among other healthcare facilities, providing personalized services for senior citizens
To date, the integrated solution of UBTECH's smart elderly-care service and the portfolio of the products has already been deployed, continuously providing services on several sites, including hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and retirement communities. UBTECH also officially announced a partnership with China Merchants Health Care in Shenzhen, Xinkai Senior Care Facility in Shanghai, University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital and Taishan Sanatorium of Shandong Province.
At the launching ceremony of building the Ecological Community, UBTECH announced 12 partners, including the aforementioned China Merchants Health Care, Medical Care Service Company Inc (MCS) in Japan, and China Academy of Transportation Sciences Group, etc. The partners are from the elderly-care service providers, the operation owners of medical centers, and technology firms.
Yanhong Wen, China Merchants Health Care General Manager said "…, through the cooperation of companies like UBTECH, we expect robots to provide critical services to the senior citizens, including the screening of health risk, continuous monitoring of the health, assessment and evaluations of medical plans, the early warning and intervention, the active and interactive companionship, and the cognitive and physical rehabilitation, etc." The two companies will continue to work together to build smart residential facilities to provide elderly-care services that meets the needs of the aging population in the community, to offer humanistic care, and to deliver comprehensive end-to-end service.
MCS Founder Takahashi Seiichi noted in a speech via remote video: "23 years ago, I started my first retirement facility in Japan. By 2017, we operated the largest number of dementia beds in Japan. Today, we operate a total of 322 healthcare facilities, including nursing homes and dementia treatment centers. Seven years ago, we opened a nursing home in Nantong, China, and subsequently launched new elderly care projects in other cities. Through the cooperation with UBTECH, we hope to combine the latest AI technology, intelligent robots and other products to transform the Chinese market." Grace Wang, Director of the MCS Group and the General Manager of MCS China, mentioned that the partnership will enable a smarter solution to provide services to the senior citizens, in 3 key areas: nursing and technology, digital transformation, and prevention.
Yong Li, General Manager of the China Academy of Transportation Sciences Group, said in his speech: "I look forward to working with UBTECH on the integration and innovation of the smart transportation and travelling, and creating a commercialized example model for the smart travelling in public handicap-accessible transportation hubs throughout China. "
The elderly-care service industry contributes over 20% of the GDP in developed countries, e.g., the European countries and the United States, compared with only 7% in China, representing a huge potential of the market. The size of the market in China is expected to reach 10.29 trillion Chinese Yuan (approx. $1.5 trillion USD) by 2022. By leveraging a comprehensive integration with the elderly-care industry, the high technology-driven elderly care services will help further improve the quality of life and wellness of all families, and benefit the country's aging population using innovative solutions.
Jian Zhou, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of UBTECH said, "We are committed to addressing the major challenges in communities of China, through our technological innovations, by delivering sustainable and real long-term values. In the elderly-care industry, we will leverage new and innovative AI-based solutions to better serve people and the communities, in which they reside, and accelerate the quality-focused growth of the intelligent healthcare sector."
UBTECH has accumulated over 10 years of experience and expertise in AI and intelligent robotics technology. Throughout the ongoing journey, from the exploration of creating services for the seniors in 2017, establishing an R&D center in North America focusing on the healthcare sector in 2019 and a healthcare business unit in 2021 focusing on applying solutions in various elderly-care scenarios, to the releasing its global strategy for smart elderly-care in 2022, UBTECH has been a pioneer and leader in the smart healthcare sector. UBTECH is committed to the vision of transforming the healthcare industry and the sustainable development of the elderly-care economy with innovative technologies, together with the partners in the industry.
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SOURCE UBTECH | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/ubtech-announces-global-debut-intelligent-healthcare-robots-solutions/ | 2022-09-02T17:59:42Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/ubtech-announces-global-debut-intelligent-healthcare-robots-solutions/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Buenos Aires: A man tried to kill Argentina's politically powerful Vice President Cristina Fernndez outside her home, but the handgun misfired, the country's president said.
The man was quickly overpowered by her security officers in the incident Thursday night, officials said.
President Alberto Fernndez, who is not related to the vice president, a former president herself, said the pistol did not discharge when the man tried to fire it.
A man pointed a firearm at her head and pulled the trigger, the president said in a national broadcast following the incident. He said the firearm was loaded with five bullets but didn't fire even though the trigger was pulled.
The vice president did not appear to have suffered any injury, and the man was overpowered within seconds as he stood among a crowd of her supporters.
Gina De Bai, a witness who was near the vice president during the incident, told The Associated Press she heard the sound of the trigger being pulled. She said she didn't realize it was a handgun until the man was rushed by security personnel.
President Fernndez called it the most serious incident since we recovered democracy in 1983 after a military dictatorship and urged political leaders, and society at large, to repudiate the attempted shooting.
The attack came as the vice president is facing a trial for alleged acts of corruption during her 2007-2015 presidency charges that she vehemently denies and that have led her supporters to surround her home in the upscale Recoleta neighborhood of Argentina's capital.
Video broadcast on local television channels showed Fernndez exiting her vehicle surrounded by supporters when a man is seen extending his hand with what looks like a pistol. The vice president ducks as people around the apparent gunman appear shocked at what is happening.
Unverified video posted on social media shows the pistol almost touched Fernndez's face.
The alleged gunman was identified as Fernando Andr Sabag Montiel, a Brazilian citizen, said an official at the Security Ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He does not have a criminal record, the official said, adding that the weapon was a .32-caliber Bersa.
The president declared Friday a holiday so the Argentine people can, in peace and harmony, express itself in defense of life, democracy and in solidarity with our vice president."
Supporters of the vice president have been gathering in the streets surrounding her home since last week, when a prosecutor called for a 12-year sentence for Fernndez as well as a life-long prohibition in holding public office in the corruption case.
Shortly after the incident, government officials were quick to decry what they called an assassination attempt.
When hate and violence are imposed over the debate of ideas, societies are destroyed and generate situations like the one seen today: an assassination attempt, Economy Minister Sergio Massa said.
Cabinet ministers issued a news release saying they energetically condemn the attempted homicide" of the vice president. What happened tonight is of extreme gravity and threatens democracy, institutions and the rule of law.
Former President Mauricio Macri, a conservative who succeeded the left-of-center Fernndez in the presidency, also condemned the attack. This very serious event demands an immediate and profound clarification by the judiciary and security forces, Macri wrote on Twitter.
Patricia Bullrich, president of the opposition Republican Proposal party, criticized President Fernndez's reaction to the attack, accusing him of playing with fire. She said that instead of seriously investigating a serious incident, he accuses the opposition and the press, decreeing a national holiday to mobilize activists.
Tensions have been running high in the Recoleta neighborhood since the weekend, when the vice president's supporters clashed with police in the streets surrounding her apartment amid an effort by law enforcement officers to clear the area. Following the clashes, what had been a strong police presence around the vice president's apartment was reduced.
When Fernndez leaves her apartment every day at around noon, she greets supporters and signs autographs before getting in her vehicle to go to the Senate. She repeats the same routine every evening.
Following the incident, allies of the vice president quickly pointed the finger at the opposition for what they said is hateful speech that promotes violence. In recent days, several key officials have said opposition leaders were looking for a fatality.
This is a historic event in Argentina that must be a before-and-after, Buenos Aires Gov. Axel Kicillof said.
Regional leaders also condemned the attack.
We send our solidarity to the vice president in this attempt against her life, Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro said on Twitter.
Former Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula Da Silva, who is a candidate in that nation's presidential election next month, also expressed solidarity with Fernndez, calling her a victim of a fascist criminal who doesn't know how to respect differences and diversity. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/world/2022/09/02/argentina-vice-president-assassination-attempt.amp.html | 2022-09-02T18:01:42Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/world/2022/09/02/argentina-vice-president-assassination-attempt.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Drill pipe and rig workers are in short supply and it might take awhile to fix it. There's a high likelihood that year-end US production will disappoint.
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.
Read this Term has mostly given up today's gains as markets wilt on news that Russia has completely halted Nord Stream 1 indefinitely. The question is whether this prompts more gas-to-oil switching or if it hurts economic growth so badly that overall oil demand is curbed in Europe.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW | https://www.forexlive.com/news/baker-hughes-us-oil-rig-count-596-vs-605-prior-20220902/ | 2022-09-02T18:08:19Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/baker-hughes-us-oil-rig-count-596-vs-605-prior-20220902/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The headlines about the pipeline shut down, has led to a kick lower in the EURUSD.
The pair has moved back below its 100 and 200 hour moving averages at 1.00039 and 0.99849 respectively.
The next target comes against the July 15 low price at 0.99515. A move back below that level would have traders looking toward the swing lows over the last 9 trading days between 0.9989 and 0.9913.
The tilt back to the downside in the short term. . | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/eurusd-falls-on-the-back-of-pipeline-news-20220902/ | 2022-09-02T18:08:44Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/eurusd-falls-on-the-back-of-pipeline-news-20220902/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
USDCHF double top
The USDCHF
USD/CHF
The USD/CHF is the currency pair encompassing the dollar of the United States of America (symbol $, code USD), and the Swiss franc of Switzerland (code CHF). The pair’s exchange rate indicates how many Swiss francs are needed in order to purchase one US dollar. For example, when the USD/CHF is trading at 1.2500, it means 1 US dollar is equivalent to 1.25 Swiss francs. The US Dollar (USD) is the world’s most traded currency, whilst the Swiss franc (CHF) is the world’s sixth most traded currency, resulting in a very liquid pair, with tight spreads, often staying within the 0 pip to 2 pip spread range on most forex brokers. Even though the Swiss franc might not be as liquid as the euro or yen, the USD/CHF currency pair is still liquid enough to be known as the fourth major. Trading the USD/CHF has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage being, a lot of traders often prefer to invest in the Swiss franc when economic or political instability is lurking.This is due to Switzerland traditionally being known as a safe haven, as it generally remains neutral and silent on many major geopolitical events, for example it never participates in wars. These investments can trigger large swings for traders, who may capitalize on such moves. The main disadvantage is that the US dollar is the world’s reserve currency.Thus, traders also can flock to the USD, trying to ascertain which currency is more likely to be embarked upon can prove tough at times. USD/CHF Still Living in Shadows of 2015The USD/CHF otherwise is seen as one of the lesser volatile pairs, with a tendency to follow the Euro, hence the negative correlation between it and the EUR/USD.The currency pair will forever be tethered to the events of January 2015 with the Swiss National Bank (SNB) Crisis which roiled currency markets.In this instance, the SNB abruptly decided to abandon the Swiss franc (CHF) currency peg with the euro, convulsing markets.
The USD/CHF is the currency pair encompassing the dollar of the United States of America (symbol $, code USD), and the Swiss franc of Switzerland (code CHF). The pair’s exchange rate indicates how many Swiss francs are needed in order to purchase one US dollar. For example, when the USD/CHF is trading at 1.2500, it means 1 US dollar is equivalent to 1.25 Swiss francs. The US Dollar (USD) is the world’s most traded currency, whilst the Swiss franc (CHF) is the world’s sixth most traded currency, resulting in a very liquid pair, with tight spreads, often staying within the 0 pip to 2 pip spread range on most forex brokers. Even though the Swiss franc might not be as liquid as the euro or yen, the USD/CHF currency pair is still liquid enough to be known as the fourth major. Trading the USD/CHF has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage being, a lot of traders often prefer to invest in the Swiss franc when economic or political instability is lurking.This is due to Switzerland traditionally being known as a safe haven, as it generally remains neutral and silent on many major geopolitical events, for example it never participates in wars. These investments can trigger large swings for traders, who may capitalize on such moves. The main disadvantage is that the US dollar is the world’s reserve currency.Thus, traders also can flock to the USD, trying to ascertain which currency is more likely to be embarked upon can prove tough at times. USD/CHF Still Living in Shadows of 2015The USD/CHF otherwise is seen as one of the lesser volatile pairs, with a tendency to follow the Euro, hence the negative correlation between it and the EUR/USD.The currency pair will forever be tethered to the events of January 2015 with the Swiss National Bank (SNB) Crisis which roiled currency markets.In this instance, the SNB abruptly decided to abandon the Swiss franc (CHF) currency peg with the euro, convulsing markets.
Read this Term is on a 5 day up streak, started last Friday. Today, the verdict is still out. The pair closed at 0.98147. The current price is below that at 0.9812 currently. The streak higher is in jeopardy.
The move to the downside was started with the high stalling near the high from yesterday at 0.98602. The high today reached 0.98583. The near double top and inability to get above the high from yesterday gave the sellers the go-ahead to push lower
the US session low price (at 0.9783) did take out the early European low (at 0.9786), but remains well above the rising 100 hour moving average currently at 0.97588 along with a rising trend line on the hourly chart connecting highs from Wednesday and Thursday.. It would take a move below those levels to increase the bearish bias.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/usdchf-moves-up-and-back-down-double-top-for-the-week-20220902/ | 2022-09-02T18:08:50Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/technical-analysis/usdchf-moves-up-and-back-down-double-top-for-the-week-20220902/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
YOUNGSTOWN — All individuals born with Down Syndrome, and their parents, are invited to walk or ride in the Youngstown Labor Day Parade at noon Monday. Participants are asked to wear royal blue shirts with yellow.
The short route along Main Street begins at Fort Niagara's south entrance. Anyone who cannot walk the route may ride the Discover Niagara Shuttle.
Youngstown Lions Club and the Down Syndrome Association of Niagara have teamed up to raise positive awareness about Down Syndrome and facilitate meaningful participation in the community. "There is a lot of candy to be thrown (in the parade) and the Lions Club needs your help," DSAN president Deborah L. Fleck said.
For more information, check the Family and Friends Down Syndrome Association of Niagara Inc. Facebook page. | https://www.lockportjournal.com/community/lions-dsan-team-up-for-youngstown-labor-day-parade/article_c5b873f2-2ade-11ed-8607-d7db9f207f09.html | 2022-09-02T18:09:40Z | lockportjournal.com | control | https://www.lockportjournal.com/community/lions-dsan-team-up-for-youngstown-labor-day-parade/article_c5b873f2-2ade-11ed-8607-d7db9f207f09.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Hundreds of workers from 14 Pennsylvania nursing homes went on strike Friday after contract negotiations failed to produce a deal.
About 700 unionized workers walked off the job in a dispute over pay, benefits and staffing levels. Photos and video on social media showed picket lines going up outside many of the homes, with workers carrying signs and wearing the purple T-shirts of their union, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania.
"Our goal has always been — and continues to be — to get a fair contract that invests in this entire workforce and will meaningfully address the staffing crisis," said Matthew Yarnell, SEIU president.
He accused the nursing home operators of "failing to create the kind of wage scales we've been able to achieve with other providers."
Talks began Thursday morning and ended early Friday without an agreement, with no new negotiations scheduled. The strike impacted homes in a dozen counties throughout the state.
Nursing homes have long struggled with high turnover, which the COVID-19 pandemic made worse, and some facilities were forced to close or downsize because of lagging Medicaid reimbursements, according to trade groups.
State lawmakers and the administration of Gov. Tom Wolf recently hiked Medicaid payments to nursing homes by nearly $300 million annually and sent another $130 million in federal coronavirus aid to help them hire and retain workers. The additional Medicaid funding represents a 17.5% increase, or about $35 more per resident per day.
But the increased reimbursements do not kick in until January, and the American Rescue Plan money has not yet been distributed, according to the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, which represents for-profit nursing homes.
"While providers, (without) distributed funds, are negotiating worker contracts to support higher wages, they also need to sustain operations and have the financial means to support a new increased staffing minimum that requires hiring more workers," the group tweeted.
The group also said the union is making new wage demands that were not accounted for in the July funding deal.
Donna Pronio, a certified nursing assistant at Shenandoah Heights nursing home in Schuylkill County, was among about 30 workers on a picket line Friday. She said the workers have been without a contract since the beginning of the year.
"The money we fought for in Harrisburg, we felt should be a talking point and something to put toward the residents and workers. But they still haven't bargained in good faith," Pronio said in a phone interview. "We're just trying to get recognized and appreciated."
Most of the nursing homes are operated by two companies, Comprehensive Healthcare and Priority Healthcare.
Priority used agency staff to fill shifts vacated by the striking workers, according to the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, which counts Priority as a member.
"It is important to remember that the health care workers arriving at these facilities are there to care for the residents," said Zach Shamberg, the trade group's president and CEO. "We are asking those on the picket lines and the general public to honor that and support them while negotiations between the union and providers continue."
Unionized workers employed by Guardian Healthcare reached agreement on a contract earlier this week, averting strike plans at 10 Guardian nursing homes.
Pennsylvania has about 700 licensed nursing homes. | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/workers-at-14-pennsylvania-nursing-homes-go-on-strike/article_8e9ad204-2ae6-11ed-8d1d-b33efe8d4397.html | 2022-09-02T18:09:46Z | lockportjournal.com | control | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/workers-at-14-pennsylvania-nursing-homes-go-on-strike/article_8e9ad204-2ae6-11ed-8d1d-b33efe8d4397.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
(NewsNation) — America’s employers added 315,000 jobs in August, a decrease from a blockbuster gain the month prior, and in the face of continued inflation and recession fears.
The report Friday from the Labor Department showed the unemployment rate bumped up from 3.5% to 3.7%. The unemployment rate in July reached the lowest level since the pandemic erupted two years ago.
The smaller August gain will likely be welcomed by the Federal Reserve. The Fed is rapidly raising interest rates to try to cool hiring and wage growth, which have been consistently strong. Businesses typically pass the cost of higher wages on to their customers through higher prices, thereby fueling inflation.
Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed officials have increasingly stressed their determination to tame inflation even at the cost of damaging the economy. In a major speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming last week, Powell underscored the Fed’s tight focus on curbing inflation and said he was prepared to continue raising short-term interest rates and keep them elevated to achieve that goal. He warned that the Fed’s inflation fight would likely cause pain for Americans in the form of a weaker economy and job losses.
Fed officials hope that by raising borrowing costs across the economy, they can reduce inflation from a near-40-year high. Some economists fear, though, that the Fed is tightening credit so aggressively that it will eventually tip the economy into recession.
The stock market has fallen every day since that speech as fears that the Fed may cause a recession have escalated.
Job openings remain high and the pace of layoffs low, indicating that most businesses still want to hire and that the economy isn’t likely in, or even close to, a recession. The broadest measure of the economy’s output — gross domestic product — has shrunk for two straight quarters, meeting one informal definition of a recession.
This story is developing. Refresh for updates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/us-adds-315000-jobs-unemployment-ticks-up/ | 2022-09-02T18:13:46Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/us-adds-315000-jobs-unemployment-ticks-up/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Forget Elon Musk vs. Twitter, there’s new beef on Wall Street.
Back in 2020, as Covid-19 brought the world to a virtual standstill, pharma companies were focused on the same goal – ending the coronavirus pandemic. Now the virus has been tamed, it’s knives out between the vaccine giants. Or more specifically, one giant is accusing the other of making unlawful use of its tech.
On Friday, Moderna (MRNA) disclosed that it had filed patent infringement lawsuits against Pfizer and BioNTech in the United States and Germany, alleging the pair copied its messenger RNA technology in order to create its Covid-19 vaccine Comirnaty.
According to the lawsuit, Pfizer/BioNTech’s offering violates patents Moderna filed between 2010 and 2016 that deal with messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. That tech instructs the body to produce a single spike protein, which activates the immune system.
The vaccine maker claims that during the pandemic it decided not to enforce its patents. The company updated its promise in March 2022, stating that it wouldn’t engage in patent litigation in 92 low- and middle-income nations but that does not apply to rich countries where it expects the patents to be licensed.
So, what are the possible outcomes? Brookline Capital analyst Leah R. Cann thinks there are a couple of likely ones. Either Moderna will reach a commercial agreement with Pfizer and BioNTech or there will be a protracted court battle that could “ultimately strengthen Moderna’s patent portfolio.”
Cann sees the former as the more likely scenario, but either way, the analyst thinks the real benefit to Moderna lies elsewhere.
“We believe the emerging real-world data demonstrating Moderna’s mRNA-1273 (Spikevax) superiority to Pfizer/BioNTech’s BNT162b2 (Comirnaty) will have more financial impact to Moderna than a potential commercial agreement with Pfizer and BioNTech for patent use,” Cann said. “However, establishing patent rights will be a de-risking event for the Moderna platform.”
There’s no doubt, Cann is a fully-fledged MRNA bull. The analyst sticks with a Buy rating backed by a $506 price target, suggesting shares will appreciate by a huge 265% over the next 12 months. (To watch Cann’s track record, click here)
Not all on Wall Street are as confident in the Moderna story; the stock ekes out a Moderate Buy consensus rating, based on 4 Buys, 5 Holds and 1 Sell. That said, boosted by Cann’s exuberant outlook, the $235.88 average price target makes room for 70 growth in the year ahead. (See Moderna stock forecast on TipRanks)
To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/moderna-has-one-over-pfizer-biontech-but-its-nothing-to-do-with-patent-infringement | 2022-09-02T18:14:11Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/moderna-has-one-over-pfizer-biontech-but-its-nothing-to-do-with-patent-infringement | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Inflation Reduction Act renewed interest in electric vehicle (EV) makers and their suppliers. In this piece, we used TipRanks’ Comparison Tool to evaluate two makers of batteries for electric vehicles. Both QuantumScape (NYSE:QS) and Romeo Power (NYSE:RMO) are losing money because their technologies aren’t quite ready. However, a careful review of both companies’ technology, financials, and positions within the EV battery space reveals reasons to be bullish on QS and bearish on RMO.
Of course, it’s important to remember that any investment in either company will take some time to play out, although it appears that QuantumScape could be further along than Romeo Power.
State of the EV Battery Market
The EV battery market is estimated to grow from $27.3 billion in 2021 to $67.2 billion by 2025, a compound annual growth rate of 25.3%, on the back of growing EV adoption. U.S. lawmakers are trying to boost adoption in the coming years with the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act, which, among other things, offers consumers tax credits on EV purchases.
However, there are some caveats when it comes to securing the tax credit on EV purchases. In addition to income limits, the law restricts those credits to vehicles assembled in North America and those with batteries made in the U.S. or its free-trade partners.
Additionally, EV battery makers cannot source any of their materials from a “foreign entity of concern,” which includes China. They also must source at least half of their materials from the U.S. or its allies by 2024 and grow that percentage to 80% by 2026. By 2029, 100% of their battery production must be in North America.
At this point, China dominates the EV battery market with 76% of the world’s battery cell production and 85% of the world’s rare earth metal processing, while the U.S. holds only 10% of the EV battery market. That presents EV battery makers with ample opportunities if they build their facilities in the U.S.
QuantumScape
First, investors should note that QuantumScape has much better connections than Romeo Power. Backed by Bill Gates and Volkswagen, the company has been on solid financial footing since it began. In fact, Volkswagen (OTC:VWAGY) owns 20% of QuantumScape, and the two companies revealed plans for their joint venture to build the latter’s solid-state EV batteries last year.
Volkswagen is a leader in the EV market, coming in second place in the U.S. after Tesla, with a 7.5% share of the market, and first place in Europe. In fact, a report earlier this year suggested that Volkswagen will surpass Tesla as the biggest EV seller by 2024. Thus, its connection with Volkswagen sets QuantumScape up nicely for a dominant share of the EV battery market in the coming years.
Aside from its connections in the EV industry, what makes QuantumScape’s technology so attractive is that it is solid-state batteries, which appear to be much safer than the conventional lithium-ion batteries currently in use because they are far less flammable. Presumably, QuantumScape’s batteries could have prevented the spectacular fires we’ve seen in several Tesla vehicles.
Unfortunately, the market is still a few years away from mass-market production of solid-state batteries, which is why QuantumScape is still burning cash. The good news is that solid-state batteries could pack twice as much energy per pound, charge faster, and last much longer than conventional lithium-ion batteries.
However, the bad news is that manufacturing them is exceptionally difficult and expensive with current technology. QuantumScape has managed to slash its all-in battery costs by 17% compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, so that is one problem solved.
The company has also solved another problem—lithium dendrites that grow inside the battery and reduce its life and performance—by utilizing a ceramic electrolyte that resists dendrite growth. In theory, QuantumScape’s batteries should work, and management has promised that they should be ready by 2025.
The company has established its pre-pilot production line in California, so it appears to be in a good position. QuantumScape announced in a regulatory filing earlier this year that a fourth automaker had signed on to test its batteries.
What is the Price Target for QS Stock?
QuantumScape has a Hold consensus rating based on four Holds assigned over the last three months. At $14.75, the average QuantumScape price target implies upside potential of 44.5%.
Romeo Power
Like QuantumScape, Romeo Power is burning through cash on the development of its EV batteries. However, Romeo lacks the high-quality industry connections that Quantum enjoys. Its largest customer is Nikola (NASDAQ:NKLA), which itself is losing money after having delivered only a handful of trucks so far.
In fact, Nikola announced plans to acquire Romeo Power by granting Romeo shareholders 0.1186 of a Nikola share for every Romeo share they owned. That amounted to a 34% premium on Romeo’s closing price on July 29. The offer is Nikola’s way of taking control of its battery supply line. The company expects to save $350 million by 2026 by making its own batteries.
However, Romeo Power’s batteries are not solid-state batteries, so they lack some of the benefits of QuantumScape’s, like the lack of flammability. Additionally, Romeo’s batteries are designed more for commercial vehicles than passenger vehicles, which is why Nikola is so interested in the company. However, there is less information about the type of technology Romeo Power’s batteries contain.
What is the Price Target for RMO Stock?
Romeo Power has no consensus rating because there are no analyst ratings from the last three months. Investors should be warned about the increased risks associated with investing in penny stocks.
Conclusion: QuantumScape is More Attractive than Romeo Power
If all goes according to plan for QuantumScape, the path to profits and success looks clearer for it than for Romeo Power. As a result, a neutral stance may be appropriate for short-term investors, but a bullish view could work well for investors with a long-term mindset.
As both companies are pre-revenue, their P/Es are both negative, with Quantum at -14.98 and Romeo at -0.42; it’s impossible to deny the risks of investing in money-losing companies. Wall Street lost its appetite for unprofitable tech companies fairly recently, so it’s unlikely that investors will see upward movement in either Quantum or Romeo anytime soon. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/rmo-versus-qs-which-ev-battery-stock-is-better | 2022-09-02T18:14:17Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/rmo-versus-qs-which-ev-battery-stock-is-better | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Chinese stocks have come under pressure for various reasons over the past year and a half or so; a slowing economy has been one cause while domestic tussles with the regulators haven’t helped either, particularly for those in the tech sector. Another element keeping sentiment low and impacting performance has been the fear of de-listing for U.S.-listed Chinese stocks. This is on account of Chinese companies not meeting U.S. auditing standards. But the prospects of de-listing might be less likely now.
An agreement has been signed by the China Securities Regulatory Commission and U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board stipulating the pair will work together on inspecting the audit work papers of U.S.- listed Chinese companies. This could potentially save the removal from U.S. stock exchanges of 261 Chinese companies with a combined market cap of around $1.3 trillion.
So, time to get bullish again on Chinese stocks? The analysts at banking giant J.P. Morgan certainly think a pair of Chinese names merit a closer look right now. And what about the rest of the Street? With the help of the TipRanks platform, we can also gauge other experts’ sentiment. Let’s dive in.
Baidu (BIDU)
We’ll start with Chinese internet giant Baidu. How much of a giant? It is the third-largest search engine in the world with heavy domination of market share in China, far outpacing global leader Google. Baidu’s search engine business is its bread and butter, but it is also a tech innovator and a leader in artificial intelligence (AI). As well as its Baidu Maps mapping service, it provides 57 search and community services, such as cloud storage service Baidu Wangpan, and online encyclopedia Baidu Baike. Back in 2007, Baidu became the first Chinese company to gain a place in the NASDAQ-100 index.
So, it’s no minnow we’re talking about here, as evident in its latest quarterly report – for 2Q22. Revenue might have slipped 5% year-over-year to “just” $4.43 billion as a result of the economic slowdown, but the figure still beat the consensus estimate of $4.20 billion.
The profitability profile got a real boost from a meaningful 500 basis point margin expansion – from 17% in Q1 to 22% in the second quarter. That led to a comprehensive beat on the bottom-line as adj. earnings per ADS of $2.36 fared much better than the $1.63 expected on Wall Street.
The performance was applauded by J.P. Morgan’s Alex Yao who thinks it’s time to change tune on the stock. Following the Q2’s display, Yao upgraded BIDU’s rating from Neutral to Overweight (i.e. Buy). Yao’s price target stands at $200, leaving room for ~42% share appreciation in the year ahead. (To watch Yao’s track record, click here)
Explaining his bullish stance, Yao writes, “We believe there is upside to consensus driven by an extrapolation of margin beat into the next 2 quarters as a result of positive operating leverage (ad sequential recovery) and cost optimization particularly on traffic acquisition and content costs. We highlight the potential breakeven of AI Cloud in the upcoming 2-3 years as BIDU selectively focuses on the more profitable verticals that could offset the lower margins from ASD (Apollo self driving) as contribution kicks in from late-2023 onwards… We expect upward revisions to earnings estimates, which should in turn drive stock price upside.”
Most on Wall Street share Yao’s bullish sentiment; Out of 14 recent analyst reviews, 13 are positive, making for a Strong Buy consensus rating. The average target is a touch above Yao’s; at $207.71, investors are looking at 12-month upside of 47%. (See Baidu stock forecast on TipRanks)
Futu Holdings (FUTU)
Let’s have a look now at Chinese online brokerage platform Futu. The company is a market leader for online brokerage services in China, and in addition to the digitized brokerage, via its Futubull and moomoo platforms, the company offers online wealth management services. These offer access to mutual funds, private funds, and bonds, whilst also providing market data. Renowned for its social features, the platform provides users with a network that links them with companies, analysts, other investors and key opinion leaders.
China being such an enormous market, there’s potential for huge growth but being a financial tech company, it is also exposed to the whims of the Chinese regulator.
That is certainly a risk, but nevertheless, the revenues have been steadily increasing for the past 3 quarters. The Q2 results are hot out of the oven and show $222.6 million at the top-line, amounting to a 9.6% year-over-year increase.
Total number of paying clients grew by 38.6% y/y to 1.39 million, while total number of users rose by 20% from the same period last year to 18.6 million. At the bottom-line, GAAP EPADS of $0.57 just edged ahead of the $0.56 expected on Wall Street.
Assessing the print, J.P. Morgan’s Katherine Lei applauds the “strong business performance,” with several factors informing her positive view.
“First,” says the analyst, “Futu’s 2Q22 results beat expectations on the back of stable client growth, market share gain and a higher blended commission rate. Second, regulators in the US and China signed an agreement on cooperation in the inspection of China ADR stocks which partially eases de-listing risk, in our view. Third, our China Internet analyst Alex Yao expects China internet stocks to deliver further earnings beats in 3Q.”
As far as Lei’s is concerned, the results merit an upgrade; the rating moves from Neutral to Overweight (i.e. Buy), while the price target is nudged higher – from $55 to $62. The implication for investors? Upside of 28% from current levels. (To watch Lei’s track record, click here)
Turning now to the rest of the Street, where 3 other analysts back Lei’s stance, and with the addition of 1 Hold and Sell, each, the stock claims a Moderate Buy consensus rating. According to the $55.5 average target, there’s potential for ~14% growth in the year ahead. (See Futu stock forecast on TipRanks)
To find good ideas for Chinese stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/time-to-get-bullish-again-on-china-j-p-morgan-sees-buying-opportunity-in-these-2-chinese-stocks | 2022-09-02T18:14:24Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/time-to-get-bullish-again-on-china-j-p-morgan-sees-buying-opportunity-in-these-2-chinese-stocks | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea called the U.N.’s top expert on the country’s human rights “a puppet” of the United States, warning Friday that it won’t tolerate an American-led plot to use the rights issue to overthrow its political system.
North Korea’s government is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its rights record, viewing it as an attempt to slander and rattle its authoritarian rule of its 26 million people, most of whom have little access to foreign news.
Its comments come as Elizabeth Salmón, the U.N. special rapporteur on the North’s human rights, is making her first visit to South Korea this week to meet officials, activists and North Korean defectors since her appointment last month.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused Salmón of displaying “ignorance and biased vision” on the North. It also accused Washington of being behind Salmón’s mandate as part of an anti-North Korea scheme.
“The ‘human rights’ racket of the U.S. and other hostile forces … is nothing but the most politicized hostile means for tarnishing the dignified image of (North Korea),” it said in a statement. “(North Korea) will never pardon the U.S. and its vassal forces’ ‘human rights’ racket … which is aimed at overthrowing its social system.”
It repeated its earlier position that it will never recognize or deal with any U.N. special rapporteur on its human rights. Salmón’s predecessors were denied access to North Korea, which observers say has made it difficult for them to gather independent and credible information on rights abuses.
During a news conference in Seoul on Friday, Salmón said she was “fully aware that the lack of cooperation in that country is a challenge, no doubts about it.”
“But at the same time, you know, I have been reading a lot, studying a lot during this time and there has been 18 years of work. I am new but the mandate is not new,” she said.
Salmón said she will keep trying to engage with North Korea and expressed worries about its economic, food and other hardships amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We should not give up on engagement with (North Korea) because what is at stake are the lives of the North Korean people and their human rights,” she said.
In a new report circulated Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said North Korea has increased the repression of the rights and freedoms of its people and the U.N. Security Council should consider referring it to the International Criminal Court for possible crimes against humanity.
Salmón said her first report on North Korea’s rights issue will be presented to the U.N. General Assembly in late October.
North Korea remains under multiple rounds of U.N. sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs. During a meeting in Hawaii on Thursday, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and his South Korean and Japanese counterparts condemned North Korea’s continued development of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while the U.S. reaffirmed its “ironclad alliance commitments” to its two key Asian allies, according to a U.S. statement.
___
Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/ap-n-korea-calls-un-monitor-on-its-rights-issue-puppet-of-us/ | 2022-09-02T18:16:24Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/ap-n-korea-calls-un-monitor-on-its-rights-issue-puppet-of-us/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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Readers' Choice Awards | https://www.parrysound.com/whatson-story/10704045-fall-books-preview-now-that-it-s-september-here-are-the-40-plus-books-we-re-most-looking-forward-t/ | 2022-09-02T18:16:54Z | parrysound.com | control | https://www.parrysound.com/whatson-story/10704045-fall-books-preview-now-that-it-s-september-here-are-the-40-plus-books-we-re-most-looking-forward-t/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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Readers' Choice Awards | https://www.parrysound.com/whatson-story/10704280-katherine-harvey-s-debut-novel-quiet-time-think-the-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man-reima/ | 2022-09-02T18:17:00Z | parrysound.com | control | https://www.parrysound.com/whatson-story/10704280-katherine-harvey-s-debut-novel-quiet-time-think-the-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man-reima/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — Tuesday, Sept. 6, is the last day voters in Massachusetts can cast their ballot in the state and local primary elections.
Here’s what you need to know before making your choice:
How to Vote
Registered voters who want to cast their ballot in person can vote early or on Primary Election Day on Sept. 6. Early voting availability in Massachusetts varies by city and town. To find out how to vote early in your municipality, use the Secretary of State’s online tool.
Individuals who applied for mail-in voting can return their ballots using the United States Postal Service. Mail-in ballots must reach local elections offices by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Officials recommended that voters allow at least seven days for delivery through the mail. If you haven’t sent yours yet, the ballot can be dropped off at your local election office, an early voting location, or a ballot drop box.
Polling locations will not accept mail-in ballots on Election Day.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Key Local Races
Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced in December that they won’t seek reelection, so voters will be tasked with choosing their successors.
Governor
- Geoff Diehl (R)
- Chris Doughty (R)
- Maura Healey (D)
Lieutenant Governor
- Leah Allen (R)
- Kate Campanale (R)
- Kim Driscoll (D)
- Tami Gouveia (D)
- Eric Lesser (D)
Attorney General
- Andrea Campbell (D)
- Shannon Liss-Riordan (D)
- Jay McMahon (R)
Secretary of State
- William Galvin (D) [incumbent]
- Rayla Campbell (R)
- Tanisha Sullivan (D)
U.S. House District 4
- Jake Auchincloss (D) [incumbent]
U.S. House District 9
- Bill Keating (D) [incumbent]
- Jesse Brown (R)
- Dan Sullivan (R)
State Auditor
- Chris Dempsey
- Anthony Amore
- Diana DiZoglio
Bristol County Sheriff
- Thomas Hodgson (R) [incumbent]
- Nick Bernier (D)
- Paul Heroux (D)
- George McNeil Jr. (D) | https://www.wpri.com/news/elections/massachusetts-primary-everything-you-need-to-know/ | 2022-09-02T18:17:26Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/elections/massachusetts-primary-everything-you-need-to-know/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HYANNIS, Mass. (WPRI) — Barnstable police found a married couple dead inside their Hyannis home on Friday.
Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe said police responding to the Murrays Way home around 2:45 a.m. found Aline De Lima Ferreira De Castro and Luiz Castro Jr. dead.
The preliminary investigation suggests it was a murder-suicide, according to the DA.
Investigators believe Castro Jr. killed his wife with a knife and then hung himself.
Their two children, ages 7 and 11, were home at the time and are now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families, the DA said.
The incident remains under investigation. | https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/se-mass/da-hyannis-couple-died-in-murder-suicide/ | 2022-09-02T18:17:32Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/se-mass/da-hyannis-couple-died-in-murder-suicide/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Germany’s Sono Motors confirmed on Thursday that it has 20,000 direct consumer reservations for its upcoming Sion solar-supplemented EV that, if you don’t drive much, might seldom if ever cost you anything to “fuel.”
Sono says that the Sion, which is due to be produced by Valmet Automotive in Finland starting in the second half of 2023, has the potential to be the world’s first solar electric vehicle “for the masses.”
Its price fits that billing. The Sion costs 29,900 euros ($29,700), and the company notes that after subsidies in its home market its “net sales price point” is just 25,126 euros ($25,000). The company plans to build 257,000 of them over a seven-year period.
In July, Sono revealed the production-ready Sion. Versus previous prototypes, it has revised exterior and interior styling, and the headlights, taillights, door handles, and rear fascia are new, as is the charge port. Inside, the seats and steering wheel were swapped for different designs, and the interior was reconfigured for more space.
In production form, the Sion will be able to add an average of 70 miles of range per week from its 456 solar half-cells, or 152 miles in ideal conditions, charging up its 54-kwh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack to 190 miles of range, potentially. The Sion also has 75-kw DC fast charging and can function as a home power bank with 11-kw AC bidirectional capability.
The Sion isn’t the only car incorporating solar. But the Sion is noteworthy for being the only production model, aiming for mass production, that uses every body panel for solar energy. It will also be one of the first to do it while selling in volume.
By 2025, the Netherlands-based company Lightyear plans to expand beyond its expensive Lightyear 0 niche model, with a Lightyear Two. Aptera is claiming up to 1,000 miles of range in its “never-charge” three-wheeler, which won’t actually be considered a car.
There are also more upcoming affordable models claiming to incorporate a solar roof—the Fisker Pear EV, for instance.
The Sion is of note as it takes on a format that mainstream automakers have balked about producing: an affordable urban EV, with solar supplementation, with a tall body and spacious cabin that might make it perfect for ride-hailing.
In the U.S., affordable EV options are limited, and the lower-priced EVs are hardly technology leaders. Perhaps, with the supply chain changes prompted by the revamped EV tax credit, this may change. If no other company steps up, it’s possible a later version or model from Sono might work Stateside, although Sono told Green Car Reports in 2019 that to save development costs the initial car was designed entirely for Europe.
Sono could expand its reach in the commercial sector more easily, though. In July, Sono announced its Solar Bus Kit, which is “a standardized, scalable retrofit solution for diesel buses.” Then later this month, at the IAA Transportation show in Hanover, Germany, it’s due to detail this tech and show several more solar-integrated prototypes, including refrigerated trailers, e-buses, and e-transporters.
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- Rivian electric trucks will automatically level with new Camp Mode feature | https://www.wspa.com/automotive/internet-brands/sono-hits-20000-reservations-for-its-30000-sion-solar-ev/ | 2022-09-02T18:22:15Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/automotive/internet-brands/sono-hits-20000-reservations-for-its-30000-sion-solar-ev/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Columbus police came under criticism Thursday for the killing of a man who was lying on his bed when an officer attempting to serve warrants fatally shot him, as a lawyer representing the slain man’s family demanded immediate changes to policing in the city and promised a lawsuit.
Not enough has happened in Ohio’s capital city to alter policing practices despite several instances of white officers in the city shooting Black people, added attorney Rex Elliott, representing the family of Donovan Lewis, the Black man killed Tuesday.
“How many more lives are going to be lost to this type of reckless activity? How many more young Black lives will be lost?” Elliott said at a press event attended by multiple members of Lewis’ family.
“How many more families like Donovan’s will need to appear at news conferences like this one before our leaders do enough to put a stop to these barbaric killings?” Elliott said.
The U.S. Justice Department agreed in 2021 to review Columbus police department practices after a series of fatal police shootings of Black people — including the April 2021 killing of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant — and the city’s response to 2020 racial injustice protests.
In addition, a three-year police contract approved last year provided $200,000 buyouts for up to 100 officers with at least 25 years of experience, with a goal of clearing the decks of employees who might not be on board with the department’s new direction.
“If you’re going to police in the city of Columbus, you have to buy into the vision and leadership of Chief Bryant around change and reform,” Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said at the time.
The city also approved a first-ever civilian review board. Elliott acknowledged these actions, but said it’s not enough.
“Whatever they’re doing, it’s not working,” Elliott said.
Elliott questioned on Thursday the speed of the shooting, which appears in bodycam footage to happen within a second or less of Officer Ricky Anderson opening the door to a bedroom where Lewis slept. Elliott made the point in criticizing suggestions by the police chief that Lewis had something in his hand when he was shot. No weapon was found.
“There is absolutely no way in the timeframe between when the door was opened and the gun was fired that Officer Anderson perceived a potential gun in his hand, got through to his brain, and then reacted by shooting his weapon,” Elliott said.
Lewis, 20, died at a hospital following the shooting early Tuesday morning. Columbus police say officers had gone to the apartment around 2 a.m. to arrest Lewis on multiple warrants including domestic violence, assault and felony improper handling of a firearm. Lewis was Black and the officers were white.
Police took two other men in the apartment into custody without incident. A police dog was unleashed in the apartment during the search.
Police bodycam footage shows Anderson opening a bedroom door in an apartment and in a second or less shooting Lewis, who was in bed. Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant has said Lewis appeared to be holding a vape pen before he was shot, a notion disputed by Elliott.
Bryant has not addressed whether police believed the device was a weapon, a determination that will come during the probe by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Anderson has been placed on leave under city procedure.
In the bodycam footage, Anderson is seen after the shooting raising a hand in demonstration to another officer and saying Lewis lifted his hand “like this.”
Elliott disputed this version of events, saying it’s unclear from the bodycam footage if Lewis was holding anything. He said Anderson shot well before he could have perceived a threat.
The investigation must look at “the totality of the circumstances,” Mark Collins, an attorney representing Anderson, said Thursday.
In such cases, “we are expressly forbidden from using 20/20 hindsight, because unlike all of us, officers are not afforded the luxury of armchair reflection when they are faced with rapidly evolving, volatile encounters in dangerous situations,” Collins said.
In his remarks, Elliott also questioned the need for an early-morning operation. “The reality is that felony warrants are executed every day in daylight hours,” he said.
Bryant has said the city is committed to holding officers responsible if there was any wrongdoing but the state investigation needs to play out.
Ginther, who hired Bryant last year, has said that “regardless of the circumstances, a mother has lost her son in the city of Columbus.”
Elliott said he plans a civil lawsuit in the future against Anderson and the city.
In May 2021, Columbus reached a $10 million settlement with the family of Andre Hill, shot and killed in December 2020 as he emerged from a garage holding his cellphone. Officer Adam Coy has pleaded not guilty to murder charges and is set for trial in November.
In December, the city agreed to pay $5.75 million to people injured during the 2020 racial injustice and police brutality protests.
___
This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Ma’Khia Bryant’s first name. | https://www.wspa.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-lawyer-ohio-mans-police-shooting-death-reckless-senseless/ | 2022-09-02T18:22:44Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-lawyer-ohio-mans-police-shooting-death-reckless-senseless/ | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | 38 |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Columbus police came under criticism Thursday for the killing of a man who was lying on his bed when an officer attempting to serve warrants fatally shot him, as a lawyer representing the slain man’s family demanded immediate changes to policing in the city and promised a lawsuit.
Not enough has happened in Ohio’s capital city to alter policing practices despite several instances of white officers in the city shooting Black people, added attorney Rex Elliott, representing the family of Donovan Lewis, the Black man killed Tuesday.
“How many more lives are going to be lost to this type of reckless activity? How many more young Black lives will be lost?” Elliott said at a press event attended by multiple members of Lewis’ family.
“How many more families like Donovan’s will need to appear at news conferences like this one before our leaders do enough to put a stop to these barbaric killings?” Elliott said.
The U.S. Justice Department agreed in 2021 to review Columbus police department practices after a series of fatal police shootings of Black people — including the April 2021 killing of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant — and the city’s response to 2020 racial injustice protests.
In addition, a three-year police contract approved last year provided $200,000 buyouts for up to 100 officers with at least 25 years of experience, with a goal of clearing the decks of employees who might not be on board with the department’s new direction.
“If you’re going to police in the city of Columbus, you have to buy into the vision and leadership of Chief Bryant around change and reform,” Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said at the time.
The city also approved a first-ever civilian review board. Elliott acknowledged these actions, but said it’s not enough.
“Whatever they’re doing, it’s not working,” Elliott said.
Elliott questioned on Thursday the speed of the shooting, which appears in bodycam footage to happen within a second or less of Officer Ricky Anderson opening the door to a bedroom where Lewis slept. Elliott made the point in criticizing suggestions by the police chief that Lewis had something in his hand when he was shot. No weapon was found.
“There is absolutely no way in the timeframe between when the door was opened and the gun was fired that Officer Anderson perceived a potential gun in his hand, got through to his brain, and then reacted by shooting his weapon,” Elliott said.
Lewis, 20, died at a hospital following the shooting early Tuesday morning. Columbus police say officers had gone to the apartment around 2 a.m. to arrest Lewis on multiple warrants including domestic violence, assault and felony improper handling of a firearm. Lewis was Black and the officers were white.
Police took two other men in the apartment into custody without incident. A police dog was unleashed in the apartment during the search.
Police bodycam footage shows Anderson opening a bedroom door in an apartment and in a second or less shooting Lewis, who was in bed. Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant has said Lewis appeared to be holding a vape pen before he was shot, a notion disputed by Elliott.
Bryant has not addressed whether police believed the device was a weapon, a determination that will come during the probe by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Anderson has been placed on leave under city procedure.
In the bodycam footage, Anderson is seen after the shooting raising a hand in demonstration to another officer and saying Lewis lifted his hand “like this.”
Elliott disputed this version of events, saying it’s unclear from the bodycam footage if Lewis was holding anything. He said Anderson shot well before he could have perceived a threat.
The investigation must look at “the totality of the circumstances,” Mark Collins, an attorney representing Anderson, said Thursday.
In such cases, “we are expressly forbidden from using 20/20 hindsight, because unlike all of us, officers are not afforded the luxury of armchair reflection when they are faced with rapidly evolving, volatile encounters in dangerous situations,” Collins said.
In his remarks, Elliott also questioned the need for an early-morning operation. “The reality is that felony warrants are executed every day in daylight hours,” he said.
Bryant has said the city is committed to holding officers responsible if there was any wrongdoing but the state investigation needs to play out.
Ginther, who hired Bryant last year, has said that “regardless of the circumstances, a mother has lost her son in the city of Columbus.”
Elliott said he plans a civil lawsuit in the future against Anderson and the city.
In May 2021, Columbus reached a $10 million settlement with the family of Andre Hill, shot and killed in December 2020 as he emerged from a garage holding his cellphone. Officer Adam Coy has pleaded not guilty to murder charges and is set for trial in November.
In December, the city agreed to pay $5.75 million to people injured during the 2020 racial injustice and police brutality protests.
___
This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Ma’Khia Bryant’s first name. | https://www.wspa.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-lawyer-ohio-mans-police-shooting-death-reckless-senseless/ | 2022-09-02T18:22:44Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-lawyer-ohio-mans-police-shooting-death-reckless-senseless/ | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | 38 |
NEW YORK (AP) — Welcome to the worst month of the year for Wall Street.
Since 1950, September has brought an average loss of 0.5% for the S&P 500. That’s 10 times worse than the next-worst month, February.
September is also the only month of the year over that span to turn in a loss more often than a gain. Other months see the S&P 500 rise more than three times out of five.
Stretch the horizon even further, back to 1928 to include a world war, the Great Depression and completely different types of economies, and September is still the most frequent stinker for Wall Street.
No clear reason explains September’s struggle, though many hypotheses try. One suggests the return of many professional investors from summer vacations may add to the selling pressure, for example.
Last year, the S&P 500 fell 4.8% in September for its first loss in eight months. At the time, worries were brewing about when the Federal Reserve would take its foot off the economic stimulus accelerator.
It’s not always so. Two years earlier, a solid September gain helped to virtually reverse an August swoon. And in 2010, when the economy was climbing back from the Great Recession, September was the best month of the year for stocks.
This year’s September has plenty of big events circled on the calendar that could yield more big swings for a market that’s already been beset by them. Chief among them is the Federal Reserve’s meeting on interest-rate policy Sept. 20-21. It’s almost certain to raise its benchmark short-term rate for the fifth time this year. The only question is by how much.
Several reports on the economy before that crucial meeting could alter the Fed’s thinking ahead of that meeting, including August hiring data due Friday and a report on inflation due Sept. 13. | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-when-autumn-leaves-start-to-fall-will-wall-street-follow/ | 2022-09-02T18:23:45Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-when-autumn-leaves-start-to-fall-will-wall-street-follow/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Coast Guard Academy officials and a lawyer for several cadets are disputing each other’s accounts of what happened to seven students before and after they were forced to leave the Connecticut campus last month after refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The New London academy said in a statement Thursday that school officials helped the seven cadets make travel arrangements and “funded travel to the location of their choice.” Officials also said all seven cadets are living in safe locations, either having returned to their families or staying with families of other cadets.
The statement contradicted comments made earlier this week by Michael Rose, a lawyer for several of the cadets. Rose told The Day newspaper that school officials did not help the students with travel arrangements, did not give them any money for travel and that one of the cadets was forced to live in his truck because he is estranged from his family.
The academy disenrolled the seven cadets last month for failing to comply with the military’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate, after their requests for religious exemptions were denied earlier this year. The cadets, whose names have not been released, were required to leave the campus by Aug. 19.
Cmdr. Krystyn Pecora, an academy spokesperson, acknowledged later Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press that the academy did not give the cadets travel funds before they left campus, but rather will reimburse them later when the cadets file their expenses, per the school’s general travel expense policy.
Pecora also said officials were surprised to learn about the cadet who Rose said was forced to live in his truck, saying the student told officials he would be living with a fellow cadet’s family.
Rose said the student lived in his truck for four days while he figured out where he was going to live, because he could not stay with his family due to an ongoing dispute. Rose further said the student had informed academy officials that he had nowhere to go before leaving campus. The cadet is now staying with a high school friend in another state.
The academy also said in its statement Thursday that all seven cadets left the school “at their own convenience” throughout the day on Aug. 19, based on their individual travel arrangements. Rose had said the cadets “were escorted to the gate like they were criminals or something.”
Rose, who is based in Summerville, South Carolina, acknowledged Thursday that he was wrong about officials escorting cadets off campus. But he said officials had threatened to have armed guards take one of the cadets off campus if he didn’t leave by Aug. 19.
The academy noted that though the students are disenrolled, they have not yet been formally separated from the Coast Guard and are continuing to receive benefits and pay — about $1,600 a month, minus certain expenses including uniforms and books. It was not clear how long the separations will take.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last year made the COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for service members, including those at the military academies, saying the vaccine is critical to maintaining military readiness and the health of the force. Several lawsuits are challenging that mandate, including two in South Carolina and Texas involving some of the Coast Guard Academy cadets that Rose represents, as well as cadets from other academies.
The seven Coast Guard academy cadets filed for religious exemptions to the vaccination mandate in September 2021. They were told in March that their applications were rejected. They appealed that decision, but were denied in May and ordered to report to the academy clinic for vaccination, the academy said.
The seven cadets ultimately refused to follow that order and were told in June that they would be disenrolled for failing to follow the mandate and vaccination orders. They appealed their disenrollments, but were notified on Aug. 15 that their appeals were denied. The students were then told to leave campus by Aug. 19, the academy said.
Rose said the students were told on Aug. 18 that they had to leave campus the next day, and many scrambled to make arrangements. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-accounts-differ-in-unvaccinated-coast-guard-cadet-departures/ | 2022-09-02T18:23:51Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-accounts-differ-in-unvaccinated-coast-guard-cadet-departures/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — In a failed attempt to bar the admission into evidence several swastikas Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz drew on assignments, his attorneys made an unusual argument Thursday at his penalty trial: he was an equal opportunity killer who shot his victims without regard to race or religion.
The attorneys told Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer outside the jury’s presence that the Nazi symbol creates such strong anger and revulsion that allowing the panel to see those drawings violates his right to a fair trial because there is no evidence that his 2018 murder of 17 people at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High was driven by bigotry. Those killed and the 17 wounded included white, Black, Hispanic and Asian people, Christians and Jews.
They also listed the numerous times they asked Scherer before jury selection to rule on whether the swastikas would be admitted, saying her failure affected the questions they asked prospective jurors and their trial strategy. They asked for a mistrial, which Scherer angrily rejected, calling their argument “disingenuous.”
She and prosecutors pointed out that the defense was not against admitting drawings Cruz made that included a gross slur used against Black people, which they said is equally offensive. The 12 jurors and 10 alternates include people who are white, Black, Asian and Hispanic.
Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty in October; the trial will only determine whether he is sentenced to death or life without parole. The jury must be unanimous to impose a death sentence.
His public defenders are in their second week of presenting testimony about Cruz’s troubled life— from his birth to a crack-addicted, hard-drinking prostitute who put him up for adoption to a childhood filled with emotional and psychological problems that witnesses said were never adequately addressed.
Their strategy is aimed at counteracting the emotional, gruesome and graphic evidence and testimony the prosecution presented over three weeks as it laid out the killings and how Cruz planned the attack.
The swastikas were drawn on English assignments presented by the defense — they wanted the symbols blacked out while maintaining other troubling drawings they contained. After Scherer rejected the lawyers’ attempt to redact the swastikas, they still presented the assignments. The jury saw the swastikas, but neither side singled them out.
The assignments were given by Carrie Yon, who taught Cruz in eighth grade at Westglades Middle School four years before the shooting. Cruz had been in special education classes for his behavior problems, but was now being allowed into some mainstream classes like Yon’s.
Yon testified Thursday she usually returned a student’s material, but kept Cruz’s because she wanted to document his behavior thinking it might be needed at some point. She also made contemporaneous notes. She turned the material over to the lawyers after the shootings.
On assignments shown in court Thursday, Cruz wrote obscenities and gay slurs and drew photos of stick figures shooting each other and having sex. He once wrote to Yon, “I hate you. I hate America.”
She said Cruz would yell in class, flash his middle fingers, throw objects and make threats. He once told her “You better give me a good grade on this assignment” and another time lunged at her and then laughed. He hit other children during one fire drill and ran into the street in another, almost getting struck by a car.
She tried working with Cruz by giving him candy and compliments when he behaved. One time, she praised him for doing his assignment, telling him she knew he could be a good student. He replied, “I’m a bad kid. I want to kill.”
On one assessment, Yon wrote, “I strongly feel Nikolas is a danger to the students and faculty at this school. He does not understand the difference between his violent feelings and reality.”
She said she originally thought Cruz wanted attention from teachers and other students, but eventually believed he wanted to get kicked out of Westglades because he had no friends and couldn’t do the work.
She frequently complained about Cruz to administrators and showed them his assignments, but some were not helpful. She said one told her, “He has a right to an education. He has a right to be here like any other kid.”
A special education teacher told Yon she was too fearful of Cruz, that she needed to “get in his face” and tell him, “Hit me, go ahead and hit me.” She refused to do that.
When asked if in her 12 years as a teacher if she ever had another student who acted like Cruz, she had a simple response.
“No.”
John Vesey, the then-Westglades principal, said in 35 years in education he also never had another student like Cruz.
“He was a much more needy kid than any kid I had ever seen,” Vesey said.
Before the end of eighth grade, Cruz was sent to a school, Cross Creek, that is for students with emotional and disciplinary problems. Cruz did relatively well there, which allowed him to eventually attend Stoneman Douglas. He was expelled from there a year before the shooting.
Vesey said success at Cross Creek is not necessarily predictive that a student like Cruz will succeed at a school like Stoneman Douglas with more than 3,000 students.
Cross Creek is “150 kids with support built in and you can make sure they are much more medication compliant,” Vesey said.
Vesey wishes he had warned Stoneman Douglas administrators about Cruz before he arrived.
“I feel very guilty about it,” he said. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-judge-jury-can-see-swastikas-school-shooter-drew-in-class/ | 2022-09-02T18:24:13Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-judge-jury-can-see-swastikas-school-shooter-drew-in-class/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
President Biden on Friday tried to walk back some of the fiery political rhetoric from his primetime speech in Philadelphia a night earlier, denying that he attacked Donald Trump voters despite having repeatedly slammed “MAGA Republicans” allied with the former president.
“Do you consider all Trump supporters to be a threat to this country?” a reporter asked Biden at the end of his only scheduled public remarks of the day.
“Come on, look, guys, you keep trying to make that case. I don’t consider any Trump supporter to be a threat to the country,” Biden said.
“I do think anyone who calls for the use of violence, fails to condemn violence when it is used, refuses to acknowledge when an election has been won, insists upon changing the way in which they can count votes, that is a threat to democracy.”
Biden added, “When people voted for Donald Trump and support him now, they weren’t voting for attacking the Capitol, they weren’t voting for overruling an election, they were voting for a philosophy he put forward.
“So I am not talking about anything other than that it is inappropriate and it is not only happening here, but other parts of the world — the failure to recognize and condemn violence whenever it is used for political purposes, failure to condemn any attempt to manipulate election outcomes, failure to acknowledge when an election has been won or lost.”
Biden on Friday appeared to be walking back his fiery rhetoric from just hours earlier despite saying in Philadelphia that “the Republican Party today is dominated, driven and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans. And that is a threat to this country.”
The president’s strident, 24-minute speech outside Independence Hall featured three uses of Trump’s name and 13 mentions of his “MAGA” — or Make America Great Again — political movement.
“MAGA Republicans have made their choice. They embrace anger. They thrive on chaos. They live not in the light of truth, but in the shadow of lies. Together, we can choose a different path,” Biden said in the speech.
Last week, the president said support for his predecessor, who is openly considering a 2024 White House run, amounts to “semi-fascism.”
“What we’re seeing now is either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA philosophy,” Biden said at a Maryland fundraiser. “It’s not just Trump, it’s the entire philosophy that underpins the — I’m going to say something, it’s like semi-fascism.”
Republican leaders slammed Biden for what they called an attack on the 74 million Americans who voted for Trump in 2020.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Thursday, “When the president speaks tonight at Independence Hall, the first lines out of his mouth should be to apologize for slandering tens of millions of Americans as ‘fascists.'” | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/biden-walks-back-attacks-on-trump-voters-in-anti-maga-speech/ | 2022-09-02T18:25:29Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/biden-walks-back-attacks-on-trump-voters-in-anti-maga-speech/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens are making a feathered addition to their injured reserve list.
In a video posted on Twitter on Thursday, coach John Harbaugh announced that Poe, the team’s bird mascot, was going on IR. Poe was carted off the field at halftime of the Ravens’ preseason game against Washington last weekend. Poe was joined by other mascots for a halftime game before being injured.
On Sunday, the Ravens tweeted a picture of the mascot with ice on his left knee, saying he was “resting comfortably in his perch awaiting further test results.”
In his video Thursday, Harbaugh said Poe had a season-ending injury to his drumstick, and the team would find a replacement.
“We’re going to get right into evaluating our options and see where we go next,” Harbaugh said. “See if we can find somebody to replace Poe.”
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.wspa.com/news/weird-news/ap-ravens-mascot-headed-to-ir-with-drumstick-injury/ | 2022-09-02T18:25:53Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/weird-news/ap-ravens-mascot-headed-to-ir-with-drumstick-injury/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Luxury Travel Advisor LTA Ultra Summit Travel Agent Central Travel Agent University Navigating Your Travel Business Hotels Cruises Your Business People Destinations Europe North America Caribbean Mexico & Latin America Asia Africa & Indian Ocean Middle East Australia & New Zealand South Pacific Antarctica & Arctic Tours Transport Resources Webinars Deals e-Learning Quizzes Subscribe What are you searching for? Enclose phrases in quotes. Use a + to require a term in results and - to exclude terms. Example: +water -Europe Subscribe Hotels Cruises Your Business People Destinations Europe North America Caribbean Mexico & Latin America Asia Africa & Indian Ocean Middle East Australia & New Zealand South Pacific Antarctica & Arctic Tours Transport Resources Webinars Deals e-Learning Quizzes Subscribe Luxury Travel Advisor LTA Ultra Summit Travel Agent Central Travel Agent University Navigating Your Travel Business | https://www.travelagentcentral.com/destinations/ikon-pass-adds-two-new-destinations-winter-2022-23 | 2022-09-02T18:26:54Z | travelagentcentral.com | control | https://www.travelagentcentral.com/destinations/ikon-pass-adds-two-new-destinations-winter-2022-23 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Luxury Travel Advisor LTA Ultra Summit Travel Agent Central Travel Agent University Navigating Your Travel Business Hotels Cruises Your Business People Destinations Europe North America Caribbean Mexico & Latin America Asia Africa & Indian Ocean Middle East Australia & New Zealand South Pacific Antarctica & Arctic Tours Transport Resources Webinars Deals e-Learning Quizzes Subscribe What are you searching for? Enclose phrases in quotes. Use a + to require a term in results and - to exclude terms. Example: +water -Europe Subscribe Hotels Cruises Your Business People Destinations Europe North America Caribbean Mexico & Latin America Asia Africa & Indian Ocean Middle East Australia & New Zealand South Pacific Antarctica & Arctic Tours Transport Resources Webinars Deals e-Learning Quizzes Subscribe Luxury Travel Advisor LTA Ultra Summit Travel Agent Central Travel Agent University Navigating Your Travel Business | https://www.travelagentcentral.com/hotels/golden-rock-resort-hires-director-sales-marketing | 2022-09-02T18:26:59Z | travelagentcentral.com | control | https://www.travelagentcentral.com/hotels/golden-rock-resort-hires-director-sales-marketing | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Luxury Travel Advisor LTA Ultra Summit Travel Agent Central Travel Agent University Navigating Your Travel Business Hotels Cruises Your Business People Destinations Europe North America Caribbean Mexico & Latin America Asia Africa & Indian Ocean Middle East Australia & New Zealand South Pacific Antarctica & Arctic Tours Transport Resources Webinars Deals e-Learning Quizzes Subscribe What are you searching for? Enclose phrases in quotes. Use a + to require a term in results and - to exclude terms. Example: +water -Europe Subscribe Hotels Cruises Your Business People Destinations Europe North America Caribbean Mexico & Latin America Asia Africa & Indian Ocean Middle East Australia & New Zealand South Pacific Antarctica & Arctic Tours Transport Resources Webinars Deals e-Learning Quizzes Subscribe Luxury Travel Advisor LTA Ultra Summit Travel Agent Central Travel Agent University Navigating Your Travel Business | https://www.travelagentcentral.com/hotels/melia-and-falcons-announce-falcons-resorts-melia | 2022-09-02T18:26:59Z | travelagentcentral.com | control | https://www.travelagentcentral.com/hotels/melia-and-falcons-announce-falcons-resorts-melia | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Luxury Travel Advisor LTA Ultra Summit Travel Agent Central Travel Agent University Navigating Your Travel Business Hotels Cruises Your Business People Destinations Europe North America Caribbean Mexico & Latin America Asia Africa & Indian Ocean Middle East Australia & New Zealand South Pacific Antarctica & Arctic Tours Transport Resources Webinars Deals e-Learning Quizzes Subscribe What are you searching for? Enclose phrases in quotes. Use a + to require a term in results and - to exclude terms. Example: +water -Europe Subscribe Hotels Cruises Your Business People Destinations Europe North America Caribbean Mexico & Latin America Asia Africa & Indian Ocean Middle East Australia & New Zealand South Pacific Antarctica & Arctic Tours Transport Resources Webinars Deals e-Learning Quizzes Subscribe Luxury Travel Advisor LTA Ultra Summit Travel Agent Central Travel Agent University Navigating Your Travel Business | https://www.travelagentcentral.com/your-business/week-review-agencies-make-big-moves-industry-awards-bestowed | 2022-09-02T18:26:59Z | travelagentcentral.com | control | https://www.travelagentcentral.com/your-business/week-review-agencies-make-big-moves-industry-awards-bestowed | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The City of Juneau and cruise lines in the form of the industry representing organization CLIA have signed a new agreement. The parties agreed on several initiatives that will lessen the impact that cruise ships have on the local environment and inhabitants of the city.
The agreement will ensure the local community and the cruise lines that depend on the port have a clear pathway to continue their partnership, which includes supporting local businesses, lessening the waste deposits, and enforcing the enjoyment for cruise ship visitors to the area.
Juneau and Cruise Lines Sign New Agreement
Based on recommendations made by the local Visitor Industry Task Force (VITF), the City of Juneau and member companies of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), signed a new agreement to help manage the visitor industry impacts in the popular cruise destination.
The task force made several recommendations back in 2020, which have now been put to the cruise lines, and include initiatives to support local businesses, strengthen the visitor experience, and protect the quality of life in the community.
Over the last years, there has always been considerable criticism of the cruise lines to ensure they not only profit from the beautiful Alaskan landscapes but also consider how they operate in the areas. This has led to several initiatives, including the new memorandum. While not binding, there are several new rules that will impact cruise traffic in the area.
Cruise Lines have committed to eliminating the disposal of large bulk waste and minimizing the waste streams that quickly fill up the limited Juneau landfill. Cruise ships will also be turning off large screens on the outside decks when in port and when sailing in view of the city’s neighborhoods.
In times of drought, cruise ships will also be limited in taking on fresh drinking water. The cruise lines have pledged to work on the strategic docking of vessels to minimize congestion. There are up to six port calls daily to Juneau during the summer, so these pledges will undoubtedly help reduce congestion in the city.
Renée Limoge Reeve, Vice President of Government and Community Relations at CLIA: “CLIA member lines have made tremendous advancements in sustainable tourism and destination stewardship across the globe and remain committed to being good partners with the communities we visit in Alaska. This MOA is a demonstration of that and will continue to strengthen the relationship between the community and the cruise industry,”
Supporting the Local Communities
Several other initiatives will see more interaction between cruise lines and local businesses.
With thousands of people dependent on the cruise industry for their income in the Alaskan summer, cooperation between cruise lines and local businesses is imperative.
Under the new agreement, the cruise lines have pledged their support for up to $10 million in cruise ship passenger taxes for the proposed expansion of the Centennial Hall convention center.
“Throughout this process, we have appreciated the cruise lines’ open dialogue, receptivity to community needs, and dedication to collaboration,” said Alexandra Pierce, CBJ Tourism Manager. “We’re looking forward to future agreements that advance community goals and address concerns while preserving a sustainable visitor industry.”
Significant investments will also be made to enable cruise ships to use shore power, which will significantly reduce the amount of exhaust fumes during port calls in Juneau.
The agreement sees a significant shift away from the issues that arose around cruise ship traffic in 2016. At the time, the cruise association CLIA sued the city over its collection and use of cruise passenger taxes. After a ruling, the town and CLIA have worked together to improve the working relationship and how tax money collected would be spent.
In the last weeks, several initiatives have regulated how the cruise industry operates in Alaska. On July 30, the cruise industry and Glacier Bay announced a new program for inspections on cruise ships in Glacier Bay, following several years where cruise ships were left unchecked. | https://www.cruisehive.com/major-cruise-destination-in-alaska-signs-agreement-with-cruise-lines/80464 | 2022-09-02T18:30:53Z | cruisehive.com | control | https://www.cruisehive.com/major-cruise-destination-in-alaska-signs-agreement-with-cruise-lines/80464 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Ons Jabeur had to come from behind to reach the second week of the US Open for the first time. The No.5 seed defeated No.31 Shelby Rogers 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Jabeur, who reached her first major final at Wimbledon this year, has now reached the second week at each of the Grand Slams -- and six times in total. Her previous best showings at Flushing Meadows were a trio of third-round runs between 2019 and 2021.
Even though Jabeur had beaten Rogers in both of their previous encounters, the American has developed a reputation as a giant-killer. She was bidding for her eighth Top 10 win and fourth on the Grand Slam stage. Last year, Rogers ousted World No.1 Ashleigh Barty in the third round of the US Open. A month ago, she reached her first WTA 500 final in San Jose, cracking the Top 30 as a result.
But Jabeur showed grit as well as touch to come through a thoroughly entertaining affair that featured its share of all-court exchanges and crowd-pleasing winners. After pausing to be sick courtside before the final game, she withstood a last-ditch fightback from Rogers to convert her sixth match point.
Welcome to Round 4 of the #USOpen, @Ons_Jabeur! pic.twitter.com/eCRAhhSLXD
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2022
Turning point: For much of the first two sets, Rogers had the measure of Jabeur. The Tunisian threw everything she had at her opponent, but Rogers was repeatedly able to anticipate, track down and turn defense into attack. In the first set, momentum shifted back and forth throughout, with Rogers winning two multi-deuce tussles at its start then winning eight of the last 10 points from 4-4.
The pattern continued into the second set, but an improvement in Jabeur's first serve percentage from 55% to 67% enabled her to weather Rogers' shot-making. This time, it was her turn to make her move at 4-4, diving for a spectacular backhand winner off a finely angled Rogers counter-drop. Consecutive double faults from Rogers coughed up the only break of the set, and Jabeur served it out to force a third.
how 😮
— wta (@WTA) September 2, 2022
oh wait, it's @Ons_Jabeur 😅#USOpenpic.twitter.com/qzIHNcVoKd
Rogers, who received treatment on her right arm between the second and third sets, ultimately lost five games in a row from 4-3 up in the second set. Her game subsided into a cascade of unforced errors at the start of the third set -- Rogers committed 19 in the decider in total -- and Jabeur quickly found herself with a 5-1 lead.
Rogers rediscovered her shot-making prowess with her back to the wall, saving five match points in that game and then breaking Jabeur as she served for the match. But the deficit was too much to make up, and four cheap forehand errors from Rogers in the next game put Jabeur over the line.
What's next for Jabeur: She will bid for her fourth career major quarterfinal, with a match against No.18 seed Veronika Kudermetova, who raced through the quickest match of the tournament so far, defeating Dalma Galfi 6-2, 6-0 in just 46 minutes.
After breaking Galfi for 3-2 in the first set, Kudermetova dropped just four further points. A 16-point streak ended the first set and started the second, and a 13-point streak finished the match. Kudermetova tallied 15 winners to six unforced errors and won all 24 of her first-serve points.
Kudermetova, whose quarterfinal run at Roland Garros this year was her first Grand Slam second-week appearance, is also in the fourth round at the US Open for the first time. | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2776151/jabeur-outlasts-rogers-to-make-fourth-round-of-us-open | 2022-09-02T18:32:28Z | wtatennis.com | control | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2776151/jabeur-outlasts-rogers-to-make-fourth-round-of-us-open | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Last week, Oprah hosted a three-day celebration in Maui in honor of her dear friend Ava DuVernay’s 50th birthday. Relive the first and second days of the festivities to get started, and read on to get the scoop on the grand finale.
In 2005, Oprah kicked off her iconic Legends Ball with a private luncheon (where the legends, such as Dr. Maya Angelou, Coretta Scott King, and Diana Ross, met the “young ’uns,” like Alicia Keys, Halle Berry, and Mariah Carey), then followed it with a marvelous white-tie ball, and concluded the festivities with a gospel brunch Jesus himself would’ve attended. So it was no surprise that friend Ava DuVernay’s 50th birthday turned into a three-day celebration, because like Oprah says, “I don’t believe in one-day parties.”
After Oprah hosted two days of divine food, life lessons, and tons of laughs in Maui, how could day three be any better? Learn about the perfect brunch guests enjoyed, their scenic hike with mountain views of Maui, and a “war” over the best-tasting burgers.
Farm-to-Table Brunch
Before diving into brunch, Oprah asked everyone to have one minute of stillness to really take in their Maui location. “One of the reasons I love this space so much is it doesn’t just get quiet; it gets still. You can feel the stillness. I believe we are human beings carrying on a consciousness of stillness, when we can still ourselves. So for this morning’s grace, I would just ask for one minute of stillness,” Oprah said.
Chef Kenny from Silkie’s Chicken and Champagne Bar spearheaded the brunch. He and his team prepared a “beautiful farm brunch” that brought a little Jacksonville, Florida, to Maui by including Silkie’s Chicken and Champagne Bar’s signature chicken and biscuits. “For those of you who don’t want to partake in all of this food, we have a lovely salad from the farm, but today I’m eating a biscuit,” Oprah said joyously.
Their brunch was quite literally farm-to-table: Everything—from the broccoli to the butter lettuce, guava, cauliflower, carrots, kale, cranberry beans, and purple and white potatoes—came directly from Oprah’s garden.
Taking in Scenic Maui on a Hike
When Oprah mentioned the hike, some guests were not sure if they were up for the challenge. Oprah assured them that the hike would be worth it and not as physically taxing as they may have thought. “You’ll have no more than seven minutes of steady incline, and that incline is really easy. I promise.” Oprah told them.
Armed with their freshly picked Artesano hats to protect them from the sun, the crew of 20 followed Lady O through her hiking trail for the next hour. When DuVernay and Gayle came up the hill visibly tired, they humorously voiced their frustration with Oprah that they felt bamboozled, as they thought the hike would be only seven minutes in total.
“Burger Wars” with a Side of Great Music
What’s an August pool party without burgers? Guests were able to enjoy an assortment of burgers next to the water with great music. Oprah said, “The music has been incredible. DJ Trauma, you took us back. You took us forward. You took us here.”
Chef Kenny prepared traditional beef burgers, as well as turkey and veggie burgers. For adventurous eaters, there was a shrimp-and-crab-cake burger with Asian slaw and curry mayo. Oprah was particularly excited about the truffle fries.
It was easy for guests to get caught up in the food and fun and forget that their once-in-a- lifetime trip was coming to a close, so Oprah encouraged them to look for their final Maui sunset at 6:48 p.m.
DuVernay thanked Oprah once again for the three-day trip to paradise. “Salute to our hostess with the mostess, who gave us the experience of a lifetime, thank you,” DuVernay said. “We’ll take a piece of this with us.”
Oprah’s Parting Words
After a weekend spent building unforgettable memories and celebrating her friend who has become her loved one, Oprah shared that she felt “full.”
“I am just full, like when you go to church and you get full, then you just want to go out in the world and you want to live,” Oprah said. “That rarely happens when you get full from a party. It’s not even your party. It’s like giving it to someone else and seeing everyone else receive it in its fullness. I feel like the happiness I shared has already come back to fill me up. It’s the deepest kind of satisfaction. Happy birthday, Ava.”
Cailey Griffin (She/Her) is the Editorial Assistant to Oprah Daily’s General Manager. In addition to assisting the GM, she also writes for Oprah Daily. She holds a Master of Science degree in journalism from Columbia University. She has interned at 60 Minutes, NBC News, and her work has appeared in Foreign Policy magazine. Outside of Oprah Daily, she can be found running around Harlem or listening to the Wicked soundtrack on repeat. | https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/a41046467/oprah-ava-duvernay-birthday-celebration-day-three/ | 2022-09-02T18:36:06Z | oprahdaily.com | control | https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/a41046467/oprah-ava-duvernay-birthday-celebration-day-three/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
In our series Living Their Best Life, Oprah Daily sits down with notable names to find out exactly that—from how they maximize each moment to the daily rituals that keep them grounded. Here, Minnie Driver shares the wisdom she’s learned along the way and how it’s shaping her outlook.
After a long-standing film career, appearing in everything from Good Will Hunting and Gross Pointe Blank to Tarzan and Ella Enchanted, plus television series like Will & Grace and Speechless, Minnie Driver is diving headfirst (literally—she loves to swim) into even more work. That means a recently published memoir, Managing Expectations, promoting an upcoming film, Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose, filming another one, One Winter, and, all the while, raising her son, Henry.
But Driver doesn’t seem to be bogged down by the number of things on her to-do list. In fact, the 52-year-old seems to be radiating more joy than ever. Her Instagram is filled with images and videos of beach vistas—complete with Driver herself surfing some waves—plus family time and praise for her book. There’s also that time she opted to kayak through the Hudson River instead of attending the Met Gala, sporting a neon windbreaker rather than a designer gown. So, really, she’s having more fun than all of us.
More From Oprah Daily
Instead of being jealous, we mined Driver for her best life tips, which include her partnership with Joico's new YouthLock collection—formulated with collagen—as the secret to maintaining healthy, soft hair after hours of surfing. Ahead, find out what’s on her bookshelf and how she’s leaning into change.
Her Latest Obsessions
I’m watching The Bear and Severance, and I’m losing my mind. I'm listening to Leon Bridges and Lana Del Rey right now; they are perfect for the summer. I have a lot of books on the go right now. I am rereading Real Estate, by Deborah Levy, I am reading Cloud Cuckoo Land, by Anthony Doerr, and I’m reading Send Nudes, by Saba Sams.
I am writing another book, I’m writing a screenplay that I intend to direct, and I am about to go to New Zealand to make an incredibly beautiful movie that I’m very excited about.
Her Evolution
I am learning to be patient and tolerant with myself as I grow older. I am unlearning my resistance to change; change as an enemy rather than change as an agent of evolution. I am becoming the wise woman I watched my mother and my grandmother grow into.
Her Sources of Joy
I’m surfing as much as I can, spending as much time as I can with people I love who make me laugh, and really choosing not to hang out with anyone toxic.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Cassie Hurwitz (she/her) is Oprah Daily’s assistant editor, where she covers everything from culture to entertainment to lifestyle. She can typically be found in the middle of multiple books and TV shows all at once. Previously, Cassie worked at Parents, Rachael Ray In Season, and Reveal. Her love language is pizza (New York slices, Chicago deep dish, and otherwise). | https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a40719419/minnie-driver-lives-her-best-life/ | 2022-09-02T18:36:16Z | oprahdaily.com | control | https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a40719419/minnie-driver-lives-her-best-life/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Growing up, I always marveled at adults. How did they decide what kind of life they would lead? How did they go about creating it, and how could anyone possibly choose just one path? From what I could see, there were so many possibilities! So many things to be, do, and see. My young self decided she would live many lives.
Now, at 40 years old, I’ve realized that reinvention is what maintains my joyful interest in life. It is a necessity.
Designing my life to flow in chapters nourishes me and provides an addicting freedom and expansiveness with each transition. I’ve been a West Coaster twice and an East Coaster thrice. I’ve taken a circuitous but amusing route through my career—from working at a cheese shop in Yonkers to founding an employee well-being company in San Diego—and once boldly experimented with marriage. I’ve traveled, collecting education, friends, and stories from around the world.
Investing in my education and becoming a board-certified behavior analyst gifted me with the freedom and experience to work wherever I wanted, now with individuals as a lifestyle design coach and with corporations on their well-being and company culture. Finding a way to use my voice as an international speaker has given me a vehicle for creativity and setting my thoughts into the world.
This way of aligned and transitional living felt so natural and rewarding that it became the inspiration for my book, F~ckless: A Guide to Wild, Unencumbered Freedoms, which challenges women to overcome stereotypical cultural narratives and fight for their rights to live interesting and authentic lives, too. Eventually, I learned that anything I needed, desired, or felt was deserving of a container in which it could potentially grow.
Reinvention and freedom allow me to remain closely engaged with life and to live on my own terms. While it’s taken a special kind of risk tolerance and appetite for the unknown, deciding to start a new chapter doesn’t have to be big, effortful, or even recognizable to anyone else but you.
A new season usually starts with a tug at your proverbial sleeve, something that we feel but can’t explain. Many of us feel this at some point (maybe many points). But from there it can get cloudy as we try to grasp and find our way. We can lack clarity, purpose, and meaning, which keeps us from finding direction and taking action. At this point, we may build a narrative that change is too hard, not worth it, or not truly needed.
If you find yourself at this impasse, consider these practices to excavate a bit deeper. We are so much more interesting below the surface!
Get Brave and Go Deep with Intentional Questions
Reflect on your life up to this point—your successes, “failures,” lessons, and peak moments. Honor what comes up for you and try to allow any feelings that follow. This is the first point in which we can become dishonest with ourselves, so vulnerability and truth are critical here. Dump out the junk drawers of your soul! Everything you think and feel is perfectly all right.
Here are five questions to ask yourself in order to reflect on where you’ve been and where you’re flowing to next.
When you put your life on replay, what are your dominant feelings?
What are you proud of, and what leaves you with a feeling of lack?
What desires have gone unfulfilled, or set aside for “someday”?
Are there any?
Are your wants and needs spiritual, emotional, physical, or intellectual?
This is the time to let yourself dream without limitation. Anything is possible.
Understand the Origin
If our desire for a new season originates from somewhere outside ourselves, the changes we make can lead to sadness, a lack of fulfillment, or self-sabotage. Emotions can be incredibly helpful in decision-making, but they can also skew our worldview and perspective.
To determine the origin, ask yourself, Is this desire for change coming from ego, boredom or an “I should,” or is this originating from somewhere more genuine?
You can determine whether your emotions or intuition are calling the shots using two strategies:
1. Relax into Your Body (Internal)
Where are you feeling a sensation? In your head, heart, or gut? Do you feel a “knowing,” or are you thinking logically or emotionally? Does this desire for a new chapter change with your mood? What stories are you telling yourself about this change? Intuition rarely comes with words but can sound like I just need this. Emotions can come with a lot of stories and noise, like If I do this/have this, I will be happy (worthy, etc.), and logic typically comes from narratives in our environment, usually in someone else’s voice or in the form of a “should” statement.
2. Journal Your Thoughts (External)
Create some peaceful space to sit with your thoughts surrounding this new beginning. Write whatever comes without judgment or edits. Then, return to it a few days later and see what you notice. Do you still resonate with what you wrote, and does it light you up even more? Or does it leave you feeling a bit deflated or disappointed that you don’t get the same rush as when you first sat down to write?
If you’re feeling pulled forward, intuition or genuine desire is likely the origin of this new phase, and you’ve got a fantastic start. If not, that’s okay, too. Everything we think, feel, and experience is information we can use.
Some lower vibration emotions like frustration, anger, or insecurity are fleeting, which is why it’s helpful to gain insight and clarity before making any plans or changes. Moreover, it can be seductive to start something new simply for the sake of starting something new—we love a good dopamine rush. However, this can put us in a perpetual state of starting but not finishing or truly stepping into a new phase.
If this is you, give yourself a break. All of this is completely normal, and with increased awareness and intentional consideration, you will learn to recognize what is a true desire with direction and what is simply boredom or a need for novelty.
If your emotions or desires have faded, ask yourself why they might have arisen in the first place. See if you can pinpoint your true needs by using words that fit this sentence: I was feeling excited and inspired by this new idea/project/lifestyle, but now I realize that I was simply feeling/wanting ______ (e.g., bored, regretful, restless, out of control in my own life, more freedom, more peace, more novelty, etc) .
Build Excitement by Telling Your Story
Whether you’re choosing a new job, relationship, city, or travel experience, imagine looking back on this time. From the day you decided to start anew (maybe that’s today) and throughout the entire journey, consider what your new chapter looks like. If a close friend were to ask, “How did you decide to __?” or “Tell me about how you __”, what would you tell them?
This does not mean you plan the entire journey! It means that you close your eyes and imagine telling the story of your new beginning.
The critical moment comes when you feel what this new season will bring, even if it’s simply a strong desire for the unknown that brings a smile to your face.
Take the Leap (or a Baby Step)
You’ve heard that any journey begins with a first step. You intellectually know that but still have trouble sticking your foot out in front of you. What you may not know is that this is validated by nearly a century of behavioral science. When you start something, even if it is an embarrassingly small step, you gift yourself with the opportunity to receive a reward from doing so, like a feeling, a compliment, a new friend, anything. It reinforces your first step, and so you take another step.
In the end, it doesn’t matter if you’re a grandmother deciding to take pole dancing lessons, a 45-year-old deciding to go back to school, or a 30-year-old deciding to live completely outside the bounds of their upbringing. Once you are clear on your intention, your origin, and your story, the only thing left is to step into the chapter that awaits you.
In the words of Yvon Chouinard, environmentalist and founder of Patagonia: “If I get an idea, I immediately take a step forward, and see how that feels. If it feels good, I take another step forward. If it feels bad, I take a step back. I learn by doing." | https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/health/a41042952/intentional-practices-to-ground-your-new-beginning/ | 2022-09-02T18:36:26Z | oprahdaily.com | control | https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/health/a41042952/intentional-practices-to-ground-your-new-beginning/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
By C.Hearn September.1.18\tno © SUN\nSUNY News reports: Students will participate as team coaches and clinician with coaches training for five and four year colleged/scholar teams along to play for NORML/ASR in national tournament November at Hofner and Woffins Field, Pittsburgh with 42 collegess with a 21 college team as winner playing again national in November and S The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
An 11-year study showed that people who use electric toothbrushes have healthier gums, less tooth decay and reduced tooth loss compared to people who use manual toothbrushes. Researchers concluded that electric toothbrushes reduce more plaque and gingivitis than manual ones.
When shopping for a powered toothbrush, selecting one from a brand with a favorable reputation, approval from the American Dental Association and excellent reviews, such as Phillips Sonicare, Oral B and AquaSonic, is wise. Learning about some of the top-rated options available on Amazon, including features, ease of use and price, can help you select an electric toothbrush that will help keep your teeth and gums healthy for years to come.
Keep reading to learn about the most popular electric toothbrushes on Amazon and what buyers have said about them.
Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 ($90)
Philips Sonicare has been making electric toothbrushes for decades, and the company’s experience is evident in this model. It can clean deep between teeth and the integrated pressure sensor prevents you from damaging your teeth and gums by brushing too hard. Three brushing modes let you customize use, and the replacement reminder light informs you when a new head is required.
If you’re new to electric toothbrushes, this one also has an easy-start feature that slowly increases the power of the brush to help you get used to it. The built-in timer lets you know how long to brush, and the battery can last for two weeks between charges. This model also comes with a travel case.
The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 has more than 22,000 ratings and 4.7 stars overall at Amazon. Customers appreciate the long battery life, the pressure sensor and how their teeth feel after using it.
“This Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 is fantastic,” wrote Amazon reviewer CB. “My teeth feel so much cleaner after using it. This model has a timer that lets you know how long to spend on each quadrant, then it turns itself off automatically after all quadrants have been cleaned. I appreciate this because I’m guilty of brushing too quickly and without really thinking about it.”
Oral-B Pro 1000 ($50)
A periodontist created the first Oral-B toothbrush in 1949, and the company remains committed to innovative oral care. The Oral-B Pro 1000 power toothbrush is effective yet budget-friendly at just under $50.
It provides a clinically proven superior clean thanks to its design. The brush head surrounds each tooth with angled bristles and the brush itself oscillates, rotates and pulsates to break up and remove plaque. It has a pressure sensor that lights up if you brush too hard. The in-handle timer helps you brush for a full two minutes.
More than 41,000 customers have rated this electric toothbrush, giving it an overall rating of 4.6 stars. Reviewers say they like that the Oral-B Pro 1000 doesn’t have a lot of “bells and whistles” but that it’s easy to use and provides great results, once you get used to the vibration after switching from a manual brush.
“Our dental hygienist recommended these toothbrushes and they have been an excellent investment,” wrote reviewer domesticait. “When I went back six months later for my cleaning, the hygienist and dentist both said they saw a remarkable difference and my teeth were significantly cleaner.”
AquaSonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush ($40)
U.S.-based AquaSonic is earning a name as an innovative oral care brand by combining cutting-edge technology and affordability. The AquaSonic Black Series Ultra Whitening Toothbrush, on sale for $39.95 as of this writing, has a powerful motor for a thorough clean every time. At the end of brushing, you can engage Whiten mode to help dissolve surface stains, while Massage mode delivers micro-bursts that can improve circulation and tissue function for healthier gums.
An added feature of this AquaSonic electric toothbrush is it comes with eight brush heads out of the box, which is far more than the competitors provide. This means you won’t have to purchase new ones for two years or longer! And a single charge can last up to 30 days.
This toothbrush has 4.6 stars with more than 80,000 ratings so far. Customers who gave it the full five stars say they appreciate the timer function, battery life and the different setting options this budget-friendly electric toothbrush offers.
“I have to say, this toothbrush is great,” wrote reviewer Busymom. “The four modes are nice and the timer function is incredible. I love how it will pause to let you know it’s time to move on to the next section in your mouth. It’s light and comfortable to hold.”
Oral-B iO Series 6 ($125)
The Oral-B iO Series 6 electric toothbrush, currently discounted to $124.99, has a unique round brush head inspired by dentists. As a result, this toothbrush delivers the feeling of a professional cleaning with every use. In addition, you don’t have to worry about brushing too hard, as the Smart Pressure Sensor will alert you to protect your gums and enamel.
An interactive display with AI technology offers guidance for each area of your mouth. In addition, the built-in timer pulsates every 30 seconds so you can focus on each quadrant of your mouth to obtain a complete clean, which is a feature all the brushes on this list boast, it should be noted. This premium-priced electric toothbrush has 4.7 stars overall but has fewer ratings than the others on the list at this point. Reviewers note that it has an impressive battery life, is easy to use and is effective.
“It is a quality toothbrush,” wrote one reviewer, “my teeth feel really clean after brushing with it. It can be used with the app or just by itself. I also like that it has five different modes – depending on how I’m feeling: Daily Clean, Whitening, Gum Care, Sensitive and Intense.”
Your oral health is essential to your overall well-being. Choosing a high-quality electric toothbrush is an easy way to care for your teeth and gums. No matter which of the brushes from this list you choose, you’ll likely be satisfied with the results.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.fox17online.com/philips-sonicare-other-electric-toothbrush-reviews | 2022-09-02T18:39:08Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/philips-sonicare-other-electric-toothbrush-reviews | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, the SEA for the chief of the National Guard Bureau, talks to an Airman with the Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, Aug. 30, 2022. Whitehead was touring National Guard facilities at Whiteman, as well as participating as a guest speaker in a panel discussing women’s equality. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Erich B. Smith)
This work, Whitehead touts women’s equality, Guard community during bomb wing visit, by MSgt Erich Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7400006/whitehead-touts-womens-equality-guard-community-during-bomb-wing-visit | 2022-09-02T18:40:36Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7400006/whitehead-touts-womens-equality-guard-community-during-bomb-wing-visit | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
USAMMDA’s most valuable resource is its personnel (Military, Civilian and Contractor) – enjoy this Labor Day weekend with your family and friends, have fun and be safe!
Remember:
- If you’re planning a weekend excursion, make sure you’re well rested, plan for frequent rest stops, and divide driving duties if possible.
- Drink responsibly if you plan to consume alcohol – if you drink, do not drive!
- Have fun in the sun but remember boating and beach safety if you’re on or in the water – wear proper floatation devices, do not drink and operate a watercraft, and wear sunscreen.
- Drink water – soda and juice might be a bit tastier, but you should hydrate your body with water instead. If you’re having a party, set out a few tubs full of bottled water and encourage your guests to drink small amounts often.
USAMMDA is a subordinate command of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, under the Army Futures Command. As the premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, USAMMDA is responsible for developing and delivering critical products designed to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. These products include drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices and medical support equipment intended to maximize survival of casualties on the battlefield. (Official U.S. Army Photo Illustration by T. T. Parish/Released)
This work, Labor Day 2022 Safety Message, by T. T. Parish, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7400009/labor-day-2022-safety-message | 2022-09-02T18:40:43Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7400009/labor-day-2022-safety-message | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
U.S. Air Force Col. William Hunter, 81st Training Wing commander, congratulates senior airmen during the staff sergeant select release celebration inside the Bay Breeze Event Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Sept. 1, 2022. More than 20 Airmen were recognized during the event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)
This work, Keesler celebrates newest staff sergeant selects [Image 3 of 3], by Kemberly Groue, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7400028/keesler-celebrates-newest-staff-sergeant-selects | 2022-09-02T18:42:03Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7400028/keesler-celebrates-newest-staff-sergeant-selects | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Exclusive Preview – A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants #2
Exclusive Preview – A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants #2
Judgment Day has arrived for the Marvel Universe! Druig of the Eternals has declared “Death to the Mutants” on the pretense that they are actually Deviants. Consequently, the Avengers and some renegade Eternals resurrected a dead Celestial to stop the conflict between the mutants of Krakoa and Druig’s forces. However, the Celestial has declared his intent to pass judgment on the entire planet, including the mutants, the Eternals, and humanity itself.
Meanwhile, Kro and the Deviants have decided that the time has come to take a side. For centuries, the Deviants have been the Eternals’ adversaries just for who and what they are. And if mutants are truly Deviants then their genetic cousins won’t let them get exterminated without a fight.
In Superhero Hype’s exclusive preview for A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants #2, Kieron Gillen and artist Guiu Vilanova roll back the clock a few hours as Kro and the Deviants declare their intent to fight alongside the mutants of Krakoa. Now, they just have to hold the line while the X-Men sabotage the Eternals’ death machines.
RELATED: First Look At X-Force #31
Here’s the official description from Marvel.
“The Celestials said ‘correct excess deviation.’ Now the hour of judgment is upon the Eternals. Have they done enough? And does overcompensating at this late hour make it better, or make it worse?“
You can read the full preview in our gallery below. A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants #2 will hit comic book stores on Wednesday, September 7.
What did you think about this preview? Let us know in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Marvel Comics: 75 Years of Cover Art
Cover illustrated and painted by Esad Ribic. Pages illustrated by Guiu Vilanova, with colors by Dijjo Lima, and letters by VC's Travis Lanham. A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants #2 cover
A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants #2 page 1
A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants #2 page 2
A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants #2 page 3
A.X.E.: Death to the Mutants #2 page 4
We are also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. | https://www.superherohype.com/comics/518656-exclusive-preview-a-x-e-death-to-the-mutants-2 | 2022-09-02T18:42:14Z | superherohype.com | control | https://www.superherohype.com/comics/518656-exclusive-preview-a-x-e-death-to-the-mutants-2 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON — The government will send $1 billion worth of federal grants for manufacturing, clean energy, farming, biotech and more to 21 regional partnerships across the nation, President Joe Biden and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced Friday.
The 21 were chosen from 529 initial applicants vying for grants that were part of last year's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The Biden administration has repeatedly laid out a vision for the economy that is more self-sufficient and driven by high-tech manufacturing and the development of renewable energy.
“We designed this program by thinking about people and places,” Biden said at a White House event. "This is about jobs in their communities for them, not having to leave or not having to go on unemployment. ”
Unlike much of the pandemic aid that was meant to address immediate needs, the grants are part of a longer-term effort to revitalize parts of the country that have needed an economic jolt. The money will include funds for existing industries and capital for new ventures. The grants are the largest ever for local economic development provided by the Commerce Department, Raimondo said.
She said the effort is personal for her. Her father lost his job at a watch factory in Rhode Island
"The whole point of this is we’re not going to let you get left behind as we transition to a more digital economy, to a more technical economy, to a green economy,” Raimondo said in an interview.
The grants include $65.1 million for California to improve farm production and $25 million for a robotics cluster in Nebraska. Georgia gets $65 million for artificial intelligence. There is $63.7 million for lithium-based battery development in New York. Coal counties in West Virginia would receive $62.8 million to help with the shift to solar power and find new uses for abandoned mines.
“I can’t tell you how much this means to our hardworking people in West Virginia," said that state's Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who attended the announcement virtually.
Raimondo estimated that the investments, which will be provided over five years as reimbursements, will result in at least 100,000 jobs.
Solidly Republican states such as Oklahoma and South Dakota received funding, and money also is going ahead of November's midterm elections toward political battlegrounds that could decide control of Congress. There is $44 million for regenerative medicine in New Hampshire, where Democrat Maggie Hassan is defending her U.S. Senate seat. Pennsylvania, which has an open Senate seat, is set to receive $62.7 million for robotics and artificial intelligence.
Raimondo said the winners were chosen based on merit rather than politics
“Let me ask you: How is this going to play out on the political scene?” Biden asked the Pennsylvania team attending Friday's event virtually.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, a Democrat, quickly answered with a campaign ready line: “President Biden continues to invest in people and in jobs and in our future.”
The massive amount of coronavirus aid at the start of Biden’s tenure helped to accelerate job growth as the U.S. recovered from the pandemic. But accompanying the hiring was a burst of inflation that hit a 40-year peak this summer, crushing consumer sentiment and putting the administration on the defensive to show how its policies are helping the economy.
Even as much of the coronavirus money has been disbursed, the administration has said it still needs more to contain the disease and its variations. Biden sought $22.5 billion from Congress to address and prevent outbreaks, a figure that lawmakers reduced to $10 billion in negotiations. Additional funding was never passed by Congress despite confirmed cases that are now averaging about 90,000 daily.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tried to minimize the lack of funding after the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved modified booster shots of the vaccines. Jean-Pierre said booster shots would be available after the Labor Day holiday as the administration has worked with local partners.
The grants for economic development indicate that the relief package could have a multidecade impact that goes beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Orleans area will receive $50 million to use hydrogen produced by wind power that does not cause carbon emissions, a meaningful change in Louisiana, a state that has long depended on fossil fuels.
“With clean hydrogen, we can remain an energy state — but become an energy state of the future that has less impact on the environment,” said Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans Inc., an economic development nonprofit. “When money and morality come together, you get stuff done.”
Full list of grant winners
Central Valley Community Foundation (California): $65.1 million for the F3 – Fresno-Merced Future of Food
City of Manchester (New Hampshire): $44 million for The BioFabrication Cluster
Coalfield Development (West Virginia): $62.8 million for the Appalachian Climate Technologies (ACT Now) Initiative
Detroit Regional Partnership Foundation (Michigan): $52.2 million for the Global Epicenter of Mobility
Empire State Development (New York): $25 million for the Western New York’s Advanced Manufacturing Cluster
Four Bands Community Fund (South Dakota): $45 million for the Mountain | Plains Regional Native CDFI Coalition
Georgia Tech Research Corporations (Georgia): $65 million for GA-AIM
Greater New Orleans Development Foundation (Louisiana): $50 million for H2theFuture
Greater St. Louis, Inc. (Missouri): $25 million for the St. Louis Tech Triangle
Indian Nations Council of Governments (Oklahoma): $39 million for the Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility Cluster
Invest Nebraska Corporation (Nebraska): $25 million for the Heartland Robotics Cluster
North Carolina Biotechnology Center (North Carolina): $25 million for Accelerate NC – Life Sciences Manufacturing
Oklahoma City Economic Development Foundation (Oklahoma): $35 million for the Oklahoma Biotech Innovation Cluster Initiative
Osceola County Board of County Commissioners (Florida): $50.8 million for the Building Central Florida’s Semiconductor Cluster for Broad-Based Prosperity
Port of Portland (Oregon): $41.4 million for the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition
Southeast Conference (Alaska): $49 million for the Alaska Mariculture Cluster
Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative (Pennsylvania): $62.7 million for the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative
The State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton (New York): $63.7 million for New Energy New York
The University of Texas at El Paso (Texas): $40 million for the West Texas A&D Cluster
Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority (Virginia): $52.9 million for the VA BIO Advanced Pharma Manufacturing (APM) and R&D
Wichita State University (Kansas): $51.4 million for the South Kansas Coalition | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-administration-awards-1-billion-economic-projects/507-f16be998-2d87-45dd-b7b4-f931ed23b8a3 | 2022-09-02T18:53:55Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-administration-awards-1-billion-economic-projects/507-f16be998-2d87-45dd-b7b4-f931ed23b8a3 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON — It’s been more than a decade since President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, welcomed back George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, for the unveiling of their White House portraits, part of a beloved Washington tradition that for decades managed to transcend partisan politics.
President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, are set to revive that ritual — after an awkward and anomalous gap in the Trump years — when they host the Obamas on Wednesday for the big reveal of their portraits in front of scores of friends, family and staff.
The Obama paintings will not look like any in the White House portrait collection to which they will be added. They were America’s first Black president and first lady.
The ceremony will also mark Michelle Obama’s first visit to the White House since Obama’s presidency ended in January 2017, and only the second visit for Barack Obama. He was at the White House in April to mark the 12th anniversary of the health care law he signed in 2010.
Portrait ceremonies often give past presidents an opportunity to showcase their comedic timing.
“I am pleased that my portrait brings an interesting symmetry to the White House collection. It now starts and ends with a George W,” Bush quipped at his ceremony in 2012.
Bill Clinton joked in 2004 that “most of the time, till you get your picture hung like this, the only artists that draw you are cartoonists.”
Recent tradition, no matter the party affiliation, has had the current president genially hosting his immediate predecessor for the unveiling — as Clinton did for George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush did for Clinton and Obama did for the younger Bush.
Then there was an unexplained pause when Donald Trump did not host Obama.
Two spokespeople for Trump did not respond to emailed requests for comment on the lack of a ceremony for Obama, and whether artists are working on portraits of Trump and former first lady Melania Trump.
The White House portrait collection starts with George Washington, America’s first president. Congress bought his portrait.
Other portraits of early presidents and first ladies often came to the White House as gifts. Since the middle of the last century, the White House Historical Association has paid for the paintings.
The first portraits financed by the association were of Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, and John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy, said Stewart McLaurin, president of the private, nonprofit organization established by first lady Kennedy.
Before presidents and first ladies leave office, the association explains the portrait process. The former president and first lady choose the artist or artists, and offer guidance on how they want to be portrayed.
“It really involves how that president and first lady see themselves,” McLaurin said in an interview with The Associated Press.
The collection includes an iconic, full-length portrait of Washington that adorns the East Room. It is the only item still in the White House that was in the executive mansion in November 1800 when John Adams and Abigail Adams became the first president and first lady to live in the White House.
Years later, first lady Dolley Madison saved Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of Washington from almost certain ruin. She had White House staff take it out of the city before advancing British forces burned the mansion in 1814. The painting was held in storage until the White House was rebuilt.
President and first lady portraits are seen by millions of White House visitors, though not all are on display. Some are undergoing conservation or are in storage.
Those that are on display line hallways and rooms in public areas of the mansion, such as the Ground Floor and its Vermeil and China Rooms, and the State Floor one level above, which has the famous Green, Blue and Red Rooms, the East Room and State Dining Room.
Portraits of Mamie Eisenhower, Pat Nixon, Lady Bird Johnson and Lou Henry Hoover grace the Vermeil Room, along with a full-length image of Jacqueline Kennedy. Michelle Obama’s portrait likely will join Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush along the Ground Floor hallway.
The State Floor hallway one floor above features recent presidents: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Gerald Ford’s portrait and the likeness of Richard Nixon — the only president to resign from office — are on view on the Grand Staircase leading to the private living quarters on the second floor.
Past presidents' images move around the White House, depending on their standing with the current occupants. Ronald Reagan, for example, moved Thomas Jefferson and Harry S. Truman out of the Cabinet Room and swapped in Dwight Eisenhower and Calvin Coolidge.
In the Clinton era, portraits of Richard Nixon and Reagan, idols of the Republican Party, lost their showcase spot in the Grand Foyer and were replaced with pictures of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Truman, heroes of the Democrats. Nancy Reagan temporarily moved Eleanor Roosevelt to a place of prominence in the East Room in 1984 to mark the centennial of her birth.
One of the most prominent spots for a portrait is above the mantle in the State Dining Room and it has been occupied for decades by a painting of a seated Abraham Lincoln, hand supporting his chin. It was placed there by Franklin Roosevelt.
Bill Clinton’s and George W. Bush’s portraits hang on opposing walls in the Grand Foyer.
Clinton’s would be relocated to make room for Barack Obama’s if the White House sticks to tradition and keeps the two most recent Oval Office occupants there, McLaurin said.
“That’s up to the White House, to the curators,” he said.
The association, which is funded through private donations and the sale of books and an annual White House Christmas ornament, keeps the portrait price well below market value because of the “extraordinary honor” an artist derives from having “their work of art hanging perpetually in the White House,” McLaurin said.
Details about the Obamas' portraits will stay under wraps until Wednesday.
Biden will be the rare president to host a former boss for the unveiling; he was Obama’s vice president. George H.W. Bush, who held Ronald Reagan’s ceremony, was Reagan’s No. 2.
Betty Monkman, a former White House curator, said during a 2017 podcast for the White House Historical Association that the ceremony is a “statement of generosity” by the president and first lady. “It’s a very warm, lovely moment.”
The White House portraits are one of two sets of portraits of presidents and first ladies. The National Portrait Gallery, a Smithsonian museum, maintains its own collection and those portraits are unveiled before the White House pair. The Obamas’ unveiled their museum portraits in February 2018.
Linda St. Thomas, chief spokesperson for the Smithsonian Institution, said in an email that a $650,000 donation in July from Save America, Trump’s political action committee, was earmarked for the couple’s museum portraits. Two artists have been commissioned, one for each painting, and work has begun, St. Thomas said. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-to-help-unveil-obama-white-house-portrait/507-5ac99367-4d01-4646-9b97-10a7695b0636 | 2022-09-02T18:54:01Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-to-help-unveil-obama-white-house-portrait/507-5ac99367-4d01-4646-9b97-10a7695b0636 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON — FBI agents who searched former President Donald Trump's Florida home last month found top secret records in an office and storage room, along with empty folders with classified banners on them and more than 10,000 government records without any classification markings at all, according to a more detailed inventory of the seized material made public on Friday.
The inventory disclosed by the Justice Department reveals in general terms the contents of 33 boxes and containers taken from an office and a storage room at Mar-a-Lago during the Aug. 8 search. Though the inventory does not describe the content of the documents, it shows the extent to which classified information — including material at the top-secret level — was stashed in boxes at the home and commingled among newspapers, magazines, clothing and other personal items.
It also makes clear for the first time the volume of unclassified government documents maintained at the home even though such records were to have been turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration, which had tried unsuccessfully for months to secure their return.
The Justice Department has said there was no secure space at Mar-a-Lago for sensitive government secrets, and has opened a criminal investigation focused on their retention there and on what it says were efforts in the last several months to obstruct that probe. It is also investigating potential violations of a separate statute that criminalizes the mutilation or concealment of government records, classified or not.
Lawyers for Trump did not immediately return an email seeking comment Friday.
The inventory was released as the Justice Department undertakes a criminal investigation, as intelligence agencies assess any potential damage caused by the apparent mishandling of the classified information and as a judge weighs whether to appoint a special master — essentially an outside legal expert — to review the records.
The inventory shows that 43 empty folders with classified banners were taken from a box or container at the office, along with an additional 28 empty folders labeled as “Return to Staff Secretary” or military aide. Empty folders of that nature were also found in a storage closet.
It is not clear from the inventory list why any of the folders were empty or what might have happened to any of the documents inside.
Separately Friday, the Justice Department said it had reviewed the records seized during the search and had segregated those with classified markings to ensure that they were being stored according to proper protocol and procedure.
“The seized materials will continue to be used to further the government's investigation, and the investigative team will continue to use and evaluate the seized materials as it takes further investigative steps, such as through additional witness interviews and grand jury practice," the department said.
It added that “additional evidence pertaining to the seized items,” including the manner in which they were stored, “will inform the government's investigation.” | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/list-items-found-in-fbi-search-of-trump-home-mar-a-lago-classified-documents/507-29d49b2b-2d64-4827-ab04-3373a898aa8b | 2022-09-02T18:54:07Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/list-items-found-in-fbi-search-of-trump-home-mar-a-lago-classified-documents/507-29d49b2b-2d64-4827-ab04-3373a898aa8b | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA aimed for a Saturday launch of its new moon rocket, after fixing fuel leaks and working around a bad engine sensor that foiled the first try.
The inaugural flight of the 322-foot rocket — the most powerful ever built by NASA — was delayed late in the countdown Monday. The Kennedy Space Center clocks started ticking again as managers expressed confidence in their plan and forecasters gave favorable weather odds.
Atop the rocket is a crew capsule with three test dummies that will fly around the moon and back over the course of six weeks — NASA's first such attempt since the Apollo program 50 years ago. NASA wants to wring out the spacecraft before strapping in astronauts on the next planned flight in two years.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said he's more confident going into this second launch attempt, given everything engineers learned from the first try.
So is astronaut Jessica Meir, who's on NASA's short list for one of the initial moon crews.
“We're all excited for this to go, but the most important thing is that we go when we're ready and we get it right, because the next missions will have humans on board. Maybe me, maybe my friends," Meir told The Associated Press on Friday.
The engineers in charge of the Space Launch System rocket insisted Thursday evening that all four of the rocket's main engines were good and that a faulty temperature sensor caused one of them to appear as though it were too warm Monday. The engines need to match the minus-420 degrees Fahrenheit (minus-250 degrees Celsius) of the liquid hydrogen fuel at liftoff, otherwise they could be damaged and shut down in flight.
“We have convinced ourselves without a shadow of a doubt that we have good-quality liquid hydrogen going through the engines,” said John Honeycutt, the rocket's program manager.
Once fueling begins Saturday morning, the launch team will perform another engine test — this time earlier in the countdown. Even if that suspect sensor indicates the one engine is too warm, other sensors can be relied on to ensure everything is working correctly and to halt the countdown if there’s a problem, Honeycutt told reporters.
NASA could not perform that kind of engine test during dress rehearsals earlier this year because of leaking fuel. More fuel leaks cropped up Monday; technicians found some loose connections and tightened them.
The engine-temperature situation adds to the flight's risk, as does another problem that cropped up Monday: cracks in the foam insulation of the rocket. If any foam pieces break off at liftoff, they could strike the strap-on boosters and damage them. Engineers consider the likelihood of that happening low and have accepted these slight additional risks.
“This is an extremely complicated machine and system. Millions of parts,” NASA's chief, Nelson, told the AP. “There are, in fact, risks. But are those risks acceptable? I leave that to the experts. My role is to remind them you don’t take any chances that are not acceptable risk.”
The $4.1 billion test flight is NASA's first step in sending astronauts around the moon in 2024 and landing them on the surface in 2025. Astronauts last walked on the moon in 1972.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/nasa-aims-for-saturday-launch-of-new-artemis-moon-rocket-after-fixes/507-02ebc041-6c58-4a51-bade-071825dcc559 | 2022-09-02T18:54:13Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/nasa-aims-for-saturday-launch-of-new-artemis-moon-rocket-after-fixes/507-02ebc041-6c58-4a51-bade-071825dcc559 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have exploded in popularity in recent years, leading President Joe Biden to sign an executive order in March 2022 that outlines the government’s plan to address the “risks and harnessing the potential benefits of digital assets.”
The executive order also explores the possibility of creating a centralized bank digital currency (CBDC) in the U.S. That’s led some people on social media to claim in August that the executive order would phase out cash and make paper money “worthless.”
VERIFY reader Jerry also emailed the team to ask, “Is President Biden doing away with paper money for digital currency?”
THE QUESTION
Will Biden’s executive order replace paper money with digital currency?
THE SOURCES
- Executive Order 14067
- The Federal Reserve
- The Atlantic Council, a nonpartisan U.S. think tank
- Aaron Klein, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution
THE ANSWER
No, Biden’s executive order won’t replace paper money with digital currency.
WHAT WE FOUND
Under Executive Order 14067, the Federal Reserve is tasked with looking into how a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) might be created, and evaluating necessary steps and requirements for implementing one.
The executive order also empowers the U.S. Department of Justice to determine whether the Federal Reserve has the authority to issue a CBDC, according to Aaron Klein, an expert in financial technology and regulation at the Brookings Institution.
The Atlantic Council, a nonpartisan U.S. think tank, defines a CBDC as digital money “backed and issued by a central bank.” In the United States, that central bank would be the Federal Reserve.
The only form of central bank money that Americans can access today is cash, the Federal Reserve notes on its website. Aaron Klein, an expert in financial technology and regulation at the Brookings Institution, explained that the digital money Americans currently use every day with their credit and debit cards comes from commercial banks.
Cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, are also considered digital currencies but they aren’t issued by a central bank like a CBDC.
If the Fed creates a CBDC, it would differ from existing digital money because it would be issued and backed by the Federal Reserve instead of a commercial bank.
The federal government hasn't made any decisions yet about issuing U.S. CBDC as a result of the executive order, but creating one wouldn’t mean that the government is getting rid of cash.
“There is nothing in the executive order that ends or eliminates cash. Period,” Klein told VERIFY.
The Federal Reserve also says on its website that it is “considering a CBDC as a means to expand safe payment options, not to reduce or replace them.”
Around 100 countries apart from the U.S. are already exploring CBDCs through research and testing, including some that have already started distributing the virtual money such as Jamaica and Nigeria, according to the Atlantic Council. But it’s unclear exactly how a U.S. CBDC would work if it’s designed and developed by the Federal Reserve.
“We don’t know the answer,” Klein said. “One of the questions out there is, will that mean people get direct accounts at the Federal Reserve, like you have an account at your bank to use a debit card?”
In January 2022, the Federal Reserve released a discussion paper examining the pros and cons of a potential CBDC.
In a press release, the Fed said a CBDC could provide faster payment options between countries and safe digital payment options for households and businesses. However, there could be downsides, including how a CBDC “would preserve monetary and financial stability as well as complement existing means of payment.”
Some consumers may also worry about privacy if the Fed develops a CBDC, which Klein says is a valid concern since “digital transactions can be less anonymous than cash.” But Klein pointed out that these same potential privacy issues already exist when Americans use their debit or credit cards every day. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/verify/economy-verify/biden-executive-order-14067-not-getting-rid-of-cash-fact-check/536-aabc0fdb-22f6-409d-9654-f8905bfd3103 | 2022-09-02T18:54:25Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/verify/economy-verify/biden-executive-order-14067-not-getting-rid-of-cash-fact-check/536-aabc0fdb-22f6-409d-9654-f8905bfd3103 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Axios managing editor Margaret Talev and Inside Elections editor Nathan Gonzales join Here & Now‘s Peter O’Dowd and Celeste Headlee to discuss President Biden’s prime-time speech last night, and the latest on the search for classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/2022-09-02/biden-blasts-republicans-frames-midterm-elections-as-choice-to-save-soul-of-nation | 2022-09-02T19:04:15Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-09-02/biden-blasts-republicans-frames-midterm-elections-as-choice-to-save-soul-of-nation | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
White House taps John Podesta to oversee clean energy spending
President Biden is bringing longtime Democratic adviser John Podesta back to the White House to fill the newly created role of senior adviser for "clean energy innovation and implementation."
Why it matters: Podesta will oversee the implementation of the roughly $370 billion worth of clean energy and climate-related investments in the recently signed Democratic tax and climate legislation.
- Podesta has a long history on climate work and has worked at the highest levels of Democratic administrations and politics.
- He was chief of staff to former President Clinton, later served as a top climate adviser to President Obama and chaired Hillary Clinton's failed 2016 White House run.
- In 2003, he founded the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank with close ties to Democrats.
Catch up fast: The White House also announced Friday that Gina McCarthy, Biden's top domestic climate aide, will depart mid-September and be replaced by Ali Zaidi, her deputy.
Quick take via Axios' Andrew Freedman: Creation of a central White House role overseeing the new law signals a heavy priority on breathing life into the historically large new investments.
What they're saying: "[Podesta's] deep roots in climate and clean energy policy and his experience at senior levels of government mean we can truly hit the ground running to take advantage of the massive clean energy opportunity in front of us," Biden said in a statement. | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/02/biden-john-podesta-clean-energy-spending | 2022-09-02T19:04:16Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/02/biden-john-podesta-clean-energy-spending | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Newest ransomware gang on the block
A new ransomware gang is starting to ramp up its operations — and its exploits focus on a programming language that makes it harder for researchers to crack.
The big picture: Ransomware hackers have had to get creative to avoid detection as companies have become increasingly aware of the threat and cost these file-encrypting cyberattacks pose.
What’s happening: Researchers at cybersecurity firm Redacted said in a report Thursday that the BianLian ransomware gang tripled its known operational infrastructure in August, indicating that more attacks from the gang could be coming soon.
- Operational infrastructure includes the servers a ransomware gang is using to deploy malicious code and the IP address it owns for phishing emails.
- BianLian writes its ransomware code using Go, an open-source language that emerged from inside Google and is adaptable to most machines.
Details: BianLian has been targeting American, Australian and British organizations across the health care, education, insurance and media industries since at least December.
- The gang focuses on so-called “double extortion” attacks, where hackers demand a payment both to unlock the files they encrypted and to stop data leaks of stolen information.
- So far, BianLian has posted information on about 20 victims on its data leak sites — suggesting those organizations declined to pay a ransom.
Threat level: The ransomware gang is targeting a popular security flaw in Microsoft Exchange servers known as ProxyShell, which allowed hackers to target more than 2,000 servers in just two days in August 2021.
Between the lines: BianLian is just the latest ransomware group to turn to the Go language, which may be less widely known among threat intelligence researchers and which also can be harder to reverse-engineer. | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/02/newest-ransomware-gang-bianlian | 2022-09-02T19:04:35Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/02/newest-ransomware-gang-bianlian | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
1 hour ago - World
Russia delays natural gas deliveries to Europe citing maintenance issues
Russia’s Gazprom said Friday its Nord Stream 1 natural gas pipeline to Europe will not restart Saturday as expected after it detected new maintenance issues with one of the pipeline's turbine engines.
Why it matters: Gazprom claimed Rostekhnadzor, Russia's federal agency that in part oversees hydraulic structures at energy sites, is requiring it to resolve an oil leak at the turbine before restarting deliveries.
- It means crucial natural gas deliveries to Europe will be further delayed as the continent races to store up gas supplies for winter.
The big picture: Gazprom officially cut off supplies Wednesday, claiming it had to work on a compressor station.
- Gas deliveries had already been severely reduced to only 20% of the pipeline's capacity, per AP.
- European officials have cast doubt on the maintenance issues, and have accused Russia of using them to withhold fuel in retaliation over Western sanctions on Moscow over its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
- Russia has claimed the shutdowns and supply cuts are necessary because of maintenance issues exacerbated by sanctions.
Yes, but: Despite the cut off, natural gas prices plunged 30% this week.
Go deeper: | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/02/russia-gazprom-nord-stream-1-natural-gas-europe | 2022-09-02T19:04:41Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/02/russia-gazprom-nord-stream-1-natural-gas-europe | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The death toll now numbers over 1,200 in Pakistan where dramatic monsoon flooding covered a third of the country, leaving more than half a million homeless.
Images of the suffering — submerged buildings, hungry children and damaged — are now being shared around the world, as are videos expressing anger at public officials who many in affected areas say didn’t do enough to prepare for the floods.
Here & Now‘s Peter O’Dowd talk with Femi Oke, host of Al Jazeera English’s “The Stream,” about the role of social media in Pakistan’s tragedy.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/2022-09-02/social-media-gives-pakistani-flood-survivors-platform-to-share-experiences | 2022-09-02T19:04:46Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-09-02/social-media-gives-pakistani-flood-survivors-platform-to-share-experiences | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
2 hours ago - Economy & Business
Women workers hit post-COVID jobs milestone
Women workers hit a milestone last month: The proportion of employed prime-aged women (that is, between the ages of 25-54) is finally above the level seen before the pandemic.
By the numbers: Labor force participation rate in this cohort ticked up last month by a whopping 0.8 percentage points.
- Julia Coronado, founder of MacroPolicy Perspectives, suspects it could be tied to schools back-in-session, per a tweet.
What to watch: Men haven't notched the same feat. The employment-population ratio for prime-aged men is roughly 0.7 percentage points below the February 2020 level. | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/02/women-workers-hit-post-covid-jobs-milestone | 2022-09-02T19:04:47Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/02/women-workers-hit-post-covid-jobs-milestone | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
In addition to writing and producing most of his own records, Robinson also wrote for other Motown acts, including the Temptations, the Marvellettes and Marvin Gaye. Originally broadcast in 2006.
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air
In addition to writing and producing most of his own records, Robinson also wrote for other Motown acts, including the Temptations, the Marvellettes and Marvin Gaye. Originally broadcast in 2006.
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air | https://www.klcc.org/npr-music-news/2022-09-02/fresh-airs-summer-music-interviews-motown-legend-smokey-robinson | 2022-09-02T19:05:04Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-music-news/2022-09-02/fresh-airs-summer-music-interviews-motown-legend-smokey-robinson | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
In addition to writing and producing most of his own records, Robinson also wrote for other Motown acts, including the Temptations, the Marvellettes and Marvin Gaye. Originally broadcast in 2006.
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air
In addition to writing and producing most of his own records, Robinson also wrote for other Motown acts, including the Temptations, the Marvellettes and Marvin Gaye. Originally broadcast in 2006.
Copyright 2022 Fresh Air | https://www.klcc.org/npr-music-news/2022-09-02/fresh-airs-summer-music-interviews-motown-legend-smokey-robinson | 2022-09-02T19:05:04Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-music-news/2022-09-02/fresh-airs-summer-music-interviews-motown-legend-smokey-robinson | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MYKOLAIV REGION, Ukraine — Rockets roar out of a farm field here near the front lines of the war against Russia. They leave long, white contrails against Ukraine's famously big, blue sky as they head toward Russian military targets. These are U.S.-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, known as HIMARS.
"Thanks for this present," says a Ukrainian reconnaissance soldier nicknamed Fox, who is watching in his green body armor with a knife and a walkie-talkie strapped to its front. Like some other soldiers in this story, Fox did not wish to give his name to protect family members living in Russian-occupied territory.
Fox directs fire for artillery and long-range weapons such as HIMARS onto Russian targets. Like most soldiers here along the southern front, Fox raves about the HIMARS.
"Yesterday, we had one job and it hit exactly on point from long distance," says Fox, who is describing a strike of about 24 miles.
In fact, the HIMARS deployed here can hit at more than twice that distance. When NPR visited the southern front four months ago, the Ukrainians had nowhere near that range.
Ukraine launched a counteroffensive this week in the south to take back territory from the Russians and break a stalemate in the region. More sophisticated Western weapons such as HIMARS are crucial to that fight.
Ukraine reaches deeper behind enemy lines
Col. Roman Kostenko says HIMARS have already helped a lot. Kostenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker who has been working as a commander in the south since the Russian invasion, says the HIMARS' range and precision allow the Ukrainians to strike deep behind enemy lines.
"After these systems hit the Russians' arms depots and bridges that connect to the city of Kherson, the enemy was forced to reduce the density of their fire on our positions," says Kostenko.
He's referring to key bridges the Russians use to supply their soldiers in Kherson, a strategic port city that fell to the Russians in March.
The problem, Kostenko says, is the Ukrainian armed forces simply don't possess enough of these weapons to help them really turn the tide.
Kostenko first met with NPR here in April. Asked how much territory the Ukrainian military has taken back since then, he says: "Not a lot."
Progress has been slow, sometimes an average of a mile or so a month. A soldier who operates an anti-tank missile tells NPR it took three months to take one village, because the Russians were so well dug into their defensive positions.
The U.S. has sent more weapons more quickly to Ukraine — committing over $13.5 billion in security aid to the country since January 2021 — than it has to any other country in decades, according to U.S. government historians. Kostenko says he's grateful for that. But he also says the army here needs much more to make a big push in the south.
"Russia is very resourceful," he says. "What we have now is probably 30% of what we really need in order to carry out successful offensive actions to liberate our territories."
Soldiers use flippers to cross a mined river
Kostenko says the troops here have had successes. He says soldiers recently took back a nearby village from the Russians. Kostenko cites the ingenuity of a special forces team and the element of surprise.
"They left at 3 in the morning and arrived at a river," Kostenko recalls. "The enemy mined the river bottom and, to avoid stepping on the mines, our soldiers used flippers."
Kostenko also says Western long-range weapons helped batter the Russians holding the village. He pulls up a video on his cellphone of a public school building where the Russians were holed up. There is a giant crater in front of it. Kostenko says that strike killed at least 20 Russian soldiers. He won't name the weapon, and only says it came from what he calls "our Western partners."
The Ukrainians still rely on older weapons with less range to do a lot of their shelling. One morning, a Ukrainian soldier led an NPR reporter through a field of dandelions. We passed part of a Russian cluster bomb jammed halfway into the side of a hill. Around the corner sat a rusting howitzer, partly caked in mud.
A small team was cleaning the cannon's firing mechanism with water and lubricant spray. Nearby stood a truck filled with pointy shells of different sizes that looked like giant bullets. The team lives in a big hut they've built out of wooden ammunition crates. A member of the crew named Artem, who wears a black Reebok T-shirt, says the Ukrainians captured the howitzer from the Russians earlier in the war.
It dates to 1989 and has a range of just over 12 miles. The howitzer is entirely manual. Artem shows how to aim it by spinning wheels that move the barrel up and down and from side to side.
"This is a good weapon," says Artem, who is 24. "But it is an old weapon. I would like something newer. But we have what we have."
In fact, the weapon is so old, the team is running out of ammunition for it. Artem says in a few weeks they will have to retire the Cold War relic.
Turning ordinary civilians into a fighting force isn't easy
Weapons are just one challenge the Ukrainian army faces. Another is continuing to train civilians to form a capable fighting force.
Maj. Roman Kovalyov oversees a battalion in the Kherson region. Ninety percent of his troops had no previous military experience.
"They have passionate hearts, they are ready to go into battle," says Kovalyov. "However, they don't realize how little they know."
The major says the biggest challenge in the first couple of months of the war was instilling discipline. For instance, he sent one group of soldiers out to provide cover for another one.
"They forgot water, night vision goggles, backpacks," Kovalyov recalls. "They were half an hour late. And, because of that, the second unit came under heavy fire. Thank God no one was hurt."
Afterward, the team that got shelled punched out the latecomers. Kovalyov says his soldiers have improved significantly since then, but he also says an improved army can only do so much against a better armed one such as the Russians.
"I have a clear feeling lately that we are being kept on artificial respiration," says Kovalyov. "We are given just enough so that we do not lose, and don't win.
Ukraine's military calls on the West for more help
Standing in a village in the Kherson region, which Russia mostly occupies, he addresses political leaders thousands of miles away in Washington, London, Paris and Berlin:
"Give us enough weapons, please. And we give you our word, we will knock the enemy out of our land."
But Kovalyov worries the West does not share Ukraine's goal of total victory, of taking back the 20% or so of the country Russia has seized since its illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
He says the U.S. and NATO allies have various other geopolitical interests such as China, and in the case of Washington, the future of Taiwan.
"Politics is a complicated thing," Kovalyov says. "I think they don't want Russia to lose."
But Major Kovalyov also says he thinks the future world order is being decided here and now in his homeland.
Producer Kateryna Malofieieva contributed to this story.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Loading... | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-09-02/ukraines-southern-offensive-relies-on-heavy-weapons-soldiers-say-there-arent-enough | 2022-09-02T19:05:10Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-09-02/ukraines-southern-offensive-relies-on-heavy-weapons-soldiers-say-there-arent-enough | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Governor Mike DeWine visits Zane State's electrical engineering technology lab
Electrical Engineering Technology in Protection and Control program highlighted
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine paid a visit to Zane State College's Electrical Engineering Technology lab this week, to learn about the college's Electrical Engineering Technology in Protection and Control program.
The program, which teaches students to work on the parts of the electrical grid that protect the grid itself, is one of only a handful in the country of its kind, and the only one to provide a bachelor of science in the field.
Marketta Franklin-Thomas, director of learning and employee development at AEP said the demand for skilled labor is "immense. We have to make sure we have a pipeline of talent that is continuously flowing" from places like Zane State College. The community partnerships, like the one between AEP and Zane State, and critical, she said.
More Zane State news:Ohio University Zanesville and Zane State campus bomb threat one of dozens across Ohio
AEP credited with helping program succeed
AEP was instrumental in starting the program, and helping it succeed. The company donated a DICM, a drop-in control module, to Zane State in 2020 as the program was being developed. The module, about the size of a one-car garage, is full of the exact same controls found at other DICMs, which are the "brains" of an electrical substation. The donation saved the college a $1 million investment in a DICM. The program was also funded by grant from Ohio Mid-east Government Association, and grants from the Governor's Office of Appalachia, JobsOhio and Ohio Department of Higher Education RAPIDS program.
Several AEP employees are adjunct professors at Zane State, including Mike Waite, who explained the program to the governor during DeWine's visit. Waite is a protection and control manager at AEP, and was instrumental in getting the DICM to the college. Students in the protection and control program can graduate and go to work for utilities, he said, or any company that has uses a large amount of electricity. The jobs are in demand, and pay well, upwards of $60,000 per year.
Jacob Cohen of Zanesville was a member of the programs' first graduating class in May, and quickly found work with AEP. "Our labs directly correlate with what you will be doing in the field," he said.
The governor said the continued evolution of education in the state is vital to continue to attact new business investment. "You can offer companies the moon," DeWine said, "And they won't come if they don't think they can find the employees. In many cases that means employees with a certain degree or background."
DeWine said institutes of higher education are working closer than ever with businesses. "They are focused more on matching skills, what they are teaching in college, so that person can get a job. The best way to do that is working directly with the business community." | https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/governor-dewine-zane-state-college-electrical-engineering-technology-lab-ohio/65467852007/ | 2022-09-02T19:06:45Z | zanesvilletimesrecorder.com | control | https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/local/2022/09/02/governor-dewine-zane-state-college-electrical-engineering-technology-lab-ohio/65467852007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
2 wanted in connection with shooting of woman on Red Line train in Loop
CHICAGO - Chicago police are looking for two people wanted in connection with the shooting of a woman on a CTA Red Line train last week in the Loop.
The woman, 30, was riding the train just after midnight near 188 N. State St on Aug. 27 when she got into an argument with the suspects, Chicago police said.
One of the suspects fired a shot and struck her in the knee, police said.
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(Chicago police)
Police believe two people were involved in the attack:
- a Black man wearing a black shirt, black pants with white stripes and black and white shoes; and
- a Black woman with long black hair in dreadlocks, wearing a purple hoodie and white shirt, black pants and white shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Three detective Scott Liebhaber at 312-744-8261. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/2-wanted-in-connection-with-shooting-of-woman-on-red-line-train-in-loop | 2022-09-02T19:13:28Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/2-wanted-in-connection-with-shooting-of-woman-on-red-line-train-in-loop | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
FBI seeks suspect in armed bank robbery on Chicago's South Side
CHICAGO - The Chicago FBI is searching for a man who robbed a CitiBank in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood on Monday afternoon.
A man in his 40s went into the bank located at 1310 East 47th Street around 2:27 p.m. and made his demands.
The suspect was armed with a handgun. He is about 5'9, medium build and Black.
He was wearing a light-colored mask, dark hoodie, a construction high visibility vest with orange trim, black pants, and black shoes.
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No injuries were reported, and the suspect is still at large.
The public can report tips (even anonymously) to 312-421-6700 or tips.fbi.gov. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/fbi-seeks-suspect-in-armed-bank-robbery-on-chicagos-south-side | 2022-09-02T19:13:35Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/fbi-seeks-suspect-in-armed-bank-robbery-on-chicagos-south-side | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Illinois felon sentenced to more than 12 years for possession of illegal guns, explosives
CHICAGO - A convicted felon from Minooka was sentenced Wednesday to 12 and a half years in federal prison for possessing illegal guns and explosives in Grundy County.
John Feeney pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this year to one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of illegal possession of an explosive during the commission of a felony, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern Illinois District.
Feeney, 32, was found with the illegal goods on Jan. 25 in Morris, prosecutors said.
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Authorities found Feeney to be in possession of a 4-inch diameter cardboard aerial shell with perchlorate explosives and black powder; a 2-inch diameter cardboard aerial shell containing perchlorate explosives; and a 2-inch diameter cardboard aerial shell secured to a plastic cup and containing metal Phillips head bits, cut copper wire, and perchlorate explosives, prosecutors said. He also had two pistols, multiple magazines of ammunition and drug paraphernalia.
(U.S. Attorney's Office)
A day before his arrest, prosecutors said Feeney used one of the handguns to shoot at a person, striking the individual's vehicle.
Feeney had previously been convicted of an undisclosed felony offense in state court, and was not permitted to possess a firearm or explosive.
The indictment didn’t state what Feeney allegedly planned to do with the explosives. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-felon-sentenced-to-more-than-12-years-for-possession-of-illegal-guns-explosives | 2022-09-02T19:13:41Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-felon-sentenced-to-more-than-12-years-for-possession-of-illegal-guns-explosives | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Chicago Bears President Ted Phillips will retire at the end of this season
CHICAGO - Chicago Bears President/CEO Ted Philips will retire at the end of the 2022 NFL season, Phillips announced Friday.
"I have been truly blessed with the honor of working for the Chicago Bears for 40 seasons and look forward to leading the team through the 2022 season. I appreciate the support of the McCaskey family and to be involved in overseeing this amazing growth of the Chicago Bears through the years, is a dream come true," said Phillips. "Every day has been a true pleasure and being surrounded by so many talented and wonderful people has made my job richly rewarding on many levels. I will always bleed blue and orange and forever be proud to be a part of the Chicago Bears family."
Phillips was named team President & CEO on February 10, 1999. He is only the fourth person to serve as president in the organization's storied 102-year history, and the first outside the Halas-McCaskey family following Michael McCaskey, George "Mugs" Halas, Jr., and George S. Halas.
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The Bears say Phillips' leadership was key in negotiating a new home for the team at Soldier Field. Following an upgraded renovation in 2003, it not only made the club more financially competitive, but it also helped provide the best fans in professional sports with many new stadium amenities and improved the overall gameday experience along the lakefront which has been critical in creating a great home-field advantage.
Phillips served as the Bears Vice President of Operations for six seasons starting in 1993. Recognized for his many years of handling the Bears contract negotiations and team finances, Phillips has recently served on both the NFL's CEC Executive Working Group and the NFL's CBA Player Benefits Plans Committee, and is currently the Chairman for the NFL's Employee Benefits Committee. Phillips also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Bears Care, the philanthropic arm of the Chicago Bears, and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.
Before becoming Vice President of Operations, Phillips served as the Director of Finance from 1987-93. Phillips joined the Bears staff on September 28, 1983, as the team's Controller, a position he held for four years.
The search for Phillips’ successor is underway and will be announced by the Bears in the coming months, according to a press release from the Chicago Bears. | https://www.fox32chicago.com/sports/reports-say-bears-president-ted-phillips-will-retire-at-the-end-of-this-season | 2022-09-02T19:13:54Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/sports/reports-say-bears-president-ted-phillips-will-retire-at-the-end-of-this-season | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PARKLAND, Fla. — A Broward County man is facing multiple charges for leaving dead animals on a memorial for the victims of the Parkland school shooting.
The investigation of his actions also revealed his disturbing fascination with mass school shootings.
Robert Mondragon, 29, is being held without bond on charges of removing or disfiguring a tomb or monument (three counts), violation of probation for battery and indecent exposure (five counts) and violation of a risk protection order.
On July 20, a school crossing guard noticed a dead duck with its chest cavity cut open on a bench at the MSD Memorial Garden, outside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The next day the crossing guard found a dead raccoon on the same memorial bench, and on July 31, a deputy found a dead opossum on the bench.
Detectives viewed surveillance video and saw a white Nissan with all black rims or tires with no hubcaps arrive at the memorial just after 11 p.m. on July 30.
Detectives said the man driving got out of the car and walked to the passenger's side, then entered the memorial for several minutes before leaving.
On July 31, a Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) Parkland district deputy saw a white Nissan Sentra that matched the vehicle description of the car seen in surveillance video and conducted a traffic stop.
The deputy said Mondragon was the only person in the car and the deputy observed bird feathers and blood on the front passenger side floorboard.
Mondragon told the deputy he had the dead bird in his car because he likes "the metal and blood smell that emit from the dead animal."
BSO Violence Intervention Proactive Enforcement Response detectives received information about Mondragon's whereabouts and arrested him Thursday, August 4, for violating his probation for battery and indecent exposure and for violating his risk protection order.
BSO Threat Management Unit (TMU) deputies obtained various search warrants for Mondragon's car, home, cellphone and social media accounts.
They found a photo on Mondragon's phone of him holding a dead duck with its chest cavity cut open, and another photo on his phone of a dead raccoon in the floorboard of the passenger's side of his vehicle.
TMU detectives said further investigation revealed Mondragon's obsession with school shooters.
His facial tattoos resemble those of Tate Langdon, a character from the television series American Horror Story based on the Columbine High School massacre,
Detectives also found text messages about school shootings and internet searches about school shooters, hot to break into steel doors, shootings involving multiple victims, pipe bombs, as well as slang terms for killing cops.
Their investigation also revealed evidence that two weeks before the end of the 2021/2022 school year, Mondragon walked the path that Nikolas Cruz took from the high school to Walmart on February 14, 2018.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are pursuing possible federal charges against Mondragon. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/florida-news/man-arrested-for-placing-dead-animals-on-parkland-memorial | 2022-09-02T19:14:26Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/florida-news/man-arrested-for-placing-dead-animals-on-parkland-memorial | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WEWS) — It’s a book so many people know and love — "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."
For 5-year-old Zion Crenshaw, the book is a much-needed escape.
“It’s the little things that make people happy,” said mom Shawanna Crenshaw.
Her six children and foster children are all patients at MetroHealth in Cleveland, Ohio.
She brought Zion in for his wellness check and shots.
The books in the waiting room and the books handed to him by the doctor when he leaves make a big difference.
“If they’re getting a shot, they’re sitting there reading a book, it relaxes my children,” Shawanna said. “So I’m glad the books are there.”
They’re in the doctor's office because of a national nonprofit called Reach Out and Read, founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert Needleman, a physician at MetroHealth.
“He thought about, 'What if we put books in the waiting room, what would happen?' And the books disappeared,” explained Lynn Foran, executive director of Reach Out and Read Greater Cleveland.
So from there, they started including them in child wellness checks.
More than 200 doctors and nurse practitioners across nearly 40 locations in greater Cleveland are trained in early literacy by Reach Out and Read.
There are books in the waiting room, exam rooms, and stacks and stacks of books, free to grab on your way out.
Pediatrician Dr. Anna Winfield has been part of the program for decades. She said the improvements she sees are remarkable.
“Ten years ago, I would give people a book and they would say, ‘That’s the only book I have at home’ and now you give them books and they say, ‘Oh I have plenty of books’ — but they still need more!” Winfield said.
Research shows reaching kids at an early age helps with kindergarten readiness, parental engagement, and is even beneficial for maternal well-being.
Book "prescriptions" detailing specific reading material can even help parents feel more at ease.
“I think a lot of our parents who are at higher risk for low literacy get nervous about reading with their kids because they’re not confident in their own skills,” Winfield explained. “And if you show them what to do with the book and their kid, their eyes kind of light up.”
The key to Reach Out and Read’s success has been rolling the importance of literacy into well-child visits, talking about it at the same level as safe sleep and good nutrition, and partnering with doctors who are trusted by families.
“They’re the messengers,” Foran said. “And parents, as you know being a mom of young children, you look to their advice and guidance to help you support the healthy development of your child.”
Reach Out and Read targets children six months to 5 years old. It has reached more than 4.2 million children across the country
This story was originally reported by Homa Bash on news5cleveland.com. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/doctors-are-giving-kids-prescriptions-for-books-to-foster-good-reading-habits | 2022-09-02T19:14:32Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/doctors-are-giving-kids-prescriptions-for-books-to-foster-good-reading-habits | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
While the number of fatalities from auto accidents in rural areas declined 10% in the previous decade, deaths in urban areas increased 34%, AAA noted.
AAA said before 2016, rural auto fatalities outnumbered those in urban areas. The agency said that trend has since reversed. AAA said motorists are traveling more miles in congested areas.
“Many urban streets in metropolitan areas are busier, with a mix of road users such as drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Add in speed, and these locations grow more dangerous. When navigating urban streets, every user needs to be careful, pay attention to road conditions and follow traffic laws.”
AAA said collisions with cyclists and pedestrians accounted for 29% of fatalities.
Nearly half of urban auto fatalities occurred in areas with speed limits of 35 mph.
Federal data suggests fatalities from vehicle crashes are continuing to rise. There was a 7% increase in deaths due to auto collisions in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/fatal-vehicle-accidents-quickly-increasing-in-cities-declining-steadily-in-rural-areas | 2022-09-02T19:14:44Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/fatal-vehicle-accidents-quickly-increasing-in-cities-declining-steadily-in-rural-areas | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Jehovah’s Witnesses are knocking on doors again.
They resumed door-to-door ministry on Sept. 1. The practice was suspended for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dan Sideris told The Associated Press that he was nervous about going door-to-door again, but the experience turned out to be a good one for him.
“It all came back quite naturally because we don’t have a canned speech,” he said. “We try to engage with people about what’s in their heart, and what we say comes from our hearts.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses say they go door-to-door because are following the example of early Christians who found the practice a good way to reach people.
During the pandemic, they tried to reach people through letters and phone calls.
There are reportedly more than 1.2 million Jehovah’s Witnesses in the United States. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/jehovahs-witnesses-resume-door-knocking-after-pandemic-hiatus | 2022-09-02T19:14:56Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/jehovahs-witnesses-resume-door-knocking-after-pandemic-hiatus | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NASA is ready to try again to launch Artemis I toward the moon on Saturday.
Engine issues prevented the rocket from lifting off on Monday. After saying that officials were troubleshooting a hydrogen leak, NASA said that there was also a problem discovered in the rocket's third engine. Officials said that the engine was not showing the correct temperature once NASA did an engine bleed test.
After making repairs, officials said the spacecraft is ready for liftoff on Saturday
"Our team is ready,” said Jeremy Parson, deputy manager for NASA Exploration Ground Systems. “They are getting better with every attempt and actually performed superbly during launch countdown number one. So in my mind, I think if the conditions with weather and the hardware align, we will absolutely go and we have the right team at kind of the right time."
Artemis I is part of a program that will send humans back to the moon.
The unmanned mission will fly by the moon before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean in October. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/nasa-set-to-try-again-saturday-with-artemis-i-mission | 2022-09-02T19:15:09Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/nasa-set-to-try-again-saturday-with-artemis-i-mission | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Jason Keatseangsilp’s journey to the U.S. Open is one full of twists and turns.
“I did not even think a Grand Slam was in question, but now, here we are. So, it really is a dream turned into reality,” tennis player Jason Keatseangsilp said.
We caught up with Keatseangsilp the week before he headed out to the U.S. Open.
“This is a lifetime opportunity,” he said.
He applied for the wild card spot, and days later he received a phone call.
“I got the call from the tournament director saying I got the spot,” he said.
How Keatseangsilp got to this point is its own journey. After playing competitive tennis for much of his teenage years, at 17, he was in an accident that led to a spinal cord injury.
“I was a senior in high school. I was practicing rappelling and I fell off the climbing pole. It was a 40-foot fall,” he explained.
The pain he developed months after put life on hold.
“It was like a sharp, stabbing, fiery, electrical sensation kind of pain,” Keatseangsilp said.
“When I first met him he could barely speak to me because he was constantly doubled over in pain,” Dr. Scott Falci, a neurosurgeon and the founder and director of the Falci Institute for Spinal Cord Injuries at Swedish Medical Center, said. “The spinal cord can progressively deteriorate over time.”
Dr. Falci, who specializes in surgeries on chronically injured spinal cords, was able to help Keatseangsilp with a specialized surgery.
“These processing nerve cells inside the spinal cord can go awry after a spinal cord injury. They can actually start firing spontaneously like a seizure. It's almost like epilepsy of the spinal cord,” Dr. Falci explained.
Doctors are able to record the electrical activity, see it, and destroy those areas with radiofrequency heat.
“As soon as I woke up, I knew I was almost completely pain-free,” Keatseangsilp said.
That was back in 2013. Now, Keatseangsilp is back on the court.
“Within the past year, I've played about 15 tournaments,” he said.
Next up is the U.S. Open wheelchair championships, which expanded this year.
“The 2022 year is very special for the U.S. Open because they increased the draw, the bracket size, from 8 men to 16 men,” Keatseangsilp said. “It really opens the door for more players to kind of have a tangible goal.”
“Wheelchair tennis, wheelchair golf, wheelchair rugby, basketball,” Dane Stair, an adaptive rehab specialist at NeuAbility, said. “There's more and more of it being broadcast nowadays because accessibility is being put more to the forefront of thought.”
Stair is an adaptive rehab specialist at NeuAbility, a rehabilitative wellness center and gym. He works with those who have spinal cord injuries and advocates for more exposure and education in this realm at the university level.
“Finding adaptive sports, adaptive gyms, adaptive anything that takes a group of individuals who have been disabled, brings them together and helps them focus on a formal goal, hopefully, sports, works great for everybody,” Stair said. “As the individual is trying to learn how to live again they have to find different ways to solidify their identity down.”
Keatseangsilp hopes his story and how he found his passion for tennis again after his accident will help inspire others as well.
“[Dr. Falci’s] surgery changed my entire life,” Keatseangsilp said. ”Once people know about wheelchair tennis and they see it in action they get excited to watch.” | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/u-s-open-expands-wheelchair-field-as-opportunities-for-adaptive-sports-grow | 2022-09-02T19:15:15Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/u-s-open-expands-wheelchair-field-as-opportunities-for-adaptive-sports-grow | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DENVER, Colo. — If you have kids, you probably felt and still feel the extra stress of raising children through the pandemic.
Research now backs up those feelings and shows the pandemic created a big spike in mental health issues—especially in new moms.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are now 15 states that have extended postpartum benefits for moms up to one year after giving birth, and 10 states are working to extend those benefits now. However, until these benefits become nationwide, moms are getting creative to keep each other healthy and safe.
“We're not giving moms the chance to say what's truly in their heart and how they're feeling because we want everyone to be happy and love motherhood, but that's not realistic,” Nikki Brooker, founder and President of nonprofit You are Not Alone Mom 2 Mom.
Brooker’s nonprofit is busier than ever. She connects new moms with each other and with medical resources to fight postpartum depression and anxiety.
“Our community is held up by moms. We run the household. We make sure everyone's okay. And when our mental health is not well, that's when the kid’s mental health starts going, or the husband, or the community as a whole, and we need to do a better job of supporting where everyone begins, which is with mom,” said Brooker.
Brooker helped new mom Kristin Angelos when she had her daughter last year.
“I had a really hard time nursing her and I really struggled with that feeling like I was a sufficient mom for her,” said Angelos.
So, Brooker referred Angelos to an in-home doctor and mental health counselor. Angelos credits that support with calming her anxiety and keeping the postpartum blues away.
“It's scary. I was very aware, I can feel my anxiety coming on, you know. So, I was very aware that it was a possibility,” said Angelos of experiencing postpartum depression. “They gave us counseling, a couple counseling sessions as part of that. So, that was very helpful, I think, to prevent something from happening postpartum.”
Now, Brooker is ready to help Angelos again with her second baby.
“I'm actually extra nervous about this baby for postpartum just with some medical issues I'm having,” said Angelos. “I don't reach out for help a lot at all. I'm very bad at it. I've had a lot of tears, but it's nice to know that I'm not an inconvenience when I need someone to call or talk to.”
So many moms have no one to reach out to. Researchers at the University of Michigan found 1 in 3 new moms who had babies at the beginning of the pandemic experienced postpartum depression—a number researchers believe is triple pre-pandemic levels.
Researchers found awareness and more support is key in keeping moms safe.
That’s why Brooker is partnering with hospitals to give moms more medical check-ins after giving birth, and she is launching an app to connect moms who give birth around the same time.
“When you look around the room and you realize that you're not alone and these are your people. It changes mental health like that because you feel a part of something,” said Brooker.
Brooker knows her support is not a replacement for medical treatment, but she believes it’s a path to it so that moms, and communities, can be healthy.
If you would like to support You are Not Alone Mom 2 Mom, they are hosting a gala on Oct. 8 to benefit new programs to support moms after giving birth. Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/until-postpartum-benefits-expand-for-moms-nationwide-moms-are-banding-together-for-support | 2022-09-02T19:15:21Z | wtxl.com | control | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/until-postpartum-benefits-expand-for-moms-nationwide-moms-are-banding-together-for-support | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Veterans’ job prospects improved in August even as the national unemployment rate rose slightly, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.
The unemployment rate for all veterans fell from 2.7% in July to 2.4% in August, with about 27,000 fewer veterans reporting they were unable to find steady work.
The decline among younger veterans was even more dramatic. BLS estimates the unemployment rate for that group last month was 1.9%, down from 3.4% in July and marking the lowest monthly level since April 2019 (when it was 1.7%).
Employment experts have cautioned that monthly estimates are subject to volatility due to sampling and survey issues. But the veterans figures show continued improvement in opportunity for veterans since the start of 2022, when the estimates for both groups was significantly above 3%.
In contrast, the national unemployment rate rose from 3.5% in July (its lowest mark since one month before the coronavirus pandemic began in America in February 2020) to 3.7%, the first monthly increase since January.
On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre downplayed potential concerns about a one-month regression after months of positive employment news.
“We have talked about how we’re coming off historic economic growth,” she said. “And it’s no surprise that the economy is slowing down. We’re expecting that to cool off just a bit as we’re going into that transition … and right now we’re still seeing a strong labor market.”
The veterans unemployment rate has generally outpaced the national estimate in recent years, thanks in part to extra transition and job assistance programs focused on former service members.
From August 2021 to last month, the number of veterans unable to find steady employment dropped by almost 100,000 individuals. About 8.5 million veterans are in the American workforce today.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award. | https://www.federaltimes.com/education-transition/2022/09/02/veterans-unemployment-improves-even-as-national-rate-worsens-slightly/ | 2022-09-02T19:15:38Z | federaltimes.com | control | https://www.federaltimes.com/education-transition/2022/09/02/veterans-unemployment-improves-even-as-national-rate-worsens-slightly/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Amid staffing shortages and limited budgets, organizations and government agencies are struggling to strike a balance between enhancing productivity and ensuring proper cyber hygiene, making it difficult to effectively defend against cyber threats.
Twitter is just the latest example of this – the whistleblower complaint filed by the company’s former security boss demonstrates that the company may prioritize feature functionality over strong cybersecurity (i.e., measuring key risk indicators, delivering secure code, maintaining secure devices).
Meanwhile, attacks are increasingly overwhelming in boldness, sophistication and volume. Even well-staffed, well-funded IT and security teams are effectively grasping at straws – unless they have a risk-based patch management solution in place.
RBPM means narrowing down active threat mitigation efforts and patching to the highest priority threats. These priorities are determined based on both external threat context and the internal security environment of an individual federal organization.
Patching is not nearly as simple as it sounds, and government security teams often don’t get around to it amidst other pressing demands. In a recent survey by Ivanti, 71% of IT and security professionals reported that they found patching to be both time-consuming and complicated. An RBPM program – especially one enhanced by certain best practices – can reduce risk without increasing workload.
Here are five of those best practices:
Start with asset discovery
You can’t protect what you can’t see. A team can be working around the clock to create patches for specific threats and specific assets and still miss the boat if they’re not aware what they actually need to be patching. That’s wasted effort – and a huge point of vulnerability. That’s why any RBPM program must start with asset discovery.
What assets are on your network? Which end user profiles use those assets? In the pre-pandemic era, asset management was more straightforward: what and who are behind our perimeter, in our office? In the modern everywhere workplace, assets and end users are dispersed. That calls for a modern approach to asset management – one that can discover, map, secure, and service any asset, anywhere – even when they’re offline.
Once you know what you need to protect, you can start protecting it.
Get everyone on the same page
Despite best intentions, IT operations and security teams are often working in conflict – simply by the nature of their roles and areas of focus. RBPM creates a bridge between these organizations, demanding that external threats and internal security environments are considered in tandem.
In order for these organizations to work together, they must all have the same information as well as mutually acknowledged risk analysis. When everyone is on the same page, security can stop treating everything as an urgent risk and can prioritize the most critical vulnerabilities. IT operations can stop feeling like they’re drinking from a firehose and make time for the right patches at the right time.
Leverage an SLA for patch management
You already know that security and IT operations need to work together to create and execute an effective RBPM solution. Of course, it’s one thing to know they need to work together – and quite another to ensure they are enabled, empowered, and motivated to do so.
A service-level agreement (SLA) for patch management between the security and IT operations teams can eliminate back-and-forth and standardize processes for patch management. It should lay out department-level goals and enterprise-wide goals for patch management, establish best practices and processes, and identify maintenance windows that are acceptable for all parties.
Leverage pilot groups for patching
Done right, a RBPM strategy allows IT operations and security teams to work fast, identifying critical vulnerabilities in real-time and working to patch them as soon as possible. Speed is of utmost importance – so long as it doesn’t cause excess collateral damage. A hasty patch runs the risk of crashing mission-critical software or creating other unwanted problems.
The solution: leverage pilot groups featuring key stakeholders who can test vulnerability patches in a live environment prior to full rollout. Optimally, these stakeholders would reflect the device configurations and user roles that will be impacted by a piloted patch. Live environments provide a more accurate assessment than any lab can replicate, and we’re not at the point of being able to perfectly identify potential downstream impacts of patches. If the pilot group identifies a catastrophic error, it can be remedied with minimal enterprise impact. It’s important to predetermine and pretrain pilot groups so this process doesn’t substantially inhibit patch progress.
Embrace automation
The point of RBPM is to mitigate vulnerabilities efficiently and effectively while alleviating the burden on your staff – particularly as IT faces an unprecedented worker shortage. However, it’s still a heavy lift when done manually. Automation can dramatically accelerate the speed and accuracy of a RBPM program, collecting, contextualizing, and prioritizing vulnerabilities around the clock, far faster than even the most talented team could manage.
Automation can also segment a patch rollout to test for efficacy and downstream impacts as well, supplementing the work of the pilot groups mentioned above.
The ability to automatically identify, prioritize, and even address vulnerabilities without excess manual intervention is a critical advantage in today’s cybersecurity landscape. That’s why it’s so concerning that, according to Twitter’s former head of security, around 30% of the company’s laptops had automatic software updates blocked. This, along with other security failures, resulted in Twitter suffering more than 50 incidents in the past year.
As a RBPM solution is dependent on the nuances of a particular organization or federal agency, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all RBPM strategy. These best practices, however, can inform any RBPM program – and make all the difference in the world.
Srinivas Mukkamala is Senior Vice President, Security Products at Ivanti. Prior to Ivanti he was a Co-Founder and CEO of RiskSense, a risk-based vulnerability management company, and was part of a think tank that collaborated with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Intelligence Community on applying these concepts to cybersecurity problems. | https://www.federaltimes.com/it-networks/2022/09/02/five-best-practices-for-risk-based-patch-management-in-government/ | 2022-09-02T19:15:45Z | federaltimes.com | control | https://www.federaltimes.com/it-networks/2022/09/02/five-best-practices-for-risk-based-patch-management-in-government/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A hearing officer for a federal labor board rebuffed Amazon’s attempt to scrap a historic union win at a warehouse on Staten Island, New York, handing victory to organizers in what could be a very long battle for recognition.
The win is a relief for the Amazon Labor Union, the grassroots group of former and current workers whose unexpected victory in April followed weeks of aggressive campaigning from both sides.
“Today is a great day for Labor,” Chris Smalls, a fired Amazon worker who now heads the union, wrote in Tweet celebrating the decision.
Shortly after the spring vote, Amazon filed more than two dozen objections with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming it was tainted by organizers and Region 29, the agency’s regional office in Brooklyn that oversaw the election. The case was then transferred to another regional office, based in Phoenix, at Amazon’s request.
The 24-day long hearing, which Amazon had unsuccessfully sought to close to the public, was marked by tense exchanges between attorneys for both sides on what documents could be submitted for evidence and which witnesses could testify.
On Thursday, Lisa Dunn, the agency officer who handled the company’s case, concluded Amazon’s objections should be entirely overruled and the union be certified as a bargaining representative for the warehouse, a spokesperson for the NLRB wrote in an email.
“Employer has not met its burden of establishing that Region 29, the Petitioner, or any third parties have engaged in objectionable conduct affecting the results of the election,” the spokesperson said, offering a summary of Dunn’s recommendation.
Amazon Spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company plans to appeal.
“While we’re still reviewing the decision, we strongly disagree with the conclusion and intend to appeal,” Nantel said in a statement. “As we showed throughout the hearing with dozens of witnesses and hundreds of pages of documents, both the NLRB and the ALU improperly influenced the outcome of the election and we don’t believe it represents what the majority of our team wants.”
Amazon, the union and the agency’s office in Brooklyn have until Sept. 16 to file any exceptions to the report, which would send the case to the regional director, who will issue an order to certify the election results or order a rerun vote. The company could still appeal that order to the five-person labor board, whose Democratic majority is expected to be sympathetic to the union.
Even when the agency upholds a union victory, experts say companies who don’t want a unionized workforce often refuse to negotiate. That move can trigger protracted legal battles in federal court, which some companies could use as a backdoor attempt to thwart labor victories.
In May, the nascent union lost a separate election at a neighboring warehouse, which dampened enthusiasm elsewhere. At the same time, it was devoting more time and resources to defend its initial win from the e-commerce giant.
Other campaigns have kicked off at Amazon warehouses in North Carolina, Kentucky and elsewhere, as workers attempt to gather enough signatures to qualify for a union election. Amazon workers at a warehouse near Albany, New York are slated to vote in their own election in the coming months. | https://www.federaltimes.com/management/2022/09/02/federal-labor-board-rejects-amazon-bid-to-scrap-union-at-ny-warehouse/ | 2022-09-02T19:15:52Z | federaltimes.com | control | https://www.federaltimes.com/management/2022/09/02/federal-labor-board-rejects-amazon-bid-to-scrap-union-at-ny-warehouse/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Amid months of mass flight cancellations and delays, the U.S. Department of Transportation said it launched a customer service dashboard to help vacationers ahead of the travel-heavy Labor Day weekend.
Starting Thursday, travelers can check the dashboard and see what kinds of guarantees, refunds or compensation the major domestic airlines offer in case of flight delays or cancellations. It’s designed to allow travelers to shop around and favor those airlines that offer the best compensation.
The dashboard is part of an extended pressure campaign from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has publicly challenged the major carriers to improve service and transparency after a summer marred by cancellations and flight delays. As summer travel returned to nearly pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, airlines struggled to keep pace, with mass cancellations being blamed on staffing shortages, particularly among pilots.
“Passengers deserve transparency and clarity on what to expect from an airline when there is a cancelation or disruption,” Buttigieg said in a statement. The new tool, he said, will help travelers to “easily understand their rights, compare airline practices, and make informed decisions.”
The dashboard compares all the major domestic airlines’ policies on issues such as which offer meals for delays of more than three hours and which offer to rebook flights on the same or different airlines at no additional charge. It focuses on what it calls “controllable” cancellations or delays — meaning those caused by mechanical issues, staff shortages or delays in cleaning, fueling or baggage handling. Delays or cancellations caused by weather or security concerns don’t count.
The Department of Transportation is hoping that the dashboard will encourage competition among airlines to offer the most transparency and the best protections for customers.
So far this year, airlines have canceled about 146,000 flights, or 2.6% of all flights, and nearly 1.3 million flights have been delayed, according to tracking service FlightAware. The rate of cancellations is up about one-third from the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, and the rate of delays is up nearly one-fourth.
Federal officials have blamed many of the disruptions on understaffing at airlines, which encouraged employees to quit after the pandemic started. The airlines have countered by blaming staffing problems at the Federal Aviation Administration, which employs air traffic controllers. | https://www.federaltimes.com/management/2022/09/02/transportation-dept-unveils-flight-delay-dashboard-ahead-of-labor-day/ | 2022-09-02T19:15:58Z | federaltimes.com | control | https://www.federaltimes.com/management/2022/09/02/transportation-dept-unveils-flight-delay-dashboard-ahead-of-labor-day/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
As the annual benefits open enrollment period takes off across the country, public and private entities will offer an array of programs and coverage options designed to keep employees and their dependents healthy, engaged and productive throughout the coming year.
While employers in all industries are grappling with labor shortages, the public sector continues to struggle with staffing challenges. With some 18.28 million people employed by state and local governments in 2021, the “quit rate” for government workers jumped to 11.7% in 2020 from 9.7% in 2016, and that trend has continued. That could mean continued disruption of everything from community and residential programs to public works, parks and recreation, public safety, and more.
Health benefits can be a hiring and retention tool
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, 88% of state and local workers enrolled in health benefits that were made available to them through their employer. Meanwhile, a recent survey showed that changing jobs to secure better benefits and flexibility is a key strategy for employees.
Despite this evidence, achieving participation and engagement in employee benefits can be a struggle. According to research from Quantum Health, this is due in part to the gap that exists between what organizations think employees understand about benefits and what they actually understand. Meanwhile, employees say they lack confidence in their benefits knowledge and their ability to use the benefits programs available to them.
The Quantum Health survey quantified this phenomenon as a “confidence disconnect,” or gap, between employers and their employees regarding healthcare benefits. The survey showed that 88% of employers believe their workers are confident in understanding their healthcare benefits. However, only 52% – barely half – of individuals surveyed say they feel confident. Meanwhile, only 45% find it easy to use health benefits, and only 35% find it easy to navigate the system.
Gaps in benefits knowledge can be problematic
When it comes to healthcare benefits, employee knowledge gaps can negatively influence utilization, engagement, and compliance with care plans. In addition, surveys continue to show that healthcare literacy is lacking, which has been linked to poor health outcomes and higher healthcare costs caused by inappropriate use of healthcare services and benefits.
Healthcare navigation can be a solution
Healthcare navigation is a solution that state and city governments can offer as part of their overall employee benefits package to help employees understand and use their benefits, and to provide personalized support when employees have questions or are experiencing a specific healthcare need. Healthcare navigation that is coupled with care coordination can increase adoption and engagement in employee benefits, support employees through a complex healthcare journey, deliver better health outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.
For example, state employee health plans traditionally see the biggest cost increases from hospital costs. Inflation and post-COVID utilization increases are expected to continue to drive these costs up by an additional 6.5% as consumers seek care that was put off during the pandemic. By guiding employees to the right care, at the right time, and within their covered benefits, healthcare navigation can help offset these cost increases.
What public employees need to know during benefits open enrollment
Following are the top five most common challenges related to health benefits that employees say they experience. Healthcare navigation experts offer these tips for how to use open enrollment to help employees overcome these challenges, so they get the most from their benefits throughout the year.
1. Finding coverage details. Key to appropriate benefits utilization is understanding coverage details, including plan type (HMO, PPO or high-deductible health plan, for example), how copays and coinsurance works, and how their deductible works. Communicate early and often, and make coverage details easily accessible within the Summary Plan Description or your organization’s online benefits portal. Doing so can help employees avoid surprise medical expenses down the road.
2. Finding doctors and accessing care. While this step may seem like the easiest part of healthcare, it’s an area employees find challenging. Open enrollment is a good time to educate employees about how to find a doctor, research provider cost and quality, and understand telehealth options for their chosen plan and network. Healthcare navigation with care coordination addresses this by ensuring employees get the care they need at the right time and within their covered benefits, thereby avoiding missteps that can generate unnecessary costs or delays in care.
3. Deciphering EOBs and bills. The health plan Explanation of Benefits (EOB) can generate concern among employees if they don’t understand what it means and how it relates to the actual invoices they will receive from care providers. A sample EOB can help explain to employees how this document works and how to reconcile their EOB with the bills they receive from providers. It’s important that employees understand never to pay for services until reconciling their bill against their EOB.
4. Securing prior authorizations and referrals. Employees with limited healthcare encounters likely won’t know if they need prior authorization or a referral for certain types of care, prescription drugs or durable medical equipment. However, failure to secure a prior authorization can impact their coverage, which makes this information essential. A healthcare navigation partner can ease this burden by facilitating prior authorizations on behalf of employees.
5. Test results and treatment options. Accessing and understanding test results and treatment options is scary and foreign to most people. Here again, open enrollment is an ideal time to educate employees about their patient portal and the information it can provide. This is also a good opportunity to inform employees about supportive services available to them through the health plan or healthcare navigation partner.
The risk to employers of over-communicating these details is low, because the employee knowledge gap is real. If steps aren’t taken to bridge that gap, it can lead to inefficient use of healthcare services, high healthcare costs, poor outcomes and low satisfaction. Open enrollment is the perfect time to begin this education process, and healthcare navigation can play a central role by supporting employees all year long – regardless of their position or health status. This ultimately improves benefits adoption and utilization while supporting talent retention and contributing to overall operations and financial performance of your community.
Christy Gigandet, SHRM-SCP, is benefits program manager for Quantum Health, a provider of healthcare navigation services.
Have an opinion?
This article is an Op-Ed and as such, the opinions expressed are those of the authors. If you would like to respond, or have an editorial of your own you would like to submit, please email Federal Times Senior Managing Editor Cary O’Reilly.
Want more perspectives like this sent straight to you? Subscribe to get our Commentary & Opinion newsletter once a week. | https://www.federaltimes.com/thought-leadership/2022/09/02/five-ways-healthcare-navigation-can-lift-employee-engagement-outcomes/ | 2022-09-02T19:16:04Z | federaltimes.com | control | https://www.federaltimes.com/thought-leadership/2022/09/02/five-ways-healthcare-navigation-can-lift-employee-engagement-outcomes/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to offer abortion access to veterans and eligible dependents in cases of rape, incest and pregnancies that endanger the life or health of an individual, arguing the change is needed after more than two dozen states banned the procedure this summer.
The move marks the first time VA physicians could perform abortions on federal property, even in states where it has been outlawed.
The decision comes 10 weeks after the Supreme Court overturned its 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion nationwide. That in turn has prompted a national debate over the department’s responsibilities and limits in regards to reproductive health services for women veterans.
Administration officials have argued that VA employees, when working within the scope of their federal jobs, may provide needed services regardless of state restrictions.
RELATED
Service members, military doctors detail obstacles to abortion access after Supreme Court ruling
Under a proposed rule submitted to the Federal Register Thursday night, VA health care providers could also coordinate abortions with private sector medical offices in locations where the procedures are allowed, and provide counseling on options to all pregnant veterans and eligible beneficiaries.
Both the counseling and abortion procedures would be authorized as soon as next week, pending publication by federal officials and potential legal challenges.
In a statement, VA Secretary Denis McDonough called the move “a patient safety decision” that will fill a critical gap in available medical care.
“Pregnant veterans and VA beneficiaries deserve to have access to world-class reproductive care when they need it most,” he said. “That’s what our nation owes them, and that’s what we at VA will deliver.”
VA officials do not know how many veterans may qualify for abortion procedures.
About 2 million women veterans live in America today. In addition, dependents who are enrolled in VA’s Civilian Health And Medical Program (CHAMPVA) would also be eligible for certain abortion services. That program covered about 434,000 individuals last year.
Since the Supreme Court decision in late June, at least 25 states have started to place limits or already imposed restrictions on health care workers from providing abortions. Some of those moves have been blocked by legal challenges.
Texas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana and Ohio currently have near total bans on the procedure. VA operates 24 major medical centers in those five states alone.
Dr. Shereef Elnahal, VA’s under secretary for health, said department leadership made the move “after listening to VA health care providers and veterans across the country, who sounded the alarm that abortion restrictions are creating a medical emergency for those we serve.”
He said offering abortion counseling and access is “in accordance with generally accepted standards of medical practice” and asserted that “offering this care will save veterans’ health and lives, and there is nothing more important than that.”
In late July, a group of 25 senators — all Democrats and independents — urged McDonough to begin offering abortions at VA campuses, calling it a way to ensure that veterans’ rights to reproductive care are protected.
But Republicans on Capitol Hill strongly oppose the idea.
At multiple hearings in recent months, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee ranking member Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, chastised VA officials for considering such a move and cited the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, which prohibits abortions at VA medical locations.
Democratic supporters have argued that under the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996, the department can furnish “needed” medical care to veterans, including abortions. VA appears to be using that legal defense to justify the changes.
In a statement on Friday, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee ranking member Mike Bost, R-Ill., attacked VA’s announcement.
“Abortion is wrong, and Congress prohibited VA from providing it decades ago,” he said. “This proposal is contrary to longstanding, settled law and a complete administrative overreach. I oppose it and am already working to put a stop to it.”
VA officials noted that veterans face a higher risk of experiencing pregnancy-related complications due to increased rates of chronic health conditions, making access to abortion necessary “to protect the life and health of pregnant veterans.”
Determination of whether a veteran’s life or health is at risk from pregnancy will be made on a case-by-case basis after consultation with VA health care providers. Officials said that self-reporting from a veteran or VA beneficiary “will constitute sufficient evidence that an act of rape or incest occurred.”
Exactly when and where procedures may take place is unclear. Department officials said that after the rule is published, which is expected in the next few days, they will immediately prepare to provide services in “as many locations as possible.”
More information on the available services is available on VA’s website. The department has also posted a list of answers to anticipated questions online.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award. | https://www.federaltimes.com/veterans/2022/09/02/va-to-provide-abortions-in-cases-of-rape-danger-to-womans-life/ | 2022-09-02T19:16:11Z | federaltimes.com | control | https://www.federaltimes.com/veterans/2022/09/02/va-to-provide-abortions-in-cases-of-rape-danger-to-womans-life/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
McAuliffe Elementary School in Riverside was wrapped in a 6-foot-high, chain-link fence and monitored by a campus supervisor — and still an assailant got in and groped a student in a restroom.
Taft Elementary in Santa Ana was outfitted with high-tech safety equipment — and still an intruder pushed his way in, attempted to use the restroom and then drove over three children while fleeing.
“Staff don’t feel safe, our parents don’t feel safe, even after (the killings in) Uvalde,” said Valerie Amezcua, a board member for the Santa Ana Unified School District. “It’s sad, but that’s where we are today.”
School officials everywhere insist safety is their No. 1 concern. But in the aftermath of the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and other high-profile school shootings, how can parents be sure their school is doing all it can to protect their kids?
Safety experts say no school is 100% inoculated from crisis.
“I tell school officials, ‘Do everything you can, knowing you can’t do everything,’ ” said Ron Stephens, executive director of the National School Safety Center in Agoura Hills, an advocacy group that provides school communities and their partners with resources, consultation and training services.
Now that school districts everywhere in Southern California have welcomed students back for the 2022 fall semester, safety experts encourage parents to get involved and not take for granted that schools will keep their children from harm.
“Parents are paralyzed … and they believe in keeping their fingers crossed in the hope that their school is not like the schools where bad things happen. And the reality is, it is,” said Eric Rosoff, chief executive officer of the Burbank-based Campus Safety Group, which provides training and support to school officials to ensure their facilities are as safe as possible.
Christina Treble, mother of a 5-year-old at Taft, said engaged parents often can be more powerful than administrators in demanding safety equipment and reforms.
“We as parents can play a really big role in understanding what our school is asking for and not getting,” Treble said. “We can be the ones to voice the need for things.”
School safety experts say parents can help assess how well their school is prepared to prevent a crisis and, if one does occur, how they are equipped to handle an emergency. Here are some tips for what questions parents can ask:
Where do we start?
Ask to see your school’s safety plan. Under state law, every school is required to create a Comprehensive School Safety Plan each year and keep a copy of it in the school and district offices. These plans are public and parents can request to review them.
Experts say planning is the first step, the foundation of managing emergencies. But while the plan is considered the cornerstone of the school’s safety strategy, the quality of these plans and the effort put into them varies from school to school. Some plans reflect a real effort to ward off tragedy, while others are treated like a bureaucratic exercise.
“What most of these schools are doing is gathering some policies and saying, ‘We have these policies, so we’re safe,’ ” Rosoff said.
One key thing to check, experts say, is how much input parents, teachers, city officials and first-responders had in developing the game plan. The planning should not be done by administrators alone. “We all have a role in keeping schools safe,” Stephens said. “Part of it is knowing who’s on your team and what’s your plan.”
Safety plans should be reviewed by the public at a community meeting. The more the neighborhood is involved, the better, experts say.
What specific things should be in the plan?
The plan should not only cover hardware — such as cameras, perimeter fencing, special lighting, door locks, etc. — but also social issues, such as what the school does to reduce bullying and racial tension. (Ask for school stats on suspensions/expulsions as well as bullying incidents.)
Parents also can ask how often the security equipment is inspected and maintained to ensure it is working properly. And how well the staff is trained to use the equipment.
For instance, safety equipment was not used properly in May when a man with an incendiary device in his car walked onto Santa Ana’s Taft Elementary, attempted to use the bathroom and refused repeated requests to leave. When he finally did leave, his car struck and injured three students off campus.
Amezcua, the Santa Ana Unified board member, said the school has marquee signs with the ability to scroll text alerts and separate warning lights for Taft’s deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Neither the marquees nor the warning lights were used, so the deaf students were unaware that the rest of the children had been evacuated, Amezcua said.
Another consideration, according to experts, is how parents will be notified or updated in the event of an emergency. Is there a plan for reuniting parents with their children?
Parents also should ask if the school has a vision statement for safety and written goals to improve emergency preparedness.
What else should we be looking for?
Look at what kind of access there is to the campus to ensure it is appropriately restricted and that law enforcement has reviewed the access strategy.
Also, parents should ask whether the school has an adult monitoring the areas outside the classrooms. If so, Stephens said, is it a sworn officer, especially at middle schools and high schools?
“What the research tells us is, despite all the high-tech strategies, the main strategy is the physical presence of a responsible adult watching the facilities,” Stephens said. “Who’s walking the campus during the day?”
Experts also advise parents to make sure your school conducts drills that go beyond the standard fire drill. Are there active shooter drills? And drills on how to handle an intruder? Does the drilling include law enforcement? How often are these drills conducted?
The California Education Code requires a drop procedure drill, in which students and staff take cover, every quarter in elementary schools and once every semester in secondary schools.
Parents also can find out what training, if any, school staff receives in safe-school strategies, crisis response and dealing with student mental health issues. Amezcua noted, for example, that nonteaching personnel in the Santa Ana school district are not trained in CPR or first aid.
Many schools have received funding to address safety issues and how they respond to a crisis. Ask the school how much funding it may be receiving and how it is being used.
What about law enforcement? Should we check with the police?
Yes. Parents should request from their police and fire departments the average time it takes to respond to an emergency. An effective response “all depends on the efficiency and skills of our first-responders,” Stephens said.
Parents also can request police data on their schools, such as stats for campus crime. Local police also should have data on juvenile crime in the area. Use the California Public Records Act to get that information if you need to.
Any last thoughts?
Stephens, the school safety expert, emphasizes that schools must have a Plan B, in case something goes wrong with their strategies.
Flexibility is important, the ability to adapt, he said.
“Schools are not the ensurers of safety,” Stephens said. “But we can ensure we have a plan in place.”
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For those born since the collapse of the Soviet Union, it’s hard to understand the degree to which the Cold War cast a pall on the international scene. The Soviet Union lasted nearly 70 years and its communist system – known for its gulags, bread lines and brutal repression – crushed the freedom of 299 million people.
In the late 1980s, unrest grew within Soviet satellite nations, with some declaring independence from the central state. Many Westerners have touted the heroic efforts of President Ronald Reagan, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Pope John Paul II and Polish labor leader Lech Walesa in precipitating the downfall of the Evil Empire.
Another crucial figure, Mikhail S. Gorbachev, died in Moscow last week at the age of 91. An old Soviet joke noted that Gorbachev could have won an election in any nation outside of Russia – a reference to his unpopularity at home even as Western media celebrated him. His legacy may be mixed, but he’s worthy of fond remembrance.
The main critique of Gorbachev is that the reforms he implemented – glasnost (openness) and perestroika (reconstruction) – were designed to save the Soviet system from collapse. He became general secretary of the Communist Party in 1985 as a Leninist – certainly not a man initially committed to democracy and freedom. Soviet deprivations continued even after he implemented his reforms.
His critics say that the Soviet Union was destined for the dust heap given its failed economics, but it could have hobbled along for years. Mainly, Gorbachev allowed it to collapse with a whimper rather than a violent bang. He seemed genuinely committed to creating a more open society.
As unrest spread across his empire (thanks in part to the liberalizing forces he unleashed), Gorbachev did not respond with brutal crackdowns that former Soviet despots had employed. “Gorbachev had the brute power to suppress rebellion, as his predecessors had done, but he refrained from using it,” Jay Nordlinger wrote in the National Review.
He was the right man at the right time who did the right thing. That’s a legacy worth remembering.
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LOS ANGELES — On Saturday, an old tradition will reappear at the Coliseum.
Two hours and change prior to kickoff against Rice, the USC football team busses will appear at the front of the historic stadium and players will disembark for the Trojan Walk. Heading toward the Peristyle, the players will be greeted by fans braving the heat before walking down the field to begin preparations for the Owls.
From that point on, the traditions will cease. It will be an entirely new era for USC football as the Trojans make their debut under the watchful eye of Lincoln Riley.
This is the moment that the past nine months have building toward since USC shocked the college football world with the hiring of Riley, the Oklahoma head coach and offensive guru who seemed destined to spend his career in Norman.
Instead he is in Los Angeles, and after three-quarters of a year of recruiting wins, workouts and practices, USC’s Riley era will begin in earnest at the Coliseum on Saturday.
“Right now, you kind of fight the urge to want to look ahead,” Riley said Tuesday. “[W]e’re all human too. And to say that there’s not a real excitement about Saturday, the first one in the Coliseum, would just be untrue. So we’re thrilled. I think everybody in the program, every player, every staff member, we’re just counting down the minutes.”
Riley and his players said all the right things this week about respecting Rice, about treating the Owls like any other opponent. But Saturday will truly be judged as a declaration of intent for Riley’s first season.
Is the product on the field one that the fan base can rally behind? Will the Trojans dispatch opponents that are supposed to be beneath them, or play down to their level? Will there be a sense of discipline, or at least signs of accountability when that discipline breaks down?
Some of these questions may seem silly, but they are ones that have plagued USC for the past half decade. On Saturday, though, the world will see what kind of stamp Riley has already put on this program.
When Rice has the ball
The Owl offense comes from the Stanford tree, a handy warmup for USC ahead of its Week 2 trip to Palo Alto. After shuffling through quarterbacks last season, Wiley Green is back from injury to provide some stability at the position. He’s averaged just 6.3 yards per passing attempt in his career, so expect Rice to try to attack underneath rather than blow the top off the USC defense.
As for that USC defense, it remains the greatest unknown about this team. It’s a collage of a unit, with a collection of pieces from the transfer portal pasted next to select returning players from last year’s disastrous campaign.
Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch likes a unit that combines speed with versatility. He believes he’s assembled that in his first season at USC, but is more concerned about how the team holds up physically and mentally.
“We haven’t been in that fight together. We haven’t had the long faces after a long drive and haven’t gone into halftime up or down,” Grinch said. “So really anxious to see how the guys respond. … I anticipate we’ll do a nice job of it but gotta go do it.”
When USC has the ball
Offense is Riley’s signature unit, and he’s won a reputation over the years for his innovation and creative use of playmakers. Heading into his first season at USC, Riley has assembled an impressive group of skill players.
Quarterback Caleb Williams is the headliner and brings a sense of continuity for Riley as he followed the coach from Oklahoma. Receiver Jordan Addison won the Biletnikoff Award last season. His elite speed left several Trojans stunned during summer workouts. Mario Williams is a similarly shifty receiver, while Travis Dye and Austin Jones can make plays with their legs and hands out of the backfield.
Rice has some talent up front that will test USC’s offensive line.
“Defensively, it’ll be one of the more experienced groups we play all year,” Riley said.
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Bowling Green at UCLA
When: 11:30 a.m. Saturday
Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena
TV/Radio: Pac-12 Networks; 1150 AM
Line: UCLA by 23.5
Notable injury designations: N/A
What’s at stake? UCLA will play five of its first six games at the Rose Bowl, and could use a dominant win against a MAC opponent to kick off a favorable early-season schedule. Head coach Chip Kelly noted a desire to use his depth early in the season, which on Saturday will be a multi-pronged goal with temperatures expected to soar into the triple digits in Pasadena. The Bruins would benefit from getting off to a big lead, allowing Kelly to cycle through the roster a bit to both take a look at players further down the roster and keep key players from having to stay on the field in the heat for over three hours. A sluggish start wouldn’t be the end of the world for UCLA, which should have the luxury over the first month of the season to adjust and overcome mistakes.
Who’s better? The Bruins clearly have the edge in star power, based on strength of conferences and recent recruiting classes. Bowling Green is coming off a 4-8 campaign and hasn’t had a winning season in six years. This game will mark the first time a MAC school will play in the Rose Bowl since the start of the FBS era.
Matchup to watch: UCLA secondary vs. Bowling Green quarterback Matt McDonald. This will be a good test for a unit looking to start off strong under new defensive coordinator Bill McGovern. McDonald is an experienced, pass-first quarterback who threw for 2,555 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He also has the potential to extend plays and throw on the run. UCLA was last in the Pac-12 in 2021 defending the pass, giving up 260.2 passing yards per game.
UCLA wins if …: If the secondary keeps McDonald from a career performance through the air … if Dorian Thompson-Robinson meshes with fresh targets to pick apart Bowling Green’s pass defense, which led the MAC last season despite giving up 30.7 points per game as a whole … if Bowling Green doesn’t play a near-perfect game.
Prediction: UCLA 42, Bowling Green 17. The gap between the two programs is too big for this to be much of a contest, though the experience at the quarterback position for Bowling Green has potential to ruffle a UCLA defense in its first game under a new defensive coordinator. Thompson-Robinson and running back Zach Charbonnet should have strong season debuts, as Thompson-Robinson looks to also build chemistry with some new receivers. The defense may give up a few points as McGovern works in his scheme.
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The 49ers’ regular opener is close but feels so far away. Their 53-man roster is finalized, and head coach Kyle Shanahan is back in the headlines after recent transactions. Let’s take a look at three things we learned during the 49ers 2022 preseason below.
Samuel Womack elevates the defense
Samuel Womack’s ball skills were the best thing I saw all preseason. Womack held up in the slot and looked just as sharp on the outside. Yes, Womack did not go against the strongest competition in the three preseason games, but he made statement plays in everyone.
I’ll talk about the stress DeMeco Ryans’ defense puts on the defensive backs later. However, Womack’s press, ball skills, and coverage abilities are traits of a star corner. The cornerback room is as strong as it’s been in recent memory, and Womack could take them over the top.
The safeties will face the most pressure of any position group
General manager John Lynch knows what the safety position calls for. I gave the 49ers three reasons to take a safety with their first draft selection, but they weren’t done addressing the edge position. Now, the 49er defense will be without an All-Pro caliber player in Jimmie Ward for four weeks. It may be time to panic as the 49ers play the AFC West, the Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, especially when the 49ers love to run quarters, a safety-dependent coverage that leaves no room for error on the backend.
The 49ers aren’t sold on Trey Lance
This subheading hurt to type. Lynch and Shanahan told everyone in the offseason that “this is Trey Lance’s team.” While he remains QB1, it’s hard to believe re-signing Jimmy Garoppolo is for insurance.” I can’t think of any reason to bring back Garoppolo, but San Francisco’s front office thinks otherwise.
This could be a good thing for Lance. It applies pressure for him to succeed, and he has someone in his ear who’s been in this offense for five seasons. However, the franchise will be under high scrutiny if they miss the playoffs. San Francisco’s near Super Bowl-caliber roster has to be
Conclusion
At first, I had one of my subheadings: "The 49ers need Mike McGlinchey back asap.” That was an overreaction to the Texans-49ers game where Lance looked to be running for his life.
Then, I combined it with the makeup of the running back room, which was altered after the release of Trey Sermon (3rd round pick from the 2021 Draft.) The 49er running back committee looks to make a return after Elijah Mitchell carried the load last year. A room that has shifted from complete speedsters to more all-purpose backs.
The preseason had highs and lows and gave a hint of how the 2022 season could go. I said Lynch should be fired if Garoppolo is on the roster, but I just want to watch 49er football at this point. | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23327582/49ers-three-things-preseason | 2022-09-02T19:20:19Z | ninersnation.com | control | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23327582/49ers-three-things-preseason | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | 1 |
The 49ers’ regular opener is close but feels so far away. Their 53-man roster is finalized, and head coach Kyle Shanahan is back in the headlines after recent transactions. Let’s take a look at three things we learned during the 49ers 2022 preseason below.
Samuel Womack elevates the defense
Samuel Womack’s ball skills were the best thing I saw all preseason. Womack held up in the slot and looked just as sharp on the outside. Yes, Womack did not go against the strongest competition in the three preseason games, but he made statement plays in everyone.
I’ll talk about the stress DeMeco Ryans’ defense puts on the defensive backs later. However, Womack’s press, ball skills, and coverage abilities are traits of a star corner. The cornerback room is as strong as it’s been in recent memory, and Womack could take them over the top.
The safeties will face the most pressure of any position group
General manager John Lynch knows what the safety position calls for. I gave the 49ers three reasons to take a safety with their first draft selection, but they weren’t done addressing the edge position. Now, the 49er defense will be without an All-Pro caliber player in Jimmie Ward for four weeks. It may be time to panic as the 49ers play the AFC West, the Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, especially when the 49ers love to run quarters, a safety-dependent coverage that leaves no room for error on the backend.
The 49ers aren’t sold on Trey Lance
This subheading hurt to type. Lynch and Shanahan told everyone in the offseason that “this is Trey Lance’s team.” While he remains QB1, it’s hard to believe re-signing Jimmy Garoppolo is for insurance.” I can’t think of any reason to bring back Garoppolo, but San Francisco’s front office thinks otherwise.
This could be a good thing for Lance. It applies pressure for him to succeed, and he has someone in his ear who’s been in this offense for five seasons. However, the franchise will be under high scrutiny if they miss the playoffs. San Francisco’s near Super Bowl-caliber roster has to be
Conclusion
At first, I had one of my subheadings: "The 49ers need Mike McGlinchey back asap.” That was an overreaction to the Texans-49ers game where Lance looked to be running for his life.
Then, I combined it with the makeup of the running back room, which was altered after the release of Trey Sermon (3rd round pick from the 2021 Draft.) The 49er running back committee looks to make a return after Elijah Mitchell carried the load last year. A room that has shifted from complete speedsters to more all-purpose backs.
The preseason had highs and lows and gave a hint of how the 2022 season could go. I said Lynch should be fired if Garoppolo is on the roster, but I just want to watch 49er football at this point. | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23327582/49ers-three-things-preseason | 2022-09-02T19:20:19Z | ninersnation.com | control | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23327582/49ers-three-things-preseason | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | 1 |
It has been an exciting week in 49ers land. The news of Jimmy Garoppolo returning understandably dominated the headlines, but amidst all the chaos, a very interesting transaction was made on Tuesday.
The 49er’s front office retained linebacker Curtis Robinson on the final 53-man roster before placing him on injured reserve as he recovered from an ankle injury in the preseason finale. Robinson is entering his second year in the NFL after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos after the 2021 draft.
Robinson saw action in three regular-season games with Denver last year, logging 84 snaps on defense and 52 on special teams in those two contests. The 49ers signed Robinson off the Broncos practice squad on December 6th, 2021, then inked Robinson to a futures/reserve contract on February 2nd, 2022.
The futures contract is a great tool to sign a player who is identified as talented but needs a little time to develop. There is no guaranteed money in the deal, and it does not count against the team’s 53-man roster limit in that league year but rather the 90-man roster of the following league year when the calendar flips in March.
A player signed to a futures contract cannot be signed by another team while they are on the 90-man roster. This allows teams to lock up players they feel will be able to compete for a roster spot in training camp while not stressing about handing out guarantees to a player who might not make the team.
Fast forward to cut-down day, and Robinson impressed the 49ers brass enough to lock down a spot on the final 53-man roster before being placed on injured reserve. This is important because, despite the injury, the 49er’s willingness to have Robinson eat up one of their valuable spots on the 53 rather than exposing him through waivers shows how valuable they believe Robinson is.
Robinson fits the mold of what the 49ers have looked for at the linebacker position under this current regime. Take a look at Robinson’s physical traits and how he measures up against another 49ers linebacker.
Robinson
6’3
235 pounds
4.6 40-yard dash
4.26 20-yard shuttle
Fred Warner
6’3
236 pounds
4.64 40-yard dash
4.28 20-yard shuttle
It was evident during camp that Robinson puts his speed to good use and can operate in the wide open spaces of the modern NFL, something the 49ers have coveted as they have assembled a linebacking corps full of converted defensive backs.
While it’s always in the best interest of a well-run organization to constantly plan for the future by developing in-house talent, this move to keep Robinson on the final roster could also be insurance for a linebacker room that could look drastically different heading into next season.
Current starters Dre Greenlaw and Azeez-Al Shaair are both scheduled to be unrestricted free agents following this season. Given how talented both players are, it’s well within reason to foresee an outcome where the 49ers cannot retain one, or possibly both, beyond this season due to the money they will command.
Over the last three seasons, Greenlaw and Al-Shaair have logged 1,538 and 1,209 defensive snaps, respectively, and replacing that kind of production could prove to be an arduous task if done on the fly.
Oren Burks is signed through 2023, but with an out for the team after this season if they decide to go into another direction. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is due to be a restricted free agent following this season, leaving Warner as the only player concretely locked into the long term at the position for the 49ers.
Here is why Robinson becomes extremely valuable. Because Robinson has less than three accrued seasons, he is designated as an exclusive rights free agent for the next couple of off-seasons. If the 49ers offer him a contract for the league minimum based on his accrued seasons to that point, he cannot negotiate with other teams.
This means that the 49ers would have a cost-controlled player at the position for at least the next couple of seasons, which could prove to be a highly prized commodity considering how talented the roster is and how many players will be signing extensions in the near future.
It will be interesting to see how Robinson fits in when they have to clear a spot on the 53-man roster upon his return from injured reserve, but in the meantime, it looks like the 49ers have a well mapped out blueprint of how they will proceed at the position in the coming years, with Robinson poised to play a major role in how it shakes out. | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23333288/49ers-curtis-robinson-long-term | 2022-09-02T19:20:25Z | ninersnation.com | control | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23333288/49ers-curtis-robinson-long-term | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | 1 |
It has been an exciting week in 49ers land. The news of Jimmy Garoppolo returning understandably dominated the headlines, but amidst all the chaos, a very interesting transaction was made on Tuesday.
The 49er’s front office retained linebacker Curtis Robinson on the final 53-man roster before placing him on injured reserve as he recovered from an ankle injury in the preseason finale. Robinson is entering his second year in the NFL after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos after the 2021 draft.
Robinson saw action in three regular-season games with Denver last year, logging 84 snaps on defense and 52 on special teams in those two contests. The 49ers signed Robinson off the Broncos practice squad on December 6th, 2021, then inked Robinson to a futures/reserve contract on February 2nd, 2022.
The futures contract is a great tool to sign a player who is identified as talented but needs a little time to develop. There is no guaranteed money in the deal, and it does not count against the team’s 53-man roster limit in that league year but rather the 90-man roster of the following league year when the calendar flips in March.
A player signed to a futures contract cannot be signed by another team while they are on the 90-man roster. This allows teams to lock up players they feel will be able to compete for a roster spot in training camp while not stressing about handing out guarantees to a player who might not make the team.
Fast forward to cut-down day, and Robinson impressed the 49ers brass enough to lock down a spot on the final 53-man roster before being placed on injured reserve. This is important because, despite the injury, the 49er’s willingness to have Robinson eat up one of their valuable spots on the 53 rather than exposing him through waivers shows how valuable they believe Robinson is.
Robinson fits the mold of what the 49ers have looked for at the linebacker position under this current regime. Take a look at Robinson’s physical traits and how he measures up against another 49ers linebacker.
Robinson
6’3
235 pounds
4.6 40-yard dash
4.26 20-yard shuttle
Fred Warner
6’3
236 pounds
4.64 40-yard dash
4.28 20-yard shuttle
It was evident during camp that Robinson puts his speed to good use and can operate in the wide open spaces of the modern NFL, something the 49ers have coveted as they have assembled a linebacking corps full of converted defensive backs.
While it’s always in the best interest of a well-run organization to constantly plan for the future by developing in-house talent, this move to keep Robinson on the final roster could also be insurance for a linebacker room that could look drastically different heading into next season.
Current starters Dre Greenlaw and Azeez-Al Shaair are both scheduled to be unrestricted free agents following this season. Given how talented both players are, it’s well within reason to foresee an outcome where the 49ers cannot retain one, or possibly both, beyond this season due to the money they will command.
Over the last three seasons, Greenlaw and Al-Shaair have logged 1,538 and 1,209 defensive snaps, respectively, and replacing that kind of production could prove to be an arduous task if done on the fly.
Oren Burks is signed through 2023, but with an out for the team after this season if they decide to go into another direction. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is due to be a restricted free agent following this season, leaving Warner as the only player concretely locked into the long term at the position for the 49ers.
Here is why Robinson becomes extremely valuable. Because Robinson has less than three accrued seasons, he is designated as an exclusive rights free agent for the next couple of off-seasons. If the 49ers offer him a contract for the league minimum based on his accrued seasons to that point, he cannot negotiate with other teams.
This means that the 49ers would have a cost-controlled player at the position for at least the next couple of seasons, which could prove to be a highly prized commodity considering how talented the roster is and how many players will be signing extensions in the near future.
It will be interesting to see how Robinson fits in when they have to clear a spot on the 53-man roster upon his return from injured reserve, but in the meantime, it looks like the 49ers have a well mapped out blueprint of how they will proceed at the position in the coming years, with Robinson poised to play a major role in how it shakes out. | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23333288/49ers-curtis-robinson-long-term | 2022-09-02T19:20:25Z | ninersnation.com | control | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23333288/49ers-curtis-robinson-long-term | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | 1 |
The draft process continues to prove to be a crapshoot for the 49ers. However, you can come up with a persuasive argument that this team is better at drafting on the third day than on the first two days.
You don’t get a gold star for selecting Nick Bosa or for Deebo Samuel falling into your lap. But you get a round of applause for finding George Kittle, D.J. Jones, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, Matt Breida, and others on the final day of the draft.
The discourse about running backs on social media has gone to “don’t waste a draft pick on them.” Yet, seven of the top ten rushers in the NFL were drafted in the second round or earlier. Two others were early third-round picks. The last one was Elijah Mitchell.
As is the case with any position or draft pick, there are studs and players that don’t pan out. In the Niners’ case, Trey Sermon and Jordan Mason are the most recent examples. Mason has yet to play an NFL game but has impressed the coaching staff more than the recently waived Sermon. General manager John Lynch acknowledged they don’t know what Mason will become but were encouraged enough by what they saw during the preseason.
Lynch was asked whether there’s something unique about scouting running backs, given the team’s success with undrafted and lower-round prospects, or if it’s a position that’s harder to predict:
“That’s a good question. We’ll always look at our processes we do every year. The one thing I think we won’t apologize is for having success in later rounds, whether it be [New York Giants RB] Matt Brieda or [RB] Jeff Wilson [Jr.], those guys weren’t even drafted and J.P. Mason and [RB] Elijah Mitchell. We’re happy. We don’t wear it as a badge of honor.
Some teams, they’re very beholden to their draft choices. Like they’re not going to move on from a draft choice. We’re not that team. We’re going to play the best players, but we’re also not the team that we’re going to prove a point and let everyone know we’ll cut a third-round pick. I take no joy in doing that. And every draft pick that doesn’t shine, I take that personally. We all do.”
I could not agree more with Lynch’s sentiment or line of thinking. Most teams get 7-10 picks in a draft and a pool of undrafted free agents. The goal is to hit on 3-5 of those players. Common sense tells you the best players are at the top of the draft, so those are the picks you have to nail.
But we have the Lynch/Kyle Shanahan tenure as proof that that’s not how the NFL Draft works. So, especially in this case, why does it matter that the team whiffed on Sermon if Mason, Mitchell, or Ty Davis-Price end up being productive backs during their rookie contracts?
It’s one thing to second guess taking a running back early, but it’s evident that’s a position the 49ers feel is vital to invest in. It’s tough to say, “how dare you pick the running back that was a high recruit and excelled at Oklahoma and Ohio State.”
Lynch believes in the team’s process:
“We have a good process, and I think our late-round success, I always go back to, I think it’s the real synergies between personnel and coaching. And that’s why I think we hit on those guys. I guess you go back in our history, some of the running backs that haven’t worked out, we’ll take a hard look at that, but I’m confident in the group as a whole, and I’m confident in this roster as a whole, I think it’s a good one. It gives us an opportunity. I remember playing for [former NFL head coach] Mike Shanahan. He used to. It was almost every meeting. All you can ask for is a chance in this league, and this team, as it's constructed, has a chance. And that’s a good feeling going into the year.”
There’s luck involved in hitting on these undrafted free agents. Breida averaged 8.7 and 7.9 yards a carry during his first two seasons at Georgia Southern. He was a monster, running for over 1,400 yards both years. Then, as a senior, averaged 3.8 yards a carry. That led to Bredia going undrafted.
We saw firsthand how dynamite Bredia is as a runner in the NFL. Mason’s story isn’t all that different.
At Georgia Tech, Mason averaged 6.1 and 5.2 yards per carry. Then, the Yellowjackets had a 5-star recruit come in and win the job as a freshman. Part of that is politics to get a kid to commit. That freshman, Jahmy Gibbs, is now the starting running back for Nick Saban at Alabama.
Assistant general manager Adam Peters spoke about how the team found Mason:
“Yeah, he was actually beat out his junior and senior year by a guy who’s really highly talented, actually transferred to Alabama this year. Gibbs is his name, so really got dug out by [area scout] Warren Ball, he’s our Midwest scout now, was our Northeast scout, but he crosschecks the running backs. And he dug him out, just watching a ton of tape, and said, ‘I really like this guy.’ I remember he sent me a cut up like four days before the draft, ‘watch this guy’, so I watched him, coach [Anthony] Lynn watched him, and we thought he was right up there with everybody. So kudos to Warren for find him and obviously, I think he’s been a great fit for us.”
Mason didn’t take long to make a name for himself during training camp. During the move-the-ball periods, he single-handledly carried the third-team offense. Then, in the preseason, it was more of the same.
His success was downplayed due to who he was going against. If anything, gaining yards behind that line only solidified Mason’s spot on the roster. Speed and decisiveness are how you thrive in Shanahan’s system. That’s what you see with Mason, and that’s why he’ll have an opportunity this season for the 49ers. | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23334381/49ers-lynch-peters-mason-running-backs | 2022-09-02T19:20:31Z | ninersnation.com | control | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23334381/49ers-lynch-peters-mason-running-backs | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | 1 |
The draft process continues to prove to be a crapshoot for the 49ers. However, you can come up with a persuasive argument that this team is better at drafting on the third day than on the first two days.
You don’t get a gold star for selecting Nick Bosa or for Deebo Samuel falling into your lap. But you get a round of applause for finding George Kittle, D.J. Jones, Dre Greenlaw, Azeez Al-Shaair, Matt Breida, and others on the final day of the draft.
The discourse about running backs on social media has gone to “don’t waste a draft pick on them.” Yet, seven of the top ten rushers in the NFL were drafted in the second round or earlier. Two others were early third-round picks. The last one was Elijah Mitchell.
As is the case with any position or draft pick, there are studs and players that don’t pan out. In the Niners’ case, Trey Sermon and Jordan Mason are the most recent examples. Mason has yet to play an NFL game but has impressed the coaching staff more than the recently waived Sermon. General manager John Lynch acknowledged they don’t know what Mason will become but were encouraged enough by what they saw during the preseason.
Lynch was asked whether there’s something unique about scouting running backs, given the team’s success with undrafted and lower-round prospects, or if it’s a position that’s harder to predict:
“That’s a good question. We’ll always look at our processes we do every year. The one thing I think we won’t apologize is for having success in later rounds, whether it be [New York Giants RB] Matt Brieda or [RB] Jeff Wilson [Jr.], those guys weren’t even drafted and J.P. Mason and [RB] Elijah Mitchell. We’re happy. We don’t wear it as a badge of honor.
Some teams, they’re very beholden to their draft choices. Like they’re not going to move on from a draft choice. We’re not that team. We’re going to play the best players, but we’re also not the team that we’re going to prove a point and let everyone know we’ll cut a third-round pick. I take no joy in doing that. And every draft pick that doesn’t shine, I take that personally. We all do.”
I could not agree more with Lynch’s sentiment or line of thinking. Most teams get 7-10 picks in a draft and a pool of undrafted free agents. The goal is to hit on 3-5 of those players. Common sense tells you the best players are at the top of the draft, so those are the picks you have to nail.
But we have the Lynch/Kyle Shanahan tenure as proof that that’s not how the NFL Draft works. So, especially in this case, why does it matter that the team whiffed on Sermon if Mason, Mitchell, or Ty Davis-Price end up being productive backs during their rookie contracts?
It’s one thing to second guess taking a running back early, but it’s evident that’s a position the 49ers feel is vital to invest in. It’s tough to say, “how dare you pick the running back that was a high recruit and excelled at Oklahoma and Ohio State.”
Lynch believes in the team’s process:
“We have a good process, and I think our late-round success, I always go back to, I think it’s the real synergies between personnel and coaching. And that’s why I think we hit on those guys. I guess you go back in our history, some of the running backs that haven’t worked out, we’ll take a hard look at that, but I’m confident in the group as a whole, and I’m confident in this roster as a whole, I think it’s a good one. It gives us an opportunity. I remember playing for [former NFL head coach] Mike Shanahan. He used to. It was almost every meeting. All you can ask for is a chance in this league, and this team, as it's constructed, has a chance. And that’s a good feeling going into the year.”
There’s luck involved in hitting on these undrafted free agents. Breida averaged 8.7 and 7.9 yards a carry during his first two seasons at Georgia Southern. He was a monster, running for over 1,400 yards both years. Then, as a senior, averaged 3.8 yards a carry. That led to Bredia going undrafted.
We saw firsthand how dynamite Bredia is as a runner in the NFL. Mason’s story isn’t all that different.
At Georgia Tech, Mason averaged 6.1 and 5.2 yards per carry. Then, the Yellowjackets had a 5-star recruit come in and win the job as a freshman. Part of that is politics to get a kid to commit. That freshman, Jahmy Gibbs, is now the starting running back for Nick Saban at Alabama.
Assistant general manager Adam Peters spoke about how the team found Mason:
“Yeah, he was actually beat out his junior and senior year by a guy who’s really highly talented, actually transferred to Alabama this year. Gibbs is his name, so really got dug out by [area scout] Warren Ball, he’s our Midwest scout now, was our Northeast scout, but he crosschecks the running backs. And he dug him out, just watching a ton of tape, and said, ‘I really like this guy.’ I remember he sent me a cut up like four days before the draft, ‘watch this guy’, so I watched him, coach [Anthony] Lynn watched him, and we thought he was right up there with everybody. So kudos to Warren for find him and obviously, I think he’s been a great fit for us.”
Mason didn’t take long to make a name for himself during training camp. During the move-the-ball periods, he single-handledly carried the third-team offense. Then, in the preseason, it was more of the same.
His success was downplayed due to who he was going against. If anything, gaining yards behind that line only solidified Mason’s spot on the roster. Speed and decisiveness are how you thrive in Shanahan’s system. That’s what you see with Mason, and that’s why he’ll have an opportunity this season for the 49ers. | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23334381/49ers-lynch-peters-mason-running-backs | 2022-09-02T19:20:31Z | ninersnation.com | control | https://www.ninersnation.com/2022/9/2/23334381/49ers-lynch-peters-mason-running-backs | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | 1 |
Judge tosses manslaughter charge in boat fire that killed 34
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles federal judge threw out an indictment Friday charging a dive boat captain with manslaughter in the deaths of 34 people in a 2019 fire aboard a vessel anchored off the Southern California coast.
The ruling came on the third anniversary of one of the deadliest maritime disasters in recent U.S. history as the Conception went down in flames Sept. 2, 2019, near an island off the coast of Santa Barbara. All 33 passengers and a crew member who were trapped in a bunk room below deck died.
Captain Jerry Boylan, 68, failed to follow safety rules, federal prosecutors said. He was accused of “misconduct, negligence and inattention” by failing to train his crew, conduct fire drills and have a roving night watchman on the boat when the fire ignited.
But the indictment failed to specify that Boylan acted with gross negligence, which U.S. District Judge George Wu said was a required element to prove the crime of seaman’s manslaughter and must be listed in the indictment.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wave3.com/2022/09/02/judge-tosses-manslaughter-charge-boat-fire-that-killed-34/ | 2022-09-02T19:22:05Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/2022/09/02/judge-tosses-manslaughter-charge-boat-fire-that-killed-34/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Nonfarm payrolls rose solidly in August amid an otherwise slowing economy, while the unemployment rate ticked higher as more workers rejoined the labor force, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
The economy added 315,000 jobs for the month, just below the Dow Jones estimate of 318,000. The unemployment rate rose to 3.7%, two-tenths of a percentage point higher than expectations.
The Fed has been battling the inflation problem with a series of interest rate hikes totaling 2.25% that are expected to continue into next year. In recent days, leading central bank figures have warned that they have no intention on backing off their policy tightening measures and expect that even when they stop hiking, rates will stay elevated “for some time.”
One key channel the Fed is looking for policy impact is the jobs market. In addition to robust hiring, job openings are outnumbering available workers by a nearly 2-to1 margin, pressuring wages and creating a feedback loop that is sending prices higher for not only gas and groceries but also shelter costs and a variety of other expenses. | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/national/u-s-economy-added-315-000-jobs-in-august-as-companies-keep-up-hiring-pace/article_dd8d6190-2acf-11ed-b100-3b9846177024.html | 2022-09-02T19:22:10Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/national/u-s-economy-added-315-000-jobs-in-august-as-companies-keep-up-hiring-pace/article_dd8d6190-2acf-11ed-b100-3b9846177024.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
GRANT COUNTY, Wash.-
Grant County is currently experiencing intermittent 911 outages.
If callers can't get through in an emergency, they should call 509-762-1160.
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Temperatures 98 to 105 degrees expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, north central and northeast Oregon and central, south central and southeast Washington. * WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. 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. &&
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...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Temperatures 98 to 105 degrees expected. * WHERE...Portions of central, north central and northeast Oregon and central, south central and southeast Washington. * WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. 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. &&
Currently in Kennewick
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Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/grant-county-experiencing-911-outages/article_e52d8e00-2ad6-11ed-a718-abe9eb20b52d.html | 2022-09-02T19:22:16Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/grant-county-experiencing-911-outages/article_e52d8e00-2ad6-11ed-a718-abe9eb20b52d.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
RICHLAND, Wash.-
Starting Tuesday, September, 6th, runway 8-26 will be closed at the Richland Airport for electrical work.
An electrical contractor will be working at the intersection of runways. In addition to runway 8-26 being closed, runway 1-19 will be shortened 2,065 feet.
The Port of Benton encourages everyone to be cautious and aware of the contractor activity at the airport.
Runway 8-26 is expected to be fully open the week of September, 19th through the 23rd. | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/runway-at-richland-airport-closed-next-week/article_4883926e-2add-11ed-a16d-0bafc165f48f.html | 2022-09-02T19:22:22Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/runway-at-richland-airport-closed-next-week/article_4883926e-2add-11ed-a16d-0bafc165f48f.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BENTON COUNTY, Wash. —
UPDATE: 9/2/22
As of Thursday, September, 1st, the Benton County Sheriff's Office commemorative cancer awareness patches are SOLD OUT.
9/1/22-The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Benton County Sheriff’s Foundation for the month of September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, in order to raise awareness for combating childhood cancer.
Anyone who donates at least $10 will receive a gold patch, designed specifically for the cause. The organizations made 200 patches, and there are 75 left so far. At the end of the month, all the donations will go toward a nonprofit that works with children diagnosed with cancer. | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/update-benton-county-sheriffs-office-raising-money-for-childhood-cancer-awareness/article_7e40d53a-2a4f-11ed-9f9b-072a4edcda97.html | 2022-09-02T19:22:28Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/update-benton-county-sheriffs-office-raising-money-for-childhood-cancer-awareness/article_7e40d53a-2a4f-11ed-9f9b-072a4edcda97.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Temperatures 98 to 105 degrees expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central, north central and northeast
Oregon and central, south central and southeast Washington.
* WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM PDT this evening.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
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.
&&
The latest model forecast from the National Weather Service in Pendleton shows vertically integrated smoke from the Cedar Creek fire in Oregon covering most of Northeast Oregon and Southwest Washington on Friday, September, 2nd.
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
8 PM PDT THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Temperatures 98 to 105 degrees expected.
* WHERE...Portions of central, north central and northeast
Oregon and central, south central and southeast Washington.
* WHEN...From 2 PM this afternoon to 8 PM PDT this evening.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
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/wildfire-smoke-darkens-tri-city-sky/article_4e8ee324-2ae8-11ed-bef8-fb0065d9f1f9.html | 2022-09-02T19:22:34Z | nbcrightnow.com | control | https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/wildfire-smoke-darkens-tri-city-sky/article_4e8ee324-2ae8-11ed-bef8-fb0065d9f1f9.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Maybe you’re not “quiet quitting” — it could be you’re being “quietly fired.”
“A lot of talk about ‘quiet quitting’ but very little talk about ‘quiet firing’ which is when you don’t give someone a raise in 5 years even though they keep doing everything you ask them to,” a tweet from earlier in August read, garnering 18,000 likes and followers flooding the responses in agreement.
While quiet quitting is rejecting the idea that employees should be going above and beyond, “quiet firing” is essentially the opposite.
The phenomenon, according to a recruiting expert’s now-viral post, is when employers quietly reduce the amount of work given to an employee or evade chats about progressing until workers grow so frustrated they quit.
According to Seattle-based recruitment manager Bonnie Dilber, “quiet firing” happens “all the time” and is “rampant,” which is why it should be the focus of conversation instead of “quiet quitting.”
In a now-viral LinkedIn post, Dilber listed the signs an employee is being “quietly fired,” which is often linked to poor management.
“You don’t receive feedback or praise, you get raises of 3% or less while others are getting much more, your 1:1s are frequently canceled or shuffled around,” she wrote.
On top of that, not being invited to work on “cool” projects, not being looped in on information “critical” to your job or your boss never discussing career progression were listed as other signs.
Like quiet quitting, it doesn’t have much to do with the literal volume of your decision to leave a job but leans more towards the actions surrounding it — in this case, mostly from others.
“It works great for companies…eventually you’ll either feel so incompetent, isolated and unappreciated that you’ll go find a new job, and they never have to deal with a development plan or offer severance,” Dilber wrote. “Or your performance will slip enough due to the lack of support that they’ll be able to let you go.”
Her post was met with over 20,000 reactions and several hundred comments with many agreeing or saying they’ve experienced this in their workplace.
“This happened to me. I was marginalized, gaslit, isolated, ignored and I experienced doors slamming in my face during important meetings I should have been a part of as a manager,” one user wrote. “It was traumatizing and embarrassing to constantly ask what was going on.”
Others said both trends may just be a sign that there should be more transparency between employers and employees.
“In both scenarios, it’s a bad relationship that has gone on too long but sheer inertia is keeping it going,” they wrote.
Dilber suggested companies should be looking at their management practices and identify places where people are being “quiet fired” by poor managers who don’t want to do the work to support, train and coach their teams, rather than being concerned by quiet quitters.
And now, Dilber has been responding to countless commenters sharing their experiences of being “quietly fired,” offering support and advice, along with some empathy.
“We need to be brave enough to have the tough conversations,” she said. | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/being-quietly-fired-more-common-than-quiet-quitting-expert/ | 2022-09-02T19:26:32Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/being-quietly-fired-more-common-than-quiet-quitting-expert/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie Christen Harper is partying her way into the NFL season.
The fiancée of Detroit quarterback Jared Goff threw a Lions-themed backyard bash on Thursday, according to a series of post on her Instagram story.
“A little backyard party for the team!!” Harper wrote over a video that showed off a white-and-blue balloon arch that outlined a lit Lions sign to pay homage to Detroit’s color scheme.
The party featured white tables with the Lions’ logo on the back of each seat and white and blue flower centerpieces, as well as backyard games under white tents.
Other clips included a decorated smorgasbord table filled with Lions-themed cookies and a massive charcuterie board cover with meats, cheeses and fruits.
Harper’s pre-season party also featured “the chicest backyard bar.” The model served up Clase Azul, a top shelf tequila. The “drink of the night” was a chilled “Stoli Doli,” which consisted of Stoli Vodka infused with fresh pineapple.
It’s unclear which players from the Lions’ 53-man roster attended the party.
Harper and Goff have had an eventful summer. The quarterback proposed in June after three years of dating, around the same time the couple celebrated Harper’s birthday at El Dorado Golf and Beach Club in Mexico.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world because I get to spend forever with you. I love you @christenharper,” Goff gushed on Instagram at the time.
Harper also posted a video from the proposal, writing on Instagram that she “can’t wait for forever with [Goff].
Goff is gearing up for his second season with the Lions after being traded by the Rams in January 2021.
Harper will likely be present when the Lions host the Eagles in Week 1. | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/christen-harper-jared-goffs-fiancee-parties-ahead-of-nfl-season/ | 2022-09-02T19:26:44Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/christen-harper-jared-goffs-fiancee-parties-ahead-of-nfl-season/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Google is doubling down on its strategy of boosting its footprint in New York City even as tech rivals paused their expansion plans in the Big Apple due to workers’ preference for staying remote.
Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc., gave a vote of confidence to New York City’s economic prospects and its commercial real estate market.
“I’m personally long-term bullish on our growth in New York as a company,” Pichai told Crain’s New York Business.
“And we would do that only if we’re optimistic to access to tech talent and being able to scale up.”
Pichai has put his money where his mouth is. Last year, Google announced it was buying the St. John’s Terminal building at West Houston Street near the Hudson River for a whopping $2.1 billion.
Pichai told Crain’s that Google plans to open offices at the location by the middle of next year.
Google is also developing two other sites in the Hudson Square section of Manhattan. All together, the three buildings will comprise a campus totaling 1.7 million square feet.
Earlier this year, Google unveiled a new campus on Pier 57 that will include office space in three buildings.
As of last September, Google employed 12,000 people in the city. The company said it aims to increase that number by 2,000 employees in the coming years.
Pichai told Crain’s that the city’s tech environment, which includes more than 1,000 fintech startups, was a big lure for Google.
At least 20 of those companies have attained “unicorn status” — meaning their private valuation is worth at least $1 billion.
“When I looked at specific sectors, like fintech, I was surprised at the scale and number of startups in New York,” Pichai said.
The CEO cited the city’s diversity as another main draw. Pichai’s interview with Crain’s coincided with an announcement that Google would launch a round of grants totaling $4 million toward computer science education and teacher training in the city.
While Google plans to expand its New York footprint, other tech giants are more hesitant.
Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, halted its planned expansions earlier this year amid uncertainty and slowing growth in the tech sector.
Amazon also put on hold its plans to grow its presence in New York, according to Crain’s. | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-says-hes-long-term-bullish-on-nyc/ | 2022-09-02T19:27:03Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-says-hes-long-term-bullish-on-nyc/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NASA aimed for a Saturday launch of its new moon rocket, after fixing fuel leaks and working around a bad engine sensor that foiled the first try.
The inaugural flight of the 322-foot rocket — the most powerful ever built by NASA — was delayed late in the countdown Monday. The Kennedy Space Center clocks started ticking again as managers expressed confidence in their plan and forecasters gave favorable weather odds.
Atop the rocket is a crew capsule with three test dummies that will fly around the moon and back over the course of six weeks — NASA’s first such attempt since the Apollo program 50 years ago. NASA wants to wring out the spacecraft before strapping in astronauts on the next planned flight in two years.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said he’s more confident going into this second launch attempt, given everything engineers learned from the first try.
So is astronaut Jessica Meir, who’s on NASA’s short list for one of the initial moon crews.
“We’re all excited for this to go, but the most important thing is that we go when we’re ready and we get it right, because the next missions will have humans on board. Maybe me, maybe my friends,” Meir told the Associated Press on Friday.
The engineers in charge of the Space Launch System rocket insisted Thursday evening that all four of the rocket’s main engines were good and that a faulty temperature sensor caused one of them to appear as though it was too warm Monday. The engines need to match the minus-420 degrees Fahrenheit of the liquid hydrogen fuel at liftoff, otherwise they could be damaged and shut down in flight.
“We have convinced ourselves without a shadow of a doubt that we have good-quality liquid hydrogen going through the engines,” said John Honeycutt, the rocket’s program manager.
Once fueling begins Saturday morning, the launch team will perform another engine test — this time earlier in the countdown. Even if that suspect sensor indicates the one engine is too warm, other sensors can be relied on to ensure everything is working correctly and to halt the countdown if there’s a problem, Honeycutt told reporters.
NASA could not perform that kind of engine test during dress rehearsals earlier this year because of leaking fuel. More fuel leaks cropped up Monday; technicians found some loose connections and tightened them.
The engine-temperature situation adds to the flight’s risk, as does another problem that cropped up Monday: cracks in the foam insulation of the rocket. If any foam pieces break off at liftoff, they could strike the strap-on boosters and damage them. Engineers consider the likelihood of that happening low and have accepted these slight additional risks.
“This is an extremely complicated machine and system. Millions of parts,” Nelson told the AP. “There are, in fact, risks. But are those risks acceptable? I leave that to the experts. My role is to remind them you don’t take any chances that are not acceptable risk.”
The $4.1 billion test flight is NASA’s first step in sending astronauts around the moon in 2024 and landing them on the surface in 2025. Astronauts last walked on the moon in 1972. | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/nasa-fixes-fuel-leaks-confident-ahead-of-saturday-launch/ | 2022-09-02T19:27:09Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/nasa-fixes-fuel-leaks-confident-ahead-of-saturday-launch/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Serena Williams is not done just yet.
After breezing through her Round 1 opponent, World No. 80 Danka Kovinic, most people (including bookmakers and myself) thought that getting past World No. 2 Annett Kontaveit would be a bridge too far for the 40-year-old Williams. The Estonian was a -220 favorite over Williams, but dropped the first and third sets of a riveting match in front of a raucous, well-served New York City crowd.
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The worry for Kontaveit backers was that the moment would overwhelm the Estonian and throw her off her game just enough to cede the court to Serena. That’s exactly what happened, especially in the third set, as Kontaveit started hitting errors in big moments and never was able to get the match on her terms enough to get Serena out of her comfort zone.
To beat Serena at this point of her career, you need to find a way to engage her in long rallies and extend the match to take advantage of her diminishing mobility. Williams still has an elite first serve and powerful groundstrokes, so she can dictate play through her force, but if you can survive that and keep the ball in play long enough to get the 23-time champion on the move, you’ll give yourself a great chance to come out on top.
That’s easier said than done, though, and Ajla Tomljanovic will be the next competitor to find that out. The 29-year-old Aussie is a +120 underdog against Serena on Friday night.
Tomljanovic has enjoyed a pretty solid summer, making a run to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and then following that up with some modest success during the summer hard-court swing.
Like Kontaveit, Tomljanovic is probably undervalued here in a vacuum. Bookmakers know that people will want to bet Serena Williams on Friday night, so they can hang basically any price and still take money. Similar to the “Tiger Tax” in golf, Serena-backers will know going into the match that they’re paying a premium.
On the other side of the coin, it must be considered how much of a factor the moment and crowd have on Serena’s opponents right now. It takes a special type of athlete to be able to drown out the noise and focus on tennis in this kind of environment and it was pretty clear that Kontaveit struggled with it on Wednesday night.
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Although in decent form off a quarterfinal run in Cincinnati, Tomljanovic isn’t as complete a player as Kontaveit and is especially vulnerable with her second serve. We saw Serena try and take advantage of Kontaveit’s second serve to some success on Wednesday night and that is a recipe that the American can replicate here.
Even though Williams is clearly nowhere near the level she was at during her salad days, it does seem evident that she won’t go quietly into her retirement. Serena’s win over Kovinic was a nice story, but her performance against Kontaveit was a warning shot that maybe she’s got more to give than she let on in suspect performances in Toronto and Cincinnati.
With Serena upping her level and playing in front of a raucous crowd, this match could have plenty of twists and turns. But it does seem like we can be confident in a couple of things: Serena won’t go quietly and she isn’t at the height of her powers, so she won’t blow Tomljanovic off the court.
Serena Williams vs. Ajla Tomljanovic pick:
Over 2.5 sets (+118, BetMGM) | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/us-open-prediction-serena-williams-vs-ajla-tomljanovic-odds-pick/ | 2022-09-02T19:27:40Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/us-open-prediction-serena-williams-vs-ajla-tomljanovic-odds-pick/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The wife of “Duck Sauce Killer” Glenn Hirsch — who gunned down a Queens Chinese food deliveryman in a beef over the condiment — was indicted on a slew of weapons charges, prosecutors said Friday.
A grand jury indicted Dorothy Hirsch, 62, on nine counts of criminal possession of a weapon, eight counts of criminal possession of a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. She faces up to 15 years in prison, if convicted.
Police searched Dorothy’s apartment on 84th Road in Briarwood after investigators determined her husband parked in front of the building immediately after he shot and killed deliveryman Zhiwen Yan on April 30 in Forest Hills.
During the June 2 search of the apartment, police allegedly recovered a cache of illegal guns, including a .357 magnum revolver, a .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a .38 caliber revolver, a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol and three 9mm semi-automatic pistols.
“These deadly guns, which were recovered in an apartment that she alone owns and occupies, pose an inherent danger to countless nearby residents and the community at large,” Katz said in a statement.
Hirsch’s murderous husband, Glenn, shot and killed himself on Aug. 5 while awaiting trial for Yan’s murder. He was due in court that very day.
Glenn had a vendetta against the Great Wall restaurant – where Yan worked as a deliveryman – because workers there shorted him on duck sauce in an order he placed last year, authorities said.
Glenn circled the restaurant in his car before tailing Yan and fatally blasting him in the chest near 108th Street and 67th Drive at about 9:30 p.m. on April 30, authorities said.
In a suicide note Glenn sent to the judge assigned to his case, he repeatedly claimed the guns that law enforcement recovered from Dorothy’s apartment did not belong to her – and that she should not face charges for the weapons.
“I want to take full responsibility for the eight guns recovered from a closet in her apartment. I acquired these firearms years ago …” Hirsch wrote, adding that he moved the guns into his wife’s place after he closed a storage facility where he previously stashed them.
In a statement to The Post, Dorothy’s attorney, Mark Bederow, accused the Queens DA of withholding evidence from the grand jury to secure the indictment against her.
“We believe this is one of the rare cases that the DA’s cherry-picking of evidence was so egregious and which their deliberate withholding of substantial evidence of Dorothy’s innocence was so prejudicial that it will require the dismissal of the indictment,” Bederow said.
“The DA deprived grand jurors from evidence that the guns were found in a closet filled exclusively with Glenn Hirsch’s belongings,” Bederow added. “They didn’t inform the grand jury that the guns were stored in plastic and tinfoil inside large garbage bags, just like Glenn Hirsch stored all of his belongings.” | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/wife-of-duck-sauce-killer-glenn-hirsch-indicted/ | 2022-09-02T19:27:46Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/09/02/wife-of-duck-sauce-killer-glenn-hirsch-indicted/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BERLIN (AP) — Two earthquakes hit Liechtenstein just as lawmakers in the tiny Alpine principality were debating the pros and cons of quake insurance.
Lawmaker Bettina Petzold-Maehr had just warned that the chances of all Liechtenstein citizens being affected by an earthquake striking the country was high when the first small temblor hit shortly before 2 p.m. (1200GMT) Thursday.
Petzold-Maehr laughed and continued until the second quake struck, visibly shaking the room.
“This is getting a bit much, you never know if there’ll be aftershocks,” speaker Albert Frick said, announcing a 15-minute recess.
Records by the German Research Centre for Geosciences showed a magnitude 4 earthquake hit Liechtenstein, which is sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, Thursday afternoon.
Liechtenstein police said no injuries or damage were reported, and gave a magnitude of 3.9 for the quake.
Liechtenstein has a population of just under 39,000 and a surface area of 62 square miles (160 square kilometers), making it slightly smaller than Washington, D.C. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/liechtenstein-shakes-as-lawmakers-debate-quake-insurance/ | 2022-09-02T19:29:23Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/international/liechtenstein-shakes-as-lawmakers-debate-quake-insurance/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed on Friday that a case of West Nile virus in the state of Iowa.
According to HHS, the infected person is an adult between the ages of 41 and 60 and is from Buena Vista County. HHS said that the case was confirmed through testing done at the State Hygienic Lab.
West Nile virus can be contracted through mosquito bites during periods spent outside. HHS wants to remind Iowans that during outdoor Labor Day activities, you may be at risk.
HHS provided a list of ways to help reduce the risk of expsosure:
- Use insect repellent with DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, Para-menthane-diol, 2-undecanone or IR3535.
- Always read the repellent label and consult with a health care provider if you have questions when using these types of products for children.
- For example, oil of lemon eucalyptus and Para-menthane-diol should not be used on children under 3 years of age and DEET should not be used on children less than 2 months of age.
- If possible, avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and socks outdoors whenever possible.
- Eliminate standing water around the home because that’s where mosquitoes lay eggs. Empty water from buckets, cans, pool covers and pet water dishes. Change water in bird baths every three to four days. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/first-case-of-west-nile-virus-confirmed-in-buena-vista-county/ | 2022-09-02T19:29:25Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/first-case-of-west-nile-virus-confirmed-in-buena-vista-county/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
DENVER (KDVR) — Can a day’s worth of cheap tickets rejuvenate an industry in the grips of a decades-long decline?
This coming Saturday, Sept. 3, is “National Cinema Day,” and in an effort to return movie watchers to theaters, participating businesses are offering $3 tickets for any of their movie showings for the entire day.
Over 3,000 theaters across the country are planning to take part, in a move designed to breathe life back into the industry as they continue to recover from the pandemic-imposed shutdowns.
A recent poll from Gallup suggested that Americans were seeing far fewer films in theaters in 2021 — an average of just 1.4 — than in previous years. Between 2001 and 2007, for instance, Americans saw nearly 5 films per year on average, the survey showed.
But even before the pandemic wreaked havoc on the movie-going experience, ticket sales were already faltering in the U.S., data shows.
In 2002, ticket sales reached a peak, with just under 1.6 billion sold. But by 2019, that number had fallen to 1.2 billion, according to data from The Numbers, a film industry research site. The COVID pandemic all but halted ticket sales the following year, with only 200 million sold. Sales have since improved, but are nowhere close to even the sinking pre-pandemic levels.
And even though theater chains have been charging more money for tickets — $9 or more instead of $4 in the late 1990s — they generally earn less each year when adjusted for inflation, according to The Numbers.
Box office sales totaled over $9 billion in 2002, or over $14 billion in 2022 dollars. By 2019, that had grown to $12 billion but also shrank to $12 billion in adjusted dollars.
As with ticket sales, box office revenue cratered to $2 billion the year the pandemic hit, and has not recovered. For the film industry’s sake, perhaps some cheap tickets will change a few minds about going back to the theater. | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/will-3-tickets-bring-film-fans-back-to-movie-theaters/ | 2022-09-02T19:29:29Z | siouxlandproud.com | control | https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/will-3-tickets-bring-film-fans-back-to-movie-theaters/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Larimer County coroner steps down ahead of November election
Longtime Larimer County Coroner James Wilkerson has resigned from his post just months before his term would have ended.
Wilkerson's last day as county coroner is Friday, Sept. 2, according to a news release from the county.
The coroner's office investigates unexpected or sudden deaths, and the coroner is responsible for determining a person's manner and cause of death.
Wilkerson is a triple-board certified forensic pathologist, which is a medical doctor specializing in clinical, anatomic and forensic pathology who determines the cause of death when a person dies unexpectedly, according to the county's news release. The coroner's office investigates unexpected or sudden deaths that occur in the county.
Wilkerson has been practicing for 25 years, with the last 14 in Larimer County. In his career, he has completed thousands of forensic autopsies, hundreds of on-scene investigations and testified in numerous court cases, according to the news release.
Wilkerson's term was set to be up in January, with the county's next coroner to be selected in the November election. Matthew Canaga — the current chief deputy coroner — and Stephen Hanks are running to fill the position.
Until the next coroner is elected, Gary Darling has been selected by the Larimer County Commissioners as interim coroner, according to the news release. He's set to be sworn in during the commissioner's meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Because Wilkerson resigned so close to the November election, the commissioner's chose "to fill the vacancy with a non-political appointee," according to the news release.
Darling previously spent 30 years at the Larimer County Sheriff's Office before being appointed to lead the county's Criminal Justice Services department — now known as Community Justice Alternatives — in 2009, which includes the community corrections and work release programs. He retired in May 2020.
“The Board of County Commissioners wishes Dr. Wilkerson all the best in his new endeavors,"Commissioner Kristin Stephens said in the news release. "The Larimer County Coroner's Office is in good hands moving forward. With Gary's leadership experience and the high-quality professionals staffing the office, we know our community will continue to receive excellent customer service throughout this transition period."
Wilkerson's resignation also leaves an opening in Larimer County's Regional Medical Examiner role, which Wilkerson was able to fill because he is a certified forensic pathologist, county spokesperson Michelle Bird said. A county's elected coroner does not need to be a forensic pathologist, but the appointed regional medical examiner does.
Neither of the candidates running for coroner are forensic pathologists, so the county knew the roles would have to be split no matter who the next coroner is, Bird said.
The county recently hired forensic pathologist Joseph White to fill the regional medical examiner role. White spent five years conducting forensic autopsies at the Utah Medical Examiner's Office in Salt Lake City and completed his forensic fellowship with the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner in 2011, according to the news release. He was most recently an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology at Augusta University in Georgia, where he also taught other physicians how to perform autopsies as the co-director of the university's forensic pathology fellowship.
Wilkerson plans to move to San Antonio, Texas, to be near family, which "is a long-long dream come true for my wife and me," Wilkerson said in the news release. He will continue to work as a forensic pathologist. | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/09/02/larimer-county-coroner-james-wilkerson-resigns/65469086007/ | 2022-09-02T19:37:01Z | coloradoan.com | control | https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2022/09/02/larimer-county-coroner-james-wilkerson-resigns/65469086007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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Autumn is almost here, and one of the easiest ways to decorate for the season is by adding a fall wreath to your front door.
Not only does a fall wreath stand out well when placed on the front door of your house or apartment, but adding a fall wreath to your door is also the quickest way to add a pop of festive color. Aside from the actual wreath, all you’ll need is a wreath hook like this one from Amazon for just $5.
We searched through the fall wreaths on Amazon to find the ones with the best reviews and best prices. Take a look at just some of the fall wreaths you’ll find on Amazon, all priced under $45.
Rocinha Fall Wreath ($30.99)
It’s priced at $30.99, but you can save an extra $3 by clipping a coupon at checkout if you buy this 20-inch Rocinha Fall Wreath that’s ideal for Halloween, Thanksgiving and all of autumn. For indoor or outdoor use, the artificial wreath is made with moisture-resistant plastic and includes artificial pine cones, pumpkins and faux maple leaves.
The wreath has a rattan hoop for hanging and comes packaged in a box for off-season storage. The branches are also adjustable so they can expand and be moved into shape.
With more than 400 reviews, the wreath has 4.4 out of 5 stars. Customers say it has the perfect fall colors and is beautiful, though a few people say it is smaller than they expected, so make sure you measure your door before ordering to see if the wreath would fit well.
One customer who gave the wreath a full 5 stars says it is “simple yet lovely” and they are happy with their purchase.
“I’ve had this up on my door for 2 months now and it’s still super fluffy and no loose pieces,” Jonathan & Genesis Vargas wrote.
Amforesj Artificial Fall Wreath ($41.99)
This Amforesj Artificial Fall Wreath is $41.99 and works both indoors and outside. Each wreath is handmade, so you can expect each one to be a bit different. While it is already pretty full, you can also add other flowers or seasonal decorations to make it even more unique.
The wreath includes bright oak leaves, small leaves, berries, small pumpkins, multi-colored leaves and more. While most people think of hanging wreaths on the front door, you can also hang this on a mirror, window or wall. You can even lay it flat on your dining table, putting it around the base of candles for a fall touch inside your home.
It has a 4.5-star rating from more than 700 customers, who say it’s beautiful and makes a nice gift.
J’Floru Artificial Fall Floral Wreath ($22.99)
Priced at $22.99, this J’Floru Artificial Fall Floral Wreath is full of bright colors with orange daisies, clusters of wildflowers and autumn leaves.
Measuring 20 inches, the wreath is designed for indoor use on a wall, window or fireplace. If you want to use it outside, just make sure to hang it under a covered porch to avoid rain and snow. It is handmade, so some flowers and leaves may fall off, but you can glue them back if it’s too noticeable.
With more than 1,000 reviews, the wreath has a total of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Around 69% of customers give it a full five stars. Customers say the wreath is perfect for fall, looks just like the product photos and is a nice size.
One customer who gave the wreath a full 5 stars says it is “absolutely lovely” — the perfect fall wreath.
“The colors are vibrant and realistic. My niece did a whole IG photo shoot in front of it; she liked it so much,” BCOCO wrote. “My only critique would be that it doesn’t come in multiple sizes. If this has caught your eye, do yourself a favor and buy this immediately.”
VGIA 18-Inch Fall Wreath ($24.99)
Priced at $24.99, this VGIA 18-inch Fall Wreath is perfect for anyone who loves harvest time. Embellished with wooden leaves, silk leaves and foam pip berries, it is maintenance-free and the brand says it will not wither over time.
For outdoors or indoors, you can place the wreath on your front door to welcome guests or hang it inside over a fireplace. You can also use it as part of a tablescape or other decoration. It has 4.6 out of 5 stars with more than 200 reviews.
Besttrendy Fall Wreath with Warm Lights ($26.99)
This Besttrendy Fall Wreath with Warm Lights is regularly priced at $35, but is currently on sale for $26.99.
Along with a variety of fall favorites like maple leaves, pumpkins and sunflowers, it also includes 30 LED warm string lights to create a cozy autumn atmosphere. The wreath uses batteries, so you do not have to worry about hanging it near an outlet if you decide to put it outside.
With almost 500 reviews at press time, customers have given it a 4.5-star global rating. They say it is full and lush, the perfect size for a front door and comes in a nice box. One customer who gave the wreath a full five stars says it is prettier than they expected.
“I was so happy when I opened the beautiful box this wreath came in! I bought extra flowers and leaves because I figured I would have to add more fullness for the price of this wreath. Boy, was I wrong. It was plenty full and had so many different colored flowers and berries, I was just so pleased with the whole thing,” C. krenkel wrote. “If you can manage to make a big, orange or yellow bow it would be close to perfect. I will definitely order from the “BestTrendy Brand” again!!
Aside from Amazon, you’ll find fall wreaths at stores like Joann and Michael’s and you can even make your own. Will you be purchasing a fall wreath to add some color to your front door this autumn?
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.katc.com/fall-wreath-greet-coming-season | 2022-09-02T19:37:11Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/fall-wreath-greet-coming-season | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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