text
string | url
string | crawl_date
timestamp[ns, tz=UTC] | source_domain
string | group
string | id
string | in_blocksbin
int64 | in_noblocksbin
int64 | tag
string | minhash_count
string |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DENVER, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita Inc. announced today that its board of directors appointed a new independent director, Jason M. Hollar, to join the board, effective May 6, 2022.
Mr. Hollar brings more than 25 years of financial experience spanning the health care, transportation, manufacturing and retail sectors to the board. Mr. Hollar currently serves as chief financial officer of Cardinal Health, Inc., a globally integrated health care services and products company with over $160 billion in 2021 revenues. Mr. Hollar leads financial activities across the Cardinal Health enterprise, including financial strategy, capital deployment, treasury, tax, investor relations, accounting and reporting.
"Jason brings a wealth of financial and operational experience to our board that will help us continue to execute on our strategy to transform kidney care," said Javier Rodriguez, CEO of DaVita Inc.
Before joining Cardinal Health, Inc. in 2020, Mr. Hollar served as chief financial officer for Tenneco Inc., a global automotive products and services company, and as chief financial officer for the Sears Holdings Corporation. Prior to that, he served in senior leadership positions at Delphi, Inc. and Navistar International Corporation.
Mr. Hollar earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and his Bachelor of Science degree in business from Indiana University.
"DaVita's unwavering commitment to its patients, partners and teammates, combined with its drive to transform kidney care, reinforced my decision to join this team," said Mr. Hollar. "I look forward to sharing my perspective and incorporating my financial expertise as DaVita continues to execute its innovative strategy."
Mr. Hollar will serve on the Audit Committee of DaVita's board.
"We're excited to welcome Jason to our board," said Pamela Arway, independent chair of the DaVita Inc. board of directors. "The expertise Jason has cultivated throughout his career will help DaVita continue to grow and lead the kidney care transformation."
With the addition of Mr. Hollar, the DaVita board comprises 10 highly qualified directors, with 30% racial/ethnic and 40% gender diversity.
To learn more about DaVita and its board of directors, visit DaVita.com/About.
About DaVita Inc.
DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a comprehensive kidney care provider focused on transforming care to improve the quality of life for patients globally. The company is one of the largest providers of kidney care services in the U.S. and has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for more than 20 years. DaVita is working to help increase equitable access to care for patients at every stage and setting along their kidney health journey—from slowing progression of kidney disease to streamlining the transplant process, from acute hospital care to dialysis at home. As of December 31, 2021, DaVita served 203,000 patients at 2,815 outpatient dialysis centers in the U.S. The company operated an additional 339 outpatient dialysis centers in ten countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved mortality and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care community to adopt an equitable, high-quality standard of care for all patients, everywhere. To learn more, visit DaVita.com/About.
Investor Contact Information
Jim Gustafson
Jim.gustafson@davita.com
310-536-2585
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE DaVita
|
https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/davita-announces-jason-m-hollar-join-its-board-directors/
| 2022-04-08T02:27:53Z
|
witn.com
|
control
|
https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/davita-announces-jason-m-hollar-join-its-board-directors/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
BURLINGTON, Mass. and FRISCO, Texas, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ: KDP) announced today the pricing of its previously announced public offering of senior notes (collectively, the "Notes"). The offering consists of $1,000 million aggregate principal amount of 3.950% senior notes due 2029, $850 million aggregate principal amount of 4.050% senior notes due 2032 and $1,150 million aggregate principal amount of 4.500% senior notes due 2052. Subject to customary conditions, the offering is expected to close on April 22, 2022.
The Notes will be the unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company's current and future unsubordinated indebtedness. The Notes will be guaranteed by certain of the Company's domestic subsidiaries (each a "Subsidiary Guarantor") and will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by all of its existing and future subsidiaries that guarantee any of its other indebtedness (each a "Subsidiary Guarantee"). Each such Subsidiary Guarantee will be an unsecured and unsubordinated obligation of the Subsidiary Guarantor providing such Subsidiary Guarantee and will rank equally in right of payment with such Subsidiary Guarantor's current and future unsubordinated indebtedness.
The Company estimates that the net proceeds from the offering will be approximately $2,961 million (after underwriting discounts and offering expenses). Concurrently with this offering, the Company commenced a series of tender offers (the "Tender Offers") to purchase for cash certain of its outstanding series of senior unsecured notes. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with cash on hand, if necessary, to fund the purchase price and accrued and unpaid interest for the notes purchased in the Tender Offers and to redeem an outstanding series of senior unsecured notes. This offering is not contingent on the consummation of the Tender Offers or the redemption. In the event that the Tender Offers and the redemption are not consummated, the Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, acquisitions, retirement of debt and other business opportunities.
BofA Securities, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC will act as joint book-running managers for this notes offering.
The offering of the Notes is being made only by means of a prospectus and related prospectus supplement. The Company has filed a registration statement (including the prospectus and related prospectus supplement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for this offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and related prospectus supplement incorporated in that registration statement and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies may be obtained from: BofA Securities, Inc., 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, telephone: 1-800-294-1322 or by email at dg.prospectus_requests @bofa.com; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 1-866-471-2526, facsimile: 212-902-9316 or by email at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Attn: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, telephone: 212-834-4533; and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, telephone: 1-800-718-1649.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
About Keurig Dr Pepper
Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) is a leading beverage company in North America, with annual revenue approaching $13 billion and approximately 27,000 employees. KDP holds leadership positions in soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, water, juice and juice drinks and mixers, and markets the #1 single serve coffee brewing system in the U.S. and Canada. The Company's portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed and partner brands is designed to satisfy virtually any consumer need, any time, and includes the owned brands of Keurig®, Dr Pepper®, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters®, Canada Dry®, Snapple®, Bai®, Mott's®, CORE® and The Original Donut Shop®. Through its powerful sales and distribution network, KDP can deliver its portfolio of hot and cold beverages to nearly every point of purchase for consumers. The Company is committed to sourcing, producing and distributing its beverages responsibly through its Drink Well. Do Good. corporate responsibility platform, including efforts around circular packaging, efficient natural resource use and supply chain sustainability.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "may," "might," "should," "could," "predict," "potential," "believe," "expect," "continue," "will," "anticipate," "seek," "estimate," "intend," "plan," and "would," or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements have been based on the Company's current views with respect to future events, the timing of this notes offering and the intended use of proceeds from this notes offering. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including prevailing market conditions, as well as other factors. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and the Company's other filings with the SEC. In addition to these risk factors, uncertainties concerning ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine and the related impacts on macroeconomic conditions, including, among other things, interest rates may also present certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that might cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements represent the Company's estimates and assumptions only as of the date that they were made. The Company does not undertake any duty to update the forward-looking statements, and the estimates and assumptions associated with them, after the date of this release, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Investor Contact:
Steve Alexander
(972) 673-6769
steve.alexander@kdrp.com
Media Contact:
Katie Gilroy
(781) 418-3345
katie.gilroy@kdrp.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.
|
https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/keurig-dr-pepper-announces-pricing-30-billion-senior-notes/
| 2022-04-08T02:29:34Z
|
witn.com
|
control
|
https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/keurig-dr-pepper-announces-pricing-30-billion-senior-notes/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
LOS ANGELES, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Western Bank (the "Bank"), the wholly-owned banking subsidiary of PacWest Bancorp (Nasdaq: PACW), announced today the release of the 2021 Environmental Social Governance Report, which is available at:
- $1 billion in lending benefiting low- or moderate-income individuals and small businesses
- $3.5 million in charitable contributions to benefit local communities
- Outstanding CRA rating from the FDIC
- 2,896 Employee volunteer hours
- 51% racially diverse total workforce
"We believe that change is driven by empowering those we serve," said Matt Wagner, President and CEO. "Accordingly, we increased our efforts to deploy capital to businesses supporting sustainable development in their local communities and on a national level through our "Banking on the Future" initiative. In this Report, you will find real-life stories of business leaders and entrepreneurs who are forging a new and profitable path to positively impact the environment and the world to further equality and equity."
This is the Bank's second full-length report following the inaugural release of its 2020 Report in 2021.
ABOUT PACWEST BANCORP
PacWest Bancorp ("PacWest") is a bank holding company with over $40 billion in assets headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with an executive office in Denver, Colorado, with one wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Pacific Western Bank (the "Bank"). The Bank has 69 full-service branches located in California, one branch located in Durham, North Carolina, and one branch located in Denver, Colorado. The Bank provides community banking products, including lending and comprehensive deposit and treasury management services to small and medium-sized businesses conducted primarily through our California-based branch offices and Denver, Colorado branch office. The Bank offers national lending products, including asset-based, equipment, and real estate loans and treasury management services to established middle-market businesses on a national basis. The Bank provides venture banking products, including a comprehensive suite of financial services focused on entrepreneurial and venture-backed businesses and their venture capital and private equity investors, with offices located in key innovative hubs across the United States. The Bank also offers financing of business-purpose, non-owner-occupied investor properties through Civic Financial Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary. The Bank also offers a specialized suite of services for the HOA industry. For more information about PacWest Bancorp or Pacific Western Bank, visit www.pacwest.com.
CONTACT:
Pamela Flores
7732189260
pamflo@ameritech.net
View original content:
SOURCE Pacific Western Bank
|
https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/pacific-western-bank-releases-2021-environmental-social-governance-report/
| 2022-04-08T02:30:51Z
|
witn.com
|
control
|
https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/pacific-western-bank-releases-2021-environmental-social-governance-report/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The spread of a bird flu that is deadly to poultry raises the grisly question of how farms manage to quickly kill and dispose of millions of chickens and turkeys.
It’s a chore that farms across the country are increasingly facing as the number of poultry killed in the past two months has climbed to more than 24 million, with outbreaks reported nearly every day. Some farms have had to kill more than 5 million chickens at a single site with a goal of destroying the birds within 24 hours to limit the spread of the disease and prevent animals from suffering.
“The faster we can get on site and depopulate the birds that remain on site, the better,” Minnesota State Veterinarian Beth Thompson said.
The outbreak is the biggest since 2015, when producers had to kill more than 50 million birds. So far this year, there have been cases in 24 states, with Iowa the hardest hit with about 13 million chickens and turkeys killed. Other states with sizable outbreaks include Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Indiana.
Farms faced with the need to kill so many birds turn to recommendations by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Even as it has developed methods to kill the poultry quickly, the association acknowledges its techniques “may not guarantee that the deaths the animals face are painless and distress free.” Veterinarians and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials also typically oversee the process.
One of the preferred methods is to spray water-based firefighting foam over birds as they roam around the ground inside a barn. That foam kills the animals by cutting off their air supply.
When foam won’t work because birds are in cages above the ground or it’s too cold, the USDA recommends sealing up barns and piping carbon dioxide inside, first rendering the birds unconscious and ultimately killing them.
If one those methods won’t work because equipment or workers aren’t available, or when the size of a flock is too large, the association said a last resort is a technique called ventilation shutdown. In that scenario, farmers stop airflow into barns, which raises temperatures to levels at which the animals die. The USDA and the veterinary association recommend that farmers add additional heat or carbon dioxide to barns to speed up the process and limit suffering by the animals.
Mike Stepien, a spokesman for the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said the techniques are the best options when it’s necessary to quickly kill so many birds.
“State animal health officials and producers carefully weigh the different options to determine the best option for humane depopulation and do not make such decisions lightly,” Stepien said.
Not everyone agrees.
Animal welfare groups argue that all these methods for quickly killing birds are inhumane, though they are particularly opposed to ventilation shutdown, which they note can take hours and is akin to leaving a dog in a hot car. Animal rights groups delivered a petition last year signed by 3,577 people involved in caring for animals, including nearly 1,600 veterinarians, that urged the veterinary association to stop recommending ventilation shutdown as an option.
“We have to do better. None of these are acceptable in any way,” said Sara Shields, director of farm animal welfare science at Humane Society International.
Opponents of the standard techniques said firefighting foam uses harmful chemicals and it essentially drowns birds, causing chickens and turkeys to suffer convulsions and cardiac arrest as they die. They say carbon dioxide is painful to inhale and detectible by the birds, prompting them to try to flee the gas.
Karen Davis, of the nonprofit group United Poultry Concerns, urged the veterinary association to stop recommending all of its three main options.
“They’re all ways that I would not choose to die, and I would not choose anybody else to die regardless of what species they belong to,” Davis said.
Shields said there are more humane alternatives, such as using nitrogen gas but those options tend to be more expensive and could have logistical challenges.
Sam Krouse, vice president of Indiana-based MPS Egg Farms, said farmers feel miserable about using any of the options.
“We pour our lives and livelihoods into taking care of those birds, and it’s just devastating when we lose any of those birds,” Krouse said. “Everything that we’re doing every day is focused on keeping the disease out and making sure that we’re keeping our hens as safe as possible.”
Officials emphasize that this virus that’s spread primarily through the droppings of infected wild birds doesn’t threaten food safety or represent a significant public health threat. Sick birds aren’t allowed into the food supply and properly cooking poultry and eggs kills any viruses that might be present. And health officials say no human cases of bird flu have been found in the United States during this current outbreak.
Once poultry are dead, farmers must quickly dispose of the birds. They usually don’t want to risk the chance of spreading the virus by transporting the carcasses to landfills, so crews typically pile the birds up into huge rows inside barns and combine them with other materials, such as ground up corn stalks and sawdust to create a compost pile.
After a couple weeks of decomposition, the carcasses are converted into a material that can be spread on cropland to help fertilize crops. In some cases, carcasses are buried in trenches on the farm or incinerated.
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/agriculture/bird-flus-grisly-question-how-to-kill-millions-of-poultry/
| 2022-04-08T02:30:56Z
|
siouxlandproud.com
|
control
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/agriculture/bird-flus-grisly-question-how-to-kill-millions-of-poultry/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
(NEXSTAR) – Photographers captured the emotional moments after President Joe Biden and Kentanji Brown Jackson watched the Senate vote to confirm Jackson to the Supreme Court Thursday.
The 51-year-old appeals court judge with nine years of experience on the federal bench, became the first Black female justice after a vote of 53-47, mostly along party lines but with three Republican votes. Presiding was Vice President Kamala Harris, also the first Black woman to reach that high office.
Jackson, who will take her seat on the court when Justice Stephen Breyer retires this summer, joined the president to watch the votes come in on a televised feed. When her confirmation was made official, the two embraced.
“Judge Jackson’s confirmation was a historic moment for our nation,” Biden tweeted, sharing an image of him taking a selfie with Jackson. “We’ve taken another step toward making our highest court reflect the diversity of America. She will be an incredible Justice, and I was honored to share this moment with her.”
During the four days of Senate hearings last month, Jackson spoke of her parents’ struggles through racial segregation and said her “path was clearer” than theirs as a Black American after the enactment of civil rights laws. She attended Harvard University, served as a public defender, worked at a private law firm and was appointed as a member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
She told senators she would apply the law “without fear or favor,” and pushed back on Republican attempts to portray her as too lenient on criminals she had sentenced.
Jackson will be just the third Black justice, after Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas, and the sixth woman. She will join three other women, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan Amy Coney Barrett – meaning that four of the nine justices will be women for the first time in history.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/emotional-photos-show-ketanji-brown-jackson-biden-react-to-historic-vote/
| 2022-04-08T02:31:02Z
|
siouxlandproud.com
|
control
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/emotional-photos-show-ketanji-brown-jackson-biden-react-to-historic-vote/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have overridden nearly all of Gov. Pete Ricketts’ line-item budget vetoes, restoring more than $172 million in expenditures.
Lawmakers voted in favor of all three motions to override the Republican governor, who had raised concerns about some of the spending items that they previously approved.
Ricketts’ vetoes had scaled back spending increases for providers who care for vulnerable Nebraskans, affordable housing in urban areas and a planned bike trail to connect existing routes between Omaha and Lincoln, among other items.
Lawmakers chose not to override a veto that will leave $14 million in the governor’s emergency fund.
Lawmakers had voted to transfer that money out of the fund.
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/nebraska-news/nebraska-lawmakers-override-most-of-ricketts-budget-vetoes/
| 2022-04-08T02:31:20Z
|
siouxlandproud.com
|
control
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/nebraska-news/nebraska-lawmakers-override-most-of-ricketts-budget-vetoes/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
CUSTER, S.D. (AP) — Federal, state and local fire crews are fighting a wildfire, fueled by strong winds, in Custer County.
The U.S. Forest Service says approximately 50 to 100 acres have burned just west of Custer with about 30% containment.
An evacuation center has been opened in the Custer Armory gym for those residents wishing to leave their homes because of the fire danger.
Winds in excess of 40 mph temporarily closed Highway 16 from Custer to Pleasant Valley Road.
The fire is being managed by a unified command between South Dakota Wildland Fire and The Black Hills National Forest.
Crews are using dozers to stop the fire’s progression.
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/south-dakota-news/fire-crews-fight-wildfire-fueled-by-strong-winds-near-custer/
| 2022-04-08T02:31:32Z
|
siouxlandproud.com
|
control
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/south-dakota-news/fire-crews-fight-wildfire-fueled-by-strong-winds-near-custer/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
(e.g. yourname@email.com)
Remember me
Forgot Password?
Mason Tickner and Sheri Tickner, son and wife of Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Tickner, pin his major general rank on during Tickner's promotion ceremony at the Fort Hamilton Community Club April 7. (U.S. Army photo by Marcos Orengo-Roman)
This work, USACE NAD commander promoted to major general [Image 3 of 3], must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
USACE NAD commander promoted to major general
No keywords found.
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132526/usace-nad-commander-promoted-major-general
| 2022-04-08T02:34:29Z
|
dvidshub.net
|
control
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132526/usace-nad-commander-promoted-major-general
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
220407-N-PK180-1007 YOKOSUKA, Japan (April 7, 2022) - Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, speaks with Sailors at the Surface Warfare Officers (SWO) Summit. The SWO Summit is a Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 event focused on professional development sessions that highlight advanced capabilities, techniques, tactics and procedures across the surface force. DESRON 15 is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed destroyer squadron and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force supporting security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
(U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Justin Suring)
This work, Surface Warfare Officer Summit [Image 4 of 4], by PO1 Justin Suring, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132535/surface-warfare-officer-summit
| 2022-04-08T02:34:42Z
|
dvidshub.net
|
control
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132535/surface-warfare-officer-summit
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Henry Curtis Vickers 1924-2022 Henry Curtis Vickers, 97, died March 27th at home in Newcastle, WY. He was born June 2, 1924 on the family farm near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He attended schools in Frazee, Minnesota where he majored in football, according to his memories. In 1944 Hank enlisted in the Navy. He worked stateside, crossing the continental U.S. five times before being assigned to the USS Witek, a Gearing-class destroyer. He learned to fly during his time in the service. Hank worked for Plains Pipelines from the 1960s until his retirement in 1990. Hank was a brilliant mechanic. He built several small tractors, a dune buggy, half a dozen homebuilt airplanes and ultralights. He continued to fly until well into his 80s. After his retirement, he rebuilt a John Deere tractor to compete in pulls, earning a number of trophies. He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Clarice and Mary, and stepson Earl. He is survived by his older sister Catherine, brother Alan, wife Alice, children Connie [Gary] Anderson, Wayne [Eileen] Vickers of Newcastle, Gale [Leonard] Geringer of Cheyenne, ten grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Alley Cat Rescue, Newcastle, WY.
To plant a tree in memory of Henry Vickers as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/vickers-henry-curtis/article_158a0859-8460-5d99-8af3-9c846de45745.html
| 2022-04-08T02:40:29Z
|
wyomingnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/milestones/obituaries/vickers-henry-curtis/article_158a0859-8460-5d99-8af3-9c846de45745.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
CHEYENNE – Megan Degenfelder said she is prepared to take on the role of state superintendent of public instruction, not only because she is a product of Wyoming’s education system, but due to her experience as a business leader and a policy executive.
She announced her candidacy for the elected office at the Casper Boys and Girls Club on Thursday night, where she met with supporters from her hometown. Degenfelder will run against current state Superintendent Brian Schroeder, who said he plans to run for re-election after his appointment to the position in January.
“I’m very proud to be a product of Wyoming’s K-12 education system, as well as the University of Wyoming. And, as a result, I was able to experience incredible opportunities to be able to build a future and a successful life as an adult here,” she told journalists prior to the event. “I’m very passionate about making sure that our future generations receive these opportunities, as well.”
But the former chief policy officer at the Wyoming Department of Education said she sees those chances slipping away for local students, and considers it the result of anti-American values creeping into the classroom, voices of parents being silenced and future job opportunities being threatened.
She said the state is full of exceptional parents, teachers and business leaders who can work together to produce a better education system. Because of both her experience in the oil and gas sector as a lobbyist, as well as at the education department, Degenfelder said she can bridge any gaps.
She wants to keep decision making at the local level, and empower parents.
“Parents know what is best for their kids,” she said. “And they deserve not only a seat at the table, but they deserve increased transparency and greater choices for their kids. No parent should ever be silenced in the education of their kids.”
Education issues
One of the most significant issues on which parents said they felt ignored is critical race theory, Degenfelder said. From testimony at local school board meetings to legislative committees during state lawmakers' past session, many stakeholders have come forward asking for CRT to be removed from classrooms, she said. Degenfelder assured that she does not see a place for it in curriculums.
“I’ve always been opposed to the radical leftist theory that is critical race theory,” she said during an interview. “And, unfortunately, critical race theory is only one part of a larger political activist agenda. It’s really being pushed into classrooms.”
What she said she does hope to see in state schools is higher literacy rates, investments in workforce development, increased transparency and a greater sense of American pride. Some of these goals have been expressed not only by the state superintendent candidate, but by Gov. Mark Gordon, members of the Wyoming Legislature and state government officials.
She recognized one of the strides made in addressing literacy rates occurred during the 2022 budget session. Lawmakers passed the kindergarten to third grade reading assessment and intervention bill, which is meant to help find solutions for students suffering from reading disabilities. While Degenfelder supported the legislation, she said there have to be efforts made at the local level.
“The Department of Education is going to have to really roll their sleeves up and go to work in these communities, because a blanket policy just simply isn’t going to get the job done,” she said. “We also need to look at how we’re allocating resources. I really will prioritize education funding in the classroom directly impacting students.”
Connecting with communities, understanding needs and practicing fiscally responsible management are qualities she said she has due to her background.
As an executive in the education department, Degenfelder oversaw multiple divisions, a $30 million budget and helped develop the most recent “basket of goods," which is the required skills, classes and opportunities outlined for students. She also was a lobbyist for mineral industries, and said it gave her knowledge in how to run a business, as well as how to place students in the right positions.
“Before that job, I spent a series of time in the classroom in China. I taught community college courses in American business, and English courses in all areas of their public education,” she said. “That really provided me with a great opportunity to see how America and Wyoming truly have the greatest education system in the world. And we must do everything we can to protect it.”
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/former-education-policy-officer-announces-candidacy-for-state-superintendent/article_6de59d7e-7185-5928-a5fc-8a3817945688.html
| 2022-04-08T02:40:35Z
|
wyomingnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/former-education-policy-officer-announces-candidacy-for-state-superintendent/article_6de59d7e-7185-5928-a5fc-8a3817945688.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
American woman caught with nearly $550K worth of fentanyl at US-Mexico border
(Gray News) - A woman attempted to smuggle more than a half-million dollars worth of fentanyl into the U.S. from Mexico over this past weekend.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports the woman, a U.S. citizen, pulled up to the Del Rio Port of Entry in a passenger vehicle on April 3. An officer then referred her to a secondary vehicle inspection.
After a thorough examination of the car, officers said they discovered 30 packages containing 40.34 pounds of fentanyl concealed within the vehicle. CBP officials said the fentanyl had a street value of $548,987.
“This significant seizure of a potentially fatal hard narcotic like fentanyl underscores the reality of the drug threat our frontline officers are facing and their commitment to upholding our border security mission,” said Port Director Liliana Flores.
CBP seized the drugs and the vehicle and turned the driver over to Homeland Security Investigations special agents.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
https://www.wave3.com/2022/04/07/american-woman-caught-with-nearly-550k-worth-fentanyl-us-mexico-border/
| 2022-04-08T02:47:59Z
|
wave3.com
|
control
|
https://www.wave3.com/2022/04/07/american-woman-caught-with-nearly-550k-worth-fentanyl-us-mexico-border/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Glasgow woman charged with human trafficking, prostitution at massage parlor
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) - A Glasgow woman is in jail charged with human trafficking, among other charges.
The Glasgow Police Department served a search warrant Wednesday, April 6 at the Summer Spa Massage Parlor located on S L Rogers Wells Blvd.
“Over the last several months, we have received numerous complaints that involved a summer spa massage parlor in Glasgow. This has been ongoing for several months now,” recalled Major Terry Flatt, with the Glasgow Police Department.
“We was able to gain enough evidence over the past several months to obtain a search warrant that was executed yesterday,” he added.
According to police some of the complaints and tips they received related to illegal human trafficking, promoting prostitution, providing sexual services for compensation, and operating without a license.
Police found 22-thousand dollars in cash and arrested a 31-year-old woman.
“The female that was arrested yesterday was arrested and charged with promoting prostitution and also she was charged with practicing massage therapy without a license,” adds Flatt.
Jing Jing Zheng, of Glasgow Ky., was arrested and charged with Promoting Prostitution, Practice Massage Therapy Without License.
Several law enforcement agencies helped with the investigation.
Glasgow Police send a message to the public.
“If you see any of this type of activity. Just reach out to your local law enforcement agency or just call us here at the Glasgow Police Department at (270) 651-6165,” says Flatt.
Copyright 2022 WBKO. All rights reserved.
|
https://www.wave3.com/2022/04/07/glasgow-woman-charged-with-human-trafficking-prostitution-massage-parlor/
| 2022-04-08T02:48:56Z
|
wave3.com
|
control
|
https://www.wave3.com/2022/04/07/glasgow-woman-charged-with-human-trafficking-prostitution-massage-parlor/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
A (chunky) snippet from ING and their thoughts on intervention to stem the fall of yen.
- One of the first, and perhaps the only, objective of FX intervention is that it needs to be successful. Not that we have seen much FX intervention in the G3 FX space over the last decade, but successful intervention in liquid FX pairs would need to be coordinated. Getting the Fed involved in an operation to sell dollars at a time when the Fed is about to hike rates 300bp is highly unlikely. If intervention were to occur, it would probably be Japan going alone.
- But as our chart above shows, what was more common during the 1990s and up until about 2003, Japanese FX intervention over the last couple of decades has been the rare exception rather than the rule. As a member of the G20 and the closer-knit G7 group, Japan has had to adhere to flexible exchange rates – as a means to bring China in line with a less managed currency.
- To justify own-account FX intervention to sell USD/JPY, Japanese authorities would have to strongly argue that the weak yen was not only a Japanese problem but a global problem. In fact, it seems hard to argue that a weak JPY is even a problem for Japan. There certainly seems no ‘sell Japan’ mentality developing – Japanese equities have not underperformed. And if the Japanese are concerned that the spike in energy prices is being exacerbated by the weak Yen – they can either hike interest rates or adopt fiscal support measures (an inflation shield) rather than intervening.
IBG go on with this, which is what I mention over and over again that prompts the jawboning comments we are getting out Japanese authorities:
- The only case we see for the Japanese Ministry of Finance to instruct the BoJ to sell USD/JPY is in the case of a disorderly FX move. What is disorderly? That will be a function of the speed of the move and market conditions. In the past, Japanese policymakers have looked at the FX options market to judge market conditions. Prior FX interventions for disorderly moves have come when one month traded USD/JPY volatility was closer to 18/20%. The recent move to 125 saw traded volatility rise to 11%. We suspect USD/JPY would have to be trading at or above 130 for volatility to be anywhere near the 18/20% again.
USD/JPY has seen a rapid move up in past weeks, which has triggered the verbal 'interventions', but that's all so far:
|
https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/usdjpy-intervention-unlikely-ahead-of-130-20220408/
| 2022-04-08T02:50:40Z
|
forexlive.com
|
control
|
https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/usdjpy-intervention-unlikely-ahead-of-130-20220408/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Hu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while chairing a symposium on employment.
- stability of employment should be placed in a more prominent position
- He also underscored the importance of efforts to strengthen the study of the employment situation, propose new suggestions in response to new changes, and hear opinions from research institutions, enterprises and other areas, so as to contribute more to the stability of employment.
China's stimulus efforts will be ongoing, this is another sign of this. We have reports on the Shanghai lockdown as cases mount and the damage being done to China's economy (and, in turn, global supply chains and economies).
Earlier:
|
https://www.forexlive.com/news/chinas-vice-premier-hu-chunhua-has-called-for-full-efforts-to-stabilise-employment-20220408/
| 2022-04-08T02:50:47Z
|
forexlive.com
|
control
|
https://www.forexlive.com/news/chinas-vice-premier-hu-chunhua-has-called-for-full-efforts-to-stabilise-employment-20220408/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Patrick Lyoya's girlfriend says she's struggling to understand what happened on April 4, 2022. She says he was a man that was always there for her. Thursday, both she and the family spokesperson said they want justice.
"We want answers," Shajuan Kelly said.
Many of Lyoya's loved ones have a lot of questions.
"Why was the gun pulled out? You know, did you guys search what led up to the stop? I just want to know why he pulled the trigger," Kelly said.
Kelly was Lyoya's on and off again girlfriend for four years. She's expressing her frustration with not getting answers.
Answers she says she would get after seeing the video of what led up to the death of the man she saw a future with.
"Because right now you said he was going to release it. Now you're saying you're not," she told FOX17.
One person who says they have watched the video is Patrick's father, whose spokesperson Israel Siku told us they are disputing the police department's claims that there was a struggle on Monday morning.
Siku and the family say Patrick was already on the side of the road, tending to a car issue when police pulled up.
"Patrick was face down, laying on the floor, and the officer was on top of him with his knees. Without hesitation, he pulled out the gun and shot him on the back of the head," Siku said. I would like to see him handicap than dead. They could shoot him in the leg. They can shoot him in the back, maybe they could give a chance to call his father, but shoot him on the back of the head? That is inexcusable.
'Do you have anything to say to The Grand Rapids police department?' I have nothing nice to say to them. Nothing to say.
Kelly says Lyoya was never violent. She says the only trouble Lyoya got into was driving under the influence.
"He was trying to better himself, and I see that he was trying to better himself. He's trying (inaudible) back, you know, but life's too short," she added.
The family is still waiting for investigators to release the body. Kelly says they're now working on burial arrangements for the 26-year-old.
"He always thought his kids would bury him, not he burying one of his sons. That is what is happening right now," Siku said.
|
https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/patrick-lyoyas-girlfriend-asks-investigators-to-release-video-of-what-led-to-her-boyfriends-death
| 2022-04-08T02:51:13Z
|
fox17online.com
|
control
|
https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/patrick-lyoyas-girlfriend-asks-investigators-to-release-video-of-what-led-to-her-boyfriends-death
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
How important is it to call before you dig? Very.
Whether it is for a large scale project or something small, the danger of puncturing a gas line is just the same.
A recent survey by local natural gas supplier, Great Plains Natural Gas (GPNG), provided stunning results.
The survey revealed that 49% of homeowners who plan to dig this year will put themselves and their communities at risk by digging without contacting 811 beforehand to learn the approximate location of underground utilities. Additionally, 58% of homeowners reported experiencing a utility service interruption in the last 12 months that was a direct result of damaging an underground utility line.
GPNG spokesman, Mark Hanson, says the results are not surprising, but feels there is plenty of room for improvement.
“As we say in that survey, it kind of focuses it on homeowners," said Hanson, emphasizing that if a digging project coming up, everyone needs to consider safe digging, as they have seen issues with contractors, landscape companies and other large projects that aren't called in. "We get a call about a line hit where there wasn’t a locate ticket, and no lines marked,” he shared. It is a problem.
Hanson said another complication that can arise is if a locating crew came out and they didn’t mark the lines correctly, even after everyone else did their due diligence, or one line was missed because it wasn’t on a map.
“If someone is digging close to where a line is marked and they’re using bigger equipment, they need to leave about a 2-foot buffer zone outside of that line and hand dig if they are getting closer than that to a marked line because that marking may not be perfectly on top of the line — it could be a little bit on each side of that. You don’t want to rely on that with a large piece of equipment and risk hitting it,” said Hanson.
Hanson said the survey also revealed that while most homeowners know the importance of safe digging, it is reported that 40% of active diggers believe they are not digging deep enough to warrant having lines marked and 36% of homeowners believe their project was not in an area that needs to be marked.
Homeowners are encouraged to be aware as depths of utility lines vary, and multiple lines may be in a common area. Even if you have dug in an area previously, erosion, settling ground and other factors can change the depth and location of utilities over time.
GPNG also advises customers, whether a homeowner or contractor, to take necessary steps if planning a digging project this spring:
▪ Always contact 811 a few days before digging, regardless of depth or familiarity of the property.
▪ If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted 811. Don’t allow work to begin until an 811 locate ticket has been completed.
▪ Confirm that all utilities listed on your 811 locate ticket request have been marked or cleared in any area you plan to dig — before digging.
▪ Contact the utility listed on the locate ticket if they have not responded by the due date listed on your ticket.
▪ Consider moving the location of your project if it is near marked utility lines.
▪ Carefully hand dig within two feet of the marked lines and visually determine the exact location of the utility line before proceeding if your dig project is next to a marked line.
▪ Do not build structures (sheds, shops, decks, etc.) over utility lines, as this restricts access to the utility lines and can result in a dangerous situation.
▪ Remember that damaging a utility line is dangerous and can result in expensive repair bills.
▪ Visit call811.com for complete info on safe digging.
GPNG says the correct protocol for safe digging is to contact 811 a few days before digging.The homeowner or contractor will then be connected to a local notification center that will take their information and communicate it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags or both. Then, and only then, can someone begin to carefully start digging around the marked areas.
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/dont-just-dig/article_983d7db4-b5e0-11ec-99ff-8fd58a1d641c.html
| 2022-04-08T02:51:43Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/dont-just-dig/article_983d7db4-b5e0-11ec-99ff-8fd58a1d641c.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/man-crashes-into-former-rtc/article_bd9837c0-b685-11ec-9220-2beda4c8b432.html
| 2022-04-08T02:51:49Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/man-crashes-into-former-rtc/article_bd9837c0-b685-11ec-9220-2beda4c8b432.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Believe it or not, weather permitting, the 2022 fishing opener will soon arrive again in Otter Tail County.
Many avid anglers are already preparing their gear and contemplating which species and lakes they should target.
Steve Kubeny, fisheries specialist of the fish and wildlife division, says long-range forecasts are predicting normal to above-normal air temperatures in the next few weeks.
Ice-out should be about average this year; therefore, walleye spawning activities should occur during the normal timeframe in mid-to-late April. Anglers should expect to find walleye in post-spawn conditions by the May 14 fishing opener.
“Male walleye may be actively feeding during this period and will likely be in shallow water areas, while larger female walleye may still be recovering from spawning activities. Generally speaking, anglers should expect good walleye fishing on area lakes during the 2022 season as several strong natural year classes and supplemental stockings have established abundant walleye populations,” said Kubeny.
He says small, shallow lakes are usually popular for the opener because the water temperatures will be warmer and the fish more active.
Areas lakes that DNR said will be popular this year include Walker, Anna, South Ten Mile, Orwell and Fish lakes. Some larger, deeper lakes that presently have strong year classes of harvestable walleye include Star, Dead, Pelican, Sybil, Eagle and the Pine lakes.
Anglers should be aware that there is an 18.0- to 26.0-inch protected slot size limit for walleye on Big and Little Pine lakes. Northern pike should be feeding actively as they spawn earlier than walleye.
Kubeny also shared that most of the large lakes in the area consistently produce above-average sized pike. Some smaller lakes that anglers may want to check-out for nice northern pike include Marion, Wall, Anna, Johnson and Jolly Ann lakes.
Anglers are reminded of the northern pike slot length limit. The bag limit is 10 with not more than two over 26.0 inches and all pike from 22.0 to 26.0 inches must be released. Anglers looking to take advantage of the 10 fish bag can look to lakes like Swan, Dead, East Battle, South Lida, Heilberger and Loon. These lakes have an abundance of small pike less than 22.0 inches in length.
Panfish opportunities may be a viable option if the walleye and northern pike are not cooperating. Many area lakes presently support abundant populations of sunfish and black crappie with good size structures. Several of these lakes include Big McDonald, Little Pelican, Adley, McDonald, Dead, Blanche and the Leaf lakes. Anglers targeting sunfish need to be aware of 19 lakes in the area with reduced daily bag limits.
Kubeny says that the intent of the reduced bag limits is to maintain or improve the size structures of sunfish in lakes that have historically produced quality populations. Lakes with a five sunfish daily bag limit include West Silent, Franklin, Bass, Middle, Fish by Weetown and Fish by Parkers Prairie. Lakes with a 10 sunfish daily bag limit include East Lost, West Lost, Crystal, Deer, Wall, Red River, Prairie, Stuart, Star, Big Pine, South Lida, North Lida and Long by Vergas. The statewide possession limit for sunfish still applies for these lakes.
The largemouth and smallmouth bass angling seasons will also begin on the May 14 opener; however, it is catch and release only until May 28. Most area lakes consistently produce abundant largemouth bass populations.
Anglers interested in smallmouth bass should look to Pickerel, South Ten Mile, North Lida and Lizzie lakes. Anglers interested in a float fishing trip should consider the Otter Tail River, as it has a renowned catch and release only smallmouth bass fishery.
For anglers wanting to try something unique in the area for the opener, Bass Lake in Maplewood State Park is an option for trout fishing. Bass Lake is stocked annually with Rainbow Trout.
Fishing opener arriving soon with an annual event that officially kicks off the season — 2022 Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener. The event will celebrate fishing in a variety of ways over several weeks and in multiple locations in the Chippewa National Forest region and Leech Lake Reservation.
"The Governor's Fishing Opener is an opportunity to celebrate the importance of the fishing tradition to Minnesotans and highlight its impact to our businesses, tourism and outdoor economy," said Governor Tim Walz. "We are hopeful that the 2022 Governor's Fishing Opener events will get even more Minnesotans to participate in our state's time-honored fishing tradition."
Minnesota boasts about 1.4 million licensed anglers each year and a half a million who fish during the fishing opener. Minnesotans have extensive fishing opportunities — for a great variety of fish species — at 4,500 fishing lakes plus 3,800 miles of trout streams and 16,000 miles of fishable streams and rivers.
On May 14, Walz will fish with Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame guide Tom Neustrom on a lake on the Leech Lake Reservation. Leech Lake Chairman Faron Jackson, Sr. and Leech Lake fishing guide Rory Haaland will also join the governor to mark this important Minnesota tradition.
The Governor's Fishing Opener has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1948. The event was designed to promote the development of Minnesota's $2.4 billion fishing industry and, in recent years, it has served as an iconic kick-off celebration for the summer tourism season. Prior to the pandemic, travel and tourism generated $16.6 billion in leisure and hospitality gross sales in Minnesota annually.
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/out-with-the-ice-fishing-opener-planned-in-otc/article_047122b2-b5d0-11ec-b3b2-3351df6c1d25.html
| 2022-04-08T02:51:56Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/out-with-the-ice-fishing-opener-planned-in-otc/article_047122b2-b5d0-11ec-b3b2-3351df6c1d25.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
One thing is certain about Minnesota’s weather — it’s dramatic.
The swinging temperatures, blizzards, tornados, heat waves, subzero cold snaps and more, make Minnesota quite an interesting place to watch the skies.
There have been volunteer citizens in Minnesota and across the U.S. who have been faithfully watching the skies and keeping the public informed through essential weather data for years. They're called cooperative observers.
For 132 years, volunteers throughout the nation have been recording the weather and reporting what they see to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The first ever “cooperative stations” were created after an act of Congress in 1890, which established the Weather Bureau. But, even before that, many people kept weather records including names such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson — the latter who kept a nearly unbroken record of weather observations from 1776-1816. And even before that, a gentleman by the name of John Campanius Holm took the earliest recorded weather observations in the U.S. from 1644-45, according the NWS.
Cooperative observers are everyday people, recording weather so citizens and scientists alike can have access to vital weather information.
There are over 8,700 cooperative observers located all across the country. Every year, some cooperative observers hang up their meteorological hats and more observers are needed. So, if one is interested in becoming a cooperative observer, what would they need to know and what would their responsibilities be?
To start, the NWS names seven specific things a cooperative observer needs; “a dedication to public service, attention to detail, ability to learn and perform daily duties, willingness to allow NWS to place measuring instruments on one’s property, willingness to allow at least one visit per year from a NWS representative, ownership of a personal computer with modem and familiarity with its basic uses and established internet access.”
So, if one checks yes to all of those boxes listed by the NWS, what will one actually be doing?
The NWS will provide cooperative observers with all training and supervision an observer will need to perform their duties. The NWS will also provide all equipment needed to perform the duties.
Most cooperative observers record daily precipitation, snowfall, snow depth and temperatures. Some will be trained on recording additional meteorological data such as soil temperatures, evaporation and other area-specific recordings. The data is then transmitted to the NWS and the National Climatic Data Center via phone, computer or occasionally via mail. This data is extremely important and helps support forecasts, warnings and builds useful long term weather data.
“These data are invaluable in learning more about the floods, droughts, heat and cold waves affecting us all,” states the NWS website about cooperative observers.
The data also helps with agricultural planning, engineering, environmental-impact assessments and more and also gives insight into the human impacts on climate. The data can even be used in insurance claims and court cases.
If someone is interested in becoming a cooperative observer and being trained on how to provide this essential weather data, more information is available at weather.gov/coop/BecomeAnObserver.
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/watching-the-skies/article_58528aec-b689-11ec-96cd-bfec59b2cfa6.html
| 2022-04-08T02:52:02Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/watching-the-skies/article_58528aec-b689-11ec-96cd-bfec59b2cfa6.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
David Wayne Johnson died Tuesday April 5, 2022 at his home: surrounded by his family.
David Johnson was born June 21,1954 to Wayne A Johnson and Beverly Jean (Grinde) Johnson in Sisseton, South Dakota. He passed away quietly in his home with loved ones by his side on April 5, 2022 after a long and hard fought battle with cancer.
David spent his early childhood in Peever, SD with his mother and maternal grandparents as his father completed his military commitment overseas. As a family they moved to Aberdeen, SD while his father pursued higher education. This was followed by several moves within South Dakota as his father assumed education positions, living in Spencer, Hecla and Kidder. In 1969 the family moved to Royalton, MN where David graduated from Royalton High School in 1972.
David attended the University of Minnesota at Crookston until he entered the U.S. Army serving overseas from 1974 until he was honorably discharged in 1976.
David began a life long career in car sales in 1976 at Juve Auto Sales in Fargo, ND. He moved to Fergus Falls, MN in 1981 and began working for Bob Moore Ford; later Nelson Auto where he remained a faithful employee until his death.
David married Linda (Woolson) Johnson of Fergus Falls in November of 1987 at Grace United Methodist Church in Fergus Falls where he remained a member until his death. They had three daughters; Caitlin Caylor, Gretchen Marie and Sarah Pearl.
David had a charismatic personality. His spirit and energy pulled you in within minutes. His infectious smile made you feel at ease and welcomed in his presence. His daughters and “adopted” daughters often found that greeting accompanied by an embracing hug or a “smooch.” This dynamic spirit allowed him to have many long lasting friendships. Loyal customers became friends and he a loyal friend in return. David had an extremely generous heart; often helping people in need without anyone’s knowledge or bravado.
David had a zest for life and lived with intention his final years. His number one priority was his family; his wife, his girls, his grandchildren and extended family. Some of the most important days of his life were spent with family at Clear Lake: fishing, playing pinochle, Fourth of July, sitting around bonfires and “talking smart.”
David loved to fish and hunt. Trips took him to the Missouri River, the Rainy River, the “Big Pond”, The Old Post and of course Clear Lake. Early morning waterfowl hunting found him with a cig in one hand and hot coffee from an old Stanley thermos in the other.
David was preceded in death by his father, Wayne A. Johnson and his mother-in-law Rita (Monson) Woolson.
David is survived by his mother, Beverly Johnson, his wife, Linda (Woolson) Johnson three daughters, Caitlin Johnson, Gretchen (Andrew) Ehlert, and Sarah Johnson all of Fergus Falls. Grandchildren Beatrice Pearl Johnson and Owen David Holtan. David was the eldest of five and has four siblings; Doreen (Gary) Boomsma, Bradley (Shelly) Johnson, Brian (Kristin) Johnson and Paul (Michelle) Johnson. In addition, he is survived by father-in law Loren Woolson, sister-in-law Pamela Woolson, brother-in-law Craig Woolson and many loving nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Friday, April 8, 2022, from 5-7PM at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home ~ Fergus Falls, MN. A prayer service will be held at 6:30PM.
Memorial Service: Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 4:00PM at Grace United Methodist Church in Fergus Falls, MN
Donations preferred to Mayo Clinic Research or Donor’s Choice.
Arrangements with Glende-Nilson funeral home – Fergus Falls
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/obituaries/david-johnson-1954-2022/article_cc03df22-b69d-11ec-b9fe-5be27516a3be.html
| 2022-04-08T02:52:08Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/obituaries/david-johnson-1954-2022/article_cc03df22-b69d-11ec-b9fe-5be27516a3be.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Year-Long Campaign to Inspire Voter Participation Commences Upon Start of Five-Week Season in Texas
DALLAS, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Athletes Unlimited, a network of next generation professional sports leagues empowering female athletes, and Vote.org, the leading nonpartisan online voter information and registration organization, have partnered in launching the Power in My Voice campaign. Athletes Unlimited's year-long initiative, led by the athletes, will inspire voter participation, demonstrate the power in every person's voice, and encourage fans to exercise their power through their vote and other forms of civic engagement.
Throughout each traveling, five-week season in 2022, beginning in Dallas, Athletes Unlimited and Vote.org will host in-stadium voter engagement booths across the league's four sports – Basketball, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Softball – helping to register voters and answering any questions about voting requirements and changes. The league will educate on the importance of voter participation on game broadcasts, social media, and via a voting-themed gameday, among a variety of other athlete-led promotion of fulfilling civic duty and valuing your fundamental right to vote.
"Our athletes continue to be role models in their civic leadership efforts off the field, and again we see them blazing trails with their 2022 Power in My Voice campaign. Athletes Unlimited is excited to partner with Vote.org in this voting initiative, supporting the athletes' vision of connecting fans to the power in their own voices through civic engagement," said Jazmyn Jackson, Manager of Civic Leadership at Athletes Unlimited. "It is inspiring to watch our athletes be leaders in this space by standing firm in the belief that there is power in every person's voice and standing up for those that may not have access to the vote."
According to a 2020 Texas Tribune analysis, it is harder to vote in Texas than in any other state due to restrictive voting laws. And the recent voting bill, SB 1, further restricted numerous means of voting in the state when it was passed last September.
"This election, more than ever, we must educate the American people on the ways they can cast their ballot and continue to turnout in the record numbers we saw in 2020. Amid numerous changes to voting laws in states like Texas, it is paramount we help voters ensure they are registered, understand the voting options available to them, and navigate important deadlines and requirements to make certain their vote is counted," said Vote.org CEO Andrea Hailey. "We are excited to partner with Athletes Unlimited and their players, who serve as role models to so many to accomplish this goal. Together we can reach their fans with a message that simplifies the voting process, lowering the barriers to political engagement, and increasing turnout among young people. By making voting easier, and in turn, getting more people to vote, we create a stronger, more representative democracy."
During the 2020 election cycle in Texas, Vote.org made over 22 million voter contacts in the state, helped register over 480K voters, facilitated over 218K mail-in ballot requests, and served 750 meals via food trucks to voters waiting in polling lines.
In 2021, Vote.org filed a lawsuit in Texas, alleging that a new law, House Bill 3107, which requires a "wet signature" on voter registration applications in Texas, places an undue burden on voters and voter registration organizations. Texas does not offer online voter registration, which is widely available in other states, leaving voters with increasingly limited registration options.
If you're interested in learning more about the Power in My Voice campaign, we'd be happy to connect you with spokespeople from Athletes Unlimited or Vote.org.
Vote.org is the largest 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan voting registration and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) technology platform in America, with the goal of reaching historically underserved voters of color and underrepresented young voters.
Athletes Unlimited is a network of new professional sports leagues where athletes compete in fantasy-inspired games in softball, volleyball, and lacrosse, eliminating team owners and empowering athletes as leaders and decision-makers.
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Vote.org
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/athletes-unlimited-voteorg-launch-power-my-voice-partnership-2022-season/
| 2022-04-08T02:52:12Z
|
wave3.com
|
control
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/athletes-unlimited-voteorg-launch-power-my-voice-partnership-2022-season/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/obituaries/edgar-deal/article_a4970456-b69c-11ec-a04a-c3b3b4826ef9.html
| 2022-04-08T02:52:14Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/obituaries/edgar-deal/article_a4970456-b69c-11ec-a04a-c3b3b4826ef9.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Man in the Arena: Tom Brady and Simone vs Herself receive nominations for Outstanding Documentary Series
LOS ANGELES, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Religion of Sports, the award-winning sports media production company founded by Gotham Chopra, Michael Strahan, and Tom Brady announces three Sports Emmy© Award nominations highlighting the brand's prominence in athlete and documentary storytelling. The announcement was made Wednesday by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Religion of Sports had previously been nominated for five Sports Emmy© Awards and have taken home two.
The complete list of Religion of Sports nominations are as follows:
- Outstanding Documentary Series: Man in the Arena (ESPN+)
- Outstanding Editing Long-Form: Man in the Arena (ESPN+)
- Outstanding Documentary Series – Serialized: Simone vs Herself (Facebook Watch)
Man in the Arena: Tom Brady is a 10-episode documentary series which explores all the triumphs and tribulations that made Brady the greatest NFL quarterback of all time. Each episode focuses on a single Super Bowl appearance, and everything that led to some of the greatest games in football history, with guest appearances from some of the most influential people in Tom's life to discuss their relationships with the famed athlete. Series guests included Gisele Bündchen, Rob Gronkowski, Tedy Bruschi, Randy Moss, Willie McGinest, and many, many more.
Man in the Arena: Tom Brady was recently the focal point of a partnership between Religion of Sports, Autograph, and ESPN, with the announcement of an NFT collection based off the series. As of yesterday, the series is now available on ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu with the 10th and final episode coming soon.
Simone vs Herself follows the journey of Simone Biles, one of the greatest athletes of all time, as she seeks to further challenge herself and what is possible as a gymnast. A 19-time World Champion and four-time Olympic gold medalist, Simone has already reached the mountaintop. But as the series reveals, there are peaks left to scale while balancing adversity – from adjusting to a postponed Olympics, to conquering the challenges that come with success and the weight of enormous expectations. The series further explores the relationship between athletes and mental health, as Simone boldly tells her story and grants viewers an unprecedented inside look into her life and struggles. Simone vs Herself, which airs on Facebook Watch, garnered over 21 million views, and over 1 million followers on its Facebook Watch page.
Religion of Sports is currently in the process of expanding its content slate and capabilities, recently entering into a partnership with Skydance Media to begin creating scripted content, and with PRX for award-nominated podcasts such as False Idol and Crushed.
A complete list of nominees is available at https://theemmys.tv/sports-43rd-nominations/.
About Religion of Sports
Religion of Sports is an award winning media company founded by Tom Brady, Michael Strahan and Gotham Chopra. Our work is defined by thoughtful, elevated stories that uncover why sports matter, and distill the spirituality, science and humanity that unite elite performers and people of all kinds. We tell stories that make believers. More at religionofsports.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Religion of Sports
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/award-winning-media-house-religion-sports-earns-three-sports-emmy-award-nominations/
| 2022-04-08T02:52:18Z
|
wave3.com
|
control
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/award-winning-media-house-religion-sports-earns-three-sports-emmy-award-nominations/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Margaret “Peg” Lucy (Currie) King, age 84 of Fergus Falls, passed away April 5, 2022, at her residence in Fergus Falls.
Margaret was born on October 4, 1937, in Devils Lake, North Dakota, the daughter of Jack M. and Isabelle (Atkins) Currie. She graduated from St. Mary’s Hall in 1955.
On May 3, 1958, she married Lloyd E. “Buddy” King in Minneapolis. The family lived in Minneapolis where Lloyd worked as a machinist and Peg worked as a teller in the banking field. The family moved to Fergus Falls in 1977 and continued their residence.
Margaret’s interests included golf, bowling and bingo. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary.
Margaret is survived by four children, Cheryl King, Kathy Eggl, Timothy (Sandy) King and Dawn (Ken Holets) King; grandchildren, Amanda (Luke) Jara, Michael King, Kelsey (David) Schulz, Kassandra (Kyle) Upright, Kendra (Nathaniel) Karst, and Jace (Sara Holeman) King; great-grandchildren, Grace, Noah and Reed Jara, Kaylie King, Mason and Porter Schulz, Kamden and Karson Upright, Adeline and Rowan Karst, Cayden Beauchamp, Axil and Aria King; a sister, Judy Koester; sister-in-law, Beverly Parker, brothers-in-law, Robert (Bernie) King, Donald (Beverly) King, and Richard King along with numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Isabelle Currie; husband, Lloyd; son, James King; great grandson, Wyatt Jara and brothers, John and Roddy Currie.
A Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 am., Friday, April 8, 2022, at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Services will be live streamed for those that are unable to attend. A committal service will take place in the summer of 2022 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Cando, ND.
Funeral arrangements are with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls for Margaret “Peg” King.
Discuss the news on NABUR, a place to have local conversations The Neighborhood Alliance for Better Understanding and Respect ✔ A site just for our local community ✔ Focused on facts, not misinformation ✔ Free for everyone
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/obituaries/margaret-king-1937-2022/article_fcfc8af8-b69c-11ec-a5d3-17d30ccdec2e.html
| 2022-04-08T02:52:20Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/obituaries/margaret-king-1937-2022/article_fcfc8af8-b69c-11ec-a5d3-17d30ccdec2e.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
The most amazing thing occurred to me the other day while listening to a comedian that I enjoy – I felt transported to another time, another place.
Music can do this too, but in a different way. Music can make you laugh if it is a funny or humorous song.
Comedy is different. Comedy is real. A reflection of ourselves.
Our most embarrassing moments or gaffes can be part of a comedian’s palette of jokes and narratives describing daily life and laughing at our failures and moving on from the disappointments of life.
One such entertainer, while he might argue the point, was a comedian with all the tools needed to make you forget your troubles and just take a deep breath.
He appeared on the Twin Cities radio scene in the early 1990’s, on “AM 1500 KSTP”. His name was TD Mischke. If you lived in that era and ever heard his program, you know what I am talking about.
He was a buffoon in the strictest sense. I clearly remember the first time I heard the “Mischke Broadcast'' and remember just how different and exciting it was to listen to.
A listener to the late night program would never know what was going to happen next. While being billed as a talk show, it was actually three hours of pure humor. One strange person after another would call in and interact with Mischke, he would either converse with them about their day or break out into a full-blown song he would masterfully make up right on the spot.
Another hilarious bit he would do was called “News of The Day”. Mischke would take the most asinine or banal news articles he could find and turn them into question and answer sessions with callers, most often questioning life itself and all the follies that human beings can get themselves into.
I think the most famous show he did was one that could have gotten him fired.
For almost a whole hour one night, he did not speak or say anything on the powerful KSTP signal that was going out across a good portion of the U.S., but just kept putting callers on the air to basically talk to themselves. It was an over the top radio experiment that ended when the station went to a commercial break at the top of the hour.
But through all this, listeners forgot all the problems of the world, their lives and their trivial worries and just let their hair down for a few hours. These days he does a podcast called, “The Mischke Roadshow”.
With the invention of Youtube, the internet and Google, I have been listening to old clips of Mischke’s show and others from the era and realized that we no longer have some of these voices, or the humor that makes our lives tolerable.
We must make an effort to laugh again and make fun of ourselves.
The health benefits of humor and laughing have been proven time and time again.
Most health care providers have agreed that by laughing, you are taking in more oxygen and thus stimulating your lungs, as well as giving your muscles a break.
Also in laughing, your body produces something called “endorphins” that can ease all kinds of physical pain by doing so naturally.
So instead of getting mad or agitated at a situation, take a deep breath and find some comedy in your life.
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/health-benefits-of-comedy/article_8c1e4600-b674-11ec-9796-9b0de81b0a95.html
| 2022-04-08T02:52:27Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/health-benefits-of-comedy/article_8c1e4600-b674-11ec-9796-9b0de81b0a95.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Minnesota has a massive state government surplus of approximately $10 billion and our state’s citizens are among the nation’s highest taxed at a time we’re all looking for some relief.
People are paying increased costs at the gas pump, at the grocery store, on their energy bills and pretty much everywhere else these days with prices soaring. Many Minnesotans also are working hard to recover from losing income during the pandemic when restrictions and all-out shutdowns impacted workers.
This is just part of why it is so important to deliver the most tax relief possible from the state’s surplus. Republicans in the Legislature propose providing immediate and permanent tax relief to help ease the burden. Meanwhile, House Democrats and the governor are seeking more short-term gimmicks along with significant government expansion.
Negotiations the rest of this legislative session will center on resolving the differences between proposals from the respective majorities and what the governor is requesting.
The Senate Republican proposal would provide more than $8.43 billion in tax relief over the next three years, which would be the biggest tax cut in Minnesota history. This includes eliminating the Social Security income tax. The average relief would be $1,313 for the 410,900 Minnesotans who pay this tax. Senate Republicans also propose providing a rate cut on income taxes, which would improve Minnesota’s ranking as the ninth-highest state and local individual income tax collections per capita. The average tax relief per filer would be $759, with a family making $100,000 per year receiving a tax break of $1066 every year.
These proposals represent meaningful, overarching tax reductions that would benefit all Minnesotans year after year.
House Democrats are taking a different approach by proposing to spend more on various forms of aid and picking winners and losers by isolating certain groups of people. For example, their proposal only includes a partial Social Security tax reduction instead of the full repeal Republicans in the House and Senate support. And, interestingly, House Democrats did not include the governor’s checks in their plan.
Our mission in the Legislature this session should be to do all we can to help Minnesotans get back on their feet after what was, for many, an extremely challenging last two years. The state has a substantial surplus that should be used for tax relief.
While we’re at it, we should fix the tax increase House Democrats allowed to take place on employers last month despite the state’s vast overabundance of revenue. The governor, House Republicans, Senate Republicans and most Senate Democrats have supported passing a clean bill to fully replenish our state’s depleted unemployment insurance funds. The Senate approved by a veto-proof majority legislation to resolve this issue a month and a half ago, but House Democrats have refused to take that bill up for a vote. Now, the deadline has passed, and employers are suffering a needless tax increase.
The state is collecting more money than it needs while the rest of us are making do with less in this economy. The clock is ticking on this legislative session. We have until our adjournment in late May to do the right thing by delivering the permanent, meaningful tax relief people in this state deserve. Anything less given the historic opportunity before us should be unacceptable to Minnesotans.
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/let-s-make-tax-relief-permanent-meaningful/article_a424d0a0-b699-11ec-bb35-0f8a3abd5daa.html
| 2022-04-08T02:52:33Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/let-s-make-tax-relief-permanent-meaningful/article_a424d0a0-b699-11ec-bb35-0f8a3abd5daa.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Gary Puckett, who gained rock ‘n’ roll fame in the late 1960s, always appreciated his family ties to Pelican Rapids. This remains true to the present day for the rock star who still performs on a part-time basis.
Puckett was born in Hibbing in 1942. He and his mother resided at the home of his grandparents in Pelican Rapids when his father, Arlon, served overseas in the military during World War II.
After the war Gary moved with his parents to the state of Washington where his father worked in the merchandising business. Puckett first learned to play guitar, at the age of 15, in the home of his grandparents, a block east of Pelican Rapids High School. His grandfather had worked for the city police department.
The rock star, now 79 and a resident of Clearwater, Florida, recalled those days in an hour-long interview this spring with rock ‘n’ roll historian Charles Gabrean. Three of his favorite memories of Pelican Rapids include hikes with his grandfather along the river, visits to the pelican statue and eating banana splits at the cafe adjacent to the former Swan Drug.
Puckett, as a youngster, coined his grandfather’s nickname of Doodle. It was Doodle who taught him how to catch walleye and snapping turtles. In recent years his aunt Gloria lived in the Puckett home in Pelican Rapids, prior to her passing in 2015.
In the late 1960s Puckett and his band, the Union Gap, had six consecutive gold records. Hit songs included “Lady Willpower,” “Woman Woman,” “Young Girl” “This Girl is a Woman Now” “Over You” and “Don’t Give Into Him.” Puckett and his fellow band members wore uniforms depicting Civil War union soldiers. The rock star grew up near Union Gap, Washington, and thus became the name of “Gary Puckett and the Union Gap.”
A memorable performance for Puckett and his band was at the White House in 1970. President Richard Nixon and his wife Pat were preparing to host Great Britain’s Prince Charles and his sister Princess Anne. The Nixons, prior to the royal visit, asked Princess Anne who she would like to hear and she said “Gary Puckett and the Union Gap.” Prince Charles expressed interest in seeing “The Guess Who.”
“It was a fabulous event,” Puckett said, “and quite an experience from start to finish. We wandered the hallways of the White House earlier in the day, met the president, performed with the Marine band horn section and witnessed fireworks that were amazing.”
Puckett still performs for baby boomers across the nation and in different parts of the world such as Europe and Australia. He has performed in recent years at the Minnesota State Fair and Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen. He has plans to perform at the new Pelican Rapids Fine Arts Auditorium adjacent to the high school.
This spring he was asked if singing his hit tunes from the late 1960s ever grows old. “What keeps me going,” he said, “is looking out into the audience, seeing people sing along and seeing joy on their faces.” As for Pelican Rapids, his thoughts turn to visiting his grandparents in his younger years. “Back then it was Norman Rockwell’s America, and that’s how I’ll always think of it.”
Trusted TV news anchors
Judy Woodruff, host for the Public TV “News Hour” starting at 6 p.m. weekdays, has moderated numerous presidential primary debates. She in courteous, well prepared, fair and can ask the tough questions.
Lester Holt, TV anchor for the weekday “NBC Nightly News” that starts at 5:30 p.m., is respected by both Republicans and Democrats alike. He is friendly, humble and a really decent guy.
Margaret Brennan hosts the CBS Sunday morning show “Face the Nation” that starts at 9:30 a.m. She is well prepared, also asks the tough questions and does not favor either political party.
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/rock-star-recalls-ties-to-pelican-rapids/article_9f1b577a-b6b0-11ec-b63f-939914afbc24.html
| 2022-04-08T02:52:39Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/opinion/rock-star-recalls-ties-to-pelican-rapids/article_9f1b577a-b6b0-11ec-b63f-939914afbc24.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
The Fergus Falls Otters boys hockey team held their end of the year banquet on Apr. 3. Besides individual awards being handed out, the team also highlighted some of their achievements from the season and from the last two seasons.
The team picked up 33 wins over the last two seasons, the most since the mid 1980s, over a two year period. They also only gave up five power play goals all season, limiting their penalties to just 45 total on the year.
Both Michael DeBrito and Issac Johnson crossed the 100 career point total, Johnson also set the record for power play goals scored in a season (10). Goaltender Ben Swanson became the all-time leader for wins in school history. Plus, they were also the Section 6A academic champions.
Issac was named the team's most valuable player, DeBrito took home most inspirational, outstanding senior and the Hobey Baker award. Shane Zierden was named most improved and Owen Babolian was announced as the Roger Johnson Commitment award winner.
DeBrito, Swanson, Issac and Andrew Johnson were named to the section first team. Carter Thielke, Kellen Stenstrom and Cole Zierden were honorable mention.
For the Central Lakes Conference (CLC) DeBirto, Swanson and Issac were named all-conference. Cole, Andrew, Stenstrom and Thielke were named honorable mention.
DeBrito was named to the Great 8 tournament. For over 30 years, the CCM High Performance Ted Brill Great 8 has provided the top high school players in Minnesota the opportunity to showcase their skills and abilities to coaches and scouts from junior, collegiate and professional teams.
Organized by the Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Association and Minnesota Hockey, the CCM High Performance Ted Brill Great 8 is designated as a national development program by USA Hockey and continues to play a vital role in player development and exposure in Minnesota.
The tournament is being held Apr. 22-24, in Saint Paul.
Captains for 2022-23 season for the Otters: Isaac, Colin Becker and Swanson
Discuss the news on NABUR, a place to have local conversations The Neighborhood Alliance for Better Understanding and Respect ✔ A site just for our local community ✔ Focused on facts, not misinformation ✔ Free for everyone
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/sports/fergus-boys-hockey-wraps-up-season/article_d63acfee-b6b8-11ec-a3b7-97228d09e8c5.html
| 2022-04-08T02:52:45Z
|
fergusfallsjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/sports/fergus-boys-hockey-wraps-up-season/article_d63acfee-b6b8-11ec-a3b7-97228d09e8c5.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Fund to Enable HBS to Attract Students with Highest Potential for Leadership
BOSTON, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvard Business School (HBS) has announced the establishment of the Robert K. Kraft Family Fellowship Fund, which will benefit promising young leaders with high potential but limited means to attend HBS. The fund is made possible through the generosity of HBS alumni Robert Kraft (MBA 1965), founder, chairman and CEO of both the Kraft Group and the Kraft Family Foundation, and his son Jonathan (MBA 1990), president of the Kraft Group. By creating the largest endowed fellowship fund of $24 million at the School, the Kraft family continues their longstanding commitment to and support of fellowship programs at HBS. The fund was first announced earlier today at an event held at the School, "Improving Opportunity through Increasing Access: A Real-Life Story and A Legacy of Educating Leaders—A Chat with Dean Datar & Robert K. Kraft."
The Robert K. Kraft Family Fellowship Fund will make the transformational educational experience of HBS more accessible to talented students who, without financial aid, would be unable to attend the MBA program. It will specifically support students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who are first generation college students or from other underrepresented student backgrounds. In recognition of the Krafts' support, the School has named the Financial Aid Office and Director of MBA Financial Aid position in their family's honor.
"Harvard Business School has a long and proud history of educating leaders who make a difference in the world, among them Robert and Jonathan Kraft," said Harvard President Lawrence S. Bacow. "Through this extraordinary act of philanthropy, father and son ensure that more lives are transformed as theirs have been. The University is grateful for their generosity and for the deep care with which they support the members of our community."
The Krafts have a long history with and deep connection to the School. A native of Brookline, Massachusetts who grew up in a modest household, Robert's lifelong dream was to attend HBS. While attending Columbia University on a full scholarship, Robert's aspiration to attend HBS and pursue a career in business led him to visit the campus often, offering to do odd jobs around campus. This led to a life-altering relationship with then-Assistant Dean Richard Chapin (MBA 1949) and the decision to apply and ultimately attend HBS with support of a fellowship. Recognizing the critical role of financial support and mentorship in enabling his own journey, Robert and his family have been fellowship supporters since 1985, continually connecting with and guiding students throughout the years.
"Being part of HBS changed my life, and I am deeply grateful for the chance to help others benefit from the transformational power of this experience," said Robert Kraft. "Our family is proud of the extraordinary difference that our fellowship recipients make in the world."
Jonathan Kraft and his brother Dan were born while their father was enrolled in the MBA program. Later, as a high-school student, Jonathan accompanied his father to the annual breakfasts with HBS fellowship recipients whom Robert and his late wife Myra sponsored. These gatherings solidified Jonathan's hope to someday follow in his father's footsteps as a student and then as a donor, which he did by graduating from the MBA program in 1990 and establishing his own fellowship fund in 2000.
The Robert K. Kraft Family Fellowship Fund advances the School's commitment to making the MBA program more affordable and accessible. Nearly half of current MBA students receive financial aid, with an average one-year fellowship of $42,800 and more than $40M in need-based aid awarded annually. Admissions decisions are "need-blind" – made without regard to applicants' financial circumstances, and admitted students receive financial aid based on demonstrated need, which factors in a student's prior income, assets, and socioeconomic background.
After offering flexible deferral and leave policies for the 2020-2021 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HBS welcomed more than 1,000 new students this past fall. Even with the increase in total enrollment, the School was still able to provide the same amount of financial aid on a per student basis, while simultaneously keeping tuition flat for the fifth year in a row and increasing its commitment to need-based scholarships, all thanks to the generous support of donors like the Kraft family.
"As HBS strives to ensure business is a force for good in society, it is increasingly important to educate leaders who anticipate the impact of their decisions on employees, customers, and their communities," noted HBS Dean Srikant Datar. "Having the voices of fellow students from a range of cultures, industries, and socioeconomic backgrounds in the classroom broadens everyone's perspectives on the real-world challenges they will face as business leaders. We are only able to foster this environment through the generous support of fellowships by leaders like Robert and Jonathan Kraft."
"The diversity of viewpoints and experiences enrich the learning experience for everyone, and I know how grateful all of our students are to the alumni and friends who make their HBS experience possible. The fellowship program also helps reduce student debt, empowering our graduates to follow their dreams and make career choices that resonate with their passions to make a difference in the world," said Susan Gilbert, Robert K. Kraft Family Director of MBA Financial Aid at HBS.
About The Kraft Family Foundation, Inc.
The Kraft family, through The Kraft Family Foundation, is committed to giving back to the community. The impact of their philanthropy has been felt by communities around the world through initiatives that nurture education efforts, unlock personal potential, and enrich health and wellness programs. With a focus on social justice, racial equity and vulnerable populations, the family's philanthropic efforts include supporting initiatives that provide equal access, facilitate social and economic mobility, and create safety nets where they do not exist. Through the Kraft Family Foundation and other philanthropic initiatives, the Robert K. Kraft family has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to nonprofit organizations impacting our communities, including Harvard Business School, The Kraft Center for Community Health at Mass General Brigham, REFORM Alliance, Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program at Brandeis, New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, and many mission-driven, high-impact institutions.
About Harvard Business School
Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. Its faculty of more than 200 offers full-time programs leading to the MBA and doctoral degrees, as well as more than 70 open enrollment Executive Education programs and 55 custom programs, and HBX, the School's digital learning platform. For more than a century, HBS faculty have drawn on their research, their experience in working with organizations worldwide, and their passion for teaching to educate leaders who make a difference in the world, shaping the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe.
Media Contact:
Mark Cautela
mcautela@hbs.edu
617-495-5143
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Harvard Business School
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/harvard-business-school-announces-new-robert-k-kraft-family-fellowship-fund/
| 2022-04-08T02:54:42Z
|
wave3.com
|
control
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/harvard-business-school-announces-new-robert-k-kraft-family-fellowship-fund/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
WASHINGTON, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded ANSYS Inc of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, a contract to provide a suite of modeling and simulation tools including capabilities in the following engineering disciplines: structures, crash, thermal, fluids, photonics, semiconductors, electromagnetics, materials, mission, test, evaluation, and orbit determination.
This is an agency wide single-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with a potential five-year ordering period, which will offer a longer-term option for NASA to procure ANSYS and ANSYS subsidiaries software licenses, services, maintenance, and training. This contract vehicle will allow NASA centers across the country to place orders conveniently and efficiently. The maximum potential contract value is $39.1 million. The period of performance begins Thursday, April 7, with a potential end date of April 6, 2027, if all options are exercised.
The contract will be administered at the NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The NSSC performs select business activities for all NASA centers and several other federal agencies.
For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE NASA
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/nasa-awards-contract-modeling-simulation-capabilities-ansys/
| 2022-04-08T02:55:38Z
|
wave3.com
|
control
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/nasa-awards-contract-modeling-simulation-capabilities-ansys/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
NEW YORK, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NHS) (the "Fund") announced today approval of the terms of the issuance of transferable rights ("Rights") to the holders of the Fund's common stock (par value $0.0001 per share) ("Common Stock"), as of the record date, April 19, 2022 (the "Record Date"). Holders of these Rights will be entitled to subscribe for additional shares of Common Stock (the "Offer") at a discount to market price.
After considering a number of factors, including potential benefits and costs, it was determined that it is in the best interests of both the Fund and its stockholders to conduct the Offer and increase the assets of the Fund available to take advantage of investment opportunities, consistent with the Fund's investment objective to seek high total return (income plus capital appreciation).
The Fund's investment adviser, Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC, believes this is an attractive time to raise additional assets for the Fund based on several factors, including the following potential benefits:
- The Offer provides the Fund with new proceeds to capitalize on attractive investment opportunities within non-investment-grade credit, potentially enhancing the long-term returns of the Fund
- The Offer provides common stockholders an opportunity to buy Common Stock below market price or realize value from the sale of Rights
- Anticipated positive impact to total expense ratio by spreading fixed costs over a larger asset base
- Potential for increased trading volume and liquidity of NHS Common Stock
The Fund expects to maintain its current distribution level following the Offer. Additionally, the Fund has declared a regular monthly distribution payable on April 29, 2022, with a record date of April 18, 2022, and a regular monthly distribution payable on May 31, 2022, with a record date of May 4, 2022, neither of which will be payable with respect to Common Stock that is issued pursuant to the Offer as such issuance will occur after these record dates. Common Stock issued pursuant to the Offer will be entitled to receive the monthly distribution expected to be payable in June.
Certain key terms of the Offer include:
- Holders of Common Stock on the Record Date ("Record Date Stockholders") will receive one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock owned on the Record Date. The Rights entitle the holders to purchase one new share of Common Stock for every 3 Rights held (1-for-3); however, any Record Date Stockholder who owns fewer than three shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date will be entitled to subscribe for one share of Common Stock. Fractional shares of Common Stock will not be issued.
- The subscription price per share of Common Stock (the "Subscription Price") will be determined by the Fund on the expiration date of the Offer, which is currently expected to be May 17, 2022, unless extended by the Fund (the "Expiration Date"). The Subscription Price will be equal to 92.5% of the average of the last reported sales price of a share of Common Stock of the Fund on the NYSE American on the Expiration Date and each of the four (4) immediately preceding trading days (the "Formula Price"). If, however, the Formula Price is less than 87% of the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") per share of Common Stock at the close of trading on the NYSE American on the Expiration Date, the Subscription Price will be 87% of the Fund's NAV per share of Common Stock at the close of trading on the NYSE American on that day.
- Record Date Stockholders who fully exercise all Rights issued to them can subscribe, subject to certain limitations and allotment, for any additional shares of Common Stock that were not subscribed for by other holders of Rights at the Subscription Price. Investors who are not Record Date Stockholders but who otherwise acquire Rights, including in the secondary market, are not entitled to subscribe for any additional shares of Common Stock. If sufficient shares of Common Stock are available, all Record Date Stockholders' over-subscription requests will be honored in full. If these requests exceed available shares of Common Stock, they will be allocated pro rata among those fully exercising Record Date Stockholders who over-subscribe based on the number of Rights originally issued to them by the Fund.
- Rights are transferable and are expected to be admitted for trading on the NYSE American under the symbol "NHS RT" during the course of the Offer. The last day Rights will trade will be one business day before the Offer's Expiration Date (May 16, 2022, unless extended). During the course of the Offer, Record Date Stockholders may choose to sell their Rights.
The Offer will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. The Fund expects to mail subscription certificates evidencing the Rights and a copy of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus for the Offer to Record Date Stockholders shortly following the Record Date. Brokers, custodians or trust companies may send notices to common stockholders shortly thereafter. To exercise or sell their Rights, common stockholders who hold their Common Stock through a broker, custodian or trust company should contact such entity to forward their instructions to either exercise or sell their Rights on their behalf. Common stockholders who do not hold Common Stock through a broker, custodian, or trust company should forward their instructions to either exercise or sell their Rights by completing the subscription certificate and delivering it to the subscription agent for the Offer, together with their payment, at one of the locations indicated on the subscription certificate or in the prospectus supplement.
The information in this press release is not complete and is subject to change. This document is not an offer to sell any securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. This document is not an offering, which can only be made by a prospectus. Investors should consider the Fund's investment objective, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Fund's prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus will contain this and additional information about the Fund and additional information about the Offer, and should be read carefully before investing. For further information regarding the Offer, or to obtain a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, when available, please contact the Fund's information agent:
Georgeson LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10104
1-866-647-8872
About Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. The Fund's investment objective is to seek high total return (income plus capital appreciation). Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in high yield debt (below investment grade) securities of U.S. and foreign issuers, and up to 20% of its total assets in other securities and financial instruments.
About Neuberger Berman
Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager. The firm manages a range of strategies—including equity, fixed income, quantitative and multi-asset class, private equity, real estate and hedge funds—on behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors globally. With offices in 25 countries, Neuberger Berman's diverse team has over 2,400 professionals. For eight consecutive years, the company has been named first or second in Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work in Money Management survey (among those with 1,000 employees or more). In 2020, the PRI named Neuberger Berman a Leader, a designation awarded to fewer than 1% of investment firms for excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The PRI also awarded Neuberger Berman an A+ in every eligible category for our approach to ESG integration across asset classes. The firm manages $460 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2021. For more information, please visit our website at www.nb.com.
Statements made in this release that look forward in time involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the adverse effect from a decline in the securities markets or a decline in the Fund's performance, a general downturn in the economy, competition from other closed end investment companies, changes in government policy or regulation, inability of the Fund's investment adviser to attract or retain key employees, inability of the Fund to implement its investment strategy, inability of the Fund to manage rapid expansion and unforeseen costs and other effects related to legal proceedings or investigations of governmental and self-regulatory organizations.
Contact:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
Investor Information
(877) 461-1899
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Neuberger Berman
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/neuberger-berman-high-yield-strategies-fund-announces-rights-offering-summary-terms/
| 2022-04-08T02:55:54Z
|
wave3.com
|
control
|
https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/neuberger-berman-high-yield-strategies-fund-announces-rights-offering-summary-terms/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods playing the Masters again, his shirt as pink as the azaleas at Augusta National, would have been enough reason to celebrate Thursday.
It felt that way to him, too.
Woods twirled his club after good shots, and there were enough. He pumped his fist after his longest birdie putt. And then normalcy gave way to reality when he used his wedge as a walking stick for his once-battered and now weary legs for a final climb toward the 18th green.
Another par save for a 1-under 71, four shots behind Sungjae Im.
But this wasn't just about a score. Woods was competing in a major, the first time in 508 days since a car crash some 14 month ago that shattered his right leg. That much was clear when asked if simply being able to play felt like a victory. His answer: “Yes.”
“If you would have seen how my leg looked to where it's at now, the pictures — some of the guys know; they've seen the pictures — to see where I've been, to get from there to here, it was no easy task," Woods said.
It doesn't figure to get any easier the rest of the way.
Still to come is Friday, the first time he will have walked 18 holes at Augusta National on consecutive days since the accident with what he described as “lots of ice" in between.
Ahead of him are a collection of players who have won majors, who have won at Augusta, and who have spent the last year honing their games instead of figuring out how to get from a hospital bed to finding joy in the simple pleasure of walking.
Im, the 24-year-old South Korean known for rarely missing the center of the club face, ran off three straight birdies at the start, recovered from a pair of bogeys with a 12-foot eagle putt on the 13th and added a late birdie for a 5-under 67.
He was one shot ahead of Cameron Smith, playing for the first time since winning The Players Championship a month ago. The Aussie with the mullet had the most dynamic round of the day with his eight birdies, all between a double bogey at the start and the finish.
“To be honest, those couple of double bogeys really didn’t have too bad a shot in them. It’s not like I was scratching it out of the trees,” Smith said. “Just misjudged the wind on both wedges. Just left myself in a bit of a tough spot. Other than that, it was just really solid.”
Smith’s 67 was the highest score to lead after 18 holes at the Masters since 2014, and that was to be expected. Even with 2 inches of rain that softened the course, the front that cleared out the clouds brought enough wind to jangle the nerves at every turn.
Dustin Johnson, who held off Im and Smith when he won the Masters in November 2020, was 4 under through 10 holes and poised to present a daunting target with the scoring holes ahead of him. He had to settle for pars, dropped a shot late and was in the large group at 69.
Also at 69 were former Masters champion Danny Willett, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Joaquin Niemann, who holed out for eagle on No. 9 and still didn't get the biggest roar of the round. He was playing with Woods, who heard them all day.
The crowd was so large that Woods could barely be seen over so many heads as he walked from the clubhouse to the putting green and then to the first tee, big cheers at each station, all the way down to Amen Corner until the end.
“Probably at the beginning I noticed that there was a lot of people, but then I was trying to talk to my caddie, and I couldn’t hear anything that he was saying,” Niemann said.
Overlooked in Woods playing again was the return of the spectators, and it was a beautiful and roaring marriage. There were pockets of cheers from around Augusta National, and endless cheers for Woods.
He missed that. They missed him. And he didn't waste time giving them reason for hope by making a 10-foot par putt on the first hole.
“The place was electric,” Woods said. “I hadn’t played like this since ’19 when I won because in ’20 we had COVID and we had no one here, and I didn’t play last year. So to have the patrons fully out and to have that type of energy out there was awesome to feel.”
He couldn't feel the same about his legs. He said they were sore, which he expected, but he could compete over five hours on soft turf and so many undulations.
He came within a few feet of an ace on the par-3 sixth. He made a 30-foot birdie on the par-3 16th, and his other on an approach that hugged the top of the green at the par-5 13th for a simple two-putt. His big regret was a pitch that came up woefully short on the par-5 eighth, followed by a chip that was too strong and a poor putt.
He dropped another shot from a 4-iron chip on the 14th that ran 8 feet by.
It wasn't his best. But after going that long without serious competition, he had few complaints.
“I’m going to be sore, yes. That’s just the way it is,” he said. “And this is only one round. We’ve got three more to go. There’s a long way to go and a lot of shots to be played.”
But it was a start, and that felt like a win. And he was among 17 players from the 90-man field who broke par, and that was big.
“I was able to finish up in the red,” Woods said. “I'm right where I need to be.”
The thousands of spectators who stood a dozen deep in some spots, who filled every inch of grass around Amen Corner, couldn't have agreed more.
|
https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/tiger-woods-masters-first-round-recap/507-6f4da4bc-ffcc-4cfb-99cf-1c4c3b4ad8dc
| 2022-04-08T03:07:43Z
|
krem.com
|
control
|
https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/tiger-woods-masters-first-round-recap/507-6f4da4bc-ffcc-4cfb-99cf-1c4c3b4ad8dc
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
LONDON, UK — Pink Floyd is releasing its first new music in almost three decades to raise money for the people of Ukraine, the band announced Thursday. “Hey Hey Rise Up” features Pink Floyd members David Gilmour and Nick Mason, with vocals from Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk of the band BoomBox.
Roger Waters, who left the band in the 1980s, is not involved.
The track features Khlyvnyuk singing a patriotic Ukrainian song from a clip he recorded in front of Kyiv’s St. Sophia Cathedral and posted on social media.
Gilmour, who performed with BoomBox in London in 2015, said the video was “a powerful moment that made me want to put it to music.”
After Russia’s invasion, Khlyvnyuk cut short a tour of the U.S. to return to Ukraine and join a territorial defense unit.
Gilmour said he spoke to Khlyvnyuk, who was recovering in a hospital from a mortar shrapnel injury, while he was writing the song. He said: “I played him a little bit of the song down the phone line and he gave me his blessing. We both hope to do something together in person in the future.”
The song is being released Friday and the band says proceeds will go to the Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Fund.
“We want to express our support for Ukraine, and in that way show that most of the world thinks that it is totally wrong for a superpower to invade the independent democratic country that Ukraine has become," Gilmour said.
Pink Floyd was founded in London in the mid-1960s and helped forge the U.K. psychedelic scene before releasing influential 1970s albums including “The Dark Side of the Moon,” “Wish You Were Here” and “The Wall.”
Original member Waters quit in 1985, and the remaining members of Pink Floyd last recorded together for the 1994 album “The Division Bell." After keyboard player Richard Wright died in 2008, Gilmour said he doubted Pink Floyd would perform together again.
“Hey Hey Rise Up” also features Guy Pratt on bass and Nitin Sawhney on keyboards.
|
https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/pink-floyd-ukraine-song/507-7d3b525e-9b3f-4453-b7db-812b344e784f
| 2022-04-08T03:07:49Z
|
krem.com
|
control
|
https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/pink-floyd-ukraine-song/507-7d3b525e-9b3f-4453-b7db-812b344e784f
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The National Weather Service office in Tallahassee, Florida confirmed multiple tornadoes touched down during inclement weather Tuesday.
The NWS said Thursday night that it surveyed several areas of damage from storms on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, three tornadoes occurred in southwest Georgia: one at the Early County Miller County line, one southeast of Blakely in Early County and one in Mitchell County.
Damage observed by the surveyors indicates all three tornadoes were EF-1 in strength on a scale of EF-0 to EF-5 with EF-5 being the strongest in intensity.
|
https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/nws-multiple-tornadoes-touched-down-in-south-georgia-tuesday
| 2022-04-08T03:12:50Z
|
wtxl.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/nws-multiple-tornadoes-touched-down-in-south-georgia-tuesday
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
MADISON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — A woman is dead following an accident Thursday morning in Madison County.
According to a report by the Florida Highway Patrol at 6:35 a.m. FHP responded to a two vehicle crash on State Road 53 at County Road 150.
A sedan stopped at a stop sign and a flashing red light, facing east on County Road 150.
A tractor trailer, which was driven by a 69-year-old man of Quitman, Georgia, was traveling southbound on State Road 53.
The report says the sedan, which was driven by a 28-year-old woman of Madison, drove east and entered the path of the tractor trailer.
The tractor trailer front hit the left side of the sedan. The FHP reports says the driver of the sedan was pronounced dead on scene by the Madison County EMS.
Family members of the victim were notified. The report notes the driver of the tractor trailer did not sustain any injuries.
The Madison County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene.
|
https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/woman-dies-in-vehicle-crash-in-madison-county
| 2022-04-08T03:12:52Z
|
wtxl.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/woman-dies-in-vehicle-crash-in-madison-county
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. moved Thursday to choke off U.S. exports to three Russian airlines as part of what officials described as an unprecedented enforcement action.
The Commerce Department said the move would prevent the Russian national flag carrier Aeroflot, Utair and Azur Air from receiving items from the U.S., including parts to service their aircraft.
Matthew Axelrod, an assistant commerce secretary for export enforcement, told reporters the sanctioned airlines will largely be unable to continue to fly since they will be cut off from the parts and services needed to maintain their fleets.
The actions, known as temporary denial orders, do allow the Commerce Department to grant exceptions when the safety of a flight would be at risk. The orders extend for 180 days, though they can be renewed.
The private sector has also taken its own action against Russian airlines in response to the war against Ukraine, with Delta Air Lines in February suspending its codesharing partnership with Russian national airline Aeroflot.
|
https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/us-strangles-russian-airlines-in-unprecedented-action-to-block-parts-and-services
| 2022-04-08T03:12:54Z
|
wtxl.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/us-strangles-russian-airlines-in-unprecedented-action-to-block-parts-and-services
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
A Lafayette landowner is fearing his property may be seized by Lafayette Consolidated Government through the "quick take" process.
It's a tactic, in which the Lafayette Consolidated Government seizes land for flood control measures, by declaring a public necessity.
It's a strategy that's landed LCG in court twice already.
"I think everybody is worried. These guys would like more money for their property too. It's not worth anything to anybody except us, but now it's a floodway and they want it because it's cheap.”
Leonard Guidry owns the property next to Coulee Ile de Cannes for the last 15 years.
Guidry says he was approached by LCG for an appraisal but denied their offer.
"Nothing that suits my appraisal. Traffic flow, oil field work, merchandise sale. 79 pages and two pages were, we're going to buy it at this appraisal price. No, you're not,” said Guidry.
On Tuesday, the Lafayette City Council declared the property in Downtown Lafayette a public necessity.
This allows the city to obtain the land on either an amicable basis or by seizing it, if necessary.
"They don't have a complete survey of what needs to be done and I can't lawyer up, because it's going to cost more money and if we lose, we're back to square one,” Guidry added.
We reached out to both LCG and the contractor working on the property, but have not received a response.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers
|
https://www.katc.com/news/lafayette-landowner-fears-his-property-will-be-seized-through-lcg-quick-take
| 2022-04-08T03:29:27Z
|
katc.com
|
control
|
https://www.katc.com/news/lafayette-landowner-fears-his-property-will-be-seized-through-lcg-quick-take
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
The Biden administration announced plans to officially lift the controversial policy known as Title 42 on May 23, but there's growing concern that that move could lead to an influx of migrants at the southern border. Last year, migrant encounters more than doubled in all nine southwest border sectors, according to Pew Research.
On Thursday, a group of bipartisan senators introduced a new bill that would prevent the Biden administration from getting rid of the policy unless the administration presents a detailed plan to deal with an expected surge of migrants. The group of bipartisan senators plans to include their proposal as part of a larger amendment to the $10 billion COVID-funding bill.
For a little background: Title 42 was first put in place March of 2020 under the Trump administration.
The memo officially came from the Centers for Disease Control, which has the authority to do so under the 1944 Public Health Service Act. Basically, federal health officials can ban people and goods from entering the country in the case of a pandemic and in the interest of public health.
Critics of the policy, including several public health experts, have said it's a misapplication of the law, arguing it was getting used because of immigration concerns, not public health worries.
When President Biden took office, he promised a more humane approach to immigration, saying he would overhaul some Trump-era policies, but this one stuck around.
In February of last year, President Biden did sign an executive order exempting unaccompanied minors from expulsion under the policy. Still though, despite repeated calls to end fully end Title 42, the CDC extended the policy in August of 2021.
The arguments against the policy got even louder as vaccine rates increased and pandemic-era restrictions came to an end.
Then, at the beginning of this month, the Biden administration said Title 42 would officially end in May.
Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here.
|
https://www.katc.com/news/national/examining-the-impact-of-lifting-title-42-and-overwhelming-border-communities
| 2022-04-08T03:29:45Z
|
katc.com
|
control
|
https://www.katc.com/news/national/examining-the-impact-of-lifting-title-42-and-overwhelming-border-communities
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall has shared the first images while recovering since an attack left him with multiple major injuries and his cameraman and producer dead.
Hall wrote a message on Twitter that said, "I need to pay tribute to my colleagues Pierre and Sasha who didn't make it that day. Pierre and I traveled the world together."
Unfortunately, Hall’s cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and freelance Ukrainian producer Oleksandra Kuvshynova were killed as the team were attacked.
Its been over three weeks since the attack in Ukraine and I wanted to start sharing it all. But first I need to pay tribute to my colleagues Pierre and Sasha who didnt make it that day. Pierre and I traveled the world together, working was his joy and his joy was infectious. RIP pic.twitter.com/gbHduLmd5e
— Benjamin Hall (@BenjaminHallFNC) April 8, 2022
Hall said that he has lost part of his leg, and part of another foot and said that one of his hands is being "put together" while one of his eyes is "no longer working." He said he feels "pretty darn lucky to be here."
To sum it up, I've lost half a leg on one side and a foot on the other. One hand is being put together, one eye is no longer working, and my hearing is pretty blown… but all in all I feel pretty damn lucky to be here - and it is the people who got me here who are amazing! pic.twitter.com/HNjO6PbdGf
— Benjamin Hall (@BenjaminHallFNC) April 8, 2022
Hall was reporting on the invasion of Ukraine from the country's capital city of Kyiv when his team came under fire by Russian forces. As Fox News reported, Hall has three young daughters. Other journalists with Fox News were also in Ukraine reporting on the quickly evolving invasion by Russia.
|
https://www.katc.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/lucky-to-be-here-fox-news-correspondent-benjamin-hall-recovers-after-ukraine-attack
| 2022-04-08T03:29:51Z
|
katc.com
|
control
|
https://www.katc.com/news/national/russia-ukraine-conflict/lucky-to-be-here-fox-news-correspondent-benjamin-hall-recovers-after-ukraine-attack
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
YAKIMA, Wash. —
Yakima Valley College’s Vineyard and Winery Technology Program is hosting its 13th annual Grape to Glass Gala on May 21 featuring "Rising Stars" in the industry. The gala includes dinner, beer and wine tasting, live music and a silent auction to benefit student scholarships.
The gala will be at the Yakima Valley College Conference Center at 1704 West Nob Hill Boulevard.
Bon Vinos will prepare a four-course meal for dinner. YV-Tech Culinary Arts students will assist with dinner service. It will be paired with Yakima Valley Vintners wines, and alumna beer and wine.
“I am honored to be a recipient of the vineyard and technology scholarship,” said student Lorenzo Sanchez. “I will make sure I use that money to continue to help my childhood dream of graduating college.”
The gala provides support for the program and scholarships, like Sanchez’s.
Tickets are $75 before May 3, when the price rises to $85. Members of the Yakima Valley Vintners Wine Club can purchase tickets for $75 even after May 3. Tickets for a table of six are available for $500.
Tickets can be purchased at the Yakima Valley Vintners Yakima Tasting Room or online.
|
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/grape-to-glass-gala-in-yakima-offers-four-course-meal-with-local-beer-and-wine/article_f05ee6ae-b6df-11ec-969c-e39fe5059e8e.html
| 2022-04-08T03:31:08Z
|
nbcrightnow.com
|
control
|
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/grape-to-glass-gala-in-yakima-offers-four-course-meal-with-local-beer-and-wine/article_f05ee6ae-b6df-11ec-969c-e39fe5059e8e.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
VANCOUVER - Starting May the Washington State Crime Lab must test sexual assault kits within 45 days of receiving them. This is according to a House Bill 1166 passed in 2019.
The laws regarding test kits changed in 2015, after House Bill 1068 passed. This law was intended to help reduce the backlog of sexual assault kits in the state. It requires all sexual assault kits to be tested. This law also provided funds to help do so.
The Attorney General's Office (AG) provided additional funds through the Washington Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) in 2017. The Washington State Crime Lab was given $1.5 million to continue testing the backlog of kits. In total the AG's Office received $3 million from the National SAKI.
The other funds are used to provide resources for victims and more.
According to Washington State Patrol Director of Communications, Chris Loftis, these funds allowed the crime lab to outsource older kits to accredited labs across the nation.
In 2018, the AG's Office took inventory of the backlog of sexual assault kits and found there was over 9,500 kits that hadn't been tested. According to Loftis, 97% of them have now been tested.
In 2018, the Yakima County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) and Yakima Police Department (YPD) had a combined total of 357 sexual assault kits in their possession that hadn't been tested.
Both agencies tell me the majority of them have now gone to the state crime lab for testing.
Sargent Jason Pepper with the YCSO said their goal now is to get new kits to the crime lab for testing within a week of getting them. He also said the quicker testing period will be helpful for law enforcement.
"With them being able to get back quicker, it helps us move forward in our cases," Sargent Pepper said.
The funds provided by the initiative's grant also helped hire 18 scientists to help with testing over the last three years, build a larger crime lab in Vancouver and get new robotics to help speed the process along.
Loftis said the idea behind the robots is they are constantly moving samples, so work is being done 24/7 instead of relying on one person working an eight hour shift.
Another part of the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative is entering DNA samples in the FBI's Combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS). So far, there have been 1,366 matches to offenders in our state's offender database or offenders in other states. A total of 2,463 DNA profiles have been entered into the CODIS system.
According to WSP, these profiles could help catch other criminals if they commit future crimes.
"The message that we want folks to know is that if you're a victim of a crime like this we're not going to give up, we're not going to forget about you or put your evidence in a box and put that box in a shelf and forget," Loftis said. "We're gonna pursue as it far as we can," Loftis said.
According to Sargent Pepper, when they handle sexual assault investigations, the victim's well being is always the focus.
If an assault just happened and a patrol officer responds, they make sure the victim has a place to stay, they don't have contact with the suspect and provide them with resources.
If they have enough evidence to arrest the suspect on the spot, they do. If not, they take any evidence available like clothes and a sexual assault kit.
If the victim is a child, the process is a little different. The YCSO uses forensic interviewers from the Child Advocacy Center - usually for children 12 and under.
Loftis said responding to the needs of the victims, is the most important thing in these investigations.
"Justice is also speaking to that victim, 'hey we're hear for you,' our organization was created and designed to meet your needs," Loftis said.
The crime lab hopes to finish testing the backlog of kits within the next few months.
|
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/starting-may-the-washington-crime-lab-will-test-sexual-assault-kits-within-45-days/article_5cb79996-b6d0-11ec-9e7d-5faf17186c89.html
| 2022-04-08T03:31:11Z
|
nbcrightnow.com
|
control
|
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/starting-may-the-washington-crime-lab-will-test-sexual-assault-kits-within-45-days/article_5cb79996-b6d0-11ec-9e7d-5faf17186c89.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
YAKIMA, Wash. —
The Washington state Department of Health released information regarding disciplinary actions in the state during March. There were no updates for Benton and Franklin counties.
There were two updates for Yakima County.
The Home Care Aide Program charged a certified aide with unprofessional conduct. Michelle Diane Reyes is accused of taking a patient’s hydrocodone medication several times.
The Secretary of Health ended the trainee license probation of Michele Renee Smith.
|
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/washington-department-of-health-disciplinary-actions-for-march/article_d8d9614c-b6d7-11ec-9014-a765099f490a.html
| 2022-04-08T03:31:15Z
|
nbcrightnow.com
|
control
|
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/washington-department-of-health-disciplinary-actions-for-march/article_d8d9614c-b6d7-11ec-9014-a765099f490a.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
|
https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/jury-finds-erik-willis-guilty-of-attempted-murder-in-brutal-2020-stabbing-attack-at-kahala/article_a485ea8a-b6d4-11ec-91a9-8f623f4dd079.html
| 2022-04-08T03:38:18Z
|
kitv.com
|
control
|
https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/jury-finds-erik-willis-guilty-of-attempted-murder-in-brutal-2020-stabbing-attack-at-kahala/article_a485ea8a-b6d4-11ec-91a9-8f623f4dd079.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
(CNN) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James asked a New York court on Thursday to hold former President Donald Trump in civil contempt for allegedly failing to comply with a court order that he turn over certain documents for her investigation.
State Judge Arthur Engoron in February had ordered Trump to "comply in full" with the attorney general's subpoena seeking documents and information. Engoron also ruled that Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump should comply with the attorney general's subpoenas for testimony, but the Trumps are appealing that decision.
In a motion filed Thursday, the attorney general's office said that that Trump "did not comply at all" with the subpoena for documents and that his attorneys said he would not produce "any" documents in response to the subpoena because his attorneys believe that if the documents exist, the Trump Organization would have them and the attorney general's office "will just have to wait until the Trump Organization completes its production to get them."
According to new filings, her office had agreed to extend an early March deadline for the documents until March 31. But rather than produce the documents that day, Trump presented 16 objections to the subpoena's demands.
Trump's attorneys also presented the attorney general's office an affidavit from a Trump lawyer claiming that the former President was unable to locate the documents being and to the extent the documents existed, they were in the custody of Trump Organization, which faces a separate subpoena deadline.
James argued on Thursday that Trump's attorneys' response amounted to "more delay and obfuscation," saying that his objections came too late. She said that Trump was "highly likely to have been in possession, custody or control of numerous documents" bearing on her investigation and that he failed to adequately detail the efforts he undertook to search for the subpoenaed documents.
"Mr. Trump should now be held in civil contempt and fined in an amount sufficient to coerce his compliance with the Court's order and compensate OAG for its fees and costs associated with this motion," the filing stated.
James is asking the court to impose a fine of $10,000 per day, or any other amount the court deems "sufficient to coerce his compliance with the Court's February 2022 Order," as well as compensation for the attorney general offices costs and fees in filing the motion.
An attorney for Trump said in a statement Thursday that "we are prepared to adamantly oppose the frivolous and baseless motion filed by the Attorney General's office today."
"Our client has consistently complied with the many discovery requests served by the Attorney General's office over the years," the attorney, Alina Habba, said.
James previously said her office found multiple misleading or fraudulent misstatements and omissions in the Trump Organization's financial statements, which were provided to lenders and insurers, among others, as part of its investigation.
In addition to the civil investigation James has launched, the Trump Organization also faces a criminal investigation being led by the Manhattan district attorney. Public turmoil has surrounded District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr.'s probe, which he inherited from his predecessor, Cyrus Vance, after the high-profile departure of two senior prosecutors.
Bragg told CNN in an interview Thursday that his office's investigation is "very much ongoing" and that prosecutors are reviewing new evidence.
This story has been updated with additional details.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
|
https://www.kitv.com/news/local/new-york-ag-asks-court-to-hold-donald-trump-in-contempt/article_b5cd794c-b6d5-11ec-bc7b-7b0cd66d03d6.html
| 2022-04-08T03:38:24Z
|
kitv.com
|
control
|
https://www.kitv.com/news/local/new-york-ag-asks-court-to-hold-donald-trump-in-contempt/article_b5cd794c-b6d5-11ec-bc7b-7b0cd66d03d6.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SELAH — Grant Chapman and James Hull were both 2-for-3 in Selah's 6-4 loss to Lynden in nonleague baseball on Thursday.
The Vikings, who dropped a 4-1 decision to the Lions on Wednesday, moved to 7-4 and will host CWAC leader Ephrata for a CWAC doubleheader on Saturday.
Lynden improved to 9-3.
Selah highlights - Game 1: Elian Peralta 2-3, Keaton Pitzer 2-3, Beau Benjamin RBI in 7th. Game 2: Grant Chapman 2-3, James Hull 2-3, Elian Peralta RBI single in 4th; Ryan Bair RBI single in 4th.
-
MEETINGS
YVC trio at Monday QBs
Yakima Valley College baseball coach Kyle Krustangel, softball coach Renae Koppenhafer and athletic director Ray Funk will be featured guests at the Monday Morning Quarterbacks luncheon next week.
The meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. Monday in the Players Club Lounge at Suntides Golf Course. Lunch service is available, and the public is invited.
|
https://www.yakimaherald.com/local-report-lynden-baseball-tops-selah-6-4/article_338bc063-4263-5349-b4a5-7ea8010e0161.html
| 2022-04-08T03:47:43Z
|
yakimaherald.com
|
control
|
https://www.yakimaherald.com/local-report-lynden-baseball-tops-selah-6-4/article_338bc063-4263-5349-b4a5-7ea8010e0161.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Update, 3 p.m. This story has been updated to include comment from Broulim’s.
A Driggs resident and longtime Broulim's employee is being charged with video voyeurism and attempted destruction of evidence after a camera was discovered in the men's upstairs restroom at the Driggs grocery store.
A little after noon on March 12, according to the probable cause declaration submitted by Sergeant Kendall Bowser, the Teton County Sheriff's Office was alerted that a Broulim's employee had found a discreet video camera in a vent in the men's public restroom in the upstairs alcove of the supermarket. The store manager took the camera into his office and called the sheriff's office to report the finding, but by the time Bowser responded, the camera had been taken.
Security video footage in the office shows a man removing the camera then leaving the store. The man was identified as Roberto Bravo-Camacho, 34, of Driggs, an employee of the store. Bowser found and spoke with Bravo-Camacho, who admitted to taking the camera and said he had disposed of it in the store's trash compactor. The security footage did not match that claim, so Bowser asked to search the man's car and to look at his phone. When Bravo-Camacho refused the request, he was arrested. He later posted a $10,000 bond for bail.
The sheriff's office executed a search warrant at Bravo-Camacho's house on March 13 and seized a large number of recording and storage devices, including 15 USB compatible cameras, seven microSD cards, a camera mount, 19 CDs, and three laptops.
On March 14, Teton County Prosecuting Attorney Bailey Smith filed a criminal complaint against Bravo-Camacho with a felony charge of video voyeurism and a felony charge of attempted destruction of evidence.
The voyeurism charge is for installing or causing to be installed an imaging device in a place where people expect to have privacy, with the intent of personal gratification or entertainment. Smith said that there is no evidence at this time that the material was disseminated.
Officers have reviewed over 620 videos and photos of individuals using the men's and women's upstairs restrooms between sometime in 2020 and March of this year. The entire time span of the surveillance is not yet known; some of the devices are locked and some of the images and videos don't have capture dates.
On April 7 the prosecutor filed an amended criminal complaint with two additional charges of voyeurism, due to the positive identification of almost 40 individuals who were filmed in January and March of 2022. Those people have been notified.
"I want to make sure as many victims as possible are properly represented, to better reflect the number of people that were captured on camera without their consent," Smith said about the additional charges.
The penalty for each count of voyeurism is up to $50,000 and five years in jail; for destruction of evidence the penalty is $10,000 and 2.5 years in jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 13.
Broulim's CEO Robert Broulim released a statement on April 7: “Broulim’s has been working diligently and closely with law enforcement to help them with any information they need. Nothing is more important or valuable to Broulim’s Supermarkets than the safety of everyone who is involved with our stores. We make a concerted effort to implement the highest standards of safety. Broulim’s cannot make any comments on this investigation because it is an active criminal investigation. We would refer any further questions to the Teton County Sheriff’s Office.“
A Message from the Family Safety Network:
If you believe you may have been a victim of video voyeurism, it would not be unusual to experience feelings of isolation, anxiety, fear, difficulty concentrating or sleeping. Know that you are not alone and that there is help and support available. Please do not hesitate to contact Family Safety Network at (208) 354-7233. Advocates at Family Safety Network are available to offer free and confidential support, provide information on your rights as a victim, discuss how the criminal justice system works, and connect you to mental health counseling.
|
https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/freeaccess/cameras-in-broulims-restrooms-lead-to-voyeurism-charges-for-driggs-employee/article_84c79e61-d55a-5e6e-ab0f-2164434f91c4.html
| 2022-04-08T03:48:30Z
|
tetonvalleynews.net
|
control
|
https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/freeaccess/cameras-in-broulims-restrooms-lead-to-voyeurism-charges-for-driggs-employee/article_84c79e61-d55a-5e6e-ab0f-2164434f91c4.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
These projects will reduce hazardous fuels and improve wildlife habitat
Firefighters will continue prescribed fire operations this spring in Teton Canyon and on the Red Creek Prescribed Fire Project, located on Pine Creek Pass. These projects will improve wildlife habitat and manage forest vegetation. Ignition operations will start Friday, April 8, and continue into May as conditions allow. Updates will be posted to the forest’s Facebook page at USFSCaribouTarghee.
During active operations in Teton Canyon (Units 1 and 2) firefighters may be along Ski Hill and Teton Canyon Roads and smoke will be visible. For the safety of our firefighters, we ask individuals heading up the canyon to use caution and drive slowly. Short delays may be possible.
Work will continue over the next month within the Red Creek Prescribed Fire Project Area, just north of Highway 31, in the area of Pine Creek Pass (Units 9 and 10). During operations, Forest Service Trail #230 (Rocky Peak) may be affected and the public is encouraged to choose another recreation location.
Fire managers selected this timeframe to take advantage of the snowdrifts and high ground moistures to limit fire spread. Implementation of the remainder of the project unit will occur later this summer or fall. “Our overall goal is to reduce the amount of hazardous vegetation near public/private borders and to stimulate aspen regeneration to improve wildlife habitat,” said Deb Flowers, South Fork Zone Fuels Assistant Fire Management Officer.
Prescribed fire is generally implemented on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest during the spring, late summer, or fall seasons. Spring burn windows occur between snowmelt and green-up where the balance of weather and moisture is important to the success of prescribed fire activities to meet wildlife habitat and fuel reduction objectives. Fire managers will continue working in these areas as the snow recedes and more vegetation becomes available to burn.
If weather conditions do not allow for ignition, the Forest Service will continue to monitor for an extended clear weather pattern that will meet the combination of fuel moisture, temperature, wind and smoke dispersal conditions necessary for a successful operation. During any season, weather and fuel conditions are the key elements needed to safely implement prescribed fire and meet project objectives. Fire managers plan to continue prescribed fire operations later this year as conditions allow.
These important projects could not be accomplished without the support from various partners including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Habitat Trust, Idaho Department of Fish and Game and local public officials.
For more information, or to learn about the benefits of prescribed fire and the role wildfire has in the ecosystem, contact the Teton Basin Ranger District Office at 208-354-2312.
|
https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/freeaccess/firefighters-to-initiate-prescribed-fire-operations-in-teton-canyon-and-pine-creek-pass-this-spring/article_f2c3ff56-0933-543a-9350-22fcb9a54058.html
| 2022-04-08T03:48:36Z
|
tetonvalleynews.net
|
control
|
https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/freeaccess/firefighters-to-initiate-prescribed-fire-operations-in-teton-canyon-and-pine-creek-pass-this-spring/article_f2c3ff56-0933-543a-9350-22fcb9a54058.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
After almost five years of incredible leadership under Executive Director Iris Saxer, Teton Valley Community Recycling welcomes Angela Saggiomo to the role. Angela brings with her several years grant funding experience with national non-profit Local Initiative Support Corporation. Having worked at the national level, she is eager to bring her knowledge and passion for non-profit work to our local community.
Of the hiring process, TVCR Board Member and active waste reducer Deb Grove said “We were challenged to receive many high quality candidates for the ED position at TVCR presenting the good problem of who to choose... Sealing the deal is Angela’s work experience with grant administration and money management. She has excellent technical skills and her passion for TVCR’s mission is clear in conversation.” Iris Saxer will continue to stay involved as an active volunteer, helping with monthly bookkeeping and transitional training of the new leadership.
Since 1997 TVCR has been the advocate for integrated waste management, municipal composting, DEQ compliance, waste reduction and recycling in the Valley. The organization’s impact in their local community is invaluable with projects as vast as assisting the County in acquiring a baler for the transfer station in 2011 to the everyday task of educating youth in the importance of waste reduction and recycling. Additionally, TVCR has cultivated a productive working relationship with the county and RAD Curbside to expand and improve recycling and waste diversion programs for the community.
Now celebrating their 25th anniversary, TVCR’s presence can be felt throughout the Valley with programs such as the popular Bags to Benches plastic recycling, Community Backyard Composting, and their newest endeavor, Pierre’s Pedal Project. Angela is excited to continue to champion existing programs, collaborate with the county and RAD, and help businesses around the Valley find creative ways to reduce waste.
While under new leadership, TVCR’s mission remains the same; to develop ethical waste reduction solutions that are financially and environmentally sound for our community
|
https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/freeaccess/tvcr-welcomes-angela-saggiomo-as-new-executive-director/article_fcc9153d-01e7-55ff-95d9-becfa306a738.html
| 2022-04-08T03:48:43Z
|
tetonvalleynews.net
|
control
|
https://www.tetonvalleynews.net/freeaccess/tvcr-welcomes-angela-saggiomo-as-new-executive-director/article_fcc9153d-01e7-55ff-95d9-becfa306a738.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Two women who were last seen at a wedding in California found dead
RIPON, Calif. - Two women who were reported missing over the weekend were found dead Tuesday inside a car submerged in the Stanislaus River.
The two women, Alyssa Ros, 23, of Long Beach and Xylona Gama, 22, of Stockton, were last seen at a wedding Sunday night at Spring Creek Country Club.
According to the Ripon Police Department, a country club employee noticed a car submerged in the river, near the southeastern part of the golf course. Law enforcement quickly matched the vehicle to that of the missing person’s report and identified the two women.
It is unknown how the women ended up in the river; police say at this time there is no evidence of criminal activity or foul play.
Ripon police are working with the medical examiner to determine the exact cause of death.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Gursharan Kang at 209-599-0275.
Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.
Tune in to FOX 11 Los Angeles for the latest Southern California news.
Advertisement
|
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/two-women-who-were-last-seen-at-a-wedding-in-california-found-dead
| 2022-04-08T03:48:49Z
|
fox32chicago.com
|
control
|
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/two-women-who-were-last-seen-at-a-wedding-in-california-found-dead
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
No.4 seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia continues her stretch of good form on the green clay of South Carolina, advancing to the Credit One Charleston Open quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania.
After just an hour and nine minutes, World No.10 Jabeur picked up her second win in two meetings with 66th-ranked Begu. It was her second victory of Thursday; Jabeur won four points earlier in the day to finish off an interrupted second-round match against Emma Navarro.
More from Thursday in Charleston:
- Anisimova improves to 3-0 vs. Sabalenka, makes Charleston quarters
- Badosa, Bencic set up Charleston rematch; Linette upsets Fernandez
"Very long day, you know," Jabeur said afterward. "I'm glad that I finished quick in the morning. And tonight was really tricky. She was making a lot of mistakes, and then all of a sudden a lot of winners. So to kind of adapt to that kind of changes, it was a little bit tough. But I'm glad that I really won my serve at the end."
Another win under her belt today 👍@Ons_Jabeur speeds past Begu, 6-3, 6-2!#CharlestonOpen pic.twitter.com/8k7zRFTYwf
— wta (@WTA) April 8, 2022
Jabeur is 10-2 in Charleston over this season and last season. In 2021, she reached the semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open, and followed up by making the final of the WTA 250 event at the same site the next week.
Read more: 'I want to be in the Top 5': Ons Jabeur working hard to achieve her goals
Jabeur dropped serve just once in Thursday's night match, while also collecting 61 percent of points returning the Begu second serve. Begu nearly got her second break of the day in the last game of the match, but Jabeur fended off three break points in that game before closing out the win.
Leaving it ALL on the court 👏👏👏
— wta (@WTA) April 8, 2022
A fantastic performance from Anhelina Kalinina in her #CharlestonOpen debut! pic.twitter.com/FgL2RMbGbs
In the quarterfinals, Jabeur will take on Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina for the first time. Kalinina booked a spot in the quarterfinals with a 7-6(5), 7-5 win over No.12 seed Alizé Cornet of France.
Kalinina took just over two hours to earn her second upset of a seeded player this week. 42nd-ranked Kalinina shocked No.5 seed Elena Rybakina in the previous round, notching her first win over a Top 20 player in the process.
Alexandrova takes out Pliskova
Ekaterina Alexandrova swept to a 6-3, 6-1 upset of No.3 seed Karolina Pliskova in the nightcap on Credit One Stadium. The World No.54 needed just 62 minutes to earn the eighth Top 10 victory of her career.
Pliskova had beaten Alexandrova in their two previous meetings. But the Czech, who won her first match of the year this week after hand injury struggles, was unable to capture another win over Alexandrova.
Alexandrova was pristine on serve during the tilt, winning 23 of her 26 first-service points (88 percent) and never facing a break point. Alexandrova took the first break of the match at love for a 4-3 lead and eased to victory from there.
Magda Linette awaits Alexandrova in the quarterfinals. Linette, who gritted out a tough upset win over No.7 seed Leylah Fernandez earlier on Thursday, won her second three-setter of the day in the evening when she bested Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
|
https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2566913/jabeur-grabs-second-win-of-day-to-make-charleston-quarterfinals
| 2022-04-08T03:51:14Z
|
wtatennis.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2566913/jabeur-grabs-second-win-of-day-to-make-charleston-quarterfinals
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
I’ve had my ear to the ground during the nearly first quarter of the year and have aggregated the following advice and insights from organizers who have planned, produced, supported and/or marketed successful 2022 events.
1. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Understand that your event might not be the logistically flawless masterpiece that you want it to be due to elements outside of your control — like last-minute cancellations, travel and shipping delays, and labor shortages. The show must go on, so commit to doing the best you can with what you have and giving yourself extra grace.
2. Filter out the noise. You’ll likely have loud critics weighing in on all your decisions — from exercising (or abandoning) COVID-19 safety regulations to holding an event in (or moving an event from) a state that’s instituted controversial legislation, to the way you are assigning priority to exhibitors who pulled out of your last show. Stay true to your brand values and listen to the stakeholders who truly matter. And on that note …
3. Define who your event is for. If a handful of your bellwether exhibitors pull out or a few high-profile organizations say they can’t attend due to travel restrictions, ask yourself: Who is my show for, anyway? Is it only for a handful of the major brands in our space? Or do we have an obligation to stage an event that helps small- and medium-sized businesses, as well? Many organizers who had previously assumed that their show would lose its essence without the big brands present have been very happy to be wrong.
4. Redefine your event’s compelling value proposition. The Inspired Home Show created an “In Stock” program to help retailers identify suppliers who had products in stock and ready to be shipped. A new benefit of attendance is the ability to overcome supply-chain problems. And speaking of redefining things …
5. Consider redefining everything about your current event. Before we thought of our competitors as other shows that competed with ours. Now, we must broaden that definition to include a host of online options, including broad offerings like LinkedIn Learning. We know that attendees want to be actively engaged in the experience, so why not call them participants, instead? And don’t even get me started on the concept of a hybrid event. Most organizers have have realized that staging a live and virtual event simultaneously adds unnecessary layers of cost and complexity (not to mention staff burnout). Consider an omnichannel content strategy instead. Most importantly, redefine your measurements of success to be less about the numbers we, as organizers, like to talk about and more about the value we deliver to our participants.
6. Think outside the box (or booth). Have an international exhibitor who has had to cancel? Or one that’s questioning participation because supply-chain challenges are impacting their ability to fulfill orders? Find new ways to give them exposure — by turning their booth into a branded lounge or providing an alternate digital solution or sponsorship opportunity. In general, find creative, innovative ways to help your exhibitors stay connected to your event while overcoming the new set of challenges they might be facing in the current reality.
7. Increase your exposure through added PR efforts. In many markets, local media outlets are excited to report on the return of major events in their regions and the impact they are making on travel, tourism, restaurants, etc. Proactively reach out and pitch a compelling story. Work with the Exhibition and Conferences Alliance to gather stats that demonstrate the importance of events to a local market.
8. Take control of your own narrative. When there is uncertainty about whether a show will proceed and who is or isn’t exhibiting, the rumor mill kicks into gear. Tell your own story by channeling certainty into a strong message that includes what you do know about who is attending, speaking, and exhibiting and why the event is important to the industry. In addition to telling the story on your own channels, work with trusted media partners to broaden your reach.
9. Don’t underestimate the power of FOMO. Over the past several months, I’ve heard a number of exhibitors say they regret the decision not to attend an event. Their absence is giving their competitors access to buyers who are actively sourcing new suppliers — and many of these buyers have quite a bit of extra time to do so since they aren’t in meetings with their current suppliers! Ensure prospective exhibitors are aware of the message their absence will send to the industry.
10. Give more than lip service to “we’re not going back to 2019.” Many organizers are saying this while simultaneously reverting to the exact same playbook — the same floorplan, marketing tactics, event content, and formats. We go back to the past because we know it. The future is uncertain and scary — we must get comfortable being uncomfortable and taking risks to try new things.
Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes is president and chief marketing strategist of mdg, a marketing and public relations agency specializing in audience acquisition for live and online events.
|
https://www.pcma.org/10-insights-producing-event-2022/
| 2022-04-08T03:51:25Z
|
pcma.org
|
control
|
https://www.pcma.org/10-insights-producing-event-2022/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Chester Santos was flipping through television channels one night when he saw a story about the annual USA Memory Championship, a competitive event for U.S. citizens over the age of 10 that organizers bill as “an Olympiad for mental athletes.” It sparked his interest, Santos told Convene, because people had often commented on his good memory. Santos quickly learned, however, that “although I was probably above average in terms of memory to begin with, I wasn’t on the level of the top people in the country, who memorize hundreds of names or hundreds of digits perfectly in minutes,” he said.
Santos set out to find out if, through study, he could improve his memory. The answer was yes, and in 2008, Santos won the memory championship. Since then, Santos has traveled to 30 countries as an organizational trainer and conference speaker, sharing the memory-enhancing techniques he discovered. And as the world accelerates the move back to more in-person events, Santos, who calls himself the “International Man of Memory,” offered tips tailored to those who have gotten rusty at putting names to faces.
Santos first shared three basic components of memory, in the context of remembering people’s names:
- Visuals are very, very powerful. “We tend to be good at remembering things that we see,” said Santos. After we meet someone, we can often remember their face, but not their name, “because their appearance was recorded into our visual memory — a name is something much more abstract to the brain.” Santos advises that when you meet someone, try to come up with an image linked to a person’s name, to help create a visual memory of their name. For example, “if you meet someone named Mike, think of a microphone, or think of a white rabbit to remind yourself of the name ‘Alice.’”
- Involving more senses aids memory. Engaging more of your senses when you learn something activates more areas of your brain, which builds more connections in your mind and makes it easier to retrieve information, Santos said. In the example of the name “Alice,” in addition to visualizing a white rabbit, “imagine that you’re petting a white rabbit, or you can smell it,” he said.
- To remember an image, make it weird. As you imagine images and smells and sounds, “try to make all of that in some way crazily unusual and out of the ordinary,” Santos said, because there is a psychological aspect to human memory. “We tend to remember things that are extraordinary and that catch us by surprise with little or no effort.”
Keeping those principles in mind, Santos recommended four steps to follow when you are meeting people at an event:
- Repeat a person’s name and shake their hand — or elbow bump — when you meet them. “The point is to slow down long enough to pay attention to a person’s name for at least a second or two,” he said. “Start there, and the habit become second nature.”
- Early on in an interaction, ask the person a simple question using their name, Santos said. “That’s it, just one question early on — don’t use the name over and over again to where it might seem a little bit weird,” he said. But intentionally using the name of a person you just met helps reinforce it and prevents it from just going in one ear and out the other, he said.
- Take a few seconds to think of connection between the person’s name and something that you already know — “it could be a famous person, a character from a TV show or movie, or a friend or family member with the same name,” he said. “But just thinking of a connection between the name and literally anything at all you already know is going to help the name stay in your mind longer and help get it into long-term memory.”
- Finally, when you leave a conference or event, make it a point to try to say goodbye to people using their names. “That’s really going to go a long way,” Santos said, “toward helping you remember more of those names in the long term.”
Take it from someone who regularly wows audiences by being able to recall hundreds of names of audience members that he’s only met once: If you practice combining the last four steps with the first three visual components of memory, Santos said, “you actually cannot help but get better at remembering names.”
Barbara Palmer is deputy editor at Convene.
|
https://www.pcma.org/4-memory-hacks-remember-names/
| 2022-04-08T03:51:32Z
|
pcma.org
|
control
|
https://www.pcma.org/4-memory-hacks-remember-names/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
When Meryl Evans is deciding whether to watch a webinar or participate in a digital event, the first thing she considers is not the speakers or subject matter, she told an audience at Convening Leaders 2022 in January. Evans, who was born profoundly deaf, said she looks to see whether the event is captioned.
“If I look for captions first and see none, then I move on and won’t know what I’m missing — there are plenty of captioned webinars out there,” she said during the session, “Demystifying Accessibility: How to Make Sure Your Events and Experiences are Inclusive and Inviting.” Don’t make people register before they can see accessibility services like captioning, Evans advised — include that information out in front on the landing page. “People want to know this before signing up.”
Those are the kinds of insights available to planners who directly ask participants and speakers who have disabilities about the kinds of services that they need and want. Meeting organizers often make blanket assumptions about the accessibility services that participants, including speakers, will need, Evans said. One of the most common mistaken assumptions is that all deaf people know sign language, she said. Evans is one of many who do not.
“Deaf people don’t fall into neat little buckets. Not everyone can read lips or sign. Not everyone wears a hearing device. Deaf and hard of hearing folks are all different.”
Beki Winchel, PCMA’s former learning content and research developer, learned the challenges of being a lipreader firsthand when she worked with Evans in the lead-up to and on site at Convening Leaders. Evans shared that as an audience member she misses portions of presentations if the speaker moves around on stage and their face is obscured — something Winchel had not considered before Evans pointed it out.
Face masks worn to help prevent the spread of COVID present additional barriers to lipreaders. “Because Las Vegas’s mask mandate was in effect for Convening Leaders,” Winchel said, “a member of the PCMA team met Meryl and assisted her through registration, using text messages to communicate along the way.” During the Q&A portion of Evans’ session, attendees typed their questions into the JUNO virtual event app, “but a back-up moderator was prepared to take questions and repeat them,” Winchel said, “unmasked, and socially distanced near the stage.” (Read Winchel’s account of the experience, Learning Firsthand How to Make Events Accessible.)
For Everyone’s Benefit
During her presentation, Evans, a frequent speaker and certified accessibility and diversity trainer, also made a case for what she called the “business benefit” to the entire audience — not just those with current disabilities — of creating accessible and inclusive events.
People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the world, Evans said, “and it’s one that anyone can join anytime.” Alongside those who communicate their need for services, “there are many invisible disabilities” that go unreported because people fear they will lose opportunities if they disclose them, Evans said.
But even beyond those groups, accessibility and inclusion efforts benefit far more people, Evans said. She cited the “curb-cut effect,” which is the cascade of benefits that came to many more groups in addition to wheelchair users after disability advocates succeeded in making the cut — ramps that grade down from sidewalks to the adjoining street — mandatory in many places.
Download Cornell University’s accessible meeting and event checklist.
Curb cuts ended up helping many people — parents pushing strollers, travelers pulling luggage, skateboarders, bicyclists, and workers carrying heavy loads, Evans said. “They aren’t just found on street corners. You can find them at airports, grocery stores, office buildings, and many other places.”
Adding captioning to live-cast and recorded events is a great example of the curb-cut effect in action, Evans said. Closed captioning debuted in the 1970s to serve deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals — but now “80 percent of the people who use captions are not deaf or hard of hearing,” she said.
When possible, choose quality caption providers that offer participants a better experience, Evans said — for example, the option to customize their size and font. Evans reinforced that “auto-captioning will only go so far,” Winchel said. “Often it makes mistakes with names and will misinterpret phrases, so repeating and understanding context is necessary.”
People often ask Evans is if they should provide captions or transcripts — she recommends both. Unlike captions, transcripts are accessible to people who use Braille and screen readers, she said. “And captions move too fast for some people.”
There’s a “curb-cut effect” to making transcripts available to participants, Evans added. Transcripts allow all users to search a video or podcast for specific points, and also makes it easy to reuse content for articles and other formats, she said.
Considering accessibility and inclusivity from the outset in all aspects of events make things easier for both organizers and participants, Evans advised. Like discovering a missing ingredient to a batch of cookies, “you can’t add it after baking. The only way to fix it is to start over,” she said. “It costs more to fix accessibility problems than to bake accessibility in from the start.”
5 Ways to Ensure Accessibility
Accessibility and diversity trainer Meryl Evans offers the following tips:
- Starting with the most obvious, check the venue, hotel, platform, and vendors for accessibility before making selections.
- When asking speakers and participants about requirements for accessibility services, leave space to enter requests. “And — this is very important — include a deadline for submitting the request,” Evans said. “You’ll need time to make their request possible. It’s very hard to find a captioner or sign-language interpreter on short notice.”
- Provide at least two ways for participants to communicate with event and hotel staff; just giving a phone number won’t work for everyone, Evans said. “It could be a chatbot, an email address, an accessible online form,” or a video call with captions or American Sign Language (ASL). The same goes for contact info for assistance, accessibility services, and other questions — offer more than one way to reach out. And at in-person events, she added, “be sure and have pens and paper available.”
- Remember to ask your speakers how they would like to receive questions.
- Create a checklist for your speakers, including information on the things you need to do to make sure they have an excellent experience presenting and making attendees feel included.
Barbara Palmer is deputy editor at Convene.
|
https://www.pcma.org/accessibility-events-benefits-all-attendees/
| 2022-04-08T03:51:38Z
|
pcma.org
|
control
|
https://www.pcma.org/accessibility-events-benefits-all-attendees/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
We get it, you’re busy. So, the Convene editors have curated the latest tips and trends in the world of work for you. Take a look at what caught our eye this past week.
What Is Shybrid?
Remote and hybrid work have become the norm, as companies seek to strike a balance between the health and safety of employees, their desire for flexibility in their jobs and lives, and the requirements of business. And yet some employers still don’t want to let go of the idea of the traditional, five-day workweek in the office — they are, WorkLife explains, what’s come to be known as the “shybrid” boss.
There’s a Life Coach for Everything These Days
The International Coaching Federation saw a single-month record number of coaches joining in December 2021, evidence that the pandemic ramped up the need for — and interest in becoming — coaches, who partner with clients in a creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. HuffPost takes a look at the trend, including what to look for in a coach and what it takes to become one.
Study Shows Instead of Sending Emails and Texts, Consider a Conversation
There may be something to be said about the old-school style of communications at work, according to Forbes. New research from the Florida International University College of Business finds that a quick phone call or popping in an office often can be highly productive and less stressful than juggling emails, texts, and an array of communication tools, apps, and platforms.
How Interview Questions Are Changing in 2022
When the pandemic hit and many knowledge workers went home to work, organizations still needed to hire new employees and shifted to remote recruiting and onboarding. Now, writes Gwen Moran for Fast Company, things are changing again. Here are some topics and questions experts say prospective hires should be prepared to answer, from vaccination status to communication style.
|
https://www.pcma.org/career-advice-news-ideas-20220408/
| 2022-04-08T03:51:45Z
|
pcma.org
|
control
|
https://www.pcma.org/career-advice-news-ideas-20220408/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Just as it seems we may be getting over the worst of COVID — at least for the moment — the world is witnessing the horrors of Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis as Europe scrambles to help the millions of refugees escaping the war.
And as I write this, the U.S. is experiencing inflation, which climbed during February at the fastest pace in 40 years. This, of course, adds to our challenges as we remain wary about the potential for another COVID variant to cause cases to spike. But it’s important to remind ourselves that our industry has experienced other big disruptors over the past 20 years, such as 9/11, SARS, damaging hurricanes including Katrina, a financial crisis and recession, the Zika and West Nile viruses, ash clouds, and more.
It’s crises like these that bring to light the contributions our industry makes, not only our power to drive economic good, but to bring people together to solve complex issues and drive progress — something Vodafone CEO Nick Reed highlighted when he spoke to the audience at Mobile World Congress, right after the Russian invasion in Barcelona. “With the backdrop of the Ukraine war,” CNBC reported Reed said, “it’s a conference like this that reminds me of the importance of global sectors and communities like ours working together to advance society.”
COVID has given the global business events industry permission to experiment in the way we bring our members, customers, and audiences together to solve their challenges. Two years ago, we responded to COVID by bringing our face-to-face events online. We weren’t prepared, yet we may have been given a golden opportunity. We just didn’t know it at the time.
Digital and F2F are merely channels — they are not competitors. We have to think how these each can best meet our audience’s needs.
We’ve learned that nothing online can replace the experience of face-to-face networking. Early-career oncologist Andrea Anampa-Guzman recently shared how attending her first-ever ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition in person in 2019 changed her career path. With today’s technology, she told health-care website Healio, recorded sessions can be watched from home, but making contacts are invaluable benefits of in-person meetings that are lost with a virtual event.
At the same time, my biggest concern is that we will try to run back to what was — and not take the learnings from digital events to drive participant engagement. We cannot afford to have a disconnect between business event strategists and a change in consumer behavior.
As Rebecca Nunez, CEO of marketing agency MRN said in a recent Digiday article about the return of SXSW in Austin: “Industry thought leaders could never crack that code to make a live event live beyond the event. Now, here we are. In the next year or so, any physical event that has cultural currency will have to have a hybrid experience attached.”
Support for Ukraine
PCMA is among many industry associations, venues, and travel companies that have condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and contributed to the aid of Ukrainian refugees. The Convene team compiled a list of Ukraine support initiatives that, taken together, demonstrate the collective power of our industry to make a difference when we are united by a cause.
|
https://www.pcma.org/extending-reach-live-events/
| 2022-04-08T03:51:52Z
|
pcma.org
|
control
|
https://www.pcma.org/extending-reach-live-events/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
“Straight from the horse’s mouth” is an expression that grammarians think came from horse-racing circles in the early 1900s: A tipster has inside information so good that it comes straight from the horse. That’s the tack we’ve been taking with our daily curated newsletter, News Junkie, searching for articles from science and medical journals and a range of industry trade publications for insights on how potential attendees view in-person, digital, and hybrid events — to help you design your events and bring them successfully along a new course and down the home stretch.
Here are some recent takeaways:
Chemistry World touched on familiar arguments against in-person events among scientists, including the environmental impact of travel. But it also highlighted how face-to-face events are irreplaceable for making connections: A chance meeting between two researchers at a conference in Puerto Rico led to a Nobel prize-winning collaboration around Crispr gene editing. Hybrid events give the scientific community, according to the article, “the best of both worlds.”
Making those connections is especially critical to early-career physicians. In an article in health-care publication Healio, one oncologist shared how she met her future boss at a networking reception at the 2019 ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition.
A recent study published in ScienceDaily found that scientists who interact with others during assigned sessions at conferences are more likely to form productive collaborations than scientists who do not. And unlike the conclusion drawn in the two previous stories, virtual conferences were just as effective — if not more effective — at encouraging interactions and sparking collaboration than in-person events. One plausible explanation: Scientists did not have the same opportunities for informal interaction at digital events as in-person events (at networking events and over meals, for example), so they were more intentional about it.
A two-part article in Pharmaphorum explored the benefits of in-person, online, and hybrid medical conferences and predicted that in 2030, descriptions of medical society congresses may read: “A virtual, nearly carbon-neutral, multi-hub, multi-lingual, patients-included, AI-assisted congress offering state-of-the-art medical education and CME options.”
Industrial Supply Association president Brendan Breen described in an Industrial Distribution article how learnings from their 2021 virtual event led them to reimagine their upcoming April annual trade show in Houston as a leadership retreat for business execs, with mini-summits of related work- shops held online in the weeks following for the rest of their staff. “We have all had to find new ways of connecting with each other these past few years,” Breen said, which left “a permanent impression on our members. As a result, we could not simply snap back to our old model of a traditional trade show and expect everyone to return just because they missed each other. We had to provide a different experience.”
From Within
Of course, we need to learn from our own business events ecosystem to help reimagine events. In this issue, we talk to an attorney about rethinking the force majeure clause; a trade-show producer who is using data to reengineer the in-person and digital experience; convention center operators, CVB sales and marketing execs, and architects about how the venue model has changed around new expectations as a result of the pandemic; and an event director and tech provider about the use of holograms.
Michelle Russell is editor in chief of Convene.
|
https://www.pcma.org/going-outside-echo-chamber-business-events/
| 2022-04-08T03:51:59Z
|
pcma.org
|
control
|
https://www.pcma.org/going-outside-echo-chamber-business-events/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
For those who design, operate, manage, and sell space in convention centers, looking ahead is part of the job description. But the magnitude of the global disruptions and shifts in travel and work that have come about over the last two years can make it feel as if the pandemic has reinvented business events.
In Convene‘s March-April CMP Series and cover story, our editors share how seven convention centers are responding to the challenge by experimenting with new models — and doubling down on the experience of human connection.
Scroll down or click the links below to read each convention center’s story.
Seattle’s ‘Places-Where-People-Actually-Connect Spaces’
When planning began in 2015 for an expansion of the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle, the assignment given to the project’s designers, LMN Architects Seattle, was to build the convention center of the future, said Kelly Saling, Visit Seattle’s senior vice president and chief sales officer. Construction on the center began in 2018.
And then in 2020, the future changed.
Now, as Visit Seattle prepares for the expansion to open in 2023, Saling said, “we get to see if [the convention center design] is pandemic proof.” In other words, would the projections architects made about what the building’s users would want in the future hold up amid the changes brought by the last two years? “I give [LMN Architects Seattle] a lot of credit for their vision,” Saling said. Because in general, the things they predicted would be important in the future, she said, “are some of the themes that I think we’re all eager to lean into post pandemic.”
One of the trends Saling noted is the heightened importance of flexible space for collaboration. During months of the forced cancellation of in-person meetings, we’ve been forced to “sort of distill things down to what matters, to what we can do in different ways and what we can’t accomplish in those ways,” Saling said. “I think that all of our eyes are opened to what we can accomplish in the digital sphere, in a way that we wouldn’t have gotten to as quickly had it not been accelerated by need. And we’ve also learned what’s missing online — the sense of human connection and inspiration, and the ideation that comes from being together.”
One of the primary architectural features of the new building naturally lends itself to such collaboration, Saling said. It’s called the Hill Climb, a broad, oversized wooden staircase, accessible from all six levels of the building, which rises diagonally on one side of the building alongside a glass wall with a view of Puget Sound. “It’s a place to sit and mingle or to plug in your devices and get your work done,” Saling said. Like the stairwell, the center’s foyers and hallways offer more than just a way to travel from one place to another, she said. The emphasis is on “the places-where-people- actually-connect spaces and the what-happens-outside-the-class spaces.” Customers are thinking about space in new, more flexible ways, she added. “They’ll say, ‘We need three large spaces, and we need two breakouts and the rest of the space — people will use it however they use it.’”
And after two years of working from home and enduring travel restrictions, people are yearning for an authentic sense of place, she said. “People don’t want to go somewhere and feel like they haven’t been there,” Saling said. Convention centers often are built away from the center cities, where there’s space for development to be built around them. That’s not the case in Seattle. The convention center addition — which is a separate building a block-and-a-half away from the existing center — has been built in the middle of a thriving, compact downtown, she said.
It was a challenge to find a way to put the pieces together, Saling said, but the new building’s perch overlooking the Pike Place Market is one of its chief advantages, she said. The façade’s acres of glass “let in light and give you the feeling that you’re getting out into the world,” she said. The pandemic also has taught us that it’s important to “get out and breathe a little bit — you can’t just stay hunkered down in one space.” Every level in the building has natural light, and the center is surrounded by public spaces, restaurants, and retail. Plus, it’s only a seven-minute walk to the market, she said.
Saling said she sees a lot of hope on the horizon, “in the form of all we’ve learned from the pandemic about the ability to do things differently, including digitally,” she said. And we’ve learned a lot about “our yearning for connection and not just treating that as an ancillary thing,” she said. Meeting agendas in the past, by and large, have been all about content, she said. “But it’s not just content that rounds out the experience in a meaningful way.” — Barbara Palmer
Making Event Spaces Sensory Inclusive
Perhaps the silver lining in the pause on face- to-face events caused by COVID-19 has been that it has given venues a chance to think about welcoming returning visitors through a lens of inclusivity. While the COVID break might not have been what prompted the Overland Park Convention Center to focus on this, nevertheless, last year, the Overland Park, Kansas, facility decided to specifically accommodate individuals with sensory needs, such as those with autism, anxiety, dementia, and PTSD.
The center partnered with nonprofit KultureCity to become sensory-inclusive certified and the first convention center to open a KultureCity-approved sensory room for guests who are neurodivergent or have a disability. The room is in a secluded area of the building to give those experiencing sensory overload space for peace and quiet.
KultureCity, an organization that helps destigmatize conditions with sensory needs, helps venues and attractions become more welcoming and inclusive to all. The program trains venue employees on how to work with guests with sensory needs, finds appropriate “quiet zones” venues can create for guests feeling overstimulated, and provides “sensory bags” complete with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, and verbal cue cards to comfort guests who require them, as well as weighted lap pads. — Casey Gale
Gathering Around the Fire in Calgary
Because of the pandemic, much of the collaborative design work for the expansion of the BMO Centre in Calgary, Canada, scheduled to open in 2024, has taken place over Zoom. Which is a little ironic, given the fact that one of its signature elements, a 25,000-square-foot space called The Exchange, represents what Michael Lockwood, senior principal at Populous, the project’s architectural firm, called “a doubling down” on human connection.
The Exchange, conceived as a vibrant, buzzing hub for the center, is anchored by a two-story fireplace — the largest in the Canadian province. There’s also a bar and plentiful seating, “all of the ingredients to let humans come in and just be themselves — to be the creatures they are,” Lockwood said. “We’re designing a place for people to come to gather, to allow magic to happen.
“I think that the building answers questions that we’ve had over the last two years about the pandemic and what does the future of meetings look like,” Lockwood said. That conversation “always comes back to that type of space. I think it’s compelling to many people for many reasons, but it’s really doubling down on the human condition of gathering around a giant fireplace, letting conversations happen, meeting people that you didn’t expect to meet — you know, bumping into somebody. That’s why you go to conferences in the first place, to have that face-to-face interaction and human experience.”
The 560,000-square-foot expansion will double the convention center’s size, and designers have focused on stacking convention center space vertically to make room for community space around the center where visitors and locals will gather. Their design team has been inspired, Lockwood said, “by the feeling you get in a European train station, with people coming and going to a place that has a certain spirit about it.”
The building’s outlines are intentionally bold, and designed to reflect the city’s Western heritage, Lockwood said. “People don’t love buildings that are anonymous,” he said. “They love them because they can connect with them emotionally. And we’ve gone all in on the iconic design of both the exterior and interior spaces.”
Creating a sense of place is meaningful, not just for those who are at the center in person, but also for those who might be connecting to meetings remotely. “Even if I’m watching on the computer, I feel connected because there’s a place there — it’s not just an anonymous studio,” Lockwood said. “I think again, understanding the human condition and why people gather, even if you can’t be there, you want to feel like you’re there.
“Hybrid models are really hard,” Lockwood said. “Don’t make it harder by making them high-tech — make them more human by making them more meaningful.” — Barbara Palmer
Related: Our Relationship with Public Spaces Changed During the Pandemic
Making the Connection in Long Beach
When considering the changes to convention centers brought about by COVID, what comes to mind first for Bob McClintock, executive vice president, convention centers, for the Los Angeles–based venue and event management company ASM Global, is the need for them to enable digital extensions of live events that have high-production value.
Convention centers “fundamentally have to look at their ability to be connected to the outside world,” McClintock said. “I think we are reevaluating both our capabilities and our business model because it’s going to be so integral to the success of shows. It’s no longer just, ‘Let me do a handheld and just shoot it. And that’s what people will look at.’ It’s really a production now.”
McClintock pointed to Long Beach Convention Center, which is managed by ASM Global, as “a perfect example” of a destination and venue that has embraced this approach. “They actually have a production person who works with the show organizers to turn it into something that people want to engage with,” he said. “I think that’s a great example of a center and a destination that are looking ahead to what may be the next gen of our business.”
That doesn’t mean that he is “walking away from the concept of face-to-face,” he said. “We look at the two things that drive the convention and trade-show industry: the need to be face-to-face to transact business and the need to be face-to-face to become educated. Those are the two reasons we gather.”
What we’ve learned during COVID, he said, is “the importance of our children learning in a face-to-face environment. I think educators, parents — everyone — realizes that kids learn better when they’re engaged face-to-face. Adults are no different.”
McClintock thinks the addition of broadcast studios at convention centers doesn’t cannibalize the in-person event — “they’re not replacing, they’re additive,” he said. “They’re expanding the scope and reach. This could very well end up being a positive for our industry in as much as we’re not changing to be something different, we’re learning to add things to what we already are. I think it is a very exciting time, a little scary, but a very exciting time.” — Michelle Russell
Five Ways Convention Centers Will Respond to the Pandemic
In a new book, Rethinking the Way We Gather: Designing the Convention Center of the Future, Kansas City–based architectural firm Populous outlines the results of its research into how convention centers can respond to the current pandemic, as well as future health crises. Populous identified five top trends, including:
1. Public-space enhancement
- Enhanced circulation
- Additional space in lobbies
2. New spaces
- Flexible outdoor space
- Spaces designed for wellness
- Spaces designed for working away from the office
- Unique and recognizable design elements in spaces that host hybrid events
3. Improvement to touchpoints
- Antimicrobial materials
- Hands-free fixtures
- Operational response
4. Technology enhancements
- Holistic event apps
- Online registration
- Enhanced Wi-Fi
- Cashless payments
- Mobile tickets
5. Improved air quality
Getting Outside in Las Vegas
Construction for the 550,000-square-foot Caesars Forum conference facility in Las Vegas began in 2017 and wrapped up in October 2020 — in the midst of COVID. Even though it was a planned feature from the beginning, the facility’s outdoor space — the 100,000-square-foot Forum Plaza — has ended up being a big selling point in COVID times.
“That was something that customers were looking for even before COVID,” said Lisa Messina, senior vice president of sales, Caesars Entertainment. “But,” she added, “COVID amplified the request for alternative outdoor spaces that they could use for large-scale group events. Outdoor space has been very beneficial and was originally part of our plans, but I think you’re going to see that even more as a footprint [for event venues] going forward.”
Messina shared that planner requests for functions held outdoors have grown since COVID, including receptions poolside and takeovers of the LINQ Promenade, an open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment district adjacent to the Forum that is closed off to vehicular traffic.
Another trend that Messina sees as becoming even more pronounced after COVID is an event venue environment “that feels like home.” For example, the initial, pre-COVID plan to incorporate succulent walls in the Forum’s boardrooms was part of its efforts to achieve Silver LEED status. Messina said that live indoor plants featured throughout the property have become even more appreciated by groups as it’s understood that they help contribute to better air quality — something COVID has made us even more aware of.
In addition, she points out, the need for increased bandwidth at event venues — as hybrid events or digital extensions of an in-person event become more common — has become more critical. The online audience, Messina said, is “now four to five times the size of audience that it was. So, anybody who is investing in technology is going to be doing it with the mindset of not what the needs are today but anticipating those virtual extensions to be high-production quality, which is going to require that you are outfitted with the right bandwidth and the right service providers.” — Michelle Russell
Ready for a Close-up in Monterey
When Doug Phillips, the general manager for the Monterey Convention Center on California’s Central Coast, went looking for a way to provide the facility’s customers with a solution for hybrid and virtual meetings, he didn’t take any half measures.
Last summer, a 6,000-square-foot immersive studio with a wrap-around, 360-degree video wall was installed in a ballroom at the center. The studio was a leap made at the nadir of the pandemic lockdown, Phillips said, after he found himself virtually alone in the convention center. Doing something that could help customers more easily produce virtual and hybrid events was better than walking around an empty building by himself, he said. “I’m a risk-taker.”
Phillips brokered a deal with the Montreal-based Immersive Design Studio, creators of the state-of-the-art technology developed for use in esports and gaming applications, as well as events. Monterey’s studio has two screens, each with 1,100 “tiles,” which means that the images of 2,200 remote participants can be displayed at the same time. “That in and of itself is unique,” Phillips said, but the technology “also gives presenters the opportunity to spotlight a member or members of the remote audience and have a conversation with them.” The technology is easy to use, and reduces some of the costs of doing hybrid, because the backbone is already installed, Phillips said. “And the quality is comparable to a live television broadcast.”
Phillips has encouraged Convention Center staff to look at the studio as a living laboratory, where they can “try different things and see what works,” he said. One recent and successful experiment was a breakfast for past presidents that was hosted by a state human resources association. There was a table set up on the stage, where breakfast was served to 12 in-person participants. Remote participants joined via the screen.
“It was really fascinating,” Phillips said. It took a little time to educate the people who were in the studio on how to communicate with on- screen participants, “but by the end of breakfast, you had this great dialogue going on between the people that were in studio and the people who were virtual.”
Phillips plans to keep the studio experiment going, with one change. He plans to move the studio into space near, but not inside, the convention center. With in-person meetings returning to the convention center, space is at a premium. It’s a priority, he said, to regain full access to the ballroom where the studio currently is installed. — Barbara Palmer
|
https://www.pcma.org/how-convention-centers-evolving-new-events-landscape/
| 2022-04-08T03:52:05Z
|
pcma.org
|
control
|
https://www.pcma.org/how-convention-centers-evolving-new-events-landscape/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Your colleagues are on the move, find out who is going where.
Joe Heller
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) has promoted Joe Heller to senior vice president, marketing and communications. In his expanded role, Heller will lead the marketing and communications team that now includes marketing, communications, content, and partnerships. Heller has more than 15 years of marketing and communications experience. Before joining the PHLCVB in 2019, he served as vice president of brand strategy and creative content for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Tim Keough
Tim Keough has been appointed director of sales and marketing at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, part of Curio Collection by Hilton. Keough has two decades of hospitality experience and most recently worked at Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort. In his new role, Keough will lead the Scottsdale Resort’s sales, marketing, and event management initiatives while also developing new activities and special events for the resort.
Tracey Koehler and Kate Labbe
Switch has named Tracey Koehler as its new director of business development. She brings 15 years of experience in meetings and events, digital marketing, and field marketing to her new role. Koehler will be based in New York, where she will expand Switch’s reach and use her connections to grow business in the pharmaceutical sector by providing marketing solutions.
Kate Labbe has joined Switch as marketing manager. She has vast experience in the realm of digital marketing across industries, including legal, financial services, health care, sports, higher education, and nonprofits. In her new role, Labbe will help drive results tied to revenue, client acquisition, and overall brand awareness.
|
https://www.pcma.org/people-on-the-move-20220408/
| 2022-04-08T03:52:12Z
|
pcma.org
|
control
|
https://www.pcma.org/people-on-the-move-20220408/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Event organizers looking for a destination with top-tier accommodations, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, and hassle-free transportation will find all that — and the lush beauty of the Sonoran Desert — in Scottsdale, Arizona. Here are 10 reasons why planners should book their next event in this vibrant and inspirational city.
Hotels & Resorts
Planners have access to more than 70 meetings-friendly properties in the Scottsdale area, ranging from award-winning resorts and stylish, urban hotels to limited-service accommodations that will maximize their budgets.
Values, Deals & Great Rates
Stretch your program budget in Scottsdale with valuable deals and discounts during summer and shoulder season. Planners booking their meeting in the summer season can take advantage of the summer rebate promotion and save up to $5,000. With the Reward the Board rebate program, planners who book both the association’s board of directors meeting as well as the related general association meeting are able to take advantage of this tiered rebate. The more rooms booked for your general meeting, the higher the rebate applied to your meeting master bill.
Easy Airport Access
Scottsdale is a quick, 15-minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which offers nonstop service to 128 cities worldwide and more than 1,200 daily arrivals and departures.
Great Golf
Scottsdale offers more than 200 golf courses in the metro area that offer a variety of course layouts and outstanding group golf packages.
Sun and the Sonoran Desert
With more than 330 days of annual sunshine and nestled in the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale is the perfect paradise for outdoor events and activities.
Activities & Adventures
Groups can enjoy recreational options that include horseback riding, off-road tours, hiking, water sports, mountain biking, and hot-air ballooning. Area attractions include Desert Botanical Garden, Butterfly Wonderland, the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, two former homes-turned-museums — Paolo Soleri’s Cosanti and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West — and many more.
Arts & Culture
The arts take center stage in the galleries of the Scottsdale Arts District and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as on the stages of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre, and at dozens of art-centric events including the weekly Thursday night ArtWalk.
Dining & Nightlife
Award-winning dining and nightlife options at a variety of price points allow planners to add interest to their program while staying well within budget. Old Town Scottsdale is home to more than 100 restaurants, wine bars and nightclubs, with hundreds more available citywide.
Theme Event Venues
Scottsdale offers unique off-site venues for themed events and gala celebrations, including Los Cedros USA, an authentic Moroccan citadel and Arabian horse ranch, along with world-class museums, upscale Western settings, and of course, the magnificent Sonoran Desert.
Renowned Spas
Scottsdale is home to more than 50 acclaimed resorts and day spas. Meeting attendees will find opportunities to reset, recharge, and relax through traditional treatments, nutrition advice, and fitness programs, allowing them to maintain their focus on wellness as they reconnect with colleagues.
|
https://www.pcma.org/scottsdale-10-reasons-book-meeting/
| 2022-04-08T03:52:19Z
|
pcma.org
|
control
|
https://www.pcma.org/scottsdale-10-reasons-book-meeting/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Latest Videos
More Videos-
Charleston: Jabeur ousts Begu for 2nd win of the day, into QFs
2022 Charleston -
Charleston: Badosa defeats Liu for first time in 3 meetings
2022 Charleston -
Bogota: Rakhimova upsets Haddad Maia, reaches 2nd QF of 2022
2022 Bogota -
Charleston: Bencic ousts former champion Keys to make QF
2022 Charleston
Latest News
More News-
Jabeur grabs second win of day to make Charleston quarterfinals
2022 Charleston -
Badosa, Bencic set up Charleston rematch; Linette upsets Fernandez
2022 Charleston -
Credit One Charleston Open Pro-Am raises $100,000 for Ukraine relief
2022 Charleston -
Andreescu accepts Stuttgart wildcard to start 2022 season on clay
2022 Stuttgart
|
https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2566899/bogota-rakhimova-upsets-haddad-maia-reaches-2nd-qf-of-2022
| 2022-04-08T03:59:35Z
|
wtatennis.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2566899/bogota-rakhimova-upsets-haddad-maia-reaches-2nd-qf-of-2022
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Latest Videos
More Videos-
Charleston: Jabeur ousts Begu for 2nd win of the day, into QFs
2022 Charleston -
Charleston: Badosa defeats Liu for first time in 3 meetings
2022 Charleston -
Bogota: Rakhimova upsets Haddad Maia, reaches 2nd QF of 2022
2022 Bogota -
Charleston: Bencic ousts former champion Keys to make QF
2022 Charleston
Latest News
More News-
Jabeur grabs second win of day to make Charleston quarterfinals
2022 Charleston -
Badosa, Bencic set up Charleston rematch; Linette upsets Fernandez
2022 Charleston -
Credit One Charleston Open Pro-Am raises $100,000 for Ukraine relief
2022 Charleston -
Andreescu accepts Stuttgart wildcard to start 2022 season on clay
2022 Stuttgart
|
https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2566911/charleston-badosa-defeats-liu-for-first-time-in-3-meetings
| 2022-04-08T03:59:41Z
|
wtatennis.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2566911/charleston-badosa-defeats-liu-for-first-time-in-3-meetings
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Latest Videos
More Videos-
Charleston: Jabeur ousts Begu for 2nd win of the day, into QFs
2022 Charleston -
Charleston: Badosa defeats Liu for first time in 3 meetings
2022 Charleston -
Bogota: Rakhimova upsets Haddad Maia, reaches 2nd QF of 2022
2022 Bogota -
Charleston: Bencic ousts former champion Keys to make QF
2022 Charleston
Latest News
More News-
Jabeur grabs second win of day to make Charleston quarterfinals
2022 Charleston -
Badosa, Bencic set up Charleston rematch; Linette upsets Fernandez
2022 Charleston -
Credit One Charleston Open Pro-Am raises $100,000 for Ukraine relief
2022 Charleston -
Andreescu accepts Stuttgart wildcard to start 2022 season on clay
2022 Stuttgart
|
https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2566920/charleston-jabeur-ousts-begu-for-2nd-win-of-the-day-into-qfs
| 2022-04-08T03:59:47Z
|
wtatennis.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/2566920/charleston-jabeur-ousts-begu-for-2nd-win-of-the-day-into-qfs
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KCAU) – If you own an Airbnb or other home-sharing property in South Sioux City, you could soon be up for an inspection.
The South Sioux City rental inspection board has been working on this change for months. That doesn’t make Maureen Knecht, the owner of a treehouse and Hobbit-themed Airbnb in South Sioux City, any happier.
“I’m not in favor of it. I don’t think that as an Airbnb host that I would be putting anybody in danger or allowing them to stay in our places that don’t meet the standards. We’ve already gone through numerous, thousands of dollars that the city required us to do to even open them. And I don’t want to go through that again,” Maureen Knecht said.
Knecht has owned short-term rental property’s for three years and she says she has had to fork out more than $5,000 for structural inspections.
“Long term rental I understand, these people are living there. We rent it out from 4 p.m. to 11 a.m. and it’s not long-term rentals. The maximum we have is a three-day stay, and then we go in there and we clean it and we make sure everything is up to standard,” Knecht said.
The Chairman of the Rental Inspection Board says he understands Knecht’s concern but doesn’t believe home-sharing should be exempt from the protocol faced by long-term rental property owners.
“The overall goal of the entire rental inspection program was exactly that and that was to make all of our rental properties safe, secure, that they were habitable, good condition,” said Randy Meier, the Chairman of the Rental Inspection Board.
The next step for the rental board is awaiting an opinion from the city attorney on whether the ordinance should be changed. But, if the board decides to make the change, South Sioux City Council members will have the last word.
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/airbnb-owners-may-soon-be-subject-to-rental-inspections/
| 2022-04-08T04:06:10Z
|
siouxlandproud.com
|
control
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/local-news/airbnb-owners-may-soon-be-subject-to-rental-inspections/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
(The Hill) — Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in quarantine, her office announced Thursday morning.
Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill announced Pelosi’s diagnosis in a statement, saying the Speaker is showing no symptoms associated with the virus.
“After testing negative this week, Speaker Pelosi received a positive test result for COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic. The Speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided,” Hammill also wrote in a tweet.
“The Speaker will quarantine consistent with CDC guidance, and encourages everyone to get vaccinated, boosted and test regularly,” he said.
Pelosi was at the White House on Wednesday alongside President Joe Biden for the signing of a Postal Service reform bill, an event that also put her in close proximity to other party leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.).
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The announcement of her diagnosis came moments before she was scheduled to stage her weekly press conference in the Capitol, sending the gathered reporters scrambling to deliver the news. The press conference was quickly canceled.
The diagnosis also arrives as the House is preparing to leave Washington for a long 18-day recess around the Easter holiday. A number of lawmakers have scheduled overseas trips during the break, including Pelosi, who had reportedly planned to visit Taiwan on Sunday — a trip prompting threats of retaliation from Beijing.
Pelosi’s office has declined to confirm that trip, but Hammill on Thursday said a “planned Congressional delegation to Asia” has been postponed to an unspecified date.
Pelosi’s positive test comes as Democrats, after more than two years promoting strict COVID-19 public health precautions, are shifting away from those measures as the cases of the omicron variant recede around the country. From the White House, Biden is planning to remove controversial emergency restrictions on immigration, put in place by his predecessor, while Pelosi has recently relaxed mask mandates around the Capitol complex.
“We are moving past this pandemic,” Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), vice chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters earlier this week.
Still, there are clear signs that the pandemic is far from over. A number of prominent policymakers, including several of Biden’s Cabinet secretaries, tested positive for COVID-19 following their attendance at Washington’s annual Gridiron Dinner over the weekend, which Pelosi did not attend.
And Democratic leaders are pressing hard for billions of dollars more in pandemic relief to boost testing, vaccinations and other precautionary measures — a bill that stalled in the Senate on Wednesday over Republican opposition to eliminating the migrant restrictions at the Southern border.
“This pandemic is not over,” Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters Tuesday. “We’re still having people die, we’re still having people get sick. … And we can’t take our eye off the ball in making sure that we continue to help.”
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/pelosi-tests-positive-for-covid-19/
| 2022-04-08T04:06:28Z
|
siouxlandproud.com
|
control
|
https://www.siouxlandproud.com/news/national-news/pelosi-tests-positive-for-covid-19/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flies over Burnet, Texas, March 19, 2022. During the performance, Maj. Haden "Gator" Fullam, A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team pilot and commander, showcased different aerial maneuvers, including simulated gun runs, highlighting the capabilities of the A-10. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacob T. Stephens)
This work, 2022 Blue Bonnet Airshow [Image 13 of 13], by SrA Jacob Stephens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132662/2022-blue-bonnet-airshow
| 2022-04-08T04:06:40Z
|
dvidshub.net
|
control
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132662/2022-blue-bonnet-airshow
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flies over Burnet, Texas, March 18, 2022. The A-10 Demonstration Team travels around the country to different airshows to showcase the abilities of the A-10 and its Airmen, as well as their contributions to the Air Force mission and national security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacob T. Stephens)
This work, 2022 Blue Bonnet Airshow [Image 13 of 13], by SrA Jacob Stephens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132664/2022-blue-bonnet-airshow
| 2022-04-08T04:06:52Z
|
dvidshub.net
|
control
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132664/2022-blue-bonnet-airshow
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flies over Burnet, Texas, March 18, 2022. The A-10 Demonstration Team travels around the country to different airshows to showcase the abilities of the A-10 and its Airmen, as well as their contributions to the Air Force mission and national security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacob T. Stephens)
This work, 2022 Blue Bonnet Airshow [Image 13 of 13], by SrA Jacob Stephens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132665/2022-blue-bonnet-airshow
| 2022-04-08T04:06:58Z
|
dvidshub.net
|
control
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132665/2022-blue-bonnet-airshow
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flies over Burnet, Texas, March 19, 2022. During the performance, Maj. Haden "Gator" Fullam, A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team pilot and commander, showcased different aerial maneuvers, including simulated gun runs, highlighting the capabilities of the A-10. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacob T. Stephens)
This work, 2022 Blue Bonnet Airshow [Image 13 of 13], by SrA Jacob Stephens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132667/2022-blue-bonnet-airshow
| 2022-04-08T04:07:11Z
|
dvidshub.net
|
control
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132667/2022-blue-bonnet-airshow
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flies next to a P-51 Mustang over Burnet, Texas, March 19, 2022. Heritage Flights are flown with current and former U.S. Air Force aircraft that pay tribute to Airmen, past and present, for their service and dedication to ensuring national security. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacob T. Stephens)
This work, 2022 Blue Bonnet Airshow [Image 13 of 13], by SrA Jacob Stephens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132669/2022-blue-bonnet-airshow
| 2022-04-08T04:07:23Z
|
dvidshub.net
|
control
|
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7132669/2022-blue-bonnet-airshow
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
CC Sabathia still hopes former teammate Aaron Judge can work out a long-term contract extension with the Yankees.
“I would love for him to be here as a Yankee his whole career, but obviously that’s out of my tax bracket and my pay grade,” Sabathia said Thursday at MLB headquarters to announce his new role as a special assistant to commissioner Rob Manfred. “We just hope that they can get something done and [Judge] can remain a Yankee.”
Judge had set a deadline of Opening Day for a new deal, but the Yankees’ home opener against the Red Sox was postponed Thursday due to rain.
In his new league role, Sabathia will help MLB address areas such as player relations, diversity and inclusion and youth participation. The retired ace also has served as a front-office adviser to Yankees GM Brian Cashman since 2019.
“Having a chance to still have my Yankee job and do this and really be around the game, it’s something that I didn’t know I wanted when I was still playing, but now that I’m done … it means a lot to me, for sure,” Sabathia said. “I’ve been running my mouth the whole time about player relations. And I’ve been wanting our league to run like the NBA in how close [commissioner] Adam Silver is with the players and how big the players’ opinion matters in the game.
“I’ve been the biggest advocate for this type of situation, so it was either put up or shut up.”
Sabathia added that he “absolutely” plans to continue his popular “R2C2” podcast with Ryan Ruocco.
He also has been an outspoken critic of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal since their defeat of the Yankees in the 2017 ALCS. Former teammate Carlos Beltran acknowledged ahead of his debut last week as a YES Network analyst that the Astros “crossed the line.”
“I’ve read the comments, but I haven’t had a chance to see it or even talk to Los yet,” Sabathia said. “I would just love to see him get back in the game. Los is such a smart dude. I thought he’d be a great manager for the Mets; unfortunate how it went down and shook out. He was a player, and nobody else, no other players, really got in trouble.
“To see him lose his job was tough, but I just want to see him get back in the game.”
|
https://nypost.com/2022/04/07/cc-sabathia-hopes-aaron-judge-is-a-yankee-his-whole-career/
| 2022-04-08T04:08:54Z
|
nypost.com
|
control
|
https://nypost.com/2022/04/07/cc-sabathia-hopes-aaron-judge-is-a-yankee-his-whole-career/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
DOVER, Del. (AP) - Insurance companies challenging the Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy plan argued Thursday that it “eviscerates” their defense rights under policies they issued and would mean grossly inflated payments of sexual abuse claims, including tens of thousands otherwise barred by the passage of time.
The arguments came on the second day of closing arguments before a Delaware judge who must decide whether to approve the reorganization plan the BSA has negotiated to compensate tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as children in Scouting, while allowing the Boy Scouts to continue as an ongoing enterprise.
The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, petitioned for bankruptcy protection in February 2020, seeking to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a settlement trust for abuse victims. Although the organization faced about 275 lawsuits at the time, more than 82,000 sexual abuse claims have been filed in the bankruptcy case.
The reorganization plan calls for the Boys Scouts and its 250 local councils, along with settling insurance companies and troop sponsoring organizations, to contribute some $2.6 billion in cash and property and assign their insurance rights to a settlement trust fund for abuse victims. More than half that money would come from the BSA’s two largest insurers, Century Indemnity Co. and The Hartford. Those companies would contribute $800 million and $787 million, respectively.
In exchange for those contributions, those parties would be released from further liability for sexual abuse claims dating back decades.
But several other insurance companies, many that issued excess coverage polices to the BSA, are opposing the plan. They argue, among other things, that the proposed “base matrix,” or starting claim values for various types of abuse - ranging from penetration to abuse not involving physical contact - are not consistent with the BSA’s pre-bankruptcy abuse settlements and litigation results, as the Boy Scouts and plan supporters contend.
Richard Doren, an attorney for non-settling insurers, noted Thursday that the BSA’s own expert found that the average pre-bankruptcy settlement value for a penetration claim involving a one-time abuser was $212,500, and that about 90% of penetration claim settlements before the bankruptcy were for $300,000 or less.
Nevertheless, the BSA expert, Charles Bates, has estimated the value of a penetration claim in the bankruptcy case to be between $600,000 and $2.7 million.
“The base matrix amounts are inflated across the board and have no basis in reality,” Doren said.
Doren noted that Bates has testified that the base matrix assumes a high degree of institutional responsibility by the BSA that would not be present in single-victim abuser claims. Bates concluded that about 87% of the claims involve allegations of a single abuser, and should be discounted by an average of 90%, Doren said. Such a discount would result in a typical value for a single-abuser penetration claim of $60,000, not $600,000.
The opposing insurers also take exception to the trust distribution procedures, or TDPs, for evaluating and paying claims, and the findings that the BSA and plan supporters are asking the judge to make. They fear that the procedures and findings would result in individual awards that would be binding on insurers and would set a precedent that tort lawyers would use to their advantage in future coverage litigation and try to extend to other court cases.
“This idea of binding TDPs or litigated TDPs is a ‘Holy Grail’ that the mass tort lawyers have been chasing for many years, and it has never been approved,” Doren said, quoting from a July 2021 email sent by a claimants attorney who opposed a previous version of the BSA’s plan but supports the current version.
“In this case, your honor, the claimants groups are in fact pursuing that Holy Grail, with an assist from the debtors,” Doren said. “The plan before this court fails to properly preserve the certain insurers’ contractual rights and in fact contains unnecessary and prejudicial findings.”
Judge Laura Selber Silverstein has herself repeatedly questioned plan supporters on what provisions of the bankruptcy code would apply to the findings they want her to make.
Among those requested findings is that the plan was proposed in good faith, and that the procedures for compensating victims provide for a fair and equitable settlement of their claims. The BSA and plan supportes also want Silverstein to find that the proposed starting claim values for various types of abuse - ranging from penetration to abuse involving no physical contact - are based on, and consistent with, the BSA’s pre-bankruptcy abuse settlements and litigation results.
“I’ve never had a confirmation hearing that had these kinds of contested findings in them,” Silverstein said near the end of Thursday’s hearing. ”.... It runs contrary to the way I normally make findings, which is hear the evidence and I make the findings based on the evidence I hear. Nobody tells me what findings to make.”
Closing arguments resume Monday.
|
https://www.wboc.com/news/opposing-insurers-challenge-proposed-bsa-reorganization-plan/article_e1b87b06-b6e4-11ec-8590-6f713aa1b8a3.html
| 2022-04-08T04:09:26Z
|
wboc.com
|
control
|
https://www.wboc.com/news/opposing-insurers-challenge-proposed-bsa-reorganization-plan/article_e1b87b06-b6e4-11ec-8590-6f713aa1b8a3.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
SALISBURY, Md. - The Maryland General Assembly passed the Police Accountability Act in April of 2021, despite a veto from Governor Larry Hogan.
The act does a number of things including establishing a loan assistant program for police officers, which helps repay student loans for officers who went to a Maryland public college or university.
It also requires the training and standards commission to react to 'use of force' violations. Also under the act, each Maryland county must establish a Police Accountability Board.
The changes from this act go into effect on July 1. Wicomico County is working on forming the required accountability board.
Tuesday night, the council heard from the community about it. People have mixed feelings about this legislation.
It was inside of the Wicomico County Council Chambers in Salisbury where county leaders spoke with community members about the establishment of its Police Accountability Board.
The board would essentially work with law enforcement to handle policies and disciplinary action stemming from public complaints about police misconduct.
President of Salisbury University's NAACP Chapter, Dorien Rogers, attended the meeting. Rogers says he's hoping to see change.
"Diversity and a plethora of different representation is important on the board,” he says.
Rogers also says the board must show transparency.
"Making sure they're communicating when it comes to the cases their overseeing. Making sure its in writing. Making sure that its acceptable to all people."
While some community members want to see these reforms adopted immediately, Wicomico County Sheriff, Mike Lewis, tells WBOC this new process will be more difficult than it seems.
“I just thinks it's absolutely unnecessary. I think it's not needed but it doesn't matter what I think. If something was passed by Annapolis, we now have to proceed forward,” he says.
Lewis says this new process will make it tougher to weed out what he calls rogue officers.
"This is something we tried to explain to lawmakers however they were determined to pass legislation based on their emotions."
Sheriff Lewis says he has reached out to lawmakers to ask for an extension to October 1.
|
https://www.wboc.com/news/wicomico-county-council-consider-police-accountability-board-legislation/article_6fa9a660-b6d1-11ec-9f3d-77e780f97bb7.html
| 2022-04-08T04:09:32Z
|
wboc.com
|
control
|
https://www.wboc.com/news/wicomico-county-council-consider-police-accountability-board-legislation/article_6fa9a660-b6d1-11ec-9f3d-77e780f97bb7.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
OMAHA, Neb. — The spread of a bird flu that is deadly to poultry raises the grisly question of how farms manage to quickly kill and dispose of millions of chickens and turkeys.
It's a chore that farms across the country are increasingly facing as the number of poultry killed in the past two months has climbed to more than 24 million, with outbreaks reported nearly every day. Some farms have had to kill more than 5 million chickens at a single site with a goal of destroying the birds within 24 hours to limit the spread of the disease and prevent animals from suffering.
"The faster we can get on site and depopulate the birds that remain on site, the better," Minnesota State Veterinarian Beth Thompson said.
The outbreak is the biggest since 2015, when producers had to kill more than 50 million birds. So far this year, there have been cases in 24 states, with Iowa the hardest hit with about 13 million chickens and turkeys killed. Other states with sizable outbreaks include Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Indiana.
Farms faced with the need to kill so many birds turn to recommendations by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Even as it has developed methods to kill the poultry quickly, the association acknowledges its techniques "may not guarantee that the deaths the animals face are painless and distress free." Veterinarians and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials also typically oversee the process.
One of the preferred methods is to spray water-based firefighting foam over birds as they roam around the ground inside a barn. That foam kills the animals by cutting off their air supply.
When foam won't work because birds are in cages above the ground or it's too cold, the USDA recommends sealing up barns and piping carbon dioxide inside, first rendering the birds unconscious and ultimately killing them.
If one those methods won't work because equipment or workers aren't available, or when the size of a flock is too large, the association said a last resort is a technique called ventilation shutdown. In that scenario, farmers stop airflow into barns, which raises temperatures to levels at which the animals die. The USDA and the veterinary association recommend that farmers add additional heat or carbon dioxide to barns to speed up the process and limit suffering by the animals.
Mike Stepien, a spokesman for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said the techniques are the best options when it's necessary to quickly kill so many birds.
"State animal health officials and producers carefully weigh the different options to determine the best option for humane depopulation and do not make such decisions lightly," Stepien said.
Not everyone agrees.
Animal welfare groups argue that all these methods for quickly killing birds are inhumane, though they are particularly opposed to ventilation shutdown, which they note can take hours and is akin to leaving a dog in a hot car. Animal rights groups delivered a petition last year signed by 3,577 people involved in caring for animals, including nearly 1,600 veterinarians, that urged the veterinary association to stop recommending ventilation shutdown as an option.
"We have to do better. None of these are acceptable in any way," said Sara Shields, director of farm animal welfare science at Humane Society International.
Opponents of the standard techniques said firefighting foam uses harmful chemicals and it essentially drowns birds, causing chickens and turkeys to suffer convulsions and cardiac arrest as they die. They say carbon dioxide is painful to inhale and detectible by the birds, prompting them to try to flee the gas.
Karen Davis, of the nonprofit group United Poultry Concerns, urged the veterinary association to stop recommending all of its three main options.
"They're all ways that I would not choose to die, and I would not choose anybody else to die regardless of what species they belong to," Davis said.
Shields said there are more humane alternatives, such as using nitrogen gas but those options tend to be more expensive and could have logistical challenges.
Sam Krouse, vice president of Indiana-based MPS Egg Farms, said farmers feel miserable about using any of the options.
"We pour our lives and livelihoods into taking care of those birds, and it's just devastating when we lose any of those birds," Krouse said. "Everything that we're doing every day is focused on keeping the disease out and making sure that we're keeping our hens as safe as possible."
Officials emphasize that this virus that's spread primarily through the droppings of infected wild birds doesn't threaten food safety or represent a significant public health threat. Sick birds aren't allowed into the food supply and properly cooking poultry and eggs kills any viruses that might be present. And health officials say no human cases of bird flu have been found in the United States during this current outbreak.
Once poultry are dead, farmers must quickly dispose of the birds. They usually don't want to risk the chance of spreading the virus by transporting the carcasses to landfills, so crews typically pile the birds up into huge rows inside barns and combine them with other materials, such as ground up corn stalks and sawdust to create a compost pile.
After a couple weeks of decomposition, the carcasses are converted into a material that can be spread on cropland to help fertilize crops. In some cases, carcasses are buried in trenches on the farm or incinerated.
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/bird-flus-grisly-question-how-to-kill-millions-of-poultry/article_000710e7-8926-57d6-aadf-3c5249279f2f.html
| 2022-04-08T04:18:55Z
|
lockportjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/bird-flus-grisly-question-how-to-kill-millions-of-poultry/article_000710e7-8926-57d6-aadf-3c5249279f2f.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
ALBANY — A New York appeals judge said he will "likely" rule Friday on whether to continue blocking a lower court ruling that declared the state's new congressional and legislative district maps unconstitutional.
New York's electoral landscape was thrown into question last week when a Republican trial court judge ordered the state's Democrat-controlled legislature to redraw the district boundaries.
State Judge Patrick McAllister gave state officials only until April 11 to submit new maps, saying the districts they had drawn up were illegally gerrymandered to favor Democrats.
The ruling came even as candidates have begun campaigning in the disputed districts ahead of a June party primary.
State Appellate Division Justice Stephen K. Lindley has already issued a temporary stay on that ruling. He said he would decide sometime after Thursday's hearing whether to leave the stay in place for now, pending more legal action in the weeks ahead.
He could also lift the stay, which would put state lawmakers on an incredibly tight deadline to come up with new maps. McAllister has said if lawmakers don't meet his deadline, he would appoint his own expert to draw up new maps. The state would likely cover the cost of a special master. Courts sometimes designate an attorney not directly involved with a case, known as a special master, to address such concerns.
Lawyers for the Assembly and Senate argued Thursday that the ruling should be blocked for at least 30 days, and criticized the trial judge's decision to strike down largely uncontroversial Assembly maps.
Meanwhile, a lawyer for the Republican voters demanded that lawmakers or a court master start working up new maps soon.
Lindley said his primary concern is ensuring New York is ready if appellate judges agree that the new Congressional maps — and potentially Senate maps — are unconstitutional and must be redrawn.
"Voters going to go the polls on unconstitutional districts, that's something to be avoided at all costs," Lindley said.
Lindley said that back-up maps could be tossed if the appellate court decides the contested maps pass constitutional muster. He said New York could hold its federal primary as late as around August 23 or 24.
"Everyday matters and time is of the essence here and ... the work needs to get started now," Lindley said. "And a pause of even two weeks might be the difference between having an election this year in August on constitutional districts or having an election on unconstitutional districts."
Thursday's hearing likely won't be the final word on the main issue: whether the new maps are so politically biased toward Democrats that they violate the state constitution.
The arguments are "just a skirmish along the way," according to former U.S. Rep. John Faso, a Republican who has been helping muster support for the lawsuit challenging the maps' legality.
A hearing for more arguments has already been scheduled for April 20.
Meanwhile, candidates faced a Thursday deadline to submit petition signatures they need to appear on the ballot in the primary.
Sen. Mike Gianaris, a Queens Democrat, said this week said he and the New York Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment are not working on new maps.
"We are confident that we've drawn maps that will withstand scrutiny," Gianaris said Tuesday on the news program 'Capital Tonight.'
Legislative and congressional boundaries are being redrawn as part of the once-per-decade redistricting process kicked off by the 2020 Census.
The congressional boundaries passed by the Legislature could expand Democrats' power: Democrats would make up a strong majority of registered voters in 22 of the 26 congressional districts the state will have in 2023.
Republicans, who now hold eight of New York's 27 seats in Congress, would only have an advantage in four districts.
Democrats have argued the new maps undo decades of gerrymandering by Senate Republicans, and that all maps reflect years of population loss in upstate communities once considered Republican strongholds.
Republicans, and some non-partisan voters rights groups, argue that Democrats went too far to create meandering Congressional districts that violate a 2014 state constitutional amendment banning drawing maps "for the purpose of favoring or disfavoring incumbents or other particular candidates or political parties."
Voters in 2014 also tasked a politically appointed commission with drawing up the maps.
That commission failed to come to consensus on a single set of maps this year, leaving the job to lawmakers.
Lindley on Thursday said "everyone would agree" the commission was set up to fail.
"Everybody knew it, it was obvious," he said. "It was set up that it was going to be a stalemate "
So far this cycle, courts have also intervened to block maps they found to be GOP gerrymanders in North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and a Democratic gerrymander in Maryland.
The highest court in North Carolina pushed back March election primaries until May to provide time for state courts to review lawsuits claiming the Republican-controlled legislature illegally gerrymandered some districts.
In Ohio, state legislative races are delayed amid a legal fight over gerrymandering.
The state hasn't settled on of district boundaries long enough for them to be used for making ballots: The Republican-led Legislature has repeatedly approved maps that the Ohio Supreme Court has found unconstitutionally drawn to unduly favor Republicans.
And in Maryland, the Court of Appeals delayed the state's primary for all elections from June 28 to July 19.
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/decision-looms-on-new-yorks-redrawn-electoral-maps/article_93180026-96aa-5b78-ae13-878d180b67f5.html
| 2022-04-08T04:19:01Z
|
lockportjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/decision-looms-on-new-yorks-redrawn-electoral-maps/article_93180026-96aa-5b78-ae13-878d180b67f5.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
NEW YORK — A federal judge rejected Girl Scouts' claims Thursday that the Boy Scouts created marketplace confusion and damaged their recruitment efforts by using words like "scouts" and "scouting" in recruitment drives.
Manhattan Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein ruled the Boy Scouts of America can describe their activities as "scouting" without referring to gender and that the matter does not need to be put to a jury.
Hellerstein said his written decision caps a "serious, contentious and expensive" litigation and necessitates dismissal of the lawsuit brought by the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
"In truth, Girl Scouts' complaint is based, not on concern for trademark confusion, but on fear for their competitive position in a market with gender neutral options for scouting," Hellerstein wrote. "Though Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts may now compete more than they once did, neither organization can preempt the other's use of the Scout Terms and their trademarks are not likely to be confused."
The lawsuit was filed in late 2018, a year after the Boy Scouts announced that boy scouting and cub scouting would be open to girls, leading the organizations to compete for members after social trends and a rise in sports league participation drove down membership for decades. The pattern worsened when the pandemic hit.
"The Boy Scouts adopted the Scout Terms to describe accurately the co-ed nature of programming, not to confuse or exploit Girl Scouts' reputation," Hellerstein wrote. "Such branding is consistent with the scout-formative branding Boy Scouts has used for a century, including in its co-ed programs that have existed since the 1970s."
The term "scout" is descriptive of both the Boy Scouts' and Girl Scouts' programming, the judge wrote.
"The Boy Scouts' decision to become co-ed, even if it affects Girl Scouts' operations, does not demonstrate bad faith," the judge added.
Hellerstein's decision comes while the Boy Scouts are in bankruptcy proceedings in Delaware that began in February 2020. The Irving, Texas-based organization sought bankruptcy protection after it was named in hundreds of lawsuits brought by individuals claiming they were molested by scout leaders as minors.
The Girl Scouts said it was "deeply disappointed" in the decision and will appeal.
"This case is about ensuring that parents are not misled into thinking that Girl Scouts are part of or the same as the Boy Scouts," the organization said in a statement.
In a statement, the Boy Scouts said the ruling had vindicated its position.
It noted that 305,000 girls are currently enrolled in its programs and that since full participation was permitted beginning in 2019, more than 2,200 females have become Eagle Scouts.
It said it "looks forward to welcoming more girls into our positive, life changing programs."
In his decision, Hellerstein wrote that he was siding with the Boy Scouts in part because the Girls Scouts cannot prove that a likelihood of confusion was caused by the Boy Scouts' use of the term "scout."
He said the Girl Scouts had cited instances of parents confusing the two organizations. But he added that the choice to join one organization or the other is made after several interactions with the organization, by children's desires to join a group siblings or friends have joined, or other factors unrelated to trademarks and branding.
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/judge-tosses-girl-scouts-suit-vs-boy-scouts/article_4696adcc-9245-55c8-a8f9-89bd8c715d65.html
| 2022-04-08T04:19:07Z
|
lockportjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/judge-tosses-girl-scouts-suit-vs-boy-scouts/article_4696adcc-9245-55c8-a8f9-89bd8c715d65.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
RANSOMVILLE — A barn burned on Randall Road and several chickens, ducks, pigs and goats were lucky to escape with their lives on Thursday.
Alexis Kasprzak said she was alerted to the fire about noon when a neighbor knocked on her door. Immediately, she ran to the burning structure and opened the door so that the animals could escape.
Wilson Fire Company No. 1 Chief Jeff Monroe said all the animals were saved and his crew, with assistance from South Wilson company volunteers, brought the fire under control shortly after they arrived on the scene.
Kasprzak has been living in the home owned by her grandfather since her father died; she grew up there with animals, she said. After moving in, she gave up the animals and quickly began to miss them, so she got some new ones. Now she's not sure what to do with them, since their home is ruined.
Kasprzak admitted she's embarrassed by the fire, which she thinks was caused by a heat lamp.
"I was just going to move those heat lamps, because of the weather," she said.
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/animals-safe-after-barn-fire-in-ransomville/article_aac35f33-e23d-5dd0-9de2-1646a3f7a4dd.html
| 2022-04-08T04:19:14Z
|
lockportjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/animals-safe-after-barn-fire-in-ransomville/article_aac35f33-e23d-5dd0-9de2-1646a3f7a4dd.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
ALBANY — With statewide elections looming, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday an emerging deal on the $220 billion state budget will allow judges to jail defendants charged with specified firearms and hate crimes, and slash 16 cents off state taxes on every gallon of gasoline pumped from June 1 through the end of the year.
The plan also commits a record sum for public schools — $31.5 billion. Hochul said another $125 million would fund full-day pre kindergarten programs.
But the most politically contentious issue — bail — has been fueled by a spike in violent crimes and the headlines that accompany deadly gunplay.
"To the New Yorkers who are concerned about the rise in crime, we have put forth a comprehensive package that continues the progress we've made in the past to make sure our criminal justice system is fair," Hochul said.
She said her administration has reached a "conceptual agreement" with the Legislature on the spending plan. However, it was not immediately clear when lawmakers will vote on the budget bills that also include a controversial $600 million state subsidy for a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills.
In grappling with the public safety crisis, Hochul said her administration is taking a compromise approach that recognizes the position of legal aid lawyers and others who worked to reduce the number of individuals subject to pretrial detention in New York.
The governor said: "We're not here to undo the progress that was made in the past. Never been my objective, never will be. But I also said we have to realize there are areas where improvements can and need to be made."
Specifically, the package to be voted on will include a change in the evidence discovery law that shuts loopholes resulting in "the unnecessary dismissal of too many cases," Hochul said.
Hochul said her plan would allow bail to be set for individuals charged with repeat property offenses and close what she called "the desk appearance loophole." Hochul said there will be "limited exceptions for crimes of poverty."
Also planned are changes to what is known as the Raise the Age law, which took many 16- and 17-year-old defendants out of the criminal courts and put them in Family Court. Hochul suggested more young defendants will face criminal sanctions for the crimes they commit.
The association representing county district attorneys signaled it had no immediate comment on the deal announced by Hochul, pointing out legislative bills to accomplish them had not been printed.
State GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy attacked Hochul's criminal justice plan, saying it falls short of what is needed to protect communities. "They failed to do what’s necessary to fix the public safety nightmare they created," Langworthy said.
Hochul's rival for the Democratic nomination for governor, Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-Long Island, also ripped the tardy spending outline, now a week past its legal deadline.
"Instead of using this opportunity to lower taxes, reduce crime and make New York more affordable, Kathy Hochul is showing her inexperience by botching the budget process and saddling New Yorkers with billions more in spending, including the biggest tax give away in NFL history to build a new Bills stadium," Suozzi said.
As for the gas tax, Hochul said the amount of relief from temporarily cutting state taxes would result in about $585 million worth of relief for consumers. Her administration is also coaxing county governments to take similar steps with their share of sales taxes, she said.
The spending plan taking shape is a mixed bag for environmental activists. On one hand, they were left disappointed when Hochul could not advance her plan to require new buildings beginning in 2027 to use only electricity for energy needs, an initiative that would have made New York the first state to prohibit new hookups for natural gas and heating oil.
On the other, Hochul said the budget will include a $4 billion environmental bond act, subject to voter approval, designed to address the state's need for climate change resiliency.
Associations representing restaurants and taverns got their wish when Hochul announced the budget would allow the sale of "drinks to go" from establishments, as long as those buying the alcoholic drinks also pay for an item of food.
With the home health industry beset by a significant staffing shortage stemming from low pay, Hochul said the spending plan would provide those workers with an additional $3 per hour. But advocates for the aides said that amount is woefully inadequate to address the fact that many now only earn $13.20 per hour, the upstate minimum wage. An earlier budget plan advanced in the Assembly and Senate would have put hourly pay at about $22.50.
Since a final agreement on the entire budget has not been hammered out, Ron Deutsch, director of the progressive advocacy group New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, said he was "cautiously optimistic" about a planned "database of deals" that would list all of the state subsidies for economic development in a searchable format.
"We're hoping this is not watered down to the point that this is not an effective tool," Deutsch said. "We really think the public has a right to understand how billions of dollars in economic development spending is being doled out and to whom. We also need to determine whether or not we're getting a good return on the investment."
Republicans called the level of spending in Hochul's plan excessive.
"I cannot see how we can continue to sustain this kind of spending trend year after year," said Assembly Member John Salka, R-Madison County. "The revenues are just not going to be able to keep up with expenditures. If we keep going in this direction, we're going to spend our way into the poorhouse."
The budget deal also includes:
— $1.2 billion for frontline health care worker bonuses. Those payments amount to a "debt of gratitude" for work done during the pandemic, Hochul said.
— The creation of a new ethics and corruption-fighting commission to replace the current one, with Hochul saying law school deans would have input on approving its members. However, reform groups have been chilly to the proposal, arguing they want one that is more independent from elected officials.
— An increase in reimbursement rates for child care providers.
— Accelerating the siting process for proposed casinos in the New York City metropolitan region.
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/bail-law-changes-gas-tax-cut-advance-in-tentative-budget-deal/article_44143b4e-7e63-5a38-a77d-b2d3f8e9dd34.html
| 2022-04-08T04:19:20Z
|
lockportjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/bail-law-changes-gas-tax-cut-advance-in-tentative-budget-deal/article_44143b4e-7e63-5a38-a77d-b2d3f8e9dd34.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
The newest addition to the Lockport Fire Department fleet got its first test drive Thursday afternoon.
Once a Lockport Police cruiser, in LFD's possession the vehicle is now a fly car, a fully equipped medical unit that will be used to bring EMTs and paramedics to the scene of any emergency medical service call in the city.
A fly car basically is an ambulance without the bed and its advantages are three-fold: it’s easier to maneuver on city streets, it can bring medically trained firefighters to an emergency scene with the necessary medical equipment already inside, and it eliminates the need to send a fire truck to every call, thereby reducing wear and tear on the trucks.
Interim Fire Chief Luca Qualiano was showing the vehicle, which bears the moniker M-63 for Medical-63, to this reporter at the fire station when a call came in. M-63 was ready for duty and two firefighters quickly got inside and headed out to handle an emergency medical call.
“This is them going on a call,” Quagliano said as the crew got inside and he took the plug off the “kussmaul charger.” Quagliano noted M-63 is gas-powered but when it's not in use it's plugged in to keep its electrical components fully charged.
“When it’s sitting at the building, you can plug it into any outlet and it will charge your battery,” he said. “We have outlets inside the vehicle that we have tools and equipment plugged into. So it charges their batteries while it's sitting in the shop here.”
As the fly car sped off with its lights activated, Quagliano gave some background on the vehicle and his department.
“Prior to yesterday … that would’ve been a 50,000 pound fire engine responding to that call," he said. “In lieu of continuing to put additional stress and wear and tear on a $700,000 vehicle, the police department gave us this retired police vehicle that we were able to transform into an EMS first response vehicle. Now all first line EMS calls are being taken with the fly-car rather than an engine.”
Contents of the fly car includes a cardiac monitor, a defibrillator and medications. When it's in use, it's staffed by two trained firefighters, at least one of whom at least is a paramedic.
Quagliano recalled that in 2014, LFD lost some firefighting positions to layoff and shift manning was decreased to six firefighters from nine.
“The ladder truck was out of service and they eliminated the ambulance service,” he saidm and at that point LFD could only run two engines with the ladder truck on standby for second-alarm calls, if enough off-duty personnel could be rounded up.
“We could’ve taken a smaller vehicle then, but the argument was, ‘If you’re out of the building on another call and a structure call comes, now you’re forced back to headquarters to pick up a fire truck,’” he said. “Why make that delay? It was more efficient just to send the fire trucks with the medical equipment.”
Since minimum shift manning has increased to eight, LFD has enough personnel to run all fire trucks as well as M-63, according to Quagliano.
“We can continue to get everything to the scene appropriately,” he said. “Since we’ve had that additional manpower come on, it’s given us the ability to run this now.”
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/lfd-puts-m-63-on-the-road/article_b896bf9f-37a0-57c8-83d0-7c0577275ecd.html
| 2022-04-08T04:19:26Z
|
lockportjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/lfd-puts-m-63-on-the-road/article_b896bf9f-37a0-57c8-83d0-7c0577275ecd.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
ALBANY — New York lawmakers are meeting Thursday to discuss last-minute policy and spending disagreements that have held up passage of the state budget nearly a week past an April 1 deadline, including the potential expansion of a law for people with mental illnesses.
Remaining issues that have stymied the budget's passage range from the specifics of an environmental clean-up program to continued debate over criminal justice reforms, like a potential rollback of New York's bail law. The Assembly and Senate planned to hold conferences starting around 10 a.m. Thursday.
Advocacy groups representing New Yorkers with mental illness chastised elected officials for hashing out a potential expansion of a court-ordered treatment law behind-the-scenes without a chance for public input.
Thousands of New York residents are treated each year under Kendra's Law, which requires those facing serious mental illness to attend outpatient psychiatric treatment as a condition for living in the community. Patients who don't comply face up to 72 hours in a state facility.
New York passed that law on a trial basis in 1999, when 32-year-old Kendra Webdale was pushed in front of a subway train by a man living with untreated schizophrenia. The law's set to expire June 30 unless lawmakers grant yet another extension.
The effort to tweak the law now comes in the wake of the death of another woman pushed in front of a subway train in January — 40-year-old Michelle Alyssa Go of New York, who was of Asian descent and was known for volunteering to help homeless and other vulnerable communities. Police said the man accused of fatally shoving her was homeless and had a history of "emotionally disturbed encounters."
The specifics of what the latest proposal would be is unclear, but advocates and lobbyists who are following negotiations in Albany say they're worried that Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers could end up allowing people with mental illness to be held involuntarily in hospitals indefinitely under orders that could be renewed without court proceedings.
Ruth Lowenkron, director of the Disability Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, said she's concerned that lawmakers will weaken due process protections under Kendra's Law and expand it to New Yorkers living with disabilities or people who lack housing.
"This over reliance on criminalizing mental health and on involuntarily commitment creates more trauma for individuals with mental health," Lowenkron said.
"The proposal in New York is grossly out of depth with the law around the country," Ira Burnim, legal director of the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, D.C., said.
Lowenkron and Burnim said they support expanding Kendra's Law for another five years, but said lawmakers should focus on spending more money on voluntary, community-based services.
Sen. George Borrello, a Republican of Central New York who has sponsored a bill to expand Kendra's Law, said he's unaware of the specifics of budget negotiations and would rather have lawmakers hold a separate debate on the bill.
But he said he's frustrated by advocates' opposition.
"We need to give our healthcare professionals the ability to hold people longer so they can evaluate them if someone is in violation" of their assisted outpatient treatment order, Borrello said.
He said Go's death has spurred calls for reform of Kendra's Law, which he said isn't used enough.
"72 hours is not enough to make sure someone is stabilized, and if you're not able to care for yourself and provide basics like food, shelter that should be considered evidence that you are a danger to yourself and others and you should be held for that reason," Borrello said.
Hochul and legislative leaders have been negotiating for months on the budget, which has often served as a vehicle for passage of major policy legislation over the decades. Budget negotiations in New York once stretched into summer months and shortened under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration — though last year's budget passed April 7.
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/ny-budget-held-up-over-policy-spending-mental-health-law/article_c4232884-400d-558d-a3f8-cbeaddec1411.html
| 2022-04-08T04:19:32Z
|
lockportjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/ny-budget-held-up-over-policy-spending-mental-health-law/article_c4232884-400d-558d-a3f8-cbeaddec1411.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
RALEIGH, N.C. — Sebastian Aho and Jordan Staal each scored two goals and the Carolina Hurricanes rallied from a pair of two-goal deficits to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-3 and clinch a playoff berth Thursday night.
Aho’s go-ahead goal came with 8:21 remaining, propelling the Hurricanes to the 100-point mark (46-17-8) for the just the second time in franchise history. They have 11 games remaining.
Teuvo Teravainen also scored for the Hurricanes, while Staal’s second goal was an empty-netter with 54.3 seconds to play. Andrei Svechnikov delivered passes on both of Aho’s goals and Seth Jarvis also was credited with two assists. Antti Raanta stopped 18 for his first victory since March 26.
Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Victor Olofsson scored for the Sabres, who lost in regulation for the second time in last 11 games. Former Hurricanes standout Jeff Skinner set up Buffalo’s first two goals with pinpoint passes. Craig Anderson made 27 saves.
The Sabres were in their first game since they were officially eliminated from playoff contention while idle Wednesday night, stretching their postseason drought to an NHL-record 11 seasons.
Staal tied the game at 5:12 of the third period to start a three-goal period for Carolina.
Skinner’s back-handed pass from along the boards found Thompson in ideal position heading toward the net for a 1-0 lead 3:49 into the game. Buffalo struck again less than three minutes later with Skinner feeding Tuch right in front of the net.
That gave the Sabres two goals on their first two shots of the game. They were outshot 12-6 in the first period.
The Hurricanes took their turn with a nifty goal when Aho converted off Svechnikov’s pass.
That didn’t result in momentum because the Sabres had another goal 30 seconds later, with Olofsson taking Casey Mittelstadt’s pass in front of the net and beating Raanta.
Teravainen’s unassisted goal late in the second period pulled Carolina within one.
This was a rematch of Buffalo’s 4-2 win Tuesday night at home.
GOALS GUYS
The top goal scorers for both teams found the net. Aho has 33 goals after his seventh two-goal game of the season. It was his first multi-goal outing since Feb. 10 at Boston. Thompson notched his 32nd goal of the season, increasing his career-high total.
CRANK IT UP
Just three nights after playing in the NCAA men’s basketball championship game, Brady Manek of North Carolina cranked the siren as the Hurricanes took the ice prior to the game. The team often has celebrity guests handle that honor. North Carolina beat rival Duke in the Final Four semifinals before falling to Kansas in Monday night’s title game in New Orleans.
UP NEXT
• Sabres: At Florida tonight.
• Hurricanes: Host New York Islanders tonight.
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/sports/aho-staal-help-hurricanes-beat-sabres-to-earn-playoff-spot/article_e1a97618-278c-588b-b725-cd1b4fe98844.html
| 2022-04-08T04:19:38Z
|
lockportjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/sports/aho-staal-help-hurricanes-beat-sabres-to-earn-playoff-spot/article_e1a97618-278c-588b-b725-cd1b4fe98844.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
“Why can’t we be the studs?”
That was the question Niagara Falls wrestling coach Josh Eagan asked himself repeatedly as he scoured the 118-pound brackets for the Division 1 state tournament. Eagan never saw a dominant wrestler in the weight class and knew Jaden Crumpler had a chance to win it all.
Crumpler had been a sectional champion prior to this season, but he had never been to states. That didn’t stifle his swagger or belief that he could win the tournament. He may not have won a state title this year, but he was on the doorstep.
The Niagara Falls junior was the 118-pound runner-up, losing a 3-1 decision to Northport’s Matt Marlow in the waning moments of the final. It was the capper of a prolific campaign, during which he went 32-3 and won Section VI Division 1 and Class AA championships.
The accolades matched the attitude and now Crumpler has been selected as the Greater Niagara Newspapers wrestler of the year.
“Going into the tournament I was really confident,” Crumpler said. “I was watching a lot of people I thought I could beat. So I was going into every match feeling confident, feeling strong. I was feeling good before the tournament, so I knew I’d go far. I think feeling confident brought me far.”
PHOTOS: Meet the GNN all-area wrestling team
The natural ability to win a state championship was already there, as was the work ethic during practice. But entering the season, Crumpler did not possess the discipline to build endurance, partly coming from lacking healthy eating habits to make weight for matches. He always made his weight, but it was typically a challenge and he wasn’t at his peak when he trimmed.
After all, Crumpler was a defending sectional champion and went 10-1 during the COVID-abbreviated season. He didn’t think he could lose. But within the first few weeks, it was obvious Crumpler didn’t have the gas tank to pair with his talent.
Crumpler was running out of steam late in matches and it finally cost him in an overtime loss to Chautauqua Lake’s Jordan Joslyn in the semifinals of the Linda C. Knuutila Memorial Tournament in December. He would lose another tight match to Lancaster’s Myles Gronowski as the top-seeded Wolverines were stunned in the sectional dual semifinals.
That’s when his season began to shift. Crumpler improved his diet and built his endurance through extra practice. He began to stay within 5 pounds of his target weight and he did not lose a match before the state final, rattling off 17 consecutive wins.
“We let him and we kept letting him hear after that,” Eagan said. “... You need to be working hard in practice the week before so a couple days before, you can have your body ready. His body wasn’t ready and it didn’t have anything to do with not working hard. It was him not being smart with his nutrition. We monitored it a lot more closely afterwards.”
Crumpler started to build momentum, winning eight of those 17 matches by fall and having the endurance to close five of by decision, including two in the state tournament.
“It’s hard to beat people without endurance,” Crumpler said. “I knew I had the technique to beat people, but as long as I have my endurance, I thought I could beat anyone. … At the finals match, I was confident.”
He scored the match-clinching takedown with 1 minute, 28 seconds remaining against Sachem East’s John Tietjen in the quarterfinals and then recorded a takedown 36 seconds into overtime to defeat Ward Melville’s Christian Lievano 2-0 in the semifinals.
“He wasn’t emptying the tank early in the match,” Eagan said. “He was more methodical. We had gameplans going into each match. In the semifinals, we told him to keep it close and it’s going to come down to a takedown at the end of the match or overtime.”
Now that Crumpler has tasted the state final, the next goal is to win it next season. Eagan does not envision his pupil will make a big jump in weight next year and the talent is already there after losing a 3-1 decision to Marlow on a takedown with 7 seconds left in the championship.
Crumpler said 80% of his emotions after the match were heartbreak, but now he is putting all of those feelings toward motivation for next year.
Winning a state championship would put Crumpler — who is 72-16 in his varsity career — in a rare company. Current University of Oklahoma standout Willie McDougald is the only other Niagara Falls wrestler to win a state title, having won in 2018 and 2020.
“I think he’s got to get a little better on bottom because a couple of close matches he lost because he couldn’t get out,” Eagan said. “He’s got to stop relying on athleticism on bottom and using technique, but it’s nothing dramatic. He’s been wrestling since he was 5, so you’re not going to make a drastic change in technique. … If he hits the weights, those moves he hits are going to work better.”
The rest of the GNN all-area wrestling team
• Brian Bielec, Sr., Grand Island: Nobody in Grand Island history had more wins than Bielec. He finished his six-year varsity career with 197 wins and went 46-2 this season. Both losses came in the Division 1 state tournament after starting 44-0, but Bielec earned a fifth-place finish at 172 pounds. Bielec recorded 34 pins this season, tied for seventh in the state, and went 81 consecutive matches without being pinned. He is a three-time overall Section VI champion and a four-time Class A sectional champion.
• Dominick Callara, Jr., Medina: Callara went 28-5 this season and took seventh at 102 pounds at the Division 2 state tournament. Each loss this season came to a state placewinner. He went 20-1 during the regular season, finishing second at the Section VI Division 2 and Class C/D tournaments. Callara had 16 wins by fall and nine came in less than a minute. He was a 2021 sectional champion.
• Gavin Ciarfella, So., Medina: In his first season after transferring from Roy-Hart, Ciarfella went 34-4 and placed fourth at 126 pounds at the Division 2 state tournament. He recorded 15 wins by fall and was not pinned until the state quarterfinals, but responded by winning three consecutive matches to reach the third-place match. Ciarfella also rallied from a sectional semifinal loss to win the third- and second-place matches to qualify for states. He is a two-time Niagara-Orleans League champion.
• Collin Coughenour, Jr., Niagara Wheatfield: Few collect sectional titles like Coughenour. He won his fourth Section VI championship this season and is a two-time Class A sectional champion. Coughenour went 26-5 this season winning the 138-pound Class A sectional title, while also winning the Division 1 sectional crown by defeating teammate Te’Shaun Mathews in overtime. He also advanced to the state quarterfinals before bowing in the consolation rounds.
• Stefaan Fearon, Sr., Lockport: Among the most explosive heavyweight wrestlers in the state, Fearon won 14 matches by pin and five by major decision. He went 33-6 overall and was the fourth-place finisher at 285 pounds during the Division 1 state tournament. Fearon won the Class AA sectional tournament and was second at the overall sectional tournament. After losing in the state quarterfinals, Fearon won three consecutive matches before falling in the third-place match. He was the 2021 285-pound sectional champion.
• Aidan Gillings, Fr., Newfane: After taking second at sectionals last season, Gillings rebounded to become one of the top wrestlers in Western New York. The freshman finished 41-3, winning the Section VI Division 2 and Class C/D championships at 132 pounds while also finishing fourth at states. He started the season 32-0 and his first two losses came to Tioga’s Caden Bellis, once at the state dual tournament and again in the state semifinals. Gillings recorded 26 pins, including first-round falls in all three of his matches at the C/D tournament.
• Gage LaPlante, So., Starpoint: LaPlante won his second Class A sectional title and qualified for the state tournament for the second time in his career. He went 41-5, winning his first 29 matches of the season. LaPlante took seventh place at 145 pounds in the Division 1 state tournament, defeating Mahopac’s Angelo Centrone in a 7-5 overtime match in the final match. He had 19 wins via pin, five by technical fall and four by major decision. He was not pinned at 145 pounds all season, and just once total.
• Griffin LaPlante, 8th, Starpoint: A runner-up finish at sectionals as a seventh-grader launched LaPlante to become one of the top rising wrestlers in the state. He went 46-7, winning championships at the Division 1 and Class A sectional meets, as well as winning an ECIC title. LaPlante was the top overall seed at 132 pounds at states, finishing fifth overall. He went 20-5 in the first month of the season, then rattled off 23 consecutive wins before the state quarterfinals. After losing by technical fall in the quarterfinals, LaPlante won a 14-0 major decision and an overtime win in back-to-back matches.
• Charles Larose, Sr., Newfane: Larose built on a 2021 sectional championship by posting the best season of his career. The senior went 34-8, winning the Division 2 and Class C/D sectional tournaments and finishing sixth in the state at 285 pounds. Larose reached the state quarterfinals before losing, but scored back-to-back overtime wins in the consolation bracket to stay alive. He also notched a third-period fall in the final match to clinch Newfane’s win over Falconer in the Division 2 sectional dual finals. He earned 24 falls, including pins in the first seven matches of the season.
• Simon Lingle, Sr., Newfane: Prior to this season, Lingle had never won a sectional title nor reached the finals. But this year he won the 189-pound titles at the Division 2 and Class C/D tournaments, while losing one match before the state semifinals. Lingle finished the year 41-3 and took fourth at states, losing a one-point match in the semifinals. All three losses came to state placewinners, while winning 21 matches via fall. He became one of the top defensive wrestlers in the state, with 11 matches decided by three points or less.
• Amarfio Reynolds, Jr., Niagara Falls: Beating Reynolds was a task few accomplished this season, when he put up a 33-3 record, with two of his losses coming at states. He won his second overall Section VI championship and his second Class AA title, while being the 126-pound seventh-place finisher in his second state tournament appearance. The junior won 19 straight matches before falling in the state quarterfinals. Three of his matches at states were decided by one point, including a 1-0 win over Shenendehowa’s Ayden Robles in the seventh-place match.
• Mike Syposs, Jr., Niagara Falls: Syposs had a strong regular season, but when he jumped to 160 pounds for the postseason, he became a different wrestler. He went 24-6 between 145 and 152 pounds during the regular season but won his first seven postseason matches at 160. Syposs finished the year 31-8, capturing the Section VI Division 1 and Class AA titles after not placing last season. He defeated teammate Jesiere Carter in the finals of both sectional tournaments and again in the second round at states.
Nick Sabato can be reached via email at nick.sabato@gnnewspaper.com or on Twitter @NickSabatoGNN.
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/sports/high_school/gnn-wrestler-of-the-year-confidence-carried-niagara-falls-jaden-crumpler-to-state-finals/article_25db7208-00a1-5cfb-8984-94f10fba79c6.html
| 2022-04-08T04:19:45Z
|
lockportjournal.com
|
control
|
https://www.lockportjournal.com/sports/high_school/gnn-wrestler-of-the-year-confidence-carried-niagara-falls-jaden-crumpler-to-state-finals/article_25db7208-00a1-5cfb-8984-94f10fba79c6.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Hideo Hayakawa, a former director at the bank, in an interview.
- A big factor that will spur the BOJ to change policy is the weakening of the yen, Hayakawa said.
- While the BOJ has repeatedly said the yen is positive for the economy overall, the impact is close to 50/50 and households’ discomfort is set to grow further as inflation picks up in Japan, too, said Hayakawa, who left the bank in 2013.
- “It’s too naive for the BOJ to say a weak yen is good when the government is taking measures to address price gains and capping gasoline prices,” said Hayakawa. “An overwhelming majority of Japanese aren’t welcoming the weak yen.”
Bank of Japan Governor Kuroda has said, over and over, that he'll be sticking with loose policy.
Anyway, this guy thinks not. You know what they say about opinions though. Link here for more.
USD/JPY update:
|
https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/an-ex-boj-official-says-the-bank-likely-to-adjust-policy-as-soon-as-july-20220408/
| 2022-04-08T04:21:50Z
|
forexlive.com
|
control
|
https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/an-ex-boj-official-says-the-bank-likely-to-adjust-policy-as-soon-as-july-20220408/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Tri-Community Volunteer Firefighters responded to a plane crash on Thursday at the Collegedale Municipal Airport.
It happened around 6:45PM.
Officials say a single engine plane crash while landing.
The pilot, whose name has not been released, received minor injuries.
At 6:43pm, our volunteers were dispatched to the Collegedale Municipal Airport for a plane crash. A single engine plane crashed on landing. The pilot was checked by Hamilton County EMS with minor injuries and denied transport. pic.twitter.com/Dpio7vmZJf
— Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department (@TriCommunityFD) April 7, 2022
The pilot was checked out by EMS at the scene and did not want to be taken to a hospital.
The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.
The airport has resumed normal operations.
Stay with the Local 3 News app for updates to this developing story.
|
https://www.local3news.com/local-news/pilot-receives-minor-injuries-from-small-plane-crash-at-collegedale-airport/article_8eaf789e-b6dd-11ec-946f-eb09292243b9.html
| 2022-04-08T04:27:00Z
|
local3news.com
|
control
|
https://www.local3news.com/local-news/pilot-receives-minor-injuries-from-small-plane-crash-at-collegedale-airport/article_8eaf789e-b6dd-11ec-946f-eb09292243b9.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Medicare will restrict coverage of the controversial and costly Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm to those enrolled in qualifying clinical trials, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Thursday.
The final decision, which follows a proposed policy released in January, will have far-reaching consequences for millions of Alzheimer's patients and tens of millions of Medicare enrollees. It's the latest step in the drug's contentious path to market.
It is expected to restrict the number of people who can receive the medication. The coverage policy would also apply to other drugs in this class -- monoclonal antibodies that target amyloid, or plaque, for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease -- that the Food and Drug Administration may approve in the future.
The agency's proposed policy to restrict coverage of Aduhelm was met with intense opposition from some patient groups and drug-makers. Congressional lawmakers from both parties also questioned CMS' proposal to limit coverage of Aduhelm and similar drugs in the future.
The final policy allows a broader swath of patients participating in studies to receive Medicare coverage of future treatments that, unlike Aduhelm, receive traditional approval from the FDA. More than 6 million older Americans are believed to have Alzheimer's disease, though Aduhelm has been approved to treat only those with milder stages of the disease.
Biogen, the maker of Aduhelm, called CMS' decision unprecedented and said it effectively denies all Medicare enrollees access to the drug and may limit coverage for treatments approved in the future.
"When additional data from this new class of treatments become available, Biogen urges CMS to reconsider today's decision for all FDA-approved amyloid-beta targeting therapies," the company said in a statement, noting it is considering its options.
The decision sets a dangerous precedent, said Nicole Longo, a spokeswoman for PhRMA, a leading pharmaceutical industry group.
"CMS has further complicated matters by taking the unprecedented step of applying different standards for coverage of medicines depending on the FDA approval pathway taken, undermining the scientific assessment by experts at FDA," she said.
More than 10,000 comments
The agency made this decision based on evidence and a thorough analysis of public feedback, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in a statement. More than 10,000 comments on the proposed policy were submitted.
"CMS has a responsibility to ensure that people with Medicare have equitable and appropriate access to therapies that are reasonable and necessary for use in the Medicare population," she said. "Through this decision, we are creating a pathway for people with Medicare to quickly access drugs the FDA determines have shown a clinical benefit and encourages manufacturers and trial administrators to ensure that the clinical trials recruit racially diverse participants."
The agency weighed the potential for patient benefits against the significance of serious unknown factors that could result in harm, Dr. Lee Fleisher, CMS chief medical officer, said in a statement.
"There is the potential for promise with this treatment; however, there is not currently enough evidence of demonstrating improved health outcomes to say that it is reasonable and necessary for people with Medicare, which is a key consideration for CMS when making national coverage determinations," Fleisher said.
Medicare has never before required enrollees to participate in a clinical trial for a drug already approved by the FDA that's being used for its intended purpose.
Patient advocates were quick to decry Medicare's final policy.
"It's unconscionable and reprehensible that CMS would force Alzheimer's patients to play by a different set of rules than patients with other diseases like cancer and HIV," UsAgainstAlzheimer's co-founder George Vradenburg said in a statement.
Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation President John Dwyer likened the final decision to a "flat-out denial of coverage," saying it will restrict access.
"This decision will affect the future of Alzheimer's treatments for at least the next 10 years, representing a crushing blow for the more than 6 million Americans with Alzheimer's who were depending on CMS to approve coverage to label for these treatment options," he said in a statement.
Controversial from the start
The FDA's approval of Aduhelm last June raised many questions and concerns about the process, the drug's efficacy and its annual cost. Biogen initially priced it at about $56,000 a year.
The approval was also a driving force behind a massive increase in Medicare Part B premiums for 2022. The standard monthly payment soared to $170.10, up from $148.50 last year, for the more than 63 million enrollees.
About $10 of the premium spike is due to Aduhelm, a CMS official told CNN in November. The rest stems from a general increase in health care prices and usage, as well as from congressional action that limited the rise in Part B premiums for 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Even though Medicare had not yet decided at the time whether it would cover the medication, its actuaries had to make sure the program has sufficient funding in case it did.
Biogen later cut the price of the medication roughly in half to $28,200 a year. That prompted Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to take the unusual step of instructing the agency to reassess a major increase in Medicare Part B premiums, which it is continuing to do.
Aside from the impact on Medicare, the drug's approval process has spurred investigations by several congressional committees and the FDA's inspector general.
It's unclear how many patients will ultimately receive the medication. About a month after it initially approved Aduhelm, the FDA narrowed the group of patients who could receive it to those with mild cognitive impairment or milder states of the disease. Also, it's unknown how many doctors will prescribe it because of questions surrounding its results.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
|
https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/medicare-limits-coverage-of-controversial-alzheimers-drug-to-those-in-clinical-trials/article_bf89df02-139f-5818-a91a-462eeb0320cb.html
| 2022-04-08T04:27:19Z
|
local3news.com
|
control
|
https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/medicare-limits-coverage-of-controversial-alzheimers-drug-to-those-in-clinical-trials/article_bf89df02-139f-5818-a91a-462eeb0320cb.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Jobs at KCUR
Open Positions
Culture Editor - KCUR - We seek an editor to work with staff reporters and freelance contributors as well as our community engagement editor to make sure our audiences are informed and inspired by their city every day. Learn more here.
Director of Audience Development and KCUR Studios - We're looking for an innovator to inspire and manage a multi-departmental group of professionals to develop and launch new products, promote content in all forms, reach new audiences and use data-driven decision making to drive success. Learn more here.
Internships
KCUR's internships are designed to prepare college students, recent graduates and other qualified candidates for careers in public media.
Application Deadlines
- Summer program: Mid- to late February
- Fall program: Early July
- Winter/spring program: Mid-November
Learn more about internships at KCUR.
Related Reporting
KCUR and the University of Missouri are Equal Opportunity Employers.
View University of Missouri - Kansas City Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
|
https://www.kcur.org/jobs-at-kcur
| 2022-04-08T04:39:13Z
|
kcur.org
|
control
|
https://www.kcur.org/jobs-at-kcur
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Drone footage captured the Balblair conducting pre-delivery trials in huge seas off the coast of Ireland, where the bespoke boat was built by Safehaven Marine.
The Interceptor 48 class vessel is due to be sailed to Scotland this month, to be brought into service on the busy waters of the firth.
It is the second pilot vessel to be built for the Port by Safehaven in recent years, in an investment totalling more than £1.5million since 2019.
The Balblair will be part of a fleet of boats used to transport the Port’s highly skilled pilots between the trust port’s base at Invergordon, in Easter Ross, and the vessels that enter the Cromarty Firth.
The Port’s marine support manager, Graham Grant, said: “The Balblair is a fantastic new state-of-the-art vessel, capable of operating in the most challenging and difficult sea conditions, as the incredible video and photographs show.
“She’s a very welcome addition to our fleet and will provide an efficient, safe and stable platform for performing pilotage operations.
“The investment in a second new Interceptor 48 provides future resilience as the Port prepares to meet the new demands placed on us from an increasingly diverse customer base.
“We very much look forward to taking delivery and bringing her into service.”
Safehaven managing director, Frank Kowalski, added: “It’s always particularly satisfying to receive a repeat order, as we did after delivering the Dalmore, the first pilot boat, to the Cromarty Firth in 2019.
“It shows how successful the boat has been in operation, and the Port’s confidence in Safehaven Marine as a builder.”
|
https://www.scotsman.com/news/weather/video-footage-shows-just-how-the-cromarty-firths-new-pilot-boat-balblair-handles-wild-seas-3645826
| 2022-04-08T04:40:11Z
|
scotsman.com
|
control
|
https://www.scotsman.com/news/weather/video-footage-shows-just-how-the-cromarty-firths-new-pilot-boat-balblair-handles-wild-seas-3645826
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
On a night when too many of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s players were some way short of their best form, the Rangers manager could feel reasonably content at leaving Portugal with a one-goal deficit in a quarter-final tie which the Scottish champions will feel they can turn around in the second leg at Ibrox next Thursday.
Abel Ruiz gave Braga the advantage, scoring during a period of first-half dominance from which Carlos Carvalhal’s side may yet regret not making more of in the battle for a last four meeting with either RB Leipzig or Atalanta.
Rangers could have no complaints at being behind at the end of a first half which they started brightly enough before finding themselves increasingly second best as Braga grew into the contest.
Ruiz’s goal five minutes before the break was just reward for the greater accuracy, pace and dynamism of the hosts’ attacking play with Rangers often left looking exposed and uncomfortable in defence.
Braga hardly looked impregnable themselves at the back but Rangers were unable to take advantage of the promising situations they created in the early exchanges. A sharper first touch from Ryan Kent might have brought him a fifth minute opener but his stabbed shot was blocked by Braga goalkeeper Matheus before Fashion Sakala’s follow-up effort was diverted wide.
Sakala clearly had the pace to trouble the Braga defence but struggled to find the positioning to allow himself enough opportunity to do so. It was another occasion when it was glaringly apparent just how much Rangers will miss injured striker Alfredo Morelos for the rest of the season.
The warning signs for Rangers began in the 24th minute when Braga captain Ricardo Horta pounced upon a weak attempted clearance from Connor Goldson to smack a shot against Allan McGregor’s left hand post.
The veteran goalkeeper, making his 100th European appearance for the Ibrox club, was beaten two minutes later when Andre Horta’s shot was deflected beyond him off James Tavernier but Rangers were spared on this occasion by a VAR review which saw Italian referee Davide Massa agree that Ryan Jack had been fouled by Al Masrati in the build-up.
As they looked to make the most of that reprieve, Rangers carved out a couple of openings on the break which saw Kent denied by a fine Yan Couto challenge before Sakala wastefully blazed a shot over.
Braga were quickly back on the front foot and duly grabbed their merited lead. Couto, causing all sorts of problems on the right flank, provided the delivery which saw Leon Balogun unable to clear the ball which broke to Ruiz for a superb finish beyond McGregor’s despairing left hand.
Rangers took the sting out of Braga’s play in a more controlled and mature second half display, while the introduction of Kemar Roofe for Sakala just after the hour gave them a better central presence in attack.
Goldson missed their best chance for a leveller, heading wide from a Tavernier corner, as they finished strongly. In seven days’ time, they will have to start that way if they want to stay on the road to Seville in May.
|
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/how-rangers-kept-their-dream-alive-despite-sub-standard-performance-in-braga-3645930
| 2022-04-08T04:40:45Z
|
scotsman.com
|
control
|
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/how-rangers-kept-their-dream-alive-despite-sub-standard-performance-in-braga-3645930
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Playing in his first full-blown event since November 2020, the 46-year-old posted a one-under-par 71 that included two 2s in front of one of the biggest galleries in the game’s history.
“I’m proud of my whole team, we worked so hard – people have no idea how hard we worked each and every day,” said Woods, who feared his right leg might be amputated following a car crash in Los Angeles 14 months ago.
“We’ve never taken a day off, and so once I got out of bed after three months away, there were no days off.
“There were easier days than others, when my leg might not work that well that day, but we did something every single day. That led me to this, to this opportunity to play in the Masters – and as of right now, I’m only three back.
“We’ve got a long way to go, this is a marathon and a lot of things can happen – the weather’s gonna change, this golf course is gonna dry out and make it interesting. But it’s nice to get off to a positive start.”
Woods raised a huge roar as he set up his first birdie of the day at the short sixth before rolling in a 25-footer at the 16th. In between, he’d also birdied the 13th and dropped shots at the eighth and 14th.
“That was a good one,” he said of the 2 at the 16th in the company of 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann.
“I got a little teach from Louis’ putt, it slid up a little at the end and snapped. I’ve hit that putt in a practice round and always under-read it.
“It was good to get that affirmation from Louis that that putt does snap at the end. So I gave it an extra ball and a half outside the right, and it poured right in the middle.”
While Woods has always insisted that his career is defined by wins, he admitted that this was an exception.
“Yes,” he said in reply to being asked if simply playing here felt like a victory, having spent three months lying in a hospital-style bed at home in Florida and not even being able to get into his living room.
Explaining how he felt that way, he added: “If you would have seen how my leg looked to where it's at now.
“Some of the guys know. They've seen the pictures, and they've come over to the house and they've seen it. To get from there to here, it was no easy task.”
Woods had described this week as the “challenge of a major marathon” due to the undulating nature of Augusta National and the walk on this occasion was even more demanding due to it being rain-softened.
“No, it did not get easier, let's put it that way,” he said of that. “I can swing a golf club. The walking isn’t easy, and it's difficult.
“My leg, it's going to be difficult for the rest of my life. That's just the way it is, but I'm able to do it.
“That's something I'm very lucky to have this opportunity to be able to play, and not only that, to play in the Masters and to have this type of reception.
“I mean, the place was electric. I hadn't played like this since '19 when I won because in '20 we had Covid and we had no one here, and I didn't play last year.
“So to have the patrons fully out and to have that type of energy out there was awesome to feel.”
Reflecting on his round, Woods admitted their had been both good and bad. “I'll start off with disappointment,” he said. “Just making bogey from 50 yards on the 8th. Lack of concentration on the first one. Second one, lack of commitment. Then a blocked putt. So just three bad shots in a row.
“But, as far as the good stuff, to finish in the red today after as long a layoff as I've had and not being in competitive golf.
“To play this golf course and to do what I did today, to hit the shots in the right spots and give myself good angles. I did that all day, and I was able to make a few putts and finish in the red. I'm only four back. I'm right where I need to be.”
|
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/golf/tiger-woods-proud-of-whole-team-after-positive-return-in-masters-3645929
| 2022-04-08T04:41:12Z
|
scotsman.com
|
control
|
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/golf/tiger-woods-proud-of-whole-team-after-positive-return-in-masters-3645929
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) — Up to 811 million people went hungry in 2020 around the world.
This is according to data from UNICEF.
That's nearly two and a half times the number of people living in the U.S.
Rise Against Hunger is one nonprofit working to help.
They say they took a hit because of the pandemic.
But graduates and current students from Valdosta High School are helping them make a difference.
"Our hope is going in those boxes that's in that truck to somebody around the world," Ralph Puckett said.
Puckett has been volunteering with Rise Against Hunger for almost 10 years.
This year, he asked his graduating class of 1970 from Valdosta High to join him in this cause.
The pandemic pushed back their 50th class reunion to this year.
Now, the classes of 1969, 70, and 71 join current students at Valdosta High School to help people in need.
Ashley Jones is one of those students.
"To be able to help people, it always feels good on the inside and to be able to give back to the community and then also do it with alumni from Valdosta High, it's great," Jones said.
She was one of the many volunteers that packed rice, soy, vegetables and vitamins for delivery around the world.
"There's so many people around the world now that are suffering from hunger," Marty LeFiles said.
LeFiles graduated in 1970.
"It's exciting to be a part of that and know that we're helping; especially children," LeFiles said.
He says being able to give back while reconnecting with classmates is a great feeling.
"We lost touch there for a while because of covid," LeFiles said.
Rise Against Hunger says one in 10 people around the world go to bed hungry each night.
This reunion brings generations together to solve a small part of that problem.
Something Puckett says he's proud to be part of.
"Knowing they accomplished something for somebody else that was the true blessing," Puckett said.
|
https://www.wtxl.com/community/valdosta-high-students-alums-help-rise-against-hunger
| 2022-04-08T04:48:36Z
|
wtxl.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtxl.com/community/valdosta-high-students-alums-help-rise-against-hunger
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
THOMASVILLE, Fla. (WTXL) — Clean up is happening here in Boston after possible tornadoes touched down in the areas between Grady and Lowndes counties Wednesday night.
"Both dugouts are completely unusable. Both the roofs got torn off," Thomas University head baseball coach Tom Fleenor said.
Cleaning up the damage at Thomas University's baseball field is giving the team a new kind of work out following Wednesdays fierce winds.
"Fence is down, perimeter cinder block wall was knocked down," Fleenor said.
"We kind of have everybody together and experience just the team bonding of getting everything together and just kind of fixing it together as a team for one last time, especially for us seniors," TU senior baseball player Dillon Rutland said.
With this damage, the baseball field is out of commission for the rest of the season.
The senior night game that was supposed to happen here in two weeks will now have to be played somewhere else.
"It's a little shocking knowing that we're not going to play here anymore, you know, we'd like to. It's obviously been our home field for the past three years, him a little bit longer," Night Hawks senior infielder Brad Toxen said.
Thomas University not the only place damaged by storms that rolled through South Georgia.
In Boston, heavy winds left their impression on horse farm owned by Tim Coram.
They left a tree on his home, damaged this horse fence and tore up his barn.
"I turned around and walked to the front of the house, and tried to open the door but it wouldn't open and then like I say, that's when it hit and you know I just took a knee down in the laundry room," Coram said.
With friends and neighbors across the county helping Thursday, Coram says he's thankful for the support.
"Totally amazing," he said.
Coach Fleenor, too.
"I'm not surprised because these guys take a lot of ownership, not only in this program but this facility," Fleenor said.
As everyone works to get back to normal.
|
https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/residents-of-south-georgia-counties-begin-cleanup-after-severe-storms
| 2022-04-08T04:48:42Z
|
wtxl.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/residents-of-south-georgia-counties-begin-cleanup-after-severe-storms
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The Florida State softball team already with a win over the sixth ranked team in the country this week . This weekend, the third ranked Seminoles host number five Virginia Tech... it's the highest ranked ACC match-up in the history of the conference, and for Florida State, it's a special weekend for another reason too.
"On the back of my jersey, it says Gazelle, which was my dad's nickname in college," said senior Mack Leonard. "I chose that because he passed away. I just kind of play for him."
For Leonard, choosing who or what to represent this weekend was easy.
"I'm really grateful that I can, and Coacha gave us this opportunity."
An opportunity to express who they are, where they're from, or to honor a loved one. Player's Weekend gives fans a chance to learn a little more about this Florida State softball team.
"What a cool way to share our personalities, what drive us, what inspires us," said head softball coach Lonni Alameda. "I think that goes back to our family mindset is really trying to get to know each other. It's about the people first."
"It's just been awesome to grow that connection and now I'm a senior, they've learned so much about me, and I really feel like I know a good part of our fan base," added graduate student Sydney Sherrill, who is sporting her home state of Oklahoma on the back of her jersey this weekend.
It's part of what makes playing at Florida State so special.
"They're going to follow us wherever we go and cheer us on," said Sherrill. "I know I keep saying it, but it's just so awesome to be a part of and I'm just so thankful for it."
"It does make it special for us too," said Alameda. "Lot of these kids are coming far away from home. These become their family and friends every single game and we're so appreciative of that.
Thankful for the chance to represent something, or someone, that means so much to them.
"I know my mom is obviously very proud of me as well, so she is glad I'm representing him and our family and being able to be proud that I'm his daughter," said Leonard.
Florida State will wear the special jerseys Friday and Sunday. Game one against Virignia Tech is set for Friday night at 6:00.
|
https://www.wtxl.com/sports/college-sports/fsu/florida-state-softball-excited-to-showcase-what-matters-most-at-players-weekend
| 2022-04-08T04:48:54Z
|
wtxl.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtxl.com/sports/college-sports/fsu/florida-state-softball-excited-to-showcase-what-matters-most-at-players-weekend
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) — The Valdosta State softball team is ranked fourth in the country. The Lady Blazers, are consistently one of the top teams in the country, and for a team that reached the Division II Women's College World Series last year, they're not changing much.
The recipe for success is there. Good pitching, a stellar offense, making the routine plays, now they just want to finish the season with a win.
"We're just playing really well as a team. I think that's what's been successful for us, it's not relying one person here, one person there," said head coach Thomas Macera of his 24-5 softball team. "I think what has really set this team up to have a chance at doing something is really how well they all play together."
After their early exit last year, a finish to a season they don't like to bring up, they're focused on the growth from that loss.
"We want to do way better than that," said Macera. "We made a bunch of errors. We actually lost on unearned runs, we just want to play in the here and now. That's what we want to do,
"Our weaknesses were infield, working on that turf field, but we're not really worried about that this year because we hit so well," said senior Nikki Pennington. "We've come from behind in almost half of our games, so we're not worried."
Valdosta State has hit 49 home runs through 29 games, the most in the country in the least amount of time. Pitching has been dominant too. Ace Sam Richards has 171 strikeouts in 22 appearances.
The Lady Blazers are on the road this weekend at West Georgia. Game one of three is Saturday at noon.
|
https://www.wtxl.com/sports/college-sports/vsu/valdosta-state-softball-driven-by-team-unity
| 2022-04-08T04:49:00Z
|
wtxl.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtxl.com/sports/college-sports/vsu/valdosta-state-softball-driven-by-team-unity
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
ATLANTA (AP) — Tyler Mahle allowed only an unearned run in five innings to outpitch Max Fried, Brandon Drury hit a three-run homer and the Cincinnati Reds beat Atlanta 6-3 to spoil the Braves’ World Series celebration.
The Braves unveiled their World Series pennant in right field in a pregame ceremony after two parachutists landed in the outfield carrying championship banners.
Fried allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He left the game with two runners on base before Drury’s homer off Collin McHugh.
Austin Riley hit a two-run homer for Atlanta off right-hander Dauri Moreta in the eighth.
|
https://www.wtxl.com/sports/mahle-shines-in-win-as-reds-spoil-braves-celebration
| 2022-04-08T04:49:13Z
|
wtxl.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtxl.com/sports/mahle-shines-in-win-as-reds-spoil-braves-celebration
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Disc Golf. You ever played? You have a chance to catch some of the countries best this weekend, as the Professional Disc Golf Association makes a stop in Tallahassee.
The Open at Tallahassee is part of their silver series tour -- a secondary tour to their elite series... featuring nearly 150 of the top male and female disc golfers. For a sport that's seen an uptick in growth since the pandemic, getting to display some of the best here in the 850 is a special opportunity.
"Some estimates say that we doubled, if not tripled in size just through the pandemic," said Seth Fendley with the Disc Golf Pro Tour. "That then translates to the competitive side of the sport, where we see the competition getting even stronger every year."
"It's just a really great addiction that's turned into a career," added Sarah Hokom, the top ranked female at this weekend's event. "It was a hobby that I just loved to play and then the sport took off."
Some of the pros traveling as far as Estonia and Finland to compete this weekend. For more information on this weekend's event, which begins Friday, click here.
|
https://www.wtxl.com/sports/tallahassee-ready-to-showcase-disc-golf-at-the-open-at-tallahassee
| 2022-04-08T04:49:19Z
|
wtxl.com
|
control
|
https://www.wtxl.com/sports/tallahassee-ready-to-showcase-disc-golf-at-the-open-at-tallahassee
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
In our latest Mic'd Up, Scott Prather, the host of the Great S.C.O.T.T. show on ESPN Lafayette joined us to discuss the Pelicans. New Orleans clinched a spot in the play-in tournament this week, after starting the season 1-12. What's been the biggest key to the Pels turnaround? Who's the team MVP? Does Zion have a chance to return this season? We answered all that and more in our discussion.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers
|
https://www.katc.com/sports/micd-up-espn-lafayettes-scott-prather-talks-pelicans-clinching-play-in-spot
| 2022-04-08T05:04:58Z
|
katc.com
|
control
|
https://www.katc.com/sports/micd-up-espn-lafayettes-scott-prather-talks-pelicans-clinching-play-in-spot
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
As the sports world is returning to normal, so too is the California League.
But as the 2022 season opens on Friday, some of it represents a “new normal” not a pre-pandemic normal.
While there was no 2020 season and the 2021 season was delayed until May, this season is starting in the traditional first week of April, although in previous years the season started on a Thursday.
But like last year, fans will notice that most series against an opponent will run Tuesday-Sunday, rather than three- and-four game series that were played before the pandemic, with the teams off on Mondays. The only time the schedule will not include six-game series is the opening weekend, July 4 (teams will play on Monday, July 4 then be off the next day), and a break that coincides with the major league All-Star break from July 18-21.
“When they were going back and forth to make schedules in September and October, they had us do a survey. They were still considering COVID restrictions,” Lake Elsinore Storm CEO/co-general manager Shaun Brock said. “For us, when we were given the opportunity, we actually love this setup. No. 1, it’s super easy for staffing.”
There are going to be times when teams are home back-to-back weeks, with a Monday off-day in between. And of the three Inland Empire teams, the Storm only does that twice, and the Inland Empire 66ers and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes only do that once each.
When Major League Baseball took over the minor leagues last year, changes were made. Some of them carry over to this year. Like last year, there is no Cal League All-Star Game and the playoffs are abbreviated. But the name is back. A year ago, the league was awkwardly known as the Low-A West League. The season is also 132 games, reduced from the pre-pandemic 140-game schedule.
When the season opened last year, teams were only at partial capacity for fans, but this year there are no attendance restrictions.
And that means not only will fans be able to go to games maskless but the experience will be different.
“Really it’s about returning to our full promotional experience,” Quakes vice president/GM Grant Riddle said. “We can have promotions on the field, which we didn’t have last year. We have a full menu. We can have our Family RV Family Feast night.”
Sixty-sixers GM Joe Hudson agreed.
“Now this year, we can do the Bernie (mascot) race. It seems like a simple thing, but we couldn’t do that last year,” Hudson said.
The Quakes had an issue last year when Gavin Lux bobbleheads didn’t arrive in time and a voucher was issued for fans to pick up their bobblehead when they arrived.
A similar situation arose for the 66ers, where vouchers were issued for several giveaways.
“Hopefully this year, we ordered so much of our stuff early, we feel like we’re in a pretty good spot,” Hudson said. “But for some food items, there is still a supply-chain issue.”
Hudson did say there are no supply issues with hot dogs or beer, however.
The lifting of COVID restrictions will help attendance, but so will something else: the return of groups. A year ago, even as fans returned to games, community groups were generally not gathering to attend a minor league baseball game together. But they are now.
But for the Storm, Brock said a pandemic lesson learned last year was that more fans is not necessarily better. So the number of fans will be limited to closer to 5,000 rather than the 6,500 or more they previously allowed for the most popular games.
“It helps a lot of our processes, F and B (food and beverage),” Brock said. “Our per cap (food and beverage per person) was almost double last year. We are able to better take care of people and they can get what they want. We learned a lot from that.”
The Storm has also changed its ticket pricing so that every seat is $8 on Tuesday and Wednesday, $12 on Thursday and Sunday and $16 on Friday and Saturday.
The Quakes, who open the season at Visalia on Friday before their home opener against the 66ers on Tuesday, return 19 players from last year’s roster. That includes the Dodgers’ top-ranked prospect, catcher Diego Cartaya (the No. 28 prospect in MLB), who appeared in 31 games for the Quakes last year, batting .298 with 10 home runs.
Other top prospects for the Quakes include outfielder Jose Ramos (the Dodgers’ No. 14 prospect), shortstop Alex De Jesus (No. 20) and outfielder Jake Vogel (No. 29).
The 66ers, who open at home against the Storm on Friday, will feature a myriad of the Angels’ top prospects, including shortstop Arol Vera (No. 3), catcher Edgar Quero (No. 9), shortstop Adrian Placencia (No. 10), outfielder Alexander Ramirez (No. 12), left-hander Mason Albright (No. 14), right-hander Alejandro Hidalgo (No. 19), shortstop Werner Blakely (No. 24), and outfielder D’Shawn Knowles (No. 30).
Vera, Quero, Ramirez, and Knowles all finished their 2021 seasons with the 66ers. Vera, Placencia and Blakely are all listed as shortstops by mlb.com and it was not immediately clear which other positions the trio might play this year.
Lake Elsinore, which has its home opener on Tuesday against Visalia, begins the season with three of the San Diego Padres’ top 18 prospects: outfielder James Wood (No. 5), shortstop Jackson Merrill (No. 6) and infielder Max Ferguson (No. 18). The Storm roster also includes reliever Hazahel Quijada, a former San Gorgonio High and UC Riverside pitcher who appeared in 16 games for the Storm last year.
|
https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/04/07/cal-leagues-2022-season-represents-the-new-normal/
| 2022-04-08T05:10:22Z
|
pasadenastarnews.com
|
control
|
https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2022/04/07/cal-leagues-2022-season-represents-the-new-normal/
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Nestled in the scenic town of Park Hills, in St. Francois County, MO., sits a unique, niche 100% Black-owned business called “Bold Spoon Creamery.”
In January 2021, Rachel Burns and her husband, Corey Wilkinson, decided to sell their University City home and move Rachel’s business to the historic antebellum town about seven miles northwest of Farmington.
Rachel, who started making “premium small batch” ice cream in 2017, had grown the business to a point where she needed more commercial and garden space for her product. The fact that she officially started selling ice cream at the beginning of a global pandemic that crippled thousands of businesses nationwide, speaks to Rachel’s tenacity, resolve and, most important, ability to “pivot.”
“Initially my business plan was to sell primarily to restaurants,” Burns explained. “So, you can imagine in March 2020 that was not a viable option because restaurants were closing or only doing curbside services. I wouldn’t call it a set-back. It was more of a pivot. I had to find a new avenue.”
The Bold Spoon Creamery story speaks to the spirit of entrepreneurism. It began in 2017 when one of Corey’s college friends brought his family to the couple’s house for a summer swim. A year or so earlier, Corey had planted mint that came to dominatethe backyard. Rachel remembered the Cuisinart ice cream maker she had in her basement for years and, on a whim, decided to grab some mint and make a batch of homemade mint ice cream for their visitors.
It was a hit. Rachel began tinkering with ingredients, brainstorming combinations, and making notes of her original recipes. In early 2019, a group of friends who nicknamed themselves “The Spoons” served as official taste testers for Rachel’s unique, multiple-flavored ice cream recipes.
“I wasn’t making flavors like vanilla or strawberry; not that there’s anything wrong with them. I was making flavors like goat cheese and fig, or spiced honey or salt cheese & chocolate.” The name “Bold Spoons,” originated from the Spoons comments about her “bold” flavors.
Positive reviews from the Spoons motivated Rachel, a business consultant, to enter the retail ice cream business. She had just ordered a professional ice cream machine in March 2020 when the pandemic hit. Given the unknowns of the coronavirus, Rachel abandoned her plan to strictly market to restaurants and took to the streets. She rang doorbells and before residents answered she’d run across the street and yell, “Hi, my name is Rachel, I’m your neighbor. We’re starting a new business … just wanted to give you a little treat. Hope you enjoy.”
She left cards with an online address with the samples and soon she started receiving orders. In about three weeks Rachel, Mark and their son, Harrison, 24, were delivering ice cream every Saturday.
Shortly afterwards, Rachel started participating in local farmer’s markets. After positive press from magazines like Sauce and Feast, Bold Spoons gained entrée into dozens of local markets such as Straub’s, SmokeHouse Market in Chesterfield and Fresh Thyme Market at the City foundry as well as regional retailer Schnucks.
She rented hourly space at St. Louis Food Works, a commercial kitchen in the midtown area, and bought a much bigger ice cream machine to meet the growing demand for her products. Last year, mostly because Corey wanted to move to the country, Rachel said, they bought a 57-acre farm in Park Hills.
Surrounded by hilly terrain, a gushing river on their property and in plain sight of the Ozark Mountains, Rachel said it’s a treat to have people come to the farm, enjoy ice cream by the lake and leave with products in hand. They have the space to grow apples, pears, strawberries, mint, and other fresh fruit and herbs that immediately go into her ice cream creations. With a small staff and much more space, Rachel manages to provide her products to almost 25 locations in St. Louis city and county and St. Francois County.
Rachel said she’s not even considering taking her products nationally, yet. She, Cory and Harrison plan to branch out and seize other local opportunities first. She’s getting requests to secure their kitchen space for baby showers and private parties where customers can make their own custom ice cream. She’s revisiting her earlier plans to deliver to restaurants and making custom recipes for local wineries. Bold Spoons is also a member of “Harvest Hosts” a network of wineries, farms, breweries, and other unique attractions that invite RVers to get off the beaten path and visit and stay overnight at various member locations.
For a Black-owned business born in the midst of a global pandemic, Bold Spoons is holding its own. Early in the pandemic experts predicted that at least 40% of Black businesses would succumb to the crisis. Although COVID-19 did disproportionately hurt preexisting Black businesses, ironically, according to a 2021 report published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, it also spurred the creation of a surprising number of new Black firms. That growth, according to the report, speaks to the resiliency of African American business-owners like Rachel.
“I don’t know if it was a problem for us because we started in it. But, honestly, the benefit of starting in the pandemic was that it forced us to be scrappy, resourceful and to think quickly,” Rachel said. The challenges of the pandemic, she added, prepared her to move forward.
“I think that it [COVID] was a benefit,” she said. “Because when times are kind of normal again and you’re still able to hold on to those attributes, that way of thinking forward, then it can only be a good thing.”
Rachel was concerned when told of the number of Black businesses predicted to fail due to the pandemic. She knows she’s one of the fortunate ones and hopes others will be able to pivot and creatively survive through the ongoing crisis. For other Black-owned businesses, Rachel shared one wish:
“Hopefully they can still hold on to their dreams.”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.
|
https://www.stlamerican.com/business/business_news/fulfilling-an-ice-cream-dream-during-a-pandemic/article_6efd0494-b6d8-11ec-8258-6307df9def6c.html
| 2022-04-08T05:17:50Z
|
stlamerican.com
|
control
|
https://www.stlamerican.com/business/business_news/fulfilling-an-ice-cream-dream-during-a-pandemic/article_6efd0494-b6d8-11ec-8258-6307df9def6c.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Wash. -
The Washington state Department of Health is warning people to limit how much sturgeon they eat from the lower Columbia River, specifically from upriver to the Bonneville Dam.
The advisory, along with findings from the Oregon Health Authority recommends limiting sturgeon consumption due to the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in the fish tissue.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can be found in areas where sturgeon eat. Current levels are higher than Washington state's health screening values. According to the state DOH, eating a lot of fish with PCBs can have negative effects on your health. Over time, it can lead to learning and behavioral problems.
It is recommended to eat sturgeon no more than eight meals of sturgeon each month, with one meal measuring the size of your palm. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children are recommended to eat no more than seven sturgeon meals.
The DOH will continue evaluating sturgeon data and update as needed.
|
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/department-of-health-advises-against-eating-too-much-sturgeon/article_ad699c6e-b6e8-11ec-9a34-6fa2325bc5f5.html
| 2022-04-08T05:26:31Z
|
nbcrightnow.com
|
control
|
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/news/department-of-health-advises-against-eating-too-much-sturgeon/article_ad699c6e-b6e8-11ec-9a34-6fa2325bc5f5.html
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
WASHINGTON — Medicare said Thursday it's considering a cut in enrollee premiums, after officials stuck with an earlier decision to sharply limit coverage for a pricey new Alzheimer's drug projected to drive up program costs.
The agency “is looking at that, and is still going through the process,” spokeswoman Beth Lynk said of a potential reduction in premiums, as Medicare announced its final coverage decision for Aduhelm, a drug whose benefits have been widely questioned in the medical community.
Officials said Medicare will keep coverage restrictions imposed earlier on the $28,000-a-year medication, paying for Aduhelm only when it's used in clinical trials approved by the Food and Drug Administration or the National Institutes of Health.
The projected cost of Aduhelm was a major driver behind a $22 increase in Medicare’s Part B premium this year, boosting it to $170.10 a month. That price hike is already being paid by more than 56 million Medicare recipients signed up for the program’s outpatient coverage benefit.
Thursday’s decision illustrates the impact that a single medication can have on the budgets of individuals and taxpayers. It comes as legislation to authorize Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices remains stuck in the Senate, part of President Joe Biden’s stalled social and climate agenda.
Medicare's decision included an important caveat. Officials said that if Aduhelm, or any other similar drug in its class, were to receive what's called “traditional” FDA approval, then Medicare would open up broader coverage for patients.
Aduhelm received what's known as “accelerated” approval last year because of its potential promise. But manufacturer Biogen is required to conduct a follow-up study to definitively answer whether Aduhelm truly slows the progression of Alzheimer’s. If that study is successful, FDA would grant full approval.
That would also open up Medicare coverage.
Aduhelm hit the market as the first new Alzheimer’s medication in nearly two decades. Initially priced at $56,000 a year, it was expected to quickly become a blockbuster drug, generating billions for Cambridge, Mass.-based Biogen.
But although the company slashed the price in half — to $28,000 a year — Aduhelm's rollout has been disastrous.
Pushback from politicians, physicians and insurers left the company with just $3 million in sales from Aduhelm last year. Doctors have been hesitant to prescribe it, given weak evidence that the drug slows the progression of Alzheimer's. Insurers have blocked or restricted coverage over the drug’s high price tag and uncertain benefit.
The CMS decision means that for Medicare to pay, patients taking Aduhelm medication will have to be part of clinical trials to assess the drug’s safety and effectiveness in slowing the progression of early-stage dementia.
The limits stayed on despite a massive lobbying push by the Alzheimer’s Association to change Medicare’s position, including outreach to members of Congress, online advertising and social media campaigns directed at the agency.
The association, the largest group of its kind, has received contributions from drugmakers, including Biogen.
|
https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/medicare-premiums-alzheimers-drug/507-d6f604a4-8893-4c51-8a74-d5d15a03d2c2
| 2022-04-08T05:26:42Z
|
krem.com
|
control
|
https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/medicare-premiums-alzheimers-drug/507-d6f604a4-8893-4c51-8a74-d5d15a03d2c2
| 1
| 1
|
green-iguana-35
| null |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.