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The January 6 Capitol Hill protests were more of a hoax than the Russian collusion. Thanks to the Democrat's blatant lies, innocent people who were doing nothing more than expressing their First Amendment rights are in jail awaiting trials while illegal immigrants— AKA criminals— are walking freely in the U.S.
Former FBI agent Kyle Seraphin is alleging that the FBI blocked the surveillance team from interviewing the person of interest regarding the pipe bomb found on J6.
According to Seraphin, the FBI established a connection between the suspect and a specific Metro fare card and license plate. However, the corrupt agency decided not to investigate the case further. Despite the severity of the case and the suspect still being on the loose for over three years, the FBI has declined to pursue leads on the situation.
Seraphin told the Daily Wire that shortly after J6, a counterintelligence team met him at a Virginia firehouse to brief him on his next surveillance target. The team reportedly used security footage tapes to identify the person of interest to a Metro station after the bombs were planted. They also could track the card the suspect used to access the Metro station. The transit card was used to determine which stop the suspect got off in Northern Virginia. From there, the person was seen entering a waiting car. The card and the vehicle were registered in the name of a retired Air Force chief master sergeant who was now working as a contractor with security clearance.
"Allegedly someone threw bombs around the Capitol which could have killed congressmen or a busload of nuns or anything, and the answer is you can't follow this guy around — you have to go to headquarters and read 'leads' where someone said 'I might've went to high school with some guy that was standing around the Capitol?'" Seraphin said.
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Seraphin said the FBI identified people "hanging out by a flag pole" by examining their ear lobes. He questioned the agency's determination to find the suspect, saying, "When they had the World Trade Center bombing in '93, they went under four stories of rubble and were able to find a partial VIN number that they used to track it down to the people responsible. And you're telling me you had a pristine, non-detonated bomb, and they couldn't find anything on it?"
He also questioned why the bureau had failed to identify the pipe bomber, given their modern-day technology and their skilled ability to capture individuals.
However, despite the government's hysteria over the Capitol Hill riots, the FBI ignored a case that could have killed thousands of people.
"The bureau is far too competent to fail this," Seraphin said, adding that his request to interview the suspect was denied.
The FBI secured extensive surveillance footage in the Capitol Hill area from January 6; however, the FBI has only made a few less significant images of the bomber public. Instead, the bureau has instructed agents to focus on more minor cases from the day.
During an interview with Tucker Carlson, conservative journalist Darren Beattie alleged that government officials were involved in the planting of pipe bombs in D.C. on J6. He says it was part of efforts to keep former President Trump from running for office again.
Beattie explained how surveillance video captured police officers being notified of a reported pipe bomb. With no urgency, he pointed out how it took the officers several minutes to even get out of their vehicles, completely unconcerned. After being alerted of a suspected pipe bomb in the area, the metro police allowed a group of children to cross the street and walk within feet of the park benches where the bomb was planted. Beattie then said a Capitol Hill police officer walked toward the bomb, took a picture of it, gave a thumbs-up sign, and then left.
He said this alone should have been a major scandal. But alas, no media news outlet picked it up.
Two pipe bombs were found near the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on J6. The devices never detonated.
House Judiciary Committee members demanded a review of the FBI's investigation into the pipe bomb incidents. Former head of the FBI's Washington Field Office, Steve D'Antuono, admitted the placement of the pipe bombs was a "diversionary" tactic for the Capitol Hill protests.
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https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2024/01/31/fbi-blocked-interview-with-j6-pipe-bomber-n2634405
| 2024-01-31T23:06:42Z
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You can place bets on pop start Taylor Swift for this year’s Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.
Bettors can bet on everything from the winner of the game, to attendance numbers, to hundreds of other bets, including ones that have nothing to do with the game itself.
Think, what song will Usher perform first during the halftime show? What color will the Gatorade be that’s dumped on the winning team? Yes, you can even bet on the coin toss, and who might be shown on camera first during the national anthem.
This year, sports betting companies are adding Taylor Swift prop bets to the mix.
SEE MORE: 'Swiftonomics': How the NFL, Kansas City have cashed in on Kelce-Swift
For example, BetUS is offering a number of Swift-related bets, including how many times she might be shown on camera during the national anthem, and whether or not Swift and Travis Kelce will appear in a Super Bowl commercial together. One bet you can wager on involves whether or not Kelce will propose to Swift at the game.
Currently, 38 states and D.C. allow sports betting, according to the American Gaming Association.
But not all states allow you to bet on things that don’t involve the actual football game.
@scrippsnews From touchdowns to Taylor 🏈 Sports betting apps are offering prop bets on more than just the winner of #SuperBowl LVIII this year. Here are some of the things you can bet on. #sports #TaylorSwift ♬ original sound - Scripps News
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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https://www.turnto23.com/bet-on-taylor-swift-unique-prop-bets-offered-for-super-bowl-lviii
| 2024-01-31T23:06:42Z
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A look from Maui six months after devastating wildfires By Debbie Elliott Published January 31, 2024 at 5:39 PM EST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:06 As we approach the six-month anniversary of the Maui fires, we look at the biggest issues that people on the island are still facing. Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.wqcs.org/2024-01-31/a-look-from-maui-six-months-after-devastating-wildfires
| 2024-01-31T23:06:42Z
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LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Fans have been wondering for days whether Taylor Swift will make it to the Super Bowl next week to cheer on boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs and, if so, how many times she'll show up on TV during the game. They can speculate all they want, but they won't be able to bet on it legally in the United States.
Those types of wagers can be made offshore with sportsbooks such as BetUS, which is based in Costa Rica, and potentially in the Canadian province of Ontario. BetMGM public relations manager John Ewing said he was waiting for word from Canadian authorities there if such bets will be OK.
But in the U.S., where betting laws vary from state to state, the general rule is that wagering is limited to what happens on the field. A handful of states allow bets to be placed on the color of Gatorade dumped on the winning coach — red or pink is this year's plus-260 favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook — but even that type of wager is not allowed in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas, the longtime epicenter of sports betting in the U.S., has some of the strictest rules regarding the kinds of wagers made.
Swift's romance with Kelce became one of the prominent stories this NFL season and she has attended several Chiefs games, including their victory in the AFC championship game at Baltimore on Sunday, where she joined the team for its on-field celebration and greeted Kelce with a kiss. Since she's performing in Japan the weekend of the Super Bowl, fans began wondering whether she'll make it to Las Vegas to watch Kelce and Kansas City face the San Francisco 49ers.
It seems only natural they would be able to put money on it in Vegas.
As a matter of principle, though, Ewing said it makes sense not to allow bets on things apart from the on-field action, such as the length of the national anthem.
"We don’t want any subjectivity in a prop (bet),” Ewing said. “We want it to be either it won or it didn’t win or went over or went under, and that’s the concern for regulators as well. That’s why typically we stick to if it’s in the box score, it can be posted."
Caesars Sportsbook assistant trading director Adam Pullen’s position is the more bets, the merrier.
“We’ve come a long way, but some stuff like we’re talking about here (about Swift) or betting on elections, there still might be a few years before we get to that point,” Pullen said. “But I like anything that drives action and gets people to bet. But we’re dependent on what the regulators in each particular state has to say.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.actionnewsjax.com/sports/us-sportsbooks-wont/ZW5TNO4O45MH5OSUCBD2EHN66A/
| 2024-01-31T23:06:41Z
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3Bridges is offering free training to people who volunteer in aged care services.
Volunteer Essentials in Aged Care (Commonwealth Home Support Program) is open to anyone interested in becoming a volunteer.
Rights and responsibilities include professional boundaries - an overview of privacy and confidentiality, effective communication - empathy, dignity and respect, cross cultural communication, duty of care, dignity and risk, wellness, customer service and managing complaints, aged care reforms, and code of conduct.
The first free session is on February 14 from 9am-3.30pm at the meeting room, Cronulla Central Shopping Centre.
Another free session at the same venue is on February 21 from 9am-1pm and covers professional boundaries care staff and volunteers.
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https://www.theleader.com.au/story/8502877/free-training-for-aged-care-volunteers/
| 2024-01-31T23:06:42Z
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The state announced 111 parks and recreation projects throughout Illinois will receive a portion of $55 million in state funding this year.
The Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments to help further outdoor recreation projects.
Gov. JB Pritzker’s office noted $18.7 million of the funding will go toward projects in 32 economically or physically distressed communities. Those categories are calculated based on land value, poverty rates and whether the area has experienced a natural disaster or catastrophic event.
The awards included a $600,000 grant for the Carbondale Park District in Jackson County, which will oversee a renovation of Crispus Attucks Park that includes the replacement of playground equipment that will make it disabled-accessible.
Harristown, in Macon County, will receive $150,000 to build a park and playground with a pavilion, sitting areas, walking path, disabled-accessible playground, and a basketball and pickleball court.
The city of Toulon in Stark County will receive $600,000 to renovate a city park to include a splash pad, resurfacing a half-basketball court, and making a full basketball court a multi-use space. Playground equipment will also be made disabled-accessible.
Projects in 45 counties will receive funding from the OSLAD program this year.
A full list of local entities receiving OSLAD grants can be found here.
Comptroller urges awareness of tax scams
State Comptroller Susana Mendoza is warning Illinoisans of email, telephone and mail tax scams as the 2024 filing season begins.
One scam, for example, may contain a letter in a cardboard envelope with an IRS letterhead that contains the text “about your unclaimed refund.” That letter may request personal information such as a photo of a driver’s license or Social Security number. The contact information on the letter, however, does not belong to the IRS.
Telephone scammers often target recent immigrants and threaten arrest or deportation if the person doesn’t send payment, often in the form of a gift card or wire transfer.
“Remember, neither the state nor the federal government will call taxpayers, threatening them and demanding payment via a wire transfer, or credit or debit card,” Mendoza said in a statement.
Mendoza’s office noted some Illinoisans have been targeted for false unemployment claims. The state sends 1099-G forms to people who have claimed unemployment. If you receive such a form but did not collect such benefits, you can contact the Illinois Department of Employment Security to report fraud.
Email and text message scams use the IRS logo seeking personal or financial information. Anyone receiving such an email can report it to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
Individuals should also avoid tax preparers who are unwilling to sign the forms they have prepared.
Once tax returns are filed, Illinoisans can track their state tax refund at myrefund.illinoiscomptroller.gov.
New State Police facility designs
The Illinois State Police released designs for a new headquarters and forensic laboratory in Joliet this week. The structures are expected to cost a combined $76.5 million, funded through the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois capital infrastructure program that originally passed in 2019.
The two buildings are approximately 75,000 square feet combined on 12 acres of land adjacent to an existing ISP building and firing range in Will County.
The new forensics lab will replace the current Joliet facility that was built in 1964 and will include space for testing DNA, firearms, latent prints, controlled substances, footwear, tire tracks and toxicology, along with areas for processing crime scene evidence.
The new facility will house an ISP investigation zone and serve as headquarters for ISP’s Troop 3, which serves from Will and Grundy counties to the state’s northern border, excluding DuPage County. The building will contain several offices, training rooms, interview rooms, an evidence area, and a large garage for vehicle storage and inspection work, according to ISP.
The project is scheduled to go out for bids in the spring.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
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https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2024-01-31/capitol-briefs-state-announces-parks-funding-comptroller-warns-of-tax-scams-state-police-unveil-building-plan
| 2024-01-31T23:06:42Z
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Subscribe to The College Football Enquirer
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Dan Wetzel, Ross Dellenger & SI’s Pat Forde devote today’s episode to Tennessee’s lawsuit against the NCAA after reports that the University of Tennessee is under investigation for NIL violations. The school has received help from both the Tennessee and Virginia attorneys general in a lawsuit against the NCAA in attempts to get a court’s ruling to absolve them. The guys dive into whether or not Tennessee committed any violations, as well as if the NCAA can retroactively enforce any punishments.
The podcast then debates about whether or not the current college athletics structure should involve guardrails and, if found guilty, whether or not the NCAA could invoke the death penalty on the Volunteers.
Later in the show, with March Madness nearing, the podcast takes a look at this weekend’s packed college hoops action.
To close out the episode, The People's Court opens up a case on a gassy airplane passenger.
1:00 - Tennessee is suing the NCAA over NIL violations
48:40 - College basketball is heating up with a big weekend
54:08 - The People’s Court: Airplane flatulence
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2024 MLB season]
Follow Dan @DanWetzel
Follow Pat @ByPatForde
Follow Ross @RossDellenger
🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube
Check out all the episodes of the College Football Enquirer and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts
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https://www.wsbradio.com/news/national/tennessee-v-ncaa/KYY2QBEEW7C7QNZDZWY3YRWDJI/
| 2024-01-31T23:06:43Z
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(MENAFN- EIN Presswire)
The CAHME Mentorship Circle (CMC) is an opportunity for model programs to mentor other programs who are seeking continuous quality improvement or accreditation.
The University of Phoenix's MHA program demonstrates a commitment to furthering CAHME's mission of advancing the quality of healthcare management education.” - Dr. Anthony Stanowski, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of CAHME.
SPRING HOUSE, PA, 19477, January 31, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) recognizes the University of Phoenix's Master of Health Administration (MHA) program as CAHME Mentorship Circle (CMC) Program. CMC designated programs engage in mentorship, best practice dissemination, and other activities that support continuous improvement in healthcare management education.
“CMC is not just an honor, it's a commitment to the field,” said Dr. Anthony Stanowski, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of CAHME.
“Becoming a CMC Program means that the diverse voices of our students and faculty will contribute to a national dialogue to improve the effectiveness of all CAHME accredited programs," shared University of Phoenix College of Health Professions Associate Dean, Graduate Programs, Dr. Heather Steiness.
University of Phoenix's Master of Health Administration prepares early- to mid-careerists in the health sector, who desire to pursue a degree while employed, with the competencies necessary to grow professionally, facilitate cross-system transformation of the sector as driven by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI) Triple Aim, and engage with their communities. The program aims to foster health sector leaders who are authentic, transparent, and creative – who think critically and with agility, comfortable at the intersection of industry expertise and academic scholarship.
“Being a CMS Program allows us to contribute to the continuous improvement of all CAHME accredited programs while continuing to evolve ours," stated Dr. Mark Johannsson, dean, College of Health Professions.
About CAHME
Since 1968, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) has served the public interest by advancing the quality of healthcare management education globally. The 143 CAHME Accredited programs, and those that are in candidacy, the certified programs in population health management and in healthcare quality and safety are leading the field in setting the standards to advance the quality of healthcare management education.
CAHME works with leading academic programs and numerous healthcare practitioners to ensure that graduates entering the healthcare field have undergone an educational process meeting rigorous, measurable standards for effectiveness. The result is a formal academic education focusing on key competencies, plus practical experiences. This enables new graduates to quickly add value to an organization and grow into future leaders. CAHME is the only organization recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation to grant accreditation to individual academic programs offering a professional master's degree in healthcare management education.
For more information, visit cahme.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor's and master's degree programs, and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix .
University of Phoenix MHA Program
University of Phoenix's Master of Health Administration prepares early- to mid-careerists in the health sector, who desire to pursue a degree while employed, with the competencies necessary to grow professionally, facilitate cross-system transformation of the sector as driven by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI) Triple Aim, and engage with their communities. The program aims to foster health sector leaders who are authentic, transparent, and creative – who think critically and with agility, comfortable at the intersection of industry expertise and academic scholarship.
Dana Alexander
CAHME
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MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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https://menafn.com/1107793839/University-Of-Phoenixs-Master-Of-Health-Administration-MHA-Joins-The-CAHME-Mentorship-Circle
| 2024-01-31T23:06:44Z
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Love Island All stars Demi Jones opens up about her relationship with Luis Morrison after villa exit
The 25-year-old reality star admitted that she and Luis formed a ‘special bond’ during their time in the villa
Love Island’s Demi Jones has opened up about her relationship with Luis Morrison, saying they were the “only ones who really liked each other” on the show, despite being dumped from the Island.
Demi and Luis left the ongoing All Stars series last week, following a dramatic recoupling and while the two weren’t coupled up on the show - they did get quite close in the villa.
In an interview with Digital Spy, the 25-year-old reality star admitted that she and Luis "actually formed such a nice, special bond in Love Island".
"We were actually the only ones who really liked each other, so I think it was such a shock for all the islanders, as well as ourselves, that we were dumped," she said.
"Because everyone was saying, ‘Oh Dems, you and Luis, you really like each other. You’re going to do so well in this competition’. So I think naturally, we were a bit more relaxed. We thought, ‘Do you know what? We’re the only ones that actually like each other’. So it was such a shock."
"But, obviously, since coming out [of the show], it’s difficult. I live in Portsmouth, he lives in Manchester, and all your work commitments are super, super crazy," she added.
"But I would definitely say I’m definitely still single, Luis is definitely still single. I only met him three weeks ago, guys! But we are still getting to know each other, so we’ll just see what happens."
Demi confirmed that she and Luis have been on a “little date night”, adding: “I wouldn’t say it was the full-blown works, but we definitely went out for a few drinks, got a little bit tipsy and had a little bit of a boogie! So yeah, it was nice."
On Monday (22 January), Demi and Luis were booted off the ITV show after the arrival of new bombshells Arabella and Tyler.
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At the end of episode eight, Arabella coupled up with Chris while Tyler chose his ex-girlfriend Kaz, which left both Demi and Luis single and led to the surprise exit of the two islanders. While the pair were sad to be leaving, they were glad to be doing so as a unit.
During her exit interview, Demi said: “Although it’s early days, Luis and I get on so well. We are not putting any pressure on anything but we have already arranged our first date; we’re going to go out for dinner in London, go out for drinks and go out clubbing with our friends after.”
Luis added: “I’m gutted to be leaving the Villa but I’m so happy to be leaving with Demi. Even though we weren’t coupled up, I wish we could’ve stayed longer as I thought we were a solid couple. I loved the time we shared together and overall I’ve had the best experience, it was even better than my time on series one.”
Love Island: All Stars airs nightly at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
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https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/love-island-all-stars-demi-jones-luis-morrison-b2488092.html
| 2024-01-31T23:06:44Z
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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
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High-tech aerial mapping reveals England's hedgerow landscape
Scientists have harnessed cutting-edge technology to produce the most comprehensive map of hedgerows across the length and breadth of England. The researchers at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) hope this innovative mapping will guide planting and restoration of these vulnerable habitats to support wildlife and mitigate climate change.
Hedgerows have been integral to our rural landscape since the Bronze Age, traditionally marking out boundaries and keeping in livestock. They contain hundreds of plant species, provide homes for nesting birds, small mammals and insects, and can capture and store large amounts of carbon.
However, approximately half of Britain's hedgerows were lost between the 1940s and 1990s, mostly in England, due to development and agricultural intensification. Recent years have witnessed a new threat—a lack of maintenance, resulting in gappy hedges or overgrown lines of trees.
Dr. Richard Broughton, who led the UKCEH hedgerow map project, says, "Hedgerows are not only an intrinsic part of England's rural heritage, they can also be a real asset in helping to tackle the biodiversity and climate crises."
About the data
Mapping the country's hedgerows is difficult due to the scale involved, and previous analyses have relied on estimates scaled up from field surveys of smaller areas. UKCEH's new map, derived from aerial laser scanning of England's entire landscape, serves as a baseline for the amount of hedgerow, as well as providing important new detail.
It not only provides precise information on the quantity and length of hedgerows, but also reveals height measurements for the first time—a crucial indicator of hedge quality.
The data will be important to guide future habitat restoration. In its Environmental Improvement Plan, the Government has pledged to support farmers to create or restore 30,000 miles of hedgerows a year by 2037 and 45,000 miles a year by 2050.
Dr. Broughton notes, "The new map enables us to see where hedgerows are sparse and identify sites for targeted planting and restoration efforts, linking up habitats and improving the hedgerow network. It can also be used to estimate the potential amount of carbon that hedgerows could remove from the atmosphere and store."
Most hedgerows, whether managed or unmanaged, are between 1 and 6 meters in height, and the new UKCEH data calculates there are 390,000 km of such hedgerows in England.
Additionally, UKCEH identified another 67,000 km of lines of vegetation below 1m, which may be degraded, cut or newly-planted hedges, and a further 185,000 km above 6m tall, which includes mature hedgerow trees and many overgrown hedges that have become lines of young trees.
Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire have some large towns and motorways, areas of open hilly countryside and lots of woodland, so while they are well-wooded countie,s they have relatively less arable farmland surrounded by hedgerows.
- Laser scanning shows a total of 390,000 km of hedgerows (1-6 meters tall) exist on field boundaries in England—enough to go around the world almost 10 times. These important habitats support biodiversity and store carbon.
- The South-west boasts the highest hedgerow densities, led by Cornwall with an average of 5.1 km per 1km x 1km square.
- The lowest densities, excluding major urban areas, are found in Surrey (1.2 km), Hampshire (1.5 km), and Berkshire (1.7 km) per 1km x 1km square.
About the technology
The step-change in hedgerow monitoring was made possible by the Environment Agency's release of LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) remote sensing data for the whole of England, collected over five years as part of its national mapping work. UKCEH scientists used the JASMIN supercomputer to process the vast amount of data from across England.
Dr. Broughton anticipates that advances in satellite and drone technologies will improve the quality and availability of mapping images, making it possible to carry out detailed remote surveys more quickly and easily.
More information: R.K. Broughton et al, UKCEH Land Cover Plus: Hedgerows 2016-2021 (England), NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre (2024). DOI: 10.5285/d90a3733-2949-4dfa-8ac2-a88aef8699be
To delve deeper into the importance of hedgerows, UKCEH has recorded a podcast as part of its new series Counting the Earth. It includes interviews with Dr. Jo Staley and Dr. John Redhead of UKCEH, Devon farmer Robert Wolton and hedge-layer Alex Musson.
UKCEH's Land Cover Maps Plus: Hedgerows dataset is available to download from the Environmental Information Data Centre website.
Provided by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
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https://phys.org/news/2024-01-high-tech-aerial-reveals-england.html
| 2024-01-31T23:06:45Z
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Donald Trump has yet to officially clinch the Republican presidential nomination, but he's already begun to tease about a running mate. The NPR Politics Podcast dives into who might be on his list.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Donald Trump has yet to officially clinch the Republican presidential nomination, but he's already begun to tease about a running mate. The NPR Politics Podcast dives into who might be on his list.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/2024-01-31/trump-says-vp-pick-wont-impact-the-race-so-whats-he-looking-for-in-a-running-mate
| 2024-01-31T23:06:45Z
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Tommy Dreamer Explains Why Roman Reigns Is Still The Face Of WWE
While Seth Rollins would like to have a say on it, Cody Rhodes' Royal Rumble victory last Saturday seemed to once again put him on a collision course with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, who defeated Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 39 last year. And with the chance to avenge his loss to Reigns perhaps in the cards this year, it once again has fans and pundits asking the question of whether Rhodes is ready to take the next step and supplant Reigns, not only as champion but as the face of WWE.
That opinion is not one shared by Tommy Dreamer. While discussing a potential Rhodes-Reigns rematch during the latest episode of "Busted Open Radio," Dreamer made the case for why the "head of the table" is still the top dog in WWE's hierarchy. In doing so, Dreamer also appeared to lay groundwork regarding why Reigns could beat Rhodes again, should Rhodes choose him over Rollins for his WrestleMania opponent.
"Honestly, I feel, still, [that] Roman is the face of the WWE," Dreamer said. "I was talking about his drawing power, I was talking about the interest. I don't care that he defends it, and they even said it on commentary. 'You people complain that he only defends it once a month or only on PLEs.' Well, somebody beat him. His performance at the Royal Rumble was great, and for a guy who does not wrestle that much, he still goes out there and crushes it."
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "Busted Open Radio" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription
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https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1506801/tommy-dreamer-explains-roman-reigns-still-face-wwe/
| 2024-01-31T23:06:48Z
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Citation
Pharr JR, Chien LC, Gakh M, Flatt JD, Kittle K, Terry E. LGBT Health 2024; ePub(ePub): ePub.
Copyright
(Copyright © 2024, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)
DOI
10.1089/lgbt.2022.0349
PMID
38285526
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to conduct a moderated mediation analysis to understand further the complex pathways through which structural stigma in the form of transgender sports bans was associated with suicidal ideation and behaviors among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 1033 adults who identified as SGM from across the 50 U.S. states and Washington, DC was conducted between January 28 and February 7, 2022. Distal discrimination distress was the mediation variable; individual resilience and social resources were the moderation variables. Familiarity with transgender sports bans represented structural stigma. The conditional process analysis was applied to build a moderated mediation model. Both conditional direct and indirect effects were computed by estimated coefficients. All models were based on linear regression. RESULTS: Our final model explained nearly half (46%) of the variation in suicidal ideation and behaviors between those SGM adults familiar and those not familiar with transgender sports bans. Social resources significantly moderated the conditional indirect effect of distal discrimination distress (adjusted estimate = -0.23; 95% confidence interval = -0.37 to -0.08). CONCLUSION: Both discrimination distress and social resources influenced the association between structural stigma as measured by familiarity with transgender sports bans and suicidal ideation and behaviors among SGM adults. FINDINGS support the need for future research examining the pathway between structural stigma and suicidal ideation and behaviors among SGM adults and how minority stress, social safety, and other constructs shape this pathway.
Language: en
Keywords
resilience; minority stress; sexual and gender minority (SGM); social safety; structural stigma; suicidal ideation and behaviors
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https://www.safetylit.org/citations/index.php?fuseaction=citations.viewdetails&citationIds%5B%5D=citjournalarticle_782793_18
| 2024-01-31T23:06:48Z
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Broadway star Hinton Battle, who played the original Scarecrow at the 1978 "The Wiz", has died at 67. He was a three-time Tony Award winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Broadway star Hinton Battle, who played the original Scarecrow at the 1978 "The Wiz", has died at 67. He was a three-time Tony Award winner.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.wqcs.org/2024-01-31/broadway-legend-hinton-battle-who-originally-played-scarecrow-in-the-wiz-has-died
| 2024-01-31T23:06:48Z
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If you’ve got some old Mason jars around the house (or really any glass jar), you might be wondering what to do with them. Instead of stashing them away in the attic or throwing them in the recycling bin, why not repurpose them into something totally unique and different?
Check out this super-easy, DIY weekend project that will help you transform a regular old Mason jar into a glow-in-the-dark fairy light. Your kids will love how they sparkle and shimmer at night, and it’s the perfect craft for when you’ve got a little free time on your hands.
What You’ll Need:
- Glass jar
- Glow-in-the-dark paint
- Paintbrushes (preferably longer-length brushes)
- Paper or old cardboard (as a workspace to avoid a mess)
- 45 minutes to an hour of your time
Supplies:
How To Make A DIY Mason Jar Fairy Light
Crafting blog DIY Joy lays out the steps in their post, and it couldn’t be easier. Using the glow-in-the-dark paint and the long paintbrush, simply paint dots of varying sizes all over the inside of the Mason jar. Here’s an idea of what they look like, from DIY Joy’s Twitter/X account:
Glowing DIY Idea – Mason Jar Patio Lights Tutorial @ DIY Joy #diy #crafts #masonjar #diyideas pic.twitter.com/EJF5g0MA5k
— DIY Joy (@DIYjoyCRAFTS) August 6, 2015
Note that the glow-in-the-dark paint will need to be “activated,” so DIY Joy recommends drying your jar in the sun. The sun’s UV rays will “charge” the paint so that it glows as intended. The result? A beautiful and unique fairy light!
If you’re short on time or just not that crafty (hey, it’s OK!), there are even easier ways to make fairy light Mason jars.
YouTuber Amanda of Love Crafted Decor shows how to make a snowy winter fairy light:
To make this one, just add glitter, Mod Podge and a strand of battery-operated string lights.
TikToker Mimi (@mimithemom1) makes it even easier, no paint, glue or glitter required. Simply stuff a strand of battery-operated string lights inside a clean Mason jar, pop the lid back on and ta-da! You have a beautiful fairy light.
@mimithemom1 #fairylights #lights #homedecor #fairylightsphotography #fairylightsdecor #photography #decor #love #masonjarlights #diy #decoration #mom ⬠original sound – paraagonfilms
What do you think? Will you be adding a DIY fairy light to your home?
MORE: These Button Flower Cards Are The Perfect Craft For Little Ones
Make a fun DIY Mason jar ‘fairy light’ with your kids originally appeared on Simplemost.com
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This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories.
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https://www.turnto23.com/easy-diy-make-mason-jar-fairy-lights-with-your-children-2016-05
| 2024-01-31T23:06:48Z
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Celebrated Sutherland Shire singing teacher Janette Gould passed away in late December 2023 aged 90.
Born in Broken Hill NSW in 1933 Janette continued to teach well into her 80's, listening to the best and worst of Shire vocal talent.
She was meant to be named "Janet" however, when her father went to register her birth, the clerk at the office of Births, Deaths and Marriages made a spelling mistake and so she became "Janette".
Born in the midst of the Great Depression. her father said she was his 'lucky charm" as after she was born, he was never out of work again.
Her family were all musical and her Grandma had a radio program on the ABC, The Melodists,with many talented performers appearing on the program, including a young June Bronhill, with whom Janette would become lifelong friends.
She made her first singing performance on radio when she was three and she also performed on stage at a very young age travelling to Sydney many times to compete in the Sydney Eisteddfod where she won many prizes in singing and piano.
In 1949 the family moved to Sydney and settled in Penshurst where her parents would remain until her mothers death after which her father moved to Cronulla.
Janette worked in Murdoch's department store in Sydney where she met a young man named Max Gould, marrying and moving to a home in Waratah St Oatley -Janette used to visit the Double Bay home of acclaimed singing teacher, Madame Marianne Mathy, who was head of Opera at the Conservatorium for lessons.
In 1969, Janette's mother, Pansy was in poor health so they moved to Cronulla where the family home still remains.
She commenced teaching singing at Cronulla and, before long, she was very much in demand. using the Marianne Mathy method and at one stage, she had a 12 month waiting list of people wishing to take lessons.
She also performed numerous leading roles with the Regals Musical Society and, later, Sutherland Shire Light Opera Company of which she was one of the founding members. She also performed on the Sydney club circuit.
Realising she had many talented students who weren't ready or confidant enough to perform in their own right, together with her friend Shirley Ball, they formed the Jay Gee Entertainers, where many students honed their skills and confidence and they performed around the Sydney Clubs.
Janette took much pride in her appearance and famously had the same hairdresser, Ann Karlos, for over30 years.
Janette was a great friend, teacher and mentor to so many as was evidenced by the words and magnificent performance by her former star pupil Mark Vincent at her funeral, channel 7 reporter and singer Steve Hart also spoke.
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https://www.theleader.com.au/story/8505151/remembering-janette-gould/
| 2024-01-31T23:06:48Z
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Joe Dumars went to a game a couple of weeks ago that came down to the very last shot, and he thought it was one of the best games of the season to this point. Final score: Denver 102, Boston 100.
It was a reminder that defense still can get played in the NBA.
Amid a flurry of big individual performances — Luka Doncic scoring 73, Joel Embiid scoring 70, Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns each scoring 62 — in the last two weeks alone, Dumars said Wednesday that NBA officials aren't alarmed by such numbers because the league's scoring average is up only slightly compared to last season.
“It's where the game is today,” said Dumars, the NBA's executive vice president and head of basketball operations. “It's the pace of the game. It's the amount of 3s guys are shooting now. You're going to have some offensive eruptions like that.”
There hadn't been an instance since April 1978 of two players scoring at least 60 points in the same day. That is, until it happened twice last week: Embiid and Towns had their huge games on Jan. 22, Doncic and Booker put on their scoring shows on Jan. 26.
Having those events happen twice in the span of a few days is a statistical oddity, for certain. But the numbers show it's not really much more than that.
Scoring leaguewide this season is up just 0.78% over last season entering Wednesday, from 114.7 points per game to 115.6 points per game. The jump was far bigger last season, when scoring rose 3.7% over the rate of 110.6 points per game that the league saw in 2021-22.
There have been more high-scoring games, but the averages suggest things also tend to balance out. Entering Wednesday, there had been 78 instances of teams scoring at least 135 points in a game this season — already the second most for a full season in league history and on pace to smash the record of 112, set last season. The previous mark was 74 games of 135 or more, done in 2019-20.
“We're going to see offensive eruptions with this kind of pace and the amount of 3s people shoot,” Dumars said. “But there's no push here at the league office from me or anyone else that we want to see a certain score. I left that Boston-Denver game saying, ‘wow, great game.’ That's what fans want. Fans want to leave a game or watch a game and at the end say, ‘that was incredible.’ The score is secondary to that. Fans just want to see great games.”
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.actionnewsjax.com/sports/with-scoring-up-less/5QFZ254JCBNCYJSEAYKGVDSC2Y/
| 2024-01-31T23:06:48Z
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(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highland Copper Company Inc. (TSXV: HI; OTCQB: HDRSF) (“ Highland ” or the“ Company ”) is pleased to announce that after a yearlong review of the permitted Copperwood Project (the“ Project ”), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (“ MEDC ”) has proposed a $50 million grant to be funded by the Strategic Site Readiness Program (“ SSRP ”).
On January 30, 2024, the MEDC, alongside Highland, had the opportunity to present the Project to the Board of the Michigan Strategic Fund (“ MSF ”) for grant consideration. The MSF is the first level of approval, followed by final approval at the Appropriations Committees in both the Michigan House and Senate. Following constructive discussions with the MSF Board, Highland looks forward to addressing further questions regarding Copperwood as we continue to progress through the approval process.
“Highland Copper is thrilled to be in consideration for a $50 million grant from the State of Michigan for our Copperwood Project. We had the opportunity to discuss the project yesterday with the Michigan Strategic Fund Board, from whom approval is required. The MSF Board had a range of questions that we look forward to addressing over the coming period in anticipation of a successful outcome,” stated Barry O'Shea, Highland Copper's Interim CEO.“We believe the economic impact of the project will be transformational for the Upper Peninsula and we are thankful for the unwavering support from the local communities.”
The SSRP program is funded through the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund (“ SOAR ”) and provides economic assistance for the purpose of creating investment-ready sites to attract and promote investment in the state. The Copperwood Project is strongly aligned with Michigan's focus on mobility and electrification and has the potential to be a key source of U.S. domestic copper to supply the ongoing clean energy transition.
The Copperwood Project team has been present in the Western Upper Peninsula for over a decade, working through the state-led permitting process with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and leading to the announcement of the Project's fully permitted status in early 2023. In addition, through ongoing regular and transparent communications with local stakeholders, the Project has garnered strong local support. Over 20 local villages, cities, townships, and counties as well as numerous local businesses and organizations submitted resolutions and letters of support that accompanied the Project's application for the State grant. A number of the elected officials were present alongside Highland Copper at the MSF Board meeting on Tuesday to demonstrate support for the Project on behalf of their respective government units.
Once in operation, the contribution of the Copperwood Project to the local economy will be transformative, providing approximately 380 well-paying jobs as well as substantial direct, indirect and induced economic benefits from additional spending in an area that has suffered from industry closures in the past decades. Mining has been a part of the Upper Peninsula's economic fabric since the 19th century and remains as important as ever.
About Highland Copper Company
Highland Copper Company Inc. is a Canadian company focused on exploring and developing copper projects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A. The Company owns the Copperwood deposit through long-term mineral leases and 34% of the White Pine North project. The Company also owns surface rights securing access to the deposit and providing space for infrastructure as required. The Company has 736,363,619 common shares issued and outstanding. Its common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "HI" and trade on the OTCQB Venture Market under symbol "HDRSF".
More information about the Company is available on the Company's website at and on SEDAR at .
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains“forward-looking statements” and“forward-looking information” (collectively“forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements include, without limitation, statements with respect to: (a) the anticipated approval of the grant; (b) projected employment benefits of the Copperwood Project; (c) the anticipated economic benefits to the local and state economies resulting from the construction and operation of the Copperwood Project; and (d) that timing of the next presentation to the MSF Board. The forward-looking statements were prepared based in part on the Company's construction and operation budget for the Copperwood Project, which are summarized in the Company's technical report entitled“Feasibility Study Update Copperwood Project Michigan, USA” dated April 20, 2023 available on SEDARPlus (the“Technical Report”). The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, including those set out in the Technical Report, assumptions regarding the location of employees and sources of products and services, and assumptions built into the IMPLAN's model for projecting direct and indirect benefits. These underlying assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Important factors that could materially impact the Company's expectations include: delays in the timing of presentation to the MSF Board; delays in the receipt of approvals of MSF Board; the fact that the approval of the MSF Board for the grant is uncertain, and may not occur; the fact that the even if a grant is approved, it may not be approved in the amount sought; any grant is subject to ratification by the Michigan State House and Senate, for which the outcome is uncertain; uncertainties in the timing of development of the Copperwood Project; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; availability of services, materials and skilled labour to complete construction and operate the Copperwood Project; effects of regulation by governmental agencies; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs and the effects of inflation; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; construction and other delays, construction, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from those estimated or projected, general market and industry conditions, and the risks set out in the Company's public disclosure documents filed on SEDARPlus. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information or media requests, please contact:
Barry O'Shea, Interim CEO
Email: ...
Website:
MENAFN31012024004107003653ID1107793840
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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https://menafn.com/1107793840/Michigan-Economic-Development-Corporation-Proposes-50-Million-Grant-For-Highland-CopperS-Copperwood-Project
| 2024-01-31T23:06:50Z
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — President Joe Biden will visit the eastern Ohio community that was devastated by a fiery train derailment almost one year ago, accepting an invitation from the East Palestine mayor to see firsthand how the cleanup of spilled toxic chemicals and the recovery are coming along.
Mayor Trent Conaway, a conservative who does not support Biden, said Wednesday he extended the invitation to the Democratic president because he thinks the visit will be good for his community.
“I'm as red as they come. I'm as conservative as they come. Sometimes I have to do what's best for the people so, yes, that's why I invited him,” Conaway said in an interview with The Associated Press.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier Wednesday that Biden would visit sometime in February. She said the White House and local officials were still hashing out timing for Biden's long-awaited trip.
The Feb. 3, 2023, derailment forced thousands of people from their homes near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. Area residents still have lingering fears about potential health effects from the toxic chemicals that spilled in the crash and from the vinyl chloride that was released a few days after the crash to keep five tank cars from exploding.
The absence of a visit by Biden, who is campaigning for reelection in November, had become a subject of persistent questioning at the White House, as well as among residents in East Palestine. Some residents have said they felt forgotten as time marched by and as they watched Biden fly to the scenes of other disasters, such as the wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui and hurricanes in Florida.
East Palestine resident Joe Bethuy, a 36-year-old steelworker and a Republican, said he was disappointed in the Biden administration’s handling of the derailment and the president's delay in visiting, adding that all he had to do “was show up just for an hour or something.”
Bethuy and friend Jeremy Smith, who moved to East Palestine after the derailment, spoke to an Associated Press reporter inside Sprinklz on Top, a downtown diner.
“I don’t know what the point is really," Smith said of Biden's visit. “It’s kind of a year late.”
Several weeks after the derailment, former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine and criticized the federal response under Biden as a "betrayal." He also donated cleaning supplies and Trump-branded bottled water. Trump currently is the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump criticized Biden for planning to visit “a year late, and only to develop some political credibility because EVERYTHING else he has done has been such a DISASTER. I know those great people, I was there when it counted, and his reception won’t be a warm one."
The Biden administration defended its response right after the toxic freight train derailment, even as local leaders and members of Congress demanded that more be done. The White House said then that it had "mobilized a robust, multi-agency effort to support the people of East Palestine, Ohio," and it noted that officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies were at the rural site within hours even though Biden didn't immediately visit.
Asked at the end of last week about a potential Biden visit to Ohio, Jean-Pierre said he would visit “when it is appropriate or helps ... the community for him to be there.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s in a rural area, urban area, suburban area, red state, blue state, the president has always been there to ... assist and be there for the community,” Jean-Pierre added. “So, when it is helpful, he certainly will do that.”
Though the administration has defended its response, Biden has not declared a federal disaster in East Palestine, which remains a sticking point for residents. Such a declaration would unlock additional federal funding and assistance that people could apply for to help rebuild their lives.
But state and federal officials say a federal disaster declaration has not been issued because they are designed to help cover unmet needs no one is paying for after a disaster. In this case, there are not as many unmet needs in the government's eyes because Norfolk Southern is paying the bills and compensating residents for the damage to their homes and businesses.
Biden ordered federal agencies to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for the derailment and appointed an official from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to oversee East Palestine's recovery.
Norfolk Southern has estimated that it will cost the company more than $1.1 billion to remove all the hazardous chemicals, help the community and deal with lawsuits and related penalties. Insurance will likely cover much of that, but the total is expected to grow.
Reforms have been proposed in Congress but the bill calling for federal standards for trackside detectors that help spot mechanical problems, additional inspections by qualified workers and at least two people on every freight train crew has stalled. The railroads have lobbied against several of the provisions they believe aren't related to this crash, and many Republicans pushed to wait until after the final National Transportation Safety Board report on the derailment later this year.
“In the past, there have been times when Congress stood up against the railroad lobby and stepped up on railroad safety. They should do that now,'' Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a call with reporters Wednesday.
___
Associated Press writers Josh Funk in Omaha, Neb., Patrick Orsagos in East Palestine, Ohio, and Matthew Daly in Washitngton contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.wsbradio.com/news/politics/biden-accepts-mayors/JWZLC6FVDJDIL5YDY55GCZLE34/
| 2024-01-31T23:06:50Z
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Grandparents hilariously stumped by daughter’s pregnancy announcement
Mother captures moment her parents completely missed her pregnancy announcement
Related: YouTuber Trisha Paytas hosts elaborate gender reveal for second baby
A mother has captured the hilarious moment her parents completely misunderstood her pregnancy announcement.
In a video posted to Instagram earlier this month, Vancouver-based influencer Lee Buona filmed the moment her son Oakland told his grandparents Beverley and Roger that he was going to become a big brother.
“Say: ‘Grandma, Grandpa, what do you think of my new outfit?’” Lee, who was behind the camera, instructed her toddler. She dressed Oakland in a long-sleeve shirt with the word “brother” printed across it, but it took her parents quite some time to figure out the message behind Oakland’s shirt.
“Oh, look at that outfit!” Roger, who was seen eating dinner at the table, exclaimed to his grandson. At one point, Buona suggested that Oakland sit on Roger’s lap so he could get a closer look at his shirt. When she asked again what her parents thought of Oakland’s outfit, Beverley replied that he looks “beautiful”.
Buona then panned the camera to her husband Alex, who showed his deadpan reaction to the unsuccessful pregnancy announcement. Alex shook his head and rolled his eyes, before joking that Buona should make sure she has enough storage on her phone to keep filming until her parents got the message.
Her husband took matters into his own hands when he picked up Oakland from his grandpa’s lap, holding the toddler up so his grandparents could clearly read his shirt. “Maybe you should take a look at his sweater,” Alex recommended. “See what the sweater says?”
“What does it say?” Beverley replied. “I can’t read, it’s all folded over!”
The father then sat Oakland on the table across from his grandparents, who were able to read the message on shirt. “Really!?” Beverley said in response to the pregnancy announcement. “Oh my God! Congratulations!”
Although Buona’s parents finally learned that she was expecting another baby, it seemed that there was still some confusion over Oakland’s “brother” shirt. “He goes, ‘But do you know it’s a brother?’” she recounted, with her hand in her head. “No, he’s the brother!”
“POV: Your parents don’t get your pregnancy announcement,” the soon-to-be mother of two wrote over the Instagram video. In her caption, Buona added that it took her parents “four minutes” before figuring out the message on Oakland’s shirt.
In the comments section, several viewers admitted that their relatives had similar misunderstandings when it comes to pregnancy announcements.
“I literally got a cake that said ‘I’m pregnant’ and my dad didn’t get it,” one person commented under Buona’s post.
“The same thing happened to my husband and I,” another user shared. “Our grandson ran around our living room for a full hour before I noticed his ‘I’m going to be a big brother’ shirt.”
One person admitted that their parents thought they were getting another cat, while someone else revealed: “To be fair, I totally missed my nephew’s shirt for HOURS even when they pointed it out.
“Worst part is, I’ve used a shirt as an announcement before, too.”
The Independent has contacted Buona for comment.
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https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/grandparents-pregnancy-announcement-video-b2488405.html
| 2024-01-31T23:06:50Z
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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
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Key management practices to enhance biodiversity in the Western Pyrenees
A study in which the FisioKlima-AgroSosT group of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) participated identifies the key management practices needed to generate and maintain biodiversity in the grasslands of the Western Pyrenees of Navarre. The work was carried out in collaboration with the Government of Navarre and the company Gestión Ambiental de Navarra (GAN-NIK).
The findings are published in the Journal of Environmental Management.
Although European rural development and biodiversity conservation strategies have long recognized the importance of extensive high nature value livestock systems, many of these areas are now under threat of intensification and land abandonment.
The High Nature Value (HNV) concept or indicator encompasses all the agro-systems that are relevant to and contribute positively towards the conservation of biodiversity. Various pieces of work have been carried out to identify areas of high nature value at landscape scale. However, studies at the level of more basic management units, such as plots, are very scarce.
The UPV/EHU's FisioKlima-AgroSosT research group and collaborating organizations undertook an extensive field study at plot level. "When we are talking about plots, we are referring to the scale of units of management—pasture that has a single use and owner," explained Iker Pardo-Guereño, lecturer in the UPV/EHU's department of Plant Biology and Ecology.
To do this, "we studied around 144 plots in the Western Pyrenees of Navarre, and on the basis of that we developed a methodology to obtain an indicator of natural value. This indicator reflects how intensive the use is and what contribution it makes to biodiversity," said Iker Pardo.
This new indicator is based on multiple indices that together provide a more comprehensive assessment of biodiversity than conventional indicators such as species richness. In addition, "the data can be easily collected in the field, which provides an opportunity to involve non-specialists (e.g., farmers or livestock personnel) in assessing and monitoring the natural value of their own land or grassland," said the researcher.
Factors that contribute most towards enhancing biodiversity
The study concludes that "in the Western Pyrenees of Navarre the type of livestock emerges as an important factor determining the natural value of the grasslands. Plots grazed by horses, sheep or mixed herds of both yielded significantly more natural value than those grazed by cattle."
Pardo did however stress that "priority should be given to protecting and conserving extensively grazed plots that have not been treated (in terms of sowing and/or fertilizing) and which are already of high natural value. Agricultural policies should reinforce the restoration, maintenance and conservation of existing semi-natural meadows and grasslands and design interventions to prevent them from becoming abandoned or intensified.
"In the Pyrenees, many traditional meadows have been transformed into artificial meadowlands which, as this study shows, entails a substantial loss of natural value. So reversing this situation should be a priority," added the UPV/EHU researcher.
"Plots included in the Natura2000 network displayed significantly higher nature values than those outside the network. However, the contribution of the Natura network should be assessed in a time context, as it is likely that the condition of the plots located within the Natura 2000 spaces was already good by the time they were included in the network," said Pardo.
Although the nature value index was tested specifically for Pyrenean pastures, "This approach could be extended to any other livestock area or region by slightly adapting the indicators to the local context. The simplicity of the proposed field study method makes the index suitable for monitoring the success in terms of biodiversity of the practices that receive agri-environmental grants," added Pardo.
More information: Iker Pardo et al, Assessment of determinants of high nature value (HNV) farmland at plot scale in Western Pyrenees, Journal of Environmental Management (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119516
Provided by University of the Basque Country
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https://phys.org/news/2024-01-key-biodiversity-western-pyrenees.html
| 2024-01-31T23:06:51Z
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New reports show a big academic recovery after schools reopened. But not for all students. Stanford professor Sean Reardon tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly how the pandemic worsened education inequality.
Copyright 2024 NPR
New reports show a big academic recovery after schools reopened. But not for all students. Stanford professor Sean Reardon tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly how the pandemic worsened education inequality.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/2024-01-31/u-s-students-are-starting-to-catch-up-in-school-unless-theyre-from-a-poor-area
| 2024-01-31T23:06:51Z
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Logan Paul: 'I Could Be The Next Roman Reigns' After Title Defense At WWE Royal Rumble
Despite still being seen as a novice by some, Logan Paul is still the WWE United States Champion after his match with Kevin Owens at the Royal Rumble. Paul hadn't performed in the ring since defeating Rey Mysterio for the title at Crown Jewel in November 2023, and even though he didn't leave Tropicana Field with a clean victory over the former Universal Champion, he did leave with his title.
After making fun of him on WWE TV and on social media, Paul opened up about his match with Owens on "Impaulsive," and admitted he might have overlooked his opponent. "He's ruthless man I'll be honest with you," Paul said. "He's good, he's very good. I made fun of him frequently, I called him all sorts of things, the 'Humpty Dumpty of WWE,' Called him a 40-year old schoolboy because he dresses like a teenager. I underestimated him and I'm in a little bit of pain."
Someone else who retained their title at the Royal Rumble was Roman Reigns, who defeated Randy Orton, LA Knight, and AJ Styles to keep hold of his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Hoping to follow in "The Tribal Chief"s footsteps, Paul wants to take his reign one match at a time in the hopes of potentially being on Reigns' level. "I did retain my title against all odds for the first time in WWE, and that's all it takes, title defense at a time." Who knows? With this rate, I could be the next Roman Reigns." Reigns has already defeated Paul in WWE, retaining his title at Crown Jewel 2022 in a match that many saw as the turning point for Paul when it came to taking his WWE career more seriously.
Please credit "Impaulsive" when using quotes from this article, and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
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https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1506816/logan-paul-next-roman-reigns-title-defense-wwe-royal-rumble/
| 2024-01-31T23:06:54Z
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Battling a pounding surf and relentless waves along the coast of Martha's Vineyard, scientists are hoping an examination of a critically endangered right whale can provide more clues as to how the female juvenile died earlier this week.
With an estimated 360 right whales left on the planet, news of the death of this whale has left researchers stunned and saddened.
"I've been doing this long enough that I've dealt with a lot of heartache with this species. We're losing a lot when we lose a right whale," said Philip Hamilton, who serves as senior scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium.
On Sunday, the juvenile female whale was discovered floating near Martha's Vineyard. Scientists with NOAA say it appears the whale became tangled in fishing line. However, the exact cause of death still has not been determined.
Right whales are considered critically endangered, and a single death can set the recovery of the species back more than a year. Scientists are particularly concerned that this whale was a female who potentially could've helped reproduce the species.
Only 70 right whales are believed to be reproductively active females.
"This female that just died could've been responsible for up to 30 whales added to a population that is 350-360, so it's dramatic," Hamilton said.
"I really want this species to survive, and they're fighting hard," Hamilton added.
Scientists believe entanglements and ship strikes are the leading cause of death of right whales.
In 2021, Scripps News first examined efforts to save this endangered species, looking at how new ropeless lobster traps could help prevent entanglements. With tens of millions of fishing lines in the Atlantic Ocean, it's easy for right whales to become caught. This 100-ton mammal uses the entire force of its body to try and break free, which can cause deep and sometimes fatal gashes in the whale's body.
"Every time we see the death of a North Atlantic right whale we know the recovery of this species is going to take longer and be put in jeopardy," said Gib Brogan with the group Oceana.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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https://www.turnto23.com/endangered-right-whale-found-dead-off-cape-cod-coast
| 2024-01-31T23:06:54Z
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From the occupied West Bank, an emergency hotline assists rescue efforts in Gaza By Aya Batrawy Published January 31, 2024 at 5:39 PM EST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:17 NPR visits an emergency hotline center in the West Bank assisting first responders in the Gaza Strip. Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.wqcs.org/2024-01-31/from-the-occupied-west-bank-an-emergency-hotline-assists-rescue-efforts-in-gaza
| 2024-01-31T23:06:54Z
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Citation
Iveson MH, Ball EL, Whalley HC, Deary IJ, Cox SR, Batty GD, John A, McIntosh AM. SSM Popul. Health 2024; 25: e101592.
Copyright
(Copyright © 2024, Elsevier Publishing)
DOI
10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101592
PMID
38283541
PMCID
PMC10821139
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-harm and suicide remain prevalent in later life. For younger adults, higher early-life cognitive ability appears to predict lower self-harm and suicide risk. Comparatively little is known about these associations among middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: This study examined the association between childhood (age 11) cognitive ability and self-harm and suicide risk among a Scotland-wide cohort (N = 53037), using hospital admission and mortality records to follow individuals from age 34 to 85. Multistate models examined the association between childhood cognitive ability and transitions between unaffected, self-harm, and then suicide or non-suicide death. RESULTS: After adjusting for childhood and adulthood socioeconomic conditions, higher childhood cognitive ability was significantly associated with reduced risk of self-harm among both males (451 events; HR = 0.90, 95% CI [0.82, 0.99]) and females (516 events; HR = 0.89, 95% CI [0.81, 0.98]). Childhood cognitive ability was not significantly associated with suicide risk among those with (Male: 16 events, HR = 1.05, 95% CI [0.61, 1.80]; Female: 13 events, HR = 1.08, 95% CI [0.55, 2.15]) or without self-harm events (Male: 118 events, HR = 1.17, 95% CI [0.84, 1.63]; Female: 31 events, HR = 1.30, 95% CI [0.70, 2.41]). LIMITATIONS: The study only includes self-harm events that result in a hospital admission and does not account for self-harm prior to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This extends work on cognitive ability and mental health, demonstrating that these associations can span the life course and into middle and older age.
Language: en
Keywords
Epidemiology; Suicide; Self-harm; Cognitive ability; Data linkage; Older age
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https://www.safetylit.org/citations/index.php?fuseaction=citations.viewdetails&citationIds%5B%5D=citjournalarticle_782801_18
| 2024-01-31T23:06:54Z
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Michael Egan AO, the former NSW Treasurer, who grew up in Sutherland Shire and was the MP for Cronulla for five years, has died at 75.
Mr Egan was the first student enrolled at St Patrick's College, Sutherland in 1956.
In a joint statement, Premier Chris Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said "Michael dedicated his long career to serving the people of NSW.
"Entering politics in October 1978, Michael served in the Legislative Assembly for more than five years as Member for Cronulla and in the Legislative Council for more than 18 years.
"During this nearly quarter century career, Michael held the honour of being the longest serving Treasurer in NSW history - for nearly a decade between 3 April 1995 and 21 January 2005. He was the first Member of the Upper House to do so.
"He also served as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Minister for State Development among many roles.
"On becoming Treasurer, Michael rapidly returned the NSW Budget to surplus and kept it there, building the Carr Government's reputation for economic and fiscal competence."
Mr Minns said, while Mr Egan was Treasurer, NSW all but eliminated net government debt while also investing heavily to improve essential services and infrastructure and hosting the Olympic Games.
"While Labor to his bootstraps and not one to 'altercate in undertones,' Michael cherished our democratic institutions and always acted to ensure they deserved the public's trust," Mr Minns said.
"Impatient with theorists and purists, he excelled at producing economic and social reforms through the messy compromise of politics.
"He drove changes to make NSW ports, energy, rail and water more competitive, reducing prices for households and businesses, improving living standards and creating jobs.
"After politics he continued to dedicate himself to serving his community, including as Macquarie University's longest serving Chancellor, from 2008 to 2019.
"He boasted he had personally graduated more than 43,000 students, a record - like his tenure as Treasurer - unlikely ever to be broken.
"In March of 2022, Michael received his Honorary Doctorate in the newly named Michael Egan Hall.
"Among his many community roles, Michael was also Chair of the Australia Day Council of NSW between 2006 and 2010, and Chair of the Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology since 2009.
"Our thoughts are with Michael's loved ones at this difficult time. Michael will be greatly missed by all who knew him."
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https://www.theleader.com.au/story/8505841/michael-egan-former-nsw-treasurer-dies-at-75/
| 2024-01-31T23:06:54Z
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Action News Jax and the Florida Lottery are teaming up to put cash prizes in your pocket!
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“Lake Shore's financial performance throughout 2023 and the fourth quarter was commendable given the financial pressures experienced from a challenging interest rate environment and costly, ongoing regulatory matters we continue to address,” stated Kim Liddell, President, CEO, and Director. "We believe our efforts to remediate and strengthen those regulatory operational areas will be successful as we continuously strive to enhance and deliver shareholder value."
2023 Full Year and Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights:
Net Interest Income
2023 fourth quarter net interest income decreased $990,000, or 15.1%, to $5.6 million from the 2022 fourth quarter. Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased to $24.4 million, an increase of $19,000, or 0.1%, from the year ended December 31, 2022.
Interest income for the 2023 fourth quarter was $8.6 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 15.3%, compared to $7.5 million for the 2022 fourth quarter. The increase was primarily due to a 56 basis points increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets due to an increase in market interest rates. The increase was also due to a $18.4 million, or 2.8%, increase in the average balance of interest earning assets when compared to the same period of 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022, there was a $676,000 increase in interest earned on loans due to a 54 basis points increase in the average yield earned on loans, partially offset by a decrease in the average loans balance of $6.5 million, or 1.2%.
Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $33.8 million, an increase of $7.0 million, or 26.2%, compared to $26.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to a 88 basis points increase in the average yield on interest-earning assets due to an increase in market interest rates. The increase was also due to a $26.2 million, or 4.1%, increase in the average balance of interest earning assets since December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, there was a $5.5 million increase in interest earned on loans due to a 79 basis points increase in the average yield earned on loans along with an increase in the average loans balance of $22.4 million, or 4.1%.
2023 fourth quarter interest expense was $3.1 million, an increase of $2.1 million, or 231.0%, from $923,000 for the 2022 fourth quarter. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to a 161 basis points increase in average interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities and a $22.6 million increase in average interest-bearing liabilities. During the fourth quarter of 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022, there was a $1.4 million increase in interest paid on time deposit accounts due to a 219 basis points increase in the average interest rate paid on time deposits along with an increase in average time deposit balances of $63.8 million, or 42.4%. The increase in the average rate paid on deposit accounts was primarily due to the increase in market interest rates and deposit competition. Average deposit balances were $483.3 million, a 3.4% increase during the 2023 fourth quarter, resulting from an increase in time deposits and brokered deposits when compared to the same period of 2022. During the 2023 fourth quarter, interest expense on borrowed funds and other interest-bearing liabilities increased by $116,000, or 57.1%, compared to the 2022 fourth quarter, primarily due to a $6.7 million increase in average borrowed funds and other interest-bearing liabilities outstanding.
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $9.4 million, an increase of $7.0 million, or 289.1%, from $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to a 130 basis points increase in average interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities and a $27.3 million increase in average interest-bearing liabilities. During the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, there was a $4.8 million increase in interest paid on time deposit accounts due to a 206 basis points increase in the average interest rate paid on time deposits along with an increase in average time deposit balances of $67.5 million, or 48.6%. The increase in the average rate paid on deposit accounts was primarily due to the increase in market interest rates and deposit competition since December 31, 2022. Average deposit balances were $486.1 million, a 2.9% increase during the year ended December 31, 2023, resulting from an increase in time deposits and brokered deposits since December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2023, interest expense on borrowed funds and other interest-bearing liabilities increased by $728,000, or 121.3%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to a $13.5 million increase in average borrowed funds and other interest-bearing liabilities outstanding.
Non-Interest Income and Income Tax Expense
Non-interest income was $923,000 for the 2023 fourth quarter, an increase of $339,000, or 58.0%, as compared to the 2022 fourth quarter. The increase was primarily due to a $354,000 increase in earnings on bank-owned life insurance in connection with the restructuring of bank-owned life insurance during the fourth quarter of 2023. Additionally, the aforementioned restructuring of bank-owned life insurance was the primary driver of the increase in income tax expense of $315,000, or 128.0% when compared to the same period of 2022.
Non-interest income was $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $69,000, or 2.6%, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a $391,000 net decrease in unrealized gains on interest rate swap products as a result of market interest rate movements, a $59,000 loss on the sale of securities in the current year to reposition the Bank's balance sheet, and a $59,000 decrease in service charges and fees. These decreases were partially offset by a $420,000 increase in earnings on bank-owned life insurance in connection with the restructuring of bank-owned life insurance during the fourth quarter of 2023, and a $18,000 decrease in loss on sale of loans when compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. Additionally, the aforementioned restructuring of bank-owned life insurance was the primary driver of the increase in income tax expense of $237,000, or 20.4% when compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.
Non-Interest Expense
Non-interest expense was $5.2 million for the 2023 fourth quarter, a decrease of $266,000, or 4.9%, as compared to $5.5 million for the 2022 fourth quarter. The decrease relates to a net decline in professional services expense and salary and employee benefits expense of $102,000, or 3.0%. Additionally, advertising costs decreased by $194,000, or 75.2%, due to a decrease in marketing spending. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in FDIC insurance expense of $153,000, or 114.2%, when compared to the prior year period due to an increase in premium assessments related to regulatory matters and an increase in data processing costs of $133,000, or 40.5%, primarily due to an increase in costs related to core system maintenance and enhancements to existing IT security protocols.
Non-interest expense was $21.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $2.4 million, or 12.2%, as compared to $19.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily due to an increase in professional services expense and salary and employee benefits expense of $1.8 million, or 14.9%, as a result of performing remediation activities related to regulatory matters. Additionally, FDIC insurance expense increased by $841,000, or 309.2%, during the year ended December 31, 2023 due to an increase in premium assessments related to regulatory matters. Data processing costs increased by $323,000, or 22.7%, during the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily due to an increase in costs related to core system maintenance and enhancements to existing IT security protocols.
Credit Quality
The Company adopted the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) methodology to record expected credit losses on our loan portfolio effective January 1, 2023. The adoption of CECL under current accounting guidance resulted in a pre-tax increase to the allowance for credit losses on loans of $282,000 and an increase to the allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments of $633,000, with an offset to the Company's retained earnings during Q1 2023. The Company's allowance for credit losses on loans was $6.5 million at December 31, 2023 as compared to $7.1 million at December 31, 2022. The Company's allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments was $485,000 at December 31, 2023 as compared to $0 at December 31, 2022.
Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets increased to 0.47% at December 31, 2023 as compared to 0.43% at December 31, 2022. The Company's allowance for credit losses on loans as a percent of net loans was 1.16% at December 31, 2023 and 1.23% at December 31, 2022.
Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets at December 31, 2023 were $725.1 million, a $25.2 million increase, or 3.6%, as compared to $699.9 million at December 31, 2022. Cash and cash equivalents increased by $44.1 million, or 457.8%, from $9.6 million at December 31, 2022 to $53.7 million at December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to an increase in total deposits and decreases in loans receivable and securities available-for-sale, partially offset by a decrease in total borrowings. Securities available for sale were $60.4 million at December 31, 2023 as compared to $73.0 million at December 31, 2022 primarily as the result of the sale of $9.8 million of securities during the year ended December 31, 2023. Loans receivable, net at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 were $555.8 million and $573.5 million, respectively. Total deposits at December 31, 2023 were $590.9 million, an increase of $20.8 million, or 3.6%, compared to $570.1 million at December 31, 2022. Total borrowings decreased to $35.3 million at December 31, 2023, a decrease of $2.3 million, or 6.1% as compared to $37.5 million as of December 31, 2022.
Stockholders' equity at December 31, 2023 was $86.3 million, a $5.1 million increase, or 6.3%, as compared to $81.2 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in stockholders' equity was primarily attributed to $4.8 million in net income earned during 2023 and a $947,000 unrealized mark-to-market gain on the available-for-sale securities portfolio recognized in other comprehensive income.
About Lake Shore
Lake Shore Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Market: LSBK) is the mid-tier holding company of Lake Shore Savings Bank, a federally chartered, community-oriented financial institution headquartered in Dunkirk, New York. The Bank has eleven full-service branch locations in Western New York, including five in Chautauqua County and six in Erie County. The Bank offers a broad range of retail and commercial lending and deposit services. The Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market as“LSBK”. Additional information about the Company is available at .
Safe-Harbor
This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's and the Bank's industry, and management's beliefs and assumptions. Words such as anticipates, expects, intends, plans, believes, estimates and variations of such words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect management's current views of future events and operations. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company as of the date of this release. It is important to note that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve and are subject to significant risks, contingencies, and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control including, but not limited to, compliance with the Bank's Consent Order and an Individual Minimum Capital Requirement both issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, compliance with the Written Agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, data loss or other security breaches, including a breach of our operational or security systems, policies or procedures, including cyber-attacks on us or on our third party vendors or service providers, economic conditions, the effect of changes in monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, unanticipated changes in our liquidity position, climate change, increased unemployment, deterioration in the credit quality of the loan portfolio and/or the value of the collateral securing repayment of loans, reduction in the value of investment securities, the cost and ability to attract and retain key employees, regulatory or legal developments, tax policy changes, and our ability to implement and execute our business plan and strategy and expand our operations. These factors should be considered in evaluating forward looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements, as our financial performance could differ materially due to various risks or uncertainties. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements if future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.
Source: Lake Shore Bancorp, Inc.Category: Financial
Investor Relations/Media Contact Taylor M. GildenChief Financial Officer and TreasurerLake Shore Bancorp, Inc.31 East Fourth StreetDunkirk, New York 14048(716) 366-4070 ext. 1065
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https://menafn.com/1107793841/Lake-Shore-Bancorp-Inc-Announces-2023-Fourth-Quarter-And-Year-End-Financial-Results
| 2024-01-31T23:06:56Z
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Heidi Klum says her children have to remind her to put a shirt on when they have guests
‘Obviously, when you know, no one is there. I’m in my garden also, you know, I’m topless,’ Klum says
Heidi Klum has revealed that her children have had to remind her to cover up before their friends come over.
While the Victoria’s Secret supermodel prioritises having an open relationship with her children, at times she’s had to be more closed off. On the 30 January episode of Call Her Daddy, Klum, 50, talked about the “free mentality” she’s adopted in the household, and how her children have responded to it.
In conversation with podcast host Alex Cooper, the fashion muse admitted how visiting nude beaches abroad has influenced the culture in her home.
“I mean, I try to be like that with my kids,” she said. “Obviously, when you know, no one is there. I’m in my garden also, you know, I’m topless. And they will come, like: ‘You know, my friend is coming over mom, put your top on.’ And I’m like: ‘When have I ever not had a top on when your friend was coming over? Of course I will.’”
Klum emphasised that her intention is never to make anyone uncomfortable, but she prefers to bask in the sun shirtless.
“But they always make sure. ‘Mom, just a little warning what’s going to happen here,’” she continued. “And I’m like: ‘Don’t worry.’ I also don’t want to flash anyone just to flash someone. I just don’t love tan lines.”
Yet, the America’s Got Talent host has been nude in other areas aside from the garden. According to her daughter Leni, who FaceTimed in during the Call Her Daddy episode, Klum’s gone topless by the pool for as long as she can remember.
Leni proclaimed: “I would have birthday parties at the house. Or I’d have friends over, like my boyfriend over. And she tans topless by the pool.”
“And I remember having my girlfriends over and I’d be so embarrassed and like, scared, because usually in like my friend’s families, I never see my friend’s moms tanning naked at the pool,” the 19-year-old added. “But I thought it was normal. And my friends would always be like, kinda stand off-ish but it was so normal in our family.”
What’s more, Leni also talked about how she’d stumbled upon her mom’s surprising stash – her sex closet. “I did when I was younger and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I was going through it with my friends. And I was like: ‘Mom, what is this? A microphone?’” she told Cooper. “I really had no idea what it was. My mom got so mad at me after, like, You can’t go in my stuff.’”
“I was like showing it off to my friends like: ‘Look at how cool this is. My mom has a whole cupboard, she has a whole drawer.’ And I snuck them into my mom’s room and opened the drawer, and we were all taking videos,” Leni went on to say.
Klum shares Leni, her 18-year-old Henry, her 17-year-old Johan, and 14-year-old Lou with her ex-husband Seal. The two were married from 2005 to 2014.
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| 2024-01-31T23:06:56Z
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — The House looked to accomplish something unusual Wednesday in passing with broad, bipartisan support a roughly $79 billion tax cut package that would enhance the child tax credit and boost three tax breaks for business, a combination that gives lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle coveted policy wins.
Prospects for the measure becoming law are uncertain with the Senate still having to take it up, but for a House that has struggled to get bills of consequence over the finish line, the tax legislation could represent a rare breakthrough. Debate and a final vote on the measure are scheduled for the evening.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., threw his support behind the bill on Wednesday morning. He spent part of the previous day meeting with GOP lawmakers who were concerned about features of the bill, namely the expanded child tax credit. Some were also unhappy that it fails to address the $10,000 cap on the total amount of property taxes or state or local taxes that consumers can deduct on their federal returns. Raising the cap is a top priority of lawmakers from members of the New York congressional delegation.
Johnson committed to moving a bill that addresses the cap, but there is no bill text yet and legislation would have to move through the House Rules Committee, which leaves the timing very much in flux. Athina Lawson, a spokeswoman for Johnson, said the speaker and the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., agreed to work with members to “find a path forward."
Johnson called the tax cut bill on the House floor important, bipartisan legislation that would revive "conservative pro-growth tax reform." He also said that it would bring an early end to a "wasteful COVID-era program" that has been plagued with fraud. Moving up the deadline for claiming the employee retention tax credit is expected to largely offset the cost of the tax cuts in the legislation.
Johnson also emphasized the importance of the bill moving through the House Ways and Means Committee before coming to the full House for a vote, saying it was a good example of how Congress is supposed to work.
House Republicans were anxious to restore full, immediate deductions that businesses can take for the purchase of new equipment and machinery, and for domestic research and development expenses. They argue such investments grow the economy and incentivize American companies to keep their manufacturing facilities and operations in the United States. The bill also provides businesses more flexibility in determining how much borrowing can be deducted.
“Each of these policies will help American businesses grow, create jobs and sharpen their competitive advantage against China,” Smith said as debate began on the House floor.
Democrats focused on boosting the child tax credit. The tax credit is $2,000 per child, but not all of that is refundable. The bill would incrementally raise the amount of the credit available as a refund, increasing it to $1,800 for 2023 tax returns, $1,900 for the following year and $2,000 for 2025 tax returns. The bill also adjusts the topline credit amount to temporarily grow at the rate of inflation.
Households benefitting as a result of the changes in the child tax credit would see an average tax cut of $680 in the first year, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
Democrats pushed to restore the more generous tax credit they passed in 2021 in President Joe Biden's first year in office with payments occurring on a monthly basis. The credit was $3,600 annually for children under age 6 and $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17. But most lawmakers were willing to take what gains they could get through the compromise bill.
“I'll continue to do what I can to fight for more,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. “...We aren't reaching all the families who really can use the child tax credit the most.”
The bill also would enhance a tax credit for the construction or rehabilitation of rental housing targeted to lower-income households, adding an estimated 200,000 housing units around the country. And it would ensure victims of certain wildfires and the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment don't get hit with a big tax bill for payments they received as compensation for their losses.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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| 2024-01-31T23:06:56Z
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Examining math anxiety among middle schoolers and how it affects their performance
Math anxiety, which can begin as early as kindergarten, negatively affects students' math performance both in the moment and throughout their math education. Most research focuses on the affective or physiological aspects of math anxiety—the feeling of your palms sweating or the sense that your heart is racing. But, as University of Delaware Associate Professor Jessica Namkung has shown, it's much more than that.
In a study published in Psychology in the Schools, Namkung and her co-authors J. Marc Goodrich and Kejin Lee examine the dimensions of math anxiety and study whether the relationship between math anxiety and math performance varies by dimension.
By "dimension," Namkung refers to two specific components of math anxiety: negative affect, which refers to unpleasant physiological responses, like tension, nervousness or a stomachache; and negative cognition, which refers to students' negative beliefs about their math performance, self-deprecating thoughts and worries, even during moments of calm.
In their study of 243 sixth graders from two midwestern middle schools, Namkung and her co-authors found that math anxiety is indeed characterized by more than a feeling. Negative cognition is an important component of math anxiety, and it significantly impacts students' math performance.
Overall, Namkung and her co-authors found that math anxiety accounted for 15.5% of the variance in students' grade-level computational skills—the skills needed to perform more advanced, multi-step math problems. But their specific finding about negative cognition is telling: Namkung and her co-authors found that negative cognition in particular significantly and negatively affected students' grade-level computational skills. By contrast, they did not find that the affective dimension of math anxiety impacted these skills.
"We often think about math anxiety as emotions, but math anxiety-induced worries and negative thoughts create cognitive interference," said Namkung, who specializes in math learning difficulties in UD's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
"That is, they take up valuable cognitive resources, such as working memory, that should be devoted to solving math problems at hand. This, in turn, has a negative impact on students' math performance."
As Namkung emphasizes, this finding has great implications for treating math anxiety among students. Most current interventions focus solely on the affective or emotional component of math anxiety, teaching students to calm their bodies during moments of high stress. School psychologists, teachers and parents often encourage students to take deep breaths, practice relaxation techniques and recognize their emotions in the moment.
But Namkung's study shows us that our approach to treating math anxiety should be two-fold: addressing negative cognition is just as important—and perhaps more important—than addressing the affective components.
"In my previous work, I identified only eight studies that had purportedly measured the cognitive dimension of math anxiety, compared to 76 studies that had measured the affective dimension," Namkung said.
"So, math anxiety is largely conceptualized as affective in current literature. Our study findings encourage us to look more closely at the cognitive dimension and on using cognitive behavioral therapies to reduce math anxiety. These strategies focus on turning negative thoughts and worries into positive thoughts, identifying barriers and committing to actions to attain goals."
Robin Jardick is a school counselor at CEHD's The College School, which serves students with learning differences in grades 1 through 8. She has often observed negative thinking among her middle school students and similarly emphasizes the value of cognitive behavioral techniques.
"Mental math anxiety is a very real concern, especially with students who have traditionally struggled with math," Jardick said.
"These students have the negative self perception that math is hard, that they aren't good at it, and that they will never be better at it. But if we address that negative self-talk by asking students to reframe their thoughts about 'doing poorly' in math as accepting a challenge and working at something that they know is hard, then they will begin to rethink this negative self-talk and start being proud that they tried something new."
In addition to studying the dimensions of math anxiety and their relation to math performance, Namkung and her co-authors also investigated math anxiety in relation to gender. They studied whether the dimensions of math anxiety differed across gender—whether, for example, girls experienced more negative cognition than boys did—and whether the student's gender affected the relationship between the two dimensions of math anxiety and their math performance.
Namkung and her co-authors did not find any differences related to gender in their study. Boys and girls experienced both negative cognition and negative affect to similar extents, and gender did not affect the relationship between those dimensions and math performance. These findings run counter to other studies in the field, which show differences in both the anxiety levels and math performance among girls and boys.
The researchers offer several possible explanations for their findings. Their study may reflect several positive trends in education that may reduce the gender gaps in STEM education. For example, Namkung and her co-author may have found similar levels of anxiety among boys and girls because boys are now being taught more effective ways to express their emotions and thoughts, including anxiety and worry.
The similarity in math performance among girls and boys may also reflect the decreasing gaps in STEM education; more girls are expressing interest in STEM fields and persisting in their STEM education.
Namkung plans to examine whether the underlying mechanism of math anxiety and math performance functions differently for students with math learning difficulties.
In her preliminary analysis, she found that, although students with math learning difficulties reported significantly higher levels of math anxiety compared to those who are not struggling in math, math anxiety did not show direct or indirect effects on their math performance.
On the other hand, foundational math skills and math language had significant direct effects on math performance, above and beyond the effects of math anxiety for students with math learning difficulties. This preliminary finding suggests that providing skills-based, intensive intervention is critical to improving math outcomes of struggling students, regardless of their math anxiety.
Namkung will further examine the math anxiety and working memory mechanism for students with math learning difficulties.
More information: Jessica M. Namkung et al, The factor structure of mathematics anxiety and its relation to gender and mathematics performance, Psychology in the Schools (2023). DOI: 10.1002/pits.23016
Provided by University of Delaware
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https://phys.org/news/2024-01-math-anxiety-middle-schoolers-affects.html
| 2024-01-31T23:06:57Z
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NHL players Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils and Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames have been charged with sexual assault in connection with an alleged assault by several members of Canada's 2018 world junior team.
Attorneys representing Hart, McLeod, Foote and Dube said Tuesday that each player has been charged with sexual assault by police in London, Ontario. They denied any wrongdoing on behalf of their clients.
Hart's lawyers, Megan Savard and Riaz Sayani, said their client is facing one count of sexual assault, adding, "He is innocent and will provide a full response to this false accusation in the proper forum, a court of law."
Legal teams representing McLeod and Dube said the players would be pleading not guilty.
"(We) will vigorously defend the case," McLeod's attorneys, David Humphrey and Seth Weinstein, said in a statement. "We ask that the public respect Mr. McLeod's privacy, and his family's privacy. Because the matter is now before the court, we will not comment further at this time."
Dube's lawyers, Louis Strezos and Kayleigh Davidson, said their client "maintains his innocence (and) will defend the allegations in court."
Foote's lawyer, Julianna Greenspan, said her client was "innocent of the charge and will defend himself against this allegation to clear his name."
"What is most critical at this time is the presumption of innocence, and the right to a fair trial that everyone in Canada is entitled to," Greenspan said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. "As the matter is before the court, I ask that Cal's and his family's privacy be respected."
A Devils spokesperson said the organization is aware of the reports and have been told to refer all inquiries to the league. A Flyers spokesman echoed a similar sentiment, saying the team "will respond appropriately to this very serious matter when the outcomes of the investigations are made public."
"We have now become aware of the charge of sexual assault that has been laid against Dillon Dube," the Flames said in a statement. "We take this matter very seriously. Because the matter is now pending legal proceedings, we will have no further comment at this time."
The NHL was not expected to address the situation Tuesday. Commissioner Gary Bettman is set to speak at the league's upcoming All-Star Weekend.
The latest developments in the case come two days after former NHL player Alex Formenton surrendered to police to face charges. Attorney Daniel Brown said Formenton is innocent "and asks that people not rush to judgment without hearing all of the evidence."
All five players have taken leave from their current clubs over the past 10 days. Their agents have not spoken publicly since.
London police have scheduled a news conference for Monday to address the situation. A spokesperson for police told the AP by email no updates on the investigation will be provided before the news conference.
Investigation followed a settlement in a lawsuit
London police launched their investigation in 2022 after it was disclosed that Hockey Canada had settled a lawsuit with a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by eight members of that gold medal-winning team after a Hockey Canada Foundation fundraising gala. London is approximately halfway between Toronto and Detroit.
According to court documents, the woman, then 20, alleged that a man, identified only as "John Doe #1," took her from a bar to a hotel room and invited seven other people into the room to perform undisclosed sexual acts, intimidating her and preventing her from leaving. The woman said in the lawsuit the men directed her to take a shower and asked her to say on video that she was sober.
The woman sought $3.55 million in damages and dropped the lawsuit after reaching a settlement with Hockey Canada.
The NHL has also been investigating
The NHL opened its own investigation in 2022 and has pledged to make those findings public. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly last week said the league would issue a statement if and when it is appropriate.
The Flyers said Hart requested and was granted a leave of absence for personal reasons. General manager Daniel Briere declined to provide details when asked follow-up questions related to the 25-year-old No. 1 goaltender's departure.
The Devils did not give a reason when announcing McLeod and Foote were granted indefinite leaves of absence. McLeod, who turns 26 on Saturday, is in the middle of his fourth full season with the team, while Foote — son of former NHL player Adam Foote — has spent much of this season in the American Hockey League and appeared in four games for New Jersey.
The Flames said Dube was on indefinite leave to tend to his mental health. As part of their statement Tuesday, they said they "had no knowledge of pending charges at the time Dillon's request for a leave of absence was granted."
The 25-year-old Dube has played for Calgary since 2018.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/npr-news/2024-01-31/4-nhl-players-charged-with-sexual-assault-in-a-2018-case-in-canada-their-lawyers-say
| 2024-01-31T23:06:58Z
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The International Olympic Committee is still not impressed with Italy's determination to spend about $90 million rebuilding a historic bobsled track for the 2026 Winter Games.
The IOC's latest statement Wednesday on the public rift came one day after local organizers of the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics moved ahead with a plan to revive a century-old sliding track in the Dolomites ski resort.
Aiming to avoid construction costs and potential white elephant venues, the IOC wants the Winter Games, opening in just two years' time, to use an existing track — with two nearby options in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Igls, Austria.
The issue has become one of Italian national pride to avoid paying another country to stage 12 of the 116 medal events.
"The IOC firmly believes that the existing number of sliding centers, globally, is sufficient for the current number of athletes and competitions in the sports of bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton," the Olympic body said in a statement.
SEE MORE: Lions vs. 49ers draws larger TV audience than Chiefs vs. Ravens
The IOC's opposition to an Italian renewal project on such a tight schedule — either at Cortina or Cesana, the now-closed sliding track at the 2006 Turin Olympics that was previously considered — has been publicly clear since its annual meeting in October held in Mumbai, India.
"(Only) existing and already operating tracks should be considered due to the very tight timeline remaining," the IOC said in a statement, stating it had been "unequivocal that no permanent venue should be built without a clear and viable legacy plan."
Italy's deputy prime minister detailed his country’s position Tuesday.
"It is not acceptable for the bobsled races to take place outside Italy," Antonio Tajani said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "We will do everything to achieve the goal."
Still, the Italian organizing committee aims to have a back-up plan if renovating the Cortina track used at the 1956 Winter Games is not ready by March next year.
The committee said after a board meeting Tuesday its plans rest on signing a contract with a Parma-based construction company that has offered to rebuild the Cortina track for $89 million.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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https://www.turnto23.com/ioc-pushes-back-on-90m-plan-to-rebuild-olympics-bobsled-track
| 2024-01-31T23:07:00Z
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Donald Trump has yet to officially clinch the Republican presidential nomination, but he's already begun to tease about a running mate. The NPR Politics Podcast dives into who might be on his list.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Donald Trump has yet to officially clinch the Republican presidential nomination, but he's already begun to tease about a running mate. The NPR Politics Podcast dives into who might be on his list.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.wqcs.org/2024-01-31/trump-says-vp-pick-wont-impact-the-race-so-whats-he-looking-for-in-a-running-mate
| 2024-01-31T23:07:00Z
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Citation
Zhang X, Monnat SM. SSM Popul. Health 2024; 25: e101595.
Copyright
(Copyright © 2024, Elsevier Publishing)
DOI
10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101595
PMID
38283546
PMCID
PMC10821584
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mortality rates from drug poisoning, suicide, alcohol, and homicide vary significantly across the United States. This study explores localized relationships (i.e., geographically specific associations) between county-level economic and household distress and mortality rates from these causes among working-age adults (25-64). METHODS: Mortality data were from the National Vital Statistics System for 2014-2019. County-level socioeconomic distress (poverty, employment, income, education, disability, insurance) and household distress (single-parent, no vehicle, crowded housing, renter occupied) were from the 2009-2013 American Community Survey. We conducted Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression to estimate average associations and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) to estimate localized spatial associations between county-level distress and working-age mortality. RESULTS: In terms of national average associations, OLS results indicate that a one standard deviation increase in socioeconomic distress was associated with an average of 6.1 additional drug poisoning deaths, 3.0 suicides, 2.1 alcohol-induced deaths, and 2.0 homicides per 100,000 population. A one standard deviation increase in household distress was associated with an average of 1.4 additional drug poisonings, 4.7 alcohol-induced deaths, and 1.1 homicides per 100,000 population. However, the GWR results showed that these associations vary substantially across the U.S., with socioeconomic and household distress associated with significantly higher mortality rates in some parts of the U.S than others, significantly lower rates in other parts of the U.S., and no significant associations in others. There were also some areas where distress overlapped to influence multiple causes of death, in a type of compounded disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic and household distress are significant and substantial predictors of higher rates of drug poisoning mortality, suicide, alcohol-induced deaths, and homicide in specific regions of the U.S. However, these associations are not universal. Understanding the place-level factors that contribute to them can inform geographically tailored strategies to reduce rates from these preventable causes of death in different places.
Language: en
Keywords
Homicide; Suicide; Alcohol; Geographically weighted regression; Drug poisoning; Working age mortality
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https://www.safetylit.org/citations/index.php?fuseaction=citations.viewdetails&citationIds%5B%5D=citjournalarticle_782802_18
| 2024-01-31T23:07:01Z
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(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) New York, NY, Jan. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp. III (NYSE American: VCXB, VCXB.U, VCXB WS) (“10X III”), announced today that NYSE Regulation (“NYSER”), by letter dated January 29, 2024 (the“Notice”), notified 10X III that it is not currently in compliance with Section 1003(b)(i) of the NYSE American LLC Company Guide because 10X III has fewer than 300 public shareholders. The Notice provides that 10X III has until February 28, 2024 (the“Compliance Plan Due Date”) to submit a plan to NYSER outlining how it intends to cure the deficiency and regain compliance with the NYSE American LLC's (the“NYSE American”) continued listing standards by January 14, 2025. The plan will be reviewed by NYSER. NYSER will either accept the plan, at which time 10X III will be subject to quarterly monitoring for compliance with this plan, or NYSER will not accept the plan and 10X III will be subject to suspension and delisting procedures. 10X III intends to submit a plan by the Compliance Plan Due Date.
The Notice and the procedures described above have no current effect on the continued listing of 10X III's securities on the NYSE American, subject to 10X III's compliance with the NYSE American's other applicable listing requirements.
About 10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp. III
10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp. III (NYSE American: VCXB, VCXB.U, VCXB WS) is a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by 10X Capital, focused on identifying high growth businesses domestically and abroad and bringing them to the public markets. For more information visit .
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as“will,”“expect,”“anticipated,”“estimated,”“believe,”“intend,”“plan,”“projection,”“outlook” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside 10X III's control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.
Contact
ir@10xcapital
MENAFN31012024004107003653ID1107793842
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MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
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https://menafn.com/1107793842/10X-Capital-Venture-Acquisition-Corp-III-Receives-NYSE-Notice-Regarding-Noncompliance
| 2024-01-31T23:07:02Z
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Californians don't have to pass a background check every time they buy bullets, federal judge rules
A federal judge has ruled California residents don't have to pay for and pass a background check every time they buy bullets
California residents don't have to pay for and pass a background check every time they buy bullets, a federal judge has ruled.
The Tuesday ruling by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez took effect immediately. California Attorney General Rob Bonta asked Benitez on Wednesday to delay the ruling to give him time to appeal the decision. It's unclear if Benitez will grant that request.
Many states, including California, make people pass a background check before they can buy a gun. California goes a step further by making people pass a background check, which cost either $1 or $19 depending on eligibility, every time they buy bullets. A few other states also require background checks for buying ammunition, but most let people buy a license that is good for a few years.
Benitez said California's law violates the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution because if people can't buy bullets for their guns, they can't use their guns for self-defense. He criticized the state's automated background check system, which he said rejected about 11% of applicants, or 58,087 requests, in the first half of 2023.
“How many of the 58,087 needed ammunition to defend themselves against an impending criminal threat and how many were simply preparing for a sporting event, we will never know,” Benitez wrote. “What is known is that in almost all cases, the 322 individuals that are rejected each day are being denied permission to freely exercise their Second Amendment right — a right which our Founders instructed shall not be infringed.”
Bonta said Benitez's ruling puts public safety at risk because it would immediately let people who are not legally allowed to have ammunition to buy it — including convicted felons, people with mental illnesses and those with some domestic violence convictions.
“We will not stop in our efforts to protect the safety of communities and Californians' rights to go about their business without fear of becoming victims of gun violence, while at the same time respecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners,” Bonta said.
Chuck Michel, president and general counsel of the California Rifle & Pistol Association, said California's requirement for a background check on all ammunition purchases “has not made anyone safer.”
“But it has made it much more difficult and expensive for law-abiding gun owners to exercise their Second Amendment right to defend themselves and their family,” he said.
California has some of the nation's toughest gun laws. Many of them are being challenged in court in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that set a new standard for interpreting gun laws, stating they must be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.
Benitez has already struck down two other California gun laws — one that banned detachable magazines that have more than 10 bullets and another that banned the sale of assault-style weapons. Those decisions have been appealed. Other gun laws being challenged include rules requiring gun stores to have digital surveillance systems and restricting the sale of new handguns.
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ap-sacramento-b2488411.html
| 2024-01-31T23:07:03Z
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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
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Mathematicians create algorithm that could accelerate IoT by using optimal traffic division
Mathematicians from RUDN University have created a new routing algorithm in the Internet of Things network. It optimally splits traffic, which improves network speed and reliability. The results were published in Mathematics.
No uniform standards have yet been developed for Internet of Things networks. The architecture of such networks faces multiple requirements: scalability, flexibility, reliability, and availability. To provide all these qualities, efficient routing is necessary.
RUDN University mathematicians proposed using a special scheme in which transmission occurs in several ways at once—the traffic flow is split and transmitted through various intermediate nodes. The multipath routing method itself is not new, but the question is the optimal choice of specific traffic paths. There are several approaches to choosing routes for different networks. In some cases, for example, a random selection of paths is used. However, for the IoT network, classical methods are not effective.
"Multipath routing allows data to be transferred faster than single-path routing. The number of possible routes in IoT networks can be large. To choose routes, one needs to solve the problem of traffic distribution," Ammar Muthanna, Ph.D., head of the RUDN University Center for Simulation of Next Generation Wireless Networks said.
The researchers have proposed a new method for multipath routing. It is based on dynamic programming, in which a problem is broken down into simpler subtasks. This reduces the computation time. The created algorithm was compared with random uniform traffic distribution and other classical approaches.
The new method outperforms classical path selection methods in multipath routing, especially for dense IoT networks. The number of intermediate nodes included in the route was reduced by 34%. Computational costs were reduced by 52% and data delivery time by 40%.
"We created a method for selecting optimal routes for the best data transfer that uses dynamic programming. The proposed method increased the efficiency of using network resources. The route selection scheme increased the transmission rate by 40% compared to random traffic distribution. In addition, our algorithm has surpassed the classical ones in terms of energy consumption, packet delivery delay, packet delivery ratio, and costs," said Ammar Muthanna, Ph.D., head of the RUDN University Center for Simulation of Next Generation Wireless Networks.
More information: Abdelhamied A. Ateya et al, Multipath Routing Scheme for Optimum Data Transmission in Dense Internet of Things, Mathematics (2023). DOI: 10.3390/math11194168
Provided by RUDN University
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https://phys.org/news/2024-01-mathematicians-algorithm-iot-optimal-traffic.html
| 2024-01-31T23:07:03Z
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MIAMI — A federal judge has dismissed the Walt Disney Company's lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Disney sued after DeSantis and state lawmakers removed its self-governing status in 2023.
Backed by Republican lawmakers, DeSantis dissolved a special district near Orlando that for more than fifty years had governed Walt Disney World. He acted after Disney's CEO opposed a law limiting how sex orientation and gender identity can be discussed in the schools. The Parental Rights in Education Act was labeled "Don't Say Gay" by opponents.
At DeSantis' request, Florida's GOP-controlled legislature created a new special district, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, controlled by the Republican Governor's appointees. Disney sued in federal court, saying DeSantis was retaliating against the company, punishing it for exercising its First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Disney also canceled plans for a $1 billion campus in Florida.
In a 17-page order, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor dismissed the case, saying Disney lacks standing to sue the governor. The judge also said while Disney could sue the new DeSantis-appointed board, it hadn't shown evidence that actions by the new board had harmed the company. In addition, Winsor said the law prohibits plaintiffs from bringing a free speech challenge to constitutionally enacted laws.
A DeSantis spokesman hailed the decision saying, "the Corporate Kingdom is over. The days of Disney controlling its own government and being placed above the law are long gone. Disney is still just one of many corporations in the state and they do not have a right to their own special government."
Disney says it will "press forward with its case." In a statement after the ruling, a company spokesperson said, "If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with."
Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board are also embroiled in lawsuits in state court.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/npr-news/2024-01-31/a-federal-judge-dismisses-disneys-lawsuit-against-florida-gov-ron-desantis
| 2024-01-31T23:07:04Z
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has won the last remaining unresolved delegate from New Hampshire, giving him a 13-9 delegate advantage in the Granite State over former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
The Associated Press allocated the final delegate based on the latest vote results from the Jan. 23 primary in accordance with the state’s unusual rules regarding the allocation of Republican delegates.
Unlike in the Democratic presidential primaries, where all states follow a mostly uniform delegate allocation procedure, Republican delegate rules vary state by state. In New Hampshire, 22 Republican delegates are awarded to candidates in proportion to statewide primary results. For example, a candidate who receives 50% of the primary vote will receive 50% of the delegates at stake, or in this case, 11 delegates. The rules also state that a candidate must receive at least 10% of the primary vote in order to qualify for any delegates.
Only two candidates received more than 10% of the primary vote in New Hampshire – Trump, who received a little more than 54%, and Haley, who received a little more than 43%. In most states, the delegate math would involve multiplying these percentages – including the decimals – by the total number of delegates at stake. However, in New Hampshire, the first step in allocating Republican delegates is to round the vote percentages to the nearest whole percentage, which would be 54% for Trump and 43% for Haley. These whole percentages are then multiplied by the total number of Republican delegates at stake, which in New Hampshire is 22.
This produces an initial result of 11.88 delegates for Trump, which rounds to 12, and 9.46 delegates for Haley, which rounds to 9.
This accounts for 21 of the state’s 22 delegates. In New Hampshire, any unallocated delegates are awarded to the top vote-getter, which in this case is Trump. This is sometimes referred to as a “winner’s bonus.”
Based on these rules, the final delegate allocation in New Hampshire is 13 for Trump and 9 for Haley.
In order to clinch the Republican presidential nomination, a candidate must win a majority of delegate votes – 1,215 – at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this summer. After Iowa and New Hampshire, Trump leads Haley in the overall delegate count, 33-17.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.wsbradio.com/news/politics/trump-wins-final/MLPFAIVQSPXXAFXTBKFVUWTWJM/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:03Z
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A German Shepherd named Indy is on a long road to recovery after falling down an old well around this time last year.
Scripps News San Diego caught up with Indy at physical therapy on Tuesday to track his progress.
"So, Indy is here for his therapy treatment … Yes you're talking about it!" the physical therapist said as the dog chimed in with a lively bark.
The 10-year-old German shepherd is a retired police dog that captured the heart of his community after he was rescued from a 40-foot well in Chula Vista, California.
"He had a giant scar and cut from his shoulder all the way to his back — a very bad wound that was filled with mud," said Mark Pugh, Indy's owner. "He strained his legs and ruptured a disc in his back."
Pugh said after the accident, Indy couldn't walk at all. Pugh has been taking him to Aqua Animal Care Center in Oceanside twice a week for physical therapy.
The facility has an underwater treadmill and laser therapy, which requires Indy to don some spiffy goggles.
SEE MORE: Oklahoma asks teachers to return up to $50K in mistaken bonuses
"It brings in good blood flow, it reduces inflammation, reduces pain," the physical therapist said about the laser treatment.
Indy also does a series of exercises, building his balance, coordination and muscle strength. The treatment is working, but at a steep cost.
"His spirit's coming back," said Pugh. "It's almost to the point where if I don't find other resources, or I get the insurance company to come forward, I'll be out of money next month."
Combining the physical therapy, Indy's emergency veterinary care and monthly medication, Pugh said the bill for his precious dog's treatment has crossed the $100,000 mark.
A GoFundMe page was set up to try and raise funds for Indy's care, and it was shared out by Scripps News San Diego.
Despite the six-figure cost, Pugh said he can't imagine not doing everything he can to help Indy live and recover — especially since man's best friend has been there for him.
"When you take on a pet ... you're supposed to care for them and treat them and shelter them. That's what you take on. It's not a lighthearted decision. That's what you take on," he said.
This story was originally published by Madison Weil at Scripps News San Diego.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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https://www.turnto23.com/retired-k-9-s-owner-faces-steep-vet-bills-after-dog-falls-down-well
| 2024-01-31T23:07:06Z
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Citation
Yang Q, Xie R, Wang D, Li J, Zhang R, Li W, Ding W. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2024; ePub(ePub): ePub.
Copyright
(Copyright © 2024, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)
DOI
10.1111/sltb.13046
PMID
38284480
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Sleep problems are a significant risk factor for identifying and preventing suicidal involvement among adolescents. However, there is limited evidence to assess the underlying mechanisms between them. This study investigated the longitudinal relationship between sleep problems and suicidal behavior and examined whether this relationship was moderated by negative emotions, low self-control, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). METHODS: From December 2020 onward, we assessed 1214 Chinese secondary school adolescents (60.7% were boys, aged 13-19 years) three times, 6 months apart. RESULTS: In the direct effects model, sleep problems were found to have a positive impact on adolescent suicidal behavior. In the indirect effects model, we observed that sleep problems were associated with an elevated risk of suicidal behavior through several pathways: one-mediator path of negative emotions, low self-control, and NSSI, respectively; two-mediator path of negative emotions via low self-control, negative emotions via NSSI, and low self-control via NSSI, and three-mediator path from negative emotions to NSSI via low self-control. CONCLUSIONS: This longitudinal study provides evidence that sleep problems in adolescents may increase suicidal behavior by exacerbating negative emotions, weakening self-control, and promoting NSSI. The findings suggest sleep problems should be addressed in suicide prevention and intervention efforts for adolescents.
Language: en
Keywords
adolescents; nonsuicidal self-injury; sleep problems; negative emotions; self-control; suicidal behaviors
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https://www.safetylit.org/citations/index.php?fuseaction=citations.viewdetails&citationIds%5B%5D=citjournalarticle_782803_18
| 2024-01-31T23:07:07Z
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U.S. sportsbooks won't take bets on possible Taylor Swift appearance at the Super Bowl
Fans have been wondering for days whether Taylor Swift will make it to the Super Bowl next week to cheer on boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs and, if so, how many times she’ll show up on TV during the game
U.S. sportsbooks won't take bets on possible Taylor Swift appearance at the Super Bowl
Show all 4Fans have been wondering for days whether Taylor Swift will make it to the Super Bowl next week to cheer on boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs and, if so, how many times she'll show up on TV during the game. They can speculate all they want, but they won't be able to bet on it legally in the United States.
Those types of wagers can be made offshore with sportsbooks such as BetUS, which is based in Costa Rica, and potentially in the Canadian province of Ontario. BetMGM public relations manager John Ewing said he was waiting for word from Canadian authorities there if such bets will be OK.
But in the U.S., where betting laws vary from state to state, the general rule is that wagering is limited to what happens on the field. A handful of states allow bets to be placed on the color of Gatorade dumped on the winning coach — red or pink is this year's plus-260 favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook — but even that type of wager is not allowed in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas, the longtime epicenter of sports betting in the U.S., has some of the strictest rules regarding the kinds of wagers made.
Swift's romance with Kelce became one of the prominent stories this NFL season and she has attended several Chiefs games, including their victory in the AFC championship game at Baltimore on Sunday, where she joined the team for its on-field celebration and greeted Kelce with a kiss. Since she's performing in Japan the weekend of the Super Bowl, fans began wondering whether she'll make it to Las Vegas to watch Kelce and Kansas City face the San Francisco 49ers.
It seems only natural they would be able to put money on it in Vegas.
As a matter of principle, though, Ewing said it makes sense not to allow bets on things apart from the on-field action, such as the length of the national anthem.
"We don’t want any subjectivity in a prop (bet),” Ewing said. “We want it to be either it won or it didn’t win or went over or went under, and that’s the concern for regulators as well. That’s why typically we stick to if it’s in the box score, it can be posted."
Caesars Sportsbook assistant trading director Adam Pullen’s position is the more bets, the merrier.
“We’ve come a long way, but some stuff like we’re talking about here (about Swift) or (betting) on elections, there still might be a few years before we get to that point,” Pullen said. “But I like anything that drives action and gets people to bet. But we’re dependent on what the regulators in each particular state has to say.”
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Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $1,415,230, or $0.46 per common share (basic and diluted), compared to $2,014,282, or $0.66 per common share (basic and diluted), for the fourth quarter of 2022. The Company's return on average equity during the three months ended December 31, 2023 was 11.92% compared to 17.76% for the same period in 2022. The Company's return on average assets during the three months ended December 31, 2023 was 0.72% compared to 1.12% for the same period in 2022.
Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $2,707,482 lower when compared to the same period in 2022 due to a decrease in the taxable equivalent net yield on average net interest earning assets to 2.97% for the year ended December 31, 2023 from 3.54% for the same period in 2022. The decline in net yield was partially offset by a $41.2 million increase in average interest earning assets to $728.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $686.8 million for the same period in 2022. Higher interest expense on deposits and borrowings was the driving factor in the lower net interest income. The Federal Reserve rate increases caused the cost of deposits and borrowings to increase significantly by 133 basis points to 1.74% for the year ended December 31, 2023 from 0.41% for the same period in 2022. In addition, average interest bearing liabilities increased by $42.2 million to $570.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 from $528.2 million for the same period in 2022. The taxable equivalent net yield on total average interest-earning assets increased 48 basis points to 4.33% for the year ended December 31, 2023 from 3.85% for the same period in 2022, partially offsetting the higher cost of funds. The Company entered into several interest rate swaps structured as fair value hedges during 2023, some in combination with the purchase of mortgage backed securities, to offset the impact of higher interest expense on deposits and borrowings.
Based on the Company's CECL methodology, a recovery of $570,000 of credit losses was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to provision expense of $475,000 recorded for the year ended December 31, 2022. The recovery of credit losses was due primarily to a recovery of $387,000 from loans charged off over 10 years ago which also resulted in lower historical losses and a significant decrease in the required reserve for loans. In addition, an individually evaluated loan that had a $74,208 reserve at December 31, 2022 no longer required a reserve as of December 31, 2023.
Noninterest income decreased by $702,438 for the year ended December 31, 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022, primarily as a result of a $669,077 net decrease in gain on insurance proceeds, a $117,046 decrease in mortgage banking revenue and a $138,741 decrease in the gain on the sale of SBA loans, offset by a $67,539 increase in the fair value adjustment of an equity security, and a $116,233 increase in bank owned life insurance income. The decrease in mortgage banking revenue reflects a decline in refinancings due to rising interest rates. Noninterest expense was $225,354 lower for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the prior year, due primarily to a $257,243 decrease on other real estate owned and an $117,639 decrease in salaries and benefits, offset by a $91,876 increase in furniture and equipment and a $65,777 increase in other expenses. The decrease in other real estate owned expense is primarily due to a $249,217 gain on the sale of other real estate owned for which the carrying value was $0. The decrease in salaries and benefits was due to a $495,875 decrease in bonus expense, primarily due to lower net income, offset by normal annual salary increases as well as the hiring of several new employees. The increase in furniture and equipment expenses was due primarily to upgrades of equipment as the Company moves toward a conversion of its core system in 2024.
Income taxes decreased by $467,776 during the year ended December 31, 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022 due to lower earnings before taxes. The effective tax rate increased to 23.9% for the year ended December 31, 2023 from 23.5% for the same period last year due to a decrease in the amount of nontaxable income included in pretax income year-over-year.
Total assets increased to $800 million at December 31, 2023 from $718 million at December 31, 2022. Loans increased to $523 million at December 31, 2023 from $517 million at December 31, 2022. Investments in debt securities increased to $184 million at December 31, 2023 from $147 million at December 31, 2022. Cash and cash equivalents increased to $45 million at December 31, 2023 from $7 million at December 31, 2022. Deposits increased to $681 million at December 31, 2023 from $624 million at December 31, 2022. Approximately 20% of total deposits were uninsured by the FDIC at December 31, 2023. The implementation of the new credit loss methodology required by generally accepted accounting principles, known as current expected credit losses, or CECL, on January 1, 2023 resulted in a $335,935 increase in the credit loss reserve on loans, available credit, and held to maturity securities. This additional reserve, net of income taxes, was recorded as a reduction of equity and was not a component of the income statement. The Company's tangible equity was $45 million at December 31, 2023 and $41 million at December 31, 2022. Tangible equity is a non-GAAP measure, which is equity ($52 million and $48 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively) less goodwill and other intangibles ($7 million at both December 31, 2023 and 2022).
The book value of the Company's common stock increased to $16.74 per share at December 31, 2023 from to $15.56 per share at December 31, 2022. Book value per share at December 31, 2023 is reflective of the $23 million unrealized loss on the Company's available for sale (“AFS”) investment portfolio as a result of the significant rise in interest rates over the last 24 months. Changes in the market value of the AFS investment portfolio, net of income taxes, are reflected in the Company's equity, but are not included in the income statement. The Company's AFS investment portfolio is comprised of 58% government agency mortgage backed securities which are fully guaranteed, 36% investment grade non agency mortgage backed securities, 2% investment grade corporate and municipal bonds, and 4% subordinated debt of other community banks. Based on management's analysis, there is no indication of credit deterioration in any of the bonds and the Company intends to hold these investments to maturity, so no actual losses are anticipated. The unrealized loss on the AFS investment portfolio had no impact on regulatory capital because the Company elected many years ago to not include market value fluctuations in the calculation of regulatory capital.
The Company began utilizing the Federal Reserve Bank's Bank Term Funding Program (“BTFP”) during the second quarter of 2023 and had borrowings of $33,000,000 outstanding at December 31, 2023. Eligible collateral for the BTFP includes mortgage backed securities which are valued at par instead of market providing greater availability than other facilities. The BTFP also provides competitive fixed rates for up to a one-year term and advances can be refinanced or paid off in full or in part at any time. This facility, along with the Company's Federal Home Loan Bank facility, other borrowing lines available, unpledged securities, brokered deposit access, and cash, provided the Company with access to approximately $379 million of liquidity at December 31, 2023.
Gary A. Harris, President and CEO, commented“2023 was a challenging year with higher deposit and borrowing costs, which significantly reduced our net interest margin and negatively impacted our earnings. It appears that the higher interest rate environment will continue well into 2024. However, we are optimistic about our high quality loan portfolio and new loan activity. Our liquidity position remains strong. I have confidence in our experienced team to manage through this difficult interest rate environment.”
About the Company
The Company is a financial holding company and the parent of the Bank. The Bank was chartered in Maryland in 1919 and has over 100 years of service to the community. The Bank serves the deposit and financing needs of both consumers and businesses in Carroll and Baltimore Counties along the Route 30, Route 795, Route 140, and Route 26 corridors. The main office is located in Upperco, Maryland, with seven additional branches in Owings Mills, Hampstead, Greenmount, Reisterstown, Westminster, and Eldersburg. Certain broker-dealers make a market in the common stock of Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc., and trades are reported through the OTC Markets Group's Pink Market under the symbol“FMFG”.
Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. These statements are evidenced by terms such as“anticipate,”“estimate,”“should,”“will,”“expect,”“believe,”“intend,” and similar expressions. Although these statements reflect management's good faith beliefs and projections, they are not guarantees of future performance and they may not prove true. These projections involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the section of the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission entitled“Risk Factors”.
MENAFN31012024004107003653ID1107793843
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https://menafn.com/1107793843/Farmers-And-Merchants-Bancshares-Inc-Reports-Earnings-Of-6418337-Or-208-Per-Share-For-The-Year-Ended-December-31-2023
| 2024-01-31T23:07:09Z
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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
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Method combines artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to map crop-livestock integration systems
Crop-livestock integration (CLI) systems combine the growing of crops in rotation or consortium, especially grain crops such as soybeans, corn and sorghum, and forage plants used to feed cattle and pigs, with the raising of livestock, typically beef cattle. The crops provide most of the cash income, while the livestock has food available during the dry season and facilitates seed management.
CLI improves soil fertility, raises yields and helps rehabilitate degraded areas while reducing the use of pesticides, mitigating the risk of erosion and the seasonality of production, and lowering operating costs. It makes farming more sustainable: crops benefit livestock and vice-versa; the environmental impact of agricultural activity falls; and the carbon footprint is reduced.
In a study reported in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment, researchers affiliated with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) have developed a method based on artificial intelligence (AI) to identify CLI areas by analyzing satellite imagery. According to the authors of the article, this knowledge can benefit Brazilian agriculture in several ways.
"The main aim of the project, which was an international collaboration to address issues relating to sustainable agriculture, was to promote the integration of remote sensing data with satellite images using AI, precision agriculture and biogeochemical models to understand and create models of the dynamics of this type of system," said Inácio Thomaz Bueno, first author of the article. A forest engineer, Bueno conducted postdoctoral research on the monitoring of CLI systems using remote sensing data and satellite imagery with high spatiotemporal resolution.
"We also aimed to increase knowledge of CLI, given the many questions still open and the lack of effective methods for monitoring and development of its potential, as well as the need to identify areas in which it's being practiced, in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] relating to agriculture, the environment, and economic and social development," he said.
The team used deep learning techniques to process satellite imagery time series and extract patterns pointing to areas where CLI was being practiced. Deep learning is a type of AI that uses neural networks with multiple layers to model and process complex patterns in data.
The study sites were areas in the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso. Object-based image analysis was performed at intervals of 10 and 15 days in four steps: CLI data acquisition via Planetscope, a constellation of satellites that capture high-resolution images of Earth's surface, showing changes in the areas over time; training of algorithms to recognize patterns associated with CLI; mapping of CLI areas; and assessment of the model's accuracy by comparing automatic results with previous knowledge.
For Bueno, the promising results obtained by this method, which involved monitoring and mapping CLI areas via satellite images and analyzing their dynamics over time, can have various kinds of positive impacts on agriculture.
"Precise identification of CLI areas permits more efficient resource management to optimize land allocation and use. In addition, diversification of activities offers farmers an additional source of income," he said.
The detailed information derived from CLI mapping also provides a sound basis for decision-making by farmers, who can feel confident that their crop-livestock management and investment policies are grounded in science.
Another benefit of the approach is that it encourages sustainable agriculture. Recognition and mapping of CLI areas can support government policies and programs to promote sustainable practices, contributing to regularity of food supply and income via financial incentives and specific lines of credit that support the adoption of integrated systems.
More information: Inacio T. Bueno et al, Mapping integrated crop-livestock systems in Brazil with planetscope time series and deep learning, Remote Sensing of Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2023.113886
Provided by FAPESP
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https://phys.org/news/2024-01-method-combines-artificial-intelligence-satellite.html
| 2024-01-31T23:07:09Z
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Jorge Rubiano arrived alone in Chicago, but his pain and trauma came with him.
For months, he tried to find steady work. For months, he's been sleeping in a crowded temporary shelter, worrying about his wife and mother back in Colombia. Are they safe? Did I make the right decision?
He recalls a frightening phone call with his wife in Colombia, cut short when the bus she was riding on was being robbed.
Rubiano, 43, is also haunted by memories of his harrowing journey to Chicago, during which he says he was kidnapped for a month, before escaping.
He left his country, he says, over a land dispute in which the government threatened his life.
"I'm still in between two dangers," Rubiano says in Spanish. "If I return it's very possible they kill me, and if I stay I don't know what can happen here."
More than 30,000 migrants and asylum seekers have arrived in Chicago since August of 2022 — most of them from South and Central America. They are fleeing the collapse of their economies, a lack of food and jobs, and violence back home.
Many came here on a bus from Texas, sent by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who said Chicago — and other so-called sanctuary cities that embrace immigrants — would provide much-needed relief "to our small, overrun border towns."
The buses haven't stopped since.
Migrants fleeing hardship, danger, fear and loss
Interviews with more than 30 people reveal the emotional toll migrants face, and the efforts of individuals and organizations that are trying to fill the gaps of a frayed mental health system.
Some of those efforts are catching the attention of leaders in other big U.S. cities also coping with large influxes of newly-arrived migrants.
For many, their journeys here were terrifying. A young girl who fell into a river, her pregnant mother struggling to hold her small hand, so the current wouldn't whisk her away. Women who were forced to have sex with gang members to get from country to country. People who walked over the dead in the jungle, or are wracked with guilt over the sick and injured left behind.
Their stories have unfolded across Chicago: in the quiet space of a therapist's office, at an informal healing circle in the back of a store, with a nurse at a folding table propped up outside a police station.
But for many migrants, taking care of their mental health might not be a priority.
"They're in survival mode," says Sharon Davila, a school-based social worker who has screened migrant families. "They need their basic needs met. The number one thing is they're looking for jobs."
Just getting in front of a therapist or a social worker can be extremely difficult for even the most savvy and persistent. With a shortage of mental health workers, wait lists for an appointment can be months long.
Layer on being new to this country, speaking a different language, and having no health insurance. Getting help can seem impossible.
Therapist Susie Moya worries about a mental health crisis brewing for many migrants.
"Right now it's on the back burner," says Moya, who has worked with migrants on Chicago's Lower West Side. "But I'm thinking a year from now when these families are settled in. Who is going to be providing that support?"
Informal support, with a side of soup
It's a Monday night in the back room of an insurance agency on the Southwest Side. About 20 migrants have arranged their chairs in a circle. Each person takes a turn describing how they feel on a scale of one to 10, as social worker Veronica Sanchez gently encourages them to share why.
Warm homemade chicken soup and arepas await them for dinner.
A woman says her husband got deported, and she's heartbroken that she left her children behind. A man says he worked several days that week, but never got paid. Another says he is grateful to God for bringing him to America, but he misses his mom, dad and brothers.
Finding work and reuniting with family is important, Sanchez tells them. But right now she's concerned about their mental health.
"Maybe we have answers. Maybe we don't. But when you open up a safe space where you can share your sorrows... you don't feel so alone," Sanchez says in Spanish.
Sanchez understands the migrants' desperation. She comes from a long line of pottery makers in Mexico. Sanchez was just four years old when her father left to work in Cicero, a suburb outside Chicago. She didn't see her father for almost seven years, until they were reunited as a family in Cicero.
Those memories fuel her work with the healing circle. "When I was talking to them, it really came from the heart," Sanchez says. "I was seeing the migrants' faces, that they were so scared."
Informal support groups like this one have popped up around Chicago in shelters, storefronts, churches and schools, led by volunteers or mental health professionals.
Many of these support groups don't last long. Volunteers get burned out. Migrants prioritize other needs. Or the city moves them from place to place.
The costs of ignoring loss and trauma
Some volunteers and mental health providers emphasize that not every migrant might be experiencing severe trauma.
But for many, trauma can have lasting impact. Trauma can change the wiring in a person's brain and make someone more vulnerable to depression and anxiety.
Daily or ongoing stressors can add up to what Chicago psychologist Laura Pappa calls "little t trauma" — like not feeling welcomed right away.
"A lot of people come here seeking the American dream and they realize that that's not there," says Pappa, who came to the U.S. from Argentina as a teen. "A lot of people were not expecting that, how hard it is on this side. I've had a lot of parents who've come alone and ask themselves, was it worth it?"
It can be hard to persuade migrants to seek help, however. There's a stigma about the need for mental health care in many immigrant communities, particularly among Latino men, Pappa says.
But, she adds, the stigma is easing as talking about emotions becomes more common.
Training the front-line workers in shelters
One effort to provide faster help involves training hundreds of peoplewho don't have a medical background, but work in city-run shelters. These front-line workers, such as case managers and shelter supervisors, are learning to lead support groups called Café y Comunidad charlas — coffee and community talks.
The initiative is led by the Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health, the University of Chicago's Crown Family School, and Lurie Children's Center for Childhood Resilience.
The idea is to help migrants feel less isolated and try to prevent the most extreme outcomes, such as suicide.
"We have to help people the minute they arrive," explainsAimee Hilado, an assistant professor at UC's Crown School and chair of the coalition. "That's actually going to promote healing down the line."
Case manager Albert Ayala has led a charla in the ballroom of a downtown shelter. He recalls moments of joy, such as when a woman said she was searching for love — and hands shot up hoping to catch her attention.
Ayala says he's watched migrants who arrive scared and shy blossom after attending a charla.
"We try to tell them we're no different from you," says Ayala, who is Mexican American. "Your dream is possible."
Leaders in Philadelphia and San Jose have reached out asking how to replicate the effort, Hilado says.
Outside his shelter, Rubiano, the migrant from Colombia, says he hasn't attended one of these support groups. He says he tries to keep busy working on his English skills. And he recently found a full-time job in a supermarket.
He longs for his family, and for the chance to bring them here — once there is a stable life he can offer them.
WBEZ is part of the Mental Health Parity Collaborative, a group of newsrooms covering stories on mental health care access and inequities in the U.S. The Collaborative's partners include The Carter Center, the Center for Public Integrity and newsrooms in select states across the country.
WBEZ's Manuel Martinez contributed to this report.
Copyright 2024 WBEZ
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https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/npr-news/2024-01-31/for-chicagos-new-migrants-informal-support-groups-help-ease-the-pain-and-trauma
| 2024-01-31T23:07:10Z
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — Interest rate cuts are coming. Just not yet.
The Federal Reserve delivered that message Wednesday, first in a policy statement and then in a news conference at which Chair Jerome Powell reinforced it.
The Fed did signal that it's nearing a long-awaited shift toward cutting rates, evidence that its officials have grown confident that they're close to fully taming inflation. No longer does its policy statement say it's still considering further rate hikes.
Yet the officials made clear that the first rate cut is likely months away. Their statement said they don't think it would be time to cut rates “until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably” to their 2% target.
Investors and some economists had been holding out the possibility that the Fed might cut as early as its next meeting in March. That now appears off the table.
“I don’t think it’s likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting” to start cutting rates, Powell said at his news conference.
The central bank kept its key rate unchanged at about 5.4%, a 22-year high. But the changes to its statement — compared with its last meeting in December — show that it has moved toward considering rate reductions while still maintaining flexibility.
“There is nothing in Powell’s remarks or the statement that leads us to worry about the basic story of ‘good news’ cuts starting soon enough,” Krishna Guha, an economics analyst at investment bank Evercore ISI, said in a note to clients.
In December, the Fed's policymakers had indicated that they expected to carry out three quarter-point rate cuts in 2024. Yet they have since said little about when those cuts might begin, and some senior officials stressed that the Fed will proceed cautiously.
On Wednesday, Powell said the Fed doesn't need to see significant changes in the inflation data for it to cut rates. It just needs to see the inflation slowdown continue. Prices have increased at just a 2% annual rate in the past six months, according to the Fed's preferred measure.
“It's not that we're looking for better data — it's just that we're looking for a continuation of the good data that we've been getting," he said. “We just need to see more.”
The central bank's message Wednesday — that it's edging closer to cutting rates but not planning to do so anytime soon — disappointed traders on Wall Street. Losses in the stock market accelerated after Powell's news conference began.
The change in the Fed's stance comes as the economy is showing surprising durability after a series of 11 rate hikes helped drastically slow inflation, which had hit a four-decade high 18 months ago. Growth remains healthy: In the final three months of last year, the economy expanded at a 3.3% annual rate, the government said last week.
The Fed is assessing inflation and the economy at a time when the intensifying presidential campaign is pivoting in no small part on voters' perceptions of President Joe Biden's economic stewardship. Republicans in Congress have attacked Biden over the high inflation that gripped the nation beginning in 2021 as the economy emerged from recession. But the latest economic data — ranging from steady consumer spending to solid job growth to the slowdown in inflation — has been bolstering consumer confidence.
At his news conference, Powell said the Fed welcomes signs of economic strength.
“We want to see strong growth and a strong labor market,” the Fed chair said. "We’re looking for inflation to come down, as it has been coming down for the last six months.”
Most economists have said they expect the Fed to start cutting its benchmark rate in May or June. Rate cuts would eventually lead to lower borrowing costs for America’s consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.
A year ago, many analysts were predicting that widespread layoffs and sharply higher unemployment would be needed to cool the economy and curb inflation. Yet job growth has been steady. The unemployment rate, at 3.7%, isn’t far above a half-century low.
Labor costs are easing, too. On Wednesday, the government reported that pay and benefits for America's workers, which accelerated in 2022, grew in the final three months of 2023 at the slowest pace in 2 1/2 years. That slowdown reduces pressure on companies to raise prices to cover higher labor costs.
The Fed appears on the verge of achieving a rare “soft landing,” in which it manages to conquer high inflation without causing a recession. Should the pace of economic growth strengthen, though, it could complicate the challenge for the Fed.
Powell said that faster growth could potentially cause inflation to stall at a rate above 2%, which could complicate the Fed's timetable for rate cuts. For now, with the economy performing well, he said, the Fed doesn't need to rush to reduce borrowing costs.
“If we saw an unexpected weakening in the labor market, that would certainly weigh on cutting sooner," Powell said.
Asked whether he thought the Fed has already achieved a soft landing, Powell suggested it would be premature to say so.
“We have a ways to go,” he said. "Core inflation is still well above target on a 12-month basis. Certainly, I’m encouraged and we’re encouraged by the progress, but we’re not declaring victory at this point. We think we have a ways to go.”
Some cracks in the job market have begun to emerge and, if they worsen, could spur the Fed to cut rates quickly. For several months, most of the nation's job growth has occurred in just a few sectors — health care, government and hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Any weakening in those areas of the economy could threaten hiring and the overall expansion.
A report Tuesday showed that the number of workers who quit in December reached its lowest level in three years. That suggested that fewer Americans are being recruited for new, higher-paying jobs or are willing to search for and take new positions. Though quits remain at a level consistent with a solid job market, they have fallen about one-third from their peak in mid-2022.
Still, the U.S. economy is outdoing its counterparts overseas. During the October-December quarter, the 20 countries that share the euro currency barely avoided a recession, posting essentially no growth.
Still, as in the United States, unemployment is very low in the euro area, and inflation has slowed to a 2.9% annual rate. Though the European Central Bank could cut rates as soon as April, many economists think that might not happen until June.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.wsbradio.com/news/powell-federal/FB46DTECNHYRWVHV3OHDKWQXKI/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:10Z
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The CEOs of five major social media companies just wrapped up their testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The heads of Meta, X, TikTok, Discord, and Snap were grilled about what they're doing to protect kids on their platforms.
The major concerns are teen suicides, unrealistic beauty standards, bullying and guarding against child predators, and sextortion. The hearing started at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, and it didn't take long for things to get quite emotional.
In a poignant moment, parents stood up and held images of their children who lost their lives to suicide due to social media, as the hearing began with recorded testimonies from children who had been hurt because of these platforms. Mark Zuckerberg turned around and offered an apology.
“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through,” Zuckerberg told them. "It's terrible. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered. And this is why we invest so much and are going to continue doing industry-leading efforts to make sure that no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer."
However, Stefan Turkheimer, vice president of public policy at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, who was sitting with the parents during the hearing, contends that the apology fell short of being enough.
“I think the parents are incredibly frustrated with the behavior of the platforms, and Facebook specifically, and Mark Zuckerberg even more specifically. I don't think his apology or whatever statement he made made much of a difference to them. I think that they want to see real change in the platforms and real accountability from Facebook and Meta, and they're not getting it, and I don't think the actual statement he made to them really had much effect,” Turkheimer told Scripps News.
Meta is under legal scrutiny from several states, accused of purposefully creating addictive features on Instagram and Facebook for children and failing to protect them from online predators.
During her opening statements, Sen. Amy Klobuchar was visibly frustrated as she compared tech companies’ response to harmful content to grounding Boeing planes after the in-flight emergency earlier this month.
"When a Boeing plane lost a door in midflight several weeks ago, nobody questioned the decision to ground a fleet of over 700 planes. So why are not we taking the same type of decisive action on the danger of these platforms when we know these kids are dying? We have bills that have passed through this incredibly diverse committee when it comes to our political views that have passed through this committee, and they should go to the floor,” she said. “We should do something finally about liability, and then we should turn to some of the other issues that a number of us have worked on when it comes to the charges for app stores and when it comes to the monopoly behavior and the preferencing, but I will stick with this today: Facts, one-third of fentanyl cases investigated over five months had direct ties to social media; that's from the DEA. Facts, between 2012 and 2022, cyber tip-line reports of online child sexual exploitation increased from 415,000 to more than 32 million. And as I noted, at least 20 victims committed suicide in sextortion cases."
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel apologized to families whose children died after purchasing drugs on Snapchat. “I’m so sorry that we have not been able to prevent these tragedies,” he said. Then he proceeded to outline some of the company's efforts to protect its users.
During the hearing, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew emphasized the platform's commitment to enforcing its policy preventing children under 13 from using the app. Meanwhile, CEO Linda Yaccarino stated that X (formerly known as Twitter) does not cater to children but that the company backs the STOP CSAM Act bill that makes tech companies responsible for child sexual exploitation cases by removing their liability shield.
Despite a rare instance of congressional agreement against the platforms during Wednesday's hearing, Congress has yet to enact legislation to regulate social media companies and their content, which has allowed these companies to operate for years without more strict federal oversight.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press.
SEE MORE: Mother who lost teen to viral challenge calls for more protections
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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https://www.turnto23.com/senate-judiciary-committee-grills-social-media-ceos-on-child-safety
| 2024-01-31T23:07:12Z
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Watch the full interview with Peter Duke on Rumble or Rokfin
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Kentucky juvenile facilities have issues with force, staffing, report says
A review of Kentucky’s juvenile justice system has found continuing use of force issues in its detention centers and a lack of progress on a previous state audit's suggestions for improvement
Kentucky’s juvenile justice system has lingering problems with the use of force and isolation techniques and has done little to implement a 2017 state audit’s suggestions for improvement, according to a report released Wednesday.
The new report from Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball says the state's juvenile detention centers lack clear policies concerning the use of isolation cells, Tasers and pepper spray, and have significant staffing problems. It also found that Department of Juvenile Justice staffers were using pepper spray at a rate nearly 74 times higher than it is used in adult federal prisons.
A federal lawsuit filed earlier this month alleges that two teen girls were kept in isolation cells for weeks in unsanitary conditions at a youth facility in Adair County in 2022. That same year, the detention center was the site of a riot that began when a juvenile assaulted a staff member. Another federal lawsuit was filed this week by a woman who said that as a 17-year-old, she spent a month in an isolation cell at the Adair facility in 2022.
The auditor's review was requested last year by state lawmakers.
"The state of the Department of Juvenile Justice has been a concern across the Commonwealth and a legislative priority over the past several years,” Ball said in a statement Wednesday.
Ball blamed Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's administration for “disorganization across facilities, and as a result, the unacceptably poor treatment of Kentucky youth.” Beshear earlier this month criticized a Kentucky House budget proposal for lacking funding for new female-only juvenile justice centers.
The auditor's report, labeled a “performance assessment,” found that the Juvenile Justice department's “practices for isolation are inconsistently defined, applied and in conflict with nationally-recognized best practices.” The department's use of force policies are also “poorly deployed and defined,” it said.
The report said the findings from the 2017 audit have largely not been addressed, including concerns of overuse of solitary confinement, low medical care standards and the poor quality of the policy manual.
Beshear initiated a new state policy for juvenile offenders last year that places male juveniles charged with serious crimes in a high-security facility. The policy replaced a decades-old regional system that put juveniles in facilities based on where they live.
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/kentucky-ap-andy-beshear-tasers-commonwealth-b2488409.html
| 2024-01-31T23:07:15Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire) PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker
Waichman LLP comments on CNN reports
that a highly anticipated, new government study indicates that military and civilian personnel who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina in the mid-1970s and '80s are more likely to be diagnosed with certain cancers compared with those stationed at a similar military base in California during the same period. These findings could lead to an expanded list of conditions for which veterans and civilian personnel who lived or worked at Camp
Lejeune can potentially receive government compensation.
Continue Reading
The study identified several cancers that had not previously been shown to be connected to the contamination at Camp Lejeune. Those included male breast cancer, all myeloid cancers, including a type of blood cancer called polycythemia vera, myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes (a group of disorders caused by blood cells that are not properly formed or do not work right), and cancers of the esophagus, voice box, thyroid, soft tissue, marginal B-cell lymphoma, and
certain types of lung cancer.
"... we went to Congress and worked hard to get legislation passed."
Post this
Parker Waichman has been fighting for justice for the victims of Camp Lejeune since 2009 after an initial lawsuit filed on behalf of an injured civilian teacher at Camp Lejeune was rejected by court after court on a variety of legal grounds involving time limitations and the Feres doctrine. Parker Waichman turned to creating legislation to change those laws and the firm was thrilled when The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 was enacted as part of the broader Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, removing the barriers to earlier lawsuits that had been unsuccessful. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 paved the way for the filing of claims on behalf of our service members, their families, and civilians effected by the toxic water at Camp Lejeune.
Jerrold S. Parker, founding partner of Parker Waichman LLP stated: "We decided in 2009 to fight for these Marines and their families. When the courts declined to help these Camp Lejeune victims, we went to Congress and worked hard to get legislation passed, and we are honored to represent our servicemen and servicewomen."
If you, or someone you know, lived or worked at Camp Lejeune for 30 days between August 1, 1953 and December 31, 1987 and believe they have a related illness, please call 1-800-YOUR LAWYER or visit the firm's website at for a free consultation.
SOURCE Parker Waichman LLP
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https://menafn.com/1107793844/New-Government-Study-Links-Additional-Cancers-To-Camp-Lejeune-Tainted-Water
| 2024-01-31T23:07:15Z
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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
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Microgreens made to order: Scientists tailor iodine and potassium content of radishes, peas, arugula and chard
In a significant development for personalized nutrition, researchers in Italy have cultivated microgreens with bespoke nutritional profiles to serve individual dietary requirements.
The study, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, provides a blueprint for the soilless cultivation of nutritionally enriched plants in a commercial greenhouse setting.
Co-authors Massimiliano D'Imperio and Francesco Serio, both at the Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA) National Council of Research (CNR); and Massimiliano Renna, professor of agricultural and environmental science at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy, explained the motivation behind the research.
"Propelled by an ever-growing awareness of the importance of following dietary recommendations, interest in personalized nutrition is on the rise. Soilless biofortification of vegetables has opened the door to the potential for adapting vegetable production to specific dietary requirements," Renna said.
The team cultivated four different species—radish, pea, arugula and Swiss chard—and focused on two nutrients that play a crucial role in health and nutrition: iodine and potassium.
Iodine is critical to thyroid function, with deficiency affecting approximately two billion people worldwide. Fortifying table salt with iodine is a strategy used internationally to combat deficiency, while other sources in the human diet include fish, milk and eggs.
However, recommendations from the World Health Organization to reduce daily salt intake, paired with an increase in vegetarian and vegan diets, mean demand is growing for alternative iodine sources.
Using tailored nutrient solutions for plant growth, the team successfully cultivated plants with iodine content up to 14 times higher than unfortified microgreens, as a novel dietary source of iodine.
They also grew microgreens with a 45% reduction in potassium levels, to attend to the needs of chronic kidney disease sufferers, for whom its intake must be restricted to avoid health complications.
"Since vegetables contain high concentrations of potassium, patients with impaired kidney function are sometimes advised not to eat vegetables, or that they should be soaked in water and boiled to reduce the potassium content through leaching.
"However, the reduction in potassium using such cooking methods can be considered limited, while other important minerals and vitamins could be significantly lost," the researchers noted. "In this context, the production of vegetables with low potassium content could be of great interest."
The study was conducted in a commercial setting—at Ortogourmet, a working microgreen farm in southern Italy. Crucially, this supports the viability of cultivating customized microgreens on a large scale while maintaining optimal agronomic performance.
The microgreens were grown in a soilless system, where a liquid medium is used in place of soil and the plants are fed through a nutrient solution.
Explaining the advantages of a soilless system, the authors said, "Soilless cultivation is considered an advanced, environmentally-friendly agricultural practice for enhancing the quality of fresh vegetables. In fact, although soilless cultivation systems have been developed primarily to address the challenge of excessive soil pathogens, it is nonetheless true that they also favor optimal control of plant growth, high productivity, and an efficient use of water and fertilizers. Furthermore, soilless systems represent an opportunity to modulate the nutrient solution precisely and efficaciously."
The researchers are now turning their attention to manipulating the biological pathways of plants to produce desired compounds.
"The key idea is to leverage in-depth knowledge of plant metabolic pathways to identify key points where intervention is possible to increase the production of desired molecules," they note.
"The optimization of these techniques will require in-depth research into the molecular biology of plants, including the metabolic pathways involved in the synthesis of target molecules, and a constant refinement of growth conditions. The combination of advanced scientific knowledge and innovative technologies can open new perspectives in the production of healthier and nutritionally biofortified vegetables."
More information: Massimiliano D'Imperio et al, Soilless cultivation systems to produce tailored microgreens for specific nutritional needs, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (2023). DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13222
Provided by Society of Chemical Industry
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https://phys.org/news/2024-01-microgreens-scientists-tailor-iodine-potassium.html
| 2024-01-31T23:07:15Z
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Senate Republicans demanded that President Biden's national security funding package for Ukraine be tied to policy changes to address the crisis at the southwest border. But now that negotiators say they are ready to release details of a bipartisan plan to reduce the surge of migrants at the border, Republican divisions could scuttle the plan.
Months of negotiations between the Republicans, Democrats and the Biden administration officials are now threatened by politics. Former President Trump, the GOP's likely 2024 presidential nominee, has been publicly slamming the deal and urging lawmakers to oppose it.
Negotiators started the week promising to release a bill in the coming days. But by Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to signal he's ready to move on, and focus on getting money to two key U.S. allies at war.
"It's time for us to move something, hopefully including the border agreement, but we need to get help to Israel and Ukraine, quickly," McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters.
McConnell has consistently argued that divided government is the moment to extract demands on border policy from Democrats.
Pressed about what voters would think of GOP lawmakers who sink a bill because Trump directed them to, McConnell sidestepped the question. "I still favor trying to make law when you can" and said what the bipartisan group is working on is better than current immigration law, adding, "you're asking me, a question I can't answer right now, which is the fate of it."
Senators already know key details
The top Democratic negotiator working on a border plan, Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has signaled for days that the deal is basically done, but getting sign off from the GOP to move ahead is the hold up.
"We have a bipartisan agreement to help address the crisis at the border. Republicans have been desperate for that. Why would they walk away from it?"
Senate Republicans huddled at their weekly lunch on Wednesday to discuss next steps, but the consensus coming out of the meeting was that lawmakers want to see the details.
But after weeks of negotiations, the key provisions have already been explained to lawmakers from both parties.
The bill includes several tools to address the border, including: giving the president the ability to shutdown the border if the numbers of migrants attempting to enter the U.S. climbs above a certain threshold, adjusting the rules for who qualifies for asylum and allowing migrants authorization to work while awaiting adjudication of their asylum claim.
Extended negotiations opened space for critics
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said the effort is "an uphill climb" because as the talks have continued, some members have impressions about what the proposal will do and "there are certain people who will never change their mind."
Tillis has said a border plan needs to get the majority of Senate Republicans in order to move ahead. But Trump injecting himself into the process has caused many lawmakers to refrain from backing the framework, making it tougher to meet that test.
Oklahoma GOP Sen. Jim Lankford is crafting the plan along with Murphy and Independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Lankford spent time on Sunday talk shows swatting down leaks about the plan that conservative media outlets are painting as a green light for 5,000 additional migrants a day.
Texas Republican Sen, John Cornyn, who was an early advocate of linking money for Ukraine to changes to the Biden administration's policies, said people need time to see an official piece of legislation.
"People are talking about what they think is in it, and what they've heard is in it, what's not in it,' Cornyn told reporters. "I think the first thing we need to do is see where the conference is based on the text rather than just based on rumors and hearsay."
Tillis called Wednesday's meeting "a good discussion." But added, "I would ask those same members who are calling for time to read it, but not judge something they haven't read."
Others who came out against the bill already are already dismissing the proposals.
"I think this is a bad bill," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tx., told reporters. "And the simplest reason is it doesn't solve the problem."
Cruz blamed Senate Democrats for crafting a bill that "allows Joe Biden to continue the open borders," despite the months of bipartisan negotiations that have taken place. President Biden endorsed the proposal and said last week if Congress passes it he would immediately shutdown the border.
Some optimisim remains
Murphy remained optimistic on Wednesday that the deal would survive and come to the floor for a vote, possibly as soon as this week.
He said a "sizable, important group of Republican senators" are making a good faith effort to get something done on the border, and suggested that others are making disingenuous arguments about needing to see the full text.
"This is not a detailed study of the issue. This is a question as to whether they are going to put Trump before solving the problem," Murphy said.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/npr-news/2024-01-31/senate-gop-split-risks-bipartisan-border-deal-as-trump-looms-large
| 2024-01-31T23:07:16Z
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CLEVELAND — (AP) — Talk about high drama.
By the time the first pitch is thrown at the Cleveland Guardians' home opener on April 8 at Progressive Field, fans will have seen something more unusual than a no-hitter, more rare than a perfect game and astronomically more exciting than an unassisted triple play.
It will be truly an out of this world moment.
At 3:13 p.m. EDT, Cleveland will experience a total solar eclipse — a once-in-generations event — for the first time since 1806, 13 years before the birth of Abner Doubleday, the Civil War hero some have credited with inventing baseball.
The alignment of sun, earth and moon will plunge the city into darkness, and as long as the maddeningly unpredictable Northeast Ohio weather cooperates, people will view a spectacle that lasts just under four minutes but occurs only three times in a 638-year span above the city.
The next one isn't until 2444.
“It’s a really, really, really big deal," said Jay Ryan, a self-described “astronomy nerd” and eclipse educator. “It’s hard to communicate to people how big of a deal this is. They’ve seen a partial eclipse in the past, and were like, meh. This is breathtaking."
Undoubtedly exciting for many, the eclipse does create some logistical concerns for others, especially the Guardians, who are trying to decide an ideal time to start the opener while balancing transportation, parking and other concerns.
Cleveland will be jam packed.
Officials are estimating 200,000 visitors will descend upon the city strictly to view the eclipse, with 50,000 expected to attend an event at the Great Lakes Science Center, where NASA is setting up one of three national broadcasting hubs.
Throw in any college basketball fans still in town from the NCAA Women’s Final Four from April 5-7, on top of the 35,000 coming to see the Guardians game, and downtown Cleveland will be bursting at the seams.
The Guardians have started their home openers in recent years with a 4:10 p.m. first pitch. This year, though, that falls in the partial-eclipse window when fans may still be distracted by the overhead phenomenon and not focused on seeing All-Star third baseman José Ramírez step into the batter's box against the Chicago White Sox.
The team has spent months weighing whether to embrace the eclipse and open the ballpark early to allow fans to watch it together — an opening act on opening day — or wait until it's over and play a night game.
The Guardians, who start on an 11-game trip, are expected to announce their decision on the opener in coming days.
Ryan believes the social element of the eclipse can't be underestimated. As he excitedly described the moon's 124-mile shadow gradually fading and then temporarily extinguishing the sun's brightness, Ryan said the moment before darkness is overwhelming.
“The color of the sky goes from bluish, grayish to black,” he said. “And then, boom! Totality. You are in nighttime. It's heart pounding. It's exciting. People are screaming. I'll tell you what, to be with a sports crowd, just imagine someone hitting a grand slam. To be down there with a bunch of fans would be great.”
There could be one problem: Cleveland's wacky weather.
"You had to go there," Ryan said.
The Guardians have dealt with snow on opening day before. In 2007, their first four games in Cleveland were snowed out from April 6-9, forcing the team to play its “home” opener in Milwaukee.
Ryan has been closely monitoring the long-term forecast and Cleveland's weather history. He feels somewhat encouraged that April 8 in 2020 and 2023 there were “blue, crystal-clear skies,” while also noting that wasn't the case in 2021 and 2022.
“It's a coin toss,” he said with a laugh.
Who knows. Maybe the eclipse could be a sign of something bigger on the way in Cleveland, which hasn't celebrated a World Series title since 1948.
“If we get a beautiful day,” Ryan said. "This is going to beat the 1948 World Series."
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.wsbradio.com/news/science/base-path-totality/PEUAGPT7ZOTWDPZOQWGME2DHZY/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:17Z
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:18Z
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Ben Kentish 10pm - 1am
Nine people, including mum and two kids, rushed to hospital after 'corrosive substance' attack as manhunt launched
31 January 2024, 22:12 | Updated: 31 January 2024, 22:58
Police have launched an investigation after a 'corrosive substance' was thrown in a 'horrific' incident in south London.
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Officers were called to Lessar Avenue, Lambeth at about 7:25pm on Wednesday evening.
A woman and her two young children were rushed to hospital following the incident.
Three others, who had been trying to help, were also injured and required medical assistance, police said.
The force said a man 'was seen fleeing the scene' following the incident.
No arrests have been made at this time.
Police have launched a manhunt to catch the person responsible. A helicopter has been brought in to assist the search.
Detective Superintendent Alexander Castle said: “Officers are on scene following this horrific incident.
"Three victims - a woman and her two young children - have been taken to hospital for treatment.
"Three other people - all adults - have been taken to hospital for injuries sustained, we believe, as they came to their aid."
Reports of an acid attack in Clapham south pic.twitter.com/XUCyvSrQwA
— London & UK Street News (@CrimeLdn) January 31, 2024
Read more: Man, 44, charged with murders of two teenagers in Bristol over the weekend
"Three police officers have also been taken to hospital after they responded to the incident. Thankfully we believe their injuries to be minor.
"While tests are ongoing to determine what the substance is, at this stage we believe it to be a corrosive substance.
"A man was seen fleeing the scene. We are drawing on resources from across the Met to apprehend this individual and work is ongoing to determine what has led to this awful incident.”
London Assembly member Marina Ahmad wrote on X: “There has been a traffic collision with a man assaulting occupants in a car and throwing acid. Victims include children”.
More updates to follow
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https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/chemical-incident-south-london-corrosive-substance-thrown/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:18Z
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HOVER OVER IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT
Drivers brave extremely muddy conditions late Tuesday afternoon on 290th Rd. east of Lincolnville.
A girl in a prairie dress and boots took part Monday in "Pioneer Games" on the playground at Marion Elementary School. Earlier, Rachelle Meinecke, director of Lowell Holms Museum of Anthropology at Wichita State University, talk to students about Plains Indian homes, and students made clay artworks, adding wheat grains and a hole for hanging the ornaments.
Members of Hillsboro's Studio 23 Jazz class strike a pose as they end their routine Friday during halftime of Hillsboro's boys basketball game.
Marion's Cole Smith pulls down one of six rebounds he captured in a homecoming game Thursday against Council Grove.
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:18Z
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Happening Tonight! VFW Burger Feed!
SAUK RAPIDS (WJON News) - The Sauk Rapids VFW Post 6992 Auxiliary's burger night is the last Wednesday of every month.
January 31st serving from 4:30 pm until 7:30 pm
Burgers with chips and all the fixings: $4.00
Double Burger: $6.00
Plus, a meat raffle will benefit the Sauk Rapids-Rice Soccer program.
Meat Raffle: 5:00 pm.
Read More: Sauk Rapids VFW Burger Night | https://wjon.com/events-st-cloud/sauk-rapids-vfw-burger-night-3/31-january-2024-sauk-rapids-vfw-post-6992/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
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https://wjon.com/happening-tonight-vfw-burger-feed/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:18Z
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Michael Brophy, the Chief Financial Officer of Natera Inc (NTRA, Financial), executed a sale of 3,235 shares in the company on January 29, 2024, according to a recent SEC Filing. Over the past year, the insider has sold a total of 138,784 shares and has not made any purchases of the stock.
Natera Inc is a pioneer in the field of genetic testing and diagnostics, offering a range of services including prenatal testing, cancer screening, and organ health monitoring. The company's advanced technology platforms and innovative bioinformatics analysis provide valuable insights for healthcare providers and patients.
The insider transaction history at Natera Inc reveals a pattern of 67 insider sells and no insider buys over the past year. This trend can be visualized in the following insider trend image:
On the date of the insider's recent transaction, shares of Natera Inc were trading at $65.09, resulting in a market capitalization of $7.957 billion.
The stock's valuation can be assessed using the GuruFocus Value (GF Value), which is currently set at $61.98 for Natera Inc. With a trading price of $65.09, the price-to-GF-Value ratio stands at 1.05, indicating that the stock is Fairly Valued. The GF Value is determined by considering historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on the company's historical performance, and future business performance estimates provided by Morningstar analysts. The GF Value image below provides further context:
The insider's recent sale may be of interest to investors monitoring insider activity as an indicator of company performance and sentiment. However, it is important to consider the broader context of the company's financial health, market position, and future prospects when evaluating the significance of insider transactions.
This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.
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https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2180903/insider-sell-cfo-michael-brophy-sells-3235-shares-of-natera-inc
| 2024-01-31T23:07:18Z
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The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
While Christmas time is typically the holiday people spend the most money celebrating each year, Valentine’s Day can also be pretty expensive.
Between flowers and chocolates, a night out at a nice restaurant, jewelry or any other way you like to celebrate, the costs can add up pretty quickly.
MORE: Olive & June’s Valentine’s Day manicure kits are so cute
Luckily, if you plan ahead a bit and don’t simply run to a flower shop or the grocery store on Valentine’s Day morning, you can save some cash — and time and stress.
Groupon is currently offering Valentine’s Day deals on everything from flowers and candy to jewelry, wine and even activities to do with your Valentine. All deals can be purchased right online, so you don’t need to go to a store or be in a rush when you realize Feb. 14 is quickly approaching.
Take a look at just some of the many deals you can order right now through Groupon to ensure they’ll arrive on time for Valentine’s Day.
24 Luxury Long Stem Rose Bouquet
You can’t go wrong with flowers on Valentine’s Day and this deal from Rose Farmers will get you 77% off a bouquet of 24 roses.
Regularly priced at $80, you can now get them for just $18, a savings of $62. The color will be chosen by the company, with colors ranging from red and pink to white, yellow and even purple.
Shipping is not included in the cost, but the roses can be shipped anywhere in the
Continental U.S. and you can include a note.
Three-Month Eucalyptus Delivery Subscription
If you want to give more than just one bouquet of flowers, you can instead get a great deal on this three-month eucalyptus delivery subscription, now more than 40% off and priced at $38.
The subscription includes one bouquet of seasonal eucalyptus stems per month. Grown in California, each box includes care instructions for the eucalyptus, which can be put in a vase or hung in the shower to create a spa-like atmosphere.
You can also get a one-month subscription for just $9 or a six-month subscription for $75. Shipping is free for three and six month subscriptions, but you will need to pay shipping if you want just one month.
Valentine’s Day Chocolates Candy Snack Box
Next on every Valentine’s Day list is sweet treats, but if you don’t want to buy the typical heart-shaped box of chocolates, you can get this Valentine’s Day Chocolates Candy Snack Box instead.
MORE: Best Valentine’s Day candy
Now priced at $30, the box is for everyone, including children, and includes more than a dozen items ranging from a stuffed animal to snacks like popcorn and pretzels and, of course, lots of candy.
Just some of the items in the box include Reese’s hearts, Fun Dip, Rice Krispies treats, hot chocolate, gummy bears and lollipops.
Custom Photo Necklaces
Jewelry is always a good choice for Valentine’s Day, especially when you can get a discount!
Regularly priced at $150, you can get this One Custom Photo Necklace for just $18, a savings of $132. The necklace is hand-crafted from metal and designed based on a photo you send the company. The necklace can include everything from a dog to a child or even a family photo.
You can also order two necklaces for $35, which saves you $265. Shipping prices start at $7.99 for one necklace.
Middle Sister Red or White Wine 6 Pack
A gift that will last longer than just Valentine’s Day, you can save $23 on this 6-pack of Middle Sister Red or White Wine.
You can choose between Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Moscato, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Blend or Pinot Noir. You can also get a 12-pack of Cabernet for $87, which is a savings of $57.
Of course, you must be at least 21 years old to order and someone will need to sign for the delivery, so make sure you or your valentine are home when it gets delivered.
Regal Premiere Movie Ticket and Concession Options
A trip to the movies is a great way to spend Valentine’s Day and with this deal from Regal cinemas, you can save on both the movie tickets and snacks.
You can get one Regal Premiere ticket for $12.50, which can be used at any Regal theater and for any movie, meaning you can use it at the spur of the moment whenever you feel like catching a film.
You can also grab a voucher for a small popcorn priced at $7.19 and a snack pack for $6.88.
Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Oil Diffuser with Essential Oils Set
If your Valentine could use some relaxation, this Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Oil Diffuser with Essential Oils Set is 60% off, priced at just $40.
The diffuser also acts as a humidifier, producing a cool mist that can help moisture dry air. The set comes with a diffuser and six essential oils. Scents differ depending on which set you choose, which ranges from the top blends, oils for men, winter blends, yoga and relaxation and even blends that are safe for children.
If you know your Valentine already has a collection of essential oils, you can instead purchase just the diffuser for $30.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money.
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https://www.turnto23.com/the-best-groupon-valentines-day-deals
| 2024-01-31T23:07:18Z
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‘An incredible job’: Cameron Smith steps down as Maroons assistant coach, Matt Ballin to join Billy Slater’s staff for 2024 series
He did it once as a player back in 2010, and now Matt Ballin is set to replace Cameron Smith as a Maroons assistant coach after the most-capped player in State of Origin history announced on Wednesday night that he was stepping down.
Smith, who represented his state a whopping 42 times during Queensland’s incredible run of success, had been part of the coaching set-up for the past two series wins but will step aside for the 2024 campaign.
The former Storm, Maroons and Kangaroos captain won series in 2022 and 2023 as part of a new-look leadership group under coach Billy Slater but will now focus on his media duties as well as coaching at the grassroots level with the Currumbin Eagles.
“I’m very grateful to Billy and the QRL for the opportunity to be a part of the Queensland coaching team,” Smith said.
“It’s been a fantastic two series working with quality players. They’re quality people to work with and they’ve certainly helped me as a rookie assistant coach.
“I was lucky enough to represent the jersey many times but to experience it from a different lens as a coach, and being able to watch this new generation play the way they did and represent the state in the manner in which they did, was highly rewarding.”
Smith is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, with the champion hooker tipped to become an Immortal in the future.
He and Slater have shared plenty on the field and were even born on the same day, with the Maroons coach delivering his great mate the ultimate compliment.
“I don’t know if there’s anyone who has contributed more to the Queensland Origin team than Cam Smith,” Slater said.
“I’m extremely grateful for his contribution over the last two series. He’s done an incredible job, which I’ve seen first-hand inside the camp with all the players and coaching staff.”
Smith’s departure opens the door for Ballin to join the coaching team 14 years after he earnt his sole Origin cap when he filled in for the Storm hooker who was ruled out with an elbow injury.
The Sea Eagles great has plenty of coaching experience and has served as an assistant at the Broncos for the past few years.
“I’ve seen a whole heap of value to what Matt brings to our game-day performance,” Slater said.
“I’m really excited to work alongside him and continue to help our players prepare to the best of their ability.”
Originally published as ‘An incredible job’: Cameron Smith steps down as Maroons assistant coach, Matt Ballin to join Billy Slater’s staff for 2024 series
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:18Z
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In the direction of #Kurakhovo, Russian Soldiers are working with Drops on enemy positions.💥
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In the direction of #Kurakhovo, our brothers are working with drops on enemy positions.💥.
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:20Z
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Gap-year students should be paid to do military boot camp, army chief says
The British Army’s chief of general staff proposes the idea to boost reserve numbers and create a ‘citizen army’
Related video: The army has faced cuts in the past decade
Young people taking a year off before starting university or a job could be paid to take part in military summer boot camps, under plans to create a “citizen army”.
General Sir Patrick Sanders, chief of the general staff, has raised the idea of a month-long course introducing people to army life, in the hope of encouraging youngsters to sign up, increasing reserves numbers.
Last week Gen Sanders warned that Britain must be prepared to form a “citizen army” of tens of thousands in the event of war with countries such as Russia.
He said his forces, including all reserves, would not be large enough to defend the country if there was a war, and it was now essential for Britain to lay the foundations for “national mobilisation”.
At a brainstorming session, heads of the military and government ministers also considered encouraging troops who leave the army to train for at least one day a year to keep their skills sharp, The Times reported.
This would involve mandatory fitness and weapon handling tests.
Defence secretary Grant Shapps has the power to recall former service personnel in times of national danger or a “great emergency”, although there are exemptions.
Gen Sanders last week said that within three years Britain should have a larger army of 120,000, including regular soldiers, reserves and a “strategic reserve” of former service personnel.
Around half a million people in all would be needed, according to his vision of a “citizen army”.
According to the latest Ministry of Defence statistics, army regulars and reservists currently total 102,520.
“Our friends in Eastern and northern Europe, who feel the proximity of the Russian threat more acutely, are already acting prudently, laying the foundations for national mobilisation,” he said.
The chief of general staff is said to be opposed to conscription, but held that civilians need to be involved in defending the country at a time of conflict.
“We need an army designed to expand rapidly to enable the first echelon, resource the second echelon, and train and equip the citizen army that must follow,” he said.
Nato military commander Admiral Rob Bauer said the military alliance needed to prepare for conflict with Vladimir Putin’s forces in the next 20 years.
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:21Z
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Management believes that the exclusion of certain income and expenses enables it to evaluate more effectively the Company's operations period-over-period and to identify operating trends that could otherwise be masked by the excluded Items.
For this reason, management uses certain non-GAAP measures that exclude these Items and believes that this presentation provides a clearer comparison with the results reported in prior periods. The non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, as more fully discussed in the Company's financial statements and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC") is presented based on management's belief that this non-GAAP measure is useful information to investors and management when comparing profitability and the efficiency with which capital has been employed over time relative to other companies. The Board has established an internal metric to demonstrate ROIC performance relative to the oilfield service companies listed as Core's Comp Group by Bloomberg. ROIC is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income.
ROIC of 13.4% is defined by Bloomberg as Net Operating Profit After Tax ("NOPAT") of $51.9 million divided by Average Total Invested Capital ("Average TIC") of $387.0 million where NOPAT is defined as GAAP net income before non-controlling interest plus the sum of income tax expense, interest expense, and pension expense less pension service cost and tax effect on income before interest and tax expense for the last four quarters. Average TIC is defined as the average of beginning and ending periods' GAAP stockholders' equity plus the sum of net long-term debt, lease liabilities, allowance for credit losses, net of deferred taxes, and income taxes payable.
Core uses the non-GAAP financial measure of free cash flow to evaluate its cash flows and results of operations. Free cash flow is an important measurement because it represents the cash from operations, in excess of capital expenditures, available to operate the business and fund non-discretionary obligations. Free cash flow is not a measure of operating performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation nor construed as an alternative consideration to operating income, net income, or cash flows from operating, investing, or financing activities, each as determined in accordance with GAAP. Free cash flow should not be considered a measure of liquidity. Moreover, since free cash flow is not a measure determined in accordance with GAAP and thus is susceptible to varying interpretations and calculations, free cash flow as presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.
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https://menafn.com/1107793845/CORE-LAB-REPORTS-FOURTH-QUARTER-AND-FULL-YEAR-2023-RESULTS
| 2024-01-31T23:07:21Z
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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
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Narcissistic CEOs are bad for share value but good for company inertia, says study
Narcissistic leaders are bad for share value, unless they are seen to stimulate innovation and growth at companies suffering from corporate inertia, according to research that analyzed how CEO narcissism affects stock recommendations from securities analysts.
The study, by Nottingham Business School, Middle Tennessee State University, and the University of Leeds and published in Strategic Organization, is the first to explore the relationship between CEOs who are linked to excessive risk taking and their value to a company.
Securities analysts provide investors with performance forecasts and recommendations on the attractiveness of investing in company stock. Existing research has shown that these recommendations can affect a company's market performance by influencing the price people are willing to pay for the company's shares.
The study analyzed data from the Standard & Poor (S&P) 100 index and covered 75 CEOs from 66 S&P 100 firms over a 10 year period. Researchers adopted widely used unobtrusive methods to measure narcissistic tendencies, including those that are under the CEO's control along with aspects of narcissistic personalities such as arrogance, entitlement and self-absorption.
This included exploring the use of photos in annual reports, first-person singular pronouns in shareholder letters, and cash and non-cash compensation compared to the second-highest paid executives.
The research also looked at whether firm age, size and reputation were mitigating factors against the impact of CEO narcissism, as well as taking into account variables which may affect securities analyst recommendations, including CEO age and tenure, and return on assets, shareholder returns, R&D intensity and institutional ownership of stock.
Narcissistic CEOs were shown to have a negative impact on recommendations, with analysts issuing weaker stock recommendations. This was especially so for larger firms where narcissistic leadership could clash with bureaucracy.
However, the findings also revealed that securities analysts will announce less pessimistic stock recommendations when the firm has an established reputation and appears to be prone to corporate inertia, signaling that they believe a brash leadership style and inclination towards risk-taking could improve its performance by stimulating change and innovation.
Dr. Feray Adıgüzel, senior lecturer in marketing at Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University, said, "Previous research has focused on the firm level consequences of a narcissistic leaders. Our study is one a few that considers their impact on external parties—in this case securities analysts, whose expectations and predictions can have an adverse effect on the legitimacy of a company in financial markets.
"While there are some mitigating circumstances, overall securities analysts do not consider CEO narcissism to be of value to a company and this can have an impact on its strategy and performance. This reinforces the view that narcissism as a CEO personality trait has downsides and underlines the importance of being mindful when boards appoint, monitor and reward a CEO—as many leaders with this trait may lack self-awareness and do not have the necessary oversight to protect the company from its harmful consequences.
"This task seems especially urgent now, at a time of great expectations regarding the role well-led companies and institutions can play in tackling the grand challenges society currently faces."
More information: Karynne Turner et al, Chief executive officer narcissism, corporate inertia, and securities analysts' stock recommendations, Strategic Organization (2023). DOI: 10.1177/14761270231218096
Provided by Nottingham Trent University
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https://phys.org/news/2024-01-narcissistic-ceos-bad-good-company.html
| 2024-01-31T23:07:22Z
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:24Z
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Name Changes at SJU/CSB Communications Department
COLLEGEVILLE (WJON News) - Small changes in the Communications Department at St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict are designed to better prepare graduates for the challenges of the workplace.
The Communications Department has been renamed the Department of Strategic Communication Studies.
Department Chair Kelly Berg says the name change helps explain to students the role they’ll play in the future of business.
That has been a long problem for us. Communication majors are excited about being able to do many things but also confused about what specific thing (they’re trained to do). The message that's important to tell is that you're getting the kinds of skills that studies have shown employers want. They want people who can write, who can speak, can communicate on an interpersonal level, (and) work in teams.
Students can choose from two concentrations:
- Public relations, advertising, and marketing
- Advocacy and leadership
In addition, the name change brings several new class options, including a required communication ethics course. Berg says the class changes reflect the changing face of communication.
But I think we've been adapting our classes all along. But we've decided that these are the courses that we're going to put more focus on. We're trying to adapt our courses to be relatable to students. If they're not finding it relatable, then we have to find ways to connect with students and help them see the value of those courses that they may be required to take.
Berg says the changes have been in discussion for over a year.
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https://wjon.com/name-changes-at-sjucsb-communications-department/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:24Z
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HOVER OVER IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT
Drivers brave extremely muddy conditions late Tuesday afternoon on 290th Rd. east of Lincolnville.
A girl in a prairie dress and boots took part Monday in "Pioneer Games" on the playground at Marion Elementary School. Earlier, Rachelle Meinecke, director of Lowell Holms Museum of Anthropology at Wichita State University, talk to students about Plains Indian homes, and students made clay artworks, adding wheat grains and a hole for hanging the ornaments.
Members of Hillsboro's Studio 23 Jazz class strike a pose as they end their routine Friday during halftime of Hillsboro's boys basketball game.
Marion's Cole Smith pulls down one of six rebounds he captured in a homecoming game Thursday against Council Grove.
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:24Z
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Ben Kentish 10pm - 1am
Cross Question with Iain Dale 31/01 | Watch Again
31 January 2024, 22:51
Watch again 31/01: Cross Question with Iain Dale
You can watch Cross Question in full again here.
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Iain Dale was joined by:
- Robbie Moore - Conservative Environment Minister and MP for Keighley.
- Barry Gardiner - Labour MP for Brent North - who is a former Shadow Cabinet Minister.
- Michael Crick - Political journalist and author.
- Rachel Johnson - LBC presenter and host of the Global Player podcast 'Difficult Women' - who is also a columnist for the London Evening Standard.
Cross Question is live every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8pm. You can watch live on Global Player.
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https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/iain-dale/cross-question-with-iain-dale-31-01-24watch-again/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:24Z
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Theme park fans, get ready for a whole new universe to explore.
Universal has announced the 2025 opening of a fourth park, called Universal Epic Universe. It’s the latest addition to the company’s existing parks in Orlando, Florida — Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay.
Universal Epic Universe will be divided into five lands, many of which are based on movies and video games. According to the company’s press release, the theme park will feature “more than 50 awe-inspiring attraction, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences that come together to create an unforgettable adventure that is nothing short of epic.”
The five immersive worlds are: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe.
Here’s the general layout of how it will look:
No doubt fans will be thrilled to see a new area dedicated to the “Harry Potter” franchise, which has been a wildly popular component in two of Universal’s other parks. (Potter fans can visit Diagon Alley at Universal Studios and Hogwarts Castle at Islands of Adventure.)
Now they’ll be able to visit the Ministry of Magic and the streets of 1920s-era Paris from the “Fantastic Beasts” films.
In the area based on the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise, which is called Isle of Berk, fans can soar with dragons and go on Viking adventures.
Guests can go through another portal and enter Super Nintendo‘s iconic green pipe. On its other side, they will become immediately immersed in a video game world populated by famous characters like Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong and Princess Peach.
Celestial Park is described by Universal as a lush, green otherworldly destination and a “world between worlds full of sensory delights.” In contrast, monsters reside in the “shadowy” Dark Universe inspired by the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein.
Wondering where all the guests will stay during their visit to this new park? Universal is also building three new hotels linked to Epic Universe. Two of the hotels will each boast 750 rooms, and one is located inside Universal Epic Universe and features its own dedicated entrance, so guests can walk directly into the theme park.
Watch the video below to get an enchanting glimpse at what will certainly be an epic universe park-goers will soon be able to explore.
It appears to be nothing short of magical!
Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park appears to live up to its name originally appeared on Simplemost.com
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https://www.turnto23.com/universal-epic-universe-is-a-theme-park-that-will-live-up-to-its-name
| 2024-01-31T23:07:24Z
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WASHINGTON — (AP) — U.S. officials said Wednesday they disrupted a state-backed Chinese effort to plant malware that could be used to damage civilian infrastructure, as the head of the FBI warned that Beijing is positioning itself to disrupt the daily lives of Americans if the United States and China ever go to war.
The operation, announced just before FBI Director Chris Wray addressed House lawmakers, disrupted a botnet of hundreds of U.S.-based small office and home routers owned by private citizens and companies that had been hijacked by the Chinese hackers to cover their tracks as they sowed the malware. Their ultimate targets included water treatment plants, the electrical grid and transportation systems across the United States.
Speaking before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Wray said there's been far too little public focus on a cyber threat that affects “every American.”
“China’s hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike,” Wray said.
Jen Easterly, the director of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, voiced a similar sentiment at the hearing.
“This is a world where a major crisis halfway across the planet could well endanger the lives of Americans here at home through the disruption of our pipelines, the severing of our telecommunications, the pollution of our water facilities, the crippling of our transportation modes — all to ensure that they can incite societal panic and chaos and to deter our ability" to marshal a sufficient response, she said.
The comments align with assessments from outside cybersecurity firms including Microsoft, which said in May that state-backed Chinese hackers had been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises.
At least a portion of that operation, attributed to a group of hackers known as Volt Typhoon, has now been disrupted after FBI and Justice Department officials obtained search-and-seizure orders in Houston federal court in December. U.S. officials did not characterize the disruption’s impact, and court documents unsealed Wednesday say the disrupted botnet was just “one form of infrastructure used by Volt Typhoon to obfuscate their activity.” The hackers have infiltrated targets through multiple avenues, including cloud and internet providers, disguising themselves as normal traffic.
The U.S. has in the past few years become more aggressive in trying to disrupt and dismantle both criminal and state-backed cyber operations, with Wray warning Wednesday that Beijing-backed hackers aim to pilfer business secrets to advance the Chinese economy and steal personal information for foreign influence campaigns.
“They are doing all those things. They all feed up ultimately into their goal to supplant the U.S. as the world’s greatest superpower," he said.
Complicating the threat is that state-backed hackers, especially Chinese and Russian, are good at adapting and finding new intrusion methods and avenues.
U.S. officials have long been concerned about such hackers hiding in U.S.-based infrastructure, and the end-of-life Cisco and NetGear routers exploited by Volt Typhoon were easy prey because they were no longer supported by their manufacturers with security updates. Because of the urgency, law enforcement officials said, U.S. cyber operators deleted the malware in those routers without notifying their owners directly — and added code to prevent re-infection.
A Justice Department official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the government said officials were determined to disrupt the Volt Typhoon operation as soon as possible because the hackers were using the botnet as a stepping stone to hide in U.S. internet traffic while burrowing into the networks of critical infrastructure, ready to maliciously exploit that access at a time of their choosing.
“The truth is that Chinese cyber actors have taken advantage of very basic flaws in our technology,” Easterly said. “We've made it easy on them.”
Cybersecurity experts say major software providers too often sacrifice security for convenience, and that's biting back.
On the eve of a June visit to China by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, state-backed Chinese hackers foiled Microsoft cloud-based security in hacking the email of officials at multiple U.S. agencies that deal with China.
On Wednesday, U.S. officials said allies were also affected by Volt Typhoon's critical infrastructure hacking but, asked by reporters, would not discuss any countermeasures they might be taking.
China has repeatedly denounced the U.S. government's hacking allegations as baseless. Beijing has accused the U.S. of “almost daily” and “huge amounts of intrusions against Chinese government, with Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, saying last year that “China is the biggest victim of cyber attacks.”
But Gen. Paul Nakasone, the outgoing commander of U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, said “responsible cyber actors” do not target civilian infrastructure.
“There's no reason for them to be in our water,” Nakasone said. “There's no reason for them to be in our power.”
On Tuesday, testifying before the same committee, Leon Panetta, who served as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the defense secretary in the Obama administration, said he believed that the Chinese agents had “planted malware within our own computer networks” and warned that the Chinese government would use artificial intelligence to spread disinformation.
The committee, chaired by Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, was established last year with a mandate of countering China, kicking off with a prime-time hearing. The Chinese government has lashed out at the committee, demanding that its members "discard their ideological bias and zero-sum Cold War mentality."
____
Bajak reported from Boston.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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https://www.wsbradio.com/news/technology/us-says-it-blocked/6K344IMNCSDJ5RGCGWDJKX6NPM/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:24Z
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MIAMI — A federal judge has dismissed the Walt Disney Company's lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Disney sued after DeSantis and state lawmakers removed its self-governing status in 2023.
Backed by Republican lawmakers, DeSantis dissolved a special district near Orlando that for more than fifty years had governed Walt Disney World. He acted after Disney's CEO opposed a law limiting how sex orientation and gender identity can be discussed in the schools. The Parental Rights in Education Act was labeled "Don't Say Gay" by opponents.
At DeSantis' request, Florida's GOP-controlled legislature created a new special district, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, controlled by the Republican Governor's appointees. Disney sued in federal court, saying DeSantis was retaliating against the company, punishing it for exercising its First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Disney also canceled plans for a $1 billion campus in Florida.
In a 17-page order, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor dismissed the case, saying Disney lacks standing to sue the governor. The judge also said while Disney could sue the new DeSantis-appointed board, it hadn't shown evidence that actions by the new board had harmed the company. In addition, Winsor said the law prohibits plaintiffs from bringing a free speech challenge to constitutionally enacted laws.
A DeSantis spokesman hailed the decision saying, "the Corporate Kingdom is over. The days of Disney controlling its own government and being placed above the law are long gone. Disney is still just one of many corporations in the state and they do not have a right to their own special government."
Disney says it will "press forward with its case." In a statement after the ruling, a company spokesperson said, "If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with."
Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board are also embroiled in lawsuits in state court.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kbia.org/2024-01-31/a-federal-judge-dismisses-disneys-lawsuit-against-florida-gov-ron-desantis
| 2024-01-31T23:07:26Z
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Union calls on security workers at most major German airports to strike on Thursday
A union has called on security staff at most of Germany’s major airports to stage a one-day strike on Thursday as it steps up pressure on employers in a pay dispute
Union calls on security workers at most major German airports to strike on Thursday
Show all 2A union has called on security staff at most of Germany's major airports to stage a one-day strike on Thursday as it steps up pressure on employers in a pay dispute.
The ver.di union announced the strikes on Tuesday. It said the strike will affect Germany's busiest airport, Frankfurt, as well as Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover, Berlin, Cologne, Duesseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden, Erfurt and Stuttgart. Munich airport, Germany's second-busiest, isn't affected.
Three rounds of talks so far haven't produced a settlement for some 25,000 security workers. Ver.di is seeking a raise of 2.80 euros per hour ($3.03) for all employees and calling for bonuses for overtime work to kick in from the first extra hour.
The employers' assocation says it has offered a 4% raise this year and 3% next year, as well as concessions on when overtime bonuses kick in. Talks are due to resume on Feb. 6.
“Warning strikes” of limited length are a common tactic in German pay disputes. In a separate dispute, ver.di has called for strikes Friday on local public transport systems in much of the country.
Those will not affect the mainline railway system, which has been hit recently by a bitter pay dispute that resulted in full-scale strikes. The GDL union, which represents many of Germany's train drivers, on Monday ended a five-day strike earlier than originally planned after agreeing to resume talks with the state-owned main railway operator, Deutsche Bahn.
That dispute centers on a demand by GDL for shift workers' hours to be reduced from 38 to 35 per week without a pay cut.
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/union-ap-berlin-deutsche-bahn-frankfurt-b2488410.html
| 2024-01-31T23:07:27Z
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Former NSW treasurer Michael Egan has died age 75
The longest-serving treasurer of NSW, Michael Egan, has died aged 75.
Mr Egan had a parliamentary career which lasted almost 25 years before he moved on to work at Macquarie University’s chancellor from 2008 to 2019.
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https://thewest.com.au/news/former-nsw-treasurer-michael-egan-has-died-age-75-c-13426766
| 2024-01-31T23:07:25Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire) DUBLIN, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --
The
"Birch Water Global Market Report 2024" has been added to
ResearchAndMarkets's offering.
In the swiftly evolving health beverage sector, a comprehensive analysis of the global birch water market has been compiled, offering valuable insights into the industry's burgeoning growth, key trends, and strategic market developments. The report sheds light on the anticipated expansion of the birch water market, projected to swell to $1.99 billion by 2028, propelled by a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%.
The Driving Forces Behind the Market Uplift
Unveiling the forces influencing this growth trajectory, the report highlights the burgeoning consumer demand for natural and organic products, fueled by heightened awareness of health and wellness. Emphasis on sustainable lifestyle choices and the versatility of birch water catering to both nutrition and personal care applications bolsters the market's horizon.
Geographic and Segmental Analysis
Europe, a hub of proactive health trends and environmental consciousness, emerged as the largest market for birch water in 2023. Regional coverage extends across Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa, with comprehensive country-specific data included. This geographic distribution underscores the global reach and potential of the birch water market.
Comprehensive Market Segmentation
The market delineates between conventional and organic birch water, with each segment catering to diverse palate preferences and health requisites. Distribution channels include the ubiquity of online retailing and traditional store-based outlets, with applications spanning food and beverages, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Innovative Market Players and Investment Insights Stellar Market Players Lead with Cutting-edge Innovations
Notable organizations demonstrate strategic ingenuity by launching pioneering products that feature birch water as the cornerstone ingredient. For instance, the deployment of birch water in an antioxidant-rich Chaga Mushroom Liquid Extract exemplifies industry innovation focused on delivering health benefits and catering to consumer trends for natural products.
Market Disruptors: Industry pioneers introduce groundbreaking skincare items, capitalizing on organic birch sap's inherent benefits. Investment Highlights: Investments such as those by renowned personalities signal robust confidence in the market's potential within the non-alcoholic beverage sector.
The report encompasses a strategic collection of market statistics, regional shares, competitive analysis, and an array of segmentations that pertain to this dynamic industry.
Report Scope
Markets Covered:
By Nature: Conventional; Organic By Flavor: Strawberry; Rose Chip; Bilberry; Apple Ginger; Others By Distribution Channel: Online Retailing; Store Based Retailing By Application: Food and Beverages; Nutraceuticals; Pharmaceuticals; Cosmetics and Personal Care
Countries:
Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain
Regions:
Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
Companies Profiled:
Nordic Koivu Ltd. Alaska Wild Harvest LLC. Sibberi TreeVitalise Organic Birch Water Sapp Inc. Birch Factory Aps Tapped Brich Water Absolutely Wild Arctic Birch ÖselBirch Birkentree Barth Fruit AG Betula Drinks Birk Birch Water Breza Birken Water Byarozavik Sealand Birk Taiga Drink Sap Sucker Happy Tree Treemotions Alaska Wild Birch Products Birk Birch Sap Birchsap Bjork Saft Purity Organic Wild Boreal
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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
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Is a Pennsylvania groundhog's prediction accurate in your neck of the woods?
Persuaded by pomp and pageantry, people across the nation are more likely to put faith in a Pennsylvania groundhog's weather predictions than those made by local woodchucks, according to a national survey query made on behalf of a University of Virginia researcher.
Thomas Guterbock, UVA sociology professor emeritus and former director of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service's Center for Survey Research, said responses show 53.4% of Americans chose Pennsylvania's renowned Punxsutawney Phil as their primary marmot prognosticator, while 46.6% would choose a local groundhog.
The survey was conducted by Verasight, a reputable survey firm that offered survey researchers a chance to add one question to a nationwide survey at no cost.
"This result confirmed that a majority of people across the entire country have succumbed to the relentless persuasion of the national media and failed to recognize the autonomy and distinctiveness of their own community's climate," Guterbock said, his tongue planted firmly in cheek. "They place their trust in the media groundhog, even if they live thousands of miles away from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania."
Groundhog Day is a tradition observed in the U.S. and Canada on Feb. 2 that was brought to America by German immigrants. Similar traditions exist across Europe and the British Isles, with animals from bears and badgers to hedgehogs and snakes serving as mock meteorologists.
According to lore, if a groundhog pops out of its burrow on that day, sees its shadow and retreats, six more weeks of winter will follow. No shadow, however, means an early spring.
As an exercise for courses on research methods that he taught for several decades at UVA, Guterbock often sent undergraduate sociology students out to survey people they knew regarding Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil. Students surveyed adults they knew, using demographic quotas to ensure the respondents were diverse in age, gender and ethnicity.
In addition to their knowledge of the tradition, or "groundhog awareness," the surveys measured "groundhog priority," which probes the relative authority of Punxsutawney Phil versus local marmots.
Student-conducted class surveys consistently found the Pennsylvania critter was the preferred authority. In a 2019 student-run survey, 61.2% chose the TV groundhog with only 38.8% believing the forecasting abilities of their local woodchucks.
It is understandable. The people of Punxsutawney have worked hard for more than a century to create a spectacle of themselves and their groundhog worthy of national media attention. This year's festival, the 138th, includes a Groundhog Eve talent show, Groundhog Club Members-Only Reception and the annual Groundhog Banquet.
Held at Gobbler's Knob, a natural amphitheater outside of town, the official showgrounds open at 3 a.m. on Groundhog Day. Tickets may be purchased for access to a heated pavilion featuring food, coffee, a live feed of the proceedings, private portable restrooms, an official souvenir and the chance to have a photo taken with the rodent of the hour.
Phil is then presented to the audience—an estimated 40,000 people have been known to gather in some years—makes his prediction and is returned to his residence. This year, he will also make guest appearances at a weekend luncheon and Groundhog Ball with live music, dancing and libations.
"You've got to hand it to the folks in Punxsutawney. They recognized that today all media must have a visual with every story," Guterbock said. "They offer a colorful image of men in top hats pulling a wakeful groundhog out of a box—perfect for TV, Instagram or TikTok.
"Unfortunately, the wild groundhogs in your neighborhood don't make themselves visible to photographers in February. Out of sight, out of mind."
Still, Phil's hegemony makes little sense to Guterbock.
"Suppose that on Feb. 2 it is clear and bright in Punxsutawney, but cloudy in your hometown," Guterbock said. "Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, but the local groundhogs do not. If you believed in the Groundhog Day story and you wanted to know when spring would be coming to your hometown, which groundhog ought you rely upon?"
When Guterbock learned a few months ago that Verasight was offering the chance to add a question to a nationwide survey, he asked for inclusion of a question about groundhog priority.
Verasight has created a high-quality, nationally representative survey panel recruited primarily through scientific sampling, rather than volunteers.
The survey, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3%, showed Punxsutawney Phil was the top meteorologic marmot in both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. In fact, Phil was the top dog across census regions, age groups, gender categories, racial and ethnic categories, and income and education categories.
"Apparently, groundhog priority is the one thing that people on the left and right agree on in this country, as there was no significant difference in the preference for Phil between Republicans and Democrats or even 2020 Trump voters versus 2020 Biden voters," Guterbock said.
Local groundhogs earned significantly greater respect in snowy states that see 30 inches or more of snow per year. In those localities, 60.3% chose their regional groundhogs.
"That phenomenon fits with the anthropological understanding of augury rituals as serving the important function of alleviating anxiety about potential future dangers or adverse events," Guterbock said. "If you live in a place where winter is a big deal, you have more reason to be really concerned about when spring will come, and thus you will be more discerning about which groundhog merits credibility."
Guterbock said the solution to declining loyalty to neighborhood woodchucks may be to provide more media-friendly and photogenic local animals.
"Many today are concerned that we are losing good sources of local news," he said. "Well, we don't just need more local news. We need more local groundhog news."
Provided by University of Virginia
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:28Z
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HOVER OVER IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT
Drivers brave extremely muddy conditions late Tuesday afternoon on 290th Rd. east of Lincolnville.
A girl in a prairie dress and boots took part Monday in "Pioneer Games" on the playground at Marion Elementary School. Earlier, Rachelle Meinecke, director of Lowell Holms Museum of Anthropology at Wichita State University, talk to students about Plains Indian homes, and students made clay artworks, adding wheat grains and a hole for hanging the ornaments.
Members of Hillsboro's Studio 23 Jazz class strike a pose as they end their routine Friday during halftime of Hillsboro's boys basketball game.
Marion's Cole Smith pulls down one of six rebounds he captured in a homecoming game Thursday against Council Grove.
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:30Z
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Every February, Americans celebrate Black History Month. Its origins date back to 1915 when historian Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.
The organization, which now goes by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, held the first "Negro History Week" in February 1926, according to the Library of Congress.
He reportedly selected the week because it featured the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Lincoln played an important role in history, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which held that all slaves "shall be free." Douglass was also an important leader in the 1800s. He escaped from slavery and became an activist for equality.
With the growth of the civil rights movement, President Gerald Ford issued a Message on the Observance of Black History Week in 1975.
"It is most appropriate that Americans set aside a week to recognize the important contribution made to our nation's life and culture by our black citizens," he said.
SEE MORE: 10 meaningful ways to honor Black History Month in 2023
A year later, Ford would issue another message, this time observing Black History Month.
"I urge my fellow citizens to join me in tribute to Black History Month and to the message of courage and perseverance it brings to all of us," he stated.
In 1986, Congress passed a joint resolution declaring February 1986 as "National Black (Afro-American) History Month." The resolution states that the month offers learning institutions the opportunity to "gain a deeper understanding and knowledge of the many contributions of Black Americans to our country and the world."
According to the Library of Congress, presidents have issued annual proclamations for National Black History Month every year since 1996.
In this year's proclamation, President Joe Biden called on Americans to celebrate the "legacy of Black Americans whose power to lead, to overcome, and to expand the meaning and practice of American democracy has helped our Nation become a more fair and just society."
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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https://www.turnto23.com/why-do-we-celebrate-black-history-month-in-february
| 2024-01-31T23:07:31Z
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A look from Maui six months after devastating wildfires By Debbie Elliott Published January 31, 2024 at 4:39 PM CST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 5:06 As we approach the six-month anniversary of the Maui fires, we look at the biggest issues that people on the island are still facing. Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.kbia.org/2024-01-31/a-look-from-maui-six-months-after-devastating-wildfires
| 2024-01-31T23:07:32Z
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BOSTON (WHDH) - Celtics star Jaylen Brown was at the State House on Wednesday to advocate for a bill that would keep 18 – 20-year-olds in the juvenile system, where they must attend school and participate in rehabilitative programming will lower recidivism.
In a landmark collaboration, Massachusetts legislators, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, Citizens for Juvenile Justice, and the Committee for Public Counsel Service hosted a discussion centered on the “Raise the Age” bills.
The legislation proposes raising the age of criminal responsibility from 18 to 20.
Brown called advocating for the legislation a “no-brainer.”
“I think all of this in this room, including myself, is one decision away from being in a different situation … and as society continues to evolve, I think the system that serves it should evolve as well.”
(Copyright (c) 2023 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:33Z
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14 Days of Valentines with WTLCFM
This Valentines day we want to send you and your lover out to do something special!
Listen Everyday up until Valentines day starting at 10AM on February 1st for a chance to win tickets.
Announcement times:
10AM – Win tickets to go to the Indianapolis Comedy Festival
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3PM -Win tickets to see Mike Epps All-Star Throwback
5PM -Win tickets to see Janet & Nelly
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https://wtlcfm.com/3803542/14-days-of-valentines-with-wtlcfm/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:33Z
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The Baylor women’s basketball program will be retiring Brittney Griner’s No. 42 jersey next month, the university says.
The Phoenix Mercury star is a former Baylor Bear, and will have her jersey retired during a ceremony before the game on Feb. 18. The Bears will be playing Texas Tech at 3 p.m. that day, Baylor said.
“I’m honored to return home to Baylor and celebrate where so much of my journey started,” Griner said. “I’m grateful to Coach Nicki (Collen) and the entire Baylor community and looking forward to the opportunity to be back on campus, spend time with the team and have my family beside me to share in this incredible moment. Sic ‘Em Bears.”
Griner’s jersey will be the seventh jersey retired by the Baylor women’s program, ESPN reported. Two others include her former teammates, Odyssey Sims and Melissa Jones.
Griner was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA’s 2013 draft, according to ESPN. She led Baylor to the NCAA Women’s Final Four. She also had a perfect 40-0 national championship season while she was a junior at Baylor. Griner is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
Griner is also a WNBA champion, capturing the 2014 title with the Phoenix Mercury.
Griner finished her college basketball career with 3,282 points and 1,305 rebounds, according to The Associated Press.
“We are excited to welcome Brittney back to Baylor and share this special day with her,” Baylor Vice President and Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades said. “There’s no doubt she is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Baylor athletics history and we’re thrilled the timing has worked out for all of us to celebrate and honor her. She always has been, and always will be, a significant member of the Baylor Family.”
“We’re excited to have Brittney back on campus and honor her with the retirement of her jersey,” Baylor Coach Nicki Collen said. “I have been saying this since I arrived at Baylor that she deserves to have her jersey retired and I wanted to make sure that happened when the timing was right. With the opening of Foster Pavilion, and the WNBA offseason fitting into our season, this seemed like the right time to honor Brittney and welcome her back home. She is one of the best basketball players in Baylor’s history and we’re thrilled that the time has come to celebrate Brittney and all of her accomplishments.”
© 2024 Cox Media Group
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:32Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire)
New Pacific Metals logo (CNW Group/New Pacific Metals Corp.)
VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - New Pacific Metals Corp.
(TSX: NUAG) (NYSE American: NEWP) ("New Pacific" or the "Company") is pleased to outline its 2024 plans for its operations in Bolivia.
Andrew Williams, President and CEO, states: "2024 is expected to be a pivotal year for New Pacific. At our Silver Sand project, we expect to deliver our Preliminary Feasibility Study by mid-year, enabling us to declare mineral reserves for the first time in our Company's history. Simultaneously, with several important initiatives underway, we continue our steady march towards submitting our Environmental Impact Assessment Study. At our Carangas project, we plan to build upon last year's inaugural mineral resource estimate, revealing conceptual economics through an anticipated mid-year release of a Preliminary Economic Assessment."
"In the past year at New Pacific, we have successfully added new project development capabilities while retaining our exploration capacity to strategically expand or reduce risk at our projects and capitalize on new opportunities as they arise. At our Silver Sand and Carangas projects we have made back-to-back greenfield silver discoveries in a country with a rich history of silver mining spanning 500 years. We have also curated a team of Bolivians who are energized to develop responsibly the country's next generation of great silver mines. With our balance sheet recently bolstered by a C$35 million financing, New Pacific has a strong growth foundation in a world with an increasing demand for silver."
Silver Sand Preliminary Feasibility Study The Preliminary Feasibility Study (the "PFS") in respect of the Company's Silver Sand project is progressing as planned, with an expected delivery by mid-2024. Independent consultants AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd., NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC and Halyard Inc. are actively involved in completing the PFS. Significant milestones achieved include the completion of mine optimization, strategic phasing, processing flowsheet optimization, and tailings trade-off studies. Concurrently, ongoing efforts encompass strategic mine scheduling, tailings and site infrastructure design, and processing plant layout design. We expect the technical route to remain largely consistent with the Preliminary Economic Assessment in respect of the Silver Sand project (the "Silver Sand PEA Technical Report") published in January 2023.
Please see "Cautionary Note Regarding Results of Preliminary Economic Assessment".
For more details on the Silver Sand PEA Technical Report, please refer to the Company's news releases dated February 16, 2023
and January 9, 2023 .
Silver Sand Permitting In May 2023, the Silver Sand project obtained its environmental categorization as a proposed open pit operation from Bolivia's Ministry of Environment and Water, formally commencing the Environmental Impact Assessment Study ("EEIA") process. The Company continues to advance its socialization process with communities located within the Silver Sand project's area of influence and collect wet and dry season environmental baseline data. In addition, the Company is establishing a development fund for sustainable development projects in partnership with local communities, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the region.
After completion of the socialization process, the Company plans to achieve the following:
1)
obtain surface rights through long-term land lease agreements;
2)
finalize a resettlement and compensation plan for impacted families; and
3)
implement measures to safeguard cultural and historical heritage.
Integral to our pathway towards obtaining the EEIA, the Company is establishing a framework to coexist with artisanal and small-scale miners ("ASMs") in areas of the Silver Sand project that do not encroach on our mineral rights. New Pacific recognizes the importance of ASMs to the region's economic and political landscape and is committed to ensuring the shared benefits from a proposed modern mining operation, including access to milling capacity, technology, infrastructure, and capital, are realized. The Company is also undertaking measures, with the assistance of both local government authorities and external contractors, to address the presence of ASMs whose activities do not align with the development objectives of the Silver Sand project.
The Company is also pursuing compliance with the International Finance Corporation's eight performance standards for sustainable development, building on an assessment conducted with an independent consultant last year. This aligns with New Pacific's commitment to responsible mining while providing the ancillary benefit of positioning the project for development by the Company, or another party, upon successful completion of the EEIA process.
Silver Sand Mining Production Contract The Company continues to engage with the Bolivia state mining corporation, Corporación Minera de Bolivia (the "COMIBOL"), to obtain the ratification and approval of the signed Mining Production Contract (the "MPC") at the Silver Sand project by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia. The Company and COMIBOL have refined the MPC to concentrate exclusively on claims immediately adjacent to the Silver Sand project boundary. This streamlined landholding, while maintaining the core value of the MPC to the Silver Sand project, is anticipated to facilitate progress towards ratification and approval of the MPC.
Carangas Preliminary Economic Assessment The Preliminary Economic Assessment in respect of the Company's Carangas project (the "Carangas PEA") remains on schedule for completion by mid-2024. The Company and its independent consultants are currently undertaking trade-off studies based on the Mineral Resource Estimate in respect of the Carangas project (the "Carangas MRE").
For more details on the Carangas MRE, please refer to the Company's news releases dated September 5, 2023 and September 18, 2023 .
There are a variety of open pit mining options under review, all focusing on the higher-grade, near-surface starter pit at the Carangas project that can be mined at a lower strip ratio. Additionally, the Company is undertaking a metallurgical test program to enhance the processing flowsheet and gather valuable data to support the Carangas PEA.
Silverstrike Project At the Company's Silverstrike project, exploration activities remain on standby as the Company focuses on the programs for the Silver Sand project and Carangas project, as outlined above.
Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Alex Zhang, P. Geo., Vice President of Exploration (the "Qualified Person"), who is a qualified person (as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101")) for the purposes of NI 43-101. The Qualified Person has verified the information disclosed herein using standard verification processes, including the sampling, preparation, security and analytical procedures underlying such information, and is not aware of any significant risks and uncertainties or any limitations on the verification process that could be expected to affect the reliability or confidence in the information discussed herein.
About New Pacific New Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company with three precious metal projects in Bolivia. The Company's flagship Silver Sand project has the potential to be developed into one of the world's largest silver mines. The Company is also rapidly advancing its Carangas project towards a Preliminary Economic Assessment. For the Silverstrike project, the Company completed a discovery drill program in 2022.
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Williams, CEO
New Pacific Metals Corp.
1750 – 1066 Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 3X1, Canada
U.S. & Canada toll-free: 1 (877) 631-0593
E-mail: [email protected]
For additional information and to receive the Company news by e-mail, please register using New Pacific's website at
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING RESULTS OF PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT The results of the preliminary economic assessment (the "PEA") contained in the Silver Sand PEA Technical Report, are preliminary in nature and are intended to provide an initial assessment of the Silver Sand Project's economic potential and development options. The PEA mine schedule and economic assessment includes numerous assumptions and is based on both indicated and inferred mineral resources. Inferred resources are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the project economic assessments described herein will be achieved or that the PEA results will be realized. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Additional exploration will be required to potentially upgrade the classification of the inferred mineral resources to be considered in future advanced studies. AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. ("AMC Consultants") (mineral resource, mining, infrastructure and financial analysis) was contracted to conduct the PEA in cooperation with Halyard Inc. (metallurgy and processing), and NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC (tailings, water and waste management). The qualified persons (as defined in NI 43-101) for the PEA for the purposes of NI 43-101 are Mr. John Morton Shannon, P.Geo, General Manage and Principal Geologist at AMC Consultants, Mr. Wayne Rogers, P.Eng, and Mr. Mo Molavi, P.Eng, both Principal Mining Engineers with AMC Consultants, Mr. Andrew Holloway, P.Eng, Process Director with Halyard Inc., and Mr. Leon Botham, P.Eng., Principal Engineer with NewFields Canada Mining & Environment ULC, in addition to Ms. Dinara Nussipakynova, P.Geo., Principal Geologist with AMC Consultants, who estimated the mineral resources. All qualified persons for the PEA have reviewed the disclosure of the PEA herein. The PEA is based on the Mineral Resource Estimate (the "MRE"), which was reported on November 28, 2022. The effective date of the MRE is October 31, 2022. The cut-off applied for reporting the pit-constrained mineral resources is 30 g/t silver. Assumptions made to derive a cut-off grade included mining costs, processing costs and recoveries and were obtained from comparable industry situations. The model is depleted for historical mining activities. Mineral resources are constrained by optimized pit shells at a silver price of US$22.50 per ounce, silver metallurgical recovery of 91%, silver payability of 99%, open pit mining cost of US$2.6/t, processing cost of US$16/t, G&A cost of US$2/t, and slope angle of 44-47 degrees. Key assumptions used for pit optimization for the PEA mining pit include silver price of US$22.50 per ounce, silver metallurgical recovery of 91%, silver payability of 99%, open pit mining cost of US$2.6/t, incremental mining cost of US$0.04/t (per 10 m bench), processing cost of US$16/t, tailing storage facility operating cost of US$0.7/t, G&A cost of US$2/t, royalty of 6.00%, mining recovery of 92%, dilution of 8%, and cut-off grade of 30 g/t silver.
CAUTIONARY
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, and other activities or achievements of the Company, including, but not limited to, the PFS, the MPC, the PEA, the Company's socialization efforts, establishment of a development fund, negotiations with ASMs, and the Company's efforts to comply with the International Finance Corporation's performance standards; inferred, indicated or measured mineral resources or mineral reserves on the Company's projects; timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, the EEIA; and estimates of demand for silver.
Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, risks that: exploration, drilling, development, construction, and other activities or achievements of the Company, including, but not limited to, the PFS, the MPC, the PEA, the Company's socialization efforts, establishment of a development fund, negotiations with ASMs, and the Company's efforts to comply with the International Finance Corporation's performance standards, will not proceed in the manner anticipated, or at all; inferred, indicated or measured mineral resources or mineral reserves on the Company's projects are not accurate; the timing of receipt of permits and regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, the EEIA, is not as anticipated; estimates of demand for silver are not as anticipated; and other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form for the year ended June 30, 2023 and its other public filings. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information.
The forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates, assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this news release that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates, assumptions, beliefs, expectations and options include, but are not limited to, those related to the Company's ability to carry on current and future operations, including: the duration and effects of COVID-19 on our operations and workforce; development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Company's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the stabilization of the political climate in Bolivia; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain social license at its mineral properties; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits, including the ratification and approval of the Mining Production Contract with COMIBOL by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia; the ability of the Company's Bolivian partner to convert the exploration licenses at the Carangas Project to administrative mining contracts; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. Other than specifically required by applicable laws, the Company is under no obligation and expressly disclaims any such obligation to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as may be required by law. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release.
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO UNITED STATES INVESTORS This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. All mining terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in NI 43-101. Unless otherwise indicated, the technical and scientific disclosure herein has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, which differs significantly from the requirements adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Accordingly, information contained in this news release containing descriptions of the Company's mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Additional information relating to the Company, including the Company's annual information form, can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at , on EDGAR at , and on the Company's website at .
SOURCE New Pacific Metals Corp.
MENAFN31012024003732001241ID1107793847
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https://menafn.com/1107793847/New-Pacific-Metals-Announces-2024-Plans-For-Operations-In-Bolivia
| 2024-01-31T23:07:34Z
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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
fact-checked
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New research shows how light propagates in integrated circuits on chips
The field of photonic integrated circuits focuses on the miniaturization of photonic elements and their integration in photonic chips—circuits that carry out a range of calculations using photons, rather than electrons as are used in electronic circuits.
Silicon-based photonics is a developing field that is relevant for data centers, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and more. It enables an enormous improvement in the chips' performance, and in their cost-benefit ratio as it is based on the very same prevalent raw material from chips in the world of electronics.
However, despite benefiting from the well-developed lithography production process, which enables precise production of the desired devices, the instruments don't yet enable accurate mapping of the chip's optic characteristics. This includes its internal light motion—a crucial capacity given the difficulty to model the effect of fabrication flaws and inaccuracies—due to the devices' tiny dimensions.
A new article by researchers from Technion's Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering tackles this challenge, showing advanced light imaging in photonic circuits on chips. The research, which was published in the journal Optica, was led by Professor Guy Bartal, head of the Laboratory for Advanced Photonic Research, and doctoral student Matan Iluz, in collaboration with Professor Amir Rosenthal's research group. Graduate students Kobi Cohen, Jacob Kheireddine, Yoav Hazan and Shai Tsesses also took part in the research.
The researchers harnessed the optical characteristics of silicon to map the light's propagation without requiring an invasive action of any sort, which perturbs or alters the chip. This process includes mapping the light waves' electric field and defining the elements that affect the light's movement—waveguides and beam splitters.
The process provides real-time images and video recordings of the light inside the photonic chip, without having to damage the chip and without losing any data. This new process is expected to improve the design, production, and optimization processes of photonic chips in a variety of fields, including telecommunications, high-performance computing, machine learning, measuring distances, medical imaging, sensing, and quantum computing.
More information: Matan Iluz et al, Unveiling the evolution of light within photonic integrated circuits, Optica (2023). DOI: 10.1364/OPTICA.504397
Journal information: Optica
Provided by Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
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https://phys.org/news/2024-01-propagates-circuits-chips.html
| 2024-01-31T23:07:34Z
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Kip Wightman’s niece wrestles with huge python to save pet guinea pig
A 12-year-old girl has saved her pet guinea pig from a 2m python in a remarkable act of bravery.
Extraordinary footage has emerged of Rosie Wightman, niece of Brisbane radio host Kip Wightman, fighting off a huge python as it tries to gobble up her guinea pig, Maxibon.
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https://thewest.com.au/news/kip-wightmans-niece-wrestles-with-huge-python-to-save-pet-guinea-pig-c-13426720
| 2024-01-31T23:07:34Z
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HOVER OVER IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT
Drivers brave extremely muddy conditions late Tuesday afternoon on 290th Rd. east of Lincolnville.
A girl in a prairie dress and boots took part Monday in "Pioneer Games" on the playground at Marion Elementary School. Earlier, Rachelle Meinecke, director of Lowell Holms Museum of Anthropology at Wichita State University, talk to students about Plains Indian homes, and students made clay artworks, adding wheat grains and a hole for hanging the ornaments.
Members of Hillsboro's Studio 23 Jazz class strike a pose as they end their routine Friday during halftime of Hillsboro's boys basketball game.
Marion's Cole Smith pulls down one of six rebounds he captured in a homecoming game Thursday against Council Grove.
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http://peabodykansas.com?display+deputy_jailed_fired_in_2nd_week_on_job+5520deputy+446570757479206a61696c65642c20666972656420696e20326e64207765656b206f6e206a6f62
| 2024-01-31T23:07:36Z
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Oh no! It looks like you’re using a web browser we don’t support! Please consider updating your internet browser to unlock thousands of anime titles!
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https://www.crunchyroll.com/es/watch/G9DUE1XM8/no-money-no-life
| 2024-01-31T23:07:36Z
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Laws on abortion are out of step with public opinion. One Republican legislator in Tennessee is working to establish exceptions to his state's strict abortion laws, but he faces a tough battle.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Laws on abortion are out of step with public opinion. One Republican legislator in Tennessee is working to establish exceptions to his state's strict abortion laws, but he faces a tough battle.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.kbia.org/2024-01-31/a-tennessee-lawmaker-helped-pass-a-strict-abortion-law-hes-now-trying-to-loosen-it
| 2024-01-31T23:07:38Z
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EU faces showdown with Hungary’s Orban over crucial aid for Ukraine to fight Putin’s forces
Hungary remains opposed to a €50bn aid package to Ukraine ahead of a European Union summit on Thursday
The European Union has made a last-ditch attempt to convince Hungary and its pro-Kremlin leader to cease blocking further aid to Ukraine by offering the chance to debate funding annually.
EU ambassadors, following a meeting on Wednesday ahead of a summit of the bloc’s leaders on Thursday, agreed to the proposal of an annual debate over the package to Ukraine worth around €50 billion (£43bn), according to a draft summit.
The EU aid is to help cover Ukraine’s needs for 2024-2027, with €33 billion in cheap loans and €17 billion in grants from the bloc’s budget to give Kyiv stable financing as it fights off Russia’s invasion. It is not a military package.
Hungary is the only country out of the bloc’s 27 members that opposes the bill.
The country’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, has been pushing for an annual review that would give Hungary a right to veto the disbursements every year.
This goes against the idea of predictable funding and other EU countries reject it, but if the money is to come from the EU budget, it requires unanimity among the 27 EU countries, so Hungarian consent is necessary.
In an attempt to win Hungary over, the EU ambassadors agreed to propose to Budapest that they hold yearly debates on how the bloc money is being spent by Ukraine, based on reports by the European Commission.
This would not give Hungary a right to veto the money - but it would allow them to air concerns.
“The European Council will hold a debate each year on the implementation of the facility with a view to providing guidance on the EU approach towards the situation stemming from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” the draft read.
It was not clear if Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban will agree to such a deal on Thursday.
But Hungary’s representative at the EU ambassador meeting allegedly responded to the proposal by reiterating that Budapest demands an annual veto on the funding.
Multiple attempts to convince Hungary to give its consent have failed over the past few months.
The latest, which played out on Sunday, included a plan to strong-arm the country into approving the bill by threatening to permanently shut off all funding to Budapest.
After that plan was leaked on Sunday, Mr Orban accused Brussels of trying to “blackmail” him.
“We made a compromise proposal,” he said. “In return, we were blackmailed by Brussels.”
EU diplomats told Politico last week that if Mr Orban blocks Ukraine aid again during the meeting on Thursday, Brussels could look to invoke Article 7, the most serious political sanction on a member country that involves suspending its right to vote on EU decisions.
“If Mr Orban really blocks again an agreement [on the budget and the €50 billion for Ukraine] at the February summit, using Article 7 to strip Hungary of its voting rights could become a real option,” said one EU diplomat.
During the last round of talks, Mr Orban refused to back down despite the EU releasing €10.2bn of bloc funding to Hungary the night before the meeting. The money had been previously withheld on grounds that Mr Orban was violating the rule of law prerequisites of EU membership.
After those talks concluded with no deal on Ukraine aid, Mr Orban told Hungarian state radio: “[The EU] wants to give the money of the Hungarians to continue the war. This is not acceptable.”
He did, however, allow Ukraine and Moldova to start membership to the bloc talks; he did so not by approving the application but by going “for a coffee” while the vote was taking place.
European Council President Charles Michel said at the time it was important that “no member states opposed this decision”, a reference to Mr Orban’s lack of approval.
Failure to pass additional aid to Ukraine would force the bloc to rethink again how best to fund the prospective member in its war against Russia.
The most obvious option would be to extend an existing loan scheme for 2024, which does not require unanimity.
The 26 countries would need to set up two intergovernmental schemes to allow the bloc to transfer grants and loans to Ukraine, but this would require parliamentary approval from individual countries.
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/hungary-eu-putin-russia-ukraine-b2488116.html
| 2024-01-31T23:07:39Z
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WASHINGTON (AP) — With time slipping to bolster Ukraine’s defenses, Senate negotiators struggled Wednesday to finalize a bipartisan deal that would pair policy changes at the U.S. southern border with wartime aid for Kyiv as their carefully negotiated compromise ran into strong resistance from House Republicans and Donald Trump.
Senate negotiators have kept a close hold on the details of a bipartisan package on border enforcement and immigration policies that was supposed to unlock Republican support in Congress for aiding Ukraine. But conservatives view the tens of billions of dollars in proposed support with growing skepticism, unmoved by arguments about the larger stakes for global security. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was making the case for the aid on Capitol Hill Wednesday, including at the Heritage Foundation, a power center for Trump’s allies in Washington.
President Joe Biden, who is pushing for a deal alongside Republican and Democratic leaders in the Senate, faces a daunting task in convincing Republicans to defy Trump’s wishes and embrace the deal — especially in the midst of an election year.
Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, had looked to February as a potential deadline to approve another tranche of military aid for Ukraine. But the $110 billion national security package that congressional leaders say is essential to buttressing American allies around the globe, including Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, has been swept up in the fight over border policies.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops are running short of weapons, including air defenses and artillery to defend against Russia’s ongoing attack. The Pentagon reported last week it is out of money for Ukraine and unable to send the ammunition and missiles needed to fend off Russia’s invasion.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned in a morning floor speech that “the survival of Ukraine is on the line.”
“The only way we’ll rise to the occasion is if both sides are serious about finding a bipartisan compromise,” he said, adding, “We have not concluded negotiations so we will keep going to get this done.”
Even if the Senate is able to finish the deal and pass it, resistance is strong in the House, where Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, holds significant sway over lawmakers. Trump’s opposition has left Republican leaders increasingly questioning whether the border legislation should be jettisoned from the package in a last-ditch effort to get the Ukraine funding through Congress.
“It’s time for us to move something, hopefully including a border agreement, but we need to get help to Israel and to Ukraine quickly,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
Senate Republicans are currently divided on the border policy changes. Though many are waiting to study the bill text, it has already been denounced by conservative advocacy groups and Trump as insufficient to clamp down on illegal immigration.
“The perception is already out there,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican. “And the perception of the American people is that this is bad. So it’s really hard to get ahead of that.”
Johnson discussed the idea of splitting up parts of the national security package in a Tuesday meeting with the speakers of the parliaments of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, but did not commit to any course of action, according to a person familiar with the meeting who spoke anonymously about the private discussion.
The speaker has long been skeptical of sending economic assistance to Kyiv, though he has said he wants to halt Russian President Vladimir Putin’s advance in Europe. But a large portion of Johnson’s conference in the House is more firmly against the aid.
Stoltenberg, the longest-serving chief in NATO’s history, pleaded Wednesday for lawmakers to act.
“I met many politicians from both parties. And I saw broad support for Ukraine,” Stoltenberg told CNN Wednesday. “But then, of course, there’s this link to the border issue which I respect is an important and difficult issue, but I believe it’s possible to find a way forward to support Ukraine regardless of how the border issue is handled.”
In a speech Wednesday at the Trump-aligned Heritage Foundation, Stoltenberg warned that Putin’s ambitions don’t just end with Ukraine. He said the Russian president is intent on “reestablishing Russia’s sphere of influence and shaping an alternative world order.”
As Russian forces and drone attacks pummel the region, the Ukrainians will face increasingly difficulty defending their cities and populations from incoming assaults.
Yet Republicans also want to cut portions of the package that would not go directly to Ukraine’s defenses. Of the $61 billion in the package for Ukraine, a portion, about $16 billion, would go toward economic, security and operational assistance.
The U.S. economic aid has been keeping the Ukrainian government functioning, paying for public works and employees and the services they provide, but Republicans chafe at the expenditures. They prefer the U.S. focus its spending on military hardware to win the war.
The economic assistance for Ukraine is expected to be trimmed back in the final supplemental package, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. The person said changes in the amount of humanitarian aid for Gaza, which was stripped from the package by House Republicans, are also being discussed.
Senate Republicans initially insisted on pairing border policy changes with Ukraine aid as part of a strategy to push the package through Congress. But so far, compromising on border policies has only made things more difficult.
Johnson, who has consulted with Trump on border policy in recent weeks, told fellow Republicans in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday morning that one of the Senate border proposal’s key compromises is a “non-starter” in the House. He pointed to a presidential authority to deny migrants the ability to apply for asylum at the border once illegal crossings rise above 4,000 daily, according to those in the meeting. The proposal would require expulsions at the border if the number reached 5,000.
The speaker wants the expulsion authority to be mandatory no matter the number of crossings. While he has said he has not passed final judgement on the bill, he is poised to reject any compromise.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent who has been central to Senate talks, urged lawmakers to keep an open mind to the legislation and said the group was close to releasing text, but was still working through the intricacies of writing immigration law.
She said it was “factually false” for conservatives to claim that the proposal would allow 5,000 migrants to enter the country daily. The expulsion authority is one part of a new system that raises the initial standard to receive asylum protection and quickly processes asylum claims.
Migrants who apply for asylum at ports of entry would be put in a “removal authority program,” in which their asylum case is decided within six months, Sinema said. And migrants who seek asylum in between ports of entry would be put into detention and removed within 10 to 15 days if they fail the initial interviews, known as credible fear screenings.
“It ensures that the government both has the power and must close down the border during times when our system is overwhelmed, and it creates new structures to ensure that folks who do not qualify for asylum cannot enter the country and stay here,” she said. “It is a very robust package.”
Sinema said Johnson’s team is familiar with the details of the bill.
Still, Johnson on Wednesday used his inaugural floor speech since becoming speaker to lay blame on Biden’s handling of the border and rally Republicans to insist on hardline border measures, even though those policies have virtually no chance of passing the Senate.
“If we take a step back, if we consider the current catastrophe at the border, we can all see that our country is at a critical decision,” he said.
___
Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed.
(Copyright (c) 2023 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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https://whdh.com/news/deal-on-wartime-aid-and-border-security-stalls-in-congress-as-time-runs-short-to-bolster-ukraine/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:39Z
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE American: BRBS), the holding company of Blue Ridge Bank, National Association ("Blue Ridge Bank" or the "Bank") and BRB Financial Group, Inc. ("BRB Financial Group"), today announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.
For the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company reported a net loss of $5.8 million, or $0.30 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $41.4 million, or $2.18 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2023, and a net loss of $4.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2022.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $51.8 million, or $2.73 per diluted common share, compared to net income from continuing operations of $17.0 million, or $0.90 per diluted common share, for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The fourth quarter of 2023 net loss of $5.8 million included a $1.2 million after-tax loss on the sale of an equity investment in a fintech company and a $1.7 million after-tax loss on the fair value of mortgage servicing rights, while the third quarter of 2023 net loss of $41.4 million included an after-tax goodwill impairment charge of $26.8 million and a $4.8 million after-tax settlement reserve for the Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") litigation assumed in the 2019 acquisition of Virginia Community Bankshares, Inc. Excluding these items and regulatory remediation costs, the net loss for the fourth and third quarters of 2023 was $0.4 million and $6.9 million, respectively.
A Message From Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc. President and CEO, G. William "Billy" Beale:
"During 2023, we initiated a period of aggressive and essential transformation to restore Blue Ridge Bank to its fundamental strengths and position it for the future. These efforts, which continue into 2024, involve parallel initiatives across the entire organization to rationalize our businesses, tighten our lending focus, bolster our leadership talent, and assertively address our regulatory remediation efforts.
"To these ends, we made additional progress in the fourth quarter. Most notably, we announced capital commitments totaling $150 million pursuant to a private placement of our common stock. We intend to use this capital for a variety of purposes, from repositioning our business lines around our core strengths, to helping facilitate organic growth and supporting our capital position. We also continued our efforts to reinforce our risk management function through key hires: Harry Golliday, who joins us as Deputy Chief Credit Officer, and Rebecca Robertson, who serves as Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Officer. Their talents and deep expertise will greatly enhance our compliance rigor and the integrity that these functions are meant to provide.
"While we have made many important steps forward, there is much more progress to be made. I have great confidence in the potential of Blue Ridge Bank and we are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to return the bank to profitability and growth. Completing the private placement capital raise and diligently working to satisfy the most recent demands of our regulators will be important milestones on our journey over the next year. The goal of these collective efforts is a reinvigorated Blue Ridge Bank that is stronger and more resilient, has improved clarity of purpose, more focused business lines, and is well governed."
OCC Consent Order and Private Placement Stock Offering
On January 25, 2024, the Company announced that Blue Ridge Bank had consented to the issuance of a consent order (the "Order") by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC"), the Bank's primary banking regulator.The Order replaces the formal written agreement entered into by the Bank and the OCC on August 29, 2022 (the "Written Agreement"). The Order generally incorporates the provisions of the Written Agreement, as well as adding new provisions. The Order requires the Bank to submit to the OCC a strategic plan and a capital plan, and places further restrictions on the Bank's fintech operations. The Order also requires the Bank to maintain a leverage ratio of 10.00% and a total capital ratio of 13.00%. These individual minimum capital ratios ("IMCRs") set forth in the Order are consistent with the IMCR directives previously disclosed by the Company. A complete copy of the Order was included in a Current Report on a Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on January 25, 2024 and can be accessed on the SEC's website ( ) and the Company's website ( ).
On December 22, 2023, the Company announced the signing of a definitive Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement") with Kenneth R. Lehman, Castle Creek Capital Partners VIII, L.P., other institutional investors, and certain directors and executive officers of the Company (collectively, the "Purchasers") pursuant to which the Company has agreed to issue and sell to the Purchasers (i) 60 million shares of the Company's common stock at a purchase price of $2.50 per share and, (ii) for the Purchasers other than directors and executive officers, warrants to purchase approximately 29.4 million shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.50 per share in a private placement (the "Private Placement"), for gross proceeds of $150,000,000. The Private Placement is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement, including approval of the Company's shareholders, and is expected to close in March 2024.
Q4 2023 Highlights (Comparisons for Fourth Quarter 2023 are relative to Third Quarter 2023 unless otherwise noted.)
Net Income:
Asset Quality:
Capital:
Net Interest Income / Net Interest Margin:
Balance Sheet:
Noninterest Income / Noninterest Expense:
Income Statement:
Net Interest Income
Net interest income was $21.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $22.2 million for the third quarter of 2023, and $28.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. Relative to both the prior quarter and year-ago period, net interest income declined due to the impact of higher interest rates on deposits and overall funding costs, and actions taken to add balance sheet liquidity following the early 2023 market events and as the Bank rationalizes its banking-as-a-service partners. Relative to the year-ago period, these developments were partially offset by an increase in average interest-earning asset balances at higher loan yields.
Total interest income was $43.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, $42.5 million for the third quarter of 2023, and $36.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The increase relative to the prior year reflects higher average balances of and yields on interest-earning asset balances, partially offset by lower income from purchase accounting adjustments. The yield on average loans held for investment, excluding Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans, was 6.33% for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to 6.19% for the third quarter of 2023, and 5.72% for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Total interest expense was $21.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $20.3 million for the third quarter of 2023, and $8.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The increase relative to the prior quarter and the year-ago period reflects higher deposit costs and overall funding costs due to higher market interest rates and greater balances of and a shift in the mix of average interest-bearing liabilities, primarily to higher-cost wholesale funding.
Average balances of interest-earning assets decreased $59.7 million to $2.98 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, relative to the prior quarter, and increased $166.2 million from the year-ago period. Relative to the prior quarter, the decrease reflected a decline in average balances of loans held for investment and total securities. Relative to the year-ago period, the increase in average interest-earning asset balances was due primarily to higher balances of loans held for investment and interest-earning deposits at other banks, partially offset by lower average balances of securities.
Average balances of interest-bearing liabilities increased $8.4 million to $2.36 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, relative to the prior quarter, and increased $585.4 million from the year-ago period. Relative to the prior quarter, the increase reflected higher average balances of time deposits, primarily attributable to wholesale funding, partially offset by lower average balances of interest-bearing demand and money market deposits and FHLB borrowings. Relative to the prior year, the increase primarily reflected higher average balances of interest-bearing deposits.
Cost of funds was 2.91% for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to 2.73% for the third quarter of 2023, and 1.22% for the fourth quarter of 2022, while cost of deposits was 2.73%, 2.46%, and 0.85%, for the same respective periods. Higher deposit costs and overall funding costs reflect the impact of higher market interest rates and a shift in the mix of funding. Cost of deposits excluding wholesale deposits was 2.26% for the quarter compared to 2.13% in the prior quarter and 0.82% in the year-ago period.
Net interest margin was 2.92% for the fourth and third quarters of 2023 compared to 4.00% for the fourth quarter of 2022. The decline in net interest margin relative to the prior year reflects the impact of higher interest rates on funding costs and less benefit from purchase accounting adjustments. These declines were partially offset by higher yields on loans.
Provision for Credit Losses
The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $2.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $11.1 million for the third quarter of 2023, and $11.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. Provision for the fourth quarter of 2023 was primarily resulting from charge-offs and reserve needs for a select group of purchased consumer loans, partially offset by a recovery of the allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments due to lower available balances of commercial and construction lines of credit. Provision in the third quarter of 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2022 was primarily attributable to specific reserves on the aforementioned group of specialty finance loans.
Noninterest Income
Noninterest income was $4.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $7.4 million for the third quarter of 2023, and $5.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The decline in the fourth quarter period was primarily due to negative fair value adjustments on mortgage servicing rights, recorded within residential mortgage banking income, and the $1.6 million loss on the sale of an equity investment in a fintech company, recorded in fair value adjustments of other equity investments. The declines were partially offset by a higher gain on sale of government guaranteed loans. The Company recorded a $5.8 million unrealized gain on the sold fintech investment in a prior year.
Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense was $30.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $64.6 million for the third quarter of 2023, and $27.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. Excluding the $26.8 million goodwill impairment charge, the $6.0 million reserve for the proposed settlement of the ESOP litigation, and regulatory remediation costs, noninterest expense declined $0.6 million from the prior quarter and increased $2.8 million from the year-ago period, on a comparative basis. The increase relative to the year-ago period primarily reflects higher salaries and employee benefits, FDIC insurance assessments, audit and accounting fees, and other contractual services, partially offset by lower legal expenses. In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a recovery of previously expensed legal costs in connection with the ESOP litigation.
Loans
Loans held for investment, excluding PPP loans, were $2.43 billion at December 31, 2023, compared to $2.44 billion at September 30, 2023, and $2.40 billion at December 31, 2022. While loan balances were relatively flat with the prior quarter level, the Company selectively replaced the amortization of balances with higher yielding loans. Additionally, the Company reduced unfunded loan commitments to $474.9 million as of December 31, 2023 from $574.3 million as of September 30, 2023 and $744.8 million as of December 31, 2022.
Deposits
Total deposits were $2.57 billion at December 31, 2023, a decrease of $210.1 million from the prior quarter-end, and an increase of $63.5 million from the year-ago period. Relative to the prior quarter, the decrease reflected a decrease in interest-bearing demand and money market deposits, primarily attributable to fintech relationships, and, to a lesser extent, decreases in noninterest bearing deposits, partially offset by higher time deposits, primarily wholesale deposits. Fintech-related deposits declined $254.9 million in the fourth quarter, partially due to fewer banking-as-a-service partners and partially due to the timing of funds flows related to one of the Bank's indirect lending partners. Excluding fintech-related deposits and wholesale funding, total deposits during the quarter decreased $61.2 million, or 3.7%, from the prior quarter-end.
Noninterest-bearing deposits represented 19.7%, 20.6%, and 25.6% of total deposits at December 31, 2023, September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively. Fintech-related balances represented 18.2%, 26.0%, and 27.6% of total deposits as of the same respective periods.
The held for investment loan-to-deposit ratio was 94.7% at December 31, 2023, compared to 88.1% at the prior quarter-end, and 96.3% at the year-ago period-end.
Fintech Business:
Interest and fee income related to fintech partnerships represented approximately $3.7 million, $3.6 million, and $3.1 million of total revenue for the Company for the fourth quarter of 2023, the third quarter of 2023, and the fourth quarter of 2022, respectively.
Deposits related to fintech relationships were $465.9 million at December 31, 2023, compared to $720.8 million at the prior quarter-end. Included in deposits related to fintech relationships were assets managed by BRB Financial Group's trust division of $71.8 million as of December 31, 2023.
Other Matters:
On May 15, 2023, the Company sold its wholesale mortgage business operating as LenderSelect Mortgage Group ("LSMG") to a third-party for $250 thousand in cash. The Company recorded a loss on the sale of LSMG of $553 thousand, which is reported in other noninterest income in the consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December31, 2023.
In the first quarter of 2022, the Company sold its majority interest in MoneyWise Payroll Solutions, Inc. ("MoneyWise") to the holder of the minority interest in MoneyWise. Income statement amounts related to MoneyWise are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, management uses certain non-GAAP measures, including tangible assets, tangible common equity, and tangible book value per share, to supplement the evaluation of the Company's financial condition and performance. Management believes presentations of these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information that is essential to a proper understanding of the financial condition, capital position, and operating results of the Company's core businesses. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures are included at the end of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This release of the Company contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent plans, estimates, objectives, goals, guidelines, expectations, intentions, projections, and statements of the Company's beliefs concerning future events, business plans, objectives, expected operating results and the assumptions upon which those statements are based. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance or achievements, and are typically identified with words such as "may," "could," "should," "will," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "aim," "intend," "plan," or words or phases of similar meaning. The Company cautions that the forward-looking statements are based largely on its expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on factors which are, in many instances, beyond the Company's control. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause the Company's financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in such forward-looking statements:
The foregoing factors should not be considered exhaustive and should be read together with other cautionary statements that are included in filings the Company makes from time to time with the SEC. Any one of these risks or factors could have a material adverse impact on the Company's results of operations or financial condition, or cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking information and statements contained in this release. Moreover, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on its forward-looking statements. Therefore, the Company cautions not to place undue reliance on its forward-looking information and statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to, and will not, update or revise these forward-looking statements after the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
1 Non-GAAP financial measure. Further information can be found at the end of this press release.
Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited) December 31, 2023
(As restated) December 31, 2022 (1)
Assets
Cash and due from banks
$ 110,491
$ 77,274
Federal funds sold
4,451
1,426
Restricted cash
10,660
-
Securities available for sale, at fair value
321,081
354,341
Restricted equity investments
18,621
21,257
Other equity investments
12,905
23,776
Other investments
29,467
24,672
Loans held for sale
46,337
69,534
Paycheck Protection Program loans
2,386
11,967
Loans held for investment, net of deferred fees and costs
2,428,561
2,399,092
Less: allowance for credit losses
(35,893)
(30,740)
Loans held for investment, net
2,392,668
2,368,352
Accrued interest receivable
14,967
11,569
Other real estate owned
195
Premises and equipment, net
22,348
23,152
Right-of-use asset
8,738
6,903
Bank owned life insurance
48,453
47,245
Goodwill
26,826
Other intangible assets
5,382
6,583
Mortgage servicing rights, net
27,114
28,991
Deferred tax asset, net
21,556
12,227
Other assets
19,929
14,175
Total assets
$ 3,117,554
$ 3,130,465
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing demand
$ 506,248
$ 640,101
Interest-bearing demand and money market deposits
1,049,536
1,318,799
Savings
117,923
151,646
Time deposits
892,325
391,961
Total deposits
2,566,032
2,502,507
FHLB borrowings
210,000
311,700
FRB borrowings
65,000
51
Subordinated notes, net
39,855
39,920
Lease liability
9,619
7,860
Other liabilities
41,059
19,634
Total liabilities
2,931,565
2,881,672
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, no par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022; 19,198,379 and 18,950,329 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively
197,636
195,960
Additional paid-in capital
252
Retained earnings
33,157
97,682
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
(45,056)
(45,101)
Total stockholders' equity
185,989
248,793
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
(1) Derived from audited December 31, 2022 consolidated financial statements, as amended.
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
For the Three Months Ended
As restated
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
December 31, 2023
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Interest income:
Interest and fees on loans
$ 38,933
$ 38,551
$ 33,110
Interest on taxable securities
2,457
2,492
2,508
Interest on nontaxable securities
56
72
89
Interest on deposit accounts and federal funds sold
1,714
1,370
754
Total interest income
43,160
42,485
36,461
Interest expense:
Interest on deposits
17,899
16,115
5,131
Interest on subordinated notes
543
566
547
Interest on FHLB and FRB borrowings
2,955
3,612
2,651
Total interest expense
21,397
20,293
8,329
Net interest income
21,763
22,192
28,132
Provision for credit losses - loans
3,600
11,600
11,793
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses - unfunded commitments
(830)
(550)
Total provision for credit losses
2,770
11,050
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
18,993
11,142
16,339
Noninterest income:
Fair value adjustments of other equity investments
(1,469)
55
78
Residential mortgage banking income, including MSRs
591
3,811
1,961
Gain on sale of government guaranteed loans
905
6
204
Wealth and trust management
483
462
451
Service charges on deposit accounts
366
365
293
Increase in cash surrender value of BOLI
310
311
402
Bank and purchase card, net
446
357
866
Loss on sale of securities available for sale
(71)
(442)
Other
2,546
2,490
1,585
Total noninterest income
4,107
7,415
5,840
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits
13,711
14,640
11,863
Occupancy and equipment
1,549
1,475
1,509
Data processing
1,499
1,710
1,441
Legal
(286)
912
1,300
Advertising and marketing
184
350
318
Communications
927
1,181
1,064
Audit and accounting fees
1,381
791
476
FDIC insurance
1,762
1,322
Intangible amortization
297
308
Other contractual services
2,064
1,492
1,334
Other taxes and assessments
809
802
716
Regulatory remediation
3,155
3,782
2,884
Goodwill impairment
ESOP litigation
6,000
3,531
3,030
3,739
Total noninterest expense
30,583
64,621
27,552
Loss before income tax
$ (7,483)
$ (46,064)
$ (5,373)
Income tax benefit
(1,724)
(4,693)
(1,097)
Net loss
$ (5,759)
$ (41,371)
$ (4,276)
Basic and diluted loss per common share
$ (0.30)
$ (2.18)
$ (0.23)
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Twelve Months Ended
(unaudited)
As restated (1)
$ 152,942
$ 111,002
10,120
8,744
313
334
5,620
1,572
168,995
121,652
59,969
11,260
2,209
2,215
13,776
3,610
75,954
17,085
93,041
104,567
24,703
25,687
(2,380)
22,323
70,718
78,880
(1,746)
9,306
10,000
20,647
5,704
4,734
1,839
1,769
1,423
1,289
1,195
1,348
1,703
2,240
(513)
8,936
6,759
28,541
48,092
58,158
56,006
6,506
5,916
5,686
4,593
4,613
3,004
1,157
1,460
4,410
3,825
2,821
1,304
5,059
1,340
1,295
1,525
7,713
3,137
3,216
2,668
10,459
7,442
Merger-related
50
14,184
12,506
158,103
104,776
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income tax
(58,844)
22,196
Income tax (benefit) expense
(7,071)
5,199
Net (loss) income from continuing operations
$ (51,773)
$ 16,997
Discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes
426
Income tax expense
Net income from discontinued operations
$ -
$ 337
Net (loss) income
$ 17,334
Net income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interest
(1)
Net (loss) income attributable to Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc.
$ 17,333
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share from continuing operations
$ (2.73)
$ 0.90
Quarter Summary of Selected Financial Data (unaudited)
As of and for the Three Months Ended
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
December 31,
September 30,
June 30,
March 31,
Income Statement Data:
2023
2022
Interest income
$ 43,160
$ 42,485
$ 42,460
$ 40,890
$ 36,461
Interest expense
18,570
15,694
23,890
25,196
Provision for (recovery of) credit losses
10,013
(1,510)
13,877
26,706
Noninterest income
9,736
7,283
Noninterest expense, excluding goodwill impairment
37,795
34,052
28,847
(Loss) income before income taxes
(7,483)
(46,064)
(10,439)
5,142
5,373
(1,826)
1,172
$ (8,613)
$ 3,970
Per Common Share Data:
(Loss) earnings per common share - basic and diluted
$ (0.45)
$ 0.21
Dividends declared per common share
0.1225
Book value per common share
9.69
9.53
12.21
13.03
13.13
Tangible book value per common share - Non-GAAP
9.47
9.30
10.55
11.36
11.44
Balance Sheet Data:
$ 3,262,713
$ 3,214,424
$ 3,324,060
Average assets
3,165,886
3,249,112
3,277,282
3,270,110
3,020,371
Average interest-earning assets
2,979,065
3,038,795
3,064,103
3,060,534
2,812,898
Loans held for investment (including PPP loans)
2,430,947
2,446,370
2,454,431
2,452,783
2,411,059
Loans held for investment (excluding PPP loans)
2,439,956
2,447,197
2,444,795
Allowance for credit losses
35,893
49,631
38,567
35,961
30,740
Purchase accounting adjustments (discounts) on acquired loans
5,117
5,831
6,381
6,724
7,872
69,640
64,102
76,528
313,930
340,617
351,990
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits
506,248
572,969
575,989
594,518
640,101
2,776,152
2,613,094
2,761,047
39,871
39,888
39,904
FHLB and FRB advances
275,000
215,000
284,100
239,100
311,751
Average interest-bearing liabilities
2,362,774
2,354,360
2,346,722
2,169,643
1,777,391
182,837
231,271
246,735
Average stockholders' equity
223,840
238,530
257,117
259,911
263,826
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
19,033
19,015
18,851
18,856
18,857
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
18,860
Financial Ratios:
Return on average assets (1)
-0.73%
-5.09%
-1.05%
0.49%
-0.57%
Return on average equity (1)
-10.29%
-69.38%
-13.40%
6.11%
-6.48%
Total loan to deposit ratio
96.5%
90.6%
96.4%
91.6%
99.1%
Held for investment loan to deposit ratio
94.7%
88.1%
93.9%
88.8%
96.3%
Net interest margin (1)
2.92%
3.12%
3.30%
4.00%
Cost of deposits (1)
2.73%
2.46%
2.21%
1.74%
0.85%
Cost of funds (1)
2.91%
2.49%
2.11%
1.22%
Efficiency ratio
118.2%
127.7%
101.3%
81.1%
Regulatory remediation expenses
2,388
1,134
Capital and Asset Quality Ratios:
Average stockholders' equity to average assets
7.1%
7.3%
7.8%
7.9%
8.7%
Allowance for credit losses to loans held for investment, excluding PPP loans
1.48%
2.03%
1.58%
1.47%
1.28%
Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans outstanding (1)
2.84%
0.09%
1.29%
0.17%
0.28%
Nonperforming loans to total assets
2.01%
2.51%
2.54%
2.63%
2.69%
Nonperforming assets to total assets
2.70%
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited):
Tangible Common Equity:
$ 185,989
$ 182,837
$ 231,271
$ 246,735
$ 248,793
Less: Goodwill and other intangibles, net of deferred tax liability (2)
(4,179)
(4,286)
(31,427)
(31,637)
(32,027)
Tangible common equity (Non-GAAP)
$ 181,810
$ 178,551
$ 199,844
$ 215,098
$ 216,766
Total shares outstanding
19,198
19,192
18,934
18,942
18,950
$ 9.69
$ 9.53
$ 12.21
$ 13.03
$ 13.13
Tangible book value per common share (Non-GAAP)
Tangible stockholders' equity to tangible total assets
Tangible total assets (Non-GAAP)
$ 3,113,375
$ 3,258,427
$ 3,182,997
$ 3,292,423
$ 3,098,438
Tangible stockholders' equity to tangible total assets (Non-GAAP)
5.8%
5.5%
6.3%
6.5%
7.0%
(1) Annualized.
(2) Excludes mortgage servicing rights.
SOURCE Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc.
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https://menafn.com/1107793848/Blue-Ridge-Bankshares-Inc-Announces-Fourth-Quarter-And-Full-Year-2023-Results
| 2024-01-31T23:07:40Z
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Q&A: For students still feeling pandemic shock the clock is ticking—report shows persistent achievement gaps
A new report from the Education Recovery Scorecard, a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard and the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, shows that some states, including Massachusetts, are still struggling to close academic achievement gaps that widened during the pandemic.
"The First Year of Pandemic Recovery: A District-Level Analysis" examined math and reading test scores in grades 3–8 in approximately 8,000 school districts in 30 states from spring 2019 to spring 2023.
In a conversation about the findings, co-author Thomas Kane, an economist at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, urged school districts to invest remaining pandemic aid on academic recovery efforts before the funds expire in the fall. The interview was edited for clarity and length.
From your report, it seems the pace of recovery has been uneven. Could you give an overview of your findings?
If you looked across all the states, the recovery last year was actually large by historical standards. The recovery was twice as large as the average annual rate of change on the National Assessment of Educational Progress from 1990 to 2019 and 50% larger than the annual rate of change from 1990 to 2013, when math scores grew most rapidly. So, it was large, but it varied by state.
Some states saw much bigger increases than others. But the most troubling finding was that higher-poverty districts which lost the most during the pandemic did not close the gap nationally. In some states, like Massachusetts, those gaps grew between 2022 and 2023.
There were some bright spots. Alabama in math, and Louisiana, Illinois, and Mississippi in reading. Can you explain?
Alabama is the only state to be back above its pre-pandemic achievement in math, and there are three states that are above their pre-pandemic achievement in reading: Illinois, Mississippi, and Louisiana. But this doesn't mean that Alabama is finished with its recovery.
Even in Alabama, the students in Montgomery are still about half a grade level behind. So, yes, there has been progress nationally and, in a few states, their average achievement is back above 2019 levels. But in most states, the achievement gaps between the high-poverty and the low-poverty districts are wider than they were in 2019.
In the states that have recovered significantly, are there lessons for other places?
At this point, we can't say exactly what made Alabama different. Our report is analogous to the National Assessment of Educational Progress—we are describing where progress is being made, but we're not yet evaluating the efficacy of policies. There will be no National Assessment of Educational Progress for 2023, and so what we've done is we've used the state test scores to provide an alternative during this critical year, before the federal dollars run out.
We're describing what happened to achievement, not just at the state level, but at the individual district level. Soon, we and others will be using these data to understand what distinguished Alabama from Massachusetts. We're just trying to get these [findings] out to inform policymakers and school districts while there's still time.It's especially important right now because there are only eight months left before the federal pandemic relief dollars expire.
Achievement gaps are wider in some places than others. How so?
As we reported last year, students in high-poverty school districts lost more ground than students in higher-income ones during the pandemic. The gaps that were already there in 2019 widened during the pandemic.
The most important message from this report is that those widened gaps have not closed. In fact, in some states, just the opposite happened. Even though they lost less ground during the pandemic, wealthier districts like Newton, Wellesley, and Arlington began to recover between 2022 and 2023 while districts like Fall River, Lynn, and Revere, which have high proportions of students experiencing poverty, lost additional ground between 2022 and 2023.
There were some states where the recovery is being led by the poorer districts, but even there—even in Alabama, where the recovery was larger for districts like Birmingham—the recovery wasn't enough to completely eliminate the increase in inequality that occurred during the pandemic. So even in Alabama, the poorer districts are lagging further behind their own 2019 achievement as the higher-income districts now exceed their 2019 achievement.
You mention student absenteeism as a specific challenge for school leaders following the pandemic. How significant is this issue in the recovery story?
We haven't quantified the role of absenteeism in the recovery, but we know from research that each day a student is absent results in lost learning, and, when many students are returning from absences, it disrupts learning for other students in the classroom because a teacher is constantly having to reteach topics.
Future research will have to show just how big a role student absenteeism played, but, while we're waiting for that research, communities ought to be doing whatever they can to try to lower absenteeism rates. Absenteeism is one of the very few things that organizations outside of schools can help schools improve.
Most mayors can't teach Algebra 1, but they can do a public information campaign or provide public transportation passes to students to try to lower absenteeism. One of our mistakes as a country, I think, has been to see the recovery as primarily the job of schools. And of course, schools will have to be doing the classroom instruction, but mayors' offices and churches and other community organizations ought to be looking for ways they can help. Reducing absenteeism is one of the clearest examples of those.
What other advice do you have to make up for interrupted learning?
I think one place to start is by letting parents know when their child is behind. A number of polls have reported that parents believe that their own children have already caught up. They have been misinformed. Parents could play a role in advocating more spending on academic recovery.
Districts will spend the money on something; few of these dollars are going to be returned to the federal government. The point now is to get districts to spend the remaining funds to extend the recovery into next year.
Should there have been more requirements that federal aid be used on school recovery efforts? In your report, you say that districts were only required to spend 20% of the money they received on academic recovery. What else has the money been spent on?
When the American Rescue Plan passed in March 2021, no one knew how bad the losses would be. We knew remote learning was not the same as in-person, but many were hoping that hybrid learning may have been 75 or 80% as effective. It was not. Unfortunately, Congress only required districts to spend 20% on academic recovery, and 90% of the K–12 aid was sent directly to districts—leaving federal and state agencies with no leverage for coordinating recovery efforts.
Imagine if, instead of launching a massive effort to develop a vaccine, the federal government had just handed money to local public health departments to find their own treatments for COVID. That's what we did with the academic recovery. There was no coordination, little sharing of resources.
Although some districts spent more on academic recovery, many more spent the money on salary increases, HVAC systems, new curricula, additional support staff working in schools.
Thirteen thousand-plus school districts out there have been inventing their own recovery plans. Maybe we shouldn't be that surprised that some districts have figured it out, but a lot of districts haven't, and the recovery has really varied by district and by state.
Provided by Harvard Gazette
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https://phys.org/news/2024-01-qa-students-pandemic-clock-persistent.html
| 2024-01-31T23:07:40Z
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Actress Elisabeth Moss confirmed on Tuesday that she is pregnant with her first child.
Moss, 41, who won an Emmy Award in 2017 for her role as Offred in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” made the announcement on the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” program, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Kimmel got right to the point.
“Are you pregnant or just an incredibly committed method actor?” Kimmel asked.
“A little bit of both,” Moss answered.
“I’ve been really lucky,” Moss continued. “It’s been going really well.”
When Moss asked Kimmel for advice, the talk show host said he was reminded of what comedian Bill Murray told him and his wife, Molly McNearney, when they were expecting one of their four children, Entertainment Tonight reported.
“He said, ‘Bring Christmas lights to hang up (in the delivery room),’” Kimmel said, adding that Murray also suggested bringing in battery-powered candles.
The “Mad Men” star did not share further details about her pregnancy, including when the baby is due, People reported.
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| 2024-01-31T23:07:40Z
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Map shows extent of wild weather as heavy surf set to batter NSW
Parts of Australia are set to be battered by wild weather and heavy surf as a low-pressure system brings wet weather to the country’s south.
A low-pressure system is sweeping through multiple states and is set to affect NSW, Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia.
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https://thewest.com.au/news/map-shows-extent-of-wild-weather-as-heavy-surf-set-to-batter-nsw-c-13426583
| 2024-01-31T23:07:41Z
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Drivers brave extremely muddy conditions late Tuesday afternoon on 290th Rd. east of Lincolnville.
A girl in a prairie dress and boots took part Monday in "Pioneer Games" on the playground at Marion Elementary School. Earlier, Rachelle Meinecke, director of Lowell Holms Museum of Anthropology at Wichita State University, talk to students about Plains Indian homes, and students made clay artworks, adding wheat grains and a hole for hanging the ornaments.
Members of Hillsboro's Studio 23 Jazz class strike a pose as they end their routine Friday during halftime of Hillsboro's boys basketball game.
Marion's Cole Smith pulls down one of six rebounds he captured in a homecoming game Thursday against Council Grove.
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Most Wanted Wednesday: Southwest Florida’s most wanted suspects for January 31, 2024Charlotte County residents express concerns with water quality at town meeting
Residents of Charlotte County have dealt with multiple water issues in the past year. Stormwater flooding from Hurricane Idalia, water contamination and red tide. The county addressed community concerns on the subject during a town meeting. “It’s an event that brings all of the community and all of the various departments from Charlotte County together to learn and also get feedback on what water means to them, what are some of their concerns and also educate the public on what we are doing in Charlotte County for our water quality,” said Caroline Wannall, the public relations manager for Charlotte County Utilities. Staff members gave presentations on a variety of topics, including water quality, stormwater and drinking water management. All as they got the public’s input via an interactive survey. “We want to get the citizens involved; we want to hear some of their concerns so that we can do better,” said Wannall. And the people answered, with about 250 people in attendance and 500 responses gathered from a survey shared with the community earlier this month. Residents expressed their biggest concerns with water quality in the area. “The drinking water here, there’s some concerns with metals and that sort of thing,” said Punta Gorda resident Bill Rotramel. “I wanted to learn more about that, and then obviously, when we have storms and hurricanes, we have a lot of flooding in the area.” Map of Charlotte County with sticky notes showing how badly it floods in some residential neighborhoods. (CREDIT: WINK News) “They want to switch our community over from septic tanks to sewers,” Denis Cavanagh said, a resident of Charlotte County, “and we, the majority of the community, do not want to switch to sewers.” The event provided a learning opportunity for everyone. “One of the topics that I didn’t even anticipate was water quality reports,” said Wannall. “How do I know my drinking water is safe? So we are going to do a better job to make sure that they’re aware that these reports are out there.” By working together, Wannall said, they can make water quality in Charlotte County better.
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https://winknews.com/2024/01/31/charlotte-county-residents-express-concerns-with-water-quality-in-town-meeting/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:44Z
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When in America, Frederick Wiseman makes films about everything. His 44 nonfiction features can be divided into cycles that each study distinct subjects, including films about public services (from his legendarily controversial 1967 debut, “Titicut Follies,” to 2020′s Boston-shot “City Hall,” featuring former Mayor Marty Walsh); specific communities (1977′s “Canal Zone,” 2018′s “Monrovia, Indiana”); and educational programs (1968′s “High School,” 2017′s “Ex Libris”). When considered altogether, those cycles overlap and span out so wide that Wiseman’s oeuvre captures the national character of the last 50 years.
When making nonfiction movies in France, Wiseman puts a more direct focus on the arts. And his latest French-made movie, “Menus-Plaisirs — Les Troisgros,” adds culinary arts to the menu.
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Opening Feb. 3 at Amherst Cinema and Feb. 9 at Coolidge Corner Theatre, the four-hour film thoroughly documents three restaurants operated by the Troisgros family, including one that boasts a three-star Michelin rating. Both the feature and the best-known restaurant are led by highly gregarious head chef Michel Troisgros, who’s shown being involved at nearly every stage of any given dish’s creation. Lengthy scenes detail the culinary preparations, cooking, and resulting food service.
“Menus-Plaisirs — Les Troisgros” befits Wiseman’s body of work by slowly revealing an expansive portrait of a family business edited together from small pieces — or rather, small dishes.
Wiseman spoke with the Globe about the film via Zoom, from France, in December.
Q. Your first visit to the Troisgros restaurant depicted in “Menus-Plaisirs” was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Did you consider making this film in the midst of COVID?
A. You want to see people’s faces — and the emotion and feeling or whatever that is registered on their faces. So I never considered doing it until COVID had subsided, when I could count on the fact that 90 percent of the staff and the customers wouldn’t be wearing masks.
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Q. Do you feel the omission of COVID carries its own meaning in the film?
A. There’s no reference to the German occupation of France during the Second World War, either.
Q. No, but if the film had been produced in 1946, that might be an interesting omission.
A. Maybe or maybe not.
Q. The film goes beyond the Troisgros restaurants into other places where we see, for example, guided tours of a farm, and a cheese factory.
A. I was trying to locate the restaurant in the context of choices made about food and the people who supplied it. I thought it was interesting [the chefs] were particularly concerned about the farms where they bought fruit and vegetables, and about being able to buy meat from somebody who raised them according to their biological standards. That put them right in the context of many important contemporary issues.
Q. Your choice of titles is always instructive. How did you find “Menus-Plaisirs — Les Troisgros” for this film? And why that phrase as opposed to something like “Restaurant”?
A. I had trouble finding a title. In the past, it was relatively easy: “Welfare,” “Hospital,” “High School.” “Restaurant” covers too many different kinds of restaurants. And it didn’t give any historical or mysterious sense. I settled on “Menus-Plaisirs” because it does have some historical context. In the court of Louis XIV, they would prepare special meals for him in events called Menus-Plaisirs. So that’s where I got that.
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Q. Did you leave this project with any new takeaways about photographing food?
A. Well, I never shot much food before. But as in all my films, I’m very concerned about the composition. And the work in the kitchen — whether it was a frying pan on the stove, or water boiling, or crayfish going into boiling water — lent itself to closeup.
Q. I should ask you about your most recent Massachusetts-shot film, “City Hall.” Are there any individuals or subjects you’ve been keeping up with from that production?
A. I have kept up a little bit with the [then] head of the mayor’s policy planning staff [Joyce Linehan]. And not recently but early on, I did exchange one or two emails with [Walsh], now the secretary of labor.
Q. Are you aware of Walsh’s new job?
A. No, I didn’t know that.
Q. He is now the executive director of the NHL players union.
A. This completely went by me.
Q. So the new job could make it harder for Mr. Walsh to facilitate a Wiseman film of the White House, but maybe now you can shoot an NHL movie.
A. I’m glad you told me.
Q. What are some nuances you keep in mind, as an artist, when you’re dealing with what we might call natural performers like Mr. Walsh or Mr. Troisgros?
A. You have to keep in mind that they’re natural performers, but you also have to keep in mind that they’d be doing what they’re doing whether or not a movie was being made. Because they’re on.
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Michel and [his son] César, they come out of the kitchen and work the dining room every day; they know a lot of the customers; they will move from table to table and have a chat. Marty Walsh sometimes did five or six visits a day to public groups, and sometimes there was press there and sometimes not. But I never had the impression that he was playing to me, and similarly with Michel. The issue always is to try and be aware of situations where you think people are playing to the camera.
Most people can play one role extremely well. Michel plays the role of a famous chef extremely well — but he plays that role every day, whether or not I’m there.
Interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
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https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/01/31/arts/frederick-wiseman-menus-plaisirs-les-troisgros-documentary/
| 2024-01-31T23:07:44Z
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