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SANTA FE, N.M. — Actor Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer during a rehearsal on a movie set in New Mexico.
Court documents filed Wednesday show Baldwin entered the plea in state district court in Santa Fe, waiving an arraignment Thursday that was scheduled to take place remotely by video conference.
Baldwin, the lead actor and a co-producer on the Western movie “Rust,” was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin says that he pulled back the hammer, but not the trigger, and the gun fired.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-alec-baldwin-rust-shooting-20240131-2fdbrxkvx5g65nmayircx2e574-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:56:55Z
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https://www.rawpixel.com/services/licenseshttps://www.rawpixel.com/image/11768665Edit RemixSaveSaveCustom TextEditable drip coffee, morning drink illustration designMorePremiumRoyalty Free DesignID : 11768665View LicenseShare : Editable drip coffee, morning drink illustration designMore
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https://www.rawpixel.com/image/11768665/editable-drip-coffee-morning-drink-illustration-design
| 2024-01-31T23:56:55Z
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All Blacks and Flying Fijians will play a rugby test match in San Diego on July 19
SAN DIEGO (AP) - The New Zealand All Blacks are moving a home test match abroad for the first time when they face South Pacific rival Fiji at San Diego State's Snapdragon Stadium on July 19.
It will be the first time the All Blacks and the Flying Fijians will meet at a neutral site, as well as Fiji's inaugural visit to the United States.
The All Blacks have played several exhibition matches in the United States throughout the years, including a 53-6 victory against the U.S. at what was then known as San Diego Stadium on Oct. 8, 1980. That stadium was replaced by 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium, which opened in 2022.
"It´s a massive step for New Zealand rugby, bringing a home test over to the States," said Ma´a Nonu, a former All Blacks star who recently re-signed with the San Diego Legion, a founding member of Major League Rugby.
Given most American rugby fans have only seen the All Blacks on TV, "coming to the States is pretty exciting when the All Blacks touch down here," Nonu said at a news conference Wednesday. "It´s such a physical game. Most of us have been coaching here in America and a lot of the kids love the contact. They´ll see that when they come here in July."
The All Blacks and the Flying Fijians are ranked in the top 10 globally following the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. The All Blacks narrowly missed a record fourth World Cup title, which went to South Africa in a 12-11 win against New Zealand. Fiji beat Australia for the first time in 69 years and made the quarterfinals, equaling its best-ever finish.
Fijian great Waisale Serevi, a member of the World Rugby Hall of Fame, said the test match will be huge for his country, as well.
"Giving Fiji the opportunity to play them on neutral ground, for a small country, is a blessing for Fiji," Serevi said. "It´s an honor and a privilege for Fiji to be invited to be a part of the big test coming up."
The test match will help promote the sport in the United States, which will host the men´s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the women's championship in 2033.
"It's been a long-held ambition for New Zealand Rugby and part of our wider strategy to increase the visibility and understanding of rugby in North America and to build our brand presence ahead of the men´s and women´s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033, respectively," New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said in a statement.
"The All Blacks and Fiji share a deep connection to the game of rugby and to the Pacific region. ... We want to deliver an event that will capture the imagination of sports fans across the United States and showcases the best qualities of our game," Robinson added. "It promises to be a unique and entertaining afternoon of rugby and Pacific culture, and a great advertisement for the game."
The San Diego match is one of 14 test matches the All Blacks will play in nine countries in their first season under new head coach Scott Robertson.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030797/All-Blacks-Flying-Fijians-play-rugby-test-match-San-Diego-July-19.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:56:55Z
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Gov. Ned Lamont announced plans Wednesday to eliminate application fees required for residents to obtain certain job licenses. The Democrat says the move is geared toward easing barriers for people entering professions in health care, education, and child care.
This is Lamont’s first legislative proposal of the year, and part of the fiscal year 2025 budget adjustment proposal. The application fee for a registered nurse is $200, for a practical nurse the fee costs $150, an educator certificate is $200, and a home child care license is $40.
The goal is to remove some of the financial barriers for these essential workforces still recovering from the pandemic, Lamont said.
“For folks to be able to get their degree faster without the application fee; help support some of the testing costs you've got so we end up with more daycare providers, more teachers and particularly more nurses,” Lamont said.
Altogether, the governor’s office said the application fees usually generate about $3.5 million annually for the state. His administration said the proposal is a small step in an effort to help people get into these professions.
But a union representing workers at state universities responded to the proposal by saying eliminating the application fees doesn’t address a deeper crisis on hand: public colleges and universities are facing big budget cuts.
“Saving a few hundred dollars on application fees is helpful, but it means nothing to the students who have had to drop out due to the recent tuition hike or the students who need courses that are no longer being offered,” Louise Williams, president of CSU-AAUP, AFT Local 6745 said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) said the proposal was a “step in the right direction” to address the state’s teacher shortage and save aspiring teachers money.
“Every Connecticut public school teacher is also expected to complete a master’s degree, only to earn significantly less than other professionals with similar levels of education and responsibility,” Lesia Day, CEA president said in a statement.
Lamont said he will unveil more of his legislative and budget plans for Connecticut with his State of the State Address, when the General Assembly begins its regular session on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
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https://www.vermontpublic.org/2024-01-31/seeking-to-boost-essential-work-forces-lamont-proposes-cutting-license-fees-reaction-is-mixed
| 2024-01-31T23:56:56Z
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Eye Opener: House Republicans move to impeach Mayorkas over border crisis
House Republicans move to impeach the Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, over the border crisis, despite no evidence he's committed a crime. Also, President Biden says he has a plan to respond to the killing of three U.S. soldiers by Iran-backed militants. All that and all that matters in today’s Eye Opener.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/eye-opener-house-republicans-move-to-impeach-mayorkas-over-border-crisis/
| 2024-01-31T23:56:57Z
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https://menafn.com/1107793865/CNS-2023-Annual-Financial-Statements-And-Annual-Information-Form-Available-On-Company-Website
| 2024-01-31T23:56:57Z
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Nissan has extended its long-term partnership with Zapmap, a UK-based charge point mapping service, to ensure the EV charging process remains straightforward and hassle-free.
The agreement means most purchasers of new Nissan electric vehicles will continue to be provided with a free Zapmap Premium subscription that includes in-car support via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
For private, business and Motability purchasers of LEAF and ARIYA, a three-year Premium subscription will be provided from the date of the vehicle’s registration. The offer applies to models registered up to and including December 31st 2024 – and now includes the Townstar electric van.
For almost a decade now, Zapmap has delivered the most comprehensive map and dataset of electric vehicle charging points in the UK, displaying 95% of public chargers in its app and desktop map, including live status information for over 70% of public charge points.
Zapmap recently began mapping charge points in mainland Europe. Electric car drivers can now use the app and desktop map to search and filter for certain charge points in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Its core features allow drivers to search, plan and pay for EV charging, while Zapmap Premium provides several additional benefits – such as unlimited filters and route plans when using the app to search for chargers and plan journeys – as well as the ability to access Zapmap within the in-car dashboard via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
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By GlobalDataThis means drivers can find a suitable charger quickly and easily by viewing live charge point data, accessing route plans, and linking to a navigation app for turn-by-turn directions.
James Bird, EV Product Manager at Nissan Motor GB, said: ‘‘This extension of our partnership is a natural progression as both companies continue to pave the way for intuitive electric travel.”
Alex Earl, Commercial Director at Zapmap, said: “With drivers increasingly making the switch to electric, our focus is on making charging simple, and that’s exactly what this partnership helps to achieve.
“It can sometimes be hard to find suitable chargers while driving. By enabling access to Zapmap within the in-car dashboard, our Premium offering makes navigation that much easier for EV drivers.
“We work extremely hard to understand the views of EV drivers, and that’s how we came to develop Zapmap Premium. So it’s fantastic to see the partnership continue into 2024 and expand to include the Townstar electric van.
“Zapmap displays well over 50,000 public charge points in the UK and many thousands more across mainland Europe. We look forward to making EV navigation easy for increasing numbers of Nissan’s electric vehicle customers, enabling LEAF, ARIYA and Townstar drivers to enjoy a seamless on-the-road charging experience, wherever they go.”
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https://www.motorfinanceonline.com/news/nissan-extends-its-partnership-with-zapmap/
| 2024-01-31T23:56:57Z
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ELYRIA, Ohio — A discovery uncovered by a crew installing utilities in Elyria is providing a glimpse into Northeast Ohio’s prehistory.
Workers from DiGioia-Suburban Excavating, Inc. were digging a sanitary mainline for a new development near Indian Hollow Road Friday when their machinery struck a solid object.
“We came across something hard in the ground and we started exposing it. And it was this 12’ by 12’ rock,” explained foreman Nelson Mooney.
It wasn’t until the workers shared a photo of the large boulder on social media that they realized it was a unique find.
“Once in a while you’ll run into a boulder in the ground. But that’s beyond a boulder. That’s massive,” Mooney said. “It’s prehistoric, I guess.”
“We call those rocks glacial erratics,” explained Bev Walborn, the outdoor experiences manager for Lorain County Metro Parks.
Unlike the naturally forming rocks found in Lorain County, she said glacial erratics were deposited by glaciers that formed elsewhere.
“Here in this area, we’re going to find sandstone, which is more of a sedimentary rock. And these igneous or these granite-type rocks are found up in Canada,” Walborn said.
An ODNR geologist estimated a boulder like the one found in Elyria may have been deposited around 15,000 years ago. It was a time when Northeast Ohio was covered in thick layers of ice. Over several thousand years, the glaciers receded and created several glacial lakes before what we now know as Lake Erie was created.
Evidence of the ancient period still exists in Northeast Ohio.
“Here in Lorain County a lot of folks know our North Ridge Road, our Middle Ridge Road and our Butternut Ridge Road. Those were all the ridges left from these lakes formed by the glaciers,” explained Walborn.
The massive glacial boulder will need to be relocated so crews can finish their work in the neighborhood.
“Everybody else loves it, but we’re just here to do a job,” Mooney laughed. “Wish we’d find some money [instead].”
But naturalists believe it’s a natural treasure and one that can give us clues about the area’s history.
“I think what this shows is where we are on this planet and the fact that these rocks tell wonderful stories.” Walborn said. “The next time you look at a rock, try to figure out - what story is that rock trying to tell us?”
Crews plan to remove the boulder from the work site this week, but it’s not clear where it will end up. Some have proposed giving it to a local school or making it a permanent fixture in the new neighborhood.
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https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/crew-unearths-prehistoric-glacial-boulder-on-elyria-work-site
| 2024-01-31T23:56:59Z
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President Biden will turn to longtime Democratic strategist and climate aide John Podesta to handle international climate policy after climate envoy John Kerry steps down from the job in coming weeks, the White House said on Wednesday.
Podesta has worked in the Biden White House since Sept. 2022, overseeing the implementation of the climate incentives and funding in the $369 billion Inflation Reduction Act.
He will continue to lead the rollout of the landmark climate law even as he takes the reins on international climate talks from Kerry, who was an outsized figure on the world stage as a former secretary of state, senator and presidential candidate.
Podesta is well-known in Washington and Democratic circles as a chief of staff for former President Bill Clinton and a climate adviser to former President Barack Obama. He was chairman of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016.
"Having served the three most recent Democratic presidents over three decades, he is an American statesman, a fierce champion for bold climate action, and a leader who without a doubt the world will know has the trust of and speaks for the president of the United States," White House chief of staff Jeff Zients said in a statement.
Biden came to office pledging to make curbing climate one of his top priorities. Earlier this year, he faced backlash — particularly from young voters — for approving a large drilling project, known as Willow, in Alaska. Polling shows many young voters are not aware of the climate incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act.
But as he heads into his reelection race, his administration won praise last week from climate groups for a decision to pause approvals for new exports of liquified natural gas where Biden explicitly nodded to "the calls of young people" to take more climate action.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kasu.org/environment-infrastructure/2024-01-31/bidens-new-climate-envoy-is-john-podesta-he-has-a-big-domestic-climate-job-too
| 2024-01-31T23:56:59Z
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Sexual predators. Addictive features. Suicide and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media — and children’s advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them.
On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify at a time when lawmakers and parents are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives.
The hearing began with recorded testimony from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media. Throughout the hourslong event, parents who lost children to suicide silently held up pictures of their dead kids.
“They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online,” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. “Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.”
In a heated question and answer session with Mark Zuckerberg, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley asked the Meta CEO if he has personally compensated any of the victims and their families for what they have been through.
“I don’t think so,” Zuckerberg replied.
“There’s families of victims here,” Hawley said. “Would you like to apologize to them?”
Zuckerberg stood, turned away from his microphone and the senators, and directly addressed the parents in the gallery.
“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding that Meta continues to invest and work on “industrywide efforts” to protect children.
But time and time again, children’s advocates and parents have stressed that none of the companies are doing enough.
One of the parents who attended the hearing was Neveen Radwan, whose teenage daughter got sucked in to a “black hole of dangerous content” on TikTok and Instagram after she started looking at videos on healthy eating and exercise at the onset of the COVID lockdowns. She developed anorexia within a few months and nearly died, Radwan recalled.
“Nothing that was said today was different than what we expected,” Radwan said. “It was a lot of promises and a lot of, quite honestly, a lot of talk without them really saying anything. The apology that he made, while it was appreciated, it was a little bit too little, too late, of course.”
But Radwan, whose daughter is now 19 and in college, said she felt a “significant shift” in the energy as she sat through the hearing, listening to the senators grill the social media CEOs in tense exchanges.
“The energy in the room was, very, very palpable. Just by our presence there, I think it was very noticeable how our presence was affecting the senators,” she said.
Hawley continued to press Zuckerberg, asking if he’d take personal responsibility for the harms his company has caused. Zuckerberg stayed on message and repeated that Meta’s job is to “build industry-leading tools” and empower parents.
“To make money,” Hawley cut in.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, echoed Durbin’s sentiments and said he’s prepared to work with Democrats to solve the issue.
“After years of working on this issue with you and others, I’ve come to conclude the following: Social media companies as they’re currently designed and operate are dangerous products,” Graham said.
The executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they’ve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.
Snapchat broke ranks ahead of the hearing and is backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms that recommend harmful content to minors. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiterated the company’s support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said the company is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. CEO Linda Yaccarino said X, formerly Twitter, doesn’t cater to children.
“We do not have a line of business dedicated to children,” Yaccarino said. She said the company will also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that makes it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.
Yet child health advocates say social media companies have failed repeatedly to protect minors.
Profits should not be the primary concern when companies are faced with safety and privacy decisions, said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media. “These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.”
Republican and Democratic senators came together in a rare show of agreement throughout the hearing, though it’s not yet clear if this will be enough to pass legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act, proposed in 2022 by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.
“There is pretty clearly a bipartisan consensus that the status quo isn’t working,” said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, a Democrat. “When it comes to how these companies have failed to prioritize the safety of children, there’s clearly a sense of frustration on both sides of the aisle.”
Meta is being sued by dozens of states that say it deliberately designs features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. New Mexico filed a separate lawsuit saying the company has failed to protect them from online predators.
New internal emails between Meta executives released by Blumenthal’s office show Nick Clegg, the company’s president of global affairs, and others asking Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen “wellbeing across the company” as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health.
“From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the U.S., U.K., E.U. and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young people’s mental health,” Clegg wrote in an August 2021 email.
The emails released by Blumenthal’s office don’t appear to include a response, if there was any, from Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who later testified before the Senate. Clegg followed up on the August email in November with a scaled-down proposal but it does not appear that anything was approved.
“I’ve spoken to many of the parents at the hearing. The harm their children experienced, all that loss of innocent life, is eminently preventable. When Mark says ‘Our job is building the best tools we can,’ that is just not true,” said Arturo Béjar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently testified before Congress about child safety on Meta’s platforms. “They know how much harm teens are experiencing, yet they won’t commit to reducing it, and most importantly to be transparent about it. They have the infrastructure to do it, the research, the people, it is a matter of prioritization.”
Béjar said the emails and Zuckerberg’s testimony show that Meta and its CEO “do not care about the harm teens experience” on their platforms.
“Nick Clegg writes about profound gaps with addiction, self-harm, bullying and harassment to Mark. Mark did not respond, and those gaps are unaddressed today. Clegg asked for 84 engineers of 30,000,” Béjar said. “Children are not his priority.”
Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this story.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-social-media-ceos-20240131-2cx5ltaufzcsla2rriyv3kss6m-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:57:01Z
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Senior Bowl and NFL draft class loaded with transfers from Penix to Nix to Schrader
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - Quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix became Heisman finalists after heading to other schools. Cody Schrader went from Division II to Southeastern Conference stardom.
They´re far from alone at the Senior Bowl, where a number of NFL prospects transferred at least once to enhance their situation and/or draft stock. That includes five of the seven quarterbacks on the roster.
None have more experience mastering new offenses than Nix, who became a star passer and potential first-round NFL draft pick after transferring from Auburn to Oregon.
"With five offenses in five years, five different play callers, I´ve been around the block," Nix said ahead of Saturday´s game. "I´ve been able to learn from a lot of different people.
"I think just along the way, I picked up a lot from each individual and grew each time and got a lot of experience."
Penix had each of his four seasons at Indiana cut short by injuries: torn ACLs in 2018 and 2020 and shoulder injuries in 2019 and 2021.
He led the nation in passing in both of his seasons at Washington. Penix guided the Huskies to the national championship game and finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting behind another transfer quarterback, LSU´s Jayden Daniels, and one spot ahead of NIx.
In the process, Penix elevated his draft stock to a potential first- or second-rounder.
"All he´s been through has prepared him mentally for this type of scenario," former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, who left for Alabama after the championship game, said Wednesday. "The pressure is the pressure, but he has the confidence that he´s going to be just fine if he just does what he´s capable of each and every day."
Penix agreed that he grew from those experiences.
"It was tough at times, but I do feel like it all prepared me and built me into the player and person I am today," Penix said. "Being through that much adversity, especially at such a young age, it taught me a lot.
"It taught me patience. It taught me how much I loved the game."
While some players transferred for better NIL or playing time opportunities, Schrader wanted to prove he could play bigtime college football. He did that and more.
The 5-foot-8, 207-pound Schrader went from Division II Truman State to Missouri walk-on to All-American running back to NFL prospect. Having not received any Division I scholarship offers out of high school, Schrader proved he can play in the SEC.
Now, he's trying to do the same with the NFL.
"That's why these opportunities mean so much to me, because I know that I've earned it," said Schrader, who ran for 1,627 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
The Senior Bowl roster is full of players who have played for multiple schools, with their own reasons and stories. That doesn't even include UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu, who landed with the Bruins after a neck injury left him medically retired for two seasons at Washington.
Quarterbacks Sam Hartman (Wake Forest/Notre Dame), Spencer Rattler (Oklahoma/South Carolina) and Joe Milton III (Michigan/Tennessee) have all moved around as well.
Three players who transferred from Alabama are in the Senior Bowl: UCF wide receiver Javon Baker, Miami offensive lineman Javion Cohen and Oregon defensive back Khyree Jackson.
There are some potential benefits for NFL teams from players who didn't stay put their entire college careers.
"You see guys in more schemes on the field and now off the field, too, you´re exposed to basically two buildings worth of people that know your players," Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy said. "And that´s what you´re trying to do, is figure these guys out.
"When you have sometimes two, three, sometimes four buildings worth of staff members you can go to and try to learn (about) players, that´s a great thing from an NFL perspective."
Kentucky running back Ray Davis spent two seasons at Temple and two at Vanderbilt before switching SEC East schools for his final season. He wound up with his second straight 1,000-yard season.
"I just knew it was a match made in heaven to go there," Davis said.
That's what all the transfers were hoping to find.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030811/Senior-Bowl-NFL-draft-class-loaded-transfers-Penix-Nix-Schrader.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:57:02Z
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New federal regulations went into effect this month that require museums to get consent from Native tribes before displaying objects that are culturally important. The rules also require tribal consent before museums allow access to the items or conduct research on them.
The law applies to cultural items, meaning funerary objects from burial sites, sacred objects connected to religious practice, and objects of cultural patrimony — meaning objects that collectively belong to a tribe, community or family.
The rules also apply to Native ancestral remains in museums' collections.
Shannon O'Loughlin, CEO and attorney for the Association on American Indian Affairs, said the new rules clarify existing federal repatriation law, know as NAGPRA, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which went into effect in 1990.
O'Loughlin pointed out that the new rules used terms from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
"What is incredibly amazing about the new regulations is [they] specifically use[s] the terms 'free, prior and informed consent,'" she said. "So, no longer will institutions be able to do research on ancestors, and other things, without first consulting and obtaining the free, prior and informed consent of the Native nations that are affiliated with those ancestors and cultural items."
Western Massachusetts reaction
In response, several western Massachusetts museums have stopped exhibiting certain items.
Mount Holyoke College Art Museum removed two Native objects from display.
"The objects' empty cases have been left on view with new labels explaining the new NAGPRA rules." Mount Holyoke said in a statement. "The Museum felt this approach would create invaluable teaching opportunities for students and visitors alike. The original labels, which were written by contemporary Tribal makers, have been left on view."
Mount Holyoke said all funerary objects in both its art museum and the Joseph Allen Skinner Museum are no longer on display. The Skinner Museum is closed. The college said before it reopens, it will consult with tribes about its displays.
The Springfield Museums removed items from its Native Hall and plans to consult with tribes about them. It does have permission from tribal representatives to exhibit other objects.
The Memorial Hall Museum in Deerfield, part of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, is closed until May.
"We are using this time to review the updated NAGPRA regulations as they relate to our collections," the museum said. "This work is being led by the PVMA Council's Collections Committee, which includes Indigenous representation."
Meanwhile, Historic Deerfield said it stopped displaying Native objects some time ago, well before the new regulations.
Regulations underscore goal of 'close connection with the culture'
The Yale Peabody Museum, in New Haven, is closed for renovations and plans to reopen this spring. Director David Skelly said the museum is asking Native groups for their thoughts on objects planned for the exhibition that came from their communities.
"To see from their perspective how they're interpreting these new regulations, what it means for them and how they want to move forward," he said.
Skelly said well before the new rules, the museum has been working closely with Indigenous groups "on how and whether objects should be displayed in a museum like ours."
"What was true before the new regulations came out and what is true going forward is that when you're sharing a culture with people who are coming into a museum, you want to be in close connection with that culture. You want people from that culture to be helping you share what you're trying to share. That hasn't changed," Skelly said.
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https://www.vermontpublic.org/2024-01-31/some-western-mass-museums-pull-objects-from-display-after-new-federal-rules-require-tribal-consent
| 2024-01-31T23:57:02Z
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Farmers protest in France, blocking roads to Paris with manure and farm equipment
Farmers in France are burning tires, spraying government buildings with manure and shutting down roads leading to Paris as they protest for better prices for their products and more government support. CBS News foreign correspondent Elaine Cobbe has more from Paris.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/farmers-in-france-blocking-roads-to-paris-with-manure-farm-equipment-over-wages/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:03Z
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Exchange of shares tradable on Nasdaq Copenhagen for shares tradeable on the New York Stock Exchange
Noble's shares are both listed on the New York Stock Exchange (identified by CUSIP G65431127) and admitted to trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen (in the form of share entitlements and identified by ISIN GB00BMXNWH07).
Holders of Noble shares (in the form share entitlements) tradeable on Nasdaq Copenhagen can exchange their shares (in the form of share entitlements) for shares tradeable on the New York Stock Exchange after completing a transfer procedure. To transfer shares or share entitlements between markets, shareholders must instruct their financial intermediary (bank or broker) to contact Euronext (Noble's Danish transfer agent). For further information visit .
While the shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange are denominated in USD and are eligible to receive dividends in USD and the share entitlements admitted to trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen are traded in DKK and are eligible to receive dividends in DKK, the shares and share entitlements are entitled to identical dividends and voting rights.
About Noble Corporation
Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry.
The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile, and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry.
Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921.
Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of offshore drilling units focused largely on ultra-deepwater and high specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide.
For further information visit or email [email protected] .
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute or contain any invitation, solicitation, recommendation, offer or advice to any person to subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of Noble.
Certain statements in this announcement, including any attachments hereto, may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements (other than statements of historical fact) relating to future events and Noble and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Noble
Group") anticipated or planned financial and operational performance. The words "targets", "believes", "continues", "expects", "aims", "intends", "plans", "seeks", "will", "may", "might", "anticipates", "would", "could", "should", "estimates", "projects", "potentially" or similar expressions or the negatives thereof, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Other forward-looking statements can be identified in the context in which the statements are made.
Although Noble believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date of this announcement, such forward-looking statements are based on Noble's current expectations, estimates, forecasts, assumptions and projections about the Noble Group's business and the industry in which the Noble Group operates and/or which has been extracted from publications, reports and other documents prepared by the Noble Group and are not guarantees of future performance or development and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Noble Group's control that could cause the Noble Group's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Any forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including any attachment hereto, speak only as of today. Noble does not intend, and does not assume, any obligations to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, except as may be required by law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq Copenhagen. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Noble or to persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referred to above and contained in this announcement, including any attachment hereto.
SOURCE Noble Corporation plc
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https://menafn.com/1107793866/Noble-Corporation-Plc-Announces-Changes-To-Its-Share-Capital-For-The-Month-Of-January-2024
| 2024-01-31T23:57:04Z
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PARMA, Ohio — A Parma business owner said the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) is demanding he repay thousands of dollars in pandemic unemployment assistance as part of efforts to reclaim funds given to fraudsters.
"I filed everything properly," said Brian Glinka. "Why you picking on me?
Pandemic problems
At the start of the pandemic, Glinka said his business slowed to a standstill.
"It was nonexistent," he said.
Glinka has owned Brave Carpet Cleaning since 1999, which cleans carpets, furniture, and tile.
He was relieved when Congress created Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for self-employed workers and other workers who do not qualify for traditional unemployment benefits as part of its massive coronavirus relief bill in March 2020.
PUA ended in September 2021.
"It wasn’t what I would make," he said. "But it helped."
Unwelcome surprises
Eventually, Glinka said his business bounced back.
He thought the pandemonium of the pandemic was behind him.
It wasn't.
Last November, when Glinka tried to cash a winning lottery ticket, "they told me I was denied and to call the attorney general’s office," he said. "I was embarrassed."
Then, letters from a collection agency showed up in his mailbox.
The letters said Glinka had to pay back all of his PUA benefits, which totaled more than $26,000.
"Why did they even offer it if they’re gonna want it back?" he asked.
"I totally get that people weren’t honest," he said. "I’m not that guy."
Not over yet
In general, unemployed workers who received PUA do not have to pay back their pandemic benefits.
So what happened to Glinka?
It turned out he had missed a deadline to verify his personal information with the ODJFS, which administers the state's unemployment program.
Glinka said he was unaware he had been asked to supply the state with any information. After work picked up, he said he stopped logging in to his unemployment account.
"Once unemployment is over, why go on that website?" he asked.
"I haven’t filed for a year and a half, two years, but I guess I was supposed to know to go on the website."
Glinka said he appealed to the state twice and was denied because he had missed the verification deadline.
Flagged for fraud
"While we don’t want to countenance fraud, I think we got to give people a break," said Zach Schiller, Research Director, Policy Matters Ohio.
Schiller has written about problems with Ohio's unemployment system for two decades at the nonpartisan, nonprofit research institute.
"This was an extraordinary situation," he said. "We’re not saying we should continuously allow people to get payments that they’re not entitled to, but let’s be charitable."
In a news release, the ODJFS said it identified approximately $6.9 billion in fraud and non-fraudulent overpayments during the pandemic.
"The number of people who are ultimately being found to be fraudsters is a fraction of that," Schiller said. "So what does that mean? That means that we’ve got significant numbers of legitimate claimants who are having their claims held up for possible fraud who are not, in fact, fraudsters."
Here's the breakdown from ODJFS's release:
• $190 million in fraudulent overpayments in the traditional unemployment system.
• $1 billion in fraudulent PUA overpayments.
• $899 million in non-fraud overpayments in the traditional unemployment system.
• $4.8 billion in non-fraud PUA overpayments.
Last resort
News 5 found Glinka can still file an appeal with the Ohio Unemployment Review Commission, an independent entity that reviews ODJFS unemployment insurance decisions and decides whether to uphold, modify, or reverse them.
The UCRC received approximately 18,000 appeals in 2023, according to a spokesperson. About 600 or 3% were related to PUA.
Totals on the number of claims upheld or reversed were unavailable by our deadline.
"I really need to get this figured out," Glinka said, "Get this wiped off... and I want my lottery ticket money too!"
Warning for PUA recipients
ODJFS recently renewed efforts to claw back taxpayer dollars dispersed to fraudsters during the pandemic.
In an email, ODJFS Public Information Officer Tom Betti wrote that ODJFS sent two letters to PUA recipients flagged for fraud.
If you receive the letters and are a legitimate claimant, Betti said you should submit the required documents and appeal.
Betti said ODJFS also sent an email to PUA recipients. (See example below.)
Betti wrote that, "Official ODJFS PUA emails come from “PUA@unemployment.ohio.gov” with the subject of “Notification from ODJFS.”
Betti noted there is social media chatter the email is a scam.
He wrote, "ODJFS encourages recipients of this email to open, logon to their account, and review correspondence carefully. They will have 21 days to file an appeal and submit documents to prove their identity."
Below is Betti's email message to News 5:
"As part of the agency’s anti-fraud measures examining pandemic-era claims to ensure they were legitimately paid out, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) recently sent determination notices to certain Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) recipients that lacked the proper identification documents in their accounts and were flagged as fraud.
If a claimant believes their claim is legitimate, ODJFS encourages them to appeal and provide the required documentation through the online portal: https://puaa.jfs.ohio.gov/. The circumstances and appeal outcomes for each claim are unique, but more than likely, after a PUA claimant has verified their identity through this appeal process, their account should be rectified.
A variety of new safeguards are in place to prevent fraudulent unemployment claims and ODJFS continues to work with law enforcement to help facilitate the recovery of funds and hold scammers accountable under the law. On November 17, 2023, ODJFS released an Unemployment Overpayments Update. The overpayments are attributable to both fraudulent and non-fraudulent activity in both the traditional unemployment and PUA programs."
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https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/investigations/ohio-says-parma-business-owner-has-to-pay-back-26-000-in-pandemic-benefits-because-of-missed-deadline
| 2024-01-31T23:57:05Z
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Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.kasu.org/health-science/2024-01-31/expected-to-be-a-big-deal-alzheimers-drug-is-pulled-after-disappointing-sales
| 2024-01-31T23:57:05Z
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NEW YORK -- Kevin Durant isn't sure what to expect when he returns to Brooklyn.
Fans could cheer him, focusing on the excitement that Durant delivered as one of the best players ever to wear a Nets uniform.
Or perhaps there's too much resentment over how quickly he wanted to wear another team's.
It should be a wide range of emotions Wednesday when Durant plays in Brooklyn for the first time since being traded to the Phoenix Suns nearly a year ago.
"It just depends on how the people wake up," Durant said. "A lot of people don't know what to say or how to feel about me. It's up in the air on what may happen."
The fans were undeniably thrilled in July 2019, when Durant and Kyrie Irving decided together to sign with the Nets as free agents. Both players were gone just 3 1/2 years later, winners of a grand total of one playoff series while they were in Brooklyn.
Durant had more trade requests than that, asking out after the 2021-22 season, then again in the middle of last season after the Nets dealt Irving to Dallas. Durant seems to understand the complicated legacy he left, responding to a question on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, about whether he deserved a tribute video by saying he didn't want one.
"The people that follow the Brooklyn Nets, they understood what we went through and those little moments that we had and shared as a team that the fans rallied around," Durant said. "Hopefully, they can remember that stuff."
Stuff like Durant's franchise-record 29.9 points per game in 2021-22. Or his memorable postseason performances against the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals: 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in a Game 5 victory, 48 points in a Game 7 overtime loss.
Things were only supposed to get better for Brooklyn after that. Irving and James Harden were hurt in most of that series, but having their Big Three back and healthy made the Nets a favorite to win their first NBA title in 2022.
Instead, things fell apart quickly. Irving refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and was ineligible to play in home games for most of the season. Durant injured his knee during the season. Harden got frustrated and was sent at the 2022 trade deadline to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons, who never played that season because of back problems.
Afterward, a disappointed Durant said he wanted to be traded. The Nets resisted and it appeared to be the right decision when they surged up the East standings last season after firing Steve Nash and replacing him with Jacque Vaughn in November. Durant played brilliantly and whatever bothered him in the summer seemed a thing of the past.
"I know people won't believe it, but it was some fun, fun times," Durant said. "We had some adversity, but getting to know other players who had to step up in those moments throughout that adversity was fun. They filled in for what we were missing and they did that at a phenomenal level and we all had fun in the process. Last season was some of the funnest basketball I ever played."
But he injured his knee again in January and never played for the Nets again, sent to Phoenix in a deal that brought Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson to Brooklyn.
The Nets held on to make the playoffs last season but are struggling now, badly missing the scoring that Durant could provide when games are close. They don't have the potential of the Durant era, nor do they have the drama.
Durant said he still talks to some people in the organization and loves New York.
On Wednesday, Nets fans can show whether they still love Durant.
"I never know how people are going to react," Durant said. "I don't expect anything from anyone. I just want them to do whatever they do that's going to allow them to have some fun that night."
___
AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.
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https://abc7ny.com/brooklyn-nets-phoenix-suns-kevin-durant-nba/14376176/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:07Z
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The Volokh Conspiracy
Mostly law professors | Sometimes contrarian | Often libertarian | Always independent
Antifa-vs.-Patriot-Prayer-Related Tort Lawsuit Partly Thrown Out but Partly Allowed to Go Forward
From today's Oregon Court of Appeals decision in Cider Riot, LLC v. Patriot Prayer USA, LLC, in an opinion by Chief Judge Erin Lagesen, joined by Judge Jacqueline Kamins and Megan Jacquot:
Plaintiff Cider Riot, LLC, is a brewery and bar in Northeast Portland. Plaintiff Goldman-Armstrong is its owner and operator. This tort case arises, for the most part, out of a 2019 clash between patrons of Cider Riot, who are associated with Antifa, and, among others, defendants Gibson, Kramer, Ponte, Willis, and Lewis, all of whom are associated with a group or movement known as Patriot Prayer.
Defendant Patriot Prayer USA, LLC, is a limited liability company owned entirely by Gibson. It has no members other than him. Those who identify with Patriot Prayer hold starkly divergent views from those who identify with Antifa. Those divergent views have generated immense hostility, which has led to confrontations, which has resulted in violence between those holding opposing views.
The clash at the heart of this case began as a heated exchange of political viewpoints between defendants, who were on public property adjacent to the brewery and bar, and plaintiffs' patrons, many of whom were sitting in the bar's outdoor seating area. Ultimately, the verbal dispute escalated into some physical confrontations. This resulted in injuries to some of plaintiffs' patrons and, plaintiffs allege, a range of economic and noneconomic losses. Several days after the incident, Gibson urged people to report Cider Riot to the OLCC. Other individuals made online comments disclosing the names and addresses of plaintiffs' business partners.
For their involvement in that clash, encouraging complaints to the OLCC, and identifying plaintiffs' business partners, plaintiffs seek to hold all defendants liable for four torts: negligence, trespass, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and intentional interferences with economic relations….
The Court of Appeals held that some of the claims against Gibson should be thrown out, at the "anti-SLAPP motion" stage (a means for claims arising out of constitutionally protected activities to be promptly dismissed), but others—based on Gibson's allegedly personally egging someone on to fight a bar patron—could continue. I focus here on the claims against Gibson because the other individual defendants' defenses were rejected as untimely, and thus weren't substantively discussed by the court.
[a.] Negligence
Plaintiffs' first claim against Gibson is negligence. The gravamen of that claim is that Gibson's prolific and well-publicized activities opposing Antifa created a foreseeable risk of harm to plaintiffs when "Gibson coordinated with Patriot Prayer members to arrive at Cider Riot" to "[t]ake the fight to Antifa." Plaintiffs allege that "[g]iven the repeated extreme incitements of violence against perceived political enemies, it was foreseeable that Defendants' actions would lead to harm to Cider Riot." This claim rests largely on evidence of speeches and other statements that Gibson made about Antifa and its association with Cider Riot, as well as evidence of prior violent acts and vandalism against Cider Riot, acts that indicated Antifa was the target.
We have no doubt that, on this record, a reasonable jury could find that it was foreseeable that Gibson's anti-Antifa advocacy, together with his comments associating Cider Riot with Antifa, would lead to violent or unlawful acts against plaintiffs. But, as explained in Counterman v. Colorado (2023) and Judge Willett's dissenting opinion in Doe v. Mckesson (5th Cir. 2023), the First Amendment does not allow for imposition of liability for speech or for protest organization based on a negligence standard. For that reason, plaintiffs have not established a prima facie case of actionable negligence against Gibson, and the trial court erred in denying the special motion to strike the negligence claim against Gibson.
[b.] Trespass
Plaintiffs' second claim against Gibson is trespass. "Trespass to real property is an intentional entry upon the land of another by one not privileged to enter." Here, plaintiffs have identified no evidence that Gibson entered the Cider Riot property. Indeed, in their discussion of the evidence supporting a prima facie case of trespass, plaintiffs have not pointed to any particular evidence in support of their trespass claim. Rather, their theory on appeal is that Gibson caused others to throw objects or spray pepper spray onto plaintiffs' property. Having reviewed the record on our own, we have been able to locate no evidence that would allow the reasonable inference that Gibson himself directed or authorized third parties to throw objects or spray mace onto plaintiffs' property, that he otherwise directed or authorized third parties to enter plaintiffs' property, or that he ratified any intrusion onto plaintiffs' property. The trial court erred in denying the special motion to strike the trespass claim as to Gibson.
[c.] Intentional infliction of emotional distress
Plaintiff Goldman-Armstrong asserts a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) against defendant Gibson. A prima facie showing of IIED requires a plaintiff to submit sufficient evidence from which a reasonable trier of fact could find that he met his burden of production for the following elements: "'(1) the defendant intended to inflict severe emotional distress on the plaintiff, (2) the defendant's acts were the cause of the plaintiff's severe emotional distress, and (3) the defendant's acts constituted an extraordinary transgression of the bounds of socially tolerable conduct.'"
Having reviewed the record, taking into account the protections of the First Amendment, much of the evidence would not allow for the conclusion that Gibson's "acts constituted an extraordinary transgression of the bounds of socially tolerable conduct" in a way that would permit the imposition of liability consistent with the First Amendment. The conduct of Gibson and other individuals involved with Patriot Prayer no doubt caused emotional distress to plaintiff Goldman-Armstrong. The same thing, however, is undoubtedly true with respect to much protest activity targeting a business because such activity interferes with business. In other words, as with the Black Hats in NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware (1982) [who enforced a boycott by taking down the names of people who weren't complying with the boycott, names that were later publicized in the community-EV], protest activity that is protected by the First Amendment may often result in the intended infliction of emotional distress but, because of the First Amendment protections, will not give rise to tort liability.
Nevertheless, as the trial court recognized, plaintiff Goldman-Armstrong produced evidence of some conduct by Gibson that would allow for the imposition of liability for IIED consistent with Claiborne Hardware. In support of plaintiffs' prima facie case, Justin Allen averred that he observed Gibson "encourage and direct defendant Cooper to engage a bar patron in a street fight, saying, 'Go on, go on.'" Directing a person to engage in physically assaultive conduct is not protected activity under Claiborne Hardware. For that reason, Allen's declaration could support the imposition of tort liability on defendant Gibson.
Although the video evidence tends to paint a different picture of events, it does not compel the conclusion that Allen's testimony is inaccurate or that the identified conduct by Gibson is protected by the First Amendment. Furthermore, that conduct of directing someone to engage in a street fight with one of Goldman-Armstrong's patrons could, in context, permit a rational inference that it was intended to [and did] cause Goldman-Armstrong severe emotional distress…. Finally, a factfinder could permissibly conclude not only that the conduct of directing someone to engage plaintiff's patron in a street fight falls outside of the range of conduct protected under Claiborne Hardware, but also that it "constitute[s] an extraordinary transgression of the bounds of socially tolerable conduct." The trial court therefore correctly concluded that Goldman-Armstrong established a prima facie case of intentional infliction of emotional distress. Of course, as in Claiborne Hardware, any eventual judgment for damages would have to be tailored to the damages caused by the particular act of violence that Gibson directed. But such a tailored judgment is permitted by the First Amendment.
[d.] Intentional interference with economic relations
Plaintiffs' final claim is for IIER. The prima facie elements of a claim for IIER are: "(1) the existence of a professional or business relationship * * *, (2) intentional interference with that relationship, (3) by a third party, (4) accomplished through improper means or for an improper purpose, (5) a causal effect between the interference and damage to the economic relationship, and (6) damages."
Plaintiffs predicate this claim both on Gibson's conduct during the May 1 incident, and on his subsequent conduct of encouraging reports about Cider Riot to the OLCC [Oregon Liquor Control Commission]. At least with respect to the May 1 incident, we conclude that plaintiff has established a prima facie case of IIER. Specifically, the same conduct that would support the imposition of liability for IIED would support the imposition of liability for IIER. To the extent that Gibson's conduct of directing a person to engage in a fight with a bar patron interfered with plaintiffs' business relationships by deterring customers from patronizing Cider Riot, and there is some evidence that all the violent acts of May 1 deterred customers, that would support the imposition of liability for IIER on Gibson in way that does not run afoul of Claiborne Hardware.
In particular, that conduct, along with other evidence in the record, could support a finding that Gibson, a third party to plaintiffs' relationships with their customers, interfered with plaintiffs' relationships with their customers by encouraging assaultive conduct against one of their patrons, something that deterred patrons from patronizing plaintiffs' business, resulting in damages. For that reason, the trial court did not err in denying Gibson's special motion to strike the IIER claim. Of course, as noted above, under Claiborne Hardware, any ultimate damages award would have to be tailored to the harm caused by the specific conduct that is not entitled to First Amendment protection, should a factfinder find in plaintiffs' favor on the other elements of the claim.
{As to Gibson's conduct encouraging reports to the OLCC, plaintiffs did not introduce evidence of the content of those reports but, instead, summarily characterized them as untrue. Absent evidence of the content of the reports demonstrating that the reports were, in fact, false, plaintiffs have not established that they suffered any cognizable damages from Gibson's conduct.}
The court offered this brief background on Patriot Prayer and Antifa:
Although the record in this case does not permit us to describe with confidence the respective ideologies or structures of Patriot Prayer and Antifa, it does permit us to describe with confidence those groups' respective understandings of each other. According to the allegations in the pleadings and the declarations in the record, those associated with Antifa, short for "anti-fascist," view those associated with Patriot Prayer as right-wing extremists, supporting fascism, white nationalism, and xenophobia. Those associated with Patriot Prayer view those associated with Antifa as left-wing extremists, supporting communism and socialism. Each group perceives the other, and what the other stands for, to be a dire threat to their own view of democracy and American values. Each group, in addition, views the other as supporting violence as a means to achieving its goals. The latter perspective has a basis in fact; the record also contains evidence demonstrating that some individuals associated with each group have engaged in acts of violence, and have threatened acts of violence, toward individuals associated with the other group.
And here's more from the court on its view of "First Amendment limitations on negligence liability":
For purposes of this case, one final area of First Amendment law warrants discussion. In one claim, plaintiffs seek to hold defendants Gibson and Patriot Prayer, LLC, liable under a negligence theory: that Gibson's speech and related conduct created a foreseeable risk of harm to plaintiffs' business by other individuals. In Counterman, though, the Supreme Court clarified what type of mental state is required to hold a person civilly or criminally liable when the First Amendment is implicated, even if the individual's speech or conduct ultimately falls outside the protection of the First Amendment. In so doing, the Court held that liability may not be imposed under a negligence standard.
At issue in Counterman was the minimum mental state required for the imposition of liability for threats. The Court explained that although threats are not entitled to First Amendment protection, the Court's case law affords "'strategic protection'" to unprotected speech so as to steer wide of the chilling effect created by the potential for civil or criminal liability. One component of that strategic protection "is to condition liability on the State's showing of a culpable mental state." Further, to provide adequate protection, the culpable mental state must be a subjective one: "[T]he First Amendment precludes punishment, whether civil or criminal, unless the speaker's words were intended (not just likely) to produce imminent disorder." An objective mental state standard is not permissible because it creates the risk of self-censorship. For that reason, the First Amendment forbids the use of a negligence standard for the imposition of liability based on speech that, itself, is not entitled to First Amendment protection. Ultimately, the Court concluded that recklessness was a constitutionally sufficient mental state for the imposition of liability for threats under the circumstances at issue in Counterman.
On this point, we acknowledge that the Fifth Circuit, in a divided decision issued 11 days before Counterman, reached a different conclusion as to whether the First Amendment permits the imposition of tort liability for negligence in organizing or leading protest activity. In Doe v. Mckesson (5th Cir. 2023), that court considered whether Mckesson, the leader of a Black Lives Matter protest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, could be liable under a negligence theory for serious injuries sustained by a police officer when an unidentified protester—not Mckesson—threw a rock or similar projectile which hit the officer in the face. The majority opinion held that the leader could be liable in negligence to the officer for "organiz[ing] and direct[ing] the protest in an unreasonably dangerous manner [that] caused the violent encounter that led to [the officer's] injuries," rejecting Mckesson's arguments that the First Amendment, as construed in Claiborne Hardware, precluded the imposition of liability on a protest leader for the violent conduct of another, unless the Claiborne Hardware standards were met.
[Judge Willett's] dissenting opinion agreed with Mckesson that, under Claiborne Hardware, Mckesson could not be liable for the unidentified protester's violent act because Mckesson did not "stray from lawfully exercising his own rights." Apart from concluding that Mckesson's own activities did not fall within the categories for which Claiborne Hardware permits imposition of liability, the dissenting opinion also concluded that the First Amendment does not permit the imposition of liability for a third party's violence under a negligence standard: "[A] protest leader's simple negligence is far too low a threshold for imposing liability for a third party's violence." The dissenting opinion, instead, read Claiborne Hardware to require a higher-level mental state because of how a negligence theory of liability "would have enfeebled America's street-blocking civil rights movement, imposing ruinous financial liability against citizens for exercising core First Amendment freedoms." The dissenting opinion explained:
"Holding Mckesson responsible for the violent acts of others because he 'negligently' led a protest that carried the risk of potential violence is impossible to square with Supreme Court precedent holding only tortious activity meant to incite imminent violence, and likely to do so, forfeits constitutional protection against violent acts committed by others."
Thus, the dissenting opinion concluded, the First Amendment does not allow for the imposition of liability on a protest leader based on the violent conduct of a protest participant absent some showing that the protest leader committed an intentional tort: "Summing up: McKesson is not liable for intentional violence, foremost because he did not commit any violence, but at a minimum because he did not commit any intentional tort."
As noted, the Supreme Court decided Counterman shortly after the Fifth Circuit's decision in Mckesson. In its decision, the Court unequivocally rejected a negligence standard for the imposition of liability arising out of speech because such a standard would not adequately insulate the core freedoms protected by the First Amendment from the chilling effect of potential liability. In view of Counterman, we are persuaded that the dissenting opinion in Mckesson was correct to conclude that the First Amendment does not allow for the imposition of liability on a protest leader or an organizer under a negligence theory. {As of this writing, a petition for a writ of certiorari [as to Mckesson] is pending in the United States Supreme Court.}
James L. Buchal and Murphy & Buchal LLP represent Patriot Prayer USA and Gibson.
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https://reason.com/volokh/2024/01/31/antifa-vs-patriot-prayer-related-tort-lawsuit-partly-thrown-out-but-partly-allowed-to-go-forward/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:07Z
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It never hurts to dream, so why not dream big? At least now, with Jerry Jones’ proclamation about going ‘all-in’ in 2024, we might have some basis to dream big.
The Dallas Cowboys usually are boring and have uneventful offseasons. Money is still going to be tight this year considering they’re expected to extend Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and quite possibly Micah Parsons as well. That’s going to take a considerable reworking of their salary cap.
The Cowboys haven’t been very active participants in the initial phase of free agency, where the big money is spent. They usually bring in a few “bargain bin” free agents, but haven’t made a “splash” signing to significantly upgrade to their roster in quite some time.
But with Jerry Jones’ recent mention of ‘all-in’, we decided to look at some “big name” free agents he could go after with his new philosophy. Normally it would be highly unlikely the Cowboys would show any interest in any of these types of players, but this year maybe there is a sliver of hope Dallas will join the fun. So here is a list of name free agents based on the Cowboys’ current roster "needs".
DEFENSE
- CB Jaylon Johnson
Jaylon Johnson had an overall grade of 90.8 and a coverage grade of 91.0 according to PFF. He also tied for fifth in the league with four INT's. Pairing him with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland would be the best CB trio in the entire league, creating a no-fly zone for Dallas' secondary.
Projected contract - 5 yrs, $78,718,435 ($15.7 million annually) - per Spotrac
- DT Chris Jones
Pairing Chris Jones with Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence would give the Cowboys the best pass-rushing trio in the entire league. Jones has 26 QB sacks over the last two seasons alone and his versatility to lineup all across the defensive front would turn Dallas' defense from being good to great.
Projected contract - 3 yrs, $85,450,884 ($28.4 million annually) - per Spotrac
- LB Frankie Luvu
Frankie Luvu is one of the best pass-rushing off-ball LBs in the NFL with 43 pressure since 2022 ranking fourth at his position and his 9.5 sacks ranking first. He has also amassed 62 stops against the run, which ranks 12th over that span. He has limitations in coverage, but he is a dominant downhill force and that's what Dallas needs at the LB position.
Projected contract - 4 yrs, $45,008,756 ($11.2 million annually) - per Spotrac
OFFENSE
- OG Robert Hunt
Robert Hunt started his career playing both tackle positions before finding his home at right guard with the Dolphins. He'd have to flip over to left guard with the Cowboys, but the 6'6", 335-pounder is a perfect fit in a zone blocking scheme, and if paired with Tyler Smith at LT, would make the left side of Dallas' OL a dominant force.
Projected contract - 4 yrs, $47,391,852 ($11.8 million annually) - per Spotrac
- OC Tyler Biadasz
If the Cowboys are looking for OC help via free agency, running it back with Tyler Biadasz is probably their best bet. He is just as good as any other free agent options at his position and he has the added benefit of familiarity with the roster, coaches and playbook.,
- LT Tyron Smith
When healthy Tyron Smith is still one of the best left tackles in the entire league and in free agency. Re-signing him is Dallas' best option outside of drafting his replacement, and even that would come with growing pains. This would also allow Tyler Smith to stay at LG.
Projected contract - 1 yrs, $7,481,509 ($7.4 million annually) - per Spotrac
- WR Mike Evans
Michael Gallup is a potential salary-cap casualty and Brandin Cooks only has a year left if he remains in 2024. Because of that, Dallas could be in the market for a free agent WR and Mike Evans would be a great fit. He's coming off a 13 TD season and has hit the 1,000-yard mark receiving each season in his 10-year career. He'd be perfect pairing with CeeDee Lamb.
Projected contract - 4 yrs, $95,343,536 ($23.8 million annually) - per Spotrac
- RB Saquon Barkley
The former New York Giants RB would be a perfect fit as the Cowboys new RB1. Not only does he already have familiarity with the NFC East division, but his ability to create on his own as both a runner and receiver would be a tremendous upgrade in Dallas' backfield.
Projected contract - 3 yrs, $29,928,690 ($9.9 million annually) - per Spotrac
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2024/1/31/24053764/dallas-cowboys-2024-free-agent-jerry-jones-all-in-chris-jones-saquon-barkley-mike-evans
| 2024-01-31T23:57:07Z
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I so wish my mother were alive today. She would be proudly sporting a bright gold shirt with No. 22 emblazoned across her chest, and we would be sitting side by side at every possible University of Iowa women’s basketball game. My mother would love Caitlin Clark!
Clark, of course, is the basketball phenomenon who is electrifying fans across the country with her deadeye 3-point shooting, mind-blowing passing and exhilarating team play. Most importantly, Clark, along with her teammates and coaches, has changed how girls and women’s sports are played, and perceived, forever.
My mother was a gifted athlete at a time when sports for women barely existed. She was a freshman in high school, a city girl from Denver, when Mildred “Babe” Didrikson won three medals in the 1932 Olympics including the gold for javelin and hurdles — an unprecedented achievement that opened the door, just a crack, for future women athletes.
At a time when very few women attended college, my mother made up her mind to pursue a degree at what today is the University of Northern Colorado, majoring in physical education — what we now know as exercise science.
In summer, she played softball for Joe’s Cave, a well-known bar in the Barnum neighborhood of Denver. She met her future husband, a graduate student from Peru, Illinois, on the tennis courts in Greeley, Colorado, where, according to my dad, she beat him without mercy.
For many years, my mother taught high school physical education — encouraging girls to appreciate their bodies and to build strength and confidence through physical fitness and sports. Luckily for me, I was one of those girls. We learned field hockey, basketball, golf, tennis and other sports while the boys were playing dodgeball in the much larger “boys” gymnasium.
Chicago Tribune Opinion
In those pre-Title IX days with no interschool sports for girls in my home state of South Dakota, she founded a local branch of the Girls Athletic Association, or GAA, fundraising among local supporters so that we could have our own equipment and scheduling activities on her own time after school. I still have my GAA letter with pins attached for basketball, softball and bowling.
I remember talking with my mother in the summer of 1972 when the Title IX legislation had become law. She was so excited to know that girls would no longer be excluded from participation in school sports and all the benefits that come with them. She was imagining what Title IX would mean for her own granddaughters — some of whom would become high school and collegiate athletes.
So I’m smiling as I picture sitting beside my mother in the fourth row right next to the band at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. She would love knowing the game has been sold-out for weeks. She would admire the depth of knowledge and skill so evident in head coach Lisa Bluder and her staff. She would be blown away by the athleticism and enthusiasm of Clark and her teammates. And she would, without a doubt, join in to cheer on the Hawkeyes — hopefully to another win.
But win or lose, my mother might just be most delighted to see what happens after the game when dozens of beaming young girls gather around Clark, markers in hand, each waiting for her to sign their No. 22 jersey — aspiring to their own athletic dreams.
Maybe Mom would even get an autograph herself.
Susan Koch, Ph.D., is a retired chancellor of the University of Illinois at Springfield. She lives in Iowa City, where she and her husband farm and raise purebred Angus cattle.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-caitlin-clark-iowa-basketball-title-ix-20240131-eofjas4cjvb2jktumc4z43kze4-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:57:07Z
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Vermont doctors are asking the Legislature to approve a bill that would dramatically increase access to a new class of weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
Physicians told lawmakers recently that the medications, known as GLP-1s, represent a breakthrough in longstanding efforts to improve the efficacy of weight-loss treatment. But they say patients often can’t access the high-cost drugs because they’re not covered by Medicaid and some private insurers.
“I’m really hopeful that going forward we’re able to use the medications that we know work, that are evidence based, and that have support,” Dr. Ashley Miller, a pediatrician who practices in South Royalton, told members of the Senate Committee on Finance.
The Vermont Medical Society recently approved a resolution calling for the passage of Senate bill 164, which would require private insurers and Medicaid to cover the cost of the medications when prescribed by a doctor.
A 2022 report by the Vermont Department of Health found that 27% of Vermonters live with obesity; the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says adult obesity prevalence has jumped by 37% over the last two decades.
Miller said she’s seen a noticeable increase in the number of young patients with obesity. She said they’re statistically at higher risk of developing conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and heart and liver disease. And she said GLP-1s could substantially improve their health outcomes.
“These kids — 12, 15, 17 — if I can effect change now, I can help teach them better nutrition, I can help get them active, I can prevent mental health issues, and hopefully in the long run decrease their total medical cost,” she told lawmakers.
Clinical and pharmacy teams at The Department of Vermont Health Access convened a working group last year to examine the merits of adding GLP-1s to Vermont’s Medicaid formulary.
“The goal of this group is to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of weight-loss treatment options for the Vermont Medicaid population, to pave the way for personalized and sustainable solutions in obesity management,” Alex McCracken, director of legislative affairs for DVHA, told lawmakers. “We recognize the incredible utility of these medications, and we are excited by the potential benefits for patient care.”
Costs of the change could be significant, however. Preliminary estimates forecast added drug costs could hit $75 million annually if lawmakers approve the legislation.
Health experts say obesity doesn’t always correlate with poor health. But they say expenditures on weight-loss drugs could be offset by preventing chronic conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, that are associated with obesity.
McCracken said that since DVHA hasn’t yet completed its study, it can’t yet offer a position on the legislation.
“While we are excited about the prospects here for patient care, we must also balance resource allocation and ensure we’re acting as responsible stewards of state funds,” he said.
Dr. Kimberley Sampson, an obstetrician and obesity medicine specialist in Bennington, said GLP-1s offer a transformative new approach to weight-loss treatment. She said the medications are most effective when paired with other lifestyle and nutrition interventions. But she said the drugs curate an environment that allow behavioral changes to take hold.
“If you have got a patient that now can listen to the cues of their body, that they now feel satiated, they feel full, that they don’t have those cravings, … we can work on the emotional behavioral eating component. ... We can address the traumas,” she said.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or contact reporter Peter Hirschfeld:
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https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2024-01-31/some-doctors-want-vermont-to-require-insurers-to-cover-weight-loss-drugs-like-ozempic
| 2024-01-31T23:57:08Z
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Parents arrested in case of social media model charged with killing boyfriend
MIAMI (AP) - The parents of a social media model charged with fatally stabbing her live-in boyfriend in South Florida have been arrested in Texas on charges related to the case, jail records show.
Deborah Lyn Clenney, 57, and Kim Dewayne Clenney, 60, were taken into custody Tuesday in Austin, Texas, on an out-of-state warrant, according to the records. A Miami-Dade circuit judge had signed arrest warrants for the couple last week, charging them each with a felony count of unauthorized access to a computer.
Their daughter, 27-year-old Courtney Clenney, faces the same new charge. Jail records show she's been held without bond on a second-degree murder charge since August 2022.
Clenney, who had used the name Courtney Tailor on such platforms as Instagram and OnlyFans, fatally stabbed Christian Obumseli at the couple´s Miami apartment in April 2022 as the culmination of a "tempestuous and combative relationship" that began in November 2020, prosecutors said previously.
Clenney has acknowledged killing Obumseli but said she was acting in self-defense. Her attorney, Frank Prieto, previously said that Obumseli was regularly abusive.
Clenney previously told investigators that Obumseli had pushed her and thrown her to the floor, which prompted her to grab a knife and throw it at Obumseli from about 10 feet (3 meters) away. The medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Obumseli said his wound could not have been caused by a knife thrown from that distance.
Clenney was arrested in Hawaii several days after the stabbing, but investigators believe she gave Obumseli's computer to her parents some time between the killing and her arrest. According to the arrest warrants, detectives recovered text messages where the parents discuss trying to gain access to the computer.
Jail records didn't list attorneys for Clenney's parents, and her attorney didn't respond to new messages seeking comment from The Associated Press.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030813/Parents-arrested-case-social-media-model-charged-killing-boyfriend.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:57:08Z
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FBI Director Wray says China targeting U.S. civilian infrastructure, economic security
FBI Director Christopher Wray painted a stark picture Wednesday during a congressional hearing on Chinese hackers, saying China is targeting critical infrastructure across the U.S. and that not enough attention is being paid to it. Wray also announced that an FBI operation had disrupted hundreds of U.S.-based routers hijacked by a state-sponsored Chinese hacker group known as "Volt Typhoon."
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/fbi-director-wray-says-china-targeting-us-civilian-infrastructure-economic-security-2024-01-31/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:09Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire) DUBLIN, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Horse Feed Global Market Report 2024" has been added to
ResearchAndMarkets's offering.
The comprehensive global horse feed market research report has been recently published, offering key insights into the rapidly evolving equine nutrition industry. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the market's current state and forecasts significant growth, with the industry's valuation expected to increase from $8.16 billion in 2023 to $11.35 billion by 2028, at a
CAGR of 6.9%. This data-rich report underscores the role of an expanding equine population and burgeoning e-commerce in fueling this growth.
The latest findings in the horse feed market highlight the sheer magnitude and dynamism of this sector, underscored by emerging practices such as personalized nutrition and smart feeding technologies.
With a special focus on the increasing demand for high-quality, high-nutrition feeds evidenced by recent industry moves, like the launch of Mare Prepare, the report identifies key trends shaping the market.
Regional Spotlight and Market Leaders
Asia-Pacific's Dominance: As the largest region in the horse feed market as of 2023, Asia-Pacific is a critical focus of the report. Leader Profiles: Profiles of major companies operating in the global horse feed market are featured, providing insight into industry dynamics and strategic developments.
The report segments the market, assessing sales across various categories including molasses, beet pulp, wheat, rice bran, and soybean meal. It not only examines the factors driving and restraining the market but also spotlights emerging trends like the adoption of nutraceuticals and biosecurity measures in equine diets.
Drivers and Trends Influencing the Market
Increased Equine Interest: Growing interest in equestrian sports, racing and recreational activities involving horses contribute to market growth. E-commerce Impact: The rise of online retailing allows for greater consumer access to a diverse range of horse feed options, influencing purchasing decisions increasingly. Innovative Nutritional Solutions : Product innovations enhancing feed quality are heralded as the trendsetters in the industry. Intensity in Product Development: The market observes an intensification of focus on advanced, high-nutrition feeds for different horse categories. Strategic Business Moves: The acquisition of Pryde's EasiFeed by Sunrice Group highlights the strategic endeavors shaping the competitive landscape.
The horse feed market report provides decision-makers, industry players, and stakeholders with a panoramic view of the industry's expected trajectory, informed by thorough research, accurate data, and expert analysis. The report's in-depth regional analysis acknowledges the diverse and specific growth patterns, aiding businesses in strategizing effectively for various markets.
Key highlights of the report include:
Extensive market statistics and growth projections Detailed segmentation and analysis Profiles of leading market entities Emerging market trends and opportunities
The horse feed market continues to offer opportunities for growth and innovation, heralding an era of advanced and targeted nutritional solutions for the equine community worldwide.
Companies Profiled:
Allen And Page Ltd. Baileys Horse Feeds Big V Feeds Inc. Cargill Incorporated Equifirst Private Limited Farmvet Agro Private Limited ForFarmers N.V. HorseTech Nutrition Purina Animal Nutrition LLC Rowen Barbary Ltd. Triple Crown Nutrition Inc. West Feeds Inc. A-One Feed Supplements Ltd. Glanbia PLC. Hubbard Feeds Inc. Jupe Feeds Incorporated Cavalor LLC WES Enterprises L.P. Nutrena World Feeds ADM Animal Nutrition Blue Seal Feeds Buckeye Nutrition Country Acres Feed Farnam Companies Inc. Hallway Feeds Kalmbach Feeds Inc. Kent Nutrition Group LMF Feeds Inc. Manna Pro Products McCauley Bros Inc. Tuffy's Pet Foods Poulin Grain Inc. Progressive Nutrition Semican Inc. Southern States Cooperative Inc. Standlee Premium Western Forage Tribute Equine Nutrition
For more information about this report visit
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https://menafn.com/1107793867/Global-Horse-Feed-Market-Report-2024-2028-Product-Innovations-Enhancing-Feed-Quality-Are-Heralded-As-The-Trendsetters-In-The-Industry
| 2024-01-31T23:57:10Z
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AKRON, Ohio — A popular Akron brewery is getting a second chance. The Brew Kettle now owns Lock 15 brewery. Both beer makers said the deal won't change a thing at the spot near downtown Akron.
Instead, the Brew Kettle's ownership will allow Lock 15 to keep up with the rising costs involved in running a brewery.
Kelly and Kevin Sharp were enjoying a bite and a beer at Lock 15 for lunch on Wednesday.
"We are celebrating our birthday today! I'm not going to say the number," said Kelly Sharp.
The twins picked a spot for their birthday lunch known for its good brews and cozy feel.
"I got a salad with chicken and tried a flight of their beers, so I'm really impressed with the chef and the different beer recipes — very good," said Sharp.
Lock 15 head brewer and general manager Joe Karpinski said running a brewery and restaurant is challenging right now.
"We got to this point because of the troubles in the industry, inflation, labor costs. Drinking habits have changed, eating habits have changed; generally speaking, head counts are down," said Karpinski.
The Ohio Craft Brewer's Association said it's seeing small and independent breweries adapt to the changing beer market. Lock 15 said the acquisition deal is its way of adapting.
"By having more scale, multiple locations, we can pass on all those cost savings to Lock 15," said Bryan Weber, The Brew Kettle president.
Between bar and kitchen staff, Lock 15 has about 47 employees. All of them will keep their jobs, increasing The Brew Kettle's employees to about 280.
"We can offer better benefits for them, in the form of healthcare, 401K, things that smaller one-off breweries and restaurants cannot do for their employees," said Weber.
The Brew Kettle said since the deal, about 25 other Ohio breweries have reached out with interest in a similar buyout to help stay afloat.
The Brew Kettle will also expand Lock 15's footprint, serving up the Akron-brewed beer at nine Brew Kettle locations.
"Maybe they would have never got to Mentor or Amherst, now they're going to be in 5 counties," said Weber.
The deal doesn't change the name, food, beer, location, or the vibes, and that makes regulars happy.
"Brew Kettle is another reputable, local brewery, so I think that any help that Lock 15 can get from somebody who might be a little bit more established, has the name recognition. It would be a real shame if one day we turned around and there weren't those unique little finds that we have no," said Sharp.
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https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/lock-15-under-new-ownership-to-keep-up-with-rising-costs-fewer-customers
| 2024-01-31T23:57:11Z
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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.kasu.org/health-science/2024-01-31/for-chicagos-new-migrants-informal-support-groups-help-ease-the-pain-and-trauma
| 2024-01-31T23:57:11Z
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MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) -- A type of science fair competition was held Wednesday at One World Trade, drawing bright young minds from schools in New York and New Jersey. Their goal: to create a robot that will run up and down the catwalks on the side of the Holland and Lincoln tunnels.
Surrounded by the magnificence of New York's unparalleled infrastructure, young innovators showed off their own feats of engineering.
"Being here with this robot on the 102nd floor of World Trade is kind of immense," said Ray Shurdha, a student at the Bronx High School of Science.
Hosted by the Port Authority at the One World Observatory, 20 regional high school student teams competed Wednesday to design a robotic machine to run on the catwalks in the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels.
Maybe you've seen them. They are small paths alongside the tunnel wall that once were used by first responders but have been defunct since 2011 for safety reasons.
"The best way to think about this is to open it up, get some new ideas, get some fresh ideas, and then inspire ourselves to try some of those out," said Port Authority Director of Innovation Seth Wainer.
Jenna Forte and her team from Bergen County Technical High School invented the "Holl-E" robot.
"It can address a variety of issues like vehicle and mechanical issues, such as if a car runs out of gas or if they need any tools, and this will just really make an efficient driving experience and make it safer for everyone involved," Forte said.
For Cailyn McManus of Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School on Staten Island, being a part of the competition was inspiring in many ways.
"I want to be an example to other women that this is something they can do in the STEM field, because it's a very male-dominated field," McManus said.
The winning team members will receive a $750 cash prize for their school's STEM programming, along with the possibility of their design being adopted by the Port Authority.
The winner of that prize was Bergen Tech, the team that developed the Holl-E robot.
The Port Authority plans to hold this contest next year as well, with a different problem needing to be solved to make sure those that will use the city's infrastructure in the future, have a hand in making it run.
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https://abc7ny.com/the-port-authority-high-school-robot-competition-one-world-trade/14375814/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:13Z
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If you stop by Chicago’s Field Museum and visit the exhibits featuring the native peoples of the Northwest Coast and Arctic, as well as those of the Ancient Americas, you will notice display cases covered over or blocked off so no one can see inside.
As the Tribune’s Christopher Borrelli recently reported, this isn’t the result of a routine renovation or museum improvement plan. This cover-up at one of Chicago’s most-visited institutions is brought to you by federal regulations that went into effect in mid-January.
The new rules have forced the Field to block access to various objects unless it can obtain consent from the descendants of their original native communities to put them on view. Noncompliance can result in civil penalties and, presumably, reputational damage.
The same cover-up is happening at other museums, including the busy American Museum of Natural History in New York and, to various extents, museums in Denver, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Boston. Across the country, museums, universities and even small-town historical societies are scrambling to comply with the new rules by, in some instances, removing long-standing exhibits.
Whenever the government is involved in suppressing information, or covering museum displays, everyone should worry.
An important part of the nation’s history is being erased, at least temporarily, from the very places where many Americans go to experience it.
The far right is often blamed for its own censorship efforts, such as banning books about controversial topics in schools and public libraries. We’ve decried those moves. This time, the lefty crowd running big-city museums has been caught out. For several decades now, museums have in many cases stonewalled modern Native Americans who’ve demanded that human remains and objects they consider sacred be removed from museum collections and returned to tribes. The tough new rules are meant to end the stonewalling.
The trouble is that today’s tribes may have debatable ownership claims to cultural items that museums have held for generations. Just because some people consider something sacred, it doesn’t mean they own it. And in at least some instances, it is impossible to determine who owned a particular object or has the right to take control of native remains, even as the new rules make it tougher for museums to live with ambiguity.
The upshot is the appalling, better-safe-than-sorry approach of putting up curtains and hiding the exhibits.
If you’re wondering how America got to this point, it’s best to start many generations ago, when archaeologists and other collectors started digging up Native Americans and their stuff in the name of what passed at the time for science. By today’s standards, these efforts were as much desecration and thievery as an attempt to understand the nation’s past. The federal government actively encouraged looting as it pushed Native Americans off the land.
One shocking result: More than 100,000 dead bodies have been held in government, university and museum collections, where they were sometimes put on display or subjected to experiments.
In 1990, then-President George H.W. Bush signed into law the bipartisan Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, known as NAGPRA. The law sets out a process for institutions to return human remains and related objects to their rightful owners.
For more than 30 years, things moved slowly. The federal government recognizes nearly 600 Native American tribes. Other organizations represent natives of Alaska and Hawaii and hundreds of tribes exist without federal recognition. Among that diverse group were many opinions about how best to proceed, including different religious restrictions and capabilities.
The law requires institutions to publicly report their holdings and consult with the federally recognized tribes, but some institutions routinely held on to remains and related objects by declaring them “culturally unidentifiable” — meaning no one alive today is clearly entitled to receive them.
Illinois institutions still hold at least 15,500 dead bodies, according to ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that keeps a database. While the Field Museum has made some progress, making about 30% of its holdings available for return, the Illinois State Museum has done the same with just 3% of the more than 7,000 human remains it holds, according to the database, though additional action is underway.
The new rules seek to close the “culturally unidentifiable” loophole and impose a new, five-year deadline to re-inventory and repatriate remains and artifacts. Adding the punitive element shifts power from the institutions to the tribes.
Chicago Tribune Opinion
Before the new rules were enacted, the Field Museum said it had “serious concerns” about them. The museum cited “unrealistic deadlines,” an increased bureaucracy and a minimum $1.2 billion in costs for museums to repatriate the 850,000 “culturally unidentifiable” remains and funerary objects listed in national databases.
Some museum professionals also worry the new rules could elevate tribal mythologies and religious traditions over scientific and historical knowledge, making it more difficult to produce accurate displays. Showing Native Americans always in a light in which they would like to see themselves, a likely consequence here, would be a switch from the insulting myths perpetuated in the past, but obtaining consent to display artifacts should not come at the expense of facts, scholarship and truth.
Some tribes agree with this and others worry about their own capacities and resources to deal with all these artifacts. So the curtains being drawn today could stay closed for a long time.
These new government rules are removing part of the nation’s history from view, and we’re concerned the chilling effect in the future could be even worse.
The Feds need to put our parties together, go back to the drawing board and establish a safe harbor for the study and display of this important part of our nation’s heritage.
Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-editorial-native-american-museums-history-covered-20240131-aeujk4z3ajao5jvp5ehh5gf2oy-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:57:13Z
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The 99th annual East-West Shrine Bowl takes place on Thursday, Feb 1, at 8:00 pm ET. The Shrine Bowl is an opportunity given to senior collegiate athletes to showcase their talents in front of scouts and personnel from teams all across the NFL. This year, the game is being played at the Ford Center, which is the Dallas Cowboys practice facility. The prospects have been practicing throughout the week and talking to team representatives.
One player who is currently turning heads throughout practices is Virginia WR Malik Washington. Washington had an incredible senior season for the Cavaliers in 2023, securing 110 receptions for 1,426 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He consistently used his elite route-running to create separation from opposing defensive backs. Not only was he one of the better route-runners in the country, he is exceptional at turning short gains into big yardage with his elusiveness and ability to make defenders miss after the catch. Not only is Washington good after the catch, but he has reliable hands and good field vision, giving him the ability to find the soft spot in zone coverage.
How was Zay Flowers getting WR1 love last year and nobody is talking about Malik Washington out of Virginia?
— Ej Savage (Boys ‘N the Zone) (@BoysNtheZone) January 27, 2024
This kid has some dawg in him; he’s hungry for the ball, has excellent balance in space, smooth cuts and short area quickness, QB friendly, reliable hands, great short… pic.twitter.com/qqn4QVHiWh
Here are some clips of him showcasing his skills at the Shrine Bowl.
#Virginia WR Malik Washington has been one of the most impressive players so far at the @ShrineBowl. Fluid, sudden and good hands. pic.twitter.com/PqsV4G86VR
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) January 28, 2024
Virginia’s Malik Washington showing why he’s among the best prospects at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Explosive release, vertical speed, and a phenomenal grab. pic.twitter.com/YOOgObr7N2
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) January 27, 2024
Even with all the positive vibes, Washington is currently viewed as a Day 3 pick by many experts because of his size. Washington is currently listed at 5’8”, 194 pounds. His height is viewed as a concern when going to the professional level. Being only 5’8”, it’s possible that Washington could be strictly limited to the slot as a wide receiver in the NFL. However, it could be worth taking a shot on Washington on day three of the draft, as he could provide depth to the Cowboys receiver room with a high-ceiling.
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https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2024/1/31/24054728/dallas-cowboys-malik-washington-wide-receiver-draft-east-west-shrine-bowl-slot-size-practices
| 2024-01-31T23:57:13Z
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Local evening newscast for Wednesday, Jan. 31 By Vermont Public Staff Published January 31, 2024 at 6:35 PM EST Listen • 1:52
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https://www.vermontpublic.org/podcast/local-newscasts/2024-01-31/local-evening-newscast-for-wednesday-jan-31
| 2024-01-31T23:57:15Z
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Wisconsin election officials urge state Supreme Court to reject Phillips' effort to get on ballot
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips sued too late after being left off of Wisconsin's primary ballot and the state Supreme Court should reject his lawsuit, the state elections commission and a special bipartisan panel said Wednesday.
Phillips last week asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court to order that his name be added to the primary ballot in the battleground state after he was excluded by the state´s top Democrats who only put President Joe Biden´s name on the April 2 primary ballot.
The bipartisan presidential selection committee that didn't forward his name in time, as well as the Wisconsin Elections Commission, told the Supreme Court in a joint response on Wednesday that Phillips waited too long.
"Phillips did nothing until the eleventh hour," they said in their response filed with the court.
Since Jan. 2, Phillips know that his name had not been included as a candidate, but he didn't start a petition drive to get on the ballot as the law allows or file a lawsuit until Jan. 26, the filing noted.
The elections commission and presidential selection committee said that ballots must be mailed to military and overseas voters no later than Feb. 15 and to meet that deadline, county clerks need to begin drafting and distributing ballots "as soon as possible."
FILE - Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., speaks at South Carolina's "First in the Nation" dinner at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, S.C., Saturday Jan. 27, 2024. Phillips brought forward a challenge to being left off of Wisconsin's ballot too late and the state Supreme Court should reject his lawsuit, the state elections commission and a special bipartisan panel said Wednesday, Jan. 31. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
They asked the court to reject Phillips' lawsuit by Friday because after that "it will become increasingly difficult each day for the clerks to feasibly get the ballots ready, delivered, and mailed on time."
The joint group said that Phillips' arguments should be dismissed because he had a recourse to gather 8,000 signatures to get on the ballot but didn't. They also argued that Phillips has no standing to bring the challenge because the presidential selection committee has the sole discretion to decide who gets on the ballot.
They further argued that because of that sole discretion given to the committee, the court has no role to play in deciding who it should have placed on the ballot.
Phillips, who represents neighboring Minnesota in Congress, is running a longshot bid to defeat Biden. He is the only Democrat in elected office who is challenging Biden.
In Phillips' lawsuit, he argues that his request to be put on the ballot was illegally ignored by the Wisconsin Presidential Preference Selection Committee, which is comprised of Republican and Democratic leaders who bring forward names for the ballot, and the Wisconsin Election Commission.
Phillips argued that he met the test in Wisconsin law for gaining ballot access that says a candidate must be "generally advocated or recognized in the national news media."
The committee put Biden, former President Donald Trump and five other Republican challengers, including four who have since ceased campaigning, on the ballot.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission traditionally just accepts the recommendations from party leaders that come forward through the presidential selection committee.
Phillips had no comment Wednesday on the response to his lawsuit.
"As we fight Trump´s attacks on democracy we must also be vigilant against efforts by people in our own Party to do the same," Phillips said in a statement Monday. "Voters should choose the nominee of our Party without insiders trying to rig the process for Joe Biden."
Biden easily won last week´s New Hampshire primary as a write-in candidate, with Phillips getting about 20% of the vote. Phillips has been certified to appear on the primary ballot in other states.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030815/Wisconsin-election-officials-urge-state-Supreme-Court-reject-Phillips-effort-ballot.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:57:15Z
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Federal Reserve to announce decision on interest rates
The Federal Reserve is holding its first rate meeting of the year Wednesday, with interest rates expected to be left unchanged. Jeanna Smialek, Federal Reserve and economy reporter for The New York Times, joined CBS News with more insight on the Fed's decision-making process.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/federal-reserve-to-announce-decision-on-interest-rates/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:15Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire) TORONTO, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke, joined Robert Peterman, Chief Commercial Officer, Toronto Stock Exchange, to close the market and celebrate the Kahnawà:ke Sovereign Wealth Fund.
The Mohawk Council of
Kahnawà:ke (MCK) is the organization that provides governmental, administrative, and operational services to the community of Kahnawà:ke. The Kahnawà:ke Sovereign Wealth Fund was created to build substantial wealth for future generations.
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The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke closes the Market
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https://menafn.com/1107793868/The-Mohawk-Council-Of-Kahnawa%CC%80Ke-Closes-The-Market
| 2024-01-31T23:57:16Z
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CLEVELAND — Ohio’s first year of sports betting is officially in the books, with more than $7.6 billion wagered in the first 12 months.
"Outside of New York, that's the fastest launch we've seen in any state,” said David Forman, V.P. of Research with the American Gaming Association, the national trade association representing the nation's gambling industry.
The amount wagered was down 4% from November, which was surprising, given the calendar. December had not only an extra day, it was an NFL Sunday. But even though the wagers were down slightly for the month, the amount of taxable revenue those bets generated was actually 28% higher than November. Such is the up-and-down nature of sports betting.
"Sports betting is a little different than a lot of other casino games,” said Forman. “The math at the blackjack table or a slot machine is absolutely always going to favor the house over the long run and sports betting is going to favor the house over the long run too, but in the short run, sometimes luck favors the players."
While much was made of the glitzy sports books when they opened a year ago, the reality is in Ohio, online remains king, with 97% of wagers coming through mobile or online devices. FanDuel accounted for 43% of bets; DraftKings was right behind with 30%. All others were in the single digits.
The ease of betting on sports online is also why a number of those smaller sports books, like Caesars in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, had several months where they actually paid out in bets more than they took in in wagers. That's also why, across the country, the gambling market is still dominated by slots and table games.
"Nationally this year, sports betting will probably generate about $10 or $11 billion for gaming companies where the total gaming market of the U.S. with slot machines, blackjack tables and all of that is going to come in somewhere at probably $100 to $110 billion dollars,” Forman said.
Ohio gamblers are showing they have money for both as the state's four casinos finished 2023 with a new record of over a billion dollars in total revenue for the year, including a December record of $91.7 million after all bets were paid.
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https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/ohioans-wager-more-than-7-6-billion-in-sports-bettings-first-year
| 2024-01-31T23:57:17Z
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Top tech CEOs were being grilled in Washington by lawmakers, who said the companies have failed to protect children from being subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation on their websites.
The executives include Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, X's Linda Yaccarino and TikTok's Shou Zi Chew, among others.
The social media apps have "given predators powerful new tools to exploit children," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., at the kickoff of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday. He noted that the powerful apps "have changed the way we live, work and play."
The hearing is one of several over the past year as pressure builds for federal regulators to do more to hold tech companies accountable for children's safety online. Lawmakers have spoken out, have written letters to the CEOs and are pushing five separate bills that cover social media and child safety.
States have also targeted the social media companies. Last year, 13 states passed laws to protect kids on social media, and more states are expected to do the same.
"You have blood on your hands," Sen. Lindsey Graham tells Zuckerberg
Of the companies testifying on Wednesday, Meta has especially come under fire for allegedly creating a toxic environment for children. In October, a group of more than 40 states sued the company for allegedly designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive.
Separately, New Mexico's attorney general filed another suit against Meta, alleging it fails to remove child sexual abuse material from its platforms and also makes it easy for adults to solicit minors.
That lawsuit came after a Facebook whistleblower, Arturo Bejar, testified before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee in November. Based on data he collected while working at Facebook, he said he found that 24% of teens had received unwanted sexual advances. And when harmful posts are reported, he said, only 2% are taken down.
During Wednesday's hearing, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., laid into Zuckerberg.
"Mr. Zuckerberg," Graham began, "you have blood on your hands. You have a product that's killing people."
The packed audience, which included parents, survivors and child advocates, erupted in applause.
Zuckerberg has testified several times before members of the Senate, and he voluntarily agreed to speak again on Wednesday. In his opening statement, he said, "Keeping young people safe online has been a challenge since the internet began."
"No matter how much we invest or how effective our tools are, there's always more to learn and more improvements to make," Zuckerberg added.
Internal emails show Zuckerberg declined to hire staff to protect children online
In the lead-up to Wednesday's hearing, Meta rolled out new tools geared toward protecting kids online. Those include barring children under age 18 from seeing posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. The company says it has around 40,000 people working on safety and security issues.
But just hours before the hearing began, lawmakers released 90 pages of internal emails that showed Meta has refused to fully commit to improving child safety on its platforms. At one point in 2021, the emails show, Zuckerberg declined a proposal to hire 45 new staff members dedicated to children's well-being.
The emails show top executives at Meta discussing budget and head count, as well as the fact that if they didn't address the issue they'd face increased regulatory risk and external criticism.
"This work & narrative has of course become a more critical focal point for policymakers, regulators et al in recent weeks — this is not likely to diminish going forward," Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs wrote in a 2021 email to Zuckerberg.
The internal emails were produced in response to a letter that Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., sent to Meta in November.
Five federal bills introduced
Of the other executives to testify, TikTok's Chew has also appeared before Congresslast year, but this is the first time lawmakers have grilled X's Yaccarino and the two other CEOs: Snap's Evan Spiegel and Discord's Jason Citron. Chew volunteered to speak on Wednesday, but Yaccarino, Spiegel and Citron agreed only after being subpoenaed.
Snap has come out as the sole social media company to throw its support behind the Kids Online Safety Act, which is one of the bills that lawmakers are hoping to bring to the Senate floor this year. If passed, it would hold tech companies accountable for feeding teens toxic content.
"Many of the largest and most successful internet companies today were born here in the United States of America, and we must lead not only in technical innovation but also in smart regulation," Snap's Spiegel said in his opening remarks on Wednesday.
Throughout the hearing, several of the senators tried to get the tech CEOs to agree to back legislation. All of the executives said more had to be done and they agree with regulation, but besides Spiegel, none said they'd fully back one of the bills.
At one point Senator Chris Coons, D-Del., tried to get the CEOs to support legislation he and several other senators introduced, the Platform Accountability and Transparency Act.
"Is there any one of you willing to say now that you support this bill?" Coons asked the CEOs.
After the question didn't elicit a response, he followed up with: "Mr. Chairman, let the record reflect a yawning silence from the leaders of the social media platforms."
Child safety groups and parents joined lawmakers for several press conferences on Wednesday. They echoed the senators' demands that more has to be done to protect kids online.
"Parents used to worry about where their kids were at 10 p.m.," said Imran Ahmed, CEO and founder of the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate. "These days, they may be physically present, but we don't know who they're spending time with online and what they're being exposed to every day."
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.kasu.org/money-economy/2024-01-31/you-have-blood-on-your-hands-senator-tells-mark-zuckerberg-for-failing-kids-online
| 2024-01-31T23:57:18Z
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The NBA draft is moving to a two-day format for the first time.
The league on Wednesday announced the change, which had been in the works for several months. Round 1 of this year’s draft will be on Wednesday, June 26, at the Barclays Center in New York. Round 2 will follow on June 27 at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York.
Last year’s draft — with Victor Wembanyama going No. 1 to the San Antonio Spurs — lasted nearly five hours and ended at about 12:45 a.m. Eastern, one of the primary reasons for stretching it over two days.
The time between picks in the first round will remain five minutes. It will increase from two minutes to four in the second round.
Teams have a slew of business to tend to in the hours after the draft, such as reaching agreements with undrafted free agents and finding players to fill summer league rosters. The league also expects that having draft broadcasts end at a more reasonable hour will be more viewer-friendly.
The June 26 start date for the draft is three days after Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Finals are scheduled to begin June 6.
This season’s draft order will be finalized at the draft lottery on May 12. That’s followed by the draft combine in Chicago, scheduled this year for May 13-19 under new rules.
All prospects who are invited by the NBA must attend the combine — where they’ll have to participate in certain skills evaluation, height and wingspan measurements, medical examinations, team interviews, media sessions and more — in order to be eligible for the draft. Prospects will not be required to take part in scrimmage games that are part of the combine’s offerings.
This is a significant change from past years, when many top draft picks chose to skip the combine entirely.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-nba-draft-new-format-20240131-ougc32grareaxgyns2dr4lf7sm-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:57:20Z
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House speaker criticizes Biden administration on border amid Mayorkas impeachment efforts
The U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority, will debate and vote on articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas next week. The House Homeland Security Committee voted to advance the articles after a meeting that lasted over 15 hours Tuesday. CBS News' Camilo Montoya-Galvez reports.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/house-speaker-criticizes-biden-administration-on-border-amid-mayorkas-impeachment-efforts/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:21Z
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Premier League powers Liverpool and Man City flash deep squads in big wins to fire up title race
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) - Liverpool and Manchester City look primed and ready for another heavyweight clash for the Premier League title.
Liverpool routed Chelsea 4-1 on Wednesday to restore a five-point lead for Jürgen Klopp´s team atop the table before going to third-placed Arsenal this weekend.
City eased to a 3-1 win over Burnley and moved up again to second, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, and having played a game fewer than its two rivals.
With their fourth straight wins, the Premier League powers showcased deep squads, fast-improving young stars and, for City, the tentative return of feared forward Erling Haaland after nearly two months out injured.
Haaland came off the bench with City comfortably in a three-goal lead as Julián Álvarez again stepped up to lead the attack with two goals. The second was created by Kevin De Bruyne making his first start in the Premier League since August.
For Liverpool, Diogo Jota again covered for the absence of Mohamed Salah and opened the scoring early against a poor Chelsea taking a pass from the impressive Conor Bradley.
Liverpool's Luis Diaz celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea, at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Jan.31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Bradley, an unheralded 20-year-old right-back filling in for Trent Alexander-Arnold, then scored his first goal for the club before assisting again for Dominik Szoboszlai to effectively seal the win in the 65th.
Liverpool had the luxury of forward Darwin Núñez missing a first-half penalty, one of a Premier League record four times one player struck the frame of the goal in a game.
Man City edged Liverpool in epic duels for the title in 2019 and 2022, and north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham are also currently in this race.
Tottenham scored three goals in eight second-half minutes to beat Brentford 3-2 and rise to fourth, trailing Liverpool by eight points.
CUP FINAL REHEARSAL
Liverpool and Chelsea meet again in the League Cup final on Feb. 25.
Maybe this time there will be a winner at Wembley Stadium within 90 minutes after the teams on Wednesday ended their streak of seven straight draws in games between them for the past 2½ years.
Two of those seven were the English domestic cup finals in the 2021-22 season. Both the League Cup and FA Cup finals ended 0-0 before Liverpool won both penalty shootouts.
Just like two years ago, Liverpool is aiming for an unprecedented quadruple trophy sweep of each competition it entered.
Also like two years ago, the Premier League shapes up as the toughest to win with three-time defending champion Man City starting another of its mid-season surges.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
On the day he turned 24, Julián Álvarez scored twice in the first 22 minutes to set Manchester City on its way to an easy win over Burnley. Rodri extended the lead 30 seconds after the second-half restart.
Álvarez now has six goals in his last five games to help the English, European and world champion manage the absence through injury of Erling Haaland.
The Argentina forward´s scoring run started with two goals in a 4-0 win over Fluminense in the Club World Cup final on Dec. 22.
That title success capped a week in the Saudi Arabia sunshine that seemed to reset City´s league campaign after a run of dropped points because of uncharacteristically conceding late goals.
City has won six straight since coming home from Jeddah and also now has Haaland back in action. The Norwegian, who has 19 goals in all competitions this season, came on in the 71st minute after missing six Premier League games and the Club World Cup.
Haaland had shooting chances but the only further goal was Ameen Al-Dakhil´s consolation for Burnley in stoppage time.
TITLE-CHASING TOTTENHAM?
Tottenham cannot be counted out just yet. Whatever Premier League road that coach Ange Postecoglou´s team takes, it should be one of the most watchable on its journey.
After a poor first half at home to Brentford, Tottenham burst into a 3-1 lead within 11 minutes of the second half.
Destiny Udogie leveled in the 48th, one minute before Brennan Johnson scored the go-ahead goal. Richarlison scored what proved the decisive goal in the 56th.
Ivan Toney cut the lead scoring for the second straight game since his return from an eight-month ban for betting violations.
A testy edge was created by Brentford forward Neal Maupay appearing to mock the dart-throwing goal celebration favored by Tottenham playmaker James Maddison after scoring in the first half.
Maddison confronted Maupay in the center circle and the gesture was later made by Johnson and Richarlison when Tottenham led.
"I just said to (Maupay) he probably hasn´t scored enough goals of his own over the last few years to have his own celebration," Maddison said, "so he probably had to copy mine."
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola, left, speaks to Manchester City's Erling Haaland during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Julian Alvarez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Liverpool's Diogo Jota scores his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea, at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Jan.31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea, at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Jan.31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Manchester City's Rodrigo celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland jumps into the goal netting during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Burnley's head coach Vincent Kompany and Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola chat before the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Liverpool's Conor Bradley scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea, at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Jan.31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Tottenham's Richarlison, right, celebrates after he scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Brentford's Ivan Toney fails to score during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Liverpool supporters wave flags during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea, at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Jan.31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp grimaces during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea, at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Jan.31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Conor Bradley, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea, at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Jan.31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Luis Diaz scores his side's fourth goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea, at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Jan.31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030817/Premier-League-powers-Liverpool-Man-City-flash-deep-squads-big-wins-fire-title-race.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:57:21Z
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(MENAFN- EIN Presswire)
We've reimagined every component of the Summit Series to create an e-bike that doesn't just meet expectations-it surpasses them.” - Dan Ennis, Head of Design at Forest Bikes
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES, January 31, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- Forest Bikes is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the Forest Summit Series, the latest in electric bike innovation, exclusively on Indiegogo . This series promises a transformative off-road experience with three distinct frame styles to suit every adventurer's needs: the Full Suspension (FS) Model, the Hard Tail (HT) Model, and the Step Thru (ST) Model.
Earlybird Access to Trailblazing E-Bike Technology
Eager enthusiasts are encouraged to sign up for Forest Bikes' email list to gain exclusive earlybird access to the Indiegogo campaign, securing a special pre-order price and ensuring they're among the first to receive these trailblazing e-bikes. With a $300 deposit, the first 50 customers will be guaranteed to be in the first shipment, setting the stage for an unprecedented riding season this summer.
Direct to Consumer, Unmatched Quality
Emphasizing its direct-to-consumer model, Forest Bikes is committed to delivering premium-quality e-bikes at a fraction of the cost. This approach not only offers exceptional value but also ensures that high-performance e-biking is accessible to a broader community of cycling enthusiasts.
A Testament to Craftsmanship and Innovation
After nearly three years of meticulous design, development, and rigorous testing, Forest Bikes stands proud to present e-bikes that blend uncompromising quality with state-of-the-art technology. At the heart of the Summit Series is the powerful Bafang M620 Ultra mid-drive motor, paired with a high capacity, UL-certified battery, and advanced Shimano Deore gearing system.
Special Indiegogo Campaign Perks
To further sweeten the deal, early backers who support the campaign on the first day will receive exclusive perks, including a free rear rack and front/rear lights, with their $300 deposit. This is in addition to the promise of being in the first wave of deliveries.
Performance, Safety, and Connectivity
The Summit Series doesn't just promise performance; it also ensures rider safety and convenience with features like the Tektro Orion 745 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes and the innovative DP C010 full-color display with Bluetooth connectivity and app integration for a customized riding experience.
Personalization and Accessories
Understanding that personalization is key, Forest Bikes has engineered the Summit Series with multiple water bottle bosses for a range of optional accessories, along with custom-made accessory options like bolt-on rear racks and aftermarket front suspension fork upgrades.
Ready to Roll: Join the Movement
With the frames fully designed and manufacturing facilities on standby, Forest Bikes is poised to revolutionize the e-bike industry. The Indiegogo campaign offers these e-bikes at an exclusive price of $2,499 for the ST and HT models and $2,799 for the FS model.
Prospective riders are invited to be a part of this pivotal moment in e-bike evolution by signing up for the email list today. For more information or to discuss the best model for your adventures, the Forest Bikes team is available at 828-676-3252.
About Forest Bikes
Forest Bikes, a pioneer in electric bike technology, has been at the forefront of off-road e-bike design and innovation. With a focus on quality, performance, and rider experience, Forest Bikes continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in the world of e-biking.
Eric Crews
Forest Bikes
+1 828-676-3252
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Forest Summit Series - Launch Video
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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/1107793869/Forest-Bikes-Announces-The-Upcoming-Launch-Of-The-Bafang-M620-Powered-Summit-Series-Electric-Bikes-On-Indiegogo
| 2024-01-31T23:57:22Z
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Americans have mixed reactions when it comes to single-use plastic bag bans. Some people don't mind having a ban in place because they can carry more groceries in a reusable tote. But some people hate it because they find having to remember that tote every time they go to the grocery store, inconvenient.
But no matter your stance on plastic bag bans, there's new research showing they are making a difference for the environment.
The nonprofit Environment America looked at plastic bag numbers in five locations with bans; New Jersey, Vermont, Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, and Santa Barbra, CA.
Altogether, just these five cities and states have prevented the use of 6 billion single-use plastic bags per year. That's enough bags to wrap around the Earth 42 times.
In all, there are more than 500 cities and 12 states that ban single-use plastic bags.
"It has a huge impact on the environment, you know. Plastic bags are one of the most wasteful, single-use plastic products. They're really rarely reused, they're really difficult to recycle, and the bottom line is that we just need to be reducing the plastics that we truly don't need," said Celeste Meiffren-Swango with Environment America.
Along with this new research, the nonprofit has also created an interactive tool so you can see what a plastic bag ban is doing, or would do, for your city or state.
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https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/national/no-matter-your-stance-on-plastic-bag-bans-research-shows-theyre-working-for-the-environment
| 2024-01-31T23:57:23Z
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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.kasu.org/politics/2024-01-31/senate-gop-split-threatens-bipartisan-border-deal-as-trump-looms-large
| 2024-01-31T23:57:24Z
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Donations poured in Wednesday to replace a destroyed statue of Jackie Robinson on what would have been the 105th birthday of the player to break Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
The total raised through just one online fundraiser surpassed $140,000, which is far in excess of the estimated $75,000 value of the bronze statue that was cut from its base last week at a park in Wichita, Kan. Police are searching for those responsible.
Only the statue’s feet were left at McAdams Park, where about 600 children play in a youth baseball league called League 42 — named after Robinson’ s uniform number with the Brooklyn Dodgers — with whom he broke the MLB color barrier in 1947.
Fire crews found burned remnants of the statue Tuesday while responding to a trash-can fire at another park about 7 miles away. A truck believed to be used in the theft previously was found abandoned, and police said the theft was captured on surveillance video.
Bob Lutz, executive director of the Little League nonprofit that commissioned the sculpture, said the money raised also could enhance some of its programming and facilities. In April, the group opened the Leslie Rudd Learning Center, which includes an indoor baseball facility and a learning lab.
“We’re not just baseball,” Lutz said. “We have after-school education, enrichment and tutoring.”
One of the largest donations was a $10,000 pledge from an anonymous former MLB player who won a World Series. Wichita police Chief Joe Sullivan, who announced the donation over the weekend, has urged anyone involved in the theft to surrender and vowed arrests were imminent.
Chicago Tribune Sports
“The community, along with the business community and the nation as a whole, have demonstrated an incredible outpouring of support,” Sullivan said in a statement Wednesday. “This effort highlights the kindness of the people and their determination to rebuild what was taken away from our community.”
Lutz, whose friend, the artist John Parsons, made the statue before his death, said the mold is still viable and anticipated that a replacement can be erected within a matter of months.
“We value what it represents,” he said. “It’s important that our 600 kids understand what it represents. And we make every effort to educate our kids about the role that Jackie Robinson played in life and civil rights, his life beyond sports. He’s the absolute best role model you could imagine.”
League 42 drew attention to Robinson’s birthday Wednesday in a Facebook post, noting “his legacy will hold up forever” and asking for donations.
Robinson played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers, paving the way for generations of Black American ballplayers. He’s considered not only a sports legend but also a civil rights icon. Robinson died in 1972.
Lutz said that the league appeals to “all kids but especially to kids of color” and that the connection to Robinson resonated.
“We can’t imagine being named League 42 without a Jackie Robinson statue in our park,” he said. “It was a no-brainer when we went about trying to name our league. And the name League 42 came up. It was like lightning and struck. We knew we had our name.”
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-jackie-robinson-statue-donations-20240131-qxgtctyclre3zg5oxpd2qjd6ja-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:57:26Z
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Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina
89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach
90.3 WKNS Kinston 88.5 WHYC Swan Quarter 89.9 W210CF Greenville
NPR National Correspondent Debbie Elliott can be heard telling stories from her native South. She covers the latest news and politics, and is attuned to the region's rich culture and history.
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https://www.publicradioeast.org/2024-01-31/a-look-from-maui-six-months-after-devastating-wildfires
| 2024-01-31T23:57:26Z
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An ethics complaint has been filed against Sen. Debbie Mayfield questioning the origin of more than $1 million worth of stock. Disclosures show she owns substantial holdings in an electric car company founded by her stepson, but it’s unclear how she obtained the assets.
A formal complaint, sent to the Florida Commission on Ethics, raises questions about the Indialantic Republican’s shares of Rivian Automotive. Mayfield’s 2021 financial disclosure indicated she owned 13,164 shares of the stock in a Morgan Stanley brokerage account and another 20 shares with a Fidelity Investments account. Collectively, the assets were valued around almost $1.37 million at the time of the filing.
Mayfield brushed off the complaint. “I find it interesting that shortly after I endorse President (Donald) Trump a baseless complaint is filed against me,” she said in a statement to Florida Politics.
Rivian was founded by Melbourne native R.J. Scaringe in 2009 as Mainstream Motors. He remains CEO. Scaringe is the son of Mainstream Engineering founder Robert Scaringe, who married Mayfield in 2015.
There’s no mention of the stock in Mayfield’s 2020 disclosures, nor of any personal stake in Rivian. That’s true for all financial disclosures she has filed dating back to 2016. The company went public in November 2021, according to City Index, initially releasing 153 million shares at $78 per share.
Outside of real estate holdings, the only assets the state Senator listed that year were two bank accounts with about $145,000. An addendum states Mayfield holds no additional assets.
A spokesperson for Mayfield said the stock was purchased by Robert Scaringe. Florida doesn’t require state legislators to disclose their spouse’s income. But the stock became part of a joint brokerage account for Mayfield and Scaringe, requiring it to be included in disclosures from that point.
The disclosures offer no immediate explanation of how more than $1 million worth of additional stocks ended up in Mayfield’s possession a year after she reported no ownership.
The cost for that many shares of Rivian, even if purchased at the initial $78 price, would still have run close to $1.03 million.
Of note, Mayfield’s 2021 disclosures originally misstated the number of shares in the stock she owned, and a revision was filed. But the ethics complaint said there remains a lack of any explanation of the stocks’ origin.
“There is no disputing the possibility that there is some rational explanation for the discrepancy,” the complaint reads, “however, the most logical explanation and the easiest one, is that there were additional omissions beyond the typographical error.”
When Rivian went public, it sparked tremendous investor interest. The price of the stock after its introduction climbed to nearly $101 a share immediately, according to The Wall Street Journal, which at the time identified that as the fastest price surge for an IPO since 2014.
But prices dropped significantly in 2022 following a Ford sell-off, according to TechCrunch, and gradually dwindled after that. As of midday on Jan. 31, the stock was trading at around $16 a share.
Mayfield’s 2022 financial disclosure, reflecting her assets as of last June, shows the price of her Rivian assets took a hit as well. She lists the value of her Rivian stocks at less than $275,000. The forms also show she now owns two Rivian R1T pickup trucks valued at $95,000 apiece. Her latest disclosures do not list the number of shares she still owns.
Of note, Robert Scaringe has brokered arrangements with state entities in the past, and boasts on his LinkedIn page that he “worked successfully with Rivian Automotive and Florida Tech to create an automotive engineering program at Florida Tech.”
He was also listed as one of three original directors for the company when it obtained a $2 million grant from the Florida Energy and Climate Commission to help with startup costs in 2010. But while R.J. Scaringe remains Rivian’s CEO and Chair of its Board of Directors, Robert Scaringe does not currently sit on the Board.
Rivian’s company headquarters has since relocated to Irvine, California.
Mayfield’s vote as a Representative in favor of that grant was later used to criticize her during her 2016 run for Senate following her marriage.
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https://floridapolitics.com/archives/656258-debbie-mayfield-faces-complaint-after-reporting-1m-in-previously-undisclosed-stocks-in-stepsons-company/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:26Z
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JinkoSolar has released its 2023 earnings forecast, with expectations for a net profit of CNY 7.25 billion to CNY 7.95 billion for the full year, based on preliminary calculations. This would mark a year-on-year increase of 146.92% to 170.76%. It said it also expects a net profit of CNY 895.7 million to CNY 1,595 million for the fourth quarter, down slightly from the preceding three-month period. The company said it see rising demand for N-type products.
Arctech Solar said it expects a net profit of CNY 354 million for 2023, up sharply from the preceding year. It attributed its strong performance to robust demand in the global market for ground-mounted PV plants. As of Dec. 31, 2023, its outstanding orders stood at roughly CNY 4.7 billion, which includes CNY 3.6 billion of orders for tracking systems and CNY 1 billion for fixed racks.
Popular content
Wanhua Chemical has partnered with FIRST and Trina Solar to set up a new joint venture, Yantai Wanxu New Materials Co. The companies aim to produce and operate polyolefin elastomer (POE) adhesive films for N-type module products. Wanhua Chemical plans to build 800,000 metric tons (MT) of POE capacity, managed by the joint venture. It said the goal is to establish reliable partnerships with downstream customers for consistent and stable POE product shipments.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
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https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/01/31/chinese-pv-industry-brief-jinkosolar-arctech-unveil-2023-earnings-projections/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:26Z
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Impeachment articles against DHS Secretary Mayorkas go to full House
A committee vote along party lines on Tuesday advanced a Republican effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the full House, with the GOP accusing him of failing to limit immigration at the southern border. The vote came after Republican House leaders suggested they would block an immigration measure being negotiated in the Senate. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane reports on what will continue to be a busy week on Capitol Hill.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/impeachment-articles-against-dhs-secretary-mayorkas-go-to-full-house/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:27Z
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(MENAFN- EIN Presswire)
Brenda Boral - WBENC 2024 Women's Business Enterprise Star
2024 WBENC WBE Stars Group Shot
Brenda Boral of Boral Agency honored as 2024 Women's Business Enterprise Star by WBENC, the nation's top recognition for excellence among women-owned businesses
Being recognized as a 2024 Women's Business Enterprise Star by WBENC and WBEA is an incredible honor. Our WBENC Certification has opened countless opportunities.” - Brenda BoralHOUSTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES, January 31, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- Brenda Boral, Co-Founder of Boral Agency, has been recognized as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) Star by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation's largest certifier of women-owned businesses and a leader in women's business development.
The WBE Star Award is the nation's top recognition for excellence among women-owned businesses. It honors 14 women from across the country, each representing one of the 14 Regional Partner Organizations. These women are leaders in their local business communities and respective fields.
Brenda Boral will receive this honor during the 2024 WBENC National Conference. This event is the largest of its kind for women-owned business entrepreneurs and business leaders, and will take place from March 19-22, 2024, in Denver, Colorado.
Known for her exceptional leadership and innovative prowess, Brenda Boral embodies the spirit of "AMPLIFY." She has grown her business, expanded into new markets, and fostered talent within her organization.
Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of WBENC, said,“This year, we are celebrating WBEs who embody the spirit of 'AMPLIFY' by growing their businesses, strengthening challenging areas, and expanding into new products, services, or markets. Brenda Boral and Boral Agency are inspirations to the entire WBENC network.”
Recognition as a 2024 Women's Business Enterprise Star by WBENC and her Regional Partner Organization, the Women's Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA), is a testament to Brenda's remarkable achievements.
Brenda Boral's entrepreneurial journey was influenced by her mother, who successfully ran a tutoring business. Brenda's passion for marketing was ignited at the Private University of Santa Cruz, Bolivia (UPSA), where she earned a scholarship and worked in the Marketing Department.
She rose to the position of Assistant Director of Marketing, managing a team of 15.
During her tenure, Brenda launched the Global MBA program in Bolivia, in partnership with Thunderbird School of Global Management and Tecnológico de Monterrey.
Before relocating to Houston, Brenda was recognized as a top producer for the Global MBA in Bolivia by Thunderbird School of Global Management.
In 2011, Brenda and her sister, Patricia Boral, embarked on a business venture, creating Boral Agency.
The full service digital marketing agency has since transformed into a thriving force in the global marketing landscape, offering a range of digital marketing services to clients across various industries, including technology, manufacturing, construction, and engineering.
Expressing her gratitude, Brenda Boral said,“Being recognized as a 2024 Women's Business Enterprise Star by WBENC and WBEA is an incredible honor. Our WBENC Certification has opened countless opportunities. I encourage all current WBEs and other women-owned small businesses to engage with the WBENC network.”
Brenda Boral was selected for this national honor by WBEA, one of the 14 RPOs that certify WBEs and provide educational and business development opportunities.
Learn more about the WBE Star Award at and the WBENC National Conference at .
Visit Boral Agency's website to learn more about Brenda's business at boralagency .
About WBENC:
WBENC is the nation's leading advocate for women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, supported by over 540 Corporate Members. WBENC provides professional development, business development, and outreach opportunities for more than 18,000 WBENC-Certified women-owned businesses, Corporate and Government Members, and the national WBENC network. In partnership with 14 Regional Partner Organizations (RPOs), WBENC is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States.
About Boral Agency:
Boral Agency is a diverse and innovative full-service digital marketing agency with a global reach. The agency, known for its creativity, collaboration, and focus on tangible results, specializes in digital marketing. Boral Agency offers a full range of digital marketing services, including website design, UX/UI design, content writing, video marketing, online advertising, and corporate marketing training.
Mariel Bouffier
Boral Agency
email us here
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Meet Boral Agency
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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/1107793870/Brenda-Boral-Honored-As-A2024-Womens-Business-Enterprise-Star-By-The-Womens-Business-Enterprise-National-Council
| 2024-01-31T23:57:28Z
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Ruling moves University of Idaho closer toward controversial bid to acquire University of Phoenix
The University of Idaho said Wednesday it would move forward with its planned acquisition of the for-profit University of Phoenix for nearly $700 million after a judge dismissed the state attorney general's lawsuit alleging the deal was done in violation of an open meetings law.
Attorney General Raúl Labrador failed to prove the Board of Regents violated Idaho´s Open Meetings Law when considering the transaction, an Idaho judge ruled Tuesday in dismissing Labrador's lawsuit.
The university hailed the decision as a victory for both the board's executive session practices and for access to higher education in Idaho. The lawsuit has been one of the biggest impediments to closing the deal.
"We look forward to completing our affiliation with the University of Phoenix in the coming months and bringing this unique opportunity to the citizens of Idaho," said a statement from university spokesperson Jodi Walker. "Higher education has never been more important than now as we work to meet the workforce needs of our state."
The deal is the latest attempt by troubled for-profit schools to cleanse their reputations after investigations into deceptive practices and face less regulation as nonprofits, said David Halperin, a Washington, D.C., attorney and longtime critic of the for-profit college industry.
"Why Idaho wants to buy is a little harder to understand," he said.
FILE - Icicles hang from a street sign at the University of Idaho, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in Moscow, Idaho. A judge in Idaho has rejected an open meetings lawsuit late Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, against the State Board of Education, a ruling that could mean a major breakthrough for the University of Idaho's controversial bid to purchase the University of Phoenix, a private online school, for nearly $700 million. (Geoff Crimmins/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP)
During a meeting open to the public last year, the board unanimously voted to approve the creation of a not-for-profit entity that will acquire the operations of the University of Phoenix. In other, closed-door discussions, the board "reasonably believed" it was in competition with one or more public agencies in other states to acquire the University of Phoenix, which allowed for an executive session, District Judge Jason Scott's ruling said.
The ruling "will lead to far less government transparency and accountability," Labrador said in a statement Wednesday. "That is bad for Idaho citizens, and it defies the entire purpose of the law. We are looking closely at all appellate options to ensure Idaho´s Open Meetings Law remains a bulwark for openness and government accountability."
Labrador complained the board kept details of the deal secret until the last moment and decided to purchase the University of Phoenix despite fines for deceptive and unfair practices.
The University of Phoenix was among the for-profit schools involved in a 2022 settlement to cancel federal student debt for former students who applied for debt cancellation because of alleged misconduct by the schools.
In 2019, the University of Phoenix reached a record $191 million settlement to resolve Federal Trade Commission charges that the institution used deceptive advertisements that falsely touted its relationships and job opportunities with companies such as AT&T, Microsoft and the American Red Cross.
The University of Idaho has hailed the deal as expanding educational access to adult learners who seek online programs: "University of Phoenix serves primarily working adults. U of I will remain Idaho´s land-grant, residential university serving primarily traditional learners."
The two will retain a separate operational structure. Each will have its own president and leadership team, the University of Idaho said.
Representatives for the University of Phoenix didn't immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment Wednesday.
A deputy attorney general advising the board had approved the executive sessions as compliant with Idaho´s Open Meeting Law, the judge's ruling noted.
State Board President Linda Clark said they will seek payment of legal fees by the attorney general's office.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030825/Ruling-moves-University-Idaho-closer-controversial-bid-acquire-University-Phoenix.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:57:28Z
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Oregon officials have announced a 90-day state of emergency in Portland due to a serious public health and safety crisis linked to the widespread use of fentanyl.
“Our country and our state have never seen a drug this deadly and addictive, and all are grappling with how to respond,” Gov. Tina Kotek said in a press release Tuesday. “The Chair, the Mayor, and I recognize the need to act with urgency and unity across our public health and community safety systems to make a dent in this crisis. We are all in this together. The next 90 days will yield unprecedented collaboration and focused resources targeting fentanyl and provide a roadmap for next steps.”
The declaration will allow the city, state, and county to use available resources from human services, state police, health authorities, and emergency departments to set up a command center in Central City, which is composed of 10 districts, to serve as the focal point for daily communication, coordination, and efforts to address the fentanyl crisis.
“The Command Center will serve to refocus existing resources. It will also share and publicly report data on the impacts of fentanyl in downtown, use data to identify and respond to acute needs and gaps in service, identify any specific resources necessary to address gaps, and establish a system to coordinate that can be sustained beyond the 90-day startup period,” the press release notes.
While the state’s health department will launch educational campaigns across town to promote drug prevention and treatment, the county will “distribute and train partners on the use of Narcan and issue reports on overdose data.”
The fentanyl crisis has led to a staggering surge in fatalities in Oregon, as reported by health authorities. In 2022, the total number of unintentional opioid overdose deaths reached a grim milestone of 956. Although data for 2023 is still being compiled, by June, the toll from unintentional overdoses had already reached 628, and it is anticipated to surpass 1,250 once all the data is collected, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
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https://www.news5cleveland.com/portland-under-90-day-state-of-emergency-to-tackle-fentanyl-crisis
| 2024-01-31T23:57:29Z
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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.kasu.org/politics/2024-01-31/trump-says-vp-pick-wont-impact-the-race-so-whats-he-looking-for-in-a-running-mate
| 2024-01-31T23:57:30Z
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LAS VEGAS — 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 would 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 kind of wagers made.
Swift’s romance with Kelce became one of the prominent off-field stories this season and she has attended several Chiefs games, including their victory Sunday in the AFC championship game in Baltimore, where she joined the team for its on-field celebration and greeted Kelce with a kiss. Because she’s performing in Japan the weekend of the Super Bowl, fans began wondering whether she’ll make it to Las Vegas to watch the Chiefs 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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https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-super-bowl-20240131-qz6zgcgcj5e3lkrzrhvgolhcoy-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:57:32Z
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Boeing released its 2023 earnings Wednesday, but the company's CEO spent most of a call with investors talking about safety and quality.
Boeing is facing big questions about quality control after a door plug panel blew off one of its 737 Max 9 jets in midair earlier this month.
"We are not issuing financial outlook for 2024 today. Now is not the time for that," chief executive Dave Calhoun said during an earnings call.
Instead, Calhoun focused much of the call seeking to reassure analysts — and the flying public — that the plane maker is taking the incident seriously.
"We will simply focus on every next airplane, and ensuring we meet all the standards that we have, all the standards that our regulator has and that our customers demand," he said.
Calhoun did not offer any information about the cause of the incident on January 5th, which is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. No one was seriously injured, but the incident touched off another crisis for Boeing. The troubled plane maker was still working to rebuild public trust after 346 people died in two 737 Max 8 jets that crashed in 2018 and 2019.
Boeing said Wednesday it lost $30 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. That's a better performance than the final quarter of 2022, when the company lost more than $600 million. Overall, Boeing lost $2.2 billion last year — its best result in 5 years.
But any improvement in the company's financials has been overshadowed by the latest safety incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration is allowing Boeing 737 Max 9 planes to fly again after an inspection and maintenance. Calhoun said airlines have now returned 129 Max 9 planes to service, out of a total of 171 that were grounded by the FAA.
Earlier this week, Boeing formally withdrew its request for an exemption from federal safety rules in order to speed up certification of its new Boeing Max 7 jet to start flying. The company had been hoping to begin delivering those smaller planes to airlines this year, despite a design flaw with the Max's engine de-icing system that could be potentially catastrophic.
Boeing wanted to use the same workaround that's already in use on its Max 8 and Max 9 jets. Now the company says it will focus on a permanent engineering fix instead.
Calhoun told analysts on Wednesday that process is expected to take about nine months, likely pushing certification of the Max 7 back into 2025.
The FAA has also taken the unusual step of ordering production caps at Boeing's factories. Calhoun said the company will continue producing 737s at the rate of 38 per month until the FAA agrees to lift that limit. And Calhoun told analysts that slowing down production at the behest of regulators would help the company fix problems in its factory and supply chain.
"I'm sort of glad they called out a pause. That's an excuse to take our time, and do it right," Calhoun said. "This is what we do, and how we get better."
But some longtime observers are skeptical that Boeing management is ready to confront the true scale of the problem.
"I'm sure they're hoping for a quick fix," said Peter Lemme, a former Boeing engineer who's now an aviation consultant. "But this is like a cancer in the system. And how far has it infiltrated, and what are you gonna do to eradicate it? I think it's going to take years for Boeing to really get back to where they should be on quality and manufacturing."
The NTSB is expected to release preliminary findings from its investigations of the Alaska Airlines incident in the coming days.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.publicradioeast.org/2024-01-31/boeing-declines-to-give-a-financial-outlook-as-it-focuses-on-quality-and-safety
| 2024-01-31T23:57:32Z
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| 2024-01-31T23:57:33Z
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Iran vows to "decisively respond" to any retaliatory U.S. attack
Iran is threatening to "decisively" respond to any retaliatory attack after Sunday's Iranian-backed drone strike that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan. CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes has the latest.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/iran-vows-decisively-respond-any-retaliatory-us-attack/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:33Z
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Welcome back to Diagnosis, a vertical that focuses on the crossroads of health care policy and politics.
Florida faculty and other employees who work at one of Florida’s 28 state colleges could soon be allowed to enroll in the same health insurance program used by rank-and-file state workers.
The Senate is backing the move in its proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2024-25 and the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday voted for the change as part of an education budget bill (SPB 2516). Faculty and employees who work at state universities are already part of the state group health insurance program.
“We think it’s a fairness issue,” said Senate Budget Chief Doug Broxson, pointing out that state colleges have been asked to be treated the same as state universities. “We will put it in the budget and see if we can negotiate with the House to do what is good policy.”
The bill would let state colleges apply to join the state group insurance program by Aug. 1 and enrollment of employees would have to begin before July 31, 2025.
The House does not have a similar proposal and the inclusion of college employees will be one of the items that will need to be hashed out between the chambers during budget negotiations in the final month of the Session.
Rep. Tom Leek, the House Appropriations Committee Chair, said he is open to discussing the concept with the Senate but that he is concerned about the overall solvency of the state group health insurance program. Leek said he has seen estimates that adding state college employees could cost anywhere from $80 million — which is how much money the Senate set aside for the change — to $380 million.
“We have to hone in on how they got their calculation there and then we can see what can be done,” Leek said.
Florida currently spends about $3 billion on the state group health insurance program, with most of the cost being picked up by the state and not from employee premiums. Legislators for the last two years put extra money in the trust fund due to projected deficits and they could put even more money into the fund in the 2024-25 budget. Neither the House nor the Senate has proposed raising health insurance premiums paid by state employees and others covered by the plan, including legislators.
The health insurance proposal is part of the Senate’s proposed $116 billion spending plan for FY 2024-25 contained in SB 2500, which cleared the Appropriations Committee unanimously Wednesday. The Senate spending plan directs $45.96 billion in health care spending across the state’s various health care agencies of which nearly $15.84 billion is in state dollars.
The House Appropriations Committee also passed its proposed $115.5 billion budget for FY 2024-25, contained in PCB APC. It also was passed with unanimous support. The House budget proposes spending $45.98 billion on health care services, with nearly $15.83 billion coming from state tax dollars.
While the proposed spending plans contain billions in spending across the state’s various health care agencies, the House and Senate have included hundreds of millions dollars in their respective proposals to fortify Florida’s health care workforce in the coming years by increasing graduate medical education opportunities and increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for hospitals and physicians.
The Senate’s “Live Healthy” proposal (SB 7016) contains a $717 million-plus appropriation, whereas the House companion (HB 1549) has a $548.6 million appropriation.
House and Senate lawmakers named to the health care budget conference committee will attempt to hammer out the differences in the chambers’ health care spending plans later this Session. There will be no committee, though, to settle the spending differences in the Live Healthy proposals.
I welcome your feedback, questions and especially your tips. You can email me at [email protected] or call me at 850-251-2317.
—The grass is always greener—
The assisted living facilities industry says it wants to be treated more like nursing homes when it comes to civil lawsuits and is supporting SB 238, filed by Sen. Colleen Burton.
Burton’s bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, would change ALF statutes so that “passive investors” could not be named as defendants in civil litigation. The definition of passive investor is identical to the definition used in the nursing home statutes.
Robin Khanal, an Orlando defense lawyer with 20 years of experience defending long-term care providers from litigation, told senators that ALFs need the same legal safeguards that nursing homes enjoy.
“I can go into court now and defend nursing homes that have these safeguards and you don’t get 20 defendants in a lawsuit. Unfortunately, because these safeguards do not exist, I got into an ALF case and there is a plethora, a large list, of defendants. And all we are asking for are the same procedural safeguards that the nursing homes get as to who can be named and when,” he said.
There is no effort by the nursing home industry in the 2024 Session to limit lawsuits. The push for ALFs to be treated like nursing homes ironically comes after nursing homes during the 2023 Session pushed to be treated the same as hospitals and doctors for medical malpractice-related wrongful death cases. Burton filed the legislation to do just that but SB 1304 died without being considered.
ALFs are establishments that provide housing, meals and one or more personal services, for periods exceeding 24 hours, to one or more adults who are not relatives of the owner or the administrator. There are approximately 3,000 licensed ALFs in the state today with a combined 106,000 beds. Residents residing in ALFs are guaranteed certain rights.
Nursing home residents also have guaranteed rights. There are 691 licensed nursing homes in Florida. Nursing homes provide 24-hour-a-day nursing care, case management, health monitoring, personal care, meals, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, social activities, and respite care for the state’s most frail residents.
—Quietly, a good deal—
Rep. Fiona McFarland thinks this is the year the Legislature makes changes to the often-criticized claims bill process by passing legislation that doubles the current sovereign immunity limits.
The House Appropriations Committee passed McFarland’s HB 569 Monday. The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee passed the companion measure, SB 472 by Sen. Jason Brodeur, with a 5-1 vote the same day. The bills are similar but not identical.
The state’s sovereign immunity limits place a cap on how much a family or individual can get paid even if a jury awards a much higher amount or a settlement is reached. To get paid an amount above the cap, the Legislature must approve a claims bill, which often is a contentious and heavily lobbied practice.
Many legislators have refused to sign off or vote for any claims bills, contending that the process is flawed and too dependent on lobbyists. But other legislative leaders have pushed ahead by saying the government owed it to those wronged to pay off the claims.
Before agreeing to pass HB 569 the House Appropriations Committee tagged an amendment onto the bill that eliminated the requirement for the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to automatically adjust the statutory caps in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on an annual basis. McFarland said the requirement was too complicated.
By doubling the current sovereign immunity caps, the bills increase costs for local governments and government agencies, including hospitals. The bills were passed by the House and Senate panels as the Florida League of Cities held its annual Legislative Action Days at the Capitol.
“It was not the greatest day to be on the agenda,” McFarland told Florida Politics half-jokingly. “I mean, it’s a financial burden for the cities and the counties and the sovereigns; of course it is. So, I don’t think there is any universe in which they support the bill. Quietly they’ve admitted that this is a pretty good deal.”
The bills also abolish home venue privilege, thereby allowing a claimant to bring a suit against the state, its agency, or a subdivision thereof in the claimant’s home county, the county where the action accrued, or the county in which the property in litigation is located.
—FDA’s 2024 legislative priorities—
Florida Dental Association (FDA) members and executives were all smiles this afternoon after one of their priority bills, SB 302, filed by Sen. Jim Boyd, passed the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee witth unanimous support.’
The vote comes on the heels of FDA’s Dentist Day at the Capitol. SB 302 puts in place requirements to practice dentistry via telehealth and it’s one of several priorities the FDA has for the 2024 Session.
The FDA, similar to the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) and the Florida Medical Association (FMA) says state insurance code needs to be updated and requirements made to ensure carriers are covering services that have received prior authorization.
“This is an important issue to the Florida Dental Association because we have run into patients who have dental insurance or dental benefits,” FDA President and Miami periodontist Dr. Beatriz Terry. “As a dentist — as a private practitioner — we submit for pre-authorization to get coverage to get approval for the treatment that we want to provide our patients. We get a letter back saying that the treatment has been approved but in small print, it says ‘not guarantee of payment, and the procedures performed.’ And then when we submit for payment on a pre-authorized procedure, they have denied coverage.”
The bill also prohibits insurers, prepaid limited plans and HMOs from including in their provider contracts language that requires dentists to accept Automated Clearing House (ACH) or electronic payments and to pay the associated costs. Terry said contracts with insurance companies and other payors require dentists to actively opt out of the ACH payments. The FDA would like to change that so dentists would be required to opt in for ACH payments.
For the FDA, the fix is in SB 892/HB 1219.
Increasing Medicaid reimbursements for participating dentists also is a top priority for the FDA and it appears to be coming to fruition with House and Senate “Live Healthy” proposals raising reimbursement rates by $35 million.
Terry said it’s been more than a decade since lawmakers increased payments to dentists. Florida, she said, is ranked in the bottom 10% of states for its low dental reimbursement rates.
“We really need the funding so that we can have more Medicaid providers. The difficulty with getting Medicaid providers is that the compensation is too poor. And so this increase would allow for more people to participate in the program and give, you know, access to care, a boost.”
The FDA also has partnered with the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs to get funds for the Florida’s Veterans Dental Care Grant. It was created in statute in 2023 but not funded. Veterans’ Affairs included $3 million in its proposed legislative budget request to fund the program.
Additionally, the FDA is seeking financial support for its two-day Mission of Mercy clinics.
—Scope battle updates—
While the FDA is advocating on behalf of several issues, it also is working to defeat an effort by the Florida Dental Hygienists Association to establish licensure criteria for dental therapists.
While a House health care subcommittee passed HB 1173 by a 14-3 vote on Jan. 24, the Senate companion measure, SB 1254, has been referred to three Senate panels and to date has been heard by none.
The debate over the establishment of the new dental licensure category is but one example of the scope of practice fights that routinely occur in the halls of the Capitol. Former Senate President Don Gaetz once referred to a battle between ophthalmologists and optometrists as the “eyeball wars.”
There also are the “sleep wars.” The Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists wants the Legislature to authorize autonomous certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to administer anesthetic without an established supervisory protocol with a physician. The House Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee deferred action on HB 257 and the bill isn’t listed on the panel’s agenda for its Thursday meeting. The Senate companion bill hasn’t been heard to date.
And the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists (FSA) is probably a reason why. It’s Physician Anesthesiologists Week, an opportunity for the association to focus on advocacy and outreach efforts that promote anesthesiologists as “uniquely qualified” to lead the patient care team.
As part of the week-long event, FSA launched a digital campaign in the Tallahassee market. The flight includes 15-second and 30-second pre-roll ads emphasizing that “physician-led anesthesia care is the safest, most cost-effective model of anesthesia medicine.”
There also has been disagreement in recent years over bills that establish in statutes the titles that health care practitioners can use to refer to themselves in advertisements. The issue is a priority for Passidomo, whose father was an ophthalmologist. While Passidomo secured passage in the 2023 Session Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed SB 230.
The issue is back in the 2024 Session. SB 1112 cleared the Senate Health Policy Committee Tuesday. HB 1195 will be taken up by the Healthcare Regulation Committee on Thursday.
Not all scope debates, though, are limited to individuals and there is a scope of practice debate in the House and Senate Live Healthy proposals. The bills establish what are known as “advanced birthing centers” (ABCs) which would be authorized to perform cesarean sections. Hospitals oppose the creation of ABCs.
—RULES—
The Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists proposes amending Rule 64B14-3.001 regarding definitions.
—LOBBYISTS—
Joshua Aubuchon, Delegal Aubuchon Consulting: Capital Health Plan
Slater Bayliss, Christopher Chaney, The Advocacy Partners: Precision Healthcare
Sara Clements, Rhett O’Doski, Ryder Rudd, Sean Stafford, McGuireWoods Consulting: Lightshare Behavioral Wellness & Recovery
Patsy Eccles: Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
Anna Lewis, Metz Husband & Daughton: SMA Healthcare
Melissa Meshil: HCA Healthcare
John Ray, John Ray Consulting: Florida Medical Manufacturers’ Consortium
—ETC—
—The Biden-Harris Administration announced Wednesday that sickle cell disease (SCD) will be the first focus of the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Access Model, which was initially announced in February 2023. The CGT model is designed to improve health outcomes, increase access to cell and gene therapies, and lower health care costs for some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations.Sickle cell disease is an extremely painful condition, which disproportionately impacts Black Americans and has had limited treatment options. In the United States, more than 100,000 people live with SCD. Individuals with the disease have a shorter life expectancy, by more than 20 years, compared to someone living without SCD.
—Feb. 1 marks American Heart Month. More than 120 million Americans live with a cardiovascular condition.
—Feb. 3 is National Women Physicians Day American Community Survey data show that in 2022 full-time year-round civilian employed female population 16 and shows there were 3,483 emergency medical physicians, 3,886 radiologists, and 291,655 “other” physicians who are female.
—ROSTER—
—Barry Issenberg, M.D., director of the Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has been named the 2024-25 President of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
—Three new members have been named to the Health Foundation of South Florida board of directors: Alfred G. Battle Jr., David J. Clark and Alexander M. Fernandez. Battle is the Deputy Director of the Development Services Department in the City of Fort Lauderdale. Clark is the Senior Vice president of operations at Broward Health System. Fernandez is the executive vice president and CFO VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care.
—ICYMI—
In case you missed them, here is a recap of other critical health care policy stories covered in Florida Politics this past week.
“Brazilian butt lift bill clears House health care spending panel” via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics — Lawmakers appear to be knee-deep in ass once again this year. A House health care spending panel unanimously approved a bill (HB 1561) that closes loopholes in a statute regulating Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs) that was passed last year.
“Ban on out-of-pocket charges for breast exams clears first Senate hurdle” via Jesse Scheckner Florida Politics — The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee passed legislation this week that changes the law regarding patient cost-sharing requirements to ban insurance companies from charging what Sen. Lori Berman said are cost-prohibitive copays for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams. Berman is a breast cancer survivor and sponsor of SB 932.
“House panel advances hemp restrictions with alt-cannabinoids ban, THC cap” via A.G. Gancarski Florida Politics— The House Agriculture, Conservation and Resiliency Subcommittee passed a bill that would crack down on alternative cannabinoids and impose new restrictions on delta-9 THC in hemp, bringing massive changes to the multibillion-dollar industry. HB 1613 changes the statutory definition of hemp and despite public testimony derailing the bill as “discriminatory,” and a “witch hunt,” it easily cleared the subcommittee.
“Abortion amendment could boost Democrats in November” via A.G. Gancarski Florida Politics—Floridians Protecting Freedom said their bid to have adult reproductive rights enshrined in the Constitution will be Amendment 4 on the 2024 ballot. The abortion rights referendum, if it survives court scrutiny and earns at least 60% support in the November 2024 election, would prohibit any law limiting the ability to obtain an abortion before fetal viability — generally between 20 and 25 weeks into a term — or if an abortion is “necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s health care provider.”
“Aligning registries” via Jacob Ogles Florida Politics — The Veterans Administration retains a cancer registry separate from state databases. But Miramar Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick said patients in the VA system would be better off if there was more data shared between agencies. And she’s working across the aisle to get it done. Cherfilus-McCormick introduced the Counting Veterans’ Cancer Act with U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Virginia Republican. Cherfilus-McCormick is the ranking Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Technology Modernization Subcommittee, which Kiggans chairs. In addition to the VA and states sharing registries, the bill also calls for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to serve as a go-between to ensure compliance.
—FOR YOUR RADAR—
Aside from coverage by Florida Politics, these stories are worth your time.
“7,000 women traveled to Florida for abortions in 2023. Key court rulings could soon end those journeys.” via Caroline Catherman of the Orlando Sentinel — In total, one out of 10 of Florida’s 78,250 recorded abortions last year was done on an out-of-state resident, according to Florida Agency for Health Care Administration data released in early January. The number of total abortions shrank by about 4,000 compared with 2022 but out-of-state residents getting the procedure increased by over 400. As the Florida Supreme Court contemplates the constitutionality of the state’s currently active 15-week ban, a pending six-week ban, and a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion access in the state’s constitution, these numbers are a reminder that the future of abortion in Florida could affect the entire Southeast.
“Medical experts: Senate bill increasing penalty for fentanyl exposure ‘unnecessary‘” via Ana Goñi-Lessan of The Palm Beach Post — Bodycam footage of police officers collapsing at traffic stops after they say they were exposed to fentanyl have gone viral and now are the catalyst for a new bill, even though medical experts say the potential legislation could harm someone experiencing an overdose. Exposures of First Responders to Fentanyl (SB 718/HB 231), which passed through a Senate Criminal Justice Committee meeting Tuesday, would make it a second-degree felony to “recklessly” expose a first responder to fentanyl or any fentanyl analogues (drugs that are chemically similar), resulting in bodily injury. “It’s a problem. You can get exposed to it,” said bill sponsor Sen. Jay Collins. “The pre(cursor) chemicals, the aerosolization of those things that you can walk right into, touching someone and rubbing your eye and going down — people have to be held accountable for this.”
“UCF’s new nursing school facility hopes to combat nursing shortage” via Celeste Springer Spectrum News 13 — Construction is underway on a brand new UCF facility aimed to train the next generation of nurses. University officials say it will be a state-of-the-art facility, but they’re also hoping to combat a nationwide issue of nursing shortages.
“Department of Health officials focus on fight against diabetes in Sarasota County” via Sarah Owens of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — More than a year into a five-year plan that identifies diabetes as one of Sarasota County’s top medical concerns, local health authorities have laid the foundations for improvements in education, prevention and treatment in key county hot spots. Among the components of the Sarasota County Department of Health’s Health Equity Plan are descriptions on the seriousness of diabetes, who it most affects, the condition’s contributing factors and recommendations on how to better treat patients and reduce the rate of new cases. Health disparity data in the county identified HIV, diabetes and asthma as the top three local medical concerns.
— PENCIL IT IN —
Thursday
10 a.m. — Florida Decides Healthcare hosts a virtual press conference to announce the kickoff of petition collection for a ballot initiative for the 2026 general election to expand Medicaid access to adults as allowable under the federal law known as Obamacare. Register for the press conference here.
11:30 a.m. — The House Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee meets. Included on the agenda is HB 1295 regarding health care practitioner titles, and HB 1435, capping the potency of medical marijuana and banning synthetic marijuana. Room 102, HOB.
Noon — The Senate is in session.
3 p.m. — The House is in session.
Friday
9 a.m. — The Senate is in session.
9 a.m. — The Select Committee on Health Innovation meets. Room 17, HOB.
Noon — The House is in session.
Monday
2:30 p.m. — The Senate Judiciary Committee meets. Room 412, Knott Building.
Tuesday
Happy birthday to Sen. Clay Yarborough.
8:30 a.m. — The Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee meets. Room 37, SOB.
11:30 a.m. — The Senate Health Policy Committee meets. Room 412, Knott Building.
12:30 p.m. — The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee meets. Room 17, HOB.
Wednesday
9 a.m. — The Senate is in session.
9 a.m. — The Florida Supreme Court considers SC2023-1392 Advisory Opinion to the Attorney General re: Limiting Government Interference with Abortion.
10:30 a.m. — The House Judiciary Committee meets. Room 404, HOB.
2 p.m.— The House is in session.
Diagnosis is written by Christine Jordan Sexton and edited by Drew Wilson.
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https://floridapolitics.com/archives/656297-diagnosis-1-31-24-checking-the-pulse-of-florida-health-care-news-and-policy/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:32Z
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(MENAFN- EIN Presswire)
Propane Tank Monitoring company One-Tank
Propane Tank Monitoring Industry Technology & Adoption Survey Results
One-Tank Propane Tank Monitor & App
One-Tank recently sponsored a Propane Industry Technology & Efficiency Survey that was published on Butane-Propane News (BPN).
Industry challenges are exerting significant pressure on marketers to maintain market position. Those who adapt with modern solutions are likely to gain a substantial advantage over competitors.” - Brian Humphrey, CEO of One-TankST. CHARLES, MISSOURI, UNITED STATES, January 31, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- (ST. CHARLES, Mo.) One-Tank is known as a leader in the propane industry and strives to meet the needs of its customers in the best way possible. In an effort to keep propane marketers informed, One-Tank recently sponsored a Propane Industry Technology & Efficiency Survey that was published on Butane-Propane News (BPN).
The survey had 175 responses, with the highest number of responses coming from California, Texas, and Ohio. When it comes to having propane tank monitors , 69% of respondents reported having monitors on less than 25% of their tanks. This shows that there is a huge opportunity for growth with propane tank monitoring . 62% of respondents said they're very likely to try tank monitoring in the next year.
It was reported that fluctuating prices in the propane industry have caused propane managers to adjust their prices. However, increasing the amount of tank storage benefited one customer who states,“Our increased storage keeps us at a lower price point than our competitors.”
One-Tank's CEO, Brian Humphrey, says the survey results demonstrate that the propane suppliers must be willing to adapt and change to stay competitive.“Challenges such as new regulatory requirements, the shift towards electrification, and heightened customer expectations for value and safety are exerting significant pressure on marketers to maintain their market position. Those who adapt with modern solutions are likely to gain a substantial advantage over competitors who lag in adapting to these changes.”
Over the last few years, propane tank monitoring has expanded across all 50 states. The demand for propane has also been steadily increasing. One-Tank plans to use the results of the survey as guidance as it continues to play a role in the future of the propane industry. One-Tank strives to offer products and services that enhance propane storage, distribution, and remote monitoring.
One-Tank has established itself as a leader through an innovative propane tank monitoring unit called Skytracker, which monitors ASME propane tank temperatures and tracks customer propane usage nationwide. This technology enables dealers to optimize operations by purchasing propane in bulk, while customers are billed based on their actual consumption. One-Tank Virtual Metering also empowers clients to schedule deliveries during off-season periods with lower propane prices, offering convenience, safety and efficiency.
One-Tank is in a position to drive change within the propane industry even as prices fluctuate.
To view the report:
About One-Tank:
One-Tank specializes in virtual metering and monitoring for the LPG, fuel & oil industries. With over 100 years of combined industry experience, they offer industry leading products as well as the One-Tank dashboard. Combined, this creates the industry's first field storage monitoring utility. One-Tank gives propane marketers the power to compete for a wider share of their market while increasing margins and customer satisfaction. The products are quick and easy to setup and use.
Cheryl Heppard
Heppard PR & Consulting
+1 248-973-7669
email us here
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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/1107793871/Propane-Tank-Monitoring-Company-One-Tank-Publishes-Industry-Survey-Results-With-Butane-Propane-News
| 2024-01-31T23:57:34Z
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Eindhoven-based startup LionVolt has completed the acquisition of AMTE Power’s business and assets in Scotland, including a battery cell production line in Thurso.
Due to ongoing delays in securing the necessary funds, AMTE Power – an Oxfordshire-based developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery cells – went into administration in December. However, FRP Advisory ran an accelerated mergers and acquisitions process and said last week that it had completed the sale of the company’s business and assets to LionVolt.
The sale enables the battery production facility to be repurposed for producing LionVolt’s 3D technology and includes the transfer of 20 jobs based in Thurso. AMTE Power's remaining 15 employees in Milton, England, have been made redundant.
“The acquisition by LionVolt presented the best opportunity to secure jobs and fulfil our statutory duties to creditors,” said Richard Bloomfield, director of FRP Advisory and the joint administrator of AMTE Power Plc. “The transaction follows an exhaustive sales process and search for new investment. Critically, it preserves a large number of jobs and provides a continuation of battery cell manufacturing in Scotland.”
For LionVolt, the acquisition of the battery production site brings “new complementary capabilities to the company for its next phase of growth.”
Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the CTO of LionVolt, described the transaction as a “dream scenario.”
“It helps us mature our innovative 3D battery technology quicker by leveraging the manufacturing expertise from the team in Scotland, thereby reducing time-to-market,” said Unnikrishnan.
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The acquisition comes hot on the heels of LionVolt’s announcement that it is building a pilot production line at the Brainport Industries Campus (BIC) in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
LionVolt was spun off from the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) in 2020 with a mission to develop and scale its 3D solid-state thin-film battery technology. The technology is said to deliver enhanced energy density, superior cycle-life, higher charging speed, and enhanced safety compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries and be particularly suitable for wearables and electric vehicle applications.
LionVolt's batteries are made by covering billions of pillars with thin layers of functional material, creating a 3D structure with a very large surface area and very short distances between both battery electrodes. Charging and discharging times are reduced, as the lithium-ions only have to travel a short distance.
The manufacturer said this approach enables the technology to overcome two major hurdles to its commercial rollout – the conformal coating of the full battery stack and the development of scalable manufacturing tools. The creation of the micropillar arrays is reportedly able to reduce the technological challenge of conformal coating, and the open and regular structure facilitates the deposition of consecutive layers.
LionVolt said its battery configuration is fully retrofittable into existing commercial formats and a production line can be set up in a very short time. Almost 80% of the supply chain needed to build a production line can be sourced locally, according to the Dutch company.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
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https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/01/31/dutch-solid-state-battery-maker-acquires-scottish-factory/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:33Z
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Auburn hires longtime defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to run defense
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - Auburn coach Hugh Freeze has hired former Maryland head coach and Texas A&M defensive coordinator DJ Durkin to run his defense.
Freeze announced the move Wednesday. Durkin was with the Aggies the past two years after two seasons at Mississippi and has also coached at Michigan and Florida.
"DJ has been a successful defensive coordinator at multiple stops in the Southeastern Conference," Freeze said. "I´ve always been impressed with his schemes and game plans, including the two times I have faced his teams in recent years. Texas A&M´s defense was fast, physical, and well coached."
The Aggies ranked No. 3 in the Southeastern Conference and No. 19 nationally in total defense last season while leading the league in run defense and sacks.
Durkin spent one season in the NFL as a consultant for the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 after two seasons as Maryland's head coach.
Maryland fired Durkin in October 2018, about five months after offensive lineman Jordan McNair collapsed on the practice field and later died of heatstroke.
FILE - Maryland head coach DJ Durkin stands on the sideline during an NCAA college football game against Towson, Sept. 9, 2017, in College Park, Md. Auburn coach Hugh Freeze announced Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, that he has hired former Maryland head coach and Texas A&M defensive coordinator Durkin to run his defense. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Durkin had been placed on administrative leave before the season while the board of regents waited for results of an investigation on the culture of the program. After receiving that report, the board decided to bring him back, saying he was "unfairly blamed for the dysfunction in the athletic department."
Maryland fired Durkin just more than 24 hours later after facing backlash for the decision.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030827/Auburn-hires-longtime-defensive-coordinator-DJ-Durkin-run-defense.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:57:34Z
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Liverpool Sink Chelsea To Bolster Title Charge, Haaland Returns In Man City Cruise
Premier League leaders Liverpool stepped up their title bid with a 4-1 rout of Chelsea, while Erling Haaland made his Manchester City comeback as the champions beat Burnley 3-1 on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp's shock revelation that he will step down as Liverpool boss at the end of the season has done nothing to stop the momentum of a team challenging for silverware in four competitions.
The Reds crushed Norwich 5-2 in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday and were equally ruthless when Chelsea visited Anfield for the second game of Klopp's long goodbye.
First-half goals from Diogo Jota and Conor Bradley put Liverpool in control.
Dominik Szoboszlai scored Liverpool's third and, although Christopher Nkunku replied for overwhelmed Chelsea, Luis Diaz capped the hosts' dominant display.
Liverpool sit five points clear of second-placed City, who have a game in hand as they try to spoil Klopp's bid to bow out with the second Premier League title of his nine-year reign.
Unbeaten in their last 11 games in all competitions, Liverpool head to third-placed Arsenal on Sunday for another test of their title credentials.
Klopp's men will meet Chelsea again in the League Cup final at Wembley on February 25, with the Reds also still competing in the FA Cup and Europa League.
Chelsea will have to improve significantly to win the rematch after a limp display that underlined why they are languishing in 10th place.
Haaland had been sidelined for nearly two months by a foot injury, but City barely missed the presence of the Norwegian as they won nine and drew one of the 10 games when he was absent.
Julian Alvarez again stepped up in Haaland's absence as the Argentine struck twice on his 24th birthday to effectively end the game at the Etihad as a contest inside 22 minutes.
The Argentine headed in from Matheus Nunes' cross and then finished off a clever free-kick from Kevin De Bruyne.
Rodri made it 3-0 inside the first minute of the second half, but Pep Guardiola made the expectant home crowd wait until 15 minutes from time for Haaland's introduction.
Rather that a goalscoring return from last season's Golden Boot winner, it was the Clarets who struck next to end a run of 22 consecutive City goals in league meetings between the sides.
Ameen Al Dakhil struck four minutes into stoppage time, but it was no more than a consolation for the Clarets, who remain second bottom and seven points adrift of safety.
In Wednesday's other game, Tottenham climbed into the top four with a 3-2 win over Brentford.
Ange Postecoglou's side needed the inspiration of a half-time team talk from their Australian boss to come from behind.
Neal Maupay gave the Bees a deserved half-time lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But Spurs hit back with three goals in the first 11 minutes of the second period.
Destiny Udogie blasted home from close range to level before Brennan Johnson tapped in Timo Werner's low cross at the back post.
Tottenham appeared to have the points won when Richarlison turned in his ninth goal of the season.
However, an error from Udogie teed up Ivan Toney to score his second goal in as many games since returning from an eight-month gambling ban.
Spurs held on through seven minutes of added time to edge above Aston Villa on goals scored into fourth as the battle for a place in next season's Champions League hots up.
© Copyright AFP 2023. All rights reserved.
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https://www.ibtimes.com/liverpool-sink-chelsea-bolster-title-charge-haaland-returns-man-city-cruise-3723481
| 2024-01-31T23:57:35Z
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The city of Aurora’s Public Art Department has announced that its first exhibit of 2024 is set to debut on Friday.
The exhibit, called “Feral,” was curated by a panel of Aurora residents, bringing together 18 artists from the city and its surrounding areas, organizers said in a city of Aurora Facebook post.
Aurora Public Art Project Assistant Sangeeta Pande said the exhibit is a powerful one.
“We hope that you are inspired to examine and visualize your interpretation of this simple yet powerful word - feral - as you view the fantastic lineup of artists,” Pande said in the post.
The exhibit’s opening reception will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday on the third floor of Aurora Public Art at 20 E. Downer Place in downtown Aurora. The reception will feature a musical performance by Tiwa Bleu and the Celestial Treaty, and is free and open to the public.
The exhibition will run from Friday through March 9. Aurora Public Art’s gallery hours are from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Co-curator Kyle Reeves believes the exhibit will be impactful for those who come to see it in Aurora.
“We present this group exhibition with the hope that some aspect of our artistic vision will spark fearlessness, clarity, healing and humor in our community,” Reeves said in the post.
For more information, go to Aurora Public Art’s webpage: https://www.aurora-il.org/329/Aurora-Public-Art
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-aurora-art-st-0202-20240131-bbcgsgivlnbx3pfh3hp4jt3xue-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:57:38Z
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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.publicradioeast.org/2024-01-31/broadway-legend-hinton-battle-who-originally-played-scarecrow-in-the-wiz-has-died
| 2024-01-31T23:57:39Z
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Lindsey Graham says Mark Zuckerberg has blood on his hands, calls social media dangerous
GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told Mark Zuckerberg he had blood on his hands and that social media platforms are "killing people" during a Senate hearing where the Meta CEO and other tech executives are testifying about child safety. Graham went on to call for the repeal of Section 230.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/lindsey-graham-says-mark-zuckerberg-has-blood-on-his-hands-calls/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:39Z
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https://menafn.com/1107793872/Pieridae-Energy-Announces-Executive-Appointments-And-2023-Exit-Production
| 2024-01-31T23:57:40Z
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U.S. Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell raised more than $2 million in the fourth quarter to challenge U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.
Federal Election Commission filings show that over the fourth quarter, Scott added $4.7 million to his coffers, but nearly $3 million of that came from a candidate loan. By comparison, Mucarsel-Powell has contributed no self-funding to her campaign.
The Democrat’s team touted Mucarsel-Powell’s contributions exceeding the money donated from outside sources to Scott’s re-election campaign during the quarter.
“Floridians see Debbie Mucarsel-Powell showing up across Florida and fighting for the issues that matter most to them, which is why they’re joining our grassroots movement to beat Rick Scott,” said Kate Letzler Moore, Mucarsel-Powell’s Campaign Manager.
“Voters know Rick Scott is an extremist who supports a national abortion ban and wrote the plan to sunset Medicare and Social Security. Meanwhile, Debbie is a tireless champion for quality and affordable health care, expanding economic opportunity, and safe communities. This grassroots momentum will only continue to grow as more Floridians unite behind Debbie’s campaign.”
Since launching her Senate campaign in August, the Miami Democrat has now raised more than $4 million from more than 60,000 donors giving more than 100,000 individual contributions.
The campaign stressed a substantial amount of funding comes from small donors. The average donation to the campaign for the quarter was around $35, with the checks coming from roughly 35,000 donors.
Mucarsel-Powell through the third quarter of 2023 had raised more than any other candidate besides Scott.
Her campaign did not immediately provide how much cash it had available as of the end of the quarter.
Scott to date has loaned his campaign about $7 million. He’s raised about $20.3 million over the course of his campaign dating back to his election to the Senate in 2018.
But his latest report shows he closed 2023 with less than $3.1 million in cash on hand.
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https://floridapolitics.com/archives/656351-debbie-mucarsel-powell-raised-2m-plus-in-final-quarter-of-2023/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:40Z
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Massachusetts turns recreational plex into shelter for homeless families, including migrants
BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu toured a recreational complex Wednesday hours ahead of its planned opening as a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness, including migrants.
Healey said about 75 individuals were expected to arrive at the Cass Recreational Complex, located in the city´s Roxbury neighborhood, before the end of the day. The complex can provide temporary shelter for up to 400 people, or about 100-125 families, as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants.
"We're here today because we really don't have a choice," she said. "Families continue to come into this country, continue to come to Massachusetts, and we have over the last several months opened up locations throughout the state."
There are currently three larger state-operated overflow family shelter sites. The location in Roxbury, one of the city´s traditionally Black neighborhoods, will be the fourth.
The others are located in Revere (150 rooms), Quincy (57 rooms) and Cambridge, which can accommodate 200 people or about 57 families.
There are also smaller emergency shelter sites in about 90 communities.
A passer-by walks through a portion of the Cass Recreational Complex, in Boston, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, that has been turned into a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness. The facility was opened to legislators, community leaders, and members of the media Wednesday ahead of its planned opening as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Those using the overflow sites are among 656 families currently on a wait list hoping to get into the state's emergency family shelter program. Healey last year capped the number of people in the shelter program at 7,500 and created the wait list.
Healey and Wu, both Democrats. have called on the Biden administration for more help in dealing with the influx of migrants.
Boston isn't alone, Wu said.
"I hear from mayors all around the country on a regular basis. I just had two conversations in the last couple of days around the stresses and the challenges that this crisis of migrant families needing services and shelter and homes are presenting at every level of government," she said.
"The federal machinery needs a lot of fixing," she added. "It needs action and it has needed that for decades."
Healey said the Roxbury site is temporary and families will be out before June. She said programs that were scheduled to take place at the center will be moved to other nearby locations and that renovations will be made to the complex. She also said the state will rely on local businesses to provide some of the services needed to run the shelter site.
"I am grateful to the community of Roxbury," Healey said.
People in the neighborhood had mixed reactions to the new shelter.
Clifton A. Braithwaite, 56, a city council candidate and community activist, said he´s concerned about seniors and others who rely on programs at the center as a place to meet and exercise.
"I don´t know if the plan they have is going to work either for the immigrants or Boston citizens," he said. "But one thing I know, to close a functional building down for three months that services the people of this community is a tragedy, because where are they going to go?"
Audra White, 41, who lives around the corner from the recreational complex, said she was troubled when she returned from a vacation in September and saw homeless migrants and their children sleeping on the floor at Logan International Airport.
"Logan airport is not an appropriate place to have people living in hallways," she said. "At the Cass, there are showers, there are bathrooms. People can actually wash," she said, referring to the Cass Recreational Complex.
"If the options are Logan or the Cass, I think the Cass is the better option," she said.
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced the city will again extend its 60-day limit on shelter stays for asylum seekers, just days ahead of a deadline that could have evicted nearly 2,000 migrants.
Johnson said Monday the idea is to give people more time to resettle and find work. The policy change adds 30 to 60 more days for roughly 14,000 migrants already living in the city´s 28 shelters, which include warehouses and park district buildings.
As many as 800 asylum seekers have lived temporarily at Chicago´s O´Hare International Airport, sleeping on the floor and on cots at a shuttle bus center. Some stay there for weeks at a time while they await beds at one of the city´s 28 shelters or can make other arrangements. Chicago´s daily migrant dashboard showed 128 living at O´Hare as of Wednesday.
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Associated Press reporter Sophia Tareen contributed to this report from Chicago.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, center left, and Geralde Gabeau, founder and executive director of the Immigrant Family Services Institute, center right, embrace during a news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at the Cass Recreational Complex, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The visit to the facility was held ahead of its planned opening as a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey greets people after taking questions from reporters Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, following a tour of the Cass Recreational Complex, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The visit to the facility was held ahead of its planned opening as a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
A television crew visits a portion of the Cass Recreational Complex, in Boston, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, that has been turned into a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness. The facility was opened to legislators, community leaders, and members of the media Wednesday ahead of its planned opening as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Members of the media examine a portion of the Cass Recreational Complex, in Boston, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, that has been turned into a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness. The facility was opened to legislators, community leaders, and members of the media Wednesday ahead of its planned opening as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, center, stands with legislators and community leaders while facing reporters, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, after touring the Cass Recreational Complex, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The visit to the facility was held ahead of its planned opening as a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu takes questions from reporters Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, after touring the Cass Recreational Complex, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The visit to the facility was held ahead of its planned opening as a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, center, and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, left, take questions from reporters Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, after touring the Cass Recreational Complex, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The visit to the facility was held ahead of its planned opening as a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, front, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, center left, take questions from reporters Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, after touring the Cass Recreational Complex, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The visit to the facility was held ahead of its planned opening as a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey takes questions from reporters Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, after touring the Cass Recreational Complex, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The visit to the facility was held ahead of its planned opening as a temporary shelter site for families experiencing homelessness as the state continues to grapple with an influx of homeless migrants. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, left, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey pause to look at the Army cots set up on the gym floor as State and local officials toured the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The facility will house over 300 migrants. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
State and local officials toured the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, including, from left, Governor Maura Healey, Lt. Gov Kim Driscoll and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The facility will house over 300 migrants. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey pauses to look at the Army cots set up on the gym floor as State and local officials toured the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The facility will house over 300 migrants. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
State and local officials toured the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, left, who chats in private with Governor Maura Healey during the tour. The facility will house over 300 migrants. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
State and local officials toured the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, including Governor Maura Healey, center, and Lt. Gov Kim Driscoll, center right, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. They listen to remarks about the planned use of the facility to house over 300 migrants. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
State and local officials toured the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, while Governor Maura Healey, left, spoke to officials and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, center, looks on taking notes, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The facility will house over 300 migrants. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey pauses to look at the Army cots set up on the gym floor as State and local officials toured the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The facility will house over 300 migrants. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030829/Massachusetts-turns-recreational-plex-shelter-homeless-families-including-migrants.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:57:40Z
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Liverpool 4 - 1 Chelsea
Reds: Jota 23’, Bradley 39’, Szoboszlai 65’, Diaz 79’
Blues: Nkunku 71’
Pre-Match
The pricks in Manchester, no the other ones, are already pounding Burnley as the Reds kick off, as expected, so the Reds will just have to do the business against Chelsea. Robbo and Trent aren’t quite ready for their first start post-injury, so Bradley and Gomez start in their place. However, both MacAllister and Szoboszlai start in midfield alongside Jones. Jota, Nunez, and Diaz lead the line.
First Half
Liverpool survive an early penalty shout from Chelsea, which Tierney—shockingly—waves away. It would’ve been soft, but definitely in the “I’ve seen them given” category of pen shouts.
Darwin is absolutely terrorizing Chelsea’s defense. Things you love to see. He also extended his lead a top the “hit woodwork” table, with two strikes already rattling off the posts in the opening 20 minutes.
Jota opens the scoring with a phenomenal dribble straight through the heart of the Chelsea defense! Szoboszlai wins the ball back around midfield, pops it off to Bradley, who picks out Jota in acres of space. And boy, did Diogo make the most of it.
So, I hesitate to say this, but Paul Tierney is actually having a decent game? He’s been carding Chelsea players for rough challenges and even cautioned Chilwell for a dive. Can’t wait until he loses the plot in the second half.
Conor Bradley has just opened his Liverpool account with a sublime finish! 2-0 to the Scousers!
And now Tierney pointed to the spot after Jota was fouled from behind. What is happening?! AAAND Darwin clatters it off the post. That’s three times he’s hit the woodwork tonight.
Second Half
Bradley gets his second assist of the game, as Dom Szoboszlai nods home his cross from close range. Bradley has been hugely impressive on both sides of the ball, and involved in all three of Liverpool’s goals.
It’s a quadruple sub from Klopp. Bradley comes off to a standing ovation, as does Szoboszlai, Gomez, and Jota. They are replaced by Trent, Robbo, Harvey Elliott, and Gakpo.
Well, the fresh legs do not seem to help as Chelsea seem to walk through the Liverpool defense and score.
Darwin hits the woodwork for an almost impressive fourth time THIS MATCH with a towering header that just wasn’t to be, but manages to get an assist a moment later when he puts one on a silver platter for Lucho to poke home.
Klopp then brings on Bobby Clark for Jones.
In the waning minutes MacAllister appears to pick up a knock and is walking off the pitch gingerly. He is back on in a minute, so it must’ve not been that serious.
Final Thoughts
Liverpool entered this match on the back of 7 consecutive draws against the London Blues, and a lengthy history with referee Paul Tierney. Shockingly, none of that mattered, as the Reds ran riot over Chelsea, extended their lead in the Premier League, and padded their goal differential. And they extended their leads a top both the individual and team “hit woodwork” tables.
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2024/1/31/24057318/liverpool-4-chelsea-1-epl-2024-result-recap-jota-darwin-bradley-szoboszlai-diaz-klopp
| 2024-01-31T23:57:40Z
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Moldova's Ministry of Energy has published the timetable for large-scale renewable energy tenders. The procurement exercises will kick off on April 9 and bids will be received for at least three months.
The maximum capacity for PV project particitaing in the auction will be 1 MW. The tender will procure a total of 60 MW of solar projects.
“We absolutely expect new tenders. By the end of the year, we will know the results of these auctions. Afterwards, we are considering organizing the next round of RES auctions since the Vulcanesti – Chisinau 400 kV line will be operational by the end of 2025,” Carolina Novac, secretary of state for Moldova's Energy Ministry, told pv magazine.
The total capacity for wind projects is almost twice that for PV projects. Novac explains that the decision on capacity allocation was made considering the overlap of different incentive schemes as well as some structural reasons.
“Firstly, we have already allocated feed-in-tariffs to 120 MW of ground-mounted PV and additionally to 15 MW of rooftop PV,” said Novac. “Secondly, we also know that wind's capacity factor, that is its energy output, is higher than the PV one. We also look at the principle of the highest efficiency for utilisation of land and, in Moldova, 98% of land is arable with some of the best soil in the world. And thirdly, wind energy delivers electricity in the evening as well, and we know that the load peak is usually the highest around dinner time.”
The Ministry expects big renewables producers and developers to participate in the tenders. The secretary of state says the most promising bidders will be companies that are already established in Moldova, have experience in the sector, and have already kickstarted the process to obtain required permits.
Broader context
“The first-ever tenders for fixed-price power plants will allow for the construction of large wind and photovoltaic parks, reduce dependence on imported energy, decarbonize the economy, and create new jobs,” said the Moldovan government.
Popular content
The country has long been exposed to gas supply shock risks, as Russia traditionally supplied all gas consumed in Moldova via Ukraine. Last year, Moldova started its six-year-long energy sector reform program, receiving the support of international, mostly European, institutions like France's Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also offered support.
The government is working to approve several documents in preparation for the launch of the tenders.
“According to the timetable for the launch of the tenders, in February this year, the amendments to the Regulation on the conduct of tenders for the status of eligible large producer, the appointment of the ‘Tender Commission,' the publication of the tender documentation and, during February-March this year, its consultation with stakeholders will be approved,” said the government.
Provided that the entire capacity allocated in the “fixed-price” support scheme is awarded following the tender procedure, the government plans to organize a single tender procedure for the 2024-2025 period to grant the status of “large eligible producer”.
“These capacities of 165 MW in total for wind and solar are allocated as a result of modeling of energy consumption, generation, availability upon the grid, and other parameters, and the goal is to have 410 MW of renewable energy capacity installed overall (both under feed-in tariffs and fixed prices),” said Novac. “After 2025, we will have the Vulcanesti – Chisinau transmission line operational and two other transmission projects in the works, so it will be possible to integrate more renewable energy.”
In 2025, the Ministry of Energy will initiate a new national power system modeling exercise to determine the capacity of renewable energy under the support schemes in line with its renewables target of 30% of gross final energy consumption by 2030.
The Ministry of Energy has also developed and is promoting the draft National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan, a policy document developed in accordance with the provisions of the European Union Regulation No 2018/1999 on the governance of the Energy Union.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
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https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/01/31/moldova-to-launch-first-tenders-for-60-mw-of-fixed-price-solar/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:40Z
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Metea Valley High School in Aurora will present “Winter Scenes,” three student-directed one-act shows, at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 8 to 10, at the high school, 1801 N. Eola Road.
General admission tickets are $10. Students and seniors pay $5.
“Winter Scenes” began as a way for students to experience directing and producing small scenes or one-act plays while working in small groups with other like-minded students.
The plays are “Cut” by playwright Ed Monk, directed by Kai Szala and Charlie Nordahl, is about a play gone wrong; “Speed Date” by playwright Janet Allard, which is about a fast-paced dating game, is directed by Nisha Iyer and Gabi Gariazo; “Imagine” is written and directed by students Ciniyah Young and Nevaeh Maxey. The performance features a social commentary about equality and preserving through inequities and oppression.
Patrons are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes before showtime. Seating is first come, first served.
For more information, go to www.meteatheater.org.
Geneva fundraiser all about trees
Geneva’s Natural Resources Committee, Geneva Park District Foundation and Geneva Library Foundation will host the 13th annual Wine, Cheese and Trees fundraiser Feb. 24 at the Geneva Public Library, 227 S. Seventh St. in Geneva.
At the event, set for 7 to 10 p.m, six wines and three craft beers will be accompanied with cheese, appetizers and desserts from local merchants and bakers. The evening also will feature live music, a silent auction, raffles, a “wine wall” and a live auction, organizers said.
The Beacon-News
Some of the live auction items up for bid include an instant wine cellar, two Wisconsin getaways, an E-bike, Chicago White Sox baseball tickets, a one-week stay at a Wyndham vacation resort and more.
Wine, Cheese and Trees tickets can be purchased for $35 per person or four tickets for $120 at Geneva Wine Cellars and Tasting Room or the Uncommon Find, both at 227 S. Third St. in Geneva, or online at https://www.simpletix.com/e/wine-cheese-and-trees-tickets-150500.
The Natural Resources Committee has pledged to use the fundraiser money toward bolstering the city’s parkway tree canopy, event organizers said. To date, the committee has funded the planting of more than 550 trees, including in downtown, Geneva parkways, City Hall, local parks and each of the schools in Geneva Community Unit School District 304, according to a press release about the event.
The Park District Foundation will use event proceeds to purchase new trees throughout the district.
The Library Foundation will dedicate funds to support programming and to enhance the library grounds with plantings, art and other educational features, event organizers said.
The groups are hoping to raise $50,000 at the Feb. 24 event.
For more information about Wine, Cheese and Trees, contact Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jay Womack at 630-299-9945 or email him at jay.womack@gza.com.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-aurora-briefs-st-0202-20240131-sntdtdr3mvahzotx2qqs4o57gm-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:57:44Z
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Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.
Copyright 2024 NPR
Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.publicradioeast.org/2024-01-31/expected-to-be-a-big-deal-alzheimers-drug-is-pulled-after-disappointing-sales
| 2024-01-31T23:57:45Z
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Mark Zuckerberg apologizes to families of social media victims at Senate hearing
In a dramatic moment on Capitol Hill, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, at Sen. Josh Hawley's urging, stood up and apologized to the family members of children who had been harmed by social media. Zuckerberg is testifying before a Senate panel with the CEOs of other social media platforms about child exploitation and safety.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/mark-zuckerberg-apologizes-to-families-of-social-media-victims-at-senate-hearing/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:46Z
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ZoomerMedia's compensation philosophy is to foster entrepreneurship at all levels of the organization through, among other things, the granting of stock options, a significant component of executive compensation. As such the Company announces it has granted 5,000,000 stock options to an executive as part of an employment package. The stock option grant is in accordance with TSX Policy 4.4, the rules of the TSX Venture Exchange and the Corporation's Stock Option Plan. The options are exercisable at $0.05 per share, one-third vesting on January 31, 2025, one-third on January 31, 2026 and one third on January 31, 2027. These options have a term of five years. This stock option grant is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.
About ZoomerMedia Limited
Founded by television and media icon Moses Znaimer in 2008, ZoomerMedia Limited is a multimedia company devoted to creating content, services and experiences for Canada's most powerful audiences: the 17.2 million people aged 45-plus aka "Zoomers", and the 13.7 million Millennials and Gen Zs, coincidentally also called "Zoomers", who follow in their footsteps.
ZoomerMedia operates 5 TV, 2 Radio, 3 Print, and 22 Digital properties including the newly acquired youth-friendly local news and lifestyle digital publications blogTO and DailyHive; and the subject specific The Peak and Ludwig-Van covering Canada's business and Canada's arts scene respectively. ZoomerMedia produces original TV, Radio, Podcast and Print content, offers clients creative audio and video production services, and bespoke events on site at its 2.6-acre complex in Toronto's Liberty Village.
For specific ZoomerMedia property names and focus, please see below.
ZoomerMedia's Television properties include: VisionTV, available in 7.5 million households is Canada's home for British comedy and drama series, plus uplifting movies, music, news, and multicultural and multilingual faith programming; ONETV: The Exercise & Entertainment Channel, combines original yoga, pilates, tai chi, and cardio dance and kettlebell fitness series with British serial soaps, dramas and American movies; JoyTV in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey and the Fraser Valley, and FAITH TV in Winnipeg are devoted to broadcasting Christian, multi-faith, and local content.
ZoomerMedia's Zoomer Digital Network (ZDN): reaching 18.5 million monthly active users with over a billion annual pageviews and social media engagements, ZDN comprises: DailyHive, dailyhive in Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec, and The Maritimes, is one of Canada's most followed news brands with over 10 million monthly active users, over 270 million annual page views, and 3.1 million followers across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), TikTok, and LinkedIn; blogTO, blogto, Toronto's unrivalled local publisher across digital and social media platforms, bringing in 8 million monthly active users, and over 213 million page views annually; Zoomer Magazine's EverythingZoomer, Canada's leading provider of online content targeting the 45-plus; The Peak readthepeak, serving 150,000 Canadian professionals and business leaders with the top global business, finance, and tech stories of the day packaged in smart, fast, and easily digestible formats; and Ludwig Van, Ludwig-Van, Canada's leading and fastest growing digital voice for the latest classical, opera, chamber and choral music headlines, reviews, comments and personality driven features and interviews.
ZoomerMedia's Radio properties include: The New Classical FM, Canada's only commercial all classical music radio station broadcasting over three frequencies in a unique regional Ontario network: 96 CFMZ-FM Toronto (GTA), 103 CFMX-FM Cobourg (Eastern Ontario), and 102 CFMO-FM Collingwood (Southern Georgian Bay); and Zoomer Radio, The Original Greatest Hits, the biggest broadcast footprint in Canada also reaching 28 American States, and broadcasting simultaneously both in AM and FM in Toronto (740AM CFZM-AM and 96 CFZM-FM).
ZoomerMedia's Print properties include: ZOOMER Magazine, the Company's flagship magazine and Canada's largest paid circulation magazine for the 45-plus market; On The Bay Magazine, the dominant regional lifestyle magazine published quarterly for the 20 towns and villages of Ontario's Southern Georgian Bay; and Tonic Magazine, a regional health and wellness magazine distributed across the City of Toronto.
For further information, please contact:
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https://menafn.com/1107793873/Zoomermedia-Limited-Announces-Stock-Option-Grant
| 2024-01-31T23:57:46Z
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In the world of adoption, the journey to connect children with loving families is both delicate and complex.
The 2024 Florida Legislative Session began with a proposed bill to cap professional fees and birth mother support in private adoptions, which threatens to unravel the fabric of this vital service.
The consequences of such legislation would reverberate far beyond the ledger, affecting the most vulnerable among us: expectant mothers facing difficult decisions and children awaiting a place to call home.
However, thanks to the steadfast leadership of Rep. Dana Trabulsy, the Florida House has removed the dangerous language from her proposed bill. I am grateful to Rep. Trabulsy for working with the adoption community over the last few weeks and for being so dedicated to protecting the well-being of birth mothers, adoptive families, and adoptive children in our state.
Despite these positive strides in the House, the Senate’s version of the bill continues to include provisions that would impose rigid caps on fees and expenses. Such restrictions would jeopardize the viability of private adoption in Florida, creating insurmountable barriers for many involved in the adoption process.
Capping agency fees at limits that have no correlation to the actual cost of handling adoption cases will result in the closure of most adoption agencies in the state, many of which are nonprofit organizations and already rely on fundraising to sustain their programs. By limiting in-state adoption options, we inadvertently push women toward entities outside of Florida’s regulatory purview or, worse, into the hands of unregulated and illegal facilitators. We must remember that the current system requires court approval for agency fees and birthmother living expenses over $5,000 precisely to prevent financial exploitation.
In a state that has recently limited access to abortion, it is essential that we preserve adoption as a viable choice for pregnant women. For some, placing their baby for adoption is the right decision, and it is a choice that should be supported with all the resources and professional guidance necessary. This legislation will mean that many birth mothers have no choice but to turn to local government bureaucracy for adoption services. Such systems are notoriously slow, often taking many months or years longer than private adoptions — time that neither the children nor the families can afford.
The choice to pursue adoption is a profound act of love and selflessness by expectant mothers. It’s a decision that benefits not just the children and adoptive parents but enriches our society as a whole. As such, we must ensure that the path to adoption remains accessible and viable. The Senate bill, as it stands, threatens to close this path for many, at a time when we should be expanding it.
The Senate’s current trajectory risks diminishing the adoption options within our state, potentially increasing the burden on government services and pushing women toward less regulated, out-of-state alternatives. These are outcomes that we can — and must — avoid.
As a community of adoption specialists, we stand ready to work with our Senators to craft legislation that reflects the careful balance needed to protect the interests of all parties in the adoption process. We owe it to our children, to expectant mothers, and to families longing to welcome a new life into their homes.
Let us be leaders in promoting a compassionate, thoughtful approach to adoption. I urge the Senate to reconsider the implications of mandatory fee caps and to join the House in crafting a bill that supports the choice of adoption — a choice that should be celebrated and protected as a cornerstone of family creation in Florida.
___
Attorney Robert C. Lamarche, JD, LCSW, is the Executive Director for ACF Adoptions, a private non–profit adoption agency that has been providing services since 1992. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Fellow with the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. He can be reached at: [email protected].
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https://floridapolitics.com/archives/656361-robert-lamarche-preserving-adoption-in-florida/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:46Z
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After the chasing duo of Arsenal and Manchester City both winning their games by two-goal scorelines to close the gap on league-leading Liverpool, the Reds one-upped their competitors by demolishing a bloodless Chelsea at Anfield, restoring their five-point lead in the table and improving their superior goal difference.
It was Liverpool’s first regulation time win over Chelsea since 2020, and it was a comprehensive and comfortable one that could quite easily have had a wider margin.
Below the fold, then, we take a look at some of the winners and losers on the night.
Winners
The Pride of Killen: There is simply no way of getting around it: tonight belongs to Conor Bradley, and Conor Bradley alone. The 20-year old had received rave reviews following some promising appearances — notching assists against both Bournemouth and Norwich — in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury absence, but tonight Bradley put on a masterclass.
A pair of assists, where the second was a perfect cross onto the head of an onrushing Dominik Szoboszlai, and goal taken like a seasoned poacher, breaking into the box from the right and slotting the ball across the keeper and into the bottom corner, are the easy top-line stats, but — a few jelly-legged moments immediately following his goal aside — the Northern Irish international was essentially flawless on both sides of the ball.
Chelsea threw €200m worth of wingers and wingbacks at the Castlederg youngster on the night but none of Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk or Ben Chilwell could get anything going against Bradley, as he finished the game with three tackles at a 100% success rate and three blocked crosses to go with his goal contributions.
With the match wrapped up, Bradley was replaced by Trent Alexander-Arnold on 69 minutes, and with a visit to Arsenal coming up on Sunday, a debate must be had about whether the Englishman will be shunted inside to midfield to make way for the man in form.
Woodwork Enthusiasts: If you like the sound of ball on metal, this was the game for you. Darwin Núñez, who simply cannot catch a break in front of goal even with a double in his last league game, hit the post four times tonight — a Premier League record — including once from the penalty spot, as he took 11 shots without scoring.
He then got an assists with his first and only key pass on the night. Because that’s how it works for the Uruguayan this season.
Sending a Message: Questions have been asked to the point of tedium over the past few days about whether Liverpool will be able to maintain focus on the task at hand following Jürgen Klopp’s announcement that he’s stepping down at the end of the season, and for now, it appears the team has given their answer, emphatically. This was not a closely contested game, and very much looked like 1st vs 10th for the entirety.
The Reds now have the most points, the most goals scored, the fewest goals conceded, and the best expected goals difference in the league, while their best player who’s also the league top scorer and the top assister hasn’t featured for a month.
They might be good.
Losers
Boehly’s Blues: Goodness me that was dreadful from Chelsea. The 28 shots the Blues faced tonight was the joint-highest they have conceded since records began in 2003 and the 13 shots on target was an outright record. While the teams shared nearly equal possession, passing volume and pass success, the match took place almost entirely in the Chelsea half — to illustrate, right-back Conor Bradley took 78% of his touches in Chelsea territory — and a few spoiled breaks aside, the visitors simply didn’t create anything of substances, generating a total of four shots, while also failing to shut down the Reds at all.
Certainly, Christopher Nkunku reduced the deficit through a terrific piece of skill with 20 minutes to go, and Mauricio Pochettino will be angered neither of the Blues’ penalty shouts — both entirely legitimate, in the category of ‘seen them given’ — were heeded, but on the balance of play, Chelsea deserved to lose and lose big tonight.
Having spent literally a billion pounds on players in the last 18 months, Chelsea appear entirely unable to climb their way out of mid-table, and with the sort of away form they’re displaying these days — six losses in their last seven — leapfrogging teams ahead of them in an increasingly competitive upper-mid tier of the league might prove a tall task for the Argentinian lemon enthusiast.
What Happens Next
A potentially significant event in the title race is coming up on Sunday, as Liverpool travel to London to take on title hopefuls and handball aficionados Arsenal, in a match that could see the Gunners either close the gap or get left dangerously far behind, before the Reds have a full week of recovery ahead of their visit from 19th-placed Burnley the following weekend.
Up the best in every category Reds!
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2024/1/31/24057469/digging-deeper-liverpool-4-1-win-chelsea-epl-2023-24-conor-mfin-bradley-woodwork-boehly
| 2024-01-31T23:57:47Z
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A beheading video was on YouTube for hours, raising questions about why it wasn't taken down sooner
NEW YORK (AP) - A graphic video from a Pennsylvania man accused of beheading his father that circulated for hours on YouTube has put a spotlight yet again on gaps in social media companies' ability to prevent horrific postings from spreading across the web.
Police said Wednesday that they charged Justin Mohn, 32, with first-degree murder and abusing a corpse after he beheaded his father, Michael, in their Bucks County home and publicized it in a 14-minute YouTube video that anyone, anywhere could see.
News of the incident - which drew comparisons to the beheading videos posted online by the Islamic State militants at the height of their prominence nearly a decade ago - came as the CEOs of Meta, TikTok and other social media companies were testifying in front of federal lawmakers frustrated by what they see as a lack of progress on child safety online. YouTube, which is owned by Google, did not attend the hearing despite its status as one of the most popular platforms among teens.
The disturbing video from Pennsylvania follows other horrific clips that have been broadcast on social media in recent years, including domestic mass shootings livestreamed from Louisville, Kentucky; Memphis, Tennessee; and Buffalo, New York - as well as carnages filmed abroad in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the German city of Halle.
Middletown Township Police Capt. Pete Feeney said the video in Pennsylvania was posted at about 10 p.m. Tuesday and online for about five hours, a time lag that raises questions about whether social media platforms are delivering on moderation practices that might be needed more than ever amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and an extremely contentious presidential election in the U.S.
"It´s another example of the blatant failure of these companies to protect us," said Alix Fraser, director of the Council for Responsible Social Media at the nonprofit advocacy organization Issue One. "We can´t trust them to grade their own homework."
A vehicle is parked in the driveway of a home that was a scene of a murder in Levittown, Pa., on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. A man has been charged with first-degree murder and abusing a corpse after his father was found decapitated. Police are investigating a video on social media that allegedly shows him holding up the head. The father was found beheaded in the bathroom of his home in Levittown, on Tuesday night. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A spokesperson for YouTube said the company removed the video, deleted Mohn´s channel and was tracking and removing any re-uploads that might pop up. The video-sharing site says it uses a combination of artificial intelligence and human moderators to monitor its platform, but did not respond to questions about how the video was caught or why it wasn't done sooner.
Major social media companies moderate content with the help of powerful automated systems, which can often catch prohibited content before a human can. But that technology can sometimes fall short when a video is violent and graphic in a way that is new or unusual, as it was in this case, said Brian Fishman, co-founder of the trust and safety technology startup Cinder.
That´s when human moderators are "really, really critical," he said. "AI is improving, but it´s not there yet."
Roughly 40 minutes after midnight Eastern time on Wednesday, the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, a group set up by tech companies to prevent these types of videos from spreading online, said it alerted its members about the video. GIFCT allows the platform with the original footage to submit a "hash" - a digital fingerprint corresponding to a video - and notifies nearly two dozen other member companies so they can restrict it from their platforms.
But by Wednesday morning, the video had already spread to X, where a graphic clip of Mohn holding his father´s head remained on the platform for at least seven hours and received 20,000 views. The company, formerly known as Twitter, did not respond to a request for comment.
Experts in radicalization say that social media and the internet have lowered the barrier to entry for people to explore extremist groups and ideologies, allowing any person who may be predisposed to violence to find a community that reinforces those ideas.
In the video posted after the killing, Mohn described his father as a 20-year federal employee, espoused a variety of conspiracy theories and ranted against the government.
Most social platforms have policies to remove violent and extremist content. But they can´t catch everything, and the emergence of many newer, less closely moderated sites has allowed more hateful ideas to fester unchecked, said Michael Jensen, senior researcher at the University of Maryland-based Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, or START.
Despite the obstacles, social media companies need to be more vigilant about regulating violent content, said Jacob Ware, a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
"The reality is that social media has become a front line in extremism and terrorism," Ware said. "That´s going to require more serious and committed efforts to push back."
Nora Benavidez, senior counsel at the media advocacy group Free Press, said among the tech reforms she would like to see are more transparency about what kinds of employees are being impacted by layoffs, and more investment in trust and safety workers.
Google, which owns YouTube, this month laid off hundreds of employees working on its hardware, voice assistance and engineering teams. Last year, the company said it cut 12,000 workers "across Alphabet, product areas, functions, levels and regions," without offering additional detail.
___
AP journalists Beatrice Dupuy and Mike Balsamo in New York, and Mike Catalini in Levittown, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.
___
The Associated Pressreceives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP´s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
A vehicle is parked in the driveway of a home that was a scene of a murder in Levittown, Pa., on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. A man has been charged with first-degree murder and abusing a corpse after his father was found decapitated. Police are investigating a video on social media that allegedly shows him holding up the head. The father was found beheaded in the bathroom of his home in Levittown, on Tuesday night. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030841/A-beheading-video-YouTube-hours-raising-questions-wasnt-taken-sooner.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:57:47Z
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SolaX Power has introduced two new lines of integrated energy storage systems. The X1-IES series includes four models, with rated output of 3 kW to 8 kW, while the X3-IES series includes five models, with rated output power ranging from 5 kW to 15 kW.
“It supports up to 200% photovoltaic (PV) oversizing, 200% PV input, and a maximum of 20A DC input per Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT),” the company said in a statement. “This remarkable capability ensures that the system operates at peak efficiency, translating to higher yields and a more sustainable energy output.”
All of the systems use lithium-ion batteries with a nominal capacity of 5.1 kWh. The X1-IES series includes models with one to four batteries, ranging in a capacity from 5.1 kWh to 20.4 kWh. The X3-IES series includes models with two to six batteries, ranging from 10.2 kWh to 30.7 kWh of capacity.
“With a switchover time of less than 10 milliseconds, the transition from grid to backup power is virtually instantaneous,” the company said. “The system can handle an impressive 200% Emergency Power Supply (EPS) overload for up to 10 seconds and boasts a 50 A charging/discharging rate.”
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All of the systems have an operating temperature of -30 C to 53 C. Users have the option to integrate safety features such as Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) and Rapid Shutdown, while all of them come with Type II Surge Protective Devices (SPD) on both AC and DC sides.
“The X1/X3-IES manages energy with its artificial intelligence-driven features,” the manufacturer said. “Smart Schedule, Intelligent Loads Management, and Smart Scene capabilities allow for control and customization, ensuring that energy is allocated and utilized efficiently in accordance with user preferences and demands.”
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
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https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/01/31/solax-power-releases-new-residential-batteries/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:47Z
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Orland Park
Christ Lutheran Church, 14700 S. 94th Ave.: Sub sandwich sale before and after the services at 5 p.m. Feb. 10 and 8 and 10 a.m. Feb. 11. Sandwich choices are ham, turkey, roast beef or a comb of all three. Donations will be taken. Proceeds will be used to raise money for future youth events. Information: www.christlutheranorland.com or 708-349-0431.
Frankfort
St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 12 W. Sauk Trail: BYOB Bingo from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 10. It’s open to adults 21 and older. Cost is $20 per person and $2 per additional card, cash only. A split the pot cash prize will be available. Information: 815-469-2220 or email stpetersfrankfort@gmail.com.
Harvey
St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 15245 Loomis Ave.: Services at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. The church provides a weekly food distribution for those in need from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays. Food is supplied by the Greater Chicago Food Repository. Information: www.stclementsharvey.org
Oak Lawn
St. Gerald Catholic Church, 9310 S. 55th Court.: Casino Night from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Jonathan Collins Activity Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. and gaming starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $65, which includes $1,000 in poker chips, canned beer, wine and light appetizers. Raffles will take place. Tickets available at www.stgeraldhns.com. It’s sponsored by the St. Gerald Holy Name Society men’s club. Information: info@stgeraldhns.com or 708-422-0234, Ext. 124.
Palos Heights
Anchor Church, 6600 W. 127th St.: Blast Wintr Wknd camp for youths, Feb. 16 to Feb. 19. The four-day retreat in northern Wisconsin is for students in sixth to 12th grade. Participants will have fun and enjoy community while diving deep into God’s word and growing in worship. The group leaves at 4 p.m. Feb. 16 from the church and return at 7 p.m. Feb. 19. Cost is $235. Registration is required. Sign up on the events page on the website. Information: www.anchorpalos.org or 708-925-9296.
Palos Park
The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, 12219 S. 86th Ave.: Game Night at Transfiguration from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Attendees enjoy a winter’s night of fun and games for all ages, starting with pizza and salad. Games for all ages will be provided but participants may bring their favorites. A variety will be played at the same time. An offering will be taken. RSVP. Information: 708-448-1200.
What’s going on at your church? Let us know by sending us an email including time, date, place and public contact information at least two weeks before the event or reservation deadline at religion@southtownstar.com.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/sta-l-religionnews-0204-20240131-rdxvnv5zpjhl3mwzj3kd2jk6hy-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:57:50Z
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Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina
89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach
90.3 WKNS Kinston 88.5 WHYC Swan Quarter 89.9 W210CF Greenville
Aya Batraway is an NPR International Correspondent based in Dubai. She joined in 2022 from the Associated Press, where she was an editor and reporter for over 11 years.
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https://www.publicradioeast.org/2024-01-31/from-the-occupied-west-bank-an-emergency-hotline-assists-rescue-efforts-in-gaza
| 2024-01-31T23:57:51Z
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Mark Zuckerberg, Jason Citron more tech CEOs make opening remarks at child safety hearing
Big tech chief executives, including Discord's Jason Citron, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Snapchat's Evan Spiegel, TikTok's Shou Chew and X's Linda Yaccarino, are testifying Wednesday in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on their child safety policies.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/mark-zuckerberg-jason-citron-tech-ceos-opening-remarks-child-safety-senate-hearing/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:52Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Hill Foundation is proud to announce the inaugural cohort of its new
Environmental Leadership Initiative (ELI) ,
a groundbreaking fellowship program that seeks to advance the movement for environmental justice by investing in the development and empowerment of emerging leaders from communities across California.
The program will support the individual and collective growth of an intergenerational cohort of environmental justice leaders as they work to strengthen the influence of their respective organizations and networks-with the goal of building power in communities that have been marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by environmental harms and economic inequities.
Liberty Hill has provided critical training and capacity building support to community activists leading grassroots organizing in Los Angeles for decades through our Wally Marks Leadership Institute. This new
Environmental Leadership Initiative expands upon that work and commitment to building power in communities most impacted by systemic oppression, while supporting the fight for all Californians to have access to healthy communities, free of pollution. With a focus on the statewide level, the initiative aims to extend these efforts beyond Los Angeles, addressing environmental challenges and advocating for healthier communities across the entire state.
The twenty-two inaugural fellows were carefully chosen from an applicant pool of nearly 120 individuals through a comprehensive three-part application process, which included input from the program's community-based Advisory Council. These remarkable fellows, hailing from diverse backgrounds such as BIPOC and immigrant communities, Native California and tribal communities, and geographically diverse regions across the state, are dedicated organizers, activists, artists, and educators leading critical work in their regions.
Click here to view the list of our 2024 Environmental Leadership Initiative Fellows!
By bringing together this talented and diverse group, the Environmental Leadership Initiative seeks to nourish a deeper level of solidarity, advocacy, and collaboration across the state to build a well-resourced and expansive network of environmental justice leaders in California. The Environmental Leadership Initiative program is hosted by Liberty Hill Foundation, through the generous support and investment from the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation and the David & Lucile Packard Foundation.
To learn more about the Liberty Hill Foundation and the Environmental Leadership Initiative, visit
About Liberty Hill Foundation
Liberty Hill Foundation is a laboratory for social change philanthropy. We leverage the power of community organizers, donor activists, and allies to advance social justice through strategic investment in grants, leadership training, and campaigns. We envision a society in which all people have a powerful voice, including those currently shut out of our democracy, people cut off from opportunities because of their skin color, gender, or sexual orientation, where they live, or where they were born. We will not rest until society provides justice and equality for all.
SOURCE Liberty Hill Foundation
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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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| 2024-01-31T23:57:52Z
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Before launching his ill-fated campaign for the White House, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was a star. Again and again, Republican voters said they saw him as the future of the party — a potential vice president who, after serving four years alongside Donald Trump, could become the party’s standard-bearer and run for two terms.
But after a scorched-earth Primary in which Trump pounded DeSantis viciously for the better part of a year, interviews with voters across early-voting states suggest the Florida Governor may have an uphill battle if he chooses to run for President again in 2028. Many Trump supporters not only dislike DeSantis, but echo Trump’s assertions that DeSantis betrayed him and say they would never consider him again.
“I think he stabbed Trump in the back,” said Pamela Shinkwin, 73, who lives in Massachusetts and traveled to New Hampshire for one of the former President’s final rallies before his double-digit victory in the Primary. DeSantis’ campaign against Trump had soured her on the Governor, she said.
Mary Sullivan, 76, a retired registered nurse from Manchester, slammed both DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley for daring to run in the first place.
“They should never have ever tried to go against Donald Trump for what he’s done for this country. I just can’t even imagine,” she said after stopping by Trump’s campaign headquarters.
Asked if she would ever vote for the Florida Governor in the future, Sullivan offered an emphatic and repeated “No.”
“He doesn’t deserve it,” she said. “He backstabbed President Trump. If he kept on the Trump train all along, stayed in Florida, supported him, then maybe he would become, eventually, a running mate with President Trump. And like everybody says in ’28. But no, he showed his true colors.”
The hostility reflects the deep connection many of Trump’s supporters have with the former President, a bond that Trump has harnessed to tear down rivals in the Primary and influence Republicans in Congress. Whether or not Trump is elected again, he will likely wield enormous influence in future Republican contests, complicating the calculus of anyone seeking the party’s nomination in 2028 or beyond.
DeSantis’ allies believe the Florida Governor has a clear path to another presidential bid should he want one. His current term ends in January of 2027 when he’ll be just 49 years old. Pointing to national polls, they say he lost the Primary not because he was unpopular with primary voters, but because those same voters liked Trump more.
DeSantis endorsed Trump when he dropped out, calling him a better option than President Joe Biden. But he hasn’t yet offered an olive branch to angry Trump supporters. Instead, he has needled Trump, including responding to a news story about some Republicans in the Florida legislature wanting to help fund Trump’s legal bills by posting: “But not the Florida Republican who wields the veto pen …”
The former President has always fought viciously. During his 2016 campaign, he belittled Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as “Little Marco,” insulted Carly Fiorina’s face and suggested Ted Cruz’s father had somehow been involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, while also criticizing the Texas Senator’s wife.
But his attack lines against DeSantis cut especially deep as he cast the Governor’s decision to run as a betrayal. At nearly every one of his rallies, Trump dramatically recounted how DeSantis had begged for his endorsement while first running for Governor. (DeSantis leaned so much on Trump’s support in 2018 that his campaign ran an ad that showed him building a toy border wall and teaching one of his children to read with a Trump campaign sign.)
Trump’s campaign, his allied super PAC and allies also ridiculed the governor, highlighting unflattering stories and rumors about his awkward interactions, his eating habits and his choice of boots. For some, the mission was personal: A handful had previously worked for the former Governor — some with bad experiences — giving them unique insight into the candidate’s weaknesses.
Indeed, Trump continued to mock the man he’d labeled “Ron DeSanctimonious” — or “DeSanctus” for short — long after the Governor had slipped in the polls, like a lion dragging his captured prey.
DeSantis, meanwhile, weary of alienating the Trump supporters he was trying to win over, was often reluctant to hit Trump too hard and focused more on Haley, his most prominent rival for second place.
Trump’s attacks seemed to work in the states where they were targeted. A CNN/University of New Hampshire poll conducted earlier this month found that only about 3 in 10 GOP Primary voters in New Hampshire had favorable opinions of DeSantis, down from 44% in a September poll.
But national polls are far more favorable. An ABC News/Ipsos Poll conducted after the Iowa caucuses found 64% of Republicans have a favorable view of him, as did a majority of Republicans in an AP-NORC poll conducted in December.
DeSantis will now shift back to his day job as Florida’s governor, backed by a Republican supermajority in the legislature that is expected to help him continue to rack up legislative wins on the issues that matter most to the Republican base.
DeSantis’ allies also say he improved as a candidate as the race went on, appearing more comfortable in the national spotlight. It was just too late to save his anemic 2024 campaign.
Still, the charges of disloyalty, in particular, seem to resonate.
Melissa Davis, 56, a small business owner who lives in Windsor Heights, Iowa, and served as a Trump caucus captain and volunteer in the state, expressed deep disappointment with DeSantis after admiring his record in Florida.
“I was a DeSantis fan, admittedly, until he ran against my president,” she said. “DeSantis wasn’t loyal to my president. And so I would never consider voting for him ever, ever again.”
Davis went as far as to cast him as a traitor.
“It’s very sad because I really thought he was on our team,” she said. “So it’s very disappointing to know that he could stab you in the back. He’s a traitor to our great President who helped him get elected. What’s he going to do to me if he’s my President? So no, no voting for DeSantis.”
For some, DeSantis’s decision to endorse Trump as he exited the race also wasn’t enough to redeem him.
Edward X. Young, who traveled from New Jersey and was attending his 69th Trump rally in Rochester, New Hampshire, said the effort was “too little, too late.” For diehard Trump supporters like himself, he said, DeSantis “permanently tainted his image in our eyes.”
“Me personally and my friends used to like and admire DeSantis a lot. And I bought one of those flags, ‘Trump-DeSantis.’ I’ll never fly it again,” Young said.
Still, others were more open to the prospect.
Jacob Morgan, 34, who traveled with friends from upstate New York to volunteer for Trump in New Hampshire, said he sees DeSantis as a more “polished Trump” with a bright future ahead.
“I think he’s done a great job in Florida,” said Morgan. “If, for instance, let’s say, for whatever reason, Trump was taken out of the picture, then yeah, he would be the guy.”
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Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
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https://floridapolitics.com/archives/656362-traitor-after-bitter-primary-ron-desantis-may-struggle-to-win-over-donald-trump-supporters-if-he-runs-again/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:52Z
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Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the Miami Marlins go to salary arbitration hearing
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the Miami Marlins went to salary arbitration Wednesday, when the outfielder asked a three-person panel to be paid $2.9 million this year and the team argued for $2,625,000.
A decision by Margaret Brogan, Jeanne Vonhof and Scott Buchheit is expected Thursday, which is Chisholm's 26th birthday.
Chisholm hit .250 with 19 homers, 51 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 25 tries last year, when he was shifted to center field from second base and shortstop. He went 0 for 8 with four strikeout as the Marlins were swept by Philadelphia in their NL Wild Card Series.
The speedy Chisholm was an All-Star in 2022, when he batted .254 with 14 homers, 45 RBIs and 12 steals in 17 attempts. He didn't play after June 28 because of a back injury.
Chisholm had a $749,500 salary last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time.
Miami also is scheduled for hearings with second baseman Luis Arraez ($12 million vs. $10.6 million) and left-hander Tanner Scott ($5.7 million vs. $5.15 million). Arraez beat the Marlins last year and was awarded $6.1 million rather than $5 million, then won his second straight batting title after leading the AL with Minnesota in 2022.
FILE -Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm Jr. attempts a bunt during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Miami. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the Miami Marlins went to salary arbitration Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 when the outfielder asked a three-person panel to be paid $2.9 million this year and the team asked he be given $2,625,000.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Chisholm was the second player to go to a hearing this year. All-Star outfielder Austin Hays asked for $6.3 million on Tuesday and the Baltimore Orioles argued for $5.85 million. A decision in that case is not expected until next week.
They are among 18 players scheduled for hearings, which run through Feb. 16.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030849/Jazz-Chisholm-Jr-Miami-Marlins-salary-arbitration-hearing.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:57:53Z
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US-based PV manufacturer Suniva is proceeding with its plans to restart and modernize its manufacturing facility in Norcross, Georgia. Its goal is to kick off production this spring with a capacity of 1 GW and eventually scale up to 2.5 GW per year.
It has ordered equipment for the thermal process steps of annealing, diffusion and PECVD from Germany’s Centrotherm. The last of a total of three system packages for the 1 GW production line will be delivered in January, the German PV equipment supplier said this week.
“Centrotherm already supplied turnkey production lines to Suniva in 2008 and 2009, and we are proud to contribute to the resurgence of the photovoltaic industry in the USA,” said Jan von Schuckmann, CEO of Centrotherm. “As part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which supports domestic manufacturing of clean energy equipment, we expect further impetus from the US market.”
Since its passage in August 2022, the IRA has ushered in a new era of US clean energy manufacturing and installation. Based on tracking by nonpartisan trade group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), over 274 major clean energy projects have been announced across 41 states, leading to over $110 billion in private investment announcements and the creation of over 95,000 jobs. In 2023 alone, more than 80% of all projects and 95% of capital investments announced were in the manufacturing industry, said E2.
Suniva announced plans in October to restart the idled factory in Georgia, which operated at around 450 MW of production capacity at the time of its closure in 2017.
“The reopening of production in Norcross is the first step in rebuilding solar cell manufacturing in the United States, which will bolster our country's energy independence and security,” said Matt Card, president and COO of Suniva.
Popular content
Once considered one of the largest solar cell and panel manufacturer in the United States, Suniva filed for bankruptcy in 2017 after claiming it could not compete with cheap solar imports.
In response to a Section 201 trade petition filed by Suniva and SolarWorld, the Trump administration imposed duties in 2018 on imported solar cells and panels for a period of four years. The tariffs were extended but somewhat eased by the US government in 2023.
According to Suniva’s Card, the tariffs have helped US panel production, but he credited subsidies contained in the IRA for finally enabling Suniva to produce solar cells again.
Suniva has been owned by New York investment firm Lion Point Capital since it exited bankruptcy in 2019. Last year, the manufacturer secured a $110 million financing commitment from Orion Infrastructure Capital which it said would use to purchase new manufacturing equipment.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
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https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/01/31/suniva-buys-production-equipment-to-restart-idled-factory/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:54Z
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After the weekend’s disappointment in the FA Cup, Tottenham Hotspur were forced to bounce back quickly, with midweek action in the Premier League against fellow London club Brentford. Brentford had tested Spurs in the first fixture of the season, with the Lilywhites only able to achieve a solitary point on the road.
James Maddison got his first start since his absence due to an ankle injury, and Oliver Skipp returned to the starting XI also, in place of Brennan Johnson and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Brentford, struggling with injuries to their attacking band, lined up in a 3-5-2 shape, with striker Ivan Toney available after seeing no further punishment following “ball-move-gate” against Nottingham Forest in the previous round.
It was a fluid start early for Spurs, with Maddison heavily involved. A quick Kulusevski break in behind the Brentford defense provided excitement, but the Bees recovered, and the Swede was flagged for offside. Keane Lewis-Potter found himself in a similar situation for Brentford, but Mickey van der Ven’s pace diffused the situation, with replays showing the Bees wingback was probably offside. Spurs’ high line continued to be under pressure as Brentford broke once more, with Mads Roerslev this time finding the back of the net from the right of the box. It was an excellent finish, but there was a clear offside in the buildup and the goal was chalked off.
That didn’t matter to Brentford, however, as they soon gave themselves a genuine lead. An awful giveaway on the halfway line from Destiny Udogie allowed Brentford to surge forward, before Ivan Toney’s shot stung the palms of Guglielmo Vicario, ricocheting back into the 18-yard box. Neal Maupay was on hand to squeeze the ball goalward and silence the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium crowd.
Tottenham were looking to hit back, and almost did immediately as a Timo Werner wormburner nearly snuck its way inside the near post. The German had a huge opportunity off the resultant set piece, but could only scuff his header wide with the goal begging. Richarlison was the next to have an opportunity, with a beautifully struck rocket from outside the 18 only narrowly missing the goal.
Spurs had appeared to be in the ascendancy early, but Brentford started to look more and more dangerous as their high press clicked into gear. Maupay and Nathan Collins nearly conspired to find the net following a goalbox scramble, before another shot crept past Vicario’s post. It was Tottenham, however, who had the ball in the goal next after Collins appeared to lose the ball in his own six-yard area. The referee flagged for a foul, deeming Richarlison had clipped the defender, and replays showed only the slightest of touches on Collins who embellished the contact heavily; it was enough for VAR to uphold the onfield referee’s decision.
Brentford were next to go close, after Ivan Toney managed to get himself a free header off a free kick. The header was powerfully struck, but too close to Vicario, who made another good save. The Lilywhites continued to push for an equalizer, but their efforts were nothing more than noise to the stout Brentford defense as the first half came to a close with Brentford holding a 0-1 lead.
Ange Postecoglou was clearly dissatisfied with the first half, making a double change: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for Rodrigo Bentancur, and Brennan Johnson for Oliver Skipp. This meant an aggressive midfield setup, with Kulusevski, Hojbjerg, and Maddison in the center, with Johnson taking Deki’s place on the right wing. Rather than the substitutes, however, it was the player at fault for the first goal, Destiny Udogie, who got Spurs back into the match. Udogie broke into the Brentford box, with his toe poke fortuitously falling back to him for a second attempt. The second shot was true, and Spurs equalized.
It was then double trouble for Spurs, with two in two minutes. Kulusevski played a nice pass through to Werner who broke forward into space. His low, left-footed cross was inch-perfect, bisecting keeper and defense, and Brennan Johnson found himself with a tap-in only minutes after coming on. The level of play had clearly elevated, with Spurs cutting through Brentford, and they soon had three. A deflected James Maddison shot fell to Richarlison, following a driving Destiny run. Spurs’ #9 swept home a well-deserved goal from the penalty spot, and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was rocking.
Brentford were not ready to give up, however, and continued to attack. Toney had a shot sail narrowly wide from the top of the 18-yard box, before a series of poor giveaways from Hojbjerg set Brentford free. Only a Toney slip prevented a clear sight on goal, as Vicario and the Spurs defense scrambled to cover. Toney soon made the most of the multiple opportunities, as he received the most gilt-edged of chances. A horrendous backpass from Destiny Udogie went straight to Toney, who had posted himself high up the pitch near the Tottenham box. The Italian fullback clearly didn’t expect Toney to be there, attempting to play back to Vicario, and Toney pounced, knocking the ball past Vicario to bring the scoreline to 3-2 and keep Brentford in the match.
Things got nervy from there for Spurs, and Postecoglou made further substitutions to try and hold the lead. Timo Werner and Maddison made way for Jamie Donley and January signing Radu Dragusin, as Tottenham switched to a back three. Spurs got deeper and deeper as Brentford pushed forward, but that meant opportunities still on the break for Tottenham. Brennan Johnson looked to be away on one such opportunity before he was clattered into by Christian Norgaard, who was on a yellow. It was a clear foul, and should have been a second yellow for the Dane, but the referee somehow waved play-on.
There were more late chances for Brentford to equalize, with Shandon Baptiste scooping his close-range volley over the bar, and a flurry of set pieces creating pressure for the Tottenham defense. Eventually though, the referee brought the game to a halt as Spurs prevailed 3-2 in an exciting contest.
Reactions
- Really good win, especially coming from behind. Ange’s substitutions made a huge difference.
- Bentancur is still looking a bit off the pace following his injury, which is somewhat to be expected; Maddison clearly isn’t quite there yet as well. Here’s hoping they look better and better as the matches go by.
- Destiny Udogie... that was a rocks and diamonds match if I ever saw one. He did well on two of Spurs’ three goals, but he was also responsible for two of Brentford’s. Is he exhausted? He’s played a lot. He REALLY needs to work on his right foot as well, as his one-footedness causes him to get into situations he can’t get out of (watch the replay of the first Brentford goal again where he refuses to play forward on his right).
- I think I remember saying this after the away match, but man, Brentford are a dirty side. Leading elbows, shirt pulling, and some diving there (twice!) from Nathan Collins. He should have been shown a yellow for simulation when he went down on a set piece outside the Tottenham box.
- Speaking of refereeing - I have no idea how Norgaard didn’t get a second yellow. He committed multiple fouls following his cautioning, and that cynical play to stop Johnson’s break was clear as day.
- I REALLY like what I’m seeing from Timo Werner. Great runs, and he gets into really good spaces - and he seems to be the only Spurs attacker really looking to beat a player! Ange will have some decisions to make when Son gets back from the Asia Cup.
- This win puts Spurs into fourth, overtaking Aston Villa. Let’s keep the table climb going! COYS!!!
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https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2024/1/31/24057273/tottenham-hotspur-3-2-brentford-spurs-come-from-behind-to-win-pulsating-encounter
| 2024-01-31T23:57:53Z
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Providence’s Piazza recognized with National Football Foundation award
Providence Catholic senior Chris Piazza has been selected as one of three recipients of the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award.
The accolade recognizes excellence in academics, football and community involvement. Piazza’s achievements will be celebrated at an event Feb. 19 at Halas Hall, headquarters for the Chicago Bears.
“This award is a testament to his unwavering dedication and hard work,” Providence football coach Tyler Plantz said. “It is truly impressive and highlights his exceptional mindset and work ethic in all aspects of his life.”
Piazza holds a deep appreciation for the significance of athletics and academics in his life.
“Sports have always been a vital part of who I am,” he said. “The competitive nature and sense of brotherhood have shaped me into the person I am today. Competition has been a driving force in my life, whether it’s playing Monopoly with my family or participating in organized sports. What truly makes athletics invaluable is the bond formed within a team. The connections forged during offseason training and on-field experiences have led to lifelong friendships.”
With a 4.88 GPA, Piazza ranks in the top 5% of his class and achieved an impressive 34 on the ACT. He intends to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering and is considering attending the University of Notre Dame, University of Illinois or Purdue University.
Chicago Christian names CJ Cesario head football coach
Chicago native CJ Cesario has been named head football coach at Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights. Cesario most recently served as the head sophomore football coach at Mt. Carmel.
Cesario played wide receiver at the University of Minnesota.
“I’m honored and will lead with passion and excellence,” he said. “The roots of my upbringing drive my desire and heart for the urban community. I’m excited to be a part of this school community serving the Chicago southland.”
University of Arkansas at Little Rock fall dean’s list
Nasir Bailey, Park Forest
Georgia Southern fall dean’s list
Chicago: Erin Kennelly; New Lenox: Jillian Gray
Grove City College fall dean’s list
Calvin Boss, New Lenox
University of Iowa fall graduates list
Chicago Heights: Elysse Bonds; Frankfort: Matthew Chay, Patrick Cosgrove, Allie Reis, Delanie Roszak; Hickory Hills: Nathan Schultz; Homer Glen: Axel Janecek, John Pacetti; Justice: Alan Ramirez; Lockport: Ryan Michalowski; Declan Ruane; Manhattan: Gea Alberico; Matteson: Courtney Jones; Midlothian: Alisha Brennon; Mokena: Kevin Hayes, Madalynn ONeil; Oak Lawn: Sebastian Castro; Orland Hills: Armani Lopez; Orland Park: Keara Evoy, William McPherson, Halima Zegar; Palos Heights: Megan Mullarkey; Tinley Park: Thomas Jendra, Michael Johnson, Patrick Landers, Jackson Ritter
Lincoln Memorial University fall dean’s list
Victoria Conley, Oak Forest
Miami University (Ohio) fall dean’s list
Evergreen Park: Jack DeJarld, Ryan Rosenberg; Frankfort: Brigid Costello, Dominic Dzioban; Lockport: Janelle Olegario, Shea Maley; Manhattan: Gianna Naselli; Mokena: Autumn Doyle; New Lenox: Molly Senffner; Orland Park: Brooke Carter; Palos Heights: Caroline Kennedy; Tinley Park: Natalia Stratton
Miami University (Ohio) fall president’s list
Daily Southtown
Frankfort: Braelyn Binkowski, Grace Mulheran, Ronnie Petrey; Homer Glen: Caitlyn Gaffney; Mokena: Shannon Whitlock; New Lenox: Gianna Arizzi, Emily Husa; Oak Lawn: Emma Enderle; Orland Park: Danny Carroll, Zackary Hesselmann; Tinley Park: Michaela Buck, Ryan Lenart, Ava Wise
Monmouth College fall dean’s list
Alsip: Payton Crims; Beecher: Madelyn Boley; Monee: Emily Phillip; New Lenox: Christopher Zavala; Oak Lawn: Gianna Maughan; Park Forest: Brandon Spence
Trine University fall dean’s list
Lockport; Jack Thies; Oak Lawn: Henry Gawron; Tinley Park: Michelle Sanchez
Trine University fall president’s list
Lockport: Bryan Maida; Oak Forest: John McClelland; Oak Lawn: Brigid Guerin
Valdosta State University fall dean’s list
Grace Mani, Tinley Park
Lakeview College of Nursing graduates list
Noredia Asia, Monee
Send news to communitynews@southtownstar.com.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/sta-l-southtowners-0204-20240131-u462ye2dfzaxjgsqa4hj4vqcjq-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:57:56Z
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There is no rumored date, but the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (GCSC) made it clear that they want another NFL Draft in Cleveland sooner rather than later. While the event itself is great, the reasoning is also fueled by the fact that the city of Cleveland didn’t get to realize the full economic impact that a draft typically brings, since it was the first major event as the “pandemic” was winding down. David Gilbert, President of the GCSC, talked about the subject last week with Jonathan Peterlin of 92.3 the Fan:
“We’ve asked the NFL directly — because of when the draft was in 2021, we had probably a third of the fans that we expected to have based on past drafts. It was great it happened, but impact-wise, it meant about $42 million in direct spending. It would’ve been well over $100 million [had it not been for the pandemic]. So we’ve asked the NFL directly, ‘We didn’t get what we’d hoped for,’ and I think that will play well in future discussions of trying to get the draft back here sooner rather than later.
After Cleveland, Las Vegas hosted the 2022 draft and Kansas City hosted the 2023 draft. Detroit will host the draft in 2024, and Green Bay will host in 2025. Future years are too be determined.
If you recall, back in 2021, the in-person draft in Vegas was cancelled and went virtual instead. However, Vegas’ planning and efforts were still rewarded, as they were given the 2022 draft instead. Cleveland essentially took the bullet of having the first big event in the country post-pandemic, which was pretty darn cool — but it’s understandable why the city feels they’re owed another one in the near future. However, I can also see the NFL’s potential perspective if they want to visit a whole host of other new cities first. We’ll see what happens — in the mean time, feel free to re-live this tour of the 2021 NFL Draft that I filmed:
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https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2024/1/31/24051932/cleveland-hoping-to-host-another-nfl-draft-in-the-near-future
| 2024-01-31T23:57:56Z
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During today’s PlayStation State of Play, the rumored Silent Hill: The Short Message from Konami was officially revealed. Better still, it will be free to play and release on Jan. 31.
Check out the launch trailer below:
The game follows the main character, Anita, as she searches for her friend, Maya. She stumbles upon a decaying apartment block famous for rumors of suicide, where otherworldly elements occur and a freaky monster chases her.
More information on the title was revealed over at PlayStation.Blog. Silent Hill: The Short Message is a short journey that is completely free to download. It is first-person and was born as an experimental project. The game examines how modern youths communicate through phones, and also provides commentary on the dangers of social media.
The whole concept sounds cool. I love seeing Silent Hill try a first-person perspective after P.T. got canceled. Hopefully, Silent Hill: The Short Message will be a worthwhile endeavor and will scare gamers when it releases later today. As of right now, it is not up on the PlayStation Store.
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https://www.escapistmagazine.com/silent-hill-the-short-message-revealed-releases-today/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:56Z
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https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2024/01/31
| 2024-01-31T23:57:56Z
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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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| 2024-01-31T23:57:56Z
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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.wboi.org/2024-01-31/a-look-from-maui-six-months-after-devastating-wildfires
| 2024-01-31T23:57:56Z
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Description
Learn about the creation of every generation of Chevrolet’s pony car!
For more than 50 years, the Chevrolet Camaro has been an indelible part of the modern automotive landscape. Since its introduction in 1967, Chevrolet’s immensely popular pony car has redefined American automotive styling by setting the bar and then raising it with the introduction of each generation.
How did the Camaro become one of the most celebrated automobiles of all time? What was its origin? What factors contributed to its creation and continued evolution through periods of economic uncertainty? How, when so many other cars have come and gone, has the Camaro survived and flourished?
Automotive historian Scott Kolecki explores those questions in Camaro Concept Cars: Developing Chevrolet’s Pony Car, as he introduces the men and women who created Chevrolet’s successful sports car. This book looks at the factors that contributed to its evolution through six distinct generations and explores the concept and design prototypes that gave rise to the production models that we know and love today.
This is the ultimate book for anyone who has owned (or dreamed of owning) a Camaro as well as for the countless enthusiasts around the globe who continue to celebrate and share the car’s rich heritage with future generations.
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https://www.automotobookshop.com.au/camaro-concept-cars-developing-chevrolets-pony-car/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:56Z
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Updated January 31, 2024 at 5:33 PM ET
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday but signaled that rates could fall in the coming months if inflation continues to cool.
Policy makers have kept their benchmark interest rate between 5.25% and 5.5% — the highest in over two decades — since July.
Fed chairman Jerome Powell told reporters Wednesday that interest rates are unlikely to go any higher, and that he and his colleagues are beginning to contemplate cutting rates.
"If the economy evolves broadly as expected, it will likely be appropriate to begin dialing back policy restraint at some point this year," Powell said.
He cautioned, however, that the economy remains unpredictable and said the central bank would proceed cautiously.
"The economic outlook is uncertain and we remain highly attentive to inflation risks," Powell said.
The Fed has been pleasantly surprised by the rapid drop in inflation in recent months. Core prices in December — which exclude food and energy prices — were up just 2.9% from a year ago, according to the Fed's preferred inflation yardstick. That's a smaller increase than the 3.2% core inflation rate that Fed officials had projected in December.
If that positive trend continues, the Fed may be able to start cutting interest rates as early as this spring. First, though, Powell said he and his colleagues will need to see additional evidence that inflation is easing.
And he sounded doubtful about a rate cut at the Fed's next meeting in March as many investors in Wall Street had hoped for.
"Based on the meeting today, I would tell you that I don't think it's likely the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting," Powell said. "But that's to be seen."
The comments disappointed investors, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling 317 points.
Investors are still hopeful about a rate cut by the following Fed meeting in May, with markets putting the likelihood of that at better than 90%.
Good omens in the economy
Both the economy and the job market have performed better than expected over the last year, despite the highest interest rates since 2001. The nation's gross domestic product grew 3.1% in 2023, while employers added 2.7 million jobs
Unemployment has been under 4%for nearly two years. And average wages in December were up 4.1% from a year ago.
While that strong economy is welcome news for businesses and workers, it also raises the risk of reigniting inflation. As a result, Fed policymakers say they'll be cautious not to cut interest rates prematurely.
"We have history on this," Atlanta Fed president Raphael Bostic told the Rotary Club of Atlanta this month. "In the '70s, the Fed started removing accommodation too soon. Inflation spiked back up. Then we had to tighten. Inflation came down. Then we removed it again. Inflation went back up. And by the time we were done with that, all Americans could think about was inflation."
The Fed is determined not to repeat that '70s show. At the same time, waiting too long to cut interest rates risks slowing the economy more than necessary to bring inflation under control.
A report from the Labor Department Wednesday showed employers' cost for labor rose more slowly than expected in the final months of last year. Labor costs increased just 0.9% in the fourth quarter. That's a smaller increase than the previous quarter, suggesting labor costs are putting less upward pressure on prices.
Fed officials promised to keep an eye on upcoming economic data and adjust accordingly.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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https://www.publicradioeast.org/2024-01-31/the-federal-reserve-holds-interest-rates-steady-but-signals-rate-cuts-may-be-coming
| 2024-01-31T23:57:57Z
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Ophthalmologist shares tips on preventing eye problems and protecting your sight
January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, and health officials are urging adults – especially those who are age 40 and up – to get routine eye exams. Dr. Christopher Starr, an ophthalmologist and associate professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine, joins us to discuss the importance of eye health.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/video/ophthalmologist-shares-tips-on-preventing-eye-problems-and-protecting-your-sight/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:58Z
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https://www.rawpixel.com/services/licenseshttps://www.rawpixel.com/image/11768682Edit RemixSaveSaveCustom TextCoffee shop background, editable aesthetic beverage illustration designMorePremiumRoyalty Free DesignID : 11768682View LicenseShare : Coffee shop background, editable aesthetic beverage illustration designMore
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https://www.rawpixel.com/image/11768682/coffee-shop-background-editable-aesthetic-beverage-illustration-design
| 2024-01-31T23:57:58Z
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(MENAFN- PR Newswire) Seasons at
Stonehaven is now selling!
MIDDLETON, Idaho, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Richmond American Homes of Idaho, Inc., a subsidiary of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC ), is excited to announce that Seasons at Stonehaven
(RichmondAmerican/ SeasonsAtStonehaven ) is now open for sales in Middleton. Boasting a prime location just 30 minutes from Boise, this exceptional new neighborhood offers single and two-story floor plans from the builder's sought-after SeasonsTM Collection, designed to make homeownership more attainable for a variety of buyers.
About Seasons at Stonehaven:
Continue Reading
The Zinc is one of eight Richmond American floor plans available at Seasons at Stonehaven in Middleton, Idaho.
New ranch and two-story homes from the upper $400s Eight inspired SeasonsTM Collection floor plans 3 to 4 bedrooms and approx. 1,720 to 2,660 sq. ft. Extended covered patios and RV garages available Close proximity to notable schools Designer-curated fixtures and finishes
Seasons at Stonehaven
is located at 1387 Stirling Meadows Street in Middleton. Call 208.900.6738 or visit RichmondAmerican for more information or to schedule an appointment.
About M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.
M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1972. MDC's homebuilding subsidiaries, which operate under the name Richmond American Homes, have helped more than 240,000 homebuyers achieve the American Dream since 1977. One of the largest homebuilders in the nation, MDC is committed to quality and value that is reflected in each home its subsidiaries build. The Richmond American companies have operations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Mortgage lending, insurance and title services are offered by the following MDC subsidiaries, respectively: HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDC." For more information, visit MDCHoldings.
SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.
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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/1107793875/Richmond-American-Announces-Its-Debut-Middleton-Community
| 2024-01-31T23:57:58Z
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Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A bill that would ban alternative cannabinoids and cap the amount of THC in hemp products is headed to the Senate floor.
Sen. Colleen Burton’s bill (SB 1698) targets substances that produce the same “high” as delta-9 THC, the euphoria-inducing compound commodified by the state’s medical marijuana program.
Ahead of a 17-2 vote, more than one lawmaker on the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee shared their experiences with over-the-counter hemp products — Sen. Corey Simon, a Tallahassee Republican, said he took a hemp product with delta-8 to help him sleep but ended up in the emergency room.
In the House, Republican Rep. Ryan Chamberlin pitched a bill (HB 1371) that would examine abolishing property taxes in Florida. He’s not the first lawmaker to float the idea, and similar plans have failed to gain traction over the decades.
The freshman lawmaker from Belleview said now “it’s time” to try again, equating revenue stream to a tax on unrealized gains and even “slavery” since homeowners must fork over cash every year to keep their homes, even if their mortgage is paid free and clear.
“Think about it. If the IRS started charging us a tax not just on your income but what they thought we could have earned, we would have riots in the streets,” he said. “Yet we get a property tax increase every year on most of our properties in Florida not based on any realized gain in our bank account but based on what the gain could be if we decided to sell it.”
Though Democrats expressed concern on how abolishment could impact local governments, Republicans on the panel embraced the idea and intimated it has support from House Speaker Paul Renner and Speaker-designate Daniel Perez.
The House also moved forward with a plan that would boost pay for the Governor and members of the Cabinet.
The plan, which was introduced with unanimous support from the House Appropriations Committee, would increase statewide elected officials’ salaries to match the pay of Florida Supreme Court justices, who make $251,414 a year. That amounts to a $110,014 pay increase, however, it would not go into effect until 2027 — after Gov. Ron DeSantis and current Cabinet officials term out of office.
Bill Day’s Latest
Evening Reads
—“‘Traitor’: After bitter primary, Ron DeSantis may struggle to win over Trump supporters if he runs again” via Jill Colvin of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
—“Recruited to play sports, and win a culture war” via Susan Dominus of The New York Times
—”Donald Trump to lose 53% of swing-state voters if convicted of a crime” via Jordan Fabian and Gregory Korte of Bloomberg
—”Federal judge dismisses Disney lawsuit against DeSantis” via Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel
—”The broken promises of the NFL concussion settlement” via Will Hobson of The Washington Post
—“Florida child labor bills: Women farmworkers worry about kids working longer hours in fields” via Jackie Llanos of the Florida Phoenix
—“A trove of ‘lost Basquiats’ led to a splashy exhibition. Then the FBI showed up.” via Bianca Bosker of The Atlantic
—”We can still make a good economy much better” via Oshan Jarow of Vox
Quote of the Day
“When I used to smoke marijuana, one joint maybe had about 10 milligrams (of THC). As I’m listening and been researching this hemp thing, it would be like me smoking 100 joints.”
— Sen. Rosalind Osgood, who would go on to describe herself as a “former professional marijuana smoker” currently in “recovery.”
Put It on the Tab
Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.
House Budget Chief Tom Leek is warning that the days of state coffers overflowing with pandemic cash are over and that the next budget will be “austere.” Maybe you can shave a few bucks off your bar bill by ordering him something plain, such as a whiskey-water.
Whatever you do, don’t order members of the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee a CBD-infused Hop Water — they’ll stick to regular booze; thank you very much.
Deliver a round of Sidecars to the tiny home down the street; just double-check that it’s under 400 square feet before you hand them off.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
The Florida Gators shoot for a fourth straight win when they travel to Rupp Arena to face 10th-ranked Kentucky tonight (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The Gators (14-6;4-3 in SEC) and Wildcats opened SEC play on Jan. 6 in Gainesville with a two-point Kentucky win. Florida has lost five straight games in the series and has won just one of the last 10 against the Wildcats (15-4; 5-2).
A Florida win could pull the Gators to within a game of the top spot in the SEC standings.
Florida’s leading scorer, Walter Clayton Jr. scored 23 points against Kentucky in the first meeting between the two teams. He has played well on the road, averaging nearly 18 points per game as a visitor.
Florida has been one of the top-scoring teams in the nation, averaging 85.4 points per game. Only 10 Division I teams are scoring more per contest than the Gators. One of those teams is Kentucky (88.5 points per game). One statistical area the Gators could exploit is rebounding. Kentucky ranks 102nd in the nation in rebounding. Florida is the fifth-best rebounding team.
Getting over the hurdle and beating Kentucky has been a challenge for Florida for most of the last decade. A win in Lexington would be a huge emotional boost in addition to being a substantial win in the standings.
Also tonight:
6:30 p.m. — NCAAW: Florida Gulf Coast Eagles @ Bellarmine Knights
7 p.m. — NCAAW: Florida Atlantic Owls @ UAB Blazers
7 p.m. — NCAAW: Stetson Hatters @ Eastern Kentucky Colonels
7 p.m. — NCAAM: South Florida Bulls @ East Carolina Pirates
7 p.m. — NCAAM: Lipscomb Bisons @ North Florida Ospreys
7 p.m. — NCAAM: Austin Peay Governors @ JU Dolphins
7 p.m. — NCAAM: Baylor Bears @ UCF Knights
7:30 p.m. — Sacramento Kings @ Miami Heat
8 p.m. — Orlando Magic @ San Antonio Spurs
___
Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
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https://floridapolitics.com/archives/656370-last-call-for-1-31-24-a-prime-time-read-of-whats-going-down-in-florida-politics/
| 2024-01-31T23:57:58Z
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Ronaldo to miss reunion with Messi after being ruled out of Al-Nassr's friendly with Inter Miami
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the chance of a much anticipated reunion with Lionel Messi because of an injury, Al-Nassr coach Luis Castro said Wednesday.
Ronaldo is recovering from a reported calf injury and will not be fit in time to play in the exhibition match between Al-Nassr and Inter Miami in Riyadh on Thursday.
"Cristiano is in the final stage of his recuperation before re-joining the team. We expect that in the next few days he will start working with the team. So, obviously, it will mean he is absent for the game (against Inter Miami)," Castro said at a news conference.
Messi and Ronaldo were longtime rivals when they played in Spain - for Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively - and have combined to win 13 of the last 15 Ballon d'Or awards given to the world's best player.
The latest installment of that rivalry was seen as the highlight of Miami's pre-season tour, which included two games in Saudi Arabia.
But that was put in doubt when Ronaldo suffered an injury that prompted Al-Nassr to postpone two exhibition matches in China this month.
Cristiano Ronaldo attends the Globe Soccer Awards ceremony in Dubai, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Messi scored in Miami's 4-3 defeat to Al-Hilal on Monday.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-13030853/Ronaldo-miss-reunion-Messi-ruled-Al-Nassrs-friendly-Inter-Miami.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
| 2024-01-31T23:57:59Z
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It’s been a long time since Tottenham Hotspur last played a Premier League match, and today they got back to winning ways against Brentford at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A spirited performance put the Bees up 1-0 in the first half, but Spurs roared back in the second half to put three in the net in eight minutes — one each from Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson, and Richarlison — and then held on to win 3-2.
It was certainly an EXCITING game. A bit frustrating. Some good performances, some not so good ones. That’s all on you to decide!
It’s time to rate the players.
Rate the players from 1⁄2 to 5 stars. If the player doesn’t deserve a rating due to minutes played, DO NOT RANK. I will round the stars up/down to the nearest half-star for the player ratings later this week.
If you’re on mobile or found this via AMP and the survey isn’t appearing below, here’s a direct link.
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https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2024/1/31/24057405/tottenham-3-2-brentford-community-player-ratings
| 2024-01-31T23:58:01Z
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Business: Pace Systems Inc.
Address: 2040 Corporate Lane, Naperville
Phone/Website: 630-395-2260, www.pace-systems.com
Controller: Nick Taylor, 38, of Itasca
Years in business: 41
What does your business do? “We’re an IT reseller and integrator. We sell laptops, PCs, computers, software,” Taylor said.
What is reselling? “A hospital will call and say, ‘We need 500, 1,000 laptops.’ We provide that service. We’ll ship them the laptops. ... Most times, they’ll say we want the laptops specific to them. ... We have a lab where we rack them up — 90 at a time — that we can blast an image out to. ... We provide a customized experience.”
What else do you do? “We offer many services. We do audio-visual in large conference rooms, board rooms. We’ll do security. Access control. People want to swipe a card (for entry). All that type of technology is something we do. ... We employ 60 electricians.”
Any work we may know? “We did Wintrust Arena, a lot of the fiber backbone, the cabling that hooked up the audio and visual. Our electricians (were) working on the scoreboard. ... Addison Dispatch. That was the first 911 center in our area. A 40-foot video wall.”
How’s business? “We typically fly under the radar, but when I got here, there were 50 or so employees. Now, there’s just over 200.”
How about competition? “I don’t pull the wool over anyone’s eyes. Competition in IT, it’s constant. ... You’re fighting against folks who will sell certain types of hardware. We are big on HP (Hewlett-Packard) for example. We’ve been selling HP for years. ... Now you have different brands coming in. People will sell them for nothing. You’ve got to compete with that.”
How do you compete? “Service has gotten us through. We’re agile enough. We’re not that big where we’re going to say, ‘Oh, you just want one laptop? We can’t do that.’ We’ll do that. We’ll send a guy out smiling to help you. That’s what has gotten us through.
“Maybe we get in selling hardware, doing a smart board. We say, ‘We also do this. We also do that.’ With customers, we try to be very ingrained in their business, one, for our own future and security and, two, for theirs.”
How do you find clients? “Referrals are huge.”
What do you do as controller? “Head of finance, accounting. I also lean more toward the IT side in business development. ... This is my 11th year. I was doing the same thing before this in the construction industry.”
How often should we replace computers? “Being a finance guy, I like running things till they break. They’ll tell you three years on the commercial side. Not that it will not work. But what do you want it to do? Some people replace them every two years, every year.”
Any favorite stories? “One of our best stories happened with COVID-19 and showed our smaller company’s capabilities. A college called and said, ‘We need 3,000 laptops. All our students will be e-learning. Faculty is going to be home. Can you get them to us in two weeks with our image on them?’ We had shifts in the back working (non-stop) over 24 hours. We were able to image 3,000 laptops and get them out the door. It was easily one of the most involved projects for the entire IT department, the warehouse.”
Is Naperville good for business? “Naperville is the spot to be in the suburbs. There’s easy access to highways, which is important for us. ... Happy to be here.”
What do you like best? “No day is the same. When I started here, someone may call in (sick). I’d drive a truck downtown, a day of deliveries. ... Honestly, some of my best days. Meeting customers. Putting names with faces.”
What else do you enjoy? “The people. We have people here 10, 20, 30 years. We take a long time to hire folks. ‘Is this person going to mesh here?’ We do two, three, four interviews.”
Anything you dislike? “The hours do not bother me. ... I grew up in a family where you just work. I’m on all the time. 24/7. There are a lot of people here who put in extra time to make sure the job gets done.”
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “These days, everything is immediate. Be prepared to be ‘client-first’ all the time. If you go in with that mentality, you’ll have a leg up.”
If you know of a business you’d like to see to profiled in Down to Business, contact Steve Metsch at metschmsfl@yahoo.com.
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-down-to-business-st-0202-20240131-3qxdf7hjxnfuxlqkjq3557klpe-story.html
| 2024-01-31T23:58:02Z
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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://marionrecord.com?display+counties_swap_inmates+5520swap+436f756e74696573207377617020696e6d61746573
| 2024-01-31T23:58:02Z
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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.wboi.org/2024-01-31/broadway-legend-hinton-battle-who-originally-played-scarecrow-in-the-wiz-has-died
| 2024-01-31T23:58:02Z
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