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Greenford stabbing: ‘Dangerous’ man who fled mobility scooter killing with knife caught on CCTV
Popular local busker Thomas O’Halloran, 87, was killed in broad daylight attack in west London STREET
West London: Elderly man on mobility scooter stabbed to death
Police investigating the fatal stabbing of an 87-year-old grandfather in a mobility scooter have released CCTV of a man seen running from the scene armed with a knife.
Thomas O'Halloran was killed in a broad daylight attack in Greenford, west London, at 4pm on Tuesday. He is believed to have travelled 75-yards in the scooter looking for help after he was stabbed.
Officers responded and gave emergency first aid until London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance arrived but despite their efforts the local pensioner was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command are leading the investigation and have released images of a man they are keen to identify as a matter of urgency. He was seen fleeing the scene armed with a knife.
Have you been affected by this incident? If so email thomas.kingsley@independent.co.uk
He was wearing grey shorts, a dark coloured t-shirt, a white baseball cap and white patterned builder style gloves.
DCI Jim Eastwood, who is leading the investigation, said:“We are keen to identify the man in the CCTV images as a matter of urgency.
“He is clearly a dangerous individual and people are advised not to approach him, but to call us immediately on 999 if they know him or have any information regarding his whereabouts.
“My team and I have been working around the clock to bring Mr O’Halloran’s killer to justice, but we need your help. If you have any information at all that will assist us with our investigation – no matter how small – please contact us or alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
“I’d also appeal to anyone who might have dash cam or cycle helmet footage that might have captured the incident to get in touch with us.”
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson said Mr O’Halloran was “very well known and much loved member of the community.”
He was attacked while on his way to busk, according to a friend who did not want to be named.
Mr O’Halloran was well known in the area for his musical skills playing the accordion - affectionately nicknamed the “music man” by locals.
“He was coming back from Perivale to play his accordion and make some money for his family and he was stabbed to death,” the friend said
A man who works in a newsagents outside Greenford station where Mr O’Halloran would busk said: “He used to play his accordion here.
“He came every day for a long time, at least two years. He usually busked around five o’clock.”
Another shopkeeper said: “He was often outside the station playing his accordion.”
Frasley Coutinho, who lives in Greenford, west London, opposite where the attack happened, said he saw the victim surrounded by a group of young boys.
He said: “I saw a couple of people gathering around him and then he drove past and stopped further up, and then there was a group of young boys around him.”
Local residents paid tribute to the pensioner following his tragic death.
One resident said: “This man used to sit outside Tesco, in Perivale playing music for money, but was a nice man bless him.” Another added: “That is awful news, we saw him today there. My toddler adores the ‘music man.’”
A third said: “This has saddened me to my core. That man was loved, his music made my day every time I came out of Greenford station.”
Police have yet to make any arrests but have urged anyone who has footage of the incident to contact the force.
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, who is in charge of policing for west London, including Ealing, said: “Mr O’Halloran had his life needlessly snatched away in a shocking act of unprovoked violence.
“I understand that the community will, quite rightly, be shocked and appalled by this incident as I am too.
“Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command, with the assistance of my officers, have been working tirelessly over the last 20 hours to understand what has happened and to identify who is responsible for this horrific crime.”
Anyone who knows the man in the image, or has informatio, is asked to call the incident room on 020 8358 0300 quoting 4691/16AUG.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111 or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
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Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. | https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/thomas-ohalloran-ealing-stabbing-mobility-scooter-b2146831.html | 2022-08-17T14:32:20Z | https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/thomas-ohalloran-ealing-stabbing-mobility-scooter-b2146831.html | false |
STOCKHOLM, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Neonode Inc. (NASDAQ: NEON). This week Neonode welcomes two new senior executives to the company: Dr. Thierry Corman as Vice President Operations and Mrs. Helena Börjesson as Vice President People & Culture.
Dr. Corman will assume the role of Vice President Operations, replacing Ulf Mårtensson, who will retire later this year. Dr. Corman has an extensive leadership experience in supply chain, sourcing, and operations, from several industry areas including automotive, electronics and semiconductors. He has established and led supply chain operations in high-tech companies and handled global Sourcing activities in automotive and electronics companies. He previously served in various management positions at Kyocera Tikitin, Scania and Silex Microsystems. Dr. Corman has a Ph.D. in Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) from KTH in Stockholm, Sweden, a M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from INSA Lyon, France, and completed the CISilf purchasing certification program from SILF Competence in Stockholm, Sweden.
"I am looking forward to working with the teams in Stockholm and Kungsbacka to strengthen the operations for this innovative deep tech organization and contributing to the company's future success," says Dr. Corman.
Mrs. Börjesson joins Neonode in the newly created strategic role, Vice President People & Culture. She has over 20 years' experience working in various human resource roles for engineering and IT companies, such as Vattenfall, SNC Lavalin, Atkins and most recently Assa Abloy. The newly created role will add expertise to the Neonode management team and assist in developing the corporate culture, with focus on increased collaboration and supporting employees in reaching their full potential.
"I am excited about contributing to Neonode's business strategy with my people management expertise and look forward to continuing to build upon the great company culture and values," says Mrs. Börjesson.
Dr. Urban Forssell, CEO of Neonode says, "I am very glad to welcome Helena and Thierry to the company. Both bring expertise in their respective fields and have considerable experience from similar roles in several different companies, which will strengthen our team and help us achieve our ambitious growth and profitability targets."
For more information, please contact:
Chief Executive Officer
Urban Forssell
E-mail: urban.forssell@neonode.com
Phone: +46 734 10 03 59
Marketing Director
Alana Gordon
E-mail: alana.gordon@neonode.com
Phone: +46 736 82 60 10
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Neonode | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/neonode-appoints-two-new-senior-executives-vice-president-operations-vice-president-people-amp-culture/ | 2022-08-17T14:33:07Z | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/neonode-appoints-two-new-senior-executives-vice-president-operations-vice-president-people-amp-culture/ | false |
ATLANTA (AP) — A judge in Colorado on Tuesday ordered a legal adviser for former President Donald Trump’s campaign to travel to Georgia to testify before a special grand jury that’s looking into whether Trump and others illegally tried to influence the 2020 election in Georgia.
Judge Gregory Lammons in Fort Collins, Colorado, made the decision after holding a hearing on a request from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to compel testimony from attorney Jenna Ellis. Prosecutors are interested in Ellis’s role in helping to coordinate and plan legislative hearings in Georgia and others states where false allegations of election fraud were pushed, according to testimony in court.
Fulton County prosecutors have purchased plane tickets and made a hotel reservation in preparation for Ellis to testify on Aug. 25.
The investigation, prompted by a January 2021 phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, began early last year. During that call, Trump suggested Raffensperger could “find” the votes to overturn his narrow election loss in the state. It has become clear since the special grand jury was seated in May that the focus of the investigation extends well beyond that call.
Willis last month filed petitions with the judge overseeing the special grand jury seeking to compel testimony from seven Trump associates and advisers, including Ellis, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and former New York mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani. Because they don’t live in Georgia, she had to use a process that involves getting a judge in the state where they’re located to order them to appear before the special grand jury in Atlanta.
Giuliani, who’s been notified he’s a target of the investigation, is set to testify before the special grand jury on Wednesday. Graham’s subpoena orders him to testify on Aug. 23, but he has said he’ll appeal a judge’s Monday order declining to quash his subpoena.
In the petition seeking Ellis’s testimony, Willis identified her as “an attorney for the Trump Campaign’s legal efforts seeking to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere.”
Ellis appeared with Giuliani at a Dec. 3, 2020, state Senate committee hearing at the Georgia Capitol during which false allegations of election fraud were made, Willis wrote. She also wrote at least two legal memos to Trump and his attorneys advising that then-Vice President Mike Pence should “disregard certified electoral college votes from Georgia and other purportedly ‘contested’ states” when Congress met to certify the election results on Jan. 6, 2021, the petition says.
Evidence shows that Ellis’s actions were “part of a multi-state, coordinated plan by the Trump Campaign to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere,” Willis wrote.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who’s overseeing the special grand jury, signed off on Willis’s petitions to order Ellis and other Trump associates to testify. He issued so-called certificates of material witness stating that they are “necessary and material” witnesses for the special grand jury investigation.
Lammons, the Colorado judge, heard arguments from Ellis’s lawyer, Michael Melito, and prosecutor Dawn Downs, with the Larimer County district attorney’s office in Colorado, in a hearing that was streamed online. Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten appeared by video conference from Atlanta as a witness to testify why Ellis’s appearance is necessary.
Lammons found that there is enough evidence that Ellis is a material witness and there is no evidence that traveling to Atlanta for one day of testimony would be an undue burden. He said any issues of attorney-client privilege that Ellis may wish to raise should be addressed by McBurney, the judge in Georgia.
The special grand jury operates in secret and does not have the power to issue an indictment. Once its investigation is complete, it will issue a report with recommendations. Willis will then have to decide whether to go to a regular grand jury to seek an indictment. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/political-news/trump-legal-adviser-ordered-to-testify-in-ga-election-probe/ | 2022-08-17T14:33:33Z | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/political-news/trump-legal-adviser-ordered-to-testify-in-ga-election-probe/ | true |
Alex Wagner's new MSNBC show has rocky start as technical malfunction plagues opening
MSNBC tapped Alex Wagner to fill nightly timeslot Tuesday through Friday vacated by Rachel Maddow
Alex Wagner had a rocky start to her new MSNBC program that is set to fill the void left behind by the network's biggest star.
Just moments after her handoff with primetime colleague Chris Hayes, Wagner told MSNBC viewers she hoped to "live up to the incredibly high standard" Rachel Maddow has set.
However, things got awkward fast as she began teasing the latest developments in the FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago as footage from the highly-anticipated Republican House primary in Wyoming began appearing on the screen.
Wagner, who was seen repeatedly looking off-camera, then offered a shrugging gesture.
"Then we'll –," Wagner said before a long pause as she attempted to be in sync with the control room.
"Go?" Wagner appeared to have mouthed before continuing on.
"Then we'll talk with… we're going to go right – we are actually going to go right to the top story tonight in Wyoming where polls have just closed as Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney faces the steepest of climbs and the longest of odds to hold onto her seat," Wagner went on to say before finding her footing.
Before her first commercial break, Wagner acknowledged to viewers about the "technical gremlins" that emerged, hoping the rest of the program would be "smooth sailing."
"Alex Wagner Tonight" will air Tuesday through Friday as the new MSNBC program aims to fill in the shoes of "The Rachel Maddow Show," which now only airs Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET.
Wagner, a frequent guest host of "The Rachel Maddow Show," has not had the greatest luck when it comes to holding her own MSNBC show.
In 2015, MSNBC canceled her daytime program "Now" after a four-year run. Wagner's program struggled in the ratings, and her sharply left-wing show was among those cut as part of a reshuffling to shift daytime towards straight news. Around that time, former nightly host Al Sharpton was bumped to weekends, Ed Schultz was bounced from the network, and "The Cycle" was canceled.
Then in 2016, MSNBC scrapped a weekend show Wagner was set to launch after the network previously announced the program.
MSNBC is hoping Wagner can spice up programming leading up to the 2022 midterm elections as the network boasts that she is the only Asian-American cable news host. However, it remains uncertain if Wagner has what it takes to revive MSNBC's dwindling viewership and draw an audience remotely comparable to Maddow, consistently MSNBC's top-rated host for more than a decade.
MSNBC, which has suffered in viewership ever since President Trump left office, is doing even worse now that Maddow decided to roll back her on-air presence.
In July, MSNBC averaged just 1.3 million viewers in primetime throughout the week while "The Rachel Maddow Show" has maintained an average of 2.4 million viewers on Mondays, showing the Peacock network is struggling without her four days a week.
Maddow announced earlier this year that she would only host "The Rachel Maddow Show" once a week, so she could focus on other projects. Maddow is the only MSNBC host who averages 2 million total viewers as the rest of her colleagues trail far behind.
MSNBC has made several programming moves over the past year to shake things up. In addition to Maddow scaling back her program, Stephanie Ruhle was named host of "The 11th Hour" following Brian Williams' exit, "Morning Joe" was extended to a fourth hour of programming, and Chuck Todd's weekday program was pulled from the network and moved to NBC News' streaming network.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Additionally, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki is set to host a program on the Peacock service following the rollout of former Biden administration official Symone Sanders' own weekend show, which has debuted to dismal ratings. | https://www.foxnews.com/media/alex-wagners-msnbc-show-rocky-start-technical-malfunction-plagues-hosts-opening | 2022-08-17T14:35:45Z | https://www.foxnews.com/media/alex-wagners-msnbc-show-rocky-start-technical-malfunction-plagues-hosts-opening | false |
NEW YORK (AP) — Randy Arozarena hit a three-run homer off Nestor Cortes in the first inning and the Tampa Bay staff made it stand up, leading the Rays over the skidding New York Yankees 3-1 Tuesday night.
Starter Jeffrey Springs (5-3) and four relievers combined on a four-hitter, and the crowd of 41,083 at Yankee Stadium booed their AL East leaders at times.
The Yankees have lost 11 of 13 and are 8-17 since reaching the All-Star break at 64-28.
“Yeah, we’re all frustrated but you can’t let the frustration get in your way of preparing and go every night,” New York manager Aaron Boone said. “We got a few guys that are in a rut. We got to prepare and get ready and fight our way of it. It’s part of it and it’s no fun when you’re going through it, but that’s where we are right now.”
Tampa Bay got only four hits while winning its fourth straight and closing within nine games of the Yankees — New York’s smallest margin since also being nine ahead on June 15. The Rays trailed by 15 1/2 games after getting swept at Cincinnati July 8-10.
“Wins in this ballpark against this team, that can elevate you a little bit and make you feel that much better,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
New York lost its fifth straight series and was held to three runs or less for the seventh straight game.
“It’s better to have this happen now in August than the first week of playoffs or near the end of the year when you’re getting into the playoffs,” New York slugger Aaron Judge said.
New York avoided being blanked in three straight games for the first time since 2016 when Andrew Benintendi tripled in the fifth and scored on a fielding error by third baseman Yandy Díaz on a grounder by Miguel Andújar.
Some fans booed when Andújar struck out to end the seventh with Josh Donaldson on third, and there were more when Jose Trevino struck out to end the game.
Díaz and Issac Paredes started the game with singles. One out later, Arozarena gave the Rays a 3-0 lead by lifting a 1-1 fastball into the left field seats for his 16th homer. It was Arozarena’s fourth homer in six games after the right fielder went homerless in 16 straight games.
“I was looking for a pitch to connect on,” Arozarena said through a translator. “I was hoping to hit a home run, that’s kind of what I was looking for but I’m mostly just happy we got the victory.”
Cortes (9-4) allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings. He struck out three, walked none and retired 19 of his final 21 hitters.
“I think we’re going to turn it around soon,” Cortes said. “I don’t know when, but this team is capable of doing big things and obviously we showed it the first half.”
Springs got 10 outs on the ground and held New York to one run and two hits in five innings.
“It’s good to see,” Cash said. “Our pitching has been outstanding the last two games here.”
Pete Fairbanks pitched a perfect sixth, Brooks Raley got the first two outs of the seventh after Donaldson singled and Shawn Armstrong got the next three outs.
Jason Adam needed four pitches to retire Judge with a runner on to end the eighth.
Adam also fanned two in a perfect ninth for his seventh save.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: SS Wander Franco (right hamate bone) went 0 for 2 as the designated hitter for Triple-A Durham. He was expected to play five innings but was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the fourth due to general soreness in the hand and could play again Wednesday
Yankees: INF DJ LeMahieu (right big toe) missed his third straight game. He is day-to-day but a decision on putting him on the injured list could come Wednesday or Thursday. … OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton (Achilles tendon) could begin a rehab assignment in the next few days. … RHP Clay Holmes, who last pitched Friday, said after the game he is dealing with some back tightness. … OF Harrison Bader (right foot plantar fasciitis) said he is hoping to find out soon if his walking boot can come off.
UP NEXT:
Tampa Bay RHP Corey Kluber (7-7, 4.40 ERA) opposes New York RHP Domingo Germán (1-2, 4.18) on Wednesday night.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.texomashomepage.com/sports/arozarenas-early-homer-sends-rays-past-skidding-yankees-3-1/ | 2022-08-17T14:35:46Z | https://www.texomashomepage.com/sports/arozarenas-early-homer-sends-rays-past-skidding-yankees-3-1/ | false |
Person dies of electrocution; body found tangled in wires at substation
CLEVELAND (WOIO/Gray News) - The Cleveland EMS division confirmed a person was fatally electrocuted early Wednesday morning at a power substation on the city’s East side.
First responders were initially dispatched to the substation at approximately 2:55 a.m., according to EMS officials.
The individual was pronounced dead at the scene.
Crews spent several hours working to shut power off and extricate the body from where the male was was discovered tangled in the live wires approximately 30 feet in the air.
According to Cleveland police, early information indicates that the male, who was in possession of a bolt cutter when he was found, climbed up the side of the substation and encountered a live power source.
Copyright 2022 WOIO via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2022/08/17/person-dies-electrocution-body-found-tangled-wires-substation/ | 2022-08-17T14:36:38Z | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2022/08/17/person-dies-electrocution-body-found-tangled-wires-substation/ | true |
Photographer: Thad Caperton
Photo taken: June 23, 2022, from the Dr. Jose P. Rizal 12th Street Bridge in Seattle
Photographer’s description: “Lumen Field lies on the left, lit for #Pride, with downtown Seattle on the right. I love doing long exposures, as they are challenging but fun, and often result in a great image. This location is tricky, as the bridge is frighteningly shaky, and you have to watch the traffic lights to try to time out a free 20 seconds without a bus or large vehicle passing by, which shakes the bridge and blurs the image. I’m also terrified of heights, and when I lean anything over the edge of something, it amplifies that fear. I was using a feature of my tripod I’ve never used before that extended the camera out over the edge of the bridge, so it didn’t capture the handrail that’s normally in these shots. My anxiety was ramped! LOL. But I’m pleased with the result, and my dog, Boq, and I enjoyed our time out shooting.”
Critique: “This is one of the classic views of the Seattle skyline, but I had no idea about the coordination (and danger!?) involved in making the shot! This is beautiful and technically excellent. I might suggest cropping up from the bottom a ways, which still would give the viewer a sense of the traffic motion but also bring the city into a little more prominence. Well done, though, and welcome back to Reader’s Lens!“
Below is a gallery of previous Reader’s Lens picks. Share your recent photo from around the Northwest. Submit online at seattletimes.com/submit-photos. Our favorite will appear in this spot next week. We judge the year’s best and award prizes in December. | https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/a-photographer-leans-in-to-his-fear-of-heights-for-a-stunning-exposure-of-lights-and-lumen-essence/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2022-08-17T14:37:12Z | https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/a-photographer-leans-in-to-his-fear-of-heights-for-a-stunning-exposure-of-lights-and-lumen-essence/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | false |
NIBONG TEBAL: The Penang Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry managed to foil an attempt to misappropriate 17,200 litres of subsidised diesel after carrying out a raid at a residential area in Nibong Tebal here yesterday.
During the raid, the authorities confiscated 17,200 litres of subsidised diesel.
Chief Enforcement Officer, A. Mogan said his enforcement team raided the residential area at about 7am yesterday following a tip-off from the public and surveillance over a week.
“Initially, the team tailed a bonded lorry that was believed to have purchased subsidised diesel at several petrol stations all over Penang throughout the night. The action was to avoid detection by the authorities before entering Nibong Tebal.
“During the raid, members of the enforcement team managed to detect a dark blue tanker with a 17,000 litres capacity and the seven-ton bonded truck. We checked the bonded lorry and found six fibre tanks with a capacity of 1,000 litres each that have been modified,“ he said in a statement today.
He said during the raid, the enforcement team detained two local men, (both in their 50s), who were the drivers of the two lorries, to assist in investigations.
Apart from diesel, the authorities also confiscated two lorries, six fibre tanks, a pump and two units of piped hose all of which are valued at RM148,800.
The case is being investigated under the Supply Control Act 1961. - Bernama | https://www.thesundaily.my/local/kpdnhep-confiscate-17200-litres-of-subsidised-diesel-in-penang-CN9609150 | 2022-08-17T14:37:46Z | https://www.thesundaily.my/local/kpdnhep-confiscate-17200-litres-of-subsidised-diesel-in-penang-CN9609150 | true |
Take a look at the beta version of dw.com. We're not done yet! Your opinion can help us make it better.
A growing trade deficit and rising fuel imports has cast a shadow over Bhutan's economic health. The tiny Himalayan nation is putting in place a mechanism to control prices of essential commodities.
Bhutan remains focused on its hydropower and tourism sectors which generate revenue from outside the country
Bhutan — the South Asian nation that's perhaps best known for its philosophy of promoting gross national happiness over Gross Domestic Product (GDP) — is facing economic headwinds.
With a population of less than 800,000, a global economic slowdown and nationwide COVID lockdowns, supply chains in the landlocked country wedged between China and India have been severly impacted.
Bhutan's small and medium businesses have been struggling to keep afloat.
"The situation in the country cannot be compared to that of Sri Lanka for now," Sangeeta Thapliyal, professor of south Asian studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told DW.
Sri Lanka's debt-laden economy collapsed after it ran out of money to pay for food, fuel and medicine — sparking months of protests.
"The war between Russia and Ukraine has further worsened the situation especially with rising petroleum prices," said Thapliyal. "Like other countries, Bhutan's economy has also witnessed inflation, economic setbacks, and loss of jobs."
A strengthening dollar and falling Indian rupee — to which Bhutan's Ngultrum currency is pegged — is also leading to higher import costs, according to experts. That's far from ideal for a country that is heavily reliant on imports.
"The restrictions imposed by India on wheat exports have increased worries of a further rise in local prices," a senior official of the Bhutan Chambers of Commerce and Industry told DW. "There is concern about food supplies."
Bhutan remains focused on its hydropower and tourism sectors which generate revenue from outside the country.
Meanwhile, the share of Bhutan's manufacturing sector in terms of GDP has remained stagnant for over a decade, while the industrial sector was driven mainly by construction, mining and electricity.
Finance Minister Namgay Tshering has pointed out that Bhutan is headed towards an 'uncharted destination'
Such a framework has been making the economic structure vulnerable to sectorial and external shocks since GDP, exports and government revenue are mostly generated from just two sectors.
At a recent meeting, Bhutan's finance minister, Lyonpo Namgay Tshering, said the government was not in favor of banning imports but would do its best to help protect foreign reserves.
"I can't say there is no threat of an economic crisis. I cannot say we are not in a crisis. At the same time, I cannot say we are comfortable," said Tshering, emphasising that the Himalayan kingdom was headed towards an "uncharted destination."
The annual budget Tshering recently presented showed Bhutan's highest ever fiscal deficit of Nu 22.882 billion (€283 million) — which is 11.25% of the country's GDP.
Data released in July by the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan showed foreign exchange reserves shrunk to US$970 million (€955 million) at the end of December from $1.46 billion in April 2021 — while total external debt rose to $3.2 billion from $2.7 billion before the coronavirus pandemic.
The country has sufficient foreign reserves to meet the import of essential goods for 14 months. Bhutan's constitution mandates the country to maintain foreign currency reserves enough to meet 12 months of imports.
"We are an import dependent country. We have to begin to look at other sectors and reformulate polices that can bring revenues to revive the economy. Investing in new technology for agriculture can be a start," Ugyen Penjor, the CEO of Kuensel, the national newspaper of Bhutan, told DW from Thimpu.
"We have not hit the panic button yet but the trade deficit is increasing."
For now, efforts are focused on addressing the issue of trade deficit to prevent Bhutan from dipping into its foreign currency reserves.
Pema Tenzin, president of the Association of Bhutanese Industries, was circumspect of the impending financial crisis.
"The tourism sector has been affected and the void brought about a standstill in infrastructural projects because of the pandemic has affected some livelihoods. But we will bounce back," Tenzin told DW.
Tourism — which employs over 50,000 people and is one of the highest contributors to Bhutan's revenues — was hit the hardest.
Revenue from tourism plunged by 41% in 2019–2020 compared with the previous year.
Only 28,000 visitors came to Bhutan in 2020, generating a revenue of $19 million (€18.67 million). That was down significantly from 2019's figure of 315,599 tourists, which generated $225 million, according to government figures.
The mountainous nation will reopen to international tourists from September for the first time since the pandemic began more than two years ago.
However, rates have been upped and a sustainable development fee of $200 (€196) will be charged per tourist per night — a hike from the $65 fee that was charged for three decades.
Bhutan's economic development is linked to the growth of its hydropower sector. The country exports about 70% of energy generated to India.
Besides India is Bhutan's largest export market, the most important trade partner accounting for 50% of Bhutan's trade and one of the top foreign investors in the country while Bhutan has been crucial to the Neighborhood First Policy and Act East Policy.
There are fears that a prolonged economic crisis could sour relations between India and Bhutan, a situation of which China may be positioned to take advantage.
Bhutan has thus maintained a unique alliance with India, while having neutral dealings with China.
"In this situation it is essential for India to help Bhutan with whom it has a special relationship," said Thapliyal.
"An economically strong India capable of helping Bhutan in meeting its economic challenges would hold the bilateral relations strong and stable in the long run."
Edited by: Keith Walker | https://www.dw.com/en/how-serious-is-bhutans-economic-crisis/a-62836752 | 2022-08-17T14:41:03Z | https://www.dw.com/en/how-serious-is-bhutans-economic-crisis/a-62836752 | false |
BEACHWOOD, Ohio, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ARC Health, a Thurston Group portfolio company, has announced the acquisition of Southeast Psych, a premier mental health provider group with two locations in Charlotte, NC, and one in Nashville, TN. Formed in 2021, ARC Health is a mental health specialty services organization supporting psychiatry, psychology and therapy providers in multiple locations throughout the country.
"Southeast Psych is one of the most prestigious psychology/therapy groups in the nation," said Vincent Morra, ARC Health CEO. "We're honored and excited to have them join our team of top-tier mental health practices."
"We chose to partner with ARC Health given their commitment to a partnership approach. We consider ourselves to be innovators at Southeast Psych and this partnership allows us to continue running our practice and treating our patients as we always have, but with added support and resources that will help us positively impact the lives of more patients," said Jonathan Feather, Psy. D, a founding partner.
Dr. Feather, Dave Verhaagen, PhD, APBB, and Lauren King, Psy. D, are managing partners of the thriving practice with 52 employees at their three locations. They offer individual and group therapy including aspergers/autism, eating disorders, mental health disorders, and family/parent counseling. Their "sweet spot" is working with teens and young adults, Dr. King said.
The doctor-partner model of ARC Health, pioneered by Thurston Group companies, emphasizes local autonomy on the clinical side combined with the competitive advantage of size on the business side.
ARC Health is expanding rapidly throughout the country, partnering with leading mental health providers in attractive geographies.
ARC Health is a premier group of mental healthcare providers who have come together as partners while maintaining their individual identities. Their forward-thinking and supportive partnership of mental healthcare providers is geared toward increasing accessibility via a collaborative network. The ARC Health business model is pioneering the space with a unified, provider-centric approach that reinforces clinical autonomy while also joining together as equity-owning partners.
Thurston Group is a private equity firm that focuses on building industry-leading companies in the healthcare and related business services sectors. Thurston has an extensive track record of partnering with physicians and building fast-growing healthcare businesses, including ARC Health, Smile Doctors, US Endo Partners, US Oral Surgery Management, South Georgia Dental Management, Gen4 Dental Partners, Options Medical Weight Loss and U.S. Orthopaedic Partners. Over its 35-year history, Thurston Group has returned more than $4B of invested capital.
Contact:
Dana Hayes
+1-312-255-0077
Southeast Psych Nashville
Southeast Psych Charlotte
ARC Health
Thurston Group
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SOURCE Thurston Group | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/arc-health-partners-with-southeast-psych/ | 2022-08-17T14:41:48Z | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/arc-health-partners-with-southeast-psych/ | false |
Focuses on complex commercial and financial services litigation, as well as Section 230 cases
WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mohamed Awan joins Crowell & Moring as a partner in its Litigation and Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation groups, where he will provide clients with valuable experience in consumer class actions, complex commercial litigation, and financial services litigation. One of his areas of focus is defending companies in matters related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, a federal law that shields companies against civil lawsuits for content posted on their platforms by a third party.
Awan has significant experience litigating class action matters in federal courts around the country, including multiple warranty claim class actions for one of the leading automobile manufacturers in the United States. He also represents clients in various litigation matters arising from mergers and acquisitions, including those concerning broken deals, material adverse change provisions, takeover defenses, activist shareholders, fraud, and breach of representations and warranties. Awan joins the firm from Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP where he was a partner in the litigation practice. Prior to that, Awan was a corporate lawyer at Kirkland & Ellis in New York.
"Mohamed will be a true asset to Crowell clients, having background in both class action and financial services litigation," said April Ross, vice-chair of the Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation Group at Crowell & Moring. "His experience handling product liability and warranty matters and his experience managing large, multi-jurisdictional matters will expand our class action bench and enhance our national litigation platform."
Awan is the latest addition to the firm's financial services practice. In April 2021, the firm combined with financial services powerhouse Kibbe & Orbe; a few months later, Brian Hail and Rick Hyman joined the firm's New York office; and in December 2021, a highly-regarded derivatives team joined the firm's London office.
"We are thrilled to welcome Mohamed to the firm and look forward to introducing him and his deep experience to our clients," said Keith Harrison, co-chair of the Litigation Group at Crowell & Moring. "He brings a broad range of talents and an impressive track record in the complex commercial litigation and financial services spaces that will benefit corporate clients navigating challenges to their business. Whether it is in contract disputes, shareholder derivative suits, securities matters, and beyond, Mohamed is poised to truly make an impact."
Awan earned his law degree, cum laude, from the American University Washington College of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. He previously clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff, of the Eastern District of Michigan. Awan is a former board member of New American Leaders, a nonprofit group that supports increasing diversity among elected officials.
"I was drawn to Crowell's sophisticated, national platform that tackles the most complex of litigation cases," said Awan. "Having worked in parallel with several of the firm's lawyers on related matters, I couldn't have been more impressed — certainly by their skillful handling of the cases, but also by their innovative thinking and collaboration. As a diverse lawyer, I also appreciate the opportunity to join a firm that puts a sincere, authentic focus on crucial issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion. I am thrilled to be joining the Crowell team."
About Crowell & Moring LLP
Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with offices in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia. Drawing on significant government, business, industry and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and corporate and transactional issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service and its programs and initiatives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion.
Media Contact:
Andrew Loeb
Communications Specialist
+1 202.624.2792
Email: prteam@crowell.com
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SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/commercial-class-action-litigation-partner-mohamed-awan-joins-crowell-amp-moring/ | 2022-08-17T14:43:01Z | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/commercial-class-action-litigation-partner-mohamed-awan-joins-crowell-amp-moring/ | false |
SANDUSKY, Ohio — Sandusky, Ohio, police arrested two people Sunday after visitors at Cedar Point who were riding the Giant Wheel reported to police that got more than they paid for: a front row view of the couple having sex.
According to a Sandusky Police report, the man and woman, both 32 years old, were spotted in the act by four riders in another car, two of whom were minors.
When police confronted the man and woman about the incident, the woman told police that she had dropped a pack of cigarettes while on the ride, bent over and the man "helped her," initially denying the allegation.
The witnesses told police that they saw the couple's genitals and the cart shaking, and said the two even knew they were being watched and laughed about it, but continued having intercourse, the report said. The couple later admitted they had sex on the ride.
Both were charged with public indecency, a first-degree misdemeanor.
This article was written by Drew Scofield for WEWS. | https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/couple-charged-for-allegedly-having-sex-on-giant-wheel-at-ohio-amusement-park | 2022-08-17T14:45:23Z | https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/couple-charged-for-allegedly-having-sex-on-giant-wheel-at-ohio-amusement-park | true |
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) today announced plans to host conference calls to review quarterly financial results on the following dates and times:
- Fourth quarter 2022 – Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023 at 8 a.m. ET
- First quarter 2023 – Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 8 a.m. ET
- Second quarter 2023 – Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 8 a.m. ET
- Third quarter 2023 – Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 at 8 a.m. ET
- Fourth quarter 2023 – Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 at 8 a.m. ET
Access information will be provided closer to each scheduled earnings conference call.
About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country. The company offers a wide range of services including retail, small business and commercial banking; asset management; capital markets; commercial real estate; corporate and institutional banking; insurance; mortgage; payments; specialized lending; and wealth management. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $545 billion as of June 30, 2022. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
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SOURCE Truist Financial Corporation | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/truist-announces-fourth-quarter-2022-quarterly-2023-earnings-conference-call-dates/ | 2022-08-17T14:49:07Z | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/truist-announces-fourth-quarter-2022-quarterly-2023-earnings-conference-call-dates/ | true |
‘She-Hulk’ is big and colorful, but the Marvel comedy is too weak to be a smash
Review by Brian Lowry, CNN
Proving “Moon Knight” wasn’t a fluke as Marvel-sized disappointments go, “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” is big, bright, colorful, and also too goofy for its own good. Trying to bend the mold is fine in theory, but the mix of sitcom-style tropes and gamma-irradiated powers yields a series that’s too weak to smash much of anything.
Ironically, the most buzzed-about element in advance of the premiere — how the computer-generated title character looks — is the least of the show’s worries. For the most part those scenes are just fine, if perhaps a little reminiscent of “Avatar” in the way the Hulks tower over ordinary folk.
Instead, the show bogs down in the it’s-not-easy-being-green comedy and emphasis on quirkiness, feeling episodic in the extreme, after the obligatory origin story is out of the way. While there’s nothing wrong with screwball office comedy, based on the four episodes previewed, that genre hardly plays to Marvel’s strengths.
For those unfamiliar with the character, the premiere dutifully sets up Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters as the cousin of Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), who accidentally comingles her blood with his, investing her with extraordinary strength and size (6’7″, in her case, so a little more down to Earth).
Unfortunately, that same episode also establishes that Jessica will occasionally break the fourth wall and speak directly to the audience, a tired-enough device that proves especially awkward in this context, as she adjusts to the vagaries of switching back and forth between her superpowered and ordinary selves.
“There is no going back to what you were before,” the Hulk tells her, although part of She-Hulk’s DNA has been that she gradually recognizes certain beneficial aspects of her larger-than-life persona.
“She-Hulk” thus offers what amounts to a tabloid-esque, TMZ-informed view of the superhero world, with Jessica, the reluctant newcomer, serving as a de facto guide. If the idea has promise, the execution falls short despite the occasionally chuckle.
Comedy writer Jessica Gao and director Kat Coiro (whose recent credits include the Jennifer Lopez movie “Marry Me”) have some fun with the Marvel-ness of it all, from the various cameos to references to early Hulk movies not featuring Ruffalo to Jessica’s unwholesome interest in Captain America’s personal life. In Maslany, the chameleon-like star of “Orphan Black,” they also have a solid lead, without giving her the kind of material to flex those muscles.
The main problem is there’s nothing to really drive the narrative, with Jameela Jamil, as the super-powered influencer Titania, barely registering in the opening installments, each of which features a mid-credit gag.
The underlying proposition to Marvel’s Disney+ series has hinged on the opportunity to feature stories, characters and tones that wouldn’t have the weight or appeal to carry a big-screen incarnation, again, an approach not without merit. The effect of late, however, after an auspicious start, has tilted more toward diluting the flagship brand than augmenting it.
Even if the early series had their flaws, they generally contained enough thrills to justify the considerable hype. By contrast, “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” presents a flimsy case for sticking around until the end. While the remaining episodes could reverse that summary judgment, so far, it lacks the appeal to win on appeal.
“She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” premieres Aug. 18 on Disney+.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://kion546.com/entertainment/cnn-entertainment/2022/08/17/she-hulk-is-big-and-colorful-but-the-marvel-comedy-is-too-weak-to-be-a-smash/ | 2022-08-17T14:49:34Z | https://kion546.com/entertainment/cnn-entertainment/2022/08/17/she-hulk-is-big-and-colorful-but-the-marvel-comedy-is-too-weak-to-be-a-smash/ | true |
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Aston Villa 2, Everton 1
Arsenal 4, Leicester 2
Brighton 0, Newcastle 0
Man City 4, Bournemouth 0
Southampton 2, Leeds 2
Wolverhampton 0, Fulham 0
Brentford 4, Man United 0
Nottingham Forest 1, West Ham 0
Chelsea 2, Tottenham 2
Liverpool 1, Crystal Palace 1
Tottenham vs. Wolverhampton, 7:30 a.m.
Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa, 10 a.m.
Everton vs. Nottingham Forest, 10 a.m.
Fulham vs. Brentford, 10 a.m.
Leicester vs. Southampton, 10 a.m.
Bournemouth vs. Arsenal, 12:30 p.m.
Leeds vs. Chelsea, 9 a.m.
West Ham vs. Brighton, 9 a.m.
Newcastle vs. Man City, 11:30 a.m.
Man United vs. Liverpool, 3 p.m.
Southampton vs. Man United, 7:30 a.m.
Brentford vs. Everton, 10 a.m.
Brighton vs. Leeds, 10 a.m.
Chelsea vs. Leicester, 10 a.m.
Liverpool vs. Bournemouth, 10 a.m.
Man City vs. Crystal Palace, 10 a.m.
Arsenal vs. Fulham, 12:30 p.m.
Aston Villa vs. West Ham, 9 a.m.
Wolverhampton vs. Newcastle, 9 a.m.
Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham, 11:30 a.m.
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Watford 1, Burnley 0
Cardiff 1, Birmingham 0
Blackpool 0, Swansea 1
Huddersfield 3, Stoke 1
Hull 2, Norwich 1
Luton Town 0, Preston 1
Millwall 3, Coventry 2
Rotherham 4, Reading 0
Sunderland 2, QPR 2
Wigan 1, Bristol City 1
Middlesbrough 2, Sheffield United 2
Blackburn 2, West Brom 1
Birmingham 1, Watford 1
Bristol City 2, Luton Town 0
Burnley 1, Hull 1
Coventry vs. Wigan, 2:45 p.m. ppd
Norwich 2, Huddersfield 1
Preston 0, Rotherham 0
Swansea 2, Millwall 2
QPR 0, Blackpool 1
Stoke vs. Middlesbrough, 2:45 p.m.
Sheffield United vs. Sunderland, 3 p.m.
Reading vs. Blackburn, 3 p.m.
West Brom vs. Cardiff, 3 p.m.
Norwich vs. Millwall, 3 p.m.
Birmingham vs. Wigan, 10 a.m.
Burnley vs. Blackpool, 10 a.m.
Coventry vs. Huddersfield, 10 a.m.
Preston vs. Watford, 10 a.m.
QPR vs. Rotherham, 10 a.m.
Reading vs. Middlesbrough, 10 a.m.
Sheffield United vs. Blackburn, 10 a.m.
Stoke vs. Sunderland, 10 a.m.
Swansea vs. Luton Town, 10 a.m.
West Brom vs. Hull, 10 a.m.
Bristol City vs. Cardiff, 7 a.m.
Luton Town vs. Sheffield United, 3 p.m.
Sunderland vs. Norwich, 7:30 a.m.
Blackburn vs. Stoke, 10 a.m.
Blackpool vs. Bristol City, 10 a.m.
Cardiff vs. Preston, 10 a.m.
Huddersfield vs. West Brom, 10 a.m.
Hull vs. Coventry, 10 a.m.
Middlesbrough vs. Swansea, 10 a.m.
Millwall vs. Reading, 10 a.m.
Rotherham vs. Birmingham, 10 a.m.
Watford vs. QPR, 10 a.m.
Wigan vs. Burnley, 10 a.m.
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Bristol Rovers 1, Oxford United 0
Accrington Stanley 4, Burton Albion 4
Cambridge United 2, Exeter 1
Cheltenham 0, Portsmouth 2
Derby 2, Barnsley 1
Ipswich 3, Milton Keynes Dons 0
Lincoln 1, Forest Green 1
Morecambe 1, Fleetwood Town 1
Plymouth 2, Peterborough 0
Port Vale 0, Bolton 0
Sheffield Wednesday 1, Charlton 0
Wycombe 1, Shrewsbury 2
Barnsley 3, Bristol Rovers 0
Bolton 1, Morecambe 0
Burton Albion 0, Ipswich 1
Charlton 5, Plymouth 1
Exeter 3, Wycombe 1
Fleetwood Town 0, Cheltenham 0
Forest Green vs. Accrington Stanley, 2:45 p.m. ppd
Milton Keynes Dons 2, Port Vale 1
Oxford United 1, Lincoln 2
Peterborough 2, Sheffield Wednesday 0
Portsmouth 4, Cambridge United 1
Shrewsbury 0, Derby 0
Barnsley vs. Wycombe, 10 a.m.
Bolton vs. Sheffield Wednesday, 10 a.m.
Burton Albion vs. Port Vale, 10 a.m.
Charlton vs. Cambridge United, 10 a.m.
Exeter vs. Cheltenham, 10 a.m.
Fleetwood Town vs. Derby, 10 a.m.
Forest Green vs. Plymouth, 10 a.m.
Milton Keynes Dons vs. Accrington Stanley, 10 a.m.
Oxford United vs. Morecambe, 10 a.m.
Peterborough vs. Lincoln, 10 a.m.
Portsmouth vs. Bristol Rovers, 10 a.m.
Shrewsbury vs. Ipswich, 10 a.m.
Accrington Stanley vs. Exeter, 10 a.m.
Bristol Rovers vs. Shrewsbury, 10 a.m.
Cambridge United vs. Burton Albion, 10 a.m.
Cheltenham vs. Oxford United, 10 a.m.
Derby vs. Peterborough, 10 a.m.
Ipswich vs. Barnsley, 10 a.m.
Lincoln vs. Fleetwood Town, 10 a.m.
Morecambe vs. Milton Keynes Dons, 10 a.m.
Plymouth vs. Bolton, 10 a.m.
Port Vale vs. Portsmouth, 10 a.m.
Sheffield Wednesday vs. Forest Green, 10 a.m.
Wycombe vs. Charlton, 10 a.m.
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AFC Wimbledon 2, Doncaster 2
Bradford 2, Newport County 0
Carlisle 1, Swindon 1
Harrogate Town 0, Crawley Town 0
Leyton Orient 1, Mansfield Town 0
Northampton 2, Hartlepool 1
Rochdale 0, Grimsby Town 1
Salford 3, Crewe 0
Stockport County 1, Colchester 0
Sutton United 1, Barrow 0
Tranmere 3, Gillingham 0
Walsall 1, Stevenage 1
Barrow 2, Walsall 1
Colchester 1, Bradford 0
Crawley Town 2, Northampton 3
Crewe 1, Sutton United 0
Gillingham 0, Harrogate Town 2
Grimsby Town vs. Carlisle, 2:45 p.m.
Hartlepool 0, Tranmere 0
Mansfield Town 5, AFC Wimbledon 2
Newport County 2, Salford 3
Stevenage 1, Rochdale 0
Swindon 1, Leyton Orient 1
Doncaster 2, Stockport County 1
Hartlepool vs. Bradford, 8 a.m.
Barrow vs. Harrogate Town, 10 a.m.
Colchester vs. Leyton Orient, 10 a.m.
Crawley Town vs. AFC Wimbledon, 10 a.m.
Crewe vs. Northampton, 10 a.m.
Doncaster vs. Salford, 10 a.m.
Gillingham vs. Walsall, 10 a.m.
Grimsby Town vs. Sutton United, 10 a.m.
Mansfield Town vs. Stockport County, 10 a.m.
Newport County vs. Tranmere, 10 a.m.
Stevenage vs. Carlisle, 10 a.m.
Swindon vs. Rochdale, 10 a.m.
AFC Wimbledon vs. Barrow, 10 a.m.
Bradford vs. Crewe, 10 a.m.
Carlisle vs. Gillingham, 10 a.m.
Harrogate Town vs. Newport County, 10 a.m.
Leyton Orient vs. Hartlepool, 10 a.m.
Northampton vs. Doncaster, 10 a.m.
Rochdale vs. Crawley Town, 10 a.m.
Salford vs. Stevenage, 10 a.m.
Stockport County vs. Swindon, 10 a.m.
Sutton United vs. Mansfield Town, 10 a.m.
Tranmere vs. Colchester, 10 a.m.
Walsall vs. Grimsby Town, 10 a.m. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/English-Standings-17379188.php | 2022-08-17T14:49:54Z | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/English-Standings-17379188.php | false |
One of the toughest transitions Kyla Jenée Lacey endured in her life was when her family moved from diverse Chicago to Winter Springs, Fla., a predominantly White city about 30 minutes north of Orlando.
“For me, it was a lot of survival involved in my socialization because I didn’t feel accepted by other Black kids, and I didn’t feel accepted by White kids,” she said.
But outside the confines of school, Black language was her haven. Like bilingual kids, she bounced between AAVE and standard English. When she was at home speaking AAVE, she didn’t have to impress anyone; she felt most herself and connected to her heritage, she said.
AAVE, also known as African American English (AAE), African American Language (AAL), Black English or Ebonics, is a style of English often spoken in Black American households. Linguists are unsure of how Black English came about, but they believe it might have originated from West African or Creole languages. Much like these speech forms, AAVE serves as communication among people with a common culture.
According to deandre miles-hercules, a PhD candidate at the University of California at Santa Barbara, the language was created by enslaved Black people living in the South who were separated from their native countries and tongues. As Black Americans moved north and west during the Great Migration, they took the language with them, and each region created slightly different versions of Black English over time.
For Lacey, it was only when she attended school at the University of Central Florida in the early 2000s, surrounded by all-Black roommates and more Black people, that she began to dispel the notion that her humanity would never be as validated as her White counterparts. She no longer had to blend in or prove herself to people who would look down on her for speaking AAVE, she said.
So when she started seeing non-Black people disrespecting AAVE in virtual spaces more recently, she was pressed. It annoyed her, for example, to see subtitles added to broadcast news magazines when Black interviewees spoke coherently. She also hated how the language had been weaponized online by non-Black people to imply an aggressive tone, and how nonnative AAVE speakers sometimes mispronounced Black English words because they’d only seen them typed on a screen.
“I know that words have different meanings to different groups,” she said. “You can’t take Black people’s very ingrained language, an absolute staple of Black language, and say, because there’s confusion on Twitter, we’re not allowed to use our words.”
As Generation Z influencers and Black entertainers continue to shape the internet landscape, from viral memes to TikTok dances, AAVE has shown up in more online spaces. But some Black AAVE speakers believe that the language has been incorrectly chalked up as new vocabulary started by young people — and they’ve been calling out non-Black people for glorifying internet stars who butcher the speech and lack understanding of the language’s cultural significance.
Language unravels the evolution of a speaker’s history, geography and culture, miles-hercules said. As AAVE lands into the laps of people who didn’t grow up speaking it, those who try and fail to use it properly can be viewed as ignorant by Black communities. At worst, they’re perceived as appropriating Black culture and perpetuating racism as they take on Black speech without assuming Black Americans’ struggle, speakers say.
Amoura Monroe, a 20-year-old living in Los Angeles, contends that a big part of the problem comes when the language is wrongly attributed to Gen Z lingo, stan culture or internet slang.
For example, “Gen Z Hospital,” a skit from “Saturday Night Live,” was meant to poke fun at how young people spoke. But as Monroe and other Twitter users noted, many of the words, such as “tea” and “pressed,” were actually derived from AAVE. (NBCUniversal didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.)
“It strips away the importance,” Monroe said of using AAVE for comedy. “Black people do get ridiculed for it. … They get made fun of, and people stereotype us for speaking that way.”
Words such as “slay,” “period,” “extra” and “cap” take on slightly different meanings in the context of AAVE, which many nonnative speakers are unable to fully grasp, Monroe added.
Monroe said she’s also been bothered by celebrities who try to speak AAVE. These non-Black people speak it as a form of entertainment, “giving them a Black caricature in a way, kind of like a minstrel show,” Monroe said. Meanwhile, she added, Black people are denigrated and told they’re speaking improperly when using it.
Recently, song lyrics including AAVE have been at the center of debate. In June, a social media firestorm led singer-songwriter Lizzo to change lyrics in her song “Grrrls” after disability advocates pointed out that a word in its original version, “spaz,” is considered an ableist slur. The word has been used to disparage disabled people who experience spasms, including those with cerebral palsy or spinal muscular atrophy.
Then, in August, Beyoncé announced she would remove the same word from “Heated,” a song on her latest album, “Renaissance.”
Some speakers of AAVE defended the Black artists, saying that the word has another meaning — to go wild — and that its use in “Grrrls” and “Heated” wasn’t meant to offend.
“Lizzo let WHITE people bully her out of using AAVE in her song,” a fan tweeted. “Black people have been using ‘spazz’ for decades and it has nothing to do with making fun of disabled people.”
Others disagreed: “The word is a slur. Let it go and let some compassion for people who have been harmed by that word in instead,” a Black autistic person wrote.
Dilemmas such as Lizzo’s and Beyoncé’s reveal the conflicts that have arisen as AAVE becomes more mainstream in pop culture, particularly through song lyrics and social media posts.
AAVE speakers have also criticized what they see as the hypocrisy of non-Black people on the internet who police the language’s use while profiting from various aspects of Black life.
According to Jamaal Muwwakkil, also a PhD candidate at UC Santa Barbara, non-Black people often gain social capital when they use Black language and culture: “When we think about social media and entertainment, the economic capital that people get from the … appropriation of Black language, fashion and so on, is in many ways a replacement for the loss of economic capital … from our literal bodies in chattel slavery.”
Black speakers point to the memeification of Sweet Brown — who famously said “Ain’t nobody got time for that” in a 2012 Oklahoma City television news story — as evidence of how the use of Black language can elevate a person’s social status. The viral clip led to Brown’s multiple TV appearances and movie role.
However, Muwwakkil said, without the historical and cultural context known by native speakers, AAE is vulnerable to distortion online.
The terminology used to describe Black English is also controversial. Muwwakkil frowns upon the use of the term AAVE and prefers African American English, because he believes the speech and gestures are not a different language, vernacular or dialect.
He also takes issue with the term code switching, or changing between two languages, which he says is disproportionately applied to Black people and implies that African American English has less legitimacy compared with standard English. Everyone changes the way they speak based on their relationship with the person and the setting in which they’re conversing, he said, and the different ways of speaking should be equally acceptable, a concept called “code meshing.”
Several years removed from her high school days, Lacey said she still switches between Black English to standard English to avoid being discriminated against, although she wishes she didn’t feel the need to.
But she also sees refusing to speak it around White people as a form of gatekeeping, she said: “AAVE is the closest thing we have to a cultural secret.”
Despite what some Black speakers see as the misuse and scrutiny of the language, they believe it will continue to thrive as a bastion for Black culture — and it will keep evolving in the way Black people see fit.
As Muwwakkil put it: “There will never be a way to stop being the creative force that’s always been a part of Black language and culture.” | https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/08/17/black-english-misidentified-internet-slang/ | 2022-08-17T14:53:38Z | https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/08/17/black-english-misidentified-internet-slang/ | false |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tampa Bay has signed outside linebacker Carl Nassib, who returns after playing for the Buccaneers in 2018 and 2019.
“He’s a very good pass-rusher on the outside and he can also play inside in some nickel situations,” Bowles said. “He has a lot of versatility, he brings a lot of energy, brings a lot of toughness and he understands the system. He was comfortable in it. We look forward to him coming here.”
Outside linebacker Cam Gill is dealing with a Lisfranc injury from the Bucs’ preseason opener.
Nassib spent the past two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders after playing 29 combined games with Tampa Bay during 2018 and 2019. Nassib, who became the NFL's first active player to come out as gay in 2021, started his career with Cleveland after being a third-round draft pick out of Penn State in 2016.
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nfl/tampa-bay-brings-back-linebacker-carl-nassib-for-depth/2022/08/17/ac984ebe-1e37-11ed-9ce6-68253bd31864_story.html | 2022-08-17T14:54:27Z | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nfl/tampa-bay-brings-back-linebacker-carl-nassib-for-depth/2022/08/17/ac984ebe-1e37-11ed-9ce6-68253bd31864_story.html | false |
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for TSLA, A, DLTR, WMT, and BABA.
Click a link below then choose between in-depth options trade idea report or a stock score report.
Options Report – Ideal trade ideas on up to seven different options trading strategies. The report shows all vital aspects of each option trade idea for each stock.
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- TSLA: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=TSLA&prnumber=081720224
- A: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=A&prnumber=081720224
- DLTR: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=DLTR&prnumber=081720224
- WMT: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=WMT&prnumber=081720224
- BABA: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=BABA&prnumber=081720224
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InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/thinking-about-trading-options-or-stock-tesla-agilent-technologies-dollar-tree-walmart-or-alibaba/ | 2022-08-17T14:54:45Z | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/thinking-about-trading-options-or-stock-tesla-agilent-technologies-dollar-tree-walmart-or-alibaba/ | true |
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Independence Fund, with the help of Elevation Church and The Galilee Center, will provide monthly cultural classes for Afghan women through November.
The Independence Fund began hosting cultural classes for Afghan women in early 2022, as the organization saw a gap in the Afghan community. While The Independence Fund's Allies program assists Afghan Allies in the resettlement process, the need for cultural education remains a serious need for the community.
"The Independence Fund is dedicated to the successful and dignified resettlement of Afghan Allies throughout the country. These families fought shoulder-to-shoulder with American troops, and they deserve our best as they make a new home in the United States following their brave escape from the Taliban," says Sarah Verardo, CEO of the Independence Fund. "We know, however, that feeling at home means more than simply having four walls, a roof, and financial support. We are committed to being at the forefront of these efforts, and know that learning the nuances of an unknown culture are intimidating at best, and exclusive, at worst. I'm so proud of our work with through our Afghan women's classes and grateful for the support of community partners like Elevation Church and the Galilee Center."
The classes, designed for 20 participants at a time, include topics such as women's hygiene, access to mental health and healthcare, early childhood education, parenting tips, intro to driving, intro to rules and laws, community resources and access, financial services and lending, general safety, and visa and immigration procedures and paperwork.
Elevation Church, a close partner of The Independence Fund's Allies program, will provide transportation, childcare, rental, materials, supplies for dignity kits, toys, and the cost of meals to ensure the cultural classes can grow and impact a larger part of the Afghan community. The Galilee Center will provide an ongoing, host location for the cultural classes,
"Finding community partners across the country who are making a direct, powerful impact in the lives of those they serve is key to Elevation's outreach mission," explains Josh Wood, National Outreach Director at Elevation Church. "The Independence Fund's leadership not only in the Veteran community but on the frontlines of resettlement for our Afghan Allies is remarkable, and it's a privilege to help make these cultural classes accessible and successful for the women they serve."
Early iterations of the cultural classes welcomed new groups of women each month, with repeated introductory material. Now, the program will be able to build progressive curriculum to ensure that Afghan families are equipped with resources to assimilate to their new home as smooth as possible.
In respect of the Afghan culture, a private chef will provide lunch cooked entirely to Halal standards.
Classes will be held 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. August 31, September 26, October 24, and November 21.
Please contact Caroline Arey at c.arey@independencefund.org or 704.608.8770 for questions.
Founded in 2007, The Independence Fund (501c3) is committed to serving the Warfighter Community by providing innovative programs and services to support the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual independence of our servicemembers, combat Veterans, their caregivers, families, and those allies who served in combat alongside our troops, through innovative mobility and adaptive technologies and therapies for combat veterans; suicide prevention; caregiver and family support; and Veteran advocacy with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, other government agencies, federal and state legislators, and other partners. The Independence Fund believes in fairness and equality for all veterans and families irrespective of race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation, and will continue to uphold these American values.
Caroline Arey, Strategic Messaging Director
c.arey@independencefund.org
(704) 608-8770
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SOURCE The Independence Fund | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/independence-fund-elevation-church-offer-afghan-womens-cultural-classes-through-november/ | 2022-08-17T14:56:24Z | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/independence-fund-elevation-church-offer-afghan-womens-cultural-classes-through-november/ | true |
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for COGT, FUBO, ETNB, KIRK, and PRTY.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- COGT: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=COGT&prnumber=081720222
- FUBO: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=FUBO&prnumber=081720222
- ETNB: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=ETNB&prnumber=081720222
- KIRK: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=KIRK&prnumber=081720222
- PRTY: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=PRTY&prnumber=081720222
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InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alerts are based on our proprietary scoring methodology. Each stock is evaluated based on short-term technical, long-term technical and fundamental factors. Each of those scores is then combined into an overall score that determines a stock's overall suitability for investment.
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
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SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/thinking-about-buying-stock-cogent-biosciences-fubotv-89bio-kirklands-or-party-city/ | 2022-08-17T14:59:37Z | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/thinking-about-buying-stock-cogent-biosciences-fubotv-89bio-kirklands-or-party-city/ | false |
TOKYO (AP) — A former Tokyo Olympic organizing committee board member and three people from a clothing company that was a surprise sponsor of the 2020 Games were arrested on bribery suspicions Wednesday.
Haruyuki Takahashi, 78, a former executive at advertising company Dentsu, is suspected of receiving bribes from the former head of Aoki Holdings Inc. and two company employees, the prosecutors’ office said.
Aoki, which produces “recruit suits” that youngsters fresh out of school wear for job interviews and their first jobs, was a surprise pick to dress the Japanese Olympic team when other nations had top fashion brands designing their athletes’ outfits.
The alleged bribery, totaling 51 million yen ($380,000) deposited into a bank account of Takahashi’s company from October 2017 to March this year, is believed to be linked to sponsorship of the games and products related to the Olympics, the Tokyo District Prosecutors said in a statement.
Although corruption at top levels among Olympic officials had long been rumored, the arrest comes as a blow to Japan’s Olympic ambitions.
Takahashi is credited with landing $3 billion in local sponsorships for the Tokyo Games. Dentsu is a key player in many major Japanese events, including the Olympics. Japan also is pursuing the 2030 Winter Olympics for Sapporo.
Aoki said it was still looking into the matter and did not have immediate comment. The Japanese Olympic Committee was not immediately available for comment.
Japanese media reports said Takahashi denied wrongdoing, stressing he was paid for consulting services.
Also arrested were Hironori Aoki, 83, who founded Aoki, his younger brother and deputy at the company Takahisa Aoki, 76, and Katsuhisa Ueda, 40, an executive at a group company, prosecutors said. The dubious payments were made more than 50 times, they said.
Prosecutors had raided Hironori Aoki’s Tokyo home last month. Speculation is growing there may be even more arrests. Seiko Hashimoto, a lawmaker who was in charge of the Tokyo Olympics, has promised to cooperate with the investigation.
Tokyo hosted the 2020 Games, which included the Paralympics, with much fanfare — as well as criticism, especially over the ballooning costs — in summer 2021. The event was postponed by a year and held with no public ticket sales because of the coronavirus pandemic.
That came as a disappointment, as the games were supposed to drum up tourism revenue and put a spotlight on Japan’s prowess in a similar way as the 1964 Tokyo Olympics did.
The official price tag for the latest Tokyo Games was $13 billion, mostly public money. That was double the initial estimate when the International Olympic Committee awarded Tokyo the event, but less than the $25 billion some had predicted.
___
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/japan-makes-arrests-on-bribery-suspicions-in-tokyo-olympics/ | 2022-08-17T15:00:14Z | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/japan-makes-arrests-on-bribery-suspicions-in-tokyo-olympics/ | false |
- Epic Day Pass offers savings up to 65% compared to lift ticket prices; best option for guests planning to ski or ride only a few days this season
- New this season, Epic Pass to include Andermatt-Sedrun in Central Switzerland
BROOMFIELD, Colo., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For anyone who has not purchased their 2022/23 Epic Pass yet, consider this your official reminder before prices go up after Labor Day (Sept. 5). Epic Pass continues to be the best deal in skiing and riding, offering unmatched value and access to the world's best destination resorts and close-to-home ski areas.
Ahead of this winter, Vail Resorts is making a bold investment in 18 exciting lift upgrades across its resorts to help guests move up and around the mountain faster and more easily, even on the most popular days. The company is also working toward a fully staffed team that feels supported and fulfilled this season with investments in higher employee pay, new affordable employee housing and leadership development, plus other employee benefits and perks.
New for the 2022/23 ski and ride season, Epic Pass Holders can take on the alps at Andermatt-Sedrun, Central Switzerland's largest ski area. Located less than 90 minutes from three of Switzerland's major metropolitan areas (Zurich, Lucerne and Lugano) and approximately two hours from Milan, Italy, Andermatt attracts guests from all over the world with its charming, traditional village center, deep powder and challenging steep slopes. On the other side of the Oberalppass, Sedrun features wide slopes perfectly suitable for families, and beginner and intermediate skiers.
There is a pass option for everyone – whether you are looking to ski and ride one day or every day. All 2022/23 pass products, including regional passes and day passes, are available now on the Epic Pass website. Some of the most popular passes include:
- Epic Pass, $859, provides unlimited, unrestricted access to 41 resorts, from local ski areas to bucket list destinations – including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Park City, Whistler Blackcomb, Andermatt-Sedrun, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Stowe, Stevens Pass and more. With additional partner resorts like Telluride, Verbier 4 Vallees, Les 3 Vallees, Ski Arlberg, and Skirama Dolomiti, the Epic Pass unlocks access to more than 80 resorts.
- Epic Local Pass, $639, provides unlimited, unrestricted access to 29 resorts – including Breckenridge and Keystone, as well as holiday-restricted access to resorts like Park City, Heavenly and Stowe, plus 10 days total at Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb, and five days at Andermatt-Sedrun at no extra cost.
- Epic Day Pass allows skiers and riders to build their own pass, choosing from one to seven days, holidays or not, and resort access. Epic Day Passes offer savings up to 65% compared to lift ticket prices, with prices starting as low as $45 for an Epic 1-Day Pass. Epic Day Pass Holders with All Resorts Access will be able to use any of their days at Andermatt-Sedrun.
- Northeast Value Pass, $525, provides access to 21 resorts across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including Stowe, Hunter, Mount Snow, Okemo and Wildcat, as well as the newest additions to the Vail Resorts network, Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain in Pennsylvania.
- Epic Military Pass, $149, for Active and Retired Military and their dependents, provides unlimited, unrestricted access to all of Vail Resorts' owned and operated mountains – including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City and Whistler Blackcomb. Veterans and their dependents can purchase an Epic Military Pass for $480.
PASS HOLDER BENEFITS
New this season, guests can purchase any Epic Pass product using Epic FlexPay, which enables payment via easy monthly installments with zero down payment and zero interest[1].
All 2022/23 Pass Holders get significant savings on the rest of their mountain experience through Epic Mountain Rewards, which offers 20% off on both winter and summer activities. Winter benefits include 20% off on-mountain food and beverage, lodging, group ski and ride school lessons, equipment rentals and more. Many Epic Passes also come with Ski with a Friend ticket vouchers, good for discounted lift tickets to share with friends and family.
All passes are non-refundable except through Epic Coverage, which provides refunds for certain resort closures and personal events such as job loss, injury or illness. Epic Coverage is provided at no additional cost and Pass Holders should review the Epic Coverage Terms and Conditions. Lift tickets are fully refundable but do not provide the value or multi-resort access of passes.
Vail Resorts is a network of the best destination and close-to-home ski resorts in the world including Vail Mountain, Breckenridge, Park City Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb, Stowe, and 32 additional resorts across North America; Andermatt-Sedrun in Switzerland; and Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek in Australia. We are passionate about providing an Experience of a Lifetime to our team members and guests, and our EpicPromise is to reach a zero net operating footprint by 2030, support our employees and communities, and broaden engagement in our sport. Our company owns and/or manages a collection of casually elegant hotels under the Rock Resorts brand, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Retail operates more than 250 retail and rental locations across North America. Learn more about our company at www.VailResorts.com, or discover our resorts and pass options at www.EpicPass.com.
[1] Epic Pass T&Cs: Restrictions and exclusions apply. See Terms and Conditions for details. Uplift T&Cs: All loans are $0 down and 0% APR but the length of the loan offered may vary. A minimum total purchase of $49 required to apply for a loan. Not everyone is eligible, and some states are not served, including IA and WV. Loans made through Uplift are offered by these lending partners: uplift.com/lenders. Privacy Policy. Terms of Use.
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SOURCE Vail Resorts, Inc. | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/last-chance-lowest-prices-202223-epic-passes-is-labor-day/ | 2022-08-17T15:04:02Z | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/last-chance-lowest-prices-202223-epic-passes-is-labor-day/ | true |
Two men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 were “very eager” to move forward with the plan and expressed no reluctance, a key witness testified Wednesday.
Ty Garbin also downplayed the influence of two FBI informants who trained with the group, saying he couldn't recall them suggesting that Whitmer should be kidnapped.
“Not that I saw, no,” Garbin told jurors in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. are on trial for the second time on conspiracy charges. A jury in April couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict but acquitted two other men.
Garbin is an important witness for the government: He quickly agreed to cooperate following his arrest and pleaded guilty. Kaleb Franks pleaded guilty and will also testify.
Prosecutors say Fox and Croft wanted to trigger a national revolt. The government said disgust over COVID-19 restrictions inspired them to make kidnapping plans in 2020. Defense lawyers, however, argue that undercover FBI agents and rogue operatives created the scheme.
Garbin said he trained with Fox, Croft and others in a remote area, practicing inside a handmade “shoot house” to simulate a kidnapping. He told jurors how they traveled to Elk Rapids at night to see Whitmer's vacation home and a bridge that could be blown up to distract police during an attack.
“It wasn't anybody's idea but my own to participate,” Garbin said when asked if he was entrapped by agents.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler asked if Fox and Croft were reluctant.
“No,” Garbin replied. “Very eager to continue forward with it.”
Garbin’s testimony was tighter than in the first trial. Last spring he said kidnapping the Democratic governor could be the “ignition” for civil war and “prevent Joe Biden from winning the presidency.”
But Kessler didn’t ask questions to draw out those answers Tuesday or Wednesday.
Fox, 39, was living in the Grand Rapids area, and Croft, 46, is from Bear, Delaware.
Whitmer has blamed then-President Donald Trump for stoking mistrust and fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn hate groups and right-wing extremists like those charged in the plot.
Trump recently called the kidnapping plan a “fake deal.”
___
Find the AP’s full coverage of the kidnapping plot trial: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Key-insider-2-men-were-very-eager-to-kidnap-17379210.php | 2022-08-17T15:05:15Z | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Key-insider-2-men-were-very-eager-to-kidnap-17379210.php | false |
Noah Davis, President, Upstryve Inc.
America’s infrastructure needs an overhaul. But while everyone agrees fixes are needed, no one can agree on how to do it. While our government continues to debate on how to address our crumbling roads and bridges, there is one solution that I think has been largely overlooked: skilled trade workers. These are the men and women who build, repair, maintain and run everything from power plants to water treatment systems, airports to railroads—and they’re all needed now more than ever before.
America’s Infrastructure Is In Crisis
The United States is facing an infrastructure crisis. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the U.S. a C- last year on its report card with wastewater, highways and transit all needing improvements. According to estimates from ASCE, around $4.6 trillion of work is needed on things like bridges, dams and roads.
The issue is getting worse, and between 2026 and 2028 alone, they project that our existing backlog will grow by $1 trillion as more aging bridges collapse and roads buckle under pressure from increased traffic. And the problem is not just that much of our infrastructure is crumbling—it’s also that it isn’t being built.
This is why it’s so important for skilled tradespeople to get involved in rebuilding the country’s infrastructure. Not only will it bring them more work, but it will also help strengthen our economy by creating more jobs and lowering taxes on those who need them most.
The Labor Shortage Is Intensifying
Labor shortages have become a fact of life for many companies and industries. The skilled trades are no exception, and the problem is particularly acute in certain regions of the country and particular industries.
The reason why there’s such a shortage can be traced to what experts call skills mismatch. In other words, there aren’t enough people with the right skills to do the jobs that need doing. This can be caused by at least a couple of factors.
• Young people aren’t interested in learning how to do these jobs.
• Workers who already have these skills are unable to retire due to the demand for their knowledge and training capabilities.
The result is that workers are being hired and trained at a much slower rate than the demand for their skills. The shortage of skilled workers in construction, transportation and other industries is expected to intensify, leading many experts to predict that it could become an even bigger crisis within just five years.
It’s hard to imagine a better time to be a skilled tradesperson. From the combination of advances in technology, increased demand for labor and growing need for affordable housing and infrastructure, skilled trades are likely to be in high demand over the next decade.
Skilled Trades As A Silver Lining
The rise of automation has led to a shortage of skilled labor in many industries, and infrastructure is no exception. It is going to take an influx of workers skilled in new areas as well as a lot of time and funding to catch up on existing deferred infrastructure maintenance needs.
A potential solution lies in training more people for careers in construction trades—a shining example being Elon Musk’s The Boring Company, which aims at employing thousands upon thousands of workers for its tunneling projects across America.
And there are plenty of other examples out there. Take the North American Crane Bureau (NACB), for instance; with the implementation of virtual reality software into its employee onboarding process, this company has modernized its training program, propelling it into the age of Web 3.0.
Some Ways To Find And Train Skilled Workers
According to The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 76% of those surveyed, including representatives in construction, say they are having trouble finding qualified workers for open positions within their company or industry. Skilled workers are also invaluable for helping young people get started on the path toward financial independence—but only if we can create more opportunities by increasing access to training programs like apprenticeships so that students have options for their future.
Those in the industry need to find ways to attract workers and train them. Ideas that my company has used include offering to host career advancement opportunities unique to the skilled trades and matching those interested in pursuing a career in the trades with mentors who can help facilitate their journey. Discounts on textbooks and equipment as well as exclusive access to learning materials can help as well.
The Answer To Infrastructure Needs
If you’re wondering how to help solve the infrastructure crisis in 2023, consider the skilled trades. These positions are always needed, and they could be part of the answer to our infrastructure crisis.
The skilled trades are a good option for people who don’t want to go to college and want a more practical education than an engineering degree gives them. There’s no reason why someone with a high school diploma should have trouble finding work if they’re willing to put in the time and effort that comes with it. Training and hiring more in this industry can also help fix our infrastructure crisis by filling positions that were previously only filled by people with an engineering background or a degree in construction management.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify? | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/08/17/how-the-skilled-trades-can-help-infrastructure-needs/ | 2022-08-17T15:06:39Z | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/08/17/how-the-skilled-trades-can-help-infrastructure-needs/ | true |
Valet Living is Creating the Largest National Property Solutions Network
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Valet Living, the only nationally recognized full-service amenities provider to the multifamily housing industry, today announced the expansion of their Valet Living Turns business with the acquisitions of Contemporary Contractors, Inc. (CCI), an Irving, Texas-based traditional turns company that also provides plumbing and HVAC work, and A Rite Way, a Boca Raton, Florida-based multifamily solutions provider that has accommodated residential communities for over 20 years while routinely pulling in capital expenditure projects.
"Valet Living Turns purposeful expansion strategy will be fueled by additional acquisitions and organic growth," said Steve Davis, EVP of Strategic Development. "Including near-term announcements of incremental acquisitions – to become the only nationwide provider of turns services."
Since 2019, Valet Living Turns by Valet Living has been building out a national platform to ensure efficiencies in real estate turnover by expanding current markets and acquiring the best-in-class local multifamily solutions providers. In January 2022, Valet Living acquired Portland, Oregon-based Turns company All Aspects Renovations, a renovation and remodeling company serving the multifamily industry. Intending to create the most extensive national turns network in the multifamily industry, Valet Living continues to grow its dominance and influence within this space by further expanding into turns and the timely make-ready of apartments and dwellings for rent.
"Partnering with Valet Living Turns, we saw an amazing opportunity to further grow in the industry," said Richard Schlenk, founder of Contemporary Contractors, Inc. "With our motto being 'One call schedules it all' I'm beyond excited to see this grow nationwide. Partnering with Valet Turns has given our 30+ years in the industry a huge boost in experience and service to reach levels we had only dreamed about, providing better results for our clients and management companies."
"Over the past 24 years, my team and I have built a reputation of providing solutions to all our client's needs," said Anthony Weinstein, Founder of A Rite Way. "Our answer to their challenges is simply, YES, we can solve that problem for you. As we began to dream about the possibility of providing our solutions-based business model to our customers anywhere, we knew this would be impossible alone. Valet Living brings a nationally recognized and respected platform of services and relationships which we believe will allow us to take our dream and make it a reality. We are thrilled to join the Valet Living Family and look forward to the exciting future of providing multifamily solutions across the nation and beyond!"
In terms of integration, Valet Living Turns by Valet Living recognizes the importance of local relationships and knowledge in the turns market and plans to operate Contemporary Contractors, Inc. and A Rite Way as additional lines of business, including ongoing support from the existing staff.
For more information, please visit www.valetliving.com/quickturns.
About Valet Living
Valet Living is the largest nationally recognized full-service amenities provider to the multifamily housing industry, performing more than 470 million amenity services annually, encompassing 1.8 million apartment homes in 40 states. Valet Living uses specialized technology that empowers its trusted associates to deliver standard-setting amenities in communities where people want to live. Valet Living has been setting the standard for residential living since 1995 and has been proven to increase property value. Valet Living is a portfolio company of the Private Equity Group GI Partners.
Contact:
Nikita Bhappu Abbaspour
(813) 331-0680
nikita.bhappu@valetliving.com
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SOURCE Valet Living | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/valet-living-turns-expands-with-acquisitions-southeast-multifamily-solutions-providers-contemporary-contractors-inc-rite-way/ | 2022-08-17T15:07:11Z | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/valet-living-turns-expands-with-acquisitions-southeast-multifamily-solutions-providers-contemporary-contractors-inc-rite-way/ | true |
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Inc. revealed that Cygnus Education is No. 257 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
"We are honored to once again be recognized by Inc. as one of the fastest-growing companies in the US," said Marcelo Parravicini, CEO. "To be included in this prestigious ranking, and to come in at the top 10%, is again a testament to the work of our incredibly hard-working and talented team – a team that continues to serve our higher education partners by delivering 100% compliant and student-centric marketing, enrollment management and technology solutions."
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144 percent. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
Cygnus Education, one of the fastest growing technology, performance marketing and enrollment management solutions providers dedicated to the higher education vertical, is a leader in providing student-centric, analytics-based strategies that achieve challenging marketing objectives, driving scalable and sustainable enrollment growth. Learn more at CygnusEducation.com.
Peg Catalfamo
609-647-4647
mcatalfamo@cygnuseducation.com
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SOURCE Cygnus Education | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/2nd-time-cygnus-education-appears-inc-5000-ranking-no-257-with-three-year-revenue-growth-2090-percent/ | 2022-08-17T15:07:18Z | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/2nd-time-cygnus-education-appears-inc-5000-ranking-no-257-with-three-year-revenue-growth-2090-percent/ | false |
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, in partnership with RCD Hotels, the globally iconic and fastest growing luxury lifestyle brand, Nobu Hospitality, announces the launch of a Nobu Hotel, Restaurant, and Residences in the chic beach destination of Tulum, Mexico.
This is a significant milestone for Nobu Hospitality, marking the brand's 30th hotel globally and the sixth hotel and fourth residential project between Nobu Hospitality and RCD Hotels. The growing partnership between Nobu Hospitality and RCD Hotels was cemented in 2016 with the opening of Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, followed by Nobu Hotels in Los Cabos, Chicago, and pipeline openings in Punta Cana, Orlando, and now Tulum.
With powder-soft, white sand beaches, coastal Mayan ruins, and one of the world's largest barrier reefs, Tulum is an idyllic location for adventurous sunseekers. Tucked away in the charming Riviera Maya, Nobu Hotel Tulum will feature 200 guest rooms and suites including 12 villas, a beachfront Nobu restaurant, expansive meeting space with stunning outdoor venues for weddings and special events, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and spa, and 50 stylish beachside residences.
Trevor Horwell, Chief Executive Officer Nobu Hospitality comments "We are extremely proud to have achieved our 30th hotel milestone in just nine years and honored to share the vision of our hotel owning partners and thankful for the passion of our Nobu colleagues around the world. Formidable partnerships at their heart need complete and mutual trust, alignment of values and a shared vision; through establishing strong and special relationships with key industry leaders and groups around the world our growth has been catapulted to 30 hotels. One of these groups, RCD Hotels, were born out of the same family values and spirit of entrepreneurship as Nobu Hospitality, and today RCD has grown into a hotel owning powerhouse including six Nobu Hotels Residences whilst maintaining their core values. It is a special privilege to be partnering with RCD again and on this exciting new project as the Nobu Hotel and Residences Tulum."
Mr. Roberto Chapur, President of RCD Hotels, adds "It's incredible to celebrate major milestones and it's amazing to see the Nobu Hotels brand expand its multi-property footprint together with us in Mexico, the Caribbean, and the US. Congratulations to everyone who helped get us here and we are confident that our relationship will continue to thrive for years to come. With our growing portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts, RCD is grateful for the support of our partners and patrons throughout the years and we are here today because of you."
Nobu Hospitality's legal advisors were Paul Hastings LLP. RCD Hotels' legal advisor was, Ari M. Tenzer, TA PLLC.
www.nobuhotels.com
https://rcdhotels.com
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SOURCE Nobu Hospitality | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/nobu-hospitality-celebrates-30th-hotel-milestone-with-nobu-hotel-amp-residences-tulum/ | 2022-08-17T15:12:16Z | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/nobu-hospitality-celebrates-30th-hotel-milestone-with-nobu-hotel-amp-residences-tulum/ | true |
Two-time Academy Award-winning actor painter and composer showcases his first-ever NFT collection in collaboration with premium Web3 content studio
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange Comet, Inc., a premium NFT (Non-Fungible Token) creative media and Web3 experience company, today announces its distinguished partnership with Sir Anthony Hopkins and the launch of his first NFT series, The Eternal Collection. This collaboration marks an extraordinary endeavor for Sir Anthony Hopkins, expanding his artistic expression into the metaverse with one of the leading NFT and Web3 tech companies today.
The Eternal Collection conceptualizes an interpretation of the vast character archetypes Sir Anthony Hopkins has portrayed over his illustrious film career, drawing its potent energy from his prolific body of art. Through a series of thought-provoking images and animations, this NFT collection immortalizes Sir Anthony Hopkins' diverse archetypal interpretations of Eternal: The Jester, The Lover, The Rebel, The Hero, et al.
The Eternal Collection is a rich and intimate exploration into the many facets of Sir Anthony Hopkins' artistic virtuosity. The digital NFT series will also feature an exclusive once-in-a-lifetime IRL event for collectors, giving them access to engage with one of Hollywood's greatest icons.
"When Margam Fine Art approached us with the artistic vision to bring Sir Anthony Hopkins' artwork to the metaverse, we knew this was a unique opportunity for the world of NFTs," said Dave Broome, CEO, Orange Comet. "This relationship is a superb symbiosis of technology and art from one of the finest actors and artists of our day. With Orange Comet at the helm, Sir Anthony Hopkins' artwork will inspire for generations to come."
Sir Anthony Hopkins, a true renaissance man, emerged as a painter in 2005 with a solo exhibition curated by Harte International Galleries, showcasing him as a notable contemporary artist. His vibrant abstract paintings are continuously evolving and are featured in distinguished collections worldwide.
"As an artist, I am inspired by the power of art, music, cinema and the illusionary dreamlike quality of life," says Sir Anthony Hopkins. "The metaverse offers an incredible opportunity to connect with an audience in an entirely different way. Taking my art to the next level, with NFT as my canvas, is truly an exhilarating proposition. I'm probably the oldest guy in the NFT community and on social media, proves all is possible at any age."
The elaborate NFT design and animations of The Eternal Collection, under the artistic direction of Orange Comet's Chief Creative Officer, Dante Ferrarini and Sir Anthony Hopkins, is set to captivate and connect audiences in unprecedented ways.
The forthcoming drop will be in partnership with OpenSea, the world's leading peer-to-peer marketplace for NFTs. Sign up at AnthonyHopkinsNFT.com now to stay informed on the latest news surrounding this one-of-a-kind partnership and follow on social media @OrangeComet.
Orange Comet is a premium content creation company focused on producing high quality and disruptive NFT digital collectibles and Web3 experiences. The Company's team brings together some of the world's leading and award-winning media creators, producers, and artists to partner with the biggest brands, IP and talent across music, sports, arts and entertainment. By blending super-creative content and game-changing technology, our mission is to create groundbreaking NFT experiences for the passionate fan bases of our clients, simultaneously unlocking new levels of interest, engagement and revenue. Co-founded by Hollywood veteran producer, Dave Broome, NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and Grammy award-winning music icons Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Orange Comet is powered by a passionate group of people that believe the future of all entertainment and media is on the verge of major disruptive change through a variety of blockchain experiences. Dedicated to blockchain sustainability, Orange Comet runs on green servers and builds a carbon-negative solution in the NFT space, including partnering with eco-conscious blockchains. Our collective diversity in background, expertise and industries, works to help our clients shape their businesses for the emerging Metaverse of opportunities that awaits. For more information, visit us at OrangeComet.com, as well as on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Aaron Tucker is CEO of Margam Fine Art, established in 2005 as the sole management company of Sir Anthony Hopkins original art and publisher of AH limited edition serigraphs. Aaron Tucker is the author of the Sir Anthony Hopkins art book, 'Dreamscapes'. He is Creative Director of NFT Development and Branding.
Harte International Galleries, established in 1979, exclusively represents Sir Anthony Hopkins' original artwork and limited-edition serigraphs since 2005. Glenn and Devon Harte, a father and son partnership, have spent the last 40 years as collectors and curators of private and public art exhibits with 15th through 21st century masters (Rembrandt, Renoir, Picasso, Miro, Dalí, Anthony Quinn, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and others). More information at Harte International Galleries.
OpenSea is the world's leading peer-to-peer marketplace for NFTs. We're on a mission to help the world's creators, collectors and collaborators own and shape their relationships directly. We're building the world's most trusted and inclusive NFT marketplace with the best selection – making minting, purchasing and selling NFTs frictionless and friendly, and offering unmatched selection and multi-chain options for creators and collectors of all kinds. Headquartered in New York, the OpenSea leadership team comes from Google, Palantir, Lyft, Uber, Stanford and Berkeley. Investors include a16z, Paradigm, Coatue, YCombinator, Founders Fund, Coinbase Ventures, 1Confirmation, and Blockchain Capital.
PR Contact:
Lydia You, Orange Comet
OrangeComet@id-pr.com
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SOURCE Orange Comet | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/sir-anthony-hopkins-orange-comet-partner-launch-exclusive-nft-series-eternal-collection/ | 2022-08-17T15:13:33Z | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/sir-anthony-hopkins-orange-comet-partner-launch-exclusive-nft-series-eternal-collection/ | true |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent Life, the only plaintiff-focused structured settlement provider, is quickly rising to the top of trial lawyer playlists, with their hit podcast Settlement Nation (http://www.settlementnation.com). Settlement Nation explores some of today's most important issues in the legal community through insightful and engaging conversations that cover milestone verdicts, the litigation process, settlement planning for plaintiffs, tax planning for attorneys, and future innovations in the legal and insurance industries.
Settlement Nation has seen dramatic growth over the past year, reaching a milestone 20,000th download on Apple Podcasts. With thousands of new trial lawyers tuning in each month, host Courtney Barber is gearing up to bring even more original and creative content to the legal community.
"My background is in digital media production, so developing a podcast was always something that I've had my eye on, and the trial lawyer niche provided the perfect opportunity to launch Settlement Nation," Barber said. "My goal is to keep it fresh and motivating, but also offer significant value to trial lawyers, where they can take home actionable skills to use in their own firms."
Co-host Chris Bua also believes that Settlement Nation is providing a great deal of substance to the community. "It's been rewarding to hear from our audience about how these interviews have helped them become better trial lawyers," Bua said. "What started as a fun way to connect with people during the pandemic, has turned into a true platform for attorneys looking to sharpen their skills."
With a noteworthy lineup of guests, including trial lawyer powerhouses Nick Rowley, Keith Mitnik and Bob Simon, Barber continues to find the best talent in the industry and share their stories and advice. Hinting at some big episodes coming in the next few months, she anticipates even more great reviews and subscribers. Settlement Nation is routinely in the Top 5 trial lawyer podcasts and continues to gain more attention within the industry.
Followers of Settlement Nation can email cbarber@independent.life to provide feedback or to suggest a guest for the show. To subscribe to the podcast, search Settlement Nation in your preferred podcast platform.
Founded by insurance industry experts, Independent Group is a forward-thinking enterprise whose complementary product and service companies improve outcomes for all structured settlement stakeholders. Independent Life, its underwriting division, provides structured settlement solutions, including annuities, to serve the needs of injured parties, their families and advocates. With its unique profile and ambitious vision for the structured settlement industry, Independent Life has attracted world-class partners: LKCM Headwater Investments, KKR's Kilter Finance and Hannover Re USA support Independent Life's growth initiatives. For more on what makes Independent Life different, visit www.independent.life.
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SOURCE Independent Insurance Group | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/hit-trial-lawyer-podcast-settlement-nation-celebrates-20000th-download/ | 2022-08-17T15:15:55Z | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/hit-trial-lawyer-podcast-settlement-nation-celebrates-20000th-download/ | true |
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Narvar, the pioneer in post-purchase customer experience, today announced it has partnered with Fillogic, the logistics-as-a-service platform for retail, to help retailers and brands simplify and expedite product returns. The partnership will leverage the combination of Narvar's end-to-end returns management solution and the Fillogic Hub Network as well as Fillogic's proprietary, state-of-the-art sortation and segmentation technology.
Narvar makes product returns and exchanges easier and more convenient for shoppers by providing 200,000+ locations, where they can drop off merchandise. Fillogic helps retailers improve service levels, reduce costs and emissions, and optimize asset utilization through strategically located, tech-enabled distribution hubs at shopping centers and other properties.
Under the new partnership, Fillogic will be able to pick up merchandise from Narvar drop-off locations to aggregate and intelligently sort packages for efficient, consolidated pickup and delivery in the middle and final mile, helping retailers get returned inventory back in stock 70% faster than normal. Fillogic's Delivery Marketplace, a proprietary multicarrier network and sortation and segmentation solution, helps retailers save up to 65% in time and costs on transportation while reducing carbon emissions by up to 80%.
"Narvar and Fillogic share a common goal—helping retailers and brands streamline the returns process and build stronger lifelong customer relationships," said Michael Haswell, Vice President of Global Partnerships at Narvar. "We look forward to working closely with the Fillogic team to develop further innovations that benefit our joint brand customers and we're excited about what the future of this partnership holds."
Fillogic's localized logistics network and Narvar's post-purchase platform enable retailers to better serve customers who need to return or exchange merchandise. This partnership will make it easy for shoppers to find a convenient Narvar drop-off location and Fillogic's platform will ensure that each item is efficiently shipped to where it is most needed in retailers' network, whether that's a store or a fulfillment facility.
"Narvar specializes in creating the best possible post-purchase experience for retailers and their customers, which made our decision to partner with the company easy," said Bill Thayer, Co-founder and CEO at Fillogic. "As demand for our platform's returns and reverse logistics capabilities continued to grow, it was important for us to work with a partner with the scale and ability to meet the needs of retailers. When it comes to unlocking new revenue opportunities and operational efficiencies by sustainably optimizing the returns process, Narvar is the perfect partner for us."
About Narvar
Narvar pioneered how brands engage with consumers beyond the "buy" button through branded order tracking, delivery notifications, returns, and exchanges. Today, Narvar's comprehensive Post-Purchase Platform empowers 1,200+ of the world's most admired brands, including Sephora, Patagonia, Levi's, Sonos, Warby Parker, LVMH and L'Oréal, to deliver transparency, build trust and grow customer lifetime value. Recognized by Fast Company multiple times as one of the most innovative companies, Narvar simplifies the everyday lives of consumers. For more information, visit Narvar.com.
About Fillogic
Fillogic is a NYC-based technology company dedicated to maximizing efficiencies for retailers and transportation networks via mall-based micro distribution hubs. It is an experienced team of retail and logistics professionals, technologists, serial entrepreneurs, and creative problem solvers with more than 160 years of combined experience. Fillogic is driven by a mission to help our partners decipher the writing on the wall as technology continues to rapidly transform the retail landscape. For more information, please visit: www.fillogic.com.
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SOURCE Narvar | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/narvar-partners-with-fillogic-help-retailers-brands-simplify-expedite-product-returns/ | 2022-08-17T15:17:22Z | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/narvar-partners-with-fillogic-help-retailers-brands-simplify-expedite-product-returns/ | false |
Leading Senior Care Franchise Follows Year of Double-Digit Sales Growth with New Franchisee Agreements Signed and Continued Focus on Nationwide Expansion
ROSEVILLE, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Always Best Care Senior Services announced today that it has signed new franchise agreements in Seattle, Washington, Orlando, Florida, and Humble, Texas, welcoming new owners to the system and expanding its brand presence in key states. These agreements come as the leading senior care franchise system in the United States continues to capitalize on over 10% sales growth in 2021 and an increased demand for in-home senior care by targeting new markets around the country for expansion.
"The need for in-home senior care is more pressing than ever, with about 10,000 seniors turning 65 every day," said Jake Brown, President & CEO of Always Best Care. "Non-medical in-home care providers had an opportunity to shine during the pandemic, proving their worth to seniors and their adult children who began to view in-home care as a safer, more effective alternative to facilities. In addition, more payers now cover care that keeps seniors in their homes and out of hospitals. Those are just a few of the developments that have converged over the last few years to make our business model very attractive to new owners."
Three new franchise agreements Always Best Care recently signed include:
- Sarah Cave, Seattle, Washington – Covering Seattle Metro
- Rocio and Matias Condigiani, Orlando, Florida – Covering Southeast Orlando
- Marisa Thompson, Humble, Texas – Covering Humble Metro
Franchise opportunities are now available in many new territories with a growing population of senior homeowners. Markets open for development include key cities in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Indiana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Southern California, Oregon and Washington state.
"Our franchisees want to positively impact the lives of seniors in their communities while owning a rewarding business at the same time. Always Best Care's franchise system allows them to build that business without starting from scratch. Our award-winning training and support systems set franchisees up for success," added Brown.
Individuals interested in leveraging Always Best Care's clear strategy and proven track record for delivering affordable, dependable service to seniors in their local areas should contact Sean Hart at rshart@abc-seniors.com, call 916-545-2786 or visit home-care-franchise.alwaysbestcare.com.
Always Best Care is one of the nation's leading providers of non-medical in-home care and assisted living referral services, with skilled home health care in limited markets. The company delivers its services through an international network of more than 225 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the United States and Canada. By working with case managers, social workers, discharge planners, doctors, and families, Always Best Care franchise owners provide affordable, comprehensive solutions that can be specifically matched to meet a client's particular physical or social needs.
About Always Best Care
Founded in 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services is based on the belief that having the right people for the right level of care means peace of mind for the client and family. Always Best Care has been assisting seniors with a wide range of conditions and personal needs for over 25 years and currently provides thousands of hours of care every year.
Always Best Care also offers exclusive programs such as Always in Touch, Balance Tracking System and remote patient monitoring. For more information regarding Always Best Care's solutions, visit www.alwaysbestcare.com.
CONTACT:
Nicole Hunnicutt
Fish Consulting
404-558-4108
nhunnicutt@fish-consulting.com
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SOURCE Always Best Care | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/always-best-care-answers-increased-demand-senior-care-with-new-territory-growth-washington-state-texas-florida/ | 2022-08-17T15:18:50Z | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/always-best-care-answers-increased-demand-senior-care-with-new-territory-growth-washington-state-texas-florida/ | false |
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) today announced plans to host conference calls to review quarterly financial results on the following dates and times:
- Fourth quarter 2022 – Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023 at 8 a.m. ET
- First quarter 2023 – Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 8 a.m. ET
- Second quarter 2023 – Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 8 a.m. ET
- Third quarter 2023 – Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 at 8 a.m. ET
- Fourth quarter 2023 – Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 at 8 a.m. ET
Access information will be provided closer to each scheduled earnings conference call.
About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country. The company offers a wide range of services including retail, small business and commercial banking; asset management; capital markets; commercial real estate; corporate and institutional banking; insurance; mortgage; payments; specialized lending; and wealth management. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $545 billion as of June 30, 2022. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
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SOURCE Truist Financial Corporation | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/truist-announces-fourth-quarter-2022-quarterly-2023-earnings-conference-call-dates/ | 2022-08-17T15:19:47Z | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/truist-announces-fourth-quarter-2022-quarterly-2023-earnings-conference-call-dates/ | false |
Valet Living is Creating the Largest National Property Solutions Network
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Valet Living, the only nationally recognized full-service amenities provider to the multifamily housing industry, today announced the expansion of their Valet Living Turns business with the acquisitions of Contemporary Contractors, Inc. (CCI), an Irving, Texas-based traditional turns company that also provides plumbing and HVAC work, and A Rite Way, a Boca Raton, Florida-based multifamily solutions provider that has accommodated residential communities for over 20 years while routinely pulling in capital expenditure projects.
"Valet Living Turns purposeful expansion strategy will be fueled by additional acquisitions and organic growth," said Steve Davis, EVP of Strategic Development. "Including near-term announcements of incremental acquisitions – to become the only nationwide provider of turns services."
Since 2019, Valet Living Turns by Valet Living has been building out a national platform to ensure efficiencies in real estate turnover by expanding current markets and acquiring the best-in-class local multifamily solutions providers. In January 2022, Valet Living acquired Portland, Oregon-based Turns company All Aspects Renovations, a renovation and remodeling company serving the multifamily industry. Intending to create the most extensive national turns network in the multifamily industry, Valet Living continues to grow its dominance and influence within this space by further expanding into turns and the timely make-ready of apartments and dwellings for rent.
"Partnering with Valet Living Turns, we saw an amazing opportunity to further grow in the industry," said Richard Schlenk, founder of Contemporary Contractors, Inc. "With our motto being 'One call schedules it all' I'm beyond excited to see this grow nationwide. Partnering with Valet Turns has given our 30+ years in the industry a huge boost in experience and service to reach levels we had only dreamed about, providing better results for our clients and management companies."
"Over the past 24 years, my team and I have built a reputation of providing solutions to all our client's needs," said Anthony Weinstein, Founder of A Rite Way. "Our answer to their challenges is simply, YES, we can solve that problem for you. As we began to dream about the possibility of providing our solutions-based business model to our customers anywhere, we knew this would be impossible alone. Valet Living brings a nationally recognized and respected platform of services and relationships which we believe will allow us to take our dream and make it a reality. We are thrilled to join the Valet Living Family and look forward to the exciting future of providing multifamily solutions across the nation and beyond!"
In terms of integration, Valet Living Turns by Valet Living recognizes the importance of local relationships and knowledge in the turns market and plans to operate Contemporary Contractors, Inc. and A Rite Way as additional lines of business, including ongoing support from the existing staff.
For more information, please visit www.valetliving.com/quickturns.
About Valet Living
Valet Living is the largest nationally recognized full-service amenities provider to the multifamily housing industry, performing more than 470 million amenity services annually, encompassing 1.8 million apartment homes in 40 states. Valet Living uses specialized technology that empowers its trusted associates to deliver standard-setting amenities in communities where people want to live. Valet Living has been setting the standard for residential living since 1995 and has been proven to increase property value. Valet Living is a portfolio company of the Private Equity Group GI Partners.
Contact:
Nikita Bhappu Abbaspour
(813) 331-0680
nikita.bhappu@valetliving.com
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SOURCE Valet Living | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/valet-living-turns-expands-with-acquisitions-southeast-multifamily-solutions-providers-contemporary-contractors-inc-rite-way/ | 2022-08-17T15:20:08Z | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/valet-living-turns-expands-with-acquisitions-southeast-multifamily-solutions-providers-contemporary-contractors-inc-rite-way/ | true |
New finding could help pave the way for early detection and potential therapy for people highly exposed to the pesticide
MIAMI, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study led by researchers from Florida International University (FIU) reveals a mechanism linking the pesticide DDT to Alzheimer's disease.
Published in Environmental Health Perspectives, the study shows how the persistent environmental pollutant DDT causes increased amounts of toxic amyloid beta, which form the characteristic amyloid plaques found in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease.
According to Jason Richardson, professor at FIU's Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work and corresponding author, the study further demonstrates that DDT is an environmental risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. In 2014, he led a team of scientists at Rutgers University, Emory University, and UT Southwestern Medical School who presented evidence linking DDT to the disease. Now, they have data demonstrating a mechanism that may explain the association.
"The vast majority of research on the disease has been on genetics—and genetics are very important—but the genes that actually cause the disease are very rare," Richardson says. "Environmental risk factors like exposure to DDT are modifiable. So, if we understand how DDT affects the brain, then perhaps we could target those mechanisms and help the people who have been highly exposed."
DDT was extensively used between the 1940s and 1970s to combat insect-borne diseases like malaria and treat crop and livestock production. People highly exposed to DDT back then are now beginning or already in the range of ages with a higher risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. Although banned in the U.S., DDT exposure is likely possible today from legacy contamination or imported foods.
The study focused on sodium channels, which the nervous system uses to communicate between brain cells (neurons), as the potential mechanism. DDT causes these channels to remain open, leading to increased firing of neurons and increased release of amyloid-beta peptides. In the study, researchers demonstrate that if neurons are treated with tetrodotoxin, a compound that blocks sodium channels in the brain, the increased production of the amyloid precursor protein and toxic amyloid-beta species is prevented.
"This finding could potentially provide a roadmap to future therapies for people highly exposed to DDT," Richardson says.
The study was done in collaboration with Rutgers University.
To read the full release: https://news.fiu.edu/ddt
Stephanie Rendon
305-348-4670
srendon@fiu.edu
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SOURCE Florida International University | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/fiu-researchers-discover-how-ddt-exposure-contributes-alzheimers-disease-risk/ | 2022-08-17T15:20:37Z | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/fiu-researchers-discover-how-ddt-exposure-contributes-alzheimers-disease-risk/ | false |
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its community outreach program, Radians®, a Memphis-based PPE manufacturer, recently made meaningful donations to four Memphis nonprofits, including Memphis Youth Villages, Lisieux Community, Les Passees, and Dress for Success.
"Partnering with these organizations allows Radians to advocate for positive, long-term change, enhancing the quality of life for children, women, families, and young people in Memphis," said Radians CEO, Mike Tutor. "All of these organizations help others overcome challenges, bringing hope and healing to our community, so we are excited that we could help with such worthy causes."
The Radians Tickets for Charity program is an online auction format that allows its employees to bid upon and purchase name-brand entertainment at the FedEx® Forum and the Live at the Garden concert series, which is held at the Radians Amphitheater in the Memphis Botanic Garden. The ticket price paid by the employee is then matched by Radians and donated to local charities selected by the employees.
In addition to its Tickets for Charity donations, Radians sponsors other programs and organizations that make Memphis a better place, including the Radians Amphitheater, the Live at The Garden concert series, Stax Music Academy, and the Church Health Center.
For more information about Radians, visit www.radians.com or call toll-free 1-877-723-4267.
Radians® is a Memphis, TN-based top-tier manufacturer of quality PPE, including safety eyewear, Radwear® high visibility apparel, rainwear, hearing protection, hand protection, head gear, cooling products, heated jackets, AR/FR workwear, eyewash stations, N95 respirators, face masks/gaiters, retractable tool tethers, and lens cleaning systems. Radians has partnered with highly respected companies including DSM Dyneema, DEWALT®, STANLEY®, and BLACK+DECKER™ to provide high performance personal protection products. Brands include Bellingham® Glove, Crossfire® by Radians, Neese, VolCore™, Arctic Radwear®, Nordic Blaze®, and VisionAid®. An ISO 9001:2008 certified leader in the PPE industry, the company has additional facilities in Reno, NV, Thomasville, NC, Bellingham, WA, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.Radians.com.
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SOURCE RADIANS | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/radians-gives-back-locally-with-recent-donations-four-memphis-nonprofits-other-sponsorships/ | 2022-08-17T15:22:46Z | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/radians-gives-back-locally-with-recent-donations-four-memphis-nonprofits-other-sponsorships/ | true |
CP chairs Vinayak Chathurthi review meeting
‘Social media should be monitored for mischievous posts’
Expressing confidence in the abilities of Hyderabad City Police, Commissioner C V Anand on Wednesday said that all festivals thus far were peaceful and encouraged SHOs and others to rise to the occasion and ensure that Vinayak Chathurthi too is celebrated without any untoward incident.
Mr Anand described the celebration of previous festivals as quarter-finals and semi-finals, and the bandobast during the Ganesh festival as the finals. “Those were all quarter-finals and semi-finals, Ganesh bandobust is the finals and I am sure you will all rise to the occasion and do equally well,” he said.
The Hyderabad City Commissioner pointed out that organisers must inform concerned inspectors about their intention to install idols and must take permission to do so. He also said that coordination meetings with the organisers of these pandals at every level would be called in order to not inconvenience people. Issues pertaining to power and water supply and barricading would also be be discussed, he said.
He underscored that peace committees should remain active and social media should be monitored for mischievous posts.
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TU students stage protest demanding basic facilities
We don’t even have a photocopy machine on campus, say students
The Telangana University campus at Dichpally was rocked by massive protest by scores of students on the university campus demanding basic amenities.
The agitating students said that the State-run university lacks basic facilities such as a round-the-clock doctor, updated books in the library, a proper canteen, a generator at the girls’ hostel, wi-fi, and basic sports equipment. They also demanded the university provide chairs and tables in the mess, nutritious meals, reading chairs in the study rooms, an ambulance, repainting of the girls’ hostel and a proper laboratory for the science department. The agitating students have also demanded the university vice-chancellor, Prof. D. Ravinder, start the construction of the auditorium, and special budget for sports.
“We don’t even have a photocopy machine on the campus and have to travel at least five kilometres to get paper photocopies. And moreover, the food in the mess is horrible. We can’t even describe the taste,” said B. Shiva, an MBA student, and university president of ABVP.
He said that they started the protest on Tuesday morning and till Wednesday evening, the V-C didn’t give an assurance to resolve their demands. “Today, we staged a protest in front of his guesthouse, but he locked himself in. Earlier, we also submitted a memorandum of our demands, but he is not ready to give an assurance in writing to resolve our problems. Instead, we are being threatened by the heads of respective departments,” Mr. Shiva said.
The students allege that Mr. Ravinder wants to buy more time until they start attending the classes. He does not want to take up the issue with the government, they said.
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Youth mental health is in crisis. Are schools doing enough?
CECILIA, Ky. (AP) — For fourth-grader Leah Rainey, the school day now begins with what her teacher calls an “emotional check-in.”
“It’s great to see you. How are you feeling?” chirps a cheery voice on her laptop screen. It asks her to click an emoji matching her state of mind: Happy. Sad. Worried. Angry. Frustrated. Calm. Silly. Tired.
Depending on the answer, Leah, 9, gets advice from a cartoon avatar on managing her mood and a few more questions: Have you eaten breakfast? Are you hurt or sick? Is everything OK at home? Is someone at school being unkind? Today, Leah chooses “silly,” but says she struggled with sadness during online learning.
At Lakewood Elementary School, all 420 students will start their days the same way this year. The rural Kentucky school is one of thousands across the country using the technology to screen students’ state of mind and alert teachers to anyone struggling.
In some ways, this year’s back-to-school season will restore a degree of pre-pandemic normalcy: Most districts have lifted mask mandates, dropped COVID vaccine requirements and ended rules on social distancing and quarantines.
But many of the pandemic’s longer-lasting impacts remain a troubling reality for schools. Among them: the harmful effects of isolation and remote learning on children’s emotional well-being.
Student mental health reached crisis levels last year, and the pressure on schools to figure out solutions has never been greater. Districts across the country are using federal pandemic money to hire more mental health specialists, rolling out new coping tools and expanding curriculum that prioritizes emotional health.
Still, some parents don’t believe schools should be involved in mental health at all. So-called social-emotional learning, or SEL, has become the latest political flashpoint, with conservatives saying schools use it to promote progressive ideas about race, gender and sexuality, or that a focus on well-being takes attention from academics.
But at schools like Lakewood, educators say helping students manage emotions and stress will benefit them in the classroom and throughout life.
The school, in a farming community an hour’s drive south of Louisville, has used federal money to create “take-a-break” corners in each classroom. Students can rifle through a “self-regulation kit” with tips on deep breathing, squishy stress balls and acupuncture rings, said school counselor Shelly Kerr. The school plans to build a “Reset Room” this fall, part of an emerging national trend to create campus sanctuaries where students can go to decompress and speak with a counselor.
The online student screener Lakewood uses, called Closegap, helps teachers identify shy, quiet kids who might need to talk and would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Closegap founder Rachel Miller launched the online platform in 2019 with a few schools and saw interest explode after the pandemic hit. This year, she said, more than 3,600 U.S schools will be using the technology, which has free and premium versions.
“We are finally beginning to recognize that school is more than just teaching the kids reading, writing and arithmetic,” said Dan Domenech, executive director of the national School Superintendents Association. Just as free lunch programs are based on the idea that a hungry child can’t learn, more and more schools are embracing the idea that a cluttered or troubled mind cannot focus on schoolwork, he said.
The pandemic magnified the fragility of mental health among American youth, who had been experiencing a rise in depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for years, experts say. A recent report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 44% of high school students said they experienced " persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness " during the pandemic, with girls and LGBTQ youth reporting the highest levels of poor mental health and suicide attempts.
If a silver lining exists, the pandemic raised awareness of the crisis and helped de-stigmatize talking about mental health, while also bringing attention to schools’ shortcomings in handling it. President Joe Biden’s administration recently announced over $500 million to expand mental health services in the country’s schools, adding to federal and state money that has poured into schools to cope with pandemic-era needs.
Still, many are skeptical schools’ responses are enough.
“All of these opportunities and resources are temporary,” said junior Claire Chi, who attends State College Area High School in central Pennsylvania. Last year, her school added emergency counseling and therapy dogs, among other supports, but most of that help lasted a day or two, Chi said. And that’s “not really a mental health investment for students.” This year, the school says it has added more counselors and plans mental health training for all 10th graders.
Some critics, including many conservative parents, don’t want to see mental health support in schools in the first place. Asra Nomani, a mom from Fairfax County, Virginia, says schools are using the mental health crisis as a “Trojan horse” to introduce liberal ideas about sexual and racial identity. She also worries schools lack the expertise to deal with student mental illness.
“Social-emotional well-being has become an excuse to intervene in the lives of children in the most intimate of ways that are both dangerous and irresponsible,” Nomani said, “because they’re in the hands of people who are not trained professionals.”
Despite the unprecedented funding, schools are having trouble hiring counselors, mirroring the shortages in other American industries.
Goshen Junior High School in northwest Indiana has been struggling to fill a vacancy of a counselor who left last year, when student anxiety and other behavioral problems were “off the charts,” said Jan Desmarais-Morse, one of two counselors left at the school, with caseloads of 500 students each.
“One person trying to meet the needs of 500 students?” said Desmarais-Morse said. “It’s impossible.”
The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of 250 students per school counselor, which few states come close to meeting.
For the 2020-21 school year only two states — New Hampshire and Vermont — achieved that goal, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Some states face staggeringly high ratios: Arizona averages one counselor to 716 students; in Michigan, 1 to 638; and in Minnesota, 1 to 592.
Also in Indiana, the School City of Hammond won a grant to hire clinical therapists at all 17 of its schools but has not been able to fill most of the new jobs, said Superintendent Scott Miller. “Schools are stealing from other schools. There just aren’t enough workers to go around.” And despite more funding, school salaries can’t compete with private counseling practices, which are also overwhelmed and trying to hire more staff.
Another challenge for schools: identifying struggling children before they’re in emotional crisis. At the Houston Independent School District, one of the largest in the country with 277 schools and nearly 200,000 students, students are asked each morning to hold up fingers showing how they feel. One finger means a child is hurting deeply; five means she or he feels great.
“It’s identifying your brush fires early in the day,” said Sean Ricks, the district’s senior manager of crisis intervention.
Houston teachers now give mindfulness lessons, with ocean sounds played via YouTube, and a Chihuahua named Luci and a cockapoo named Omi have joined the district’s crisis team.
Grant-funding helped Houston build relaxation rooms, known as Thinkeries, at 10 schools last year, costing about $5,000 each. District data show campuses with Thinkeries, which sport bean bag chairs and warmly colored walls, saw a 62% decrease in calls to a crisis line last year, Ricks said. The district is building more this year.
But the rooms themselves are not a panacea. For the calming rooms to work, schools must teach students to recognize they feel angry or frustrated. Then they can use the space to decompress before their emotions erupt, said Kevin Dahill-Fuchel, executive director of Counseling in Schools, a nonprofit that helps schools bolster mental health services.
In the last days of summer vacation, a “Well Space” at University High School in Irvine, California, was getting finishing touches from an artist who painted a mural of a giant moon over mountains. Potted succulents, jute rugs, Buddha-like statuettes and a hanging egg chair brought an un-school-like feel. When school starts this week, the room is to be staffed full-time with a counselor or mental health specialist.
The goal is to normalize the idea of asking for help and give students a place to reset. “If they can re-center and refocus,” Blakely said, “they can then, after a short break, go back into their classrooms and be prepared for deeper learning.”
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For more back-to-school coverage, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/back-to-school
___
Gecker reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Arleigh Rodgers in Indianapolis and Brooke Schultz in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, also contributed reporting. Data reporter Kavish Harjai contributed from Los Angeles.
Rodgers, Schultz and Harjai are corps members for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wymt.com/2022/08/17/youth-mental-health-is-crisis-are-schools-doing-enough-2/ | 2022-08-17T15:24:19Z | https://www.wymt.com/2022/08/17/youth-mental-health-is-crisis-are-schools-doing-enough-2/ | false |
Award recognizes custodial and janitorial staff who clean and prevent infections in educational facilities across the country
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UMF Corporation today opened nominations for its first annual Education Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award, which acknowledges the contributions of janitorial staff at K-12 schools, colleges and universities across the country. Modeled on UMF's Hygiene Specialist and Guest Room Attendant Excellence Awards for healthcare and hospitality, respectively, the Education Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award recognizes the crucial role school custodians play in providing a safe hygienic environment for students, teachers, and staff. Nominations are open through December 31, 2022.
"UMF is committed to supporting, recognizing, and celebrating the essential workers who are responsible for the cleaning and disinfection process in healthcare facilities, hotels, and educational institutions," said UMF Corporation CEO George Clarke. "We are privileged to introduce the first annual Education Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award to acknowledge the custodial staff whose jobs are critical in mitigating the risk of infections among students, teachers, and staff. COVID-19 resulted in a crash course in infection prevention across all industries. School custodians were required to learn and embrace new cleaning and disinfection protocols, putting their lives on the line as they showed up day in and day out to help keep schools open."
From initial school closings and remote learning to masking, hybrid learning, eating in classrooms, and frequent handwashing, the impacts of the pandemic were felt deeply and broadly across every level of education. Once they reopened, schools' cleaning and disinfection processes had changed dramatically, often including best practices such as color coding to prevent cross-contamination and enhanced disinfection. Custodial staff were responsible for processing student and staff environments in new ways to ensure optimal infection prevention.
CDC guidance includes daily – or more frequent, depending on level of use – cleaning and disinfection of all frequently touched surfaces. With hundreds to thousands of students passing through daily, custodians have their work cut out for them. They are responsible for first cleaning and then disinfecting all surfaces using a product from the EPA's List N, which includes disinfectants that are effective against the virus that causes COVID-19.
Recognition Improves Outcomes
According to research published in the American Journal of Infection Control, healthcare facilities that focus on education, accountability, and recognition of environmental services staff dramatically reduced healthcare-associated infections.
"It is time to break stereotypes and recognize that janitors, custodians, and housekeepers are now equal in many ways to the hospital environmental service department," added Clarke. "The education hygiene specialist is the first line of defense in providing safe student environments. They're an integral part of health and safety at our educational facilities, so we must recognize and celebrate them regularly. The Education Hygiene Specialist Excellence Award is one way to do just that."
Nominate your dedicated school custodian today. The award recipient will receive an all-expenses paid trip for two, including airfare and hotel to a location of their choice within the 48 contiguous states. Nomination forms, available at https://bit.ly/UMFEHS22, will remain open through the end of 2022.
UMF Corporation is the leader in the research and development of high-performance products, programs and training for the infection prevention and commercial cleaning markets. Through extensive testing, exhaustive analysis and the commitment of significant human and financial resources, new antimicrobial technologies have been merged with innovative product designs that are redefining the future of clean®. LinkedIn.
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Asserting that nobody should be misled against allopathy, the Delhi High Court Wednesday told Ramdev that while he was welcome to have his followers, he should not mislead the public by saying more than what is “official”.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, who was hearing a lawsuit against the yoga guru by several doctors' associations for allegedly spreading misinformation concerning the use of Patanjali's Coronil for Covid-19, said that his concern was also to save the good reputation of Ayurveda which is an ancient system of medicine.
“From the very beginning, my concern is only one. You are welcome to have your followers. You are welcome to have your disciples. You are welcome to have people who will believe whatever you say. But, please, do not mislead the public at large by saying more than what is official,” the judge stated.
Also Read | Covid-19: Corbevax to be introduced as "heterogeneous" booster in Covid vaccination programme from August 12
Several doctors' associations moved to the high court last year, alleging that Ramdev was misleading and misrepresenting to the public at large that allopathy was responsible for the deaths of several people infected by Covid-19 while claiming that Coronil was a cure for the virus.
Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for the plaintiff associations, told the court that even recently, Ramdev made statements in public advertising Coronil as a treatment for Covid-19 and also suggesting the inefficacy of vaccines against the coronavirus.
Sibal submitted that the license granted to Coronil “does not mention Covid-19 at all” and only speaks about it being an immunity booster and having Ayurvedic ingredients.
The court was informed that in certain statements by Ramdev, reference was also made to a leader of a foreign nation contracting Covid-19 even after being vaccinated.
Justice Bhambhani expressed his concerns concerning “people being named” in the statements and said, “Leaders are being named which will affect our good relationships with foreign nations”.
Also Read | One in 8 Covid-19 patients develop long-term symptoms: Lancet study
The court, which had earlier granted time to Ramdev to come up with an acceptable clarification on the use of Coronil, said that while it would “head” in the direction of a “resolution” in the matter, it has concerns surrounding the damage to Ayurveda's name and the public being misled against allopathy.
“My concern is to save the good name and reputation of Ayurveda as a system of medicine, our own ancient system of medicine. My aim is nobody should be misled against allopathy, also a well-recognised system of medicine,” the court said.
The court also asked Ramdev's lawyer if he was willing to not make any statements in relation to Coronil till the case is decided.
Senior advocate PV Kapur, appearing for Ramdev, said that the present litigation was motivated and the statements highlighted by the plaintiff were “prior to the last date of hearing” and that process has already been initiated to remove any reference to “treatment” or “cure” in relation to Coronil from their website concerned.
He also handed over a fresh draft of a possible public statement/ disclaimer to the court, which said that Coronil was not a cure but a supporting measure and that both fields of medicine should go hand-in-hand.
Sibal said that the clarification was “still misleading” and stressed that Coronil was not a medicine and it is a supporting measure for mild cases.
Three Resident Doctors' Association of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Rishikesh, Patna, and Bhubaneshwar as well as Association of Resident Doctors, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh; Union of Resident Doctors of Punjab (URDP); Resident Doctors' Association, Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College, Meerut, and Telangana Junior Doctors' Association, Hyderabad had moved the high court last year against Ramdev and others.
In their plea filed through advocate Harshavardhan Kotla, the associations had submitted that the yoga guru, who is a highly influential person, was sowing doubts in the minds of the general public concerning the safety and efficacy of not only allopathic treatments but also Covid-19 vaccines.
The plea alleged that the misinformation campaign was nothing but an advertisement and marketing strategy to further the sales of the product sold by Ramdev, including Coronil which claims to be an alternative treatment for Covid-19.
The court listed the case for further hearing on August 23.
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Not so fast: Another five-day closure comes to 210 Freeway in San Gabriel Valley
A section of the 210 Freeway running through the San Gabriel Valley will be closed for five days for the second time in a month, and motorists are again bracing for significant congestion over the next several days.
The eastbound lanes of the 210 between the 605 Freeway and Irwindale Avenue will shut down from 10 p.m. on Wednesday and the closure is expected to last through 5 a.m. on Tuesday. The 1.3-mile freeway section between Duarte and Irwindale will be fully closed in both directions on Wednesday night, Caltrans District 7 said on Twitter, and it will partially reopen at 4 a.m. on Thursday.
Officials said on Facebook that crews will divert traffic from the affected eastbound section to the westbound lanes of the 210, which will be converted to three lanes going in both directions. The affected eastbound section will remain closed throughout the five days.
There is no Beverly Hills Freeway. Nor does the 2 connect to the 101. What even is the 90? These are the freeways that didn’t happen as planned.
Several onramps and offramps will also be affected by the closures, including the westbound 210 Irwindale Avenue onramps, the westbound 210 to southbound 605 connector, the 605 to eastbound 210 connector and the eastbound 210 Mt. Olive Drive on and offramps.
Caltrans advised motorists to expect delays throughout the five-day closure and to use Interstate 10 or State Route 60.
Last month, there was a similar multiday shutdown to the westbound lanes of the 210 that led to traffic logjams and disrupted commutes.
The closures are part of the San Gabriel River Bridge Hinge Replacement Project, a $30-million project to replace older hinges, railings and storm drains on the portion of the freeway that hangs over the San Gabriel River as a bridge, Caltrans said.
California transportation leaders want to wind down freeway widenings, but organized labor groups say road projects should continue.
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The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Juicing lets you ingest a wide array of fruits and vegetables in a few big gulps. Plus, a tall glass can offer a refreshing pick-me-up first thing in the morning or when that 3 p.m. afternoon slump hits.
It can be easier, more cost-effective and better for the environment (no bottles!) to produce homemade juice in your kitchen rather than opting for store-bought. Another nice part about making it yourself is that you can skip the added sugar and preservatives and just make what you’ll drink within the next few days.
From apple to carrot to celery to greens, you can make your own juice in the comfort of your kitchen with a Breville Juice Fountain Cold Plus Juicer available on Amazon.
This stainless steel juicer is Amazon’s Choice in Centrifugal Juicers by Breville. It features what the company calls Cold Spin Technology, which helps to minimize damage to the vitamin and minerals through heat processing. Some juicers require additional prep time, but this juicer features a 3.5-inch extra-wide chute feed so you can slide in whole fruits and vegetables without having to chop them up first.
It comes with a seal-and-store 70 fluid-ounce jug so you can stash a batch in the fridge for the rest of your family to savor. Thanks to a handy custom nozzle, you can also juice straight into a glass.
Along with the juicer and jug, you’ll also receive a cleaning brush and a recipe book to get you started. The entire package is currently priced at $279.95.
The Breville juicer comes highly rated with an average score of 4.6 out of 5 stars after more than 1,500 users weighed in. In fact, 82 percent of reviewers gave this a 5-star rating. People found it to be easy to use and simple to assemble. They also liked its blending power.
S. Shepherd couldn’t say enough good things about it. This satisfied customer said, “It is so powerful, you can easily put in large pieces and it just grinds them up easily without straining; the pitcher holds a lot so you can make a large quantity; and, really, really appreciated: it comes apart so easily (I’m 82 so that’s important to me!) and extremely, I mean extremely, easy to clean!!”
Oren C. called the Breville juicer “a real monster” and said it was nothing like any juicer they’d used before. “Strong, fast, easy to use and clean, amount of juice was incredible,” the reviewer said. “If you’re looking for an affordable high-end juicer — this is the one for you!”
Just remember that fresh juice doesn’t have a long shelf life so you won’t want to store it for an entire week.
Do you see yourself juicing in the near future?
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.ksby.com/breville-juicer-makes-juicing-home-snap | 2022-08-17T15:30:18Z | https://www.ksby.com/breville-juicer-makes-juicing-home-snap | true |
Call for Entries to Open for the 2023 VETTY Awards Creative Marketing Competition
ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), today announced the entry period for its annual VETTY Awards will open on September 1, 2022. The prestigious VETTY Awards program is the only competition dedicated to recognizing marketing excellence in the animal healthcare industry.
Veterinary industry marketing teams and agencies are invited to submit their projects for consideration during this year's VETTY Awards program. Eligible work must have been produced between January 1, 2022 and November 15, 2022. Entry divisions are comprised of a variety of marketing mediums, including print, advertising, event, digital, social media and much more. For VETTY Awards entry information, click here.
Award winners will be announced on January 16, 2023 at the NAVC's annual Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) which takes place January 14-18 in Orlando. A list of winners also will be posted on the VETTY Awards website and featured in the VMX Expo Hall.
"The VETTY Awards are a highlight of our annual VMX conference where attendees can see and celebrate marketing excellence in the veterinary and animal healthcare industry," said NAVC CEO Gene O'Neill. "We look forward to seeing who will be the 'pick of the litter' among entries that are submitted by talented creatives who are dedicated to promoting products and services that help animals everywhere live better, longer lives."
The early bird deadline for VETTY Award submissions is 11:59 PM EST on Friday, November 4, 2022. The final deadline for submissions is at 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, November 15. Winners will be notified in December, prior to the VMX event, so that arrangements can be made to attend.
The NAVC, the world's leading nonprofit dedicated to supporting the global veterinary health community, introduced The VETTY Awards program in 2017 to recognize and reward marketing and advertising excellence that helps fuel the rapidly growing animal health industry.
VMX is the world's largest gathering of veterinary industry professionals. VMX offers hundreds of hours of continuing education and program tracks over the course of five days for veterinarians and animal healthcare professionals. It features one of the largest veterinary industry expos as well as world class entertainment and networking events.
For more information about the VETTY Awards program, visit thevettys.com or email info@thevettys.com.
The North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) association organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. The world's leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal medicine and provide the best medical care for animals everywhere. Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed a diverse portfolio of products and services, including: educational events, headlined by VMX, the world's largest, most comprehensive continuing education conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within the veterinary industry; a robust digital platform for virtual learning and engagement; the veterinary industry's largest and award-winning portfolio of trade publications; and an advocacy arm which unites the veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando Sentinel. To learn more about the NAVC's products and brands, visit navc.com. To see our schedule of upcoming events, visit navc.com/calendar.
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SOURCE North American Veterinary Community | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/who-will-be-this-years-pick-litter/ | 2022-08-17T15:31:20Z | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/who-will-be-this-years-pick-litter/ | true |
(The Hill) — Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said hours after losing her reelection primary to Trump-backed challenger Harriet Hageman that she is “thinking about” running for president.
“That’s a decision that I’m gonna make in the coming months, and I’m not gonna make any announcements here this morning. But it is something that I am thinking about, and I’ll make a decision in the coming months,” Cheney told NBC’s “Today” show early Wednesday when pressed on if she is thinking about a White House bid.
The disclosure came less than 12 hours after major networks projected that Cheney, the Wyoming Republican who hails from a political dynasty, lost to Hageman, former President Donald Trump’s hand-picked candidate to take on one of his largest critics in Congress.
As of 7 a.m. Wednesday and with more than 95 percent of the vote in, Hageman led Cheney, 66.3 percent to 28.9 percent, according to The New York Times.
Cheney during the NBC appearance initially dodged the question when asked if she is considering running for president, telling co-anchor Savannah Guthrie that she is focused on completing her time in Congress — both serving the people of Wyoming and finishing work on the Jan. 6 House select committee — and again vowing to do what it takes to keep Trump out of the Oval Office.
Speculation is rising about Cheney’s next political act now that her time in Congress has an expiration date. The three-term House lawmaker has been vague when discussing her political future but has consistently said she will continue to oppose Trump and his false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
Cheney added to that speculation in a speech on election night while conceding the race to Hageman and asserting “now the real work begins.”
“So, I ask you tonight to join me. As we leave here, let us resolve that we will stand together — Republicans, Democrats, and independents — against those who would destroy our republic,” she said at the end of her speech.
“They are angry and they are determined, but they have not seen anything like the power of Americans united in defense of our Constitution and committed to the cause of freedom. There is no greater power on this Earth and with God’s help, we will prevail,” she added.
A reference to Abraham Lincoln in her concession speech further fueled the buzz regarding whether or not Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, will make a bid for the White House in 2024.
“The great and original champion of our party, Abraham Lincoln, was defeated in elections for the Senate and the House before he won the most important election of all. Lincoln ultimately prevailed, he saved our union, and he defined our obligation as Americans for all of history,” Liz Cheney said Tuesday night. | https://phl17.com/hill-politics/cheney-says-shes-thinking-about-running-for-president/ | 2022-08-17T15:33:34Z | https://phl17.com/hill-politics/cheney-says-shes-thinking-about-running-for-president/ | true |
A Texas family has nearly doubled in size after welcoming quadruplets this summer.
Gaby Hagler, 39, and Patrick Hagler, 50, found out at their 12-week ultrasound that they were expecting not one but four babies.
"We thought we were looking at two views of the same baby and then possibly four but the ultrasound tech was all excited and she's counting 'one, two, three, oh wait, no, no, wait, there's four,'" Gaby Hagler, a real estate broker, recalled to "Good Morning America."
"We're like, 'Four? Four what? Four limbs? Like what are we counting?' And she's like, 'Well, look, look up there. What do you see?' And there were four different babies doing completely different things. So it was very clear at that point that it was not multiple views of the same baby." | https://6abc.com/quadruplets-texas-family-newborns-babies/12133497/ | 2022-08-17T15:34:14Z | https://6abc.com/quadruplets-texas-family-newborns-babies/12133497/ | true |
London — Elon Musk, the world's richest person, briefly lifted the gloom over Manchester United's shares and fans on Wednesday by saying he was buying the English soccer club — only to say a little later it was all part of "a long-running joke".
One of the world's most successful soccer clubs, the Red Devils are languishing at the bottom of England's Premier League and, having seen eight coaches come and go in less than 10 years, some fans and investors are wondering whether it's time for its owners, the American Glazer family, to sell up.
Enter the billionaire CEO of Tesla.
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"To be clear, I support the left half of the Republican Party and the right half of the Democratic Party! Also, I'm buying Manchester United ur (sic) welcome — Elon Musk," the 51-year-old tweeted to his 103 million followers.
Some of the club's fans had previously urged Musk on Twitter to consider buying the club, complaining at what they see as under-investment by the Glazers. United haven't won the English league title since the glory days of manager Alex Ferguson, claiming the last of their record 20 wins in 2013.
Within six hours of his tweet, Musk's message had attracted more than 500 000 'likes' on the club's main Twitter account - though some users didn't take it too seriously, comparing his tweet with his troubled run at buying Twitter.
But then came the clarification.
"No, this is a long-running joke on Twitter. I'm not buying any sports teams," Musk posted, when asked by a user if he was serious about buying United.
"Although, if it were any team, it would be Man U," he added. "They were my fav (sic) team as a kid."
The Florida-based Glazer family did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Manchester United declined to comment.
United fans were not impressed.
"It's just a tweet from somebody who not always thinking twice before write something (sic)," The Manchester United Fanatics Club Hungary said.
The Kolkata fans club added: "It again reinstated the fact that Elon and his tweets are just gimmicks. Although it would have been great if he really invested 1/10th of what he paid for Twitter to own this legendary club ... the entire fan base is sick and tired of the Glazers."
Even so, Musk's musings ignited trading in the company's US listed shares ahead of the New York market open.
The club's shares briefly jumped as much as 17% in early U.S. pre-market trade before settling around $13.20, about 3% above Tuesday's closing price.
The tweets are far from the first to land Musk in controversy.
The entrepreneur is currently seeking to exit a $44-billion agreement to buy Twitter only four months after announcing on the platform he would buy the social media company, which has taken him to court.
"I think that Elon Musk must first clear the Twitter headache before his jokes could be taken seriously again by the market," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank.
"For ManU, it would mean unnecessary volatility and stress in the stock price. Elon Musk, and his expertise doesn’t necessarily add value to Manchester U, unless he aims to replace players by robots."
Musk has a history of being unconventional and posting irreverent messages, making it hard sometimes to tell when he is joking.
"Next I'm buying Coca-Cola to put the cocaine back in," he tweeted on April 27, two days after Twitter's board accepted his unsolicited offer to buy the company.
Referring back to that post, on Wednesday he tweeted: "And I'm not buying Coca-Cola to put the cocaine back in, despite the extreme popularity of such a move."
Musk's tweets about potential acquisitions have also landed him in hot water with US regulators in the past.
In 2018, he tweeted there was "funding secured" for a $72b deal to take Tesla private, but did not move ahead with an offer. Musk and Tesla each paid $20-million civil fines — and Musk stepped down as Tesla's chairman — to resolve US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) claims he defrauded investors.
The SEC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Musk's latest tweets, when messages were left outside usual business hours.
Musk's ambitions range from colonising Mars to creating a new sustainable energy economy, and in the process he has built the most valuable car company in the world in Tesla, rocket company SpaceX, and a slew of smaller firms. One is a tunnel maker called the Boring Company.
Clamour from fans for a change of ownership at United, the three-time winners of the European Cup, the most prestigious club competition in the global game, has been intensifying.
British newspaper The Daily Mirror reported last year the Glazers, who acquired the club in 2005 for £790m, were prepared to sell, but only if they were offered over £4b.
The Glazers have not, however, given any indication of an interest in selling the club.
They rarely make public statements regarding their ownership of the club, but after fierce criticism for involvement in an aborted European Super League plan, Joel Glazer wrote an open letter to the club's fans
"I want to reassure you that my family and I care deeply about Manchester United and feel a profound sense of responsibility to protect and enhance its strength for the long-term, while respecting its values and traditions," he said.
In its annual rankings this year, Forbes rated United, with its huge global fanbase, the third most valuable soccer club in the world, worth $4.6b, behind only Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
But the club's shares have slid a quarter in the past 12 months, valuing it at just over $2b. The stock has risen in the past month, gaining 16% to close at $12.78 on Tuesday.
Musk and his lawyer did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on his original Twitter post.
Reuters | https://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/premier-league/elon-musks-tweet-about-buying-manchester-united-no-joke-for-fed-up-fans-c2c1e0aa-7e95-4b7c-b108-aed83aeb19c0 | 2022-08-17T15:36:39Z | https://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/premier-league/elon-musks-tweet-about-buying-manchester-united-no-joke-for-fed-up-fans-c2c1e0aa-7e95-4b7c-b108-aed83aeb19c0 | false |
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Agora, A rapidly growing vertical SaaS company, which develops a real estate investment management platform and financial products that optimize back-office operations and exceed investors' expectations for real estate firms, today announced it had raised a $20M Series A round led by New York-based global venture capital and private equity firm Insight Partners, with participation from Aleph.
The funding round will be used to further enhance Agora's real-estate investment management platform, continue to expand the industry-specific financial products offered to customers, and to capture a larger market share.
Agora is a fintech/SaaS company that helps real estate firms raise and preserve more capital by automating their back-office processes, increasing their investors' satisfaction, and providing them with advanced tools to optimize operational efficiency. Agora has helped real estate firms across the globe with a focus on North America. In total, these firms have over 14,000 investors, 23,000 investments, and $40B in Assets Under Management. With easy-to-use, customizable software that makes investment management simple, scalable, and highly secure, Agora automates everything from fundraising to investment management, to reporting, to payments, to secure document sharing and tax operations.
"As real estate firms grow, they raise more capital and close more deals. But that also means they have more assets to manage and investors to look after" said Bar Mor, Agora's Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "We use automation to help real estate firms function more professionally while building trust and credibility with their investors. Ultimately, we give real estate firms the ability to fundraise faster, save time on back office tasks, create timely, professional tax outcomes, and transfer funds to and from investors with a click of a button." Said Mor. "This funding round will help us expand our services, accelerate our growth, and expand our reach so we can continue to help our customers to grow faster, with optimal operational efficiency, and significant time savings on tedious, manual tasks.
"Real estate is the largest asset class in the world, yet the market still relies on legacy software providers. Agora is the first next-gen SaaS platform with the depth and breadth to meet the unique needs of developers and investors alike," said Jon Rosenbaum, Managing Director at Insight Partners. "Agora's exceptional team and ambitious vision have made it a clear standout in the industry, and we look forward to partnering with them as they continue to scale."
Agora has reached significant milestones this year, including the launch of an advanced, powerful, and beautifully designed investor portal, and a new cutting-edge fundraising tool that transforms the way firms offer new investment opportunities to their investors. Agora plans to continue and improve the software, while expanding on additional financial products and services, creating a one-stop shop and a more comprehensive solution for its customers, including a fully automated payments processing service for both US domestic and cross-border payments operations, a solution that automates tax fillings and preparations at scale, tools for compliance management and more.
About Agora
Agora is a fintech/SaaS company based in NYC and Tel Aviv, that develops an advanced real estate investment management platform. Agora helps real estate firms raise and preserve more capital by automating their back-office processes, increasing their investors' satisfaction, and providing them with advanced tools to optimize operational efficiency. Founded in 2019, Agora has raised $29M to date from Insight Partners, Aleph and more, with the goal to redefine the way real estate operators and investors manage their portfolios. Agora supplements its core software with financial products, including tax operations, payments, and compliance directly through the platform. Agora is trusted by some of today's leading real estate firms, including Livwrk, Gaia Capital, Open Path Investments, Electra, AmTrust.. The Agora leadership team has a vast history both in technology, product development, and real estate.
About Insight Partners
Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of February 24, 2022, the closing of the firm's recent fundraise, Fund XII, brings Insight Partners regulatory assets under management to over $90B. Insight Partners has invested in more than 600 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv, and Palo Alto. Insight's mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on software expertise to foster long-term success. Insight Partners meets great software leaders where they are in their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.
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SOURCE Agora | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/agora-raises-20m-series-led-by-insight-partners-accelerate-growth-real-estate-firms-with-digital-transformation/ | 2022-08-17T15:37:29Z | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/agora-raises-20m-series-led-by-insight-partners-accelerate-growth-real-estate-firms-with-digital-transformation/ | true |
Will the student loan payment pause be extended? CEOs say it’s likely.
With the federal moratorium on student loan payments set to end in less than two weeks, will the Biden administration extend the freeze? Industry leaders say yes.
"While I don't have an announcement here today, I will tell you we're having conversations daily with the White House, and borrowers will know directly and soon from us when a decision is made," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona told "CBS Mornings" Tuesday.
Payments for federally backed student loans have been suspended since the pandemic began in March 2020 — they’re set to resume Sept. 1 unless the Biden administration steps in. On recent earnings calls, two CEOs of student loan servicing companies told investors they believe such a move is likely.
"I guess our sources are the same as yours, what we read in the press and what ... some of our former colleagues in the direct-loan servicing business talked to us about," Navient CEO Jack Remondi said on an earnings call July 27. "And that has just been that the department has said don't communicate with customers yet. I think given where we are in the calendar and the end date of Aug. 31, it's hard for us to believe that it does not get extended."
The Trump administration initially gave Americans the option to suspend loan payments, and Congress made it automatic soon after. The pause was extended twice by the Trump administration and twice more under Biden. Interest rates have also remained at 0% since the moratorium was put in place.
RELATED: Democratic lawmakers urge Biden to extend student loan payment pause
"Our outlook ... assumes the federal student loan payment moratorium will last until January 2023," SoFi CEO Anthony Noto told investors on an Aug. 2 earnings call.
In March, the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank warned that resuming loan payments could place a heavy burden on borrowers who faced financial hardship during the pandemic. It said the impact would be hardest on Black families, who are more likely to rely on student loans to pay for college.
"Serious delinquency rates for student debt could snap back from historic lows to their previous highs in which 10% or more of the debt was past due," the bank said.
Student loan debt in the US
Adrienne Trivers, 25, of Chelmsford, who graduated from Emerson College in 2005, holds her diploma and student loan payment book (Photo by Tim Correira/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
More than 43 million Americans owe a combined $1.6 trillion in student debt held by the federal government, according to data from the Education Department. That includes more than 7 million borrowers who have defaulted on student loans, meaning they are at least 270 days late on payments.
According to the Education Data Initiative, 92% of all student loans are backed by the federal government.
About 15% of student loans — worth an estimated $124.4 billion — are in default, and 11 % of college graduates default within the first year of repayment. Roughly 43% of borrowers who default owe between $20,000 and $40,000.
RELATED: Many borrowers took out student loans anticipating debt forgiveness, survey says
On average, a student loan in the U.S. will accrue $26,000 in interest alone over 20 years.
In 2016, the average monthly student loan payment was $393. Adjusted for inflation, that figure is more than $460 today, according to the Education Data Initiative.
Will Biden cancel student loan debt?
Student loan borrowers gather near The White House to tell President Biden to cancel student debt on May 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for We, The 45 Million)
President Joe Biden supported debt cancellation as a presidential candidate and has been considering erasing up to $10,000 per borrower. He recently promised a decision by the end of August. Some Democrats in Congress have been pushing Biden to cancel up to $50,000 in student debt for each borrower, but the president has said he does not support the increase.
In April, the U.S. Department of Education announced changes to its income-driven repayment program (IDR), which was expected to bring immediate debt cancellation for at least 40,000 borrowers and help millions of others lower their debt.
Last month, his administration proposed several changes to the repayment system that would make it easier for borrowers to get their federal student debt forgiven through several existing programs.
RELATED: Former ITT Tech students get $3.9B in debt cancellation
The new rules would smooth out a debt forgiveness process for students whose colleges deceive them, along with other programs for borrowers who are disabled and those with careers in public service.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/student-loan-payment-pause-2022-biden-student-loan-debt | 2022-08-17T15:40:18Z | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/student-loan-payment-pause-2022-biden-student-loan-debt | false |
Chris Brock and Nick Eschenheimer to Bring Expert Support to Financial Advisors and Their Clients
DRESHER, Pa., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascensus—whose technology and expertise helps millions of people save for retirement, education, and healthcare—announced that industry veterans Chris Brock and Nick Eschenheimer have been appointed Regional Vice Presidents on the firm's retirement plan sales team.
Brock joins Ascensus as Regional Vice President in the Northern Florida region, reporting to Anthony Bologna, Eastern Division vice president.
Brock has served in the financial services industry for 25 years, most recently as Regional Vice President at Securian Financial. He earned a B.B.A. in Marketing at Texas Tech University and holds Series 6, Series 7, and Series 63 licenses.
Nick Eschenheimer joins the Ascensus retirement sales team as Regional Vice President serving Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas, reporting to Lori Zeman, Western Division vice president.
Eschenheimer most recently held the role of Director, Retirement Services/External Wholesaler at Principal Financial Group.
His accreditations and licenses include Series 24, 7, 63 and 65, Accredited Investment Fiduciary Designation, and Oklahoma Registered Investment Advisor. He earned a B.A. in Economics at the University of Missouri.
"We're confident that Chris and Nick will contribute greatly to our experienced team, enhancing expert support to our partners and their clients," said Jason Crane, Ascensus' head of retirement distribution. "This is a crucial time for our industry, and both Chris and Nick bring outstanding backgrounds and reputations for excellence to Ascensus."
About Ascensus
Ascensus is a market-leading enabler of tax-advantaged savings—providing technology, services, and expertise that help more than 15 million people save for retirement, education, and healthcare.
We are a premier savings program service provider, third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator. Our platforms, industry knowledge, and data-based insights enhance the growth and success of our partners, their clients, and savers through co-branded, private-labeled, and governmental partnerships.
Ascensus offers comprehensive qualified and non-qualified retirement plan solutions, third-party retirement plan administration, 529 education and ABLE savings program administration, health savings and COBRA administration, corporate- and bank-owned life insurance solutions, and fiduciary and total rewards services.
The company's brands include Ascensus; Newport, an Ascensus company; PAi, an Ascensus company; and FuturePlan by Ascensus. Ascensus has more than $706 billion in assets under administration and employs more than 5,600 associates as of June 30, 2022.
For more information, visit ascensus.com and newportgroup.com.
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SOURCE Ascensus | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/ascensus-appoints-two-new-regional-vice-presidents/ | 2022-08-17T15:40:54Z | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/ascensus-appoints-two-new-regional-vice-presidents/ | true |
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)—After 2 years of COVID and modifying the games, the Little League World Series is finally back, and it’s in full swing.
The much anticipated Little League World Series opening ceremony is here! It begins at 11:15 a.m. at the volunteer stadium.
The Little League grounds haven’t been open to fans since 2019. Many people say they’re glad they can watch the games in person again and not from a distance or at home on TV.
The opening ceremony initiates the beginning of the 11 days of games. 20 teams will be welcomed by fans, family, and friends, all free to the public.
The ceremony will also have local Pennsylvania District 12 Little Leaguers displaying the 10 flags for the international teams in the tournament.
In addition, there will be ceremonial first pitches thrown by members from the teams in this year’s series.
The first game is at 1 pm on Wednesday. Later on, Eyewitness News will hear more from fans who traveled near and far for the tournament. | https://www.pahomepage.com/sports/little-league-world-series/little-league-world-series-opening-ceremony-underway/ | 2022-08-17T15:41:16Z | https://www.pahomepage.com/sports/little-league-world-series/little-league-world-series-opening-ceremony-underway/ | true |
By KATE BRUMBACK
Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Rudy Giuliani arrived at an Atlanta courthouse Wednesday under a judge’s order to appear before a special grand jury that is investigating attempts by former President Donald Trump and others to overturn his 2020 election defeat in Georgia.
News cameras swarmed Giuliani as he stepped out of a limousine Wednesday morning with his attorney, Robert Costello, and walked up the steps into the Fulton County courthouse. Giuliani told reporters that he wouldn’t talk about his testimony.
“Grand juries, as I recall, are secret,” Giuliani told reporters. “They ask the questions and we’ll see.”
It’s unclear how much the former New York mayor and attorney for Trump will be willing to say now that his lawyers have been informed he’s a target of the investigation. Questioning will take place behind closed doors because the special grand jury proceedings are secret.
Yet Giuliani’s appearance is another high-profile step in a rapidly escalating investigation that has ensnared several Trump allies and brought heightened scrutiny to the desperate and ultimately failed efforts to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. It’s one of several investigations into Trump’s actions in office as he lays the groundwork for another run at the White House in 2024.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis opened her investigation after the disclosure of a remarkable Jan. 2, 2021, phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. On the call, Trump suggested that Raffensperger could “find” the exact number of votes that would be needed to flip the election results in Georgia.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing. He has described the call as “perfect.”
Willis last month filed petitions to compel testimony from seven Trump associates and advisers. She has also said she’s considering calling Trump himself to testify, and the former president has hired a legal team in Atlanta that includes a prominent criminal defense attorney.
In seeking Giuliani’s testimony, Willis noted that he was both a personal attorney for Trump and a lead attorney for his 2020 campaign.
She recalled in a petition how Giuliani and others appeared at a state Senate committee meeting in late 2020 and presented a video that Giuliani said showed election workers producing “suitcases” of unlawful ballots from unknown sources, outside the view of election poll watchers. The claims of fraud were debunked by Georgia election officials within 24 hours. Yet Giuliani continued to make statements to the public and in subsequent legislative hearings claiming widespread election fraud using the debunked video, Willis noted in her filing.
Two of the election workers seen in the video, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, said they faced relentless harassment online and in person after it was shown at the Dec. 3 Georgia legislative hearing in which Giuliani appeared. At another hearing a week later, Giuliani said the footage showed the women “surreptitiously passing around USB ports as if they are vials of heroin or cocaine.” They actually were passing a piece of candy.
Willis wrote in the court filing that Giuliani’s hearing appearance and testimony were “part of a multi-state, coordinated plan by the Trump Campaign to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere.”
Willis also wrote in a petition seeking the testimony of attorney Kenneth Chesebro that he worked with Giuliani to coordinate and carry out a plan to have Georgia Republicans serve as fake electors. Those 16 people signed a certificate declaring falsely that Trump had won the 2020 presidential election and declaring themselves the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors even though Biden had won the state and a slate of Democratic electors was certified.
Giuliani’s attorneys tried to delay his appearance before the special grand jury, saying he was unable to fly due to heart stent surgery in early July.
But Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who’s overseeing the special grand jury, said during a hearing last week that Giuliani needed to be in Atlanta on Wednesday and could travel by bus, car or train if necessary.
Asked how he made the trip, Giuliani told reporters: “I’ll give you one answer: I didn’t walk.”
Other Trump allies have also been swept up in the probe. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, received a subpoena ordering him to appear for testimony on Aug. 23. Graham has challenged that subpoena, citing his protections as a member of Congress. A judge on Monday rejected that argument and said he must testify. Graham has said he’ll appeal.
Willis has indicated she is interested in calls between Graham and Raffensberger about the results in Georgia in the weeks after the election.
___
More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/national/2022/08/17/giuliani-arrives-to-testify-in-georgia-2020-election-probe-2/ | 2022-08-17T15:41:37Z | https://wtmj.com/national/2022/08/17/giuliani-arrives-to-testify-in-georgia-2020-election-probe-2/ | false |
- United States Sentencing Commission, which establishes and advises Congress on federal sentencing guidelines, reaches first quorum in 3 years and a full slate for first time since 2014
- Delayed appointments inhibited implementation of drug sentencing and other reforms to reduce disparities in the federal prison system, including First Step Act of 2018
- This concluded a year-long bipartisan effort by MAPS to support successful appointments
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) celebrated the appointment of a full slate of Commissioners to the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC). The bipartisan group of seven Commissioners, appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate, allows the USSC to reach quorum and conduct its congressionally mandated activities for the first time since 2019.
The MAPS Policy and Advocacy team coordinated a bipartisan coalition that met with U.S. Senators and monitored the progress of the confirmation process. Now that the slate is confirmed, MAPS looks forward to an ongoing effort to reduce disparities and penalties for drug charges in the federal criminal justice system.
"The criminal legal system has unjustly stigmatized and punished individuals for the choices they make about what to put in their own bodies. Meaningful federal sentencing reform must ensure that people are no longer penalized and persecuted for those choices. We will encourage and advocate for the slate of new Commissioners to open up conversations about reducing, and even eliminating, penalties for individuals and communities involved with currently illicit substances."
Ismail L Ali, J.D., Policy and Advocacy Director, MAPS
The USSC was created in 1984 to reduce sentencing disparities and provide transparency in federal sentencing guidelines, but has been unable to reach a quorum of members due to years-long delays in Presidential appointments and Senate confirmations. Its main focuses include establishing sentencing policies, advising Congress and the executive branch in developing criminal justice policy, and analyzing and distributing information on federal sentencing issues.
In addition to the clinical research program to make MDMA into an FDA-approved medicine, MAPS was founded to create sensible and compassionate alternatives to the War on Drugs. MAPS has submitted testimony about the sentencing guidelines related to MDMA to the United States Sentencing Commission in furtherance of this goal.
MAPS will remain engaged with the USSC by encouraging reform to the sentencing guidelines related to MDMA, all psychedelics, and other drugs. Positive outcomes would include public health-related release provisions in the bipartisan sentencing reform package, the commission's guidance on the First Step Implementation Act of 2021, and passage of the EQUAL Act which would eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.
ABOUT MAPS
Founded in 1986, MAPS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS is sponsoring the most advanced psychedelic therapy research in the world: Phase 3 clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. MAPS has earned both the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency and a 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator. MAPS is driven by philanthropic donors who have given more than $130 million since MAPS was founded. To make a donation, please visit our website.
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SOURCE Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/maps-coordination-with-allies-assists-us-sentencing-commission-reaching-quorum/ | 2022-08-17T15:41:56Z | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/maps-coordination-with-allies-assists-us-sentencing-commission-reaching-quorum/ | false |
Gastonia man sentenced to federal prison on drug charges
A Gastonia man was sentenced to 4½ years in prison after being convicted in federal court of trafficking marijuana and methamphetamine.
Paul Mark James, 52, and Da Lee, 38, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, were accused of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in and around Catawba County. Da was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the case.
According to documents filed in this case and evidence introduced at Lee’s trial, from 2018 to 2020, Lee and James conspired to distribute methamphetamine in and around Catawba County. Court records show that while law enforcement investigators were investigating James’s drug distribution activities in Hickory, they determined that James frequently traveled out of state to purchase methamphetamine from his supplier in Georgia, later identified as Lee.
On July 12, 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of James’s vehicle upon his return from a trip to Georgia. During the traffic stop, law enforcement found methamphetamine and marijuana in James’s vehicle, which Lee had provided to James.
Court records show that the next day, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lee’s Georgia residence, from which they seized a firearm, 4 pounds of marijuana, and more than $7,900 in cash. According to court records, over the course of the conspiracy, Lee supplied James with more than two pounds of methamphetamine.
On Feb. 23, 2022, a federal jury convicted Lee of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, and distribution of methamphetamine. Also in February 2022, James pleaded guilty to the same charges.
You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him at kellis@gastongazette.com. | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/crime/2022/08/16/gastonia-man-sentenced-federal-prison-drug-charges/10340750002/ | 2022-08-17T15:45:04Z | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/crime/2022/08/16/gastonia-man-sentenced-federal-prison-drug-charges/10340750002/ | true |
SAN DIEGO, Aug 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- North Island Credit Union has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego to make the new school year a little bit easier for hundreds of Club kids and their families. The credit union recently provided 500 backpacks and school supplies to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego as part of its annual Back 2 School Drive.
Backpacks were donated by North Island Credit Union, its employees, and members in a July branch drive, with school supplies by the credit union. The backpacks will be distributed to elementary through high school-aged students participating in Club programs across San Diego County prior to the start of the fall school year.
"Assisting our students and teachers in the important work of learning is a fundamental part of our community commitment. Every student deserves a great start to the school year, and that includes having the tools they need to succeed. We thank our members and employees for so generously joining us in helping ensure the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego kids return to the classroom in August ready to learn," said North Island Credit Union CEO Steve O'Connell.
Sommer Cartier, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, said, "The start of the school year can be incredibly stressful for many families across San Diego. Without access to resources and support, it can be difficult to provide children with the supplies needed to start the school year off right. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego's Back 2 School Drive exists to help ease the pressure families face each fall by preparing their students heading back to school. Thanks to the support of generous community partners, our Boys & Girls Club members start each new school year with the essential supplies needed to excel in the classroom."
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego changes lives through quality youth programs and guidance in a safe, affordable and fun environment. The Clubs serve kids ages 5-18 at 20 community-based sites countywide, making a difference in the lives of San Diego's future leaders – today's youth. Through its Back 2 School Drive, its members receive all the basic necessities to start the school year off right.
California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 that serves public or private school employees, community members and businesses across California. With more than 165,000 members and assets of over $4 billion, California Credit Union has 24 branches throughout Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The credit union operates in San Diego County as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. California Credit Union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. Please visit northisland.ccu.com for more information or follow the credit union on Instagram® or Facebook® @northislandcu.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that CHANGES LIVES through quality programs and guidance in a safe, affordable, and fun environment. We serve kids ages 5-18 with programs focused on ACADEMIC SUCCESS, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, and HEALTHY LIFESTYLES at 19 community-based sites countywide. We cover a service area of over 2,000 square miles from National City to Borrego Springs. To find an open Club that serves your community or donate, please visit SDYouth.org or call 858.866.0591.
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SOURCE North Island Credit Union | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/north-island-credit-union-provides-500-back-to-school-backpacks-amp-supplies-boys-amp-girls-clubs-greater-san-diego/ | 2022-08-17T15:45:12Z | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/north-island-credit-union-provides-500-back-to-school-backpacks-amp-supplies-boys-amp-girls-clubs-greater-san-diego/ | true |
SAN RAMON, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumin Digital announced today that Utilities Employees Credit Union (UECU) has signed a multi-year agreement for Lumin Digital's cloud-based online and mobile digital banking platform. Lumin will support UECU's more than 47,000 members and more than $1.4 billion in assets when the platform is launched in March 2023.
A cloud-native digital banking platform, Lumin Digital will provide UECU members with an integrated, customized experience that matches larger financial institutions' offerings. Focusing on service, user experience, safety, and security through sophisticated automation, Lumin Digital helps credit unions and financial institutions drive better engagement with their users through personalized recommendations. These include everything from spending insights and financial advice to fraud alerts and help with savings goals. Lumin also enables credit unions to provide users with real-time updates and new features that add value and simplify everyday banking.
UECU has served the nation's utility and energy employees since 1934. The Credit Union recently extended membership benefits to residents of Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania American Consumer Council (PACC). UECU operates from a single headquarters in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.
"Because of UECU's virtual business model, we seek strategic partnerships to provide optimal experiences for our members. We are confident we've found that partnership with Lumin Digital—one that meets the needs of our members today and sets the stage for future innovation," said Bret Krevolin, President/CEO of UECU. "We are excited that our members will reap the benefits of an expanded and intuitively-designed digital banking platform."
"Like UECU, Lumin Digital is passionate about providing members with innovative financial tools and experiences," said Jeff Chambers, founder and CEO of Lumin Digital. "UECU members will soon have access to an array of new services that will enhance how they bank digitally."
About Lumin Digital
Lumin Digital is a PSCU-majority-owned fintech company specializing in digital banking solutions. Through a fundamentally different approach to technology, service, and people, we're creating the next generation of financial solutions each and every day. Lumin helps credit unions and financial institutions build and deploy next-gen digital experiences that help to continually serve, engage, and grow their membership base. While other platforms are partially adapted or retrofitted for the cloud, Lumin is 100% cloud-native. It was built specifically for the cloud environment, allowing us to more fully realize the advantages it offers. It's a difference that financial institutions and their users will see and feel almost immediately. For more information, visit lumindigital.com.
About UECU
UECU, a not-for-profit financial cooperative, has been helping members and their families reach their life-long financial goals for 88 years. UECU is among the 4% of US credit unions to receive the Best of Bauer Status for having earned BauerFinancial's 5-Star Rating for financial strength for over 30 years! Bankdash, a personal finance news and research publication, has added UECU to their list of the 100 best credit unions in the nation. UECU has also been ranked as one of the top 200 healthiest credit unions in the US by DepositAccounts.com. To learn more about UECU's exclusive member benefits, visit uecu.org or call 800.288.6423.
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SOURCE Lumin Digital | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/utilities-employees-credit-union-signs-with-lumin-digital-enhanced-digital-banking-services/ | 2022-08-17T15:45:34Z | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/utilities-employees-credit-union-signs-with-lumin-digital-enhanced-digital-banking-services/ | true |
(WGHP) — A strong geomagnetic storm caused by the sun could impact Earth later this week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center said Tuesday that it is monitoring the sun and solar winds following a series of coronal mass ejections that began Sunday.
Space weather forecasters have predicted a strong geomagnetic storm for late Thursday and a moderate geomagnetic storm on Friday, prompting geomagnetic storm watches.
Forecasters are monitoring a “small, but compact and magnetically complex grouping” designated as Region 3078. The region produced frequent flares early Tuesday morning, according to NOAA. Flares are still possible from Region 3078, but recent imagery indicated possible signs of weakening and potential decay.
Forecasters continue to monitor NOAA’s DSCOVR satellite and its real-time solar winds for signs of the arrival and strength of the coronal mass ejections.
NOAA reports that despite the number of coronal mass ejections, “most are expected to have little to no impact at Earth” as they are expected to “pass ahead or south of Earth’s orbit.”
Earlier this month, NOAA noted a coronal hole in the sun’s atmosphere could trigger a geomagnetic storm.
Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on the surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellites.
Coronal holes are “cooler, less dense regions than the surrounding plasma and are regions of open, unipolar magnetic fields,” NOAA explains. “This open, magnetic field line structure allows the solar wind to escape more readily into space, resulting in streams of relatively fast solar wind.”
While some headlines make the occurrence sound like a doomsday-inducing hole in the sun, Rob Steenburgh of NOAA’s Space Weather Forecast office told Nexstar, “They happen all the time and are no cause for alarm.”
Minor geomagnetic storms may cause weak fluctuations in the power grid, impact satellite operations on spacecraft, and make aurora displays in the sky visible at high latitudes, such as in parts of Michigan and Maine.
Auroras for this week’s storm may be visible if the weather conditions are favorable as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa, and portions of Oregon. Check NOAA’s latest aurora forecast here.
The Space Weather Prediction Center will issue additional warnings related to this week’s storm if necessary, NOAA said Tuesday.
While the solar cycle is not yet at its peak, NASA said activity has already surpassed predictions. Solar flares and eruptions will likely increase from now until 2025 as we reach “solar maximum,” writes Nicola Fox, the director of NASA’s heliophysics division.
Yet experts say there’s no need to fear a doomsday scenario.
“Some people worry that a gigantic ‘killer solar flare’ could hurl enough energy to destroy Earth, but this is not actually possible,” NASA explains.
Plus, solar cycles repeat every 11 years. That means anyone over the age of 11 has already lived through a solar maximum (and probably didn’t notice its occurrence). | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/geomagnetic-storm-watches-in-effect-due-to-coronal-hole-how-it-could-impact-earth-this-week/ | 2022-08-17T15:46:42Z | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/geomagnetic-storm-watches-in-effect-due-to-coronal-hole-how-it-could-impact-earth-this-week/ | false |
Thunderstorms helped produce a massive waterspout off the coast of Destin, Fla., on Tuesday, wowing people who saw video of the cool-looking weather phenomenon.
If you've never seen a waterspout before, you might think it's a tornado happening over water instead of land — and that's pretty much what is going on.
How waterspouts form
To understand the conditions needed to form a waterspout, according to the National Weather Service, you've got to understand vorticity, or an area of localized spin.
For vorticity to occur, winds from opposing directions have to meet over a small area — or you have increasing winds come from any direction.
"For example, a wind out of the west at the coastline and a wind out of the east 5 miles offshore would form a pool of vorticity in the immediate vicinity of the coast," the NWS Mobile location in Alabama said on Twitter.
There's usually a boundary between the two winds, and the stronger the winds are, the stronger the vorticity is, NWS Mobile said.
Next up, you need a wind shift, where the wind will change directions in a short period of time.
Then you add the water. A shower or storm in the area means there will be an updraft that can continue to feed "warm, moist air into the storm to develop [or] maintain the cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud," NWS Mobile said.
"This updraft can also act to pull any surface vorticity upwards if strong enough and located over a region of vorticity," NWS Mobile said. "If the vorticity is sufficiently stretched and likewise tightened up, then a waterspout can be formed. Think about an ice skater lifting their arms as they spin, helping to speed up the rate at which they spin."
The waterspout in Destin was stronger than normal
Conditions in Destin, including 10 to 20 mph winds and intense thunderstorms, contributed to the "spectacular results" that dazzled many.
"Typically they are not as extreme as this one, but even weaker storms can generate waterspouts if the basic ingredients are present," NWS Mobile said.
And waterspouts don't just form over oceans. They're also known to form over lakes including the Great Lakes.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
A slower time-lapse of the #waterspout caught on the Pelican Beach Resort livecam in Destin, Florida this morning. Overall it took about 6 minutes for it to go across the screen. #flwx @NWSMobile pic.twitter.com/9ZHMykshKg
— BirdingPeepWx (@BirdingPeepWx) August 16, 2022
Another look at the large waterspout at Destin this morning… video from Ken Creel pic.twitter.com/GHbkGE50he
— James Spann (@spann) August 16, 2022 | https://www.wlrn.org/news/2022-08-17/what-is-a-waterspout-heres-how-the-spectacular-one-in-florida-formed | 2022-08-17T15:47:35Z | https://www.wlrn.org/news/2022-08-17/what-is-a-waterspout-heres-how-the-spectacular-one-in-florida-formed | false |
SAN DIEGO, Aug 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- North Island Credit Union has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego to make the new school year a little bit easier for hundreds of Club kids and their families. The credit union recently provided 500 backpacks and school supplies to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego as part of its annual Back 2 School Drive.
Backpacks were donated by North Island Credit Union, its employees, and members in a July branch drive, with school supplies by the credit union. The backpacks will be distributed to elementary through high school-aged students participating in Club programs across San Diego County prior to the start of the fall school year.
"Assisting our students and teachers in the important work of learning is a fundamental part of our community commitment. Every student deserves a great start to the school year, and that includes having the tools they need to succeed. We thank our members and employees for so generously joining us in helping ensure the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego kids return to the classroom in August ready to learn," said North Island Credit Union CEO Steve O'Connell.
Sommer Cartier, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, said, "The start of the school year can be incredibly stressful for many families across San Diego. Without access to resources and support, it can be difficult to provide children with the supplies needed to start the school year off right. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego's Back 2 School Drive exists to help ease the pressure families face each fall by preparing their students heading back to school. Thanks to the support of generous community partners, our Boys & Girls Club members start each new school year with the essential supplies needed to excel in the classroom."
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego changes lives through quality youth programs and guidance in a safe, affordable and fun environment. The Clubs serve kids ages 5-18 at 20 community-based sites countywide, making a difference in the lives of San Diego's future leaders – today's youth. Through its Back 2 School Drive, its members receive all the basic necessities to start the school year off right.
California Credit Union is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1933 that serves public or private school employees, community members and businesses across California. With more than 165,000 members and assets of over $4 billion, California Credit Union has 24 branches throughout Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The credit union operates in San Diego County as North Island Credit Union, a division of California Credit Union. California Credit Union offers a full suite of consumer, business and investment products and services, including comprehensive consumer checking and loan options, personalized financial planning, business banking, and leading-edge online and mobile banking. Please visit northisland.ccu.com for more information or follow the credit union on Instagram® or Facebook® @northislandcu.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that CHANGES LIVES through quality programs and guidance in a safe, affordable, and fun environment. We serve kids ages 5-18 with programs focused on ACADEMIC SUCCESS, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, and HEALTHY LIFESTYLES at 19 community-based sites countywide. We cover a service area of over 2,000 square miles from National City to Borrego Springs. To find an open Club that serves your community or donate, please visit SDYouth.org or call 858.866.0591.
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SOURCE North Island Credit Union | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/north-island-credit-union-provides-500-back-to-school-backpacks-amp-supplies-boys-amp-girls-clubs-greater-san-diego/ | 2022-08-17T15:49:58Z | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/north-island-credit-union-provides-500-back-to-school-backpacks-amp-supplies-boys-amp-girls-clubs-greater-san-diego/ | true |
ZERO employs cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning to achieve the next generation of text auto-classification.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ZERO Systems, an innovator in AI-enabled cognitive automation, has been recognized as a Sample Vendor in the "Gartner Hype Cycle Report for Natural Language Processing, 2022" in the category of text autoclassification. A critical component of enabling true cognitive automation, text autoclassification utilizes natural language processing and machine learning to analyze and classify content at scale.
At the forefront of AI-enabled automation technology, ZERO develops solutions that increase productivity for knowledge economy enterprises, through the automation of time-consuming processes that would otherwise require human decision making.
"We are thrilled to be recognized in the 2022 Gartner Hype Cycle Report," said Alex Babin, CEO at ZERO Systems. "The knowledge economy desperately needs a solution that is effective at automating high-value cognitive processes. This is precisely what ZERO's underlying AI technology offers, and the applications across various industries are endless."
In May 2022, ZERO announced a strategic partnership with Aderant, a leading global business management software provider, to add an automation layer and further enhance Aderant's leading product offerings for Law firms.
"We are presently delivering game-changing solutions through our 'Apollo' and 'Athena' products to some of the world's largest Law firms and global clients," continues Babin. "Our solutions enable these firms to more accurately track billable time, remain in compliance through automated document classification and management, and capture lost revenue due to the complexities of manual processes."
ZERO will showcase the latest features and capabilities of their products as a sponsor at this year's 2022 International Law Technology Association (ILTA) Conference, in Washington DC, August 21st-25th. For more information, or to book a private demo at the show, please visit www.zerosystems.com
*Gartner, "Hype Cycle for Natural Language Technologies, 2022", Bern Elliot, Adrian Lee, July 11, 2022.
GARTNER and HYPE CYCLE are registered trademarks and service marks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's Research & Advisory organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
ZERO is a leader in AI-powered productivity automation with products engineered to help professional services firms achieve operational excellence. ZERO's technology acts as an intelligent layer to existing systems, automating and streamlining processes such as time management, document management, and data loss prevention. With many Am Law 100 and global clients, ZERO is enabling knowledge workers to be more productive, generate more revenue, and focus on the work that really matters – helping their clients. To learn more, visit www.zerosystems.com
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SOURCE ZERØ | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/zero-recognized-2022-gartner-hype-cycle-report/ | 2022-08-17T15:50:10Z | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/zero-recognized-2022-gartner-hype-cycle-report/ | true |
'Soros-funded' prosecutor SUES Ron DeSantis for suspending him over refusing to prosecute abortion and sex change cases: Says an armed deputy showed up and forced him from his office
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspended Hillsborough County state attorney Andrew Warren earlier this year for his refusal to enforce DeSantis' policies
- He singled out Warren's refusal to adhere to gender-affirming treatment crackdowns and 'signed a letter' saying he wouldn't enforce abortion limits
- Warren accused DeSantis of abusing power and violating the First Amendment
- 'There's so much more at stake here than my job. Ron DeSantis is hoping to get away with overturning a fair election,' Warren said of his elected role
- 'Without warning, I was forced out of my office by an armed deputy, removed from my elected position, and replaced with a Ron DeSantis accomplice'
- DeSantis' office told DailyMail.com: 'It’s not surprising Warren, who was suspended for refusing to follow the law, would file a legally baseless lawsuit'
- A new report accuses Warren of using taxpayer dollars to bankroll progressive policy trips for him and his team across the country
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is being sued in federal court by a progressive state attorney whom he indefinitely suspended earlier this month and accused of being bankrolled by billionaire George Soros.
Andrew Warren, who was elected to serve as the state attorney for Hillsborough County, said he filed the lawsuit on Wednesday morning during a press conference announcing the move.
'Without warning, I was forced out of my office by an armed deputy, removed from my elected position, and replaced with a Ron DeSantis accomplice,' he claimed.
He accused DeSantis of violating his First Amendment right to freedom of speech and running afoul of the Florida state constitution in what Warren called a 'blatant abuse of power.'
'There's so much more at stake here than my job. Ron DeSantis is hoping to get away with overturning a fair election, throwing out the votes of hundreds of thousands of Floridians,' Warren said.
'By challenging this illegal abuse of power, we can make sure that no governor can toss out the results of an election because he doesn't like the outcome.'
DeSantis' office told DailyMail.com, 'It’s not surprising Warren, who was suspended for refusing to follow the law, would file a legally baseless lawsuit challenging his suspension.'
'We look forward to responding in court,' said the governor's spokesperson Taryn Fenske.
Hillsborough County state attorney Andrew Warren is suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over his executive order suspending the progressive elected official earlier this month
The popular Republican governor announced his executive order on Warren's suspension publicly on August 4 during a press conference on the attorney's own home turf in Tampa.
Standing amongst Hillsborough County law enforcement officers who claimed Warren was soft on crime, DeSantis said the prosecutor was 'ignoring the law' for refusing to enforce new policies on abortion and gender-affirming surgery.
The governor rationalized Warren's suspension by claiming he was stamping out a 'pathogen' of activist prosecutors that he blamed for rising crime rates in multiple Democrat-run cities.
'We've seen across this country, over the last few years, individual prosecutors take it upon themselves to determine which laws they like and will enforce and which laws they don't like,' DeSantis said. 'We are not going to allow this pathogen that's been around the country of ignoring the law, we are not going to let that get a foothold here in the state of Florida.'
But Warren is insisting in his lawsuit that DeSantis is suspending him because of their difference in beliefs.
'The governor's authority is not unlimited. He can disagree with my political views. He can disagree with my criminal justice philosophy. He can even disagree with my unwavering commitment to public safety, fairness and justice,' he said.
'And he can do all those things because he's protected by the First Amendment.'
He added, 'But the First Amendment doesn't just protect him. It protects everyone. Even those of us he disagrees with.'
Warren claimed DeSantis 'took control of the office people elected me to serve' by having 'showed up with an armed deputy' at his door.
During his August 4 press conference on Warren's home turf, DeSantis said he was suspending the prosecutor for his refusal to follow the governor's new policies
He was allegedly prevented from preserving files and emails on his computer that he thought could be tampered with.
Earlier this month DeSantis said of Warren, 'In June of 2021, he signed a letter saying that he would not enforce any prohibitions on sex change operations for minors.'
Going on to accuse Warren of being funded by billionaire George Soros, the governor also said that after the Supreme Court overturned abortion rights, the attorney 'signed a letter saying he would not enforce any laws relating to protecting the right to life in the state of Florida.'
Warren told the Tampa Bay Times in 2020 that he believes Soros did donate money to his campaign.
Other questions about his funds have been raised since the ouster, such as a new report in the Florida Standard accusing Warren of using taxpayer money to help bankroll his progressive activism.
The report claims Warren used taxpayer dollars to travel across the country from 2017 through 2022 on trips linked to progressive group Fair and Just Prosecutions.
Warren was asked about the report on Wednesday by a reporter from right-wing outlet One America News.
He answered, 'if your question isn’t about the lawsuit I’m not taking the question.' | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11120245/Ron-DeSantis-andrew-warren-suspension-lawsuit-armed-deputy.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-08-17T15:51:54Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11120245/Ron-DeSantis-andrew-warren-suspension-lawsuit-armed-deputy.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | false |
Mike Pence now says he could consider cooperating with the January 6 committee after Cheney lost and again pushes for FBI to release full details of the Trump raid
- 'If there was an invitation to participate, I would consider it,' Pence said
- He was appearing at a Politics & Eggs event in New Hampshire
- Comes after Cheney was routed in Wyoming primary after defying Trump
- Republicans rallied to Trump's side after FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago
Mike Pence on Wednesday did not rule out testifying before the House January 6 Committee, which has focused its inquiry on key aspects of Donald Trump's election overturn effort involving the former vice president.
'I would consider it,' Pence said at an appearance at a 'Politics & Eggs' event in New Hampshire on Wednesday.
His comment came hours after House Jan. 6th Committee vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney lost her primary in Wyoming after defying Trump and voting to impeach him.
It also comes after the FBI raided Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in search of additional classified documents after Trump returned 15 boxes of material to the government after leaving office.
That event helped drive a series of Republican officeholders to Trump's side while blasting FBI tactics, in an event that some observers said would help the former president fend off challengers from within the party he has bent to his image.
Former Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday he would 'consider' testifying before the House Jan. 6th Committee
The comments came at a packed event in the first-in-the-nation primary state.
He once again sought to find ways to avoid directly criticizing Trump while still pointing to a new path.
'I came here today not to look backwards but to look forwards, because elections are about the future,' said.
'We need to do more than criticize and complain, we need to unite our movement around a bold, optimistic agenda that will give solutions for the American people,' he added.
Pence aides have spent months negotiating with the committee, and several, including former chief of staff Marc Short, spoke to the panel themselves.
Pence would have a unique ability to speak about Trump's pressure campaign to try to get him to refuse to accept votes certified by states
Other people close to Trump, including Ivanka Trump, have agreed to testify
His comments came shortly after Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney lost her primary race
Pence unstintingly praised Trump while in office, but has cited 'differences' between them around Jan. 6
Other witnesses testified about dramatic confrontations inside the White House where Trump advisors claimed that Pence had the authority while presiding over the counting of electoral votes Jan. 6th to unilaterally decline to accept votes certified by states that went for Joe Biden.
Pence's comment received multiple hedges about appearing before a panel that subpoenaed many former Trump associates but has engaged in arm's length negotiations with Pence's team.
'If there was an invitation to participate, I would consider it. But, you’ve heard me mention the Constitution a few times this morning,' he said. 'Under the Constitution we have three coequal branches of government. Any invitation directed at me, I’d have to reflect on the unique role I was serving in as Vice President. It would be unprecedented in history for a VP to be summoned to testify on Capitol Hill.'
Pence also once again spoke about the dramatic FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago, which has drawn a series of condemnations by top Republicans.
'It's fairly well known that President Trump and I have had our differences,' he said, adding that he would 'continue to call' for Attorney General Merrick Garland to make more information available.
The government told a court that the affidavits justifying the search should remain under seal for the protection of witnesses and its ongoing investigation. Trump has demanded its release. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11120281/Mike-Pence-holds-possibility-testify-House-Jan-6th-Committee.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-08-17T15:52:01Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11120281/Mike-Pence-holds-possibility-testify-House-Jan-6th-Committee.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | false |
Bernie Ecclestone will appear in court charged with fraud after 'saying he had set up daughters' trust fund but failed to declare £400m of overseas assets'
- Former F1 chief Mr Ecclestone is to be charged over the alleged £400m fraud
- Papers show he is accused of setting up a trust but not declaring overseas funds
- Charge was announced by the CPS following a 'worldwide' HMRC investigation
- Ecclestone is due in court on Monday charged with fraud by false representation
Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is accused of falsely claiming he had only set up a single trust for his daughters in an alleged failure to declare £400 million of overseas assets to the Government, according to court documents.
Ecclestone, 91, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday to face a charge of fraud by false representation between July 13 2013 and October 5 2016.
It follows what HMRC called a 'complex and worldwide criminal investigation'.
Pictured: Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has been charged over alleged £400million fraud
Petra, Mr Ecclestone and Tamara at a fundraising event in London at the Corinthia Hotel, 2017
Mr Eccelstone had socialite daughters Tamara and Petra with second wife Slavica Radić, right
According to the court listing, the business magnate allegedly claimed that he had 'established only a single trust, that being one in favour of your daughters'.
He is also alleged to have said 'other than the trust established for your daughters you were not the settlor nor beneficiary of any trust in or outside the UK'.
Ecclestone, who has three grown-up daughters, Deborah, 67, Tamara, 38, and Petra, 33, is said to have made the representations 'intending to make a gain, namely not stated, for yourself'.
The charge against the billionaire, whose address is listed in Knightsbridge, central London, was authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) last month following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Model Tamara Ecclestone with Bernie Ecclestone at the time at F1 World Championship 2013
Chief Crown Prosecutor Andrew Penhale said at the time: 'The CPS has reviewed a file of evidence from HMRC and has authorised a charge against Bernard Ecclestone of fraud by false representation in respect of his failure to declare to HMRC the existence of assets held overseas believed to be worth in excess of £400m.'
Mr Ecclestone splits his time between his coffee farm on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, a mansion in Gstaad, Switzerland, and his villa in Ibiza, where he was last seen a fortnight ago during a disastrous media round where he praised Vladimir Putin.
He later apologised for describing Putin as a 'first class person' and that he would ‘take a bullet for him’. He missed the Austrian grand prix last month.
Simon York, Director, Fraud Investigation Service (FIS), HMRC, said in a statement sahred in July: 'We can confirm that a fraud by false representation charge has been authorised against Bernard Ecclestone.
Bernie and Tamara Ecclestone attend a F1 charity photographic auction on February 07, 2014
'This follows a complex and worldwide criminal investigation by HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service.
'The criminal charge relates to projected tax liabilities arising from more than £400m of offshore assets which were concealed from HMRC.
'HMRC is on the side of honest taxpayers and we will take tough action wherever we suspect tax fraud. Our message is clear – no one is beyond our reach.
'We remind people to refrain from commentary or sharing of information that could prejudice proceedings in any way.
'This is now a matter for the courts and we will not be commenting further.'
Mr Ecclestone became a father for the fourth time when he welcomed son Ace last July with Fabiana, who he married in 2012.
The billionaire businessman is already a father to daughters Deborah, 66, Tamara and Petra Ecclestone.
Deborah was born to his first wife Ivy Bamford before he welcomed socialites Tamara and Petra with his second wife Slavica Radić.
Bernie married Fabiana three years after he divorced Croatian Slavica. He confirmed he and Fabiana were expecting a child to Swiss newspaper Blick last April.
The case will first be heard at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 22. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11120391/Bernie-Ecclestone-charged-fraud-failed-declare-400m-assets.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-08-17T15:52:51Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11120391/Bernie-Ecclestone-charged-fraud-failed-declare-400m-assets.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | true |
MANAHAWKIN, N.J., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wireless Experience (TWE) celebrates 25 years in business this month with a fast-growing footprint and an expanding team. Launched in August 1997 as a one-person side business, TWE now ranks as the top-rated East Coast AT&T retailer with 94 stores across six states and four-time certification as a Great Place to Work. The company has added nineteen stores since 2020 and plans to surpass 100 by year-end while continuing to increase its 300+-person workforce.
"The key to success is our amazing team," says CEO and Founder Brian Wainwright. "Having people who care about and support each other, while also working hard for the business, has created a place that can set the standard for our industry as we move to the future."
Known for its culture of support, development and advancement opportunities, TWE has earned four Fortune Best Workplace Awards as well as two rankings on the NJBIZ Fast 50 and four Inc. 5000 rankings. The company's sense of caring extends to the communities it serves, and TWE has supported more than 150 community nonprofits, helping families in need, people experiencing homelessness, children with autism, children with pediatric cancer, first responders and schools.
"The work we do makes a real difference," says Wainwright. "We know our success depends on bettering the lives of team members, inspiring guests, and strengthening communities. When we're at our best, we're introducing new technology and we're doing it in a way that also shows the power of human connection."
The Wireless Experience (TWE), established in 1997, is an AT&T Authorized Retailer with over 90 stores located in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Headquartered in Manahawkin, New Jersey, TWE is an organization built on the foundation of introducing new technology that inspires and enhances the lives of their guests. Their mission is to set the standard for the best wireless experience, and they do this by conducting business under the five core values of accountability, community, integrity, loyalty and trust.
CONTACT:
Jen Quinn
732-552-0916
jquinn@tweatt.com
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SOURCE The Wireless Experience | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/wireless-experience-celebrates-25-years-with-rapid-growth/ | 2022-08-17T15:53:27Z | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/wireless-experience-celebrates-25-years-with-rapid-growth/ | true |
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an opinion unanimously reinstating the pension of former Philadelphia County Municipal Judge Joseph J. O'Neill, who resigned following a guilty plea on two counts of making false statements to federal investigators.
Pennsylvania
August 17, 2022, 10:08 AM | https://www.law.com/radar/card/pa-supreme-court-reinstates-pension-for-former-municipal-court-judge-402-113843/ | 2022-08-17T15:55:28Z | https://www.law.com/radar/card/pa-supreme-court-reinstates-pension-for-former-municipal-court-judge-402-113843/ | false |
Woman arrested after assaulting reported thief
PARIS, Texas (KXII) - A young woman was arrested after assaulting a man accused of stealing from her Tuesday evening.
Paris Police said they responded to a theft around 6:30 p.m. and met with the victim in the 2700 block of Lamar Avenue. They said Carolina Isabel Hernandez, 18, of Paris, reported that a man in the gym across the street had stolen her cell phone and social security card. They said the female then claimed she was going to assault the suspect with a knife and drove toward the gym.
Officers said they followed her to the gym and observed Hernandez chasing the reported suspect through the gym with a knife. The assaulted man said Hernandez had assaulted him with a metal bar.
Hernandez was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Police said she was booked and later placed in the Lamar County Jail.
They added the theft remains under investigation.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/17/woman-arrested-after-assaulting-reported-thief/ | 2022-08-17T15:58:48Z | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/17/woman-arrested-after-assaulting-reported-thief/ | false |
CARMEL, Ind. — The City of Carmel is preparing for several major construction projects on and along a few of the area’s roadways.
A few of those projects are kicking off this week and in the coming weeks. Much of the city’s planned road construction revolves around 106th Street and College Avenue. All of the projects are located in the Home Place neighborhood.
“These investments are part of what we do as a city,” said Jeremy Kashman, director of engineering for the City of Carmel. “Home Place just recently became part of the city; it’s time to invest money here.”
Kashman said Home Place is the last section of Clay Township to be annexed into the city, which happened just a couple of years ago.
Starting this week, crews will begin one of many projects. Construction will start on multi-use paths along both sides of 106th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue to College Avenue.
“That’s a very big accomplishment, because Fishers is building a park just along the White River,” Kashman described. “This connection will take you into Zionsville. So really starting a regional path network is what that will help connect.”
The pathways will also help better connect the city’s east side to the city’s west side, allowing better accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.
“The biggest thing we’re trying to do with these multi-use path networks is also create a safe environment so people don’t have to drive everywhere,” Kashman said. “We’re really trying to, even down here and other parts of the city, we’re pushing that walkability and bikeability. That’s not only for exercise but for trying to create trips that you can take via bicycle.”
This project is expected to be done by the end of the year, with additional landscaping to take place during the spring of 2023.
Other construction efforts will begin on Sept. 6 at the intersection of College Avenue and 106th Street. Crews will remove traffic lights and begin work on a new roundabout instead. Kashman said the city had received several complaints about the intersection. He said this should make it safer and allow traffic to flow more efficiently.
This project will come with a 60-day road closure. Kashman said drivers should expect some temporary delays and detours. He said drivers should use extra caution once the work begins.
“I think the biggest thing to expect is to be patient,” he said.
There are several other projects lined up for 2023, including reconstruction of College Avenue between 96th Street and 106th Street, a new roundabout at Pennsylvania Parkway and College Avenue, and stormwater improvements.
All in all, city leaders hope these efforts help the Home Place neighborhood grow.
“Like we’ve done everywhere else within the city, we like to invest in our infrastructure,” Kashman said. “And we’ve found when we do invest in our infrastructure, the city invests back into itself. So we’re hoping to spur a little bit of economic development down here. Really start transforming Home Place.”
The city plans to provide additional details and closure information as some of the additional projects get closer to starting. | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/carmel-begins-roadway-construction-in-home-place-neighborhood/ | 2022-08-17T15:59:34Z | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/carmel-begins-roadway-construction-in-home-place-neighborhood/ | false |
LOWER MANHATTAN (WPIX) – The 9/11 Tribute Museum in Manhattan is shuttering on Wednesday, officials for the museum announced this week.
The museum, not to be confused with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum located at the site of the World Trade Center, will maintain an online presence, but financial difficulties mean the doors of the NYC location will close permanently.
Most of the museum’s collection will be moved to the New York State Museum in Albany. The museum is working to make sure everything is respectfully handled.
The 9/11 Tribute Museum had been experiencing hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which took a toll on tourism and further exacerbated financial difficulties. Just last week, officials had even attempted to garner support for a Change.org petition to save the space, aimed at Gov. Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
“We’ve really been hanging on by a thread,” co-founder and CEO Jennifer Adams-Webb said, per the Associated Press.
The museum traces its roots to 2004, when a group — founded by victims’ relatives — decided to turn a former deli near ground zero into a focal point for the commemoration of the 2001 terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. The site of the World Trade Center was still a massive pit and construction site in 2004, but visitors were already coming in droves.
The tribute museum was eventually dwarfed by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, a $700 million taxpayer-subsidized project that opened its memorial plaza in 2011 and a vast underground museum in 2014. The museum alone has drawn more than 18 million visitors and the open-air, un-ticketed plaza an estimated 55 million.
The 9/11 Tribute Museum, meanwhile, has been visited by over 5 million people since opening in 2005, by its own account. Its focus was to remember and honor those lost in the attacks through the personal stories of those who experienced, survived or lost family and friends on 9/11.
Through guided tours and exhibits, visitors to the 9/11 Tribute Museum were given “person-to-person” accounts demonstrating “the tremendous spirit of resilience and service that arose after the attacks, and are encouraged to honor the legacy of that spirit through volunteerism and acts of kindness in their own communities,” according to the museum.
It’s unclear when the museum’s collection will be placed on display at the New York State Museum in Albany.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/smaller-9-11-tribute-museum-in-nyc-closing-its-doors/ | 2022-08-17T16:01:01Z | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/smaller-9-11-tribute-museum-in-nyc-closing-its-doors/ | false |
Ayesha Curry named a Director of the Board of Back to the Roots and deepens her commitment to building the gardening brand for the next generation
OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Back to the Roots, the world's fastest-growing organic garden brand, announced that Ayesha Curry will be joining the Back to the Roots Board of Directors.
7 years ago, Ayesha Curry, a self-prescribed "crazy garden lady", was introduced to the founders of Back to the Roots, Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez, by mutual friends who believed they shared the same passions for gardening, growing your own food and inspiring kids to connect with the environment. The friendship developed into a product collaboration with Back to the Roots and later Ayesha coming on as an investor in the company.
Now, as Back to the Roots closed its $15M Series D and sets its eyes on exciting growth ahead, Ayesha is joining as the 6th member of the company's Board of Directors, focusing on product & brand development as Back to the Roots aims to build the gardening brand for generations to come. This year alone, consumers are expected to spend $100M on Back to the Roots gardening products.
Ayesha Curry says, "I am so excited to join the board of Back to the Roots. Nikhil, Alejandro and I share a passion for educating families about the magic of growing their own food and creating excitement about making healthy food choices. As a mom, it is important for me to encourage my children to develop a healthy lifestyle while also being mindful of protecting the Earth. As a businesswoman, I love that I am able to combine my passions and help this impressive business continue to excel as the garden brand for the next generation."
"We are so honored to have Ayesha join the board. Her incredible entrepreneurial mindset and innate branding & community development expertise make her the perfect fit for our company as we scale into our next chapter," says Nikhil Arora, Back to the Roots Co-Founder and Co-CEO.
"It's a special opportunity to add Ayesha to our Board — aside from her tremendous business experience, she is also a passionate gardener and a mom who wants to grow with her family. I can't think of anyone else better to help guide this brand into every home & classroom in the country," adds Back to the Roots Co-Founder and Co-CEO Alejandro Velez.
Back to the Roots is building the garden brand of the future — focusing on creating gardening products that are not only easy to use & great for plants, but also for the planet. They also have a school giveback program tied into every one of their products - helping bring organic grow kits to over 55,000 elementary school students this past year. Their game-changing line of organic indoor grow kits, 100% USA grown seed packets, peat-free soil, plant food, live plants and raised beds are available nationwide in Walmart, The Home Depot, Target, Lowe's and on Amazon.
About Ayesha Curry
Ayesha Curry is a renowned restaurateur, chef, 2x New York Times bestselling author, producer, host, and was featured on the prestigious Forbes "30 Under 30" list. Her accessible approach to cooking has made her one of the most sought-after experts in food and lifestyle and has amassed over 9 million avid social media followers and subscribers. Ayesha has her own line of cookware, kitchen textiles, and ready-to-eat meals, sold at retailers nationwide. Ayesha, along with her husband Stephen, is the co-founder of their family-founded charity Eat. Learn. Play. with a mission to end childhood hunger, ensure universal access to quality education, and enable healthy, active lifestyles. Working with key partners such as Alameda County Community Food Bank and World Central Kitchen, Eat. Learn. Play. has served up more than 25 million meals to-date in the Bay Area. Additionally, she is an ambassador for No Kid Hungry, an organization fighting to end childhood hunger. In 2020, Ayesha released her own lifestyle magazine, SWEET JULY, in partnership with the Meredith Corporation. The magazine shares recipes, personal anecdotes, fashion, family-friendly ideas and features interviews with inspiring creatives, influencers, activists, professionals and entrepreneurs from all walks of life. Following the launch of the magazine, Ayesha opened a brick-and-mortar Sweet July storefront and café in Oakland, CA and its accompanying website. She also released her second New York Times national best-selling cookbook, The Full Plate: Flavor Filled Recipes for Families with No Time and A Lot To Do. On the entertainment side, Curry recently hosted and executive produced HBO Max's About Last Night. Ayesha lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her three kids, Riley, Ryan and Canon, and husband, Stephen.
About Back to the Roots
Back to the Roots is an organic gardening company that has evolved from an urban mushroom farm in Oakland, CA to a thriving national brand and the fastest-growing organic gardening company in the country. With a mission to reconnect everyone back to where food comes from, co-founders Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez are transforming the gardening industry by making it easy for anyone, anywhere to grow their own food. Their award-winning line of organic gardening kits, seeds, soils, plant food, and raised beds is currently distributed in over 10,000 retail locations nationwide, including The Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Walmart, Cost Plus, Whole Foods, Albertsons, Menards, Kohl's, Amazon, and Costco. Alejandro & Nikhil have also been featured as Forbes 30 Under 30, EY Entrepreneurs of the Year NorCal, President Obama's Champions of Change, and CNN 10 Next Gen Entrepreneurs to Watch. Please visit www.backtotheroots.com for more.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Ida Bo Frazier
The Rose Group
ida@therosegrp.com
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SOURCE Back to the Roots | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/investor-board-member-entrepreneur-ayesha-curry-officially-joins-team-1-organic-gardening-brand-back-roots/ | 2022-08-17T16:02:02Z | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/investor-board-member-entrepreneur-ayesha-curry-officially-joins-team-1-organic-gardening-brand-back-roots/ | false |
When California Republicans gathered in Anaheim this spring, attention focused on candidate speeches and endorsement battles as the party tries to win its first statewide race since 2006.
But a little-noticed, hour-long session in a small conference room at the Marriott could very well be more consequential for the state GOP this election.
The meeting focused on running for local school board seats, and it was led by Shawn Steel, a former party chairperson. Now, he’s one of the biggest evangelists for strengthening the GOP by recruiting new candidates and voters in what are, officially at least, nonpartisan races.
“When you’re a minority party, like Republicans in California … you have to think, ‘Well, what can we do as a party to make a big difference?’” Steel told CalMatters. “You see the schools are just in great freefall and chaos. Parents don’t want to send their kids there. So this is the time to get people that are otherwise angst-ridden, upset, powerless.”
In California, Democrats have long used school boards as a recruiting and training ground for political candidates — with help from teachers’ unions.
But while the state Democratic party isn’t amping up its school board efforts in 2022, the GOP is going in big with its “Parent Revolt” program — what party officials call their most tailored school board recruitment and training program ever. It includes virtual training sessions that detail how and where to run for office, plus tips for digital campaigns and going door-to-door.
The goal: To capitalize on COVID pandemic frustrations and concerns over “critical race theory” and other issues among parents of school-aged children — and win not only school board seats, but also, eventually, legislative and congressional races by re-engaging core Republican voters and attracting independents.
There are about 2,500 races for local school board seats in California in November — about half of the total 5,000 seats, according to the California School Boards Association. The filing deadline for candidates was Friday, though it was extended until today for seats held by incumbents not seeking reelection. While no statewide tally exists, of the nine seats up for election in the three largest school districts — Los Angeles, San Diego, and Fresno — three are open seats, where no incumbent is running.
The Republican Party would not disclose its goals for recruited candidates, other than as many as possible. It also wouldn’t say how much it is spending on its “Parent Revolt” effort.
“We recognized early that education is going to be a major motivating issue for many Californians this year,” said Ellie Hockenbury, spokesperson for the state GOP. “Whereas it is often the case that top-of-the-ticket races help turnout for down-ballot races, we also believe that local races could be just as big a motivator for many to drive turnout. Having strong candidates in school board races could help our slate of candidates at every level.”
One candidate is Sonja Shaw, who is running for a seat on the Chino Valley School Board in the Inland Empire.
Shaw, a parent of an eighth grader and a 10th grader, used to volunteer in the classroom, but says that during the pandemic, the school board became less accessible and less transparent about its decision-making. “When they closed down, parents were exited out of the school system,” she said.
Then the GOP provided a level of guidance on running a campaign that Shaw otherwise wouldn’t have had: “We were treading water, without knowing where we’re going,” she said.
These local races are hardly low-stakes: School board members around the state will be at the forefront of determining how federal funding is spent and addressing labor shortages, teacher pay and inequities in education exacerbated by the pandemic.
“I’m just trying — and the party is trying — to get the word out: There’s a whole lot of stuff going on in your backyard,” Steel said in an interview. “Don’t worry about the Ukraine, don’t worry about D.C. You can do something socially useful, and start showing up to your school board meetings.”
Will the strategy work? Some political consultants think it could be a smart way to go.
“It’s the one instance where the David really can defeat the Goliath — when David continues to be so arrogant,” said Sean Walsh, a GOP strategist.
But Rusty Hicks, chairperson of the California Democratic Party, said he sees some within the Republican Party using “this really challenging moment in our history” to further divide the state for political gain.
“Ultimately I think parents want the best education for their kids,” he told CalMatters. “And is banning books and punishing teachers and those kinds of activities – is that top of mind for parents? No, I don’t believe so.”
‘A logical outgrowth’
In California’s 2022 election, the big action on education isn’t in the statewide race for the superintendent of public instruction. That’s a departure from the last midterm election in 2018, when it was one of the state’s most hotly contested races.
With the help of teachers’ unions, Tony Thurmond narrowly defeated school choice advocate Marshall Tuck. The two — both Democrats in the nonpartisan race — spent $60 million combined. This year, there has been little challenge to Thurmond, who won 46% of the vote in the June 7 primary, just shy of the majority he needed to win outright without going to November.
His challenger on Nov. 8, Republican Lance Christensen, earned a top-two spot with only 12% of the vote. He has raised only about $55,000 so far, compared to nearly $1.7 million for Thurmond, who is also boosted by $2.3 million in independent expenditures on his behalf.
The GOP’s lack of attention on the superintendent race is a reflection of the party’s record statewide and the daunting odds of unseating a Democratic-backed incumbent, given the 2 to 1 Democratic advantage in voter registration.
Instead, Republicans have “become a party that focuses on presidential politics and local campaigns,” said Dan Schnur, a politics professor at UC Berkeley, USC and Pepperdine.
The focus on school board races, he said, “is a logical outgrowth of that strategy.”
Party officials, consultants and candidates of both parties say school choice is not at the forefront of the election this year for a number of reasons, including the pandemic, the shift of the issue to the local level, and the passage of Assembly Bill 1505 in 2019, which changed how publicly funded charter schools operate in California.
This year, the GOP is seeking to capitalize on the increased political engagement of parents — which started with COVID policies, but has carried over to national issues such as “critical race theory” and sex education.
“I think there’s a real demand that this power structure is challenged and overturned, and that’s what we’re seeing right now,” Steel said. “We don’t lead it. We don’t own it. But if we can help inspire people, particularly newcomers…”
The state party says it doesn’t give directly to school board candidates, but said its training provides non-monetary support. The April workshop and virtual event in July had at least 100 attendees each. The party has also conducted one-on-one sessions with prospective candidates.
Similar to its California Trailblazers program, which focuses on running for legislative seats, participants received a binder of information that includes not just deadlines and required forms, but also vendor options, website design tools and tips on how to make the most of campaign funds.
There’s also a website dedicated to the cause, plus emails sent out weekly from a rotation of Republican leaders: Steel, party Chairperson Jessica Millan Patterson, U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel, gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Brian Dahle, Christensen and Republican National Committee member Harmeet Dhillon.
During the party’s July event, speakers didn’t dictate specific talking points. Instead, they encouraged participants to focus on the issues important to their community.
For Kelly Felton, a first-time candidate running for a Tustin Unified School District seat in Orange County, that issue was the “political narratives” being taught to her kids (one in 7th grade, and one who is in 10th), including critical race theory, sex education and the use of gender pronouns.
In June 2021, she began attending Tustin Unified school board meetings, where she said she joined many other angry parents. Feeling shut out, Felton decided to enter politics, and took part in the state GOP July training session, which she said taught her “the practicality of running.”
“It did inspire me to think that I can do it,” she said.
One point emphasized in the training sessions: It usually doesn’t cost a lot to run for school board.
The cost varies depending on the district size, according to Mari Barke, a member of the Orange County Board of Education and director of the California Policy Center’s project to recruit and train local elected officials.
Barke espouses the low-cost “walk to win” strategy by going door-to-door, but acknowledges that’s not always possible in large districts, rural areas or in gated communities. That’s where mailers come in handy, and they can cost anywhere from $10,000 in a smaller district to $40,000 in a large one.
For the GOP, that’s a more cost-effective way to win seats. The state party has said it wants to focus its limited resources on congressional races, rather than statewide legislative races.
Fueled by parents’ anger over pandemic school shutdowns, a record 50 school board members in California were the targets of recalls in 2021, according to EdSource. And three San Francisco school board members were recalled in February.
But according to Steel, running for school board in regular elections is a better use of time for candidates than recalls — which can be powerful at times, but are often short-sighted. “I like to say run or recruit. Don’t bitch to me anymore,” he said.
Hicks, the California Democratic Party leader, said the Republican party’s focus on local races is not surprising, given that the Democratic Party has largely targeted state and federal races for the last two decades.
“As a result, Republicans have been able to maintain some level of relevance on the local level,” he said.
Is Hicks worried?
“No, because at the end of the day while Republicans in California are trying to throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks — to keep people angry and to frankly, in my view, destroy a traditional free public education in California — Democrats have been focused on the most important things.”
That includes smaller class sizes and ensuring students have pathways to college and careers, Hicks said.
Schnur said that while education is an issue that Democrats believe belongs to them, the pandemic concerns could help the GOP.
“It’s more than likely that Republicans can reinforce their strengths in their regions of core support,” he said. “But it’s an open question whether they can expand beyond that base.”
Counter-messaging by Democrats
While the state Democratic Party doesn’t have a specific strategy focused on school boards, it is operating the California version of the Democrats’ national strategy called “Contest Every Race,” recruiting candidates to run for city council, school board and other local seats, with a focus on rural areas.
Hicks said the party looks to its county chapters to take the lead on local races. In Placer County, for example, the local Democratic Party is hosting phone bank events every Saturday.
In Contra Costa County, the local party responded to concerns from school board members who reported being harassed and threatened. It passed two resolutions, one supporting the pandemic measures taken by school board members and calling out “coordinated efforts by a ‘network of conservative groups with ties to major Republican donors and party-aligned think tanks’ to engage in culture war fights designed to intimidate school board members so they can be replaced by radical conservatives.”
A second resolution passed in November 2021 backed the district’s ethnic studies curriculum and criticized the effort to mislead parents into confusing critical race theory with ethnic studies.
To counter some of the anti-union messaging from GOP-recruited candidates, the California Teachers Association has spoken out in support of pro-union candidates, many of whom happen to be Democrats.
Hicks said that while there’s no formal partnership between the Democratic Party and the CTA, it makes sense that they’re often allied. “I think the Democratic Party is the party of working people,” he said. “I think that means not just workers on the job, but also ensuring that workers on the job get their kids a quality education.”
Lisa Gardiner, spokesperson for the 310,000-member California Teachers Association, said the union’s local chapters do endorse school board candidates, but not along partisan lines. She also disputed that teachers’ unions have too much influence over school boards, saying that “the real power resides in parents, educators, students and communities working together.”
“November’s school board elections are a critical opportunity for all of us to stand together to support racially and socially equitable schools, and the public education our students need to succeed,” she said in a statement.
Prospects for success
The state GOP isn’t alone in recruiting or training school board candidates who oppose critical race theory and vaccine mandates and take issue with school unions. Other organizations involved include Let Them Breathe, a group that advocates for more parental say, including against mask mandates; the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation; and churches, though as nonprofits, they’re not permitted to do more than provide information.
Some candidates who took part in the GOP sessions said they’ve taken part in training by other groups as well.
Morgan Polikoff, an associate professor at USC’s Rossier School of Education, said while there are legitimate concerns about how school boards handled the pandemic, partisan influence can sometimes turn toxic — and isn’t politically beneficial, either.
“What I would hope is that these efforts actually engage seriously with issues that matter to voters … and not on sort of manufactured stuff about transgender athletes, or pick a topic, that these culture wars that conservative candidates in other places are running on,” Polikoff said.
How likely are candidates to succeed?
Polikoff said that depends on how much candidates can stay on message with issues that matter to parents and voters. “In my view, the reason why the Republican Party has really struggled in California is the candidates are too extreme for where the majority of the state is,” he said.
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HOBART — It was Noah Ehrlich’s first start as a freshman quarterback. Hobart was hosting Chesterton in the 2021 season opener.
The Brickies were trying to overcome a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Ehrlich led his team down the field for one score but ran out of time as Hobart lost 20-14. He was dejected after the final horn, squatting on the turf with his head down.
Even as a ninth grader in his first-ever varsity game, he expected to be able to lead the comeback.
“Growing up, it was competitive with my brothers. It was just 'compete, compete' all the time. They just taught me how to deal with losses but also how to win, that’s your main goal,” Ehrlich said. “I’m going to go for that extra yard. I’m going to go for that first down. I’m going to do whatever it takes for me and my team to win.”
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The Hobart team Ehrlich will lead this season is young. The Brickies senior class is only 15 players deep. Coach Craig Osika believes it’s the smallest class during his five years at the helm.
Ehrlich is ready to step up, even as an underclassman. At last week’s scrimmage with Morton, he was clapping his team up between plays, encouraging his offensive line and chatting up other Brickies on the sidelines.
“I was shaking reading the play card at first against Chesterton (last year). Now I’m prepared. I know what I need to do,” Ehrlich said. “I’ll go out there, lead my team and dominate. That’s the goal.”
That’s just who Ehrlich is.
He’s a talented signal caller with a good arm, great mechanics and ability. But he also tries to do what he can to make those around him better.
Osika said his quarterback has shown poise and a level head. He’s got a knack for keeping his emotions in check.
“Growing up, it was hard for me to not just naturally lead,” Ehrlich said. “I was raised as a leader. I was born to pick guys up and clap them on, cheer them on, say, ‘Get them on the next play.' I can get on them if they need it. This year, compared to last year, I’m picking up a lot more responsibility with that in the offense and really the whole team.”
Ehrlich is starting to get noticed, too. He attended and played well at some camps this summer. College coaches are keeping an eye on him.
That’s something Osika is familiar with, having played at Indiana before a cup of coffee in the NFL.
“He’s been very level with that. He’s keeping an even keel. He’s focused on the season, on what he needs to focus on,” Osika said. “That’s hard to do, especially for someone as young as him. He’s handling it with grace.”
Hobart installed a new offense over the summer. The details are kept in-house at the moment but Ehrlich is confident.
“The biggest thing in the summer was just learning it and building on it,” he said. “Last year’s offense, we carried over a few things but I think this year we’ll pick it up.”
Osika said Ehrlich’s development is right on schedule. He still makes some mistakes but he came to Hobart already looking like an upperclassman. The aim this year is to take it to another level.
“Last year, people that didn’t know who he was probably wouldn’t say that’s a freshman quarterback running around and throwing the ball like he was,” Osika said. “He’s still got a lot to learn but he’s mature beyond his years.” | https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/football/hobart-sophomore-noah-ehrlich-looks-to-take-game-to-another-level/article_c49c9476-e09e-59f0-80f1-3749f2f59d64.html | 2022-08-17T16:07:27Z | https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/football/hobart-sophomore-noah-ehrlich-looks-to-take-game-to-another-level/article_c49c9476-e09e-59f0-80f1-3749f2f59d64.html | false |
Baseball field named after Jose Ramirez will be new home to Lincoln-West School’s teams
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Jose Ramirez was in attendance on Wednesday as city and community leaders announced a new project for Clark Field.
The new turf playing area, which will be installed near the corner of West 11th Street and Clark Avenue, will be named “Jose Ramirez Field” after the Cleveland Guardians’ third baseman.
According to officials, the baseball and softball teams from Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Lincoln-West School will play their home games at Jose Ramirez Field when it is complete.
The new plans are part of the Fields for the Future project, which focuses on improving field conditions for youth baseball and softball players throughout Cleveland.
Additionally, the Davey Tree Expert Company said they will plant new greenery at the field under the Swing for the Trees program.
This is the third field renovated under the Fields for the Future program. The other two were named after C.C. Sabathia and Jim Thome.
Copyright 2022 WOIO. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/08/17/jose-ramirez-community-leaders-reveal-new-plans-clevelands-clark-field/ | 2022-08-17T16:09:40Z | https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/08/17/jose-ramirez-community-leaders-reveal-new-plans-clevelands-clark-field/ | false |
Agreement expands Agency Revolution's website capabilities and cements their position as the premier end-to-end marketing solution for insurance agencies and agents
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Agency Revolution, the leading provider of digital marketing solutions for the insurance industry, today announced its acquisition of Forge3, the highest-rated, fastest-growing insurance agency website platform.
"Forge3 has a tremendous reputation in the industry with a 9.9 out of 10 post-launch client rating and five stars on Google," said Scott White, CEO of Agency Revolution. "They've pioneered the use of interactive website designs to provide insurance agencies with the tools to get found, close business, and deliver a seamless client experience. Forge3's products and team will remain intact as we combine what they are loved for, high converting insurance websites, with the power of Agency Revolution's robust marketing automation and workflow capabilities. The result of this partnership is a one-stop solution that meets all the marketing needs for insurance agents."
With this agreement, Agency Revolution will combine its best-in-class marketing automation platform, Fuse™, with Forge3's innovative ActiveAgency website platform creating an unparalleled marketing system for the insurance industry. Agency Revolution, known as the pioneer in marketing automation for insurance agents in both personal and commercial lines of business, enables personalized, multi-touch, cross-channel communications at pivotal points in the customer journey.
"We're incredibly proud of the website platform we've built and the reputation we've established over many years working with well over 1,200 independent insurance agencies," said Jeff Teschke, founder and CEO of Forge3. "Looking forward, we're excited to combine our proven, best-in-class website platform with Agency Revolution's leading marketing, content, and communication solution. It's a powerful combination unlike anything else in the industry."
For more information on this news and to register for a webinar with the Agency Revolution leadership team discussing how this exciting news affects existing Forge3 and Agency Revolution clients, click here.
Agency Revolution, an FMG company, has served the insurance industry for more than 25 years with a marketing platform to help independent insurance agents and brokers automate their communications, build deeper, more meaningful client relationships, and grow their agencies and brokerages. From professionally designed websites backed by an award-winning content library to a collection of marketing, communication, and relationship-building tools, Agency Revolution empowers the modern insurance agency with the services and solutions to advance how they do business and grow. Learn more.
Founded in 2004, Forge3's ActiveAgency website platform is now used by well over 1,200 independent insurance agencies across the country. Forge3 has pioneered the industry's most innovative and powerful sales tools, including Clickable Coverage, Hello Producer, Power Panels, and more, while also earning an incredible reputation within the industry. They are known for their human-powered, people-first approach combined with innovative technology and solutions. ActiveAgency is the highest-rated, fastest-growing insurance agency website platform in the industry, focused on enabling agencies to look amazing, get found, sell more, and service better.
Agency Revolution Press Contacts
Katherine Verducci
1903 PR
kverducci@1903pr.com
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SOURCE Agency Revolution | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/agency-revolution-acquires-forge3-become-undisputed-leader-marketing-solutions-insurance-industry/ | 2022-08-17T16:11:33Z | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/agency-revolution-acquires-forge3-become-undisputed-leader-marketing-solutions-insurance-industry/ | true |
Protests against CAA resume in Assam as AASU hits the streets
In Guwahati, the protests were held outside the ‘Swahid Bhawan’, the All Assam Students’ Union headquarters.
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After a gap of over two years, protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) resumed across Assam on Monday.
Protests by members of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), a part of the North East Students' Organisation (NESO), was held in all the district headquarters of the State amid heavy security arrangements.
In Guwahati, the protests were held outside the 'Swahid Bhawan', the AASU headquarters.
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NESO advisor Samujjal Bhattacharjee told reporters that the people of Assam can never accept the CAA and it has to be repealed.
"We had to suspend our protests two years ago due to the prevailing pandemic but have now decided to renew it so that the CAA is not implemented," he said.
"The anger against this unjust law, however, has been burning in the hearts of the Assamese people and our protests against it will continue till it is repealed," he added.
The students' organisation also demanded an end to the problem of radicalisation, a permanent solution to the foreigners' issue and the complete removal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from the entire Northeast.
It also demanded constitutional safeguards for the indigenous population of Tripura, resolving the problem of Chakma-Hajong refugees in Arunachal Pradesh and a separate recruitment board for the youths of the Northeast.
The protests were also held in all the Northeastern states.
The contentious CAA seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis entering India on or before December 31, 2014 from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after five years of residence here.
Assam witnessed widespread anti-CAA agitation led by different organisations in late 2019 and early 2020, leading to the deaths of five people.
ADVERTISEMENT | https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/protests-against-caa-resume-in-assam-as-aasu-hits-the-streets/article65779764.ece/amp/ | 2022-08-17T16:12:01Z | https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/protests-against-caa-resume-in-assam-as-aasu-hits-the-streets/article65779764.ece/amp/ | true |
LENEXA, Kan., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- City Wide Facility Solutions announced today it has made the 41st annual Inc. 5000 list for the fifth consecutive year. City Wide boasts a 95% three-year revenue growth rate.
"After more than 25 years of leading City Wide, I'm grateful my team and I can continue to celebrate new achievements. These past 12 months have been our biggest — we signed 16 new locations and plan to open at least five more locations by year end. This recognition from Inc. is the icing on the cake for us," said Jeff Oddo, CEO and owner of the Kansas City-based City Wide Facility Solutions. "I am confident in our ability to grow by over $100 million a year and reach our goal of becoming a billion dollar brand by the end of 2026. Being nationally ranked on a list like Inc. 5000 proves we're on the right track."
Due to City Wide's limited number of large, exclusive territories, its selection process is very discerning. In 2021 the company raised its average unit volume to $6.7 million – an increase of $1.2 million over 2020 – while the top quartile enjoyed an average annual revenue of $15.1 million. City Wide is on track to exceed $550 million in systemwide revenue in 2022.
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144 percent. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine, which will be available on August 23.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work and rising to the challenges of today."
City Wide Facility Solutions, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, has consistently evolved and adapted to become "The First Choice" for its clients, employees, franchise owners, independent contractors and vendors. Managing more than 20 services for its clients, City Wide offers one point of contact and provides professional communication and project management through every stage of the experience. This allows for clients to focus on running their business while uplifting smaller, independent and locally owned companies to execute services.
Entrepreneurially-spirited individuals interested in owning a City Wide franchise should have a business-to-business background focused on sales, management and operations experience as well as have a desire to be a part of a mission driven organization that prioritizes giving back to the community and the franchise system. For information on U.S./Canadian franchise opportunities, please visit www.citywidefranchise.com.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.
About City Wide Facility Solutions
City Wide Facility Solutions is the leading management company in the building maintenance industry, managing janitorial services, commercial cleaning, disinfecting, and more than 20 additional facility solutions for commercial clients. Founded in 1961 in Kansas City, MO, City Wide began franchising in 2001 and has expanded to more than 80 territories in the U.S. and Canada. By working with independent contractors, City Wide can assist its clients with any facility-related service, from floor care and pressure washing to parking lot services and tenant improvement. By simplifying facility matters that are a key focus of building owners, operators, and management companies, City Wide eases the time, stress, and resources typically required to oversee an entire facility. City Wide is proud to do more than just manage facility solutions and services for commercial facilities – it prides itself on being a partner that helps clients save time and solve problems. Its mission is to create a Ripple Effect by positively impacting the people and communities it serves.
For more information about City Wide Facility Solutions or to find a location near you, please visit www.gocitywide.com/. For information about available franchise opportunities, visit www.citywidefranchise.com/.
More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000
Methodology
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine's September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
About Inc.
The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, visit http://conference.inc.com/.
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SOURCE City Wide Facility Solutions | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/city-wide-facility-solutions-keeps-momentum-with-ranking-inc-5000-list/ | 2022-08-17T16:12:36Z | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/city-wide-facility-solutions-keeps-momentum-with-ranking-inc-5000-list/ | true |
Brand's Iconic Christmas Experience Makes its Long-Awaited Return Alongside New Original Shows and Beloved Seasonal Programming this Festive Season
BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaylord Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, is thrilled to announce the long-awaited return of ICE!, the brand's legendary Christmas marquee experience, that will once again anchor Christmas at all five Gaylord Hotels this upcoming festive season. After a two-year hiatus, ICE! will once again bring to life its mammoth holiday-themed, immersive ice displays at Gaylord Opryland in Tennessee, Gaylord Texan in Texas, Gaylord Palms in Florida, Gaylord Rockies in Colorado, and Gaylord National in Maryland. As part of the brand's beloved Christmas at Gaylord Hotels celebration, this signature experience will also be joined by an exciting and original live entertainment experience, CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas, at select resorts, as well as the brand's abundance of festive holiday programming.
ICE! Returns to Gaylord Hotels
A longtime tradition first presented more than two decades ago, Gaylord Hotels' signature, larger-than-life ice installations will take shape at each resort this festive season. This one-of-a-kind holiday showcase will be created from more than 33,500 massive blocks of ice weighing over 10 million pounds – or 5,000 tons – across the five resorts. Kept at a chilly 9 degrees, each ICE! attraction will bring beloved scenes and characters from classic Christmas films to life with magnificent sculptures and slides. Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin to soaring scenes more than 30 feet tall. Over six weeks, 40 specialized ice artisans, using skills passed down from generation to generation and following a 300-page design book, will create the magnificent spectacle.
Once again, guests will be able to step into nearly 20,000-square-foot, 3D worlds of their favorite holiday films, with each resort presenting a different theme to discover. This year's experiences will offer:
- ICE! Featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Gaylord Opryland – Guests will enjoy favorite scenes from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, brought to life in this colorful winter wonderland.
- ICE! Featuring The Polar Express™ at Gaylord Texan – Families are invited to take a journey of imagination through this heartwarming story as a young child embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole while learning about friendship, bravery, and the true spirit of Christmas.
- ICE! Featuring "How The Grinch Stole Christmas!™" at Gaylord Palms – Showcasing the 1957 Dr. Seuss classic, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, families are invited to experience iconic scenes such as the Grinch lurking through the chimneys of the Who-ville homes, the Grinch's heart growing three sizes after realizing Christmas means a little bit more and sitting down at the Whos' feast where the Grinch carves the roast beast.
- ICE! Featuring "A Charlie Brown Christmas" at Gaylord Rockies – Guests will follow along with the lovable Charlie Brown as he rediscovers the meaning of Christmas as the cherished story unfolds.
- ICE! Featuring A Christmas Story™ at Gaylord National – Fans of this humorous holiday classic will rejoice in experiencing their favorite characters and scenes in this magical ice showcase.
Each theme is brought to life in vivid, colorful fashion with the help of an expert chemist who prepares a proprietary formula of special coloring used in the ice sculptures, which keep them bright and festive all season long. At Gaylord Hotels, many of the same artisans who create the incredible ice displays at the world-renowned Harbin Ice Festival will carve 300-pound blocks of ice into the larger-than-life, whimsical scenes.
Original Production: CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas
A highlight the 2022 festive season, Gaylord Hotels presents an original production of CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, Gaylord Palms, and Gaylord National. This unique, Cirque-styled live show will feature dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility, and high-flying stunts. The Broadway-style spectacle tells the story of Noel, a child dismayed and distressed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Trying to recapture her lost love of the season, the child is visited by spirits who bring back the true meaning of the season in energetic, dreamlike chapters.
CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas will be presented as a 75-minute show at Gaylord Rockies, while Gaylord Palms and Gaylord National will offer a 35-minute show. An exciting lineup of additional signature live performances will also be showcased across the five resorts, with more details to be announced soon.
Gaylord Texan will also showcase a dedicated Cirque: Winter Wonderland performance. This action-packed fusion of theatre and cirque features high-flying stunts, acrobatic feats, jaw-dropping juggling, stunning contortion, and so much more.
Wintertime Activities for All Ages
Families and guests of Gaylord Hotels can look forward to the tradition of the beloved Christmas at Gaylord Hotels celebration, featuring an abundance of festive activities, events, holiday meals, attractions, and dazzling decorations throughout each of the expansive resorts. During the holidays, each of the five resorts and their expansive atriums transform into breathtaking winter wonderland environments with millions of lights, elaborately themed Christmas trees, thousands of ornaments, and miles of garland.
Guests can look forward to the brand's notable abundance of festive holiday programming from tried-and-true favorites including snow tubing, ice skating, caroling, gingerbread decorating, and adventurous scavenger hunts, to captivating atrium light shows, character dining, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and so much more. Highlights will include the Christmas Tree Trail at Gaylord Palms to discover and take an "elfie" with eight elaborately decorated holiday trees throughout the atrium and Carriage Rides at Gaylord Opryland, featuring a private horse-drawn ride through the resort's decorations and lights. Additional experiences will include the Christmas Carousel at Gaylord Texan, a timeless, family-friendly ride offering endless spins and fun; a festive Campfire & S'mores experience at Gaylord Rockies; and live performances including The Greatest Story Stage Show at Gaylord National and Gaylord Palms, a musical stage show and multicultural celebration of six international storytellers highlighting the birth of Jesus Christ.
Tickets and Packages
Tickets for ICE! and Christmas at Gaylord Hotels are available now and can be purchased at www.ChristmasatGaylordHotels.com. Advance online reservations are required for all ticketed events. Families can also take advantage of special packages that will include entrance to the ICE! experience and other fan-favorite holiday activities.
Christmas at Gaylord Hotels will be presented over the following dates:
- Gaylord Opryland: November 11, 2022 – January 1, 2023
- Gaylord Texan: November 11, 2022 – January 1, 2023
- Gaylord Palms: November 18, 2022 – January 1, 2023
- Gaylord Rockies: November 18, 2022 – January 1, 2023
- Gaylord National: November 25 – December 31, 2022
For a full lineup of Christmas at Gaylord Hotels programming at each resort as the festive season approaches, please visit www.ChristmasatGaylordHotels.com.
Gaylord Hotels participates in Marriott Bonvoy – the award-winning travel program from Marriott International – allowing members to earn and redeem points for their stay, and at other hotels and resorts across Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio of brands. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalization and a contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind.
About Gaylord Hotels
Gaylord Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, welcomes guests to more, with extraordinary environments, diverse dining options, full-service spas, pools, top-notch entertainment, shopping and more. Locations include Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee; Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida; Gaylord Texan on Lake Grapevine, Texas; Gaylord National on the Potomac in National Harbor, Maryland; and Gaylord Rockies in Aurora, CO.
A CHRISTMAS STORY and all related characters and elements © & ™ Turner Entertainment Co. (s22)
THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s22)
TM & © 2022 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All Rights Reserved.
© 2022 Peanuts Worldwide LLC
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and all related elements © & ™ under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved.
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SOURCE Marriott International, Inc. | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/gaylord-hotels-celebrates-triumphant-return-ice-unveils-new-holiday-experiences-festive-season/ | 2022-08-17T16:12:53Z | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/gaylord-hotels-celebrates-triumphant-return-ice-unveils-new-holiday-experiences-festive-season/ | true |
IKEA told to refund ₹20, ₹1,000 compensation to customer for charging carry bag
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IKEA was directed to refund ₹20 that was charged to a customer for a carry bag, and pay ₹1,000 as compensation and also deposit ₹5,000 in the account of the Consumer Legal Aid (CLA) account.
District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Ranga Reddy, was dealing with a complaint filed by Kevin Sukirthy. The opposite party was IKEA India Private Ltd.
The Commission noted that the complainant had bought goods worth ₹1,071 in January 2020 from the opposite party and at the time of billing, ₹20 was charged for a carry bag that bore the opposite party’s logo.
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IKEA denied that the complainant was not informed that the carry bag is chargeable and that it bears the company logo. Information is provided on signage as well as the company website.
Taking the evidence and arguments placed on record, the Commission stated, “The argument of the opposite party is that buying a carry bag is entirely optional and is a voluntary act by a consumer. The customer can bring their own carry bag.”
Unfair trade practice
The Commission also opined that charging for carry bags, especially those that bear their logo, amounts to unfair trade practice.
Failure to deposit ₹5,000 into the CLA’s account in 45 days will attract an interest rate of 24% per annum, the Commission stated.
ADVERTISEMENT | https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/ikea-told-to-refund-20-1000-compensation-to-customer-for-charging-carry-bag/article65779132.ece/amp/ | 2022-08-17T16:13:16Z | https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/ikea-told-to-refund-20-1000-compensation-to-customer-for-charging-carry-bag/article65779132.ece/amp/ | true |
ATLANTA (AP) — Rookie outfielder Michael Harris II, whose early-season promotion has bolstered the Atlanta Braves’ hopes for another championship run, has signed a $72 million, eight-year contract to remain with his hometown team.
The Braves announced the deal on Tuesday night.
The deal runs through the 2030 season and includes a $15 million team option for 2031 and a $20 million team option for 2032. Each option year is accompanied by a $5 million buyout. If both option years are activated, the total value of the contract would be $102 million over 10 years.
Harris, 21, has emerged as one of the National League’s top rookies as an offensive and defensive standout for the defending World Series champion Braves.
Harris is hitting .287 with 12 home runs, 13 stolen bases and 39 RBIs in 71 games after making his major league debut on May 28. He also has provided strong defense in center field.
Harris is the youngest player in the majors and leads all qualified rookies with an .825 OPS.
Harris joins third baseman Austin Riley, outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., first baseman Matt Olson and second baseman Ozzie Albies as Atlanta players whose long-term contracts include team options that carry through the 2027 season or longer.
Harris will earn $5 million in 2023 and 2024, $8 million in 2025 and 2026, $9 million in 2027, $10 million in 2028 and 2029 and $12 million in 2030.
Harris was born in DeKalb County, Georgia, and was drafted by the Braves out of Stockbridge High School, south of Atlanta.
He was named National League Rookie of the Month for June.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/braves-sign-rookie-of-harris-to-72-million-8-year-contract/ | 2022-08-17T16:13:40Z | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/braves-sign-rookie-of-harris-to-72-million-8-year-contract/ | true |
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Why some people are poor and others are prosperous is the theme of a new book, Objective Prosperity (Rothstein Publishing, August 2022), by Professors Roger Blackwell and Roger Bailey. The book was published August 15 by Rothstein Publishing.
Their book explains how behavioral economics contributes to prosperity along with national economic growth, and take a "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" approach to how behavioral economics differs from traditional economics.
Objective Prosperity describes how people with diverse backgrounds, skillsets and ethnicities move from poor to prosperous. It has examples of people not born wealthy achieving success including Dave Thomas, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos.
Is inequality getting better or worse? Examining Thomas Piketty, the authors believe his theories are based on incorrect data leading to policies that may harm rather than help low and middle-income consumers. The authors conclude values inherited from parents are more important than inherited capital illustrated by Walmart's Doug McMillon, Tom Brady and Serena Williams.
Blackwell, the author of 40 previous books, has served on the boards of directors for 14 publicly traded companies, including Applied Industrial Technologies and Abercrombie.
The book is endorsed by business leaders, including:
"What factors influence the chances for individual success and national prosperity? The authors cite the thoughts of many profound thinkers on how to live a rewarding life."
-Philip Kotler, Distinguished Professor of International Marketing, emeritus, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
"This book is a must read for any entrepreneur."
-Rhett C. Ricart, 2020 Chairman National Automobile Dealers Association
Roger Blackwell, Ph.D., retired as professor at The Ohio State University, and is co-author of Consumer Behavior, a textbook translated into multiple languages. Roger Bailey, Clinical Assistant Professor at Ohio State, received a Ph.D. in Economics from Vanderbilt University.
For more information:
Home - Roger Blackwell (rogerblackwellbusiness.com)
Objective Prosperity: How Behavioral Economics Can Improve Outcomes for You, Your Business, and Your Nation - Rothstein Publishing
Objective Prosperity: How Behavioral Economics Can Improve Outcomes for You, Your Business, and Your Nation by Roger Blackwell and Roger Bailey
Rothstein Publishing
270 pages
ISBN print: 978-1-044480-77-6 EPUB: 978-1-044480-78-3
$31.99 (Paperback); $28.99 (Kindle)
Publication date: August 15, 2022
PR Contact:
Andrew Blum, AJB Communications
917-783-1680, ajbcomms@gmail.com
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SOURCE Rothstein Publishing | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/new-book-by-ohio-professors-objective-prosperity-how-behavioral-economics-can-improve-outcomes-you-your-business-your-nation/ | 2022-08-17T16:14:42Z | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/new-book-by-ohio-professors-objective-prosperity-how-behavioral-economics-can-improve-outcomes-you-your-business-your-nation/ | false |
ASHBURN, Va. — If you see a large emergency response outside the Ashburn Metro Station on Wednesday, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) says there is no reason to panic.
Metro is conducting an emergency exercise in preparation for the opening of the Silver Line extension.
More than 100 fire and emergency personnel will converge on the new Ashburn Station on the Silver Line extension as part of a full-scale emergency drill Wednesday, Aug. 17. Metro is conducting the exercise in coordination with Fairfax County, Loudoun County and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) as part of preparations for the opening of the Silver Line Extension expected later this fall.
The training exercise begins at 8 a.m. and runs through noon to help familiarize first responders with Metro’s trains and rail system, officials said in a press release. During the exercise Metro will simulate a real-life emergency with a train stranded outside the Ashburn Station.
"People in the area may see a large emergency response at the station, including several fire trucks and ambulances; however, this is just an exercise," Metro said in a press statement.
As part of the exercise, first responders will focus on their emergency response, communication, command structure, station familiarization, track and railcar access and evacuation procedures. Metro’s bus, rail, police and safety staff will also take part in the exercise.
The emergency drill comes less than a month after Randy Clarke took over at Metro's new General Manager and CEO, and about two weeks after the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, an independent regulatory agency created by Congress to regulate the system safety, released a report outlining major safety issues within Metro control rooms, which include the equipment that keeps trains on schedule and prevents collisions.
According to the report, the control room inspected at Friendship Heights had "water leaks, some of which were being caught by buckets place by Metrorail personnel..." located bear "vital automatic train controls (ATC) equipment."
They also found "a layer of dust and debris, which could interfere with the equipment's safe operation."
The regulatory agency had first flagged the issues back in March but found, although Metrorail had stated 'it would take action' as of a follow-up in July and August they had failed to make progress. | https://www.wusa9.com/article/traffic/mission-metro/metro-emergency-drill-ashburn-station/65-f1c1b06d-ff54-4830-a0ae-35d60a79b7f0 | 2022-08-17T16:14:52Z | https://www.wusa9.com/article/traffic/mission-metro/metro-emergency-drill-ashburn-station/65-f1c1b06d-ff54-4830-a0ae-35d60a79b7f0 | false |
WASHINGTON (AP) — As part of the rollout of a huge new climate, tax and healthcare law, the U.S. government is moving forward with its plan to award new tax credits to electric vehicle purchasers.
Several new websites launched Tuesday to help people identify which vehicles qualify for the credits. Based on data submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 31 new 2022 and 2023 models qualify for the tax credit. For starters, they must be made in North America to be eligible.
President Joe Biden signed Democrats’ landmark climate change and health care bill into law on Tuesday. It includes a tax credit of up to $7,500 that could be used to defray the cost of purchasing an electric vehicle.
Models included are the 2022 Ford F Series electric pickup, BMW X5, Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt, Jeep Wrangler plug-in hybrid, and all four Tesla models.
But some models may exceed sticker-price limits in the complex law, and it remains to be seen whether automakers will be able to find minerals or manufacture batteries that can qualify for the credits.
Consumers can go to https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/decoder/ and key in the 17-digit vehicle identification number of the EV they want to buy to make sure it’s made in the U.S., Canada or Mexico. The Treasury Department also released a frequently asked questions page on the new law’s provisions.
As of Tuesday, tax credits will no longer be available for vehicles assembled outside of the U.S., Canada or Mexico. But people who signed purchase contracts for EVs before Tuesday could still get the credits. The remaining electric vehicle provisions of the law are effective Jan. 1.
A Treasury official told reporters on a call Tuesday that the plan puts the U.S. 2030 climate goals within reach and will help ensure Americans can afford to buy an electric car.
Passage of the measure set off a scramble by automakers to speed up efforts to find North American-made batteries and battery minerals from the U.S., Canada or Mexico to make sure EVs are eligible for the credit.
While automakers have been announcing U.S. battery factories and trying to secure domestic mineral supplies, a large industry trade association has warned that the vast majority of EVs now on sale in the U.S. wouldn’t qualify for the full credit under the Inflation Reduction Act.
“We are working overtime to localize our supply chains and ramp up production,” Chris Smith, chief government affairs officer at Ford, said in a statement.
The credits are important because no automaker wants to be in a position of seeing a competitor sell vehicles at a $7,500 price advantage, especially since the credits largely target middle-class buyers.
“The No. 1 obstacle to EV adoption is cost,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst with Cox Automotive. “So a $7,500 difference is significant on one vehicle compared to another for the part of the market that this is aimed at.”
Under the law, an electric vehicle must contain a battery built in North America with minerals mined or recycled on the continent to be eligible for the credit.
And those rules become more stringent over time — to the point where, in a few years, it’s possible that no EVs would qualify for the tax credit, said the Alliance of Automotive Innovation, a key industry trade group. As of now, the alliance estimates that about 50 of the 72 electric, hydrogen or plug-in hybrid models that are sold in the United States wouldn’t meet the requirements.
Under the $740 billion economic package that Biden signed into law, the tax credits would take effect next year. For an EV buyer to qualify for the full credit, 40% of the metals used in a vehicle’s battery must come from North America. By 2027, that required threshold would reach 80%.
If the metals requirement isn’t met, the automaker and its buyers would be eligible for half the tax credit, $3,750.
A separate rule would require that half the batteries’ value must be manufactured or assembled in the North America. If not, the rest of the tax credit would be lost. Those requirements also grow stricter each year, eventually reaching 100% in 2029. Still another rule would require that the EV itself be manufactured in North America, thereby excluding from the tax credit any vehicles made overseas.
The idea behind the requirement is to incentivize domestic manufacturing and mining, build a robust battery supply chain in North America and lessen the industry’s dependence on overseas supply chains that could be subject to disruptions.
But production of lithium and other minerals that are used to produce EV batteries is now dominated by China. And the world’s leading producer of cobalt, another component of the EV batteries, is the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The tax credit would be available only to couples with incomes of $300,000 or less or single people with income of $150,000 or less. And any trucks or SUVs with sticker prices above $80,000 or cars above $55,000 wouldn’t be eligible, knocking many EVs out of the credits.
There’s also a new $4,000 credit for buyers of used EVs, a provision that could help modest-income households go electric.
The Treasury Department, which is administering the tax credits, said more guidance will be coming, and it was not in a position to say what vehicles will qualify for credits after all the law’s provisions are considered. | https://www.yourbasin.com/technology/ap-technology/which-evs-qualify-for-new-us-tax-credit-websites-offer-help/ | 2022-08-17T16:15:37Z | https://www.yourbasin.com/technology/ap-technology/which-evs-qualify-for-new-us-tax-credit-websites-offer-help/ | true |
BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TransMedia Group to Launch PR campaign for song recorded by singer/musician Roger Homefield and lyricist/videographer Sandy Koplowitz "That's Why We Need To Bring Back Trump!" https://youtu.be/oGqnlohevRc
TransMedia said PR campaign will show how it came about when Sandy brought Roger his lyrics for a pro-Trump parody, even though Roger hadn't sung or performed in 15 years and had become a political activist hosting his own "The Joe Citizen Show."
Roger modified the tempo and keys of Rogers and Hart's "The Lady is a Tramp" sung by Frank Sinatra for Sandy's new version for Roger to belt out criticism of Democrats and praise for Trump's accomplishments.
"Our program will present the recording as a musical weapon aimed at Trump's adversaries and deploring Biden's mismanaging America," said TransMedia CEO Tom Madden.
"Lawyers took care of the rights to the song and images in the video recording in which Roger bangs out Sandy's lyrics critical of government policies, persecutions, and the unjustified raid on Trump's home."
TransMedia said publicity will encompass the pair's passion for Trump's vision for America, as in Roger's words "We couldn't stomach the persecution of the president anymore, so we came out with an American standard song with a powerful message."
TransMedia to feature the song at political rallies and conventions so it winds up atop the charts. "Our publicity will show how Roger did an amazing job fitting his vocals into the song with the band, with Sandy's lyrics hitting the hot spots to help voters make the right decisions before America slips away for good, if Biden wins another term," said Madden.
TransMedia intends to show how creating this video was a labor of love meant to uplift Trump who they feel is under unrelenting siege.
Homefield was lead jazz trombonist with the Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, and Maynard Ferguson big bands and was "Joe Citizen" on his pro-American radio show, composer for his orchestra, and arranged music for his musical variety act.
Koplowitz and Homefield met playing senior softball. A long-time member of the American Mensa Society, Sandy was a computer programmer for IBM and today he and Gabi, his opera-singing fiancée, perform singing gigs entertaining residents at assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
Media contact: Adrienne Mazzone 561-908-1683; amazzone@transmediagroup.com
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SOURCE TransMedia Group | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/transmedia-group-raise-media-volume-new-version-sinatras-hit-song-the-lady-is-tramp-retitled-thats-why-we-need-bring-back-trump/ | 2022-08-17T16:15:55Z | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/transmedia-group-raise-media-volume-new-version-sinatras-hit-song-the-lady-is-tramp-retitled-thats-why-we-need-bring-back-trump/ | false |
PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zendure, one of the fastest growing start-ups in the energy tech sector, is on a mission to ensure everyone has access to reliable, affordable energy, and they've brought a new weapon ally into the fight: semi-solid state battery technology.
Semi-solid state batteries boast a higher energy density and greater damage resistance than lithium-ion phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, providing homes and businesses with more energy storage and enhanced product safety.
"Recent natural disasters, grid failures, and the rising cost of energy are becoming a critical concern for communities around the world. When people and communities are without power, even for a day, it's not just the comforts and conveniences of modern life that are lost, rather energy is about survival and connection. Zendure is offering a solution that delivers energy security and long-term cost savings," said Bryan Liu, CEO & Founder of Zendure.
Since the Industrial Revolution, the global annual temperature has increased in total by a little more than 1 degree Celsius according to NRDC, leading to a worsening global warming problem. This in turn contributes to heat waves and other adverse weather conditions and causes serious problems for people in vulnerable regions.
Recently, the U.S. Government passed a transformative bill that takes action on global warming and provides "the most spending to fight climate change by any one nation ever in a single push," according to the Associated Press.
Texas, whose population is growing rapidly, has struggled to meet the needs of the nearly 30 million people who already live there. Natural gas is a major source of energy for the state, and particularly during periods of high demand. Last year's winter storm left millions of Texans without heat and electricity, causing significant financial damage and a humanitarian crisis.
According to a natural gas analyst for S&P Global Platts Parker Fawcett, gathering lines freeze, wells grow extremely cold, and pumps lose power. As a result, gas and liquid fuel cannot reach the communities that need them, cutting off millions from access to medicine, medical care, and communication, and emergency services.
Zendure plans to tackle blackouts and other infrastructure failures with SuperBase V, the company's new portable, high-performance power station featuring semi-solid state batteries for the first time. SuperBase V is suited to a variety of applications–including household backup power, mobile living, and portable EV charging–and boasts several industry-leading features:
- The first system with semi-solid state batteries for enhanced capacity and safety
- 120V/240V dual voltage from one unit
- 6.4kWh to 64kWh expandable capacity
- Up to 6.6kW dual-recharge
- Up to 3,000W solar input
- Independent RV output from Satellite Expansion Batteries
- Support for public charging stations and Level 2 charging for electric vehicles
About Zendure
Zendure is one of the fastest growing Clean EnergyTech start-ups based in the technology hubs of Silicon Valley and the Greater Bay Area in China's Silicon Valley. Zendure's goal is to make energy accessible anywhere, anytime, and to democratize the latest energy technology to power on-grid and off-grid lifestyles alike in a clean and affordable way. To learn more visit Zendure.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Zendure USA Inc. | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/zendure-addresses-energy-insecurity-with-semi-solid-state-battery-technology/ | 2022-08-17T16:17:44Z | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/zendure-addresses-energy-insecurity-with-semi-solid-state-battery-technology/ | false |
Glazer family may consider selling stake in Manchester United - Bloomberg
Adds background
Aug 17 (Reuters) - The Glazer family would consider selling a minority stake in Manchester United MANU.N, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The family has held some preliminary discussions about the possibility of bringing in a new investor, but are not yet ready to cede control of the English soccer club, which could be valued at about 5 billion pounds, according to the report. (https://bloom.bg/3K882CM)
Manchester United did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Earlier, Elon Musk said in a tweet that he was going to buy the club - only to say a little later it was all part of "a long-running joke".
Manchester United was bought by the American Glazer family for 790 million pounds ($954.48 million) in 2005. Although it has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since 2012, the Glazers retain majority ownership.
United fans have been clamoring for a change of ownership at the club - the three-time winners of the European Cup, the most prestigious club competition in the global game - following its disappointing performance in recent years.
($1 = 0.8277 pounds)
(Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
((Eva.Mathews@thomsonreuters.com;))
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/glazer-family-may-consider-selling-stake-in-manchester-united-bloomberg-0 | 2022-08-17T16:19:12Z | https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/glazer-family-may-consider-selling-stake-in-manchester-united-bloomberg-0 | true |
BEIRUT (AP) — The stabbing of author Salman Rushdie has laid bare divisions in Lebanon's Shiite Muslim community, pitching a few denouncing the violence against fervent followers of the Iran-backed Shiite militant Hezbollah group who have praised the attack. One Rushdie defender received death threats.
The attack struck close to home among Lebanon's Shiites. The assailant, 24-year-old Hadi Matar, is a dual Lebanese-U.S. citizen, and his father lives in a village in Hezbollah-dominated southern Lebanon. Matar's mother has said she believes her son's visit to the village of Yaroun in 2018 turned him into a religious zealot.
The religious edict, or fatwa, urging Muslims to kill Rushdie was issued in 1989 by Iran's then-spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who accused the author of blasphemy for his portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad in the novel “The Satanic Verses.”
Iran, a close Hezbollah ally, has praised Friday’s attack but denied direct involvement. Hezbollah officials have been tight-lipped since the attack on the 75-year-old Rushdie as he was about to give a lecture in western New York. A Hezbollah official declined comment when contacted by The Associated Press.
Most Lebanese Shiites support Hezbollah and the more secular allied Amal movement of Parliament Speaker Nabih, which won all 27 seats allocated to the sect during this year’s parliamentary elections. Parliament and Cabinet seats are divided in Lebanon in accordance with religious affiliations.
Still, there is a vocal minority of Hezbollah critics among Shiites. Several were attacked and one was shot dead last year.
As the controversy swirled, an old video of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah resurfaced on social media. In it, Nasrallah said that “no one would have dared to attack Islam's Prophet Muhammad again” if Rushdie had been killed immediately after the fatwa.
Some Hezbollah critics have accused the group and its supporters of teaching their children to kill in the name of religion,
Matar’s mother, Silvana Fardos, told the local Al-Jadeed TV late Tuesday that her son had lived all his life in the United States until he visited Lebanon for the first and last time in 2018. That trip changed him forever, she said.
“After he returned from Lebanon he was a different human being ... I knew that he had a long depression and I was expecting one day to wake up and find out that he had committed suicide,” Fardos said, alleging that her son was mistreated by his father.
Asked if she asked herself whether she had raised a terrorist or an extremist, the mother said: “No. I raised an angel.”
Journalists have been prevented from entering Yaroun, and Matar's father has not spoken to the media.
Despite Hezbollah's official silence, the group’s supporters on social media are praising the attack.
Some released threats against prominent journalist Dima Sadek after she posted on her Twitter account a photo of Khomeini and Gen. Qassim Soleimani, a top Iranian general killed in a U.S. strike in 2020, describing the two as “satanic verses.”
Since then, death threats on social media and through messages on her cell phone haven’t stopped, with one man warning her, “I will rape you in public,” and another saying that “her blood should be shed.” She received a text message in which the sender told her where she lives.
Sadek said despite the public threats, she has not been contacted by the authorities with offers for protection.
“This is the first time I feel I am in danger,” Sadek, a harsh Hezbollah critic for years, told the AP. She alleged that the social media campaign against her is orchestrated by Nasrallah’s son, Jawad.
She said she is restricting her movements for the first time.
The Committee to Protect Journalists urged the Lebanese authorities to launch an investigation and protect Sadek.
Shiite journalist Mohamad Barakat, managing editor of the Asas Media news website, also came under attack after he wrote that by stabbing Rushdie, Matar “stabbed Shiites who live in Europe and America.”
In the other camp, Lebanese journalist Radwan Akil of the renowned local daily An-Nahar said in seemingly contradictory remarks that he condoned the fatwa against Rushdie, but not the killing of anyone, including writers.
"I am of course with political freedoms and freedom of expression ... but I’m not for criticizing the greatest man in history the Prophet Muhammad, and I also reject the criticism of Jesus Christ,” Akil said in a televised interview with Lebanese media.
An-Nahar issued a statement, headlined “adopting a call to murder contradicts our policies." It said that Akil’s views were his own. Two journalists who had worked for the paper and were outspoken critics of Hezbollah and the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, another Iran ally, were killed in car bombings in 2005.
The debate may eventually fizzle out because most Lebanese are preoccupied with the country's economic meltdown and lack of services. “They have lots of other concerns," said Hilal Khashan, political science professor at the American University of Beirut.
Lebanese political leaders have not commented on the Rushdie attack.
However, caretaker Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada denounced Rushdie's depiction of the prophet .
“Freedom of speech should be polite,” tweeted Mortada, a Shiite minister close to Hezbollah’s allies. “Insults or holding dark grudges has nothing to do with morals.”
___
Associated Press writer Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Attack-on-Rushdie-shows-divisions-among-Lebanese-17379444.php | 2022-08-17T16:19:26Z | https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Attack-on-Rushdie-shows-divisions-among-Lebanese-17379444.php | false |
- Erik Barefield, Robert DeBolt, Jesse Keig and Ketan Shah appointed to the Mesirow Board
- New Directors bring diverse perspectives and wide-ranging skills from across Mesirow's differentiated capabilities and corporate services teams
CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesirow, an independent, employee-owned financial services firm, today announced the appointment of four new internal Directors to the firm's Board of Directors (the "Board"). Comprising a diverse group of business and industry executives, the Mesirow Board shapes all facets of Mesirow's corporate policy and strategy.
Joining the Mesirow Board effective immediately are:
Erik Barefield, Senior Managing Director, Head of Traditional Investment Management. Erik is responsible for providing strategic oversight and leadership on all aspects of the traditional investment management platform including competitive positioning, product development, distribution, and collaboration both within and between the businesses. Erik serves as the Chair of the Investment Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee for Metropolitan Family Services. He is also on the Executive Committee of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and sits on the board of DePaul College Prep.
Robert M. DeBolt, Chief Investment Officer, Private Equity. Bob leads the investment due diligence team, is a member of the Private Equity Investment Committee and is involved in all aspects of the private equity investment process. Bob participates on the limited partner advisory committees for a number of buyout and venture capital partnerships. Prior to joining Mesirow in 2004, Bob was a Principal with Adams Street Partners, where he was involved in all aspects of the private equity investment process. He is also a member of the Illinois Venture Capital Association.
Jesse Keig, Chief Financial Officer. Jesse leads Mesirow accounting operations, business accounting, financial reporting and tax, and financial planning and analysis. Prior to becoming CFO, Jesse was the firm's Financial Controller, responsible for the firm's annual financial statements and tax strategy. Jesse has 18 years of experience in accounting and finance. Jesse serves on the board for the Chicago Fire Department Foundation.
Ketan Shah, General Counsel. Ketan joined Mesirow in November 2012 and was named General Counsel of Mesirow in August 2021. Ketan leads Mesirow's legal team and is responsible for overseeing Mesirow's worldwide legal affairs, including corporate and regulatory matters, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and other general legal matters. He is also a member of the Investment Banking New Engagement Committee. Prior to assuming the role of General Counsel, Ketan served as Associate General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel.
"These new Directors enhance our Board through diverse perspective, varied professional experiences and distinct areas of specialization," said Richard S. Price, Mesirow Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board. "I look forward to the contributions they will make as we begin the firm's 85th year and continue to invest in our clients, our communities, and our workplace culture."
"We are pleased to welcome Erik, Bob, Jesse, and Ketan to the Board and congratulate each on achieving this hallmark," said Natalie A. Brown, CEO of Mesirow. "I am confident that each of these individuals will bring their unique skills and voice to the Board, helping Mesirow continue to deliver value and differentiation to the marketplace as we act as a force for social good."
Mesirow Board of Directors
- Richard S. Price, Executive Chairman
- Natalie A. Brown, CEO
- Erik Barefield, Senior Managing Director, Head of Traditional Investment Management
- Melissa L. Bean, President, Wealth Management
- Ben Blakney, President, Institutional Real Estate Direct Investments
- Garry W. Cohen, Senior Managing Director, Sale-Leaseback Capital
- Alasdair Cripps, CEO, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Institutional Real Estate Direct Investments
- Robert M. DeBolt, Chief Investment Officer, Private Equity
- Thomas F. Hynes, Senior Managing Director, Global Investment Management Distribution
- Jesse Keig, Chief Financial Officer
- Jeffrey M. Levine, COO, Institutional Sales & Trading
- Brian D. Price, President and COO, Investment Banking
- Larry D. Richman, Director
- Marc E. Sacks, CEO, Private Equity
- Nathaniel Sager, Senior Managing Director, CTL and Structured Debt Products
- Ketan Shah, General Counsel
- Kathryn A. Vorisek, Senior Managing Director, CIO, Portfolio Manager, Equity Management
About Mesirow
Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with locations around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good. With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management, Capital Markets and Investment Banking, and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities, and our culture. To learn more, visit mesirow.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
Mesirow was recently named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business and one of the Top 100 RIA firms by Barron's.
Inquiries
mediainquiries@mesirow.com
Michael Herley | 203.308.1409
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SOURCE Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/mesirow-appoints-four-new-internal-directors-firms-board-directors/ | 2022-08-17T16:25:21Z | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/mesirow-appoints-four-new-internal-directors-firms-board-directors/ | true |
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Maryland-based lender deceived its loan customers by selling them insurance policies they didn’t ask for or know about in many cases, the attorneys general of a handful of states claimed in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Pennsylvania.
The lawsuit — filed by the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah and Washington — alleges that Mariner Finance pressured its sales force to “add on” additional insurance coverage for customers seeking personal and other loans.
“Mariner portrays itself as a community-oriented lender operating small, local branches with strong ties to its local geography. In reality, Mariner deploys aggressive, high-pressure sales tactics, dictated by a profit-driven model that operates according to the famous maxim articulated in Glengarry Glen Ross: Always Be Closing,” the roughly 100-page lawsuit said.
The suit seeks restitution for consumers as well as civil penalties and the repayment of profits, among other consequences.
Mariner disputed the suit in a statement from founder and CEO Josh Johnson, who said the firm cooperated with the investigation and provided data, documents and testimony “that clearly demonstrates the legality of its products and the vital support they provide to consumers.”
“Mariner Finance has continuously disputed the claims that the small multi-state coalition has alleged and will continue to defend itself as an important provider of credit options to those who may have limited access to other sources of consumer credit,” Johnson said.
The suit paints a picture of relentless internal sales goals and prodding messages from managers pushing workers to sell various kinds of insurance, including accident and credit insurance. It’s not something many consumers would expect, according to the suit, since Mariner bills itself primarily as a lender, not an insurance sales company.
Mariner operates 480 branches in 27 states and manages $2 billion in loans.
In 2019, Mariner sold nearly $122 million in premiums and fees for the so-called add-ons, not including interest, according to the suit.
The average loan size was $3,650, with an average rate of 28%, the suit said. Added on insurance counted for $360 per loan, not including interest.
“Since the premiums and fees are financed, these add-ons increase interest payments by an average of about $180 in interest to the loan, for a total added cost to the consumer of approximately $540,” the lawsuit said.
The suit added that 80% of consumers, as of 2020, were were charged for added on insurance coverage.
Most of the consumers who were interviewed by state officials as part of the lawsuit said they didn’t know the additional coverage was optional, that it cost more money or that they had an add-on at all.
The loans, in many cases, were for consumers in difficult financial straits who had pressing financial needs, according to Cari Fais, who leads the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
“Mariner’s practice of attaching costly add-ons to the loans of unwitting consumers doubtless plunged many already debt-ridden families into more difficult circumstances,” Fais said in a statement. | https://www.kark.com/news/business/ags-lender-heaped-insurance-plans-onto-unwitting-borrowers/ | 2022-08-17T16:25:33Z | https://www.kark.com/news/business/ags-lender-heaped-insurance-plans-onto-unwitting-borrowers/ | true |
BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientist and certified nurse practitioner Paule V. Joseph, Ph.D. M.S., FNP-BC, FAAN, is the inaugural 2022-2024 American Academy of Nursing (AAN) Fellow at the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Dr. Joseph's selection will be announced in person at the Annual Meeting of the NAM in Washington, D.C. on Monday, October 17.
"I congratulate Dr. Joseph on her selection for this first-of-its-kind fellowship," said George F. Koob, Ph.D., Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). "Dr. Joseph's unique professional background, stellar research accomplishments, and commitment to patient care have certainly been an asset to the NIAAA and the alcohol field more broadly. I look forward to the new ways in which this opportunity will expand her leadership as a scientist and public health professional."
The AAN Fellowship at NAM aims to provide talented, early career scientists in the field of health and nursing with the opportunity to improve patient care and the quality and breadth of public health research.
"I am honored to be selected for this fellowship. This role will provide me with a unique opportunity to provide a nursing perspective on health policy discussions at a national level. I will be able to leverage my research on chemosensation and nutrition to inform policies and consensus statements to move the mission of the Academy to improve health equity and the overall health of the nation," said Dr. Joseph. "As an early career scientist, this fellowship is an unparalleled opportunity to work in the policy space."
Dr. Joseph is a researcher at the NIAAA with a joint appointment at the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). Her work also explores the intersection between chemosensation, environment, culture, nutrition, and dietary norms and behaviors as they relate to substance use disorders and obesity. She is interested in research to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and management of disorders involving the chemical senses (taste, smell, and chemesthesis), and how the brain uses these sensations to guide eating, alcohol consumption, and drug-taking behaviors. Dr. Joseph is also interested in the brain systems that underlie motivational processes—and how they may be different in individuals with obesity or alcohol, or other substance misuse.
"Dr. Joseph is highly innovative and a rising star at the NIH, developing a unique and clinically highly significant research program in the field of chemosensation, obesity, and alcohol use disorder," said NIAAA Clinical Director David Goldman, M.D.
"Dr. Joseph is well on her way to becoming an international leader in nursing, nutrition, and chemosensory science," said Joan K. Austin, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, and distinguished professor emerita at the Indiana University School of Nursing, and a mentor to Dr. Joseph. "She will benefit from opportunities to engage and participate in evidence-based healthcare and public health studies to improve care for patients nationally and globally."
Dr. Joseph is currently a Lasker clinical research scholar, clinical investigator, and chief of the Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism in Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research at the NIAAA and NINR. She earned a Master of Science as a family nurse practitioner from Pace University in 2010, and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015, conducting research at Monell Chemical Senses Center. She completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the NIH in 2017.
For more information, please visit: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/news-events/news
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SOURCE National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/niaaa-dr-paule-joseph-selected-inaugural-american-academy-nursing-fellow-national-academy-medicine/ | 2022-08-17T16:25:35Z | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/niaaa-dr-paule-joseph-selected-inaugural-american-academy-nursing-fellow-national-academy-medicine/ | true |
Breeze enables listing agents and sellers to send and prepare disclosures easily.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SkySlope, the leader in real estate transaction software, has launched Breeze, an all-around simple and streamlined application making Nevada disclosures easy to complete for agents and sellers in Reno-Sparks and Las Vegas.
SkySlope's core product, SkySlope Suite, enables brokers, agents, auditors, and transaction coordinators to track their deals while remaining compliant. Equipped with forms and a digital signature tool, SkySlope provides a frictionless workflow that saves time for agents. As the transaction management platform serving over half of the top 20 largest brokerages in the U.S. and Canada, SkySlope is known for its award-winning customer experience.
With the launch of Breeze, SkySlope gives agents the ability to prepare and send seller disclosures to their clients at lightning speed, from anywhere. Available at no cost, Breeze gives sellers tool tips and legal definitions in accessible language to help prevent critical mistakes that may cause lawsuits against sellers, agents, and brokers. Its guided workflow helps simplify complicated and confusing disclosure forms— helping sellers complete disclosures quickly and with more confidence and accuracy.
Breeze Features
- Streamlined disclosure preparation equipped with MLS data sync
- Status visibility, notifications, and easy revision requests
- Simple guided workflows with helpful tips (think TurboTax) for clients
- Equipped with SkySlope DigiSign for free, unlimited, and secure digital signatures
- Seamlessly integrated with SkySlope's suite of products
"Breeze is truly a one-stop-shop for faster disclosures," says Diana Costas of Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty. "The guided workflow helps clients complete disclosures quickly and accurately and our agents can easily prepare disclosures, request signatures, and submit forms for compliance review."
"Disclosures are a common pain point for both agents and sellers," explains SkySlope CEO, Tyler Smith. "We're excited to launch a solution that takes a complicated process and makes it effortless for REALTORS® and home sellers."
Coming soon to a state near you! Breeze is expanding to help more agents and their clients complete disclosures with ease and confidence. Breeze is currently available in California, Washington, Arizona, Oregon, and Nevada! Breeze will continue to launch in more states throughout 2022.
Is Breeze not available in your state yet? Don't worry, we're coming! Sign up to get an update when we've launched in your state. Visit https://breeze.skyslope.com and scroll to the "Work from anywhere" section on the Breeze page, select your state, and enter your information.
For more information about Breeze, please visit https://breeze.skyslope.com.
Established in 2011, SkySlope is a comprehensive transaction management platform for brokers, agents, auditors, and transaction coordinators to manage real estate transactions from anywhere at any time. In 2021, over 300,000 users across 8,000 offices used SkySlope to manage 2.25M transactions. SkySlope provides digital transaction management and services to help agents and brokers be more efficient and compliant. From automation to integrations, SkySlope's vision is to keep agents and brokers connected to the customer forever. For more information about SkySlope, visit skyslope.com.
Contact
SkySlope
hello@skyslope.com
1-800-507-4117
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SOURCE SkySlope | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/skyslope-launches-breeze-make-nevada-disclosures-fast-effortless/ | 2022-08-17T16:26:04Z | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/skyslope-launches-breeze-make-nevada-disclosures-fast-effortless/ | false |
How many times have you been sitting in ungodly heat just wishing you had a pool in your backyard to cool off in?
Personally, there have been more than a few times where I wished I had a backyard oasis so I could escape the insane temperatures this summer, and I was shocked to find out that there is a website that let’s you rent someone’s backyard swimming pool so you and your friends can have an afternoon of relaxation and fun in the sun.
It’s called Swimply, and it’s kind of like an Airbnb for pools.
It pretty much works like if you were renting an Airbnb for the weekend, except instead of renting the house for a few days, you rent the pool (and all of the amenities that come with a pool).
By just doing a quick search on their website, there are dozens of pools to rent by the hour in the area I live for a pretty reasonable price.
Each person who is renting out their pool can set their own prices, and limit the amount of people who can attend the pool party. For instance, I found a listing that allows six guests and charges $60 an hour. The backyard pool includes a bathroom, diving board, pool toys and a bluetooth speaker so you can play music at a “neighborly” level.
Other pools on the site will allow you to invite up to 20 or more people, and they advertise that their backyard pool area is perfect for a baby shower or small birthday party.
It’s a fantastic idea if you and some friends want to soak up the sun without having to find a public pool to do so at.
When it comes to making money renting your pool, the amount of money you can make is pretty much endless. While many pool owners see their pools as endless money pits (just ask a pool owner how much their electricity bill is after keeping their pool heated all summer), people who rent their pools on Swimply are turning it into quite a lucrative side hustle.
One man who rents out his pool to complete strangers claimed to have made $177,000 since he started doing Swimply about two years ago.
“I love to say that [the pool] has paid for itself and more,” Battan, 57, told CNBC Make It in an interview. “I built a man cave last year, and also credit that to my Swimply pool.”
He did say that running this side hustle is a lot of extra work, but when you’ve made back your initial investment in the pool (and then some), it’s hard to argue that it’s a great idea. Hosts do have to give a 15% cut to Swimply, but again, it seems to be totally worth it.
While it is a genius idea and certainly follows in the footsteps of Airbnb and Uber, there are still dangers. In late June, a 7-year-old girl drowned at a pool that was being rented out through Swimply. Pools are a huge liability, and Swimply’s CEO Bunim Laskin acknowledged that in an interview with CNN. He did say the incident was more of a “pool incident” as opposed to a “Swimply incident.”
Swimply has a partnership with a nonprofit called Colin’s Hope to provide water safety resources and education to hosts and guests, but is that enough when pools can be so dangerous? It’s hard to say.
Just like any pool you swim in without a lifeguard, you must swim at your own risk. Most pool owners know how much of a liability pools can be, and for some the risk isn’t worth it to rent out their pool. But to others, it’s a money-making opportunity that is too good to turn down.
Regardless, Swimply isn’t going away anytime soon. They have listings in over 125 markets, and that includes in the United States, Canada and Australia.
If you have a pool, would you rent it out to strangers through Swimply? Let us know in the comments. | https://www.clickorlando.com/features/2022/08/17/swimply-allows-you-to-rent-your-own-pool-to-perfect-strangers/ | 2022-08-17T16:27:33Z | https://www.clickorlando.com/features/2022/08/17/swimply-allows-you-to-rent-your-own-pool-to-perfect-strangers/ | true |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A year after America’s tumultuous and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan, assessments of its impact are divided — and largely along partisan lines.
Critics slam the August 2021 evacuation of more than 120,000 American citizens, Afghans and others as poorly planned and badly executed. They say the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces opened the door to a resurgence of al-Qaida and Islamic State militants in the country. And the exit, they say, signaled the United States’ lack of commitment to the broader Middle East and its unwillingness to stand by a partner in need.
Supporters counter that it was time to end America’s longest war and that leaving forces in the country would risk their lives and gain little. It was time, they said, for the Afghan people to take charge of their own country and its security so that the U.S. could focus on threats from China and Russia, and on other critical issues such as climate change and the pandemic.
What is certain is that the government of Afghanistan collapsed at the hands of the Taliban, hundreds of Afghans who supported the U.S. during the war were left behind fearful of retribution, and the leader of al-Qaida found sanctuary in Kabul.
On the political front, the withdrawal marked a turning point for President Joe Biden. His high approval ratings started falling as Americans saw horrifying images of desperate Afghans swarming the airport, U.S. troops and Afghan civilians being killed in a suicide attack, and an innocent Afghan family mistakenly targeted and killed by an American drone strike.
Now, one year after the last troops left Afghanistan — and with midterm elections approaching — the White House, congressional Republicans, and outside analysts are offering their views of the withdrawal and its impact.
A look at what they are saying:
WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS
When Biden took office, the U.S. was already committed to a withdrawal agreement that had been reached between the Taliban and his predecessor Donald Trump. Many GOP leaders — such as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy — praised the deal, while others — including then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — slammed it as shortsighted.
Biden favored the withdrawal then and continues to defend it. He says the U.S. had accomplished its goal in Afghanistan — to prevent al-Qaida from planning and launching attacks against the U.S. from within the country again. He said it was not in America’s national interest to fight the war indefinitely, and instead the U.S. would develop an “over-the-horizon” capability to keep an eye on the terror threat and take it out if needed. The U.S., he said, must fight the battles of the next 20 years, not the last.
Today, the administration and its Defense Department praise the execution of the withdrawal — the largest air evacuation in U.S. history — as largely successful under extraordinarily dangerous and dynamic conditions. But the U.S. has also called the drone strike on Afghan civilians a tragic mistake.
The White House released portions of an unclassified intelligence assessment summary on Sunday that concluded that al-Qaida hasn’t rebuilt and doesn’t have the ability to launch an attack against the U.S. from Afghanistan. And it argues that the successful airstrike last month that killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a Kabul safe house is proof the U.S. can monitor and eliminate terror threats in Afghanistan.
WHAT THE REPUBLICANS SAY
The Republican minority on the House Foreign Affairs Committee released an interim report this week that blasted the evacuation, saying it was poorly planned, poorly operated and plagued with delays. It said poor organization left many would-be evacuees unable to get into the airport and onto the swiftly departing planes.
It noted that outside groups, including former military troops who had worked with Afghan interpreters and others, began coordinating their own networks to get people out. And, it said that some Afghan commandos who couldn’t get on U.S. flights fled into Iran, where they may pose a security threat to the U.S. if they are captured.
The report had few new findings, but it underscored the chaos of the withdrawal and complaints that the State Department waited too long to request military assistance for the exit process. It also charged that Biden’s assurance that al-Qaida would not be allowed to regroup was clearly wrong, since Zawahri was discovered living in a tony Kabul neighborhood.
Critics also question the decision to fully withdraw from Afghanistan, noting that initially the military argued to keep about 2,500 forces on the ground, along with several thousand NATO troops. Ultimately, as conditions in Afghanistan deteriorated, Pentagon leaders concluded that clearing the Taliban out of Kabul and reclaiming land could require up to 20,000 troops, and could cost many lives. So they endorsed the full withdrawal by Aug. 31.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, who as the top military officer for the Middle East oversaw the withdrawal, said he regrets “very bitterly” the people the U.S. couldn’t get out, including Afghans who worked with troops there.
“I believe we got out all the Americans that wanted to come out,” he said. “If someone stayed, there was a reason why they wanted to stay.”
But his biggest concern, he said, is that al-Qaida, Islamic State militants or other affiliated insurgents will be able to generate an attack against the U.S. from a haven in Afghanistan. The CIA strike that killed Zawahri shows the U.S. can and will detect and go after threats, but also underscores that it is a very rare and difficult task. He also said that efforts to set up terrorist training camps in Afghanistan has already begun.
Ryan Crocker, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, said Tuesday that he and others warned “right from the beginning that if the Taliban could ever get back in power, they would bring al-Qaida with them.” So, despite Taliban promises to not harbor terrorists again ”they have brought al-Qaida back.”
Crocker, McKenzie and others also point to what they said was a predictable erosion of women’s rights, widespread hunger and other Taliban problems running the government.
Military leaders are also working to shore up allies in the Middle East who now question America’s commitment to the region. They see persistent reports about America’s increased focus on threats from a rising China and an aggressive Russia and watch as military ships and assets are pulled away. And they worry that the U.S. won’t be there if threats from Iran spike again.
“We have given populations and nations all around the world a significant reason to no longer trust us,” retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Nagata said during a Monday event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “In order to rise to the occasion in the competition we have underway with actors like Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, this is a particularly awful time for people not to trust us.”
____
Associated Press writer Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report. | https://www.kark.com/news/politics/ap-politics/explainer-dueling-views-remain-a-year-after-afghan-pullout/ | 2022-08-17T16:28:06Z | https://www.kark.com/news/politics/ap-politics/explainer-dueling-views-remain-a-year-after-afghan-pullout/ | true |
WFO MEDFORD Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, August 17, 2022
_____
RED FLAG WARNING
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Medford OR
903 AM PDT Wed Aug 17 2022
...Abundant Lightning On Dry Fuels Expected Wednesday...
.Instability increases Wednesday with scattered thunderstorms
possible. Thunderstorms are expected to start dry, and become
wetter in time. In addition to the threat of new fire starts, a
dry and unstable layer will support gusty and erratic outflow
winds with any thunderstorms. Plume-dominated fire activity will
be possible with new or existing fires due to hot, dry and
unstable conditions.
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 11 PM
PDT THIS EVENING FOR ABUNDANT LIGHTNING ON DRY FUELS FOR FIRE
WEATHER ZONES 280, 281, 284, 285, 617, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624,
AND 625...
* Impacts: Lightning and high fire danger will likely result in
new fire starts. Gusty thunderstorm winds could contribute to
fire spread. Despite rainfall, initial attack resources could
be overwhelmed and holdover fires are possible.
* Affected area:
- In northern CA, portions of Fire Zones 280...
281...284 and 285, including the McKinney and Yeti Fires,
Seiad Valley, Macdoel, Tennant, Canby, Alturas, and portions
of the Klamath and Modoc National Forests.
- In southern Oregon, portions of Fire Zones 617...620...621...
622...623...624...and 625, including the Windigo Fire, Ashland,
Medford, Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Prospect, Crater Lake,
Toketee Falls, Klamath Falls, Chemult, Paisley, Lakeview, and
portions of the Umpqua, Rogue River-Siskiyou, and Fremont-Winema
National Forests.
* Thunderstorms: Isolated thunderstorms may begin early
Wednesday morning, but will likely become scattered during
the afternoon and evening with abundant lightning. Some
storms may be dry. Winds will become gusty and erratic in and
near thunderstorms.
* View the hazard area in detail at:
https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mfr/HAZARD
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Abundant lightning on existing very dry fuels could cause
numerous new fire ignitions. Gusty and erratic outflow winds
could also create extreme fire growth potential.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.mrt.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-MEDFORD-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17379519.php | 2022-08-17T16:30:09Z | https://www.mrt.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-MEDFORD-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17379519.php | false |
Teen suspects arrested for stealing laptops from Northwest High School
Published: Aug. 17, 2022 at 11:16 AM CDT|Updated: 13 minutes ago
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Lincoln Police arrested two teenage suspects for stealing computers that belong to a new Lincoln high school.
LPD said on Tuesday a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy were referred for burglary.
Investigators believe the boys stole a total of 17 computers from Northwest High School back on Aug. 7.
At the time, responding officers said they found the computers in a car, as well as wrapped in a towel in a bush near NW 38th and W Webster Streets.
LPD said all the stolen property has been recovered and returned to Lincoln Public Schools.
Copyright 2022 KOLN. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/08/17/teen-suspects-arrested-stealing-laptops-northwest-high-school/ | 2022-08-17T16:30:21Z | https://www.1011now.com/2022/08/17/teen-suspects-arrested-stealing-laptops-northwest-high-school/ | false |
Venice mayor outraged at surfers motoring down Grand Canal
MILAN (AP) - Two surfers who sped down Venice's Grand Canal on motorized boards Wednesday have been identified and the boards confiscated, the city's mayor announced.
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro posted a video on social showing a pair of surfers heading down the famed waterway as the sun rose in the distance. The mayor asked for help in apprehending what he called "two overbearing imbeciles who are making a mockery of the city," and promised dinner for anyone who identified the scofflaws.
In a later post, he said their boards had been confiscated and that the two would soon be apprehended. He did not specify what punishment they face, but the city has a long list of rules governing the behavior of visitors.
Venice has long suffered over-tourism, and with it lapses in decorum by visitors. The city fined two German travelers $1,000 in 2019 for making coffee on the 430-year-old Rialto Bridge. Visitors also are prohibited from swimming in the canals and from eating on the steps of monuments. or face fines.
From next year, day-trippers will have to pay a visitor´s tax to help offset the elevated costs of providing services in the canal city. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-11120499/Venice-mayor-outraged-surfers-motoring-Grand-Canal.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-08-17T16:30:52Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-11120499/Venice-mayor-outraged-surfers-motoring-Grand-Canal.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | true |
Supports Cleco's commitment to reinvest in DeSoto Parish and grow its renewable energy fleet
PINEVILLE, La., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleco Power (Cleco) and D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), a leading renewable energy producer in the U.S., today announce a long-term renewable energy off-take agreement. The Dolet Hills Solar Project includes a 240 MWac facility to be constructed at the recently retired Dolet Hills lignite-fired power plant in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana.
The Dolet Hills Solar Project supports Cleco's growing renewable energy fleet and follows the company's recent announcement of Project Diamond Vault, a major economic development and decarbonization initiative to build a state-of-the-art carbon capture facility at its central Louisiana Brame Energy Center.
"This solar project is another step forward in Cleco's journey to becoming Louisiana's leading clean energy company," said Bill Fontenot, President and CEO of Cleco Corporate Holdings. "This project continues our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint while affordably and reliably serving our customers."
Pending project approvals, Dolet Hills will boast one of the largest solar facilities in Louisiana and will represent more than $250 million invested towards powering approximately 45,000 homes. While Dolet Hills Solar is the first power purchase agreement between the companies, DESRI's portfolio in Louisiana will now total nearly 700 MWac in construction and contracted clean power projects.
"DESRI is proud to deliver low-cost, clean, reliable power to Cleco and its customers from this landmark solar energy facility," said Hy Martin, Chief Development Officer of DESRI. "Alongside our partners at Cleco, the project will provide local economic benefits to DeSoto Parish and the surrounding communities for years to come. In addition, the project will replace lignite-fired electricity with renewable power sited on reclaimed mining lands."
The Dolet Hills Solar Project is expected to deliver significant community benefits, including the creation of local construction jobs and tax revenue for the Parish. When asked about the project, DeSoto Parish President, Ernel Jones, stated "Cleco has been an integral part of the DeSoto Parish community for over 70 years and we look forward to our continued partnership. At the same time, we welcome DESRI and believe the Dolet Hills Solar Project will lead the way for future economic growth in our area."
About Cleco Power, LLC
Cleco Power is a regulated electric public utility that owns nine generating units with a rated capacity of 3,035 megawatts. Assets also include 1,335 miles of transmission lines and 12,152 miles of distribution lines.
Cleco Power uses multiple generating sources and multiple fuels to serve approximately 291,000 customers in 24 of Louisiana's parishes through its retail business and supplies wholesale power in Louisiana and Mississippi. Parishes served include Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Catahoula, DeSoto, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Vernon and Washington.
For more information about Cleco, visit www.cleco.com.
About D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments
D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) and its affiliates develop, acquire, own, and operate long-term contracted renewable energy assets in the U.S. DESRI's portfolio of contracted, operating and in-construction renewable energy projects currently includes more than 65 solar and wind projects representing more than 6 GWac of aggregate capacity. DESRI is a member of the D. E. Shaw group, a global investment and technology development firm with more than $60 billion in investment and committed capital as of June 1, 2022, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Please visit www.desri.com for more information about DESRI.
Contacts:
Jennifer Cahill
Cleco Media
news@cleco.com
Liz Peyton
DESRI Media
desri-media-inquiries@world.deshaw.com
James Kondrat
DESRI Development
james.kondrat@deshaw.com
This press release is provided for the reader's information only and does not constitute investment advice or convey an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities or other financial products.
Please also note that this press release has not been updated since its dateline for any information contained in it that may have changed, including any beliefs and/or opinions. In addition, no assurances can be given that any aims, assumptions, expectations, and/or goals described in this release will be realized or that the activities or any performance described herein did or will continue at all or in the same manner as at the time of the press release.
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SOURCE Cleco Power LLC | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/cleco-power-desri-announce-240-mwac-solar-power-agreement/ | 2022-08-17T16:31:24Z | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/cleco-power-desri-announce-240-mwac-solar-power-agreement/ | true |
2 deaths in Florida linked to raw oysters from Louisiana
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A restaurant customer in Fort Lauderdale has died of a bacterial infection after eating raw oysters. A Pensacola man died the same way this month. Both cases involved oysters from Louisiana.
Gary Oreal, who manages the Rustic Inn, told the South Florida SunSentinel that the man who died had worked years ago at the restaurant famous for garlic crabs.
“Over the course of 60 years, we have served a couple billion oysters, and we never had anyone get sick like this guy did,” Oreal said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Vibrio bacteria doesn’t make an oyster look, smell, or taste any different. The agency said about 80,000 people get vibriosis in the U.S. each year, and about 100 people die from it.
Inspectors from the Florida Department of Health checked out the restaurant’s kitchen and examined its oyster inventory the day after the man became ill, Oreal told the newspaper.
“We passed with flying colors and we were allowed to continue to sell oysters,” he said, adding the oysters being served currently are from Louisiana. “If there was a problem with the oyster bed we would know it because others would have gotten sick.”
The restaurant has a sign warning patrons about the risks of eating raw shellfish.
“Oysters are top of the mountain for dangerous foods to eat,” Oreal said. “I have eaten them my entire life, and will continue. But you are putting yourself at risk when you do it.”
The Florida Department of Health says 26 people have become infected with the bacteria and six of them later died after eating raw shellfish, including oysters, so far this year. In 2021, 10 people died out of 34 people sickened. In 2020, there were seven deaths among the 36 who became ill.
Last week, a man in Pensacola died after contracting the bacteria from oysters he bought at a market, the Pensacola News Journal reported. That oyster also came from Louisiana, officials said.
Infections linked to the bacteria are common in oysters and raw seafood during the summer months when water temperatures are warmer, University of West Florida Professor Robert “Wes” Farr told the newspaper.
“Serious infection is rare, but the risk is still there,” Farr said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kait8.com/2022/08/17/2-deaths-florida-linked-raw-oysters-louisiana/ | 2022-08-17T16:35:14Z | https://www.kait8.com/2022/08/17/2-deaths-florida-linked-raw-oysters-louisiana/ | true |
T.S. Eliot notwithstanding, April is not the cruelest month. August is — for it is in that month that catastrophic injuries to players throughout the NFL occur in games that don't even count in the standings.
This a crisis. But the NFL has a history of never letting a good crisis go to waste.
We saw this in 1982, when a strike deleted eight games from the regular season. The NFL responded by recouping one of the games (all but two within the same division), resulting in the first regular-season games to be played in January in league history. It also caused the idle week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl to be scrapped.
We saw this again in 2001, when the games of what was originally slated to be Week 2 of that season were postponed because of the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks — and the word "postponed" rather than "canceled" must be used because the games that were not played on September 16-17 were played on January 6 instead. And once again, the idle week between the conference title games and the Super Bowl was scrapped. This also resulted in the Super Bowl being played in February for the first time ever — and every Super Bowl played since, except the following year's game, has been played in that month (and last season's Super Bowl was played on the second Sunday in February for the first time in history, due to the increase in the regular-season schedule to 17 games).
Meanwhile, the usual preseason mayhem got off to a rip-roaring start in its very first week, whose lowlights include one major scare and two season-ending injuries to starters.
The "scare" involves Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Brigham Young — which is headed for the Big 12 in 2013 — who tore his meniscus in Friday night's "win" over the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. While the preliminary indication is that he will miss "only" two to four weeks (nonetheless placing his status for the team's opener at home against the Ravens in jeopardy), more will be known after Wilson undergoes arthroscopic knee surgery today.
But neither Wilson's Jets teammate, right tackle Mekhi Becton, the team's first-round pick in 2020 (11th overall) nor Browns starting center Nick Harris, were as fortunate (maybe) as Wilson himself.
Becton, who went down with what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury involving cartilage damage in the team's 2021 opener at Carolina, didn't even wait until the regular season started this time around, fracturing his kneecap against the Eagles on Friday, ending his 2022 season retroactively.
On the second play of Cleveland's game at Jacksonville, also on Friday night (which ended in a Pyrrhic victory for the Browns by a score of 24-13), Harris injured his right knee and had to be carted off the field. According to head coach Kevin Stefanski, Harris will likely need surgery that will cause his 2022 season to be stillborn.
(The Browns are rumored to be interested in re-signing J.C. Tretter, Cleveland's starting center for the past five seasons, but was allowed to leave via free agency in March, and remains unsigned.)
And there already is an "excuse" to do away with the preseason, courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic that catalyzed its cancellation two years ago.
Did the sky fall? Hardly. And is anyone claiming that the Super Bowl championship won by Tom Brady and the Buccaneers is in any way tainted by the 2020 season's lack of exhibition games? Not a one.
Plus, there could be two delightfully delicious unintended consequences of the preseason's permanent demise: first, the owners might be able to succeed in persuading the NFLPA (whose current president is the aforementioned J.C. Tretter!) to accept an 18-game regular-season schedule, especially if the owners dangle a second bye week for each team in front of the union. And second, the owners can turn their decades-long dream of holding the Super Bowl on the Presidents' Day weekend into a reality — thereby making "Super Bowl Monday" a national holiday if the beleaguered (to say the least) Joe Biden issues an executive order placing Presidents' Day on a fully equal footing with such holidays as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
And speaking of Labor Day, if this means going back to opening the regular season on the Labor Day weekend (for the first time since 2000), that's a small price to pay (the owners cited relatively low television ratings for why opening day was pushed back one week). The off week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl would also be a casualty — to which the vast majority of owners, players, and fans alike will say, "Good riddance."
College football is busy chiseling its "new world order" into place. The NFL needs to follow suit. | https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2022/08/16/its_time_to_end_nfl_preseason_carnage.php | 2022-08-17T16:36:14Z | https://www.sports-central.org/sports/2022/08/16/its_time_to_end_nfl_preseason_carnage.php | false |
Ronaldo cautioned for slapping young fan's phone
Aug 17 (Reuters) - Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo received a police caution for smashing a 14-year-old boy's phone to the ground following a defeat at Everton last season.
The 37-year-old apologised via social media to the young fan after the incident which happened in April.
"We can confirm that a 37-year-old man voluntarily attended and was interviewed under caution in relation to an allegation of assault and criminal damage," a police statement said on Wednesday.
"The allegation relates to an incident following the Everton v Manchester United football match at Goodison Park on Saturday 9 April. The matter has been dealt with by way of conditional caution. The matter has now concluded."
Video footage appeared to show Ronaldo angrily slapping the phone out of the boys' hand as he walked down the tunnel.
The boy's mother said he had been left with a bruised hand and that his phone screen had been smashed.
Ronaldo is reported to be seeking a move away from Old Trafford, having returned to the club a year ago from Juventus. (Reporting by Martyn Herman Editing by Christian Radnedge) | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-11120573/Ronaldo-cautioned-slapping-young-fans-phone.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-08-17T16:36:22Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-11120573/Ronaldo-cautioned-slapping-young-fans-phone.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | true |
SANTIAGO, Chile, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Falabella S.A. (BVS: FALAB) today announced that it will host an Analyst and Investor Day ("Falabella Day") on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 in New York, NY.
This event will be held for equity analysts and institutional investors and will feature presentations by Gaston Bottazzini, Chief Executive Officer of Falabella S.A., and other members of the Company's leadership team.
In-person registration is scheduled to begin on October 12 at 1:30 pm EDT, with presentations starting at 2:00 pm. The event will be followed by a cocktail reception. In-person attendance is by invitation only and registration confirmation will be provided to individual attendees.
A live webcast of the Investor Day will be available to all members of the investment community and pre-registration is required by Monday, October 10, 2022. To register, please email your name, title and company affiliation to info@nyinvestorday.com. Confirmation and additional event details will be provided to pre-registered attendees only.
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SOURCE Falabella S.A. | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/falabella-host-investor-day-october-12-2022-new-york/ | 2022-08-17T16:37:12Z | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/falabella-host-investor-day-october-12-2022-new-york/ | false |
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Blazer dresses can be confusing for even the most savvy and experienced fashion-forward women. That’s because these multifaceted pieces fall into a variety of categories, from demure and classic to edgy and flirtatious. But no matter what the vibe, the best blazer dresses are versatile staples that flatter every body type.
To nail the look, it’s all in how wear—and style—it. While Priyanka Chopra, Dakota Johnson and the Hadids wear blazer dresses frequently, they’ve become an unexpected staple with real people, too. Perhaps that’s because the smart and sexy silhouette works for a variety of scenarios, from a day at the office to dinners with friends to big nights out. Classic black with a loafer is more friendly for daytime; cutouts and sky-high hemlines are more appropriate for a night out.
We spoke with several fashion stylists to get their take on the best blazer dresses at every price point. Whether you want a structured look with bold shoulders or a drapey deep V, here are the best blazer dresses to suit up in right now.
Superdown: An Inexpensive Option With Chic Style Lines
Superdown Madeline Blazer Dress
Sizes: XXS-XL | Colors: Navy and white | Material: Polyester
Multiple stylists named this dress as a favorite, and the fact that it’s affordable makes it even more appealing. “This will get you the trend under $100 and still look sharp,” says Emily Lytle, personal stylist and founder of Ready To Where. “With a mini length, this works well on a shorter frame or for a night out.” Los Angeles-based celebrity stylist Nola Singer agrees: “This is the perfect chic blazer dress for summer,” she says. Singer also suggests pairing it with a nude heel and chain necklace. Other options: Topshop's blazer dress is similar, but with a pleated skirt, giving it a little more flare and movement from the waist down, and it has girly tie closures, which add sweet detailing.
With power shoulder pads, a drapey lapel and in an ultra-flattering cobalt blue, this blazer dress checks all the boxes. “This dress has more flexibility if you’re in a relaxed and refined environment,” says Mellicia Marx, founder of Poplin Style Direction. “The soft fabric is both elegant and approachable and sleeves are a major win as they allow you to skip the hassle of layering.” Other options: Camilla Coelho's Davide Blazer is a similar wrap style. It has a few particularly convenient features: a removable waist tie—and hidden front button closure for back-up—and side welt pockets, just because.
Ever New: A Belted Dress That’s Well-Suited For Many Body Types
Ever New Sleeveless Tailored Blazer Dress
Sizes: 2-12 | Colors: Black | Material: Polyester
This double-breasted style shows a bit more skin than a pantsuit, and the sophisticated color with gold detailing adds visual interest. Because it’s belted, you don’t have to rely on extremely precise tailoring to accentuate your shape, and it’s easier to fit when purchasing online.
Lioness: An Oversized Style With A Cinchable Waist
Lioness Olympia Blazer Dress
Sizes: XXS-XXL | Colors: Black | Materials: Polyester, viscose, spandex
This look blends bold-shoulder styles of the ‘80s and oversized styles of the ‘90s. “This is a smart choice solo or layered over a form fitting dress of any length,” says Marx. With sleeves you push up or down, “you’ll find yourself reaching for this versatile option when the weather is unpredictable,” Marx says. “It’s also great if you aren’t sure how dressy or casual the situation is since it works in a wide variety of settings.”
Best Mid-Price Blazer Dresses
Rumer: A Feminine Style That Accentuates Your Waist
Rumer Lou Lou Blazer Dress
Sizes: XS-XL | Colors: Fern, white and pink | Material: Linen
“This little linen number allows for a flattering fit [with its] strong shoulder and a cinched waist,” says Lytle. “The length works well for more petite frames.” While many blazer dresses are just available in black, it’s nice that this one comes in three summer-friendly colors—a mossy green, pale pink and crisp white.
Reiss: A Longer Hemline With A Gorgeous Drape
MOST POPULAR
Reiss Cecile Sleeveless Blazer Dress
Sizes: 0-14 | Colors: White | Materials: Polyester, elastane
British fashion brand Reiss is known for its tailoring and timeless silhouettes, and this sleeveless blazer dress has both. “Fewer things exude confidence like a white dress,” says Marx. “This choice is stunning on multiple body types and can be worn throughout the year. In cooler weather, simply pair with heeled boots and a blazer or leather jacket. “ Other options: For a similar silhouette, try White House Black Market's Sleeveless Blazer Dress. This knee-skimming style offers more length—so it's perfect for your work wardrobe—and it's top-rated by reviewers for its forgiving stretch crepe fabric and flattering silhouette.
Black Halo: A Double-Breasted Style Made From Stretch Suiting
Think of this as a power suit without all the extra fabric. “A sleeveless blazer dress is a versatile option you can wear in the summer or layered for cooler temps,” says Lytle. “Wear it solo for a night out or dress it down over a shirt and leggings.”
Theory: A Classic And Stylish Office Essential
Theory Blazer Dress in Good Wool
Sizes: 00-18 | Colors: Black | Materials: Wool, elastane
Theory creates minimalist styles—in particular, chic officewear that is well-tailored and flattering, but not overly stuffy. This slim-fitting, double-breasted style is business-appropriate yet still emphasizes your shape. We like this mid-thigh style paired with flats.
Best Designer Blazer Dresses
Alexander McQueen: The Perfect Mix Of Romance And Toughness
Alexander McQueen Barathea Drop-Hem Tuxedo Mini Dress
Sizes: 2-12 | Colors: Black | Materials: Wool
Flawless tailoring and unexpected design elements perfect this classic-with-a-twist look. “The details of the asymmetric hemline and the hook and eye detailing perfectly complement this modern and unique blazer,” says Singer. “The hemline falls above the knee, so it’s elegant with an edge.”
Jacquemus: A Playful Color And Bold Silhouette
Jacquemus Bari Cutout Woven Mini Dress
Sizes: 32-42 | Colors: Light green and black| Materials: Viscose, silk
French fashion brand Jacquemus, founded in 2009, is notorious for its striking and youthful designs. “The pop of bright green color, cut-outs and fitted silhouette make you stand out,” says Singer. “This is a very flattering style since it is more fitted at the hip and looser on top. It’s also a viscose-cotton blend, which makes it lightweight for summer.” This blazer dress comes in a statement lime green or a sleek black.
Stella McCartney: A Wardrobe Must-Have That Easily Transitions From Day To Night
Stella McCartney Strong-Shoulder Wool Mini Blazer Dress
Sizes: 0-12 | Colors: Ivory | Material: Wool
This feminine take on classic menswear, from luxury vegan label Stella McCartney, is destined for lots of wardrobe mileage. “I love that it’s white, double breasted and the length comes to mid-thigh,” says Singer. “It’s perfect to wear all year round and a great closet staple that could be dressed up or down with the shoes and jewelry. This could also be a perfect bridal look for an engagement party or wedding event.” Other options: An alternative with a twist is Rumer's Bronte Linen Blazer Mini Dress, with its shawl lapels, tortoiseshell buttons and figure-enhancing pleated hem.
What To Consider With Blazer Dresses
Length: Most blazer dresses come in a mini length, but it is possible to find longer, more conservative styles. “For a work event, I would make sure the blazer dress is knee-length or just above the knee,” says Los Angeles-based fashion stylist Nola Singer. “If the blazer has a lower neckline, you can pair it with a silk camisole so it still feels sexy but is more conservative.”
Fabric and Occasion: What makes blazer dresses a smart investment is their versatility. “The vast majority of pieces can be dressed up or dressed down, depending on how you pair them and the accessories you choose,” says fashion stylist Mellicia Marx. “Shinier fabrics, cut-outs and especially low-cut or short finds are best for evenings out.” Matte silk jersey, jacquard knits, linens and lightweight wool blends, however, are great for day or work.
Fit: Focus on finding a blazer dress that flatters your frame. “Waist-defining choices are best for women with a rectangle or hourglass shape,” says Marx. “Boxy choices are best for diamond-shaped figures.” If you have an inverted triangle-shaped body—meaning, you have broader shoulders and a tapered waist— try a deep-V and a shorter length to balance your shoulders and hips. The opposite is true for triangle or pear figures, Marx says. “In that case, consider a bolder shoulder or other details that draw the eye toward your top half.” Lastly, height also comes into play: “If someone is more petite, I would suggest a shorter length and more fitted silhouette,” advises Singer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Blazer Dresses
How fitted should a blazer dress be?
It can be confusing to figure out just how tight a blazer dress should be, but keep in mind where you’re wearing it. In most cases, daytime or work-appropriate dresses aren’t body hugging. “A blazer dress can work for the office if the fit is similar to a work-appropriate dress: not too fitted or short,” says Emily Lytle, personal stylist and founder of Ready To Where. “Keep the color muted or neutral and detailing subtle.” A blazer dress may work in place of a suit depending on fit—if it’s not too fitted or short—and occasion. Overall, Lytle says a blazer dress should fit much like a traditional blazer—nicely through the shoulders and waist, while not pulling at the chest or overwhelming the frame. “Consider adding a belt with the right silhouette,” she says.
What are the best shoes to pair with a blazer dress?
A wide variety of shoes can work with this style. “A relaxed pick, like the Jahe dress from The Frankie Shop can easily be paired with sandals or sneakers for a polished effortless vibe so you feel incredible without being overdressed in a more laid-back situation,” says Marx. Alternatively, for work Lytle suggests a mule or pump paired with a blazer dress. “For a night out, opt for a heel—a sandal for summer, a knee boot in cooler temperatures,” she says.
Can a blazer dress work in every season?
Yes! Blazer dresses are extremely adaptable and come in a variety of fabrics, from lightweight linens to drapey crepes to wool. “Some sleeveless blazer dresses may be the most versatile,” says Lytle. “While ideal on their own for summer, they can also be worn open or layered over a fitted knit dress or a shirt and slim jeans.” | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2022/08/17/best-blazer-dresses/ | 2022-08-17T16:37:19Z | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2022/08/17/best-blazer-dresses/ | false |
egglife® egg white wraps and Jenny Reimagine the Go-To School Lunch and Afternoon Snack Staple, the PB&J, Giving it a Better-For-You and Delicious Upgrade
CHICAGO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the National Peanut Board, the average American child will consume 1,500 PB&Js before graduating high school. While tasty, the average PB&J isn't the most nutritious option, which is why Egglife Foods, the innovative food company that uses cage-free eggs instead of flour to reimagine carb-heavy foods, is rethinking this iconic schooltime staple – with less carbs and sugar and more protein.
In partnership with actor, Instagram personality and New York Times bestselling author Jenny Mollen, Egglife is sharing a variety of delicious and healthy twists on the lunchtime staple. PB&Js on original egglife® egg white wraps or sweet cinnamon egglife® egg white wraps are simple, delicious, and nutritious - perfect for breakfasts on-the-go, study breaks, lunches, and afternoon snacks. From peanut butter with strawberries to almond butter and tart apples, these unique recipes are sure to be a homerun with kids and parents alike, making lunches more nutritious with a simple swap. The reimagined recipes include:
- Crunchy Raspberry Granola Wrap
- Fruit Chia Pinwheels
- The Elvis
- Sweet & Salty PB&J
- Apple & Almond Wrap
- Peanut Butter Cup Roll Up
Jenny, who is well-known for helping parents take the power struggle out of mealtime through her Dictator Lunches Instagram account - which inspired her upcoming Dictator Lunches September 2022 book release - has teamed up with Egglife to put a special emphasis on solving the age-old problem of school lunch. As a busy mom herself, Jenny is showing parents that every morning doesn't have to be a struggle and with egglife wraps, parents can get back into their routines and feel good about making their kids a healthy and delicious PB&J.
"I'm all about finding fun ways for my kids to eat healthier, which is why this partnership felt so authentic to me," said Jenny Mollen. "Egglife provides such a versatile and better-for-you canvas to work from, giving us so many elevated and delicious twists on the classic PB&J to play with. The best part - kids and parents will love them!"
"As a parent, I know the age-old struggle between packing what tastes good and what's good for you in school lunches," said David Kroll, Chief Executive Officer of Egglife Foods. "That's why we are so excited to partner with Jenny, a fellow parent who can relate to that struggle and who has already helped so many families navigate it. This back-to-school, we want to inspire families with creative and better-for-you mealtime solutions with egglife, making the ease back to our busy routines less stressful and more delicious!"
egglife® egg white wraps contain five grams of protein, fewer than 35 calories, less than one gram of carbohydrates and zero sugar. They are also gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free. With five versatile sweet and savory flavors – original, southwest, everything bagel, italian and sweet cinnamon – egglife® egg white wraps make it easy to fit delicious meals into your lifestyle without the stress. egglife® egg white wraps are now available in over 10,000 stores across the country, including Aldi, Target, Kroger, Sam's Club, Sprouts, Walmart, and many other retail locations nationwide, as well as online at egglifefoods.com. For more information, visit egglifefoods.com or follow the brand on Instagram: @egglifefoods.
Egglife Foods is reimagining the future of food by harnessing the power of eggs to transform traditionally flour-based foods. The company, recently featured as one of CNBC's Best of Small Businesses, was created in 2017, motivated by a desire to modernize nutrition and champion better wellness without sacrificing taste. Two years and over 2,000 recipes later, their debut product, egglife® egg white wraps were hatched. Made with cage free egg whites and just a few simple ingredients to provide a simple, delicious and nutritious alternative to traditional tortillas, egglife egg white wraps are The Perfect Wrap® for consumers looking for a versatile, low-carb, high protein option. The wraps are available in five innovative flavors – original, southwest, everything bagel, italian and sweet cinnamon. All of Egglife's wraps are cleverly crafted at their very own manufacturing facility in Wolcott, Indiana.
JENNY MOLLEN is a writer, actor, Instagram personality and New York Times bestselling author of the essay collections I Like You Just the Way I Am and Live Fast Die Hot. Her digital series, "I Like You Just the Way I Am," which she wrote and in which she stars, currently streams on ABC Digital. Her debut novel City of Likes was released June 14th and is a national best seller. The book has already been optioned by Sony TV with Diablo Cody attached to executive produce. Her next book Dictator Lunches: Inspired Meals That Will Compel Even the Toughest of (Tyrants) Children comes out September 13th. Heralded by The Huffington Post as one of the funniest women on both Twitter and Instagram and named one of "Five to Follow" by T Magazine, Jenny wrote a standing column for Parents magazine and has contributed to Cosmopolitan, Glamour, New York, Elle.com, Wake Up Call with Katie Couric, and Playboy online. With her Instagram handles @jennymollen and @dictatorlunches, Jenny has more than half a million followers. Visit jennymollen.com.
Media Contact:
Jessie Depre
jessie.depre@spoolmarketing.com
815-503-1523
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SOURCE Egglife Foods | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/innovative-food-company-egglife-foods-announces-partnership-with-actress-author-influencer-mom-jenny-mollen-help-families-get-back-routine-with-simple-mealtime-solutions/ | 2022-08-17T16:38:03Z | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/innovative-food-company-egglife-foods-announces-partnership-with-actress-author-influencer-mom-jenny-mollen-help-families-get-back-routine-with-simple-mealtime-solutions/ | true |
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