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OPEC+ will increase oil production by 100,000 barrels per day amid high prices, the group announced Wednesday.
OPEC noted that there is "severely limited availability of excess capacity." The group noted there is insufficient investment in meeting the growing demand for 2023 and beyond.
While oil prices have dropped from June when the cost per barrel reached $120, the price has remained near $100 per barrel. As more Americans are traveling this summer than in the previous two summers, gas prices surged to over $5 per gallon on average earlier this summer. But an increase in oil production seems to have tempered prices.
According to AAA, the average cost of gas dropped to $4.16 on Wednesday.
Experts say oil prices are primarily driven by supply and demand. They suggest more supply would bring down the cost of oil, and thus results in a lower price at the pump.
But AAA noted that when prices go down, demand for gas goes up. | https://www.fox13now.com/news/national/opec-to-produce-more-oil-in-september-still-struggling-to-keep-up-with-demand | 2022-08-03T14:40:08 | en | 0.975521 |
FAIRFAX STATION, Va. — For these pups, it's the start of a whole new journey.
"This is just the first of many beagles that we're getting,” said Rebecca Goodhart, deputy director of Homeward Trails, an animal rescue in northern Virginia. "So, this is our first crop of people that have not gone to foster or adopter yet."
These beagles are just a fraction of the 4,000 rescued dogs now needing homes after animal rights groups uncovered animal welfare violations at a breeding facility for medical testing animals in Virginia. Federal officials moved to sue the facility, which is now shutting down that Virginia location.
"For the most part, what we found with all of the dogs that we took last week are everybody needed to be spayed or neutered and then all of them have some degree of dental disease,” Goodhart said. “So, this group got the first round of dental procedures."
Rescue group Homeward Trails committed to taking in 200 beagles. They're not the only ones.
Animal rescues in Maryland, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, and as far away as Wyoming and California, among others, are also stepping up.
"We have been working in partnership with the Humane Society of the United States, who is really responsible for the placement of the 4,000," Goodhart said. "We as rescues and shelters always work very collaboratively together. And the outreach for these dogs has been - just from the public, in addition to the other organizations - has been amazing."
When you're dealing with 4,000 beagles, though, the need is enormous.
Most came with medical records and are between 2 and 4 years old. None had names; just a number that the facility tattooed on the inside of their ears.
That may have you wondering: why are beagles the preferred breed for medical testing?
"It's partly because of their size, because they're kind of a nice compact size and partly because of temperament,” Goodhart said. “They tend to like them because they're very docile, so they're easy to handle."
With that in mind, Lisa Hall came to adopt a beagle, or rather, she waited to see which beagle would adopt her.
"I think she's the one,” Hall said of one beagle, nicknamed Nala by the animal rescue. “She thinks I'm the one."
Because of what they've been through, experts say patience is critical with these shy dogs.
"What she's gone through, we don't even really know. You know, it's not a normal dog experience," Hall said. "[They] went over with me like the crating and the routine and what she'll need to feel safe and secure."
Experts believe having another dog in the home already could also be helpful because it allows the beagles to observe how to walk on a leash, how to get used to living in a house and how to become a pet. Hall has no problem with that.
"I'm going to have to get a bigger bed because I was already two dogs on the bed," she said.
With that, Nala, who Lisa Hall is renaming Roo, is on her way to a brighter future.
"Yeah, you're going to have a great life," she told Roo.
If you are interested in more information on how you can help or how you can adopt any of these beagles, you can go online to humanesociety.org or click here. | https://www.fox13now.com/news/national/rescues-band-together-to-save-4-000-beagles-slated-for-animal-testing | 2022-08-03T14:40:09 | en | 0.983081 |
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday it is seeking possession of a Venezuelan cargo jet that has been grounded in Argentina since early June because it was previously owned by an Iranian airline that allegedly has ties to terror groups.
The request to Argentina was revealed a day after an Argentine judge allowed 12 of the 19 crewmembers of the plane to leave the country as authorities continue to investigate possible terror ties of those traveling in the Boeing 747. Federal Judge Federico Villena said late Monday that the remaining four Iranians and three Venezuelans must stay.
The U.S. request sent to Argentina on Tuesday followed the unsealing of a warrant in federal court in the District of Columbia that was issued last month and that argues the U.S-made plane should be forfeited because of violations of U.S. export control laws.
The plane, according to the Justice Department, was transferred from Iranian airline Mahan Air — which officials have alleged provides support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force — to Emtrasur, a subsidiary of Venezuela’s state-owned Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias Aeronáuticas y Servicios Aéreos, or CONVIASA. CONVIASA is under U.S. sanctions.
By transferring the airplane to the Venezuelan firm in October without prior U.S. government authorization, Mahan Air violated a 2008 order issued by the Department of Commerce that has since been periodically renewed, the U.S. says. The Justice Department says Emtrasur subsequently re-exported the plane between Caracas, Tehran and Moscow — also without U.S. government approval.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate transactions that violate our sanctions and export laws,” Matthew Olsen, the head of the Justice Department’s national security division, said in a statement. “Working with our partners across the globe, we will give no quarter to governments and state-sponsored entities looking to evade our sanctions and export control regimes in service of their malign activities.”
The moves marked the latest development in the saga of the mysterious plane, which landed June 6 at Ezeiza International Airport outside Buenos Aires and was grounded two days later.
The case has raised attention in several South American countries as well as the United States and Israel amid allegations that the plane was a cover for Iranian intelligence operations in the region. Iran and Venezuela vehemently deny those claims.
The issue has caught the attention of members of U.S. Congress. On July 26, a dozen U.S. Republican senators wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland accusing the Justice Department of failing to assist Argentine authorities in its investigation of the Venezuelan plane.
Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican, pressed Olsen about it at a hearing last week and lamented that in his view Iran was not receiving the scrutiny it deserved. Olsen said he was aware of the case but added: “This is an ongoing matter. I can’t talk about the specifics.”
The U.S. Commerce Department took its own action Tuesday, announcing it had suspended for 180 days the export privileges of Emtrasur.
The Israeli government has praised Argentina for grounding the plane and contends at least some the Iranian crew members “were involved directly in the trafficking of weapons to Syria and the terrorist organization Hezbollah of Lebanon.”
Among those who will continue to be prohibited from leaving Argentina is the Iranian pilot of the plane, Gholamreza Ghasemi.
Ghasemi is a former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and is a shareholder and board member of Iran’s Qeshm Fars Air, which the U.S. Treasury Department has said is controlled by Mahan Air and provides material support to the Quds Force.
The other crew members required to remain in Argentina are Abdolbaset Mohammadim, Mohammad Khosraviaragh and Saeid Vali Zadeh of Iran and Mario Arraga, Víctor Pérez Gómez and José García Contreras of Venezuela.
“What is being investigated is whether, under the appearance of legal activity, they are financing terrorism operations (specifically with Hezbollah) or whether they are part of a plan that has ties with” Hezbollah, the judge wrote.
Villena emphasized that connections with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard are not under investigation because Argentina does not consider it to be a terrorist organization.
Mahan Air has denied any ties to the aircraft and Venezuela has demanded that Argentine authorities release the plane.
Yet Argentine authorities who searched the plane found a Mahan Air flight log documenting the aircraft’s flights after the transfer to Emtrasur, including a flight to Tehran in April, the Justice Department said.
The plane was carrying cargo for several Argentine auto parts companies that it loaded in Mexico before stopping in Caracas and arriving in Argentina.
The plane is also under investigation in Paraguay, where the plane landed in May and spent three days in Ciudad del Este, near the border with Argentina, where it loaded cigarettes to transport to Aruba, according to Paraguayan authorities.
There are suspicions the plane’s cargo was “a facade” that hid the real reason for its time in Paraguay, says René Fernández, a former prosecutor who leads Paraguay’s National Anticorruption Secretariat.
Villena said the plane’s stopover in Paraguay was “at least striking” and added that further investigation was needed.
——-
Tucker reported from Washington. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/us-seeks-possession-of-venezuelan-747-grounded-in-argentina/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:10 | en | 0.965355 |
Better-than-expected COVID-19 vaccine sales pushed Moderna past Wall Street’s second-quarter forecasts.
The company said that its Spikevax vaccine brought in $4.53 billion during the quarter. Analysts were looking for around $3.6 billion, according to FactSet.
Moderna shares surged at the start of trading Wednesday.
The company's vaccine sales represent a drop from the nearly $6 billion in sales the vaccine brought in during the year’s first quarter, when a virus surge through the United States pushed more people to seek protection.
But those sales could pick up again later this year.
Moderna has developed an updated version of its vaccine for a fall booster campaign that combines the original shot with protection against the omicron variant.
Federal regulators also recently endorsed the vaccine for children as young as six months old.
The COVID-19 vaccine is Moderna’s main source of revenue, outside of grants and money from collaborations. Total revenue climbed 9% in the quarter to $4.75 billion.
But operating expenses also swelled 78% to $2.3 billion for the vaccine maker, which has several products in late-stage clinical trials, the most expensive phase of research.
Net income plunged 21% to $2.2 billion in the second quarter, and earnings totaled $5.24 per share.
Analysts expected earnings of $4.58 per share on about $4.1 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.
More than 77 million people in the U.S. have become fully vaccinated with Moderna’s two-dose shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over 128 million have done so with rival Pfizer’s vaccine.
Another competitor entered the U.S. vaccine market last month, when federal regulators authorized a fourth option from Novavax, a protein vaccine that was found in large studies to be about 90% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19.
Shares of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Moderna Inc. jumped more than 15% in morning trading to $185.54 while broader indexes climbed slightly.
___
Follow Tom Murphy on Twitter: @thpmurphy | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/COVID-19-vaccine-sales-push-Moderna-past-17348091.php | 2022-08-03T14:40:12 | en | 0.953325 |
Creator of instant ramen, Nissin Foods wins with premium strategy in the U.S. market while honoring over 50 years of the Original Top Ramen® and Cup Noodles®
GARDENA, Calif., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nissin Foods, the creator of instant ramen, reported notable gains in 2021 following a year of unprecedented growth the year prior, with 22.2% growth in total product sales year-over-year. Fueled by a 30.9% share of the instant noodle market in the U.S., the company strengthened its position in the market supported by continued strategies for product innovation of its legacy brands including Cup Noodles and Top Ramen, after more than 50-years of operations.
"Our continued growth momentum and strong performance during a year of unwieldy supply chain challenges across the industry, are indicative of our ability to cater to rapidly changing consumer needs and preferences," said Michael Price, President and CEO of Nissin Foods, USA. "Over the last five years, we have remained consistent in our captured market share year-over-year further solidifying our strong second position in the market. Our global leadership, dedicated mission, and strategic innovation pipeline of premium products has us poised to regain our commanding position as the leader in the instant ramen category."
Underscoring the rising trend of premium instant ramen products paired with consumer demand for convenient, value products, Nissin Foods saw a 32.0% growth in premium net sales, leading the premium category with a 82.3% share. Upholding its reputation as a pantry staple in households across the country, Nissin surpassed 1.48 billion noodle servings sold in 2021, a result of achieving several business milestones across its brands which included the launch of its first, limited edition flavor with Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice, entrance into the rice category with Cup Noodles® Stir Fry™ Rice With Noodles and leveraging the spicy foods trend with Hot & Spicy FIRE WOK.
"We continue to see demand growth across a broader consumer segment, which requires further diversification of our offerings and a strategic focus on premium, game-changing products and expansion into new categories," said Price. "Instilled by Nissin Foods Founder Momofuku Ando, innovation is the guiding principle of the company that is driven by the mission to feed the world with accessible and affordable products. This mentality enabled us to hit critical benchmarks, all while navigating the industry's production constraints and global obstacles."
Looking ahead, Nissin Foods has its sights on increasing its volume and value share in the market by expanding its premium product retail footprint, launching new and unexpected limited edition flavor profiles, cross-category integration, and aligning with brands and partners to continue to disrupt and push boundaries forward in the food industry and establish its leadership position in the ramen category.
Nissin Foods was established in 1958 by Momofuku Ando, who invented the first instant ramen noodle in Japan inspired by his belief that "peace will come to the world when there is enough food." In 1970, Nissin Foods USA opened its first plant in Gardena, California, introducing ramen noodles to American consumers. In 1971, Cup Noodles was launched in Japan, and then debuted as Cup O' Noodles in the U.S. in 1973, revolutionizing the industry by creating a product that could package, prepare and serve noodles all in one. For over 60 years, Nissin Foods has created delicious and convenient Asian-inspired meals at an affordable value. Nissin Foods USA develops and markets a variety of products including Cup Noodles®, Top Ramen®, Cup Noodles® Stir Fry™, Chow Mein, Hot & Spicy bowl, and Hot & Spicy FIRE WOK. The company's corporate philosophy inspires commitment to taste, convenience, and quality.
SOURCE Nissin Foods | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nissin-foods-usa-premium-category-growth-fuels-product-expansion-301598666.html | 2022-08-03T14:40:16 | en | 0.942628 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — For a year, U.S. officials have been saying that taking out a terrorist threat in Afghanistan with no American troops on the ground would be difficult but not impossible. Last weekend, the U.S. did just that — killing al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri with a CIA drone strike.
Other high-profile airstrikes in the past had inadvertently killed innocent civilians. In this case, the U.S. carefully chose to use a type of Hellfire missile that greatly minimized the chance of other casualties. Although U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed which variant of the Hellfire was used, experts and others familiar with counterterrorism operations said a likely option was the highly secretive Hellfire R9X — know by various nicknames, including the “knife bomb” or the “flying Ginsu.”
That potential use of the R9X, said Klon Kitchen, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a former intelligence analyst, suggests the U.S. wanted to kill al-Zawahri with “limited likelihood of collateral death and destruction and for other relevant political reasons.”
A look at the Hellfire, and how al-Zawahri likely was killed:
WHAT IS A HELLFIRE MISSILE?
Originally designed as an anti-tank missile in the 1980s, the Hellfire has been used by military and intelligence agencies over the last two decades to strike targets in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and elsewhere.
The precision-guided missiles can be mounted on helicopters and unmanned drones and are used widely in combat around the world. More than 100,000 Hellfire missiles have been sold to the U.S. and other countries, according to Ryan Brobst, an analyst at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank.
“It can do enough damage to destroy most targets such as vehicles and buildings while not doing enough damage to level city blocks and cause significant civilian casualties,” Brobst said.
The U.S. military has routinely used Hellfire missiles to kill high-value targets, including a senior al-Qaida leader in Syria last year, and al-Qaida propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen in 2011.
WHAT KILLED AL-ZAWAHRI?
The U.S. had multiple options for the attack. It could have used a traditional Hellfire, a bomb dropped from an manned aircraft, or a far more risky assault by ground forces. U.S. Navy SEALs, for example, flew into Pakistan on helicopters and took out Osama bin Laden in a raid.
In this case, the CIA opted for a drone strike. And while the CIA generally doesn’t confirm its counterterrorism missions and closely guards information about strikes it conducts, U.S. government officials have said that two Hellfire missiles were fired at the balcony of the building where al-Zawahri was living in Kabul.
Online images of the building show damage to the balcony, where the U.S. says al-Zawahri was, but the rest of the house is standing and not badly damaged.
Unlike other models of the Hellfire, the R9X doesn’t carry an explosive payload. Instead, it has a series of six rotating blades that emerge on its final approach to a target, Kitchen said. “One of their utilities is in opening up vehicles and other obstructions to get to the target without having to use an explosive warhead,” he said.
AVOIDING CIVILIAN CASUALTIES
U.S. officials and experts made clear this week that avoiding civilian casualties was a crucial element in the choice of weapon.
Less than a year ago, a U.S. drone strike — using a more conventional Hellfire missile — struck a white Toyota Corolla sedan in a Kabul neighborhood and killed 10 civilians around and near the car, including seven children. In the midst of the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, American forces believed there were explosives in the car and that it posed an imminent threat to troops on the ground. It was, military leaders said, a “tragic mistake”
One former U.S. official said the likely choice of an R9X is an example of the administration’s effort to find ways to minimize collateral damage and prevent the loss of innocent life. That missile is a very accurate weapon that strikes in a very small area, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss counterterrorism operations.
An administration official said Monday that the U.S. investigated the construction of the house where al-Zawahri was staying in order to ensure that the operation could be done without threatening the structural integrity of the building and also minimizing the risks of killing civilians, including members of his family who were in other parts of the house.
The choice of missile is ultimately one part of reducing the possibility of killing civilians or causing other collateral damage.
“I would say this is by far a lower-risk option,” said Tom Karako, an expert on missile defense at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Using the Hellfire, he said, “reflects a high degree of caution as opposed to a riskiness.”
IS THE US PROVIDING UKRAINE WITH DRONES THAT CAN FIRE HELLFIRE MISSILES?
No. While the U.S. has delivered billions of dollars in military assistance to help Ukraine fight the invading Russian troops, it is wary of providing weapons that could fire deep into Russia, potentially escalating the conflict or drawing the U.S. into the war.
As a result, the U.S. so far has not provided Hellfire missiles or drones that could fire them. Instead, the U.S. has delivered smaller, so-called kamikaze drones, such as the Switchblade and Phoenix Ghost, which instead of firing missiles, explode when they hit a target. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/explainer-a-look-at-the-missile-that-killed-al-qaida-leader/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:16 | en | 0.961994 |
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
George E. Mitchell, Baruch College, CUNY
(THE CONVERSATION) The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
The big idea
Charities following widely accepted norms for nonprofit financial management generally perform worse than those embracing other approaches. That’s the main – and perhaps surprising – finding of a new study that I conducted with Thad Calabrese, a fellow nonprofit management scholar.
We analyzed data spanning more than three decades from 4,130 charities engaged in everything from arts and culture to health and education. We reviewed only nonprofits that received at least half of their income from donations. The charities we studied were relatively large, spending an average of US$19 million per year. By comparison, about two-thirds of all charities that file tax returns have annual budgets under $500,000.
We found that charities that don’t embrace some common financial norms end up spending about 53% more money to advance their missions over a 10-year period than other charities. Examples of these norms include getting revenue from many different sources, avoiding debt and scrimping on expenses like information technology and office space that are known as overhead costs.
The norms we studied are of the less-is-better variety. For example, conventional wisdom holds that fundraising costs should be as low as possible to avoid creating an impression that donor money is being wasted. However, the reluctance to spend on fundraising may result in less money being available to spend in the future.
Why it matters
Evaluating how well a given charity operates is hard and expensive. But donors want assurances that they are being responsible when they give money away. One important way that charities can signal their trustworthiness is through their financial reporting.
Several organizations offer tools to help the public identify donation-worthy charities by making charity financial information more easily accessible. Websites such as Candid, open990 and ProPublica provide visibility into nonprofit financial management practices.
Other websites go further by offering their own evaluations of charities. Typically these evaluations incorporate financial norms like the ones that we studied. For example, to earn their highest recommendations, Charity Navigator, CharityWatch and Give.org impose various limits on fundraising expenses. The underlying assumption is clear: the less spent on fundraising, the better. Charities that flout such norms may risk damaging their reputations and losing supporters.
Donors are right to be cautious; fraud and abuse do occur. But, as our research suggests, some nonprofit management practices that help charities look more trustworthy may potentially reduce their impact.
What other research is being done
Ours is among several studies conducted in recent years that reevaluate the conventional wisdom regarding how nonprofits should be run.
Another research team assessed the wisdom of a rule of thumb that charities should maintain as little as three months’ worth of financial reserves. They found no evidence supporting it. To the contrary, they found that having so little cash on hand could endanger many organizations.
Likewise, researchers have fact-checked the conventional wisdom that minimizing overhead makes nonprofits perform better. They’ve found it doesn’t.
Maintaining multiple funding streams, such as by collecting donations, generating revenue through sales and attracting government grants, is another commonly accepted financial practice. Unfortunately, this approach isn’t necessarily as conducive to growth as commonly assumed.
What still isn’t known
It remains to be seen whether organizations with smaller budgets may also fare better by bucking nonprofit financial management norms.
And we found that different types of charities may be affected differently by adhering to various financial norms. Following the conventional thinking about nonprofit financial management could be beneficial for some organizations while being harmful for others.
The available evidence indicates that assessing a charity’s worthiness simply isn’t as straightforward as whether it’s following any particular rulebook.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/charities-that-dont-embrace-common-financial-norms-tend-to-outperform-their-peers-187499. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Charities-that-don-t-embrace-common-financial-17347930.php | 2022-08-03T14:40:18 | en | 0.961298 |
Americans are being warned about the threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and violent actions following the killing of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
He was killed in a U.S. operation in Afghanistan on July 31.
The State Department issued a Worldwide Cautions notice on Tuesday.
"Current information suggests that terrorist organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions across the globe," the State Department said.
U.S. officials warn the attacks could come in the form of suicide operations, kidnappings, hijackings, bombings and assassinations.
Americans traveling abroad are encouraged to check for travel advisories and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. | https://www.fox13now.com/news/national/state-department-issues-worldwide-cautions-for-americans-following-killing-of-al-qaida-leader | 2022-08-03T14:40:20 | en | 0.958282 |
Strategic sale positions Colorado company with laser focus on air & missile defense for rapid growth
FORT COLLINS, Colo., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A leader in air defense, missile defense and space domain awareness, Numerica is known for solving some of the nation's most important defense challenges. After several years of innovation and growth, the Colorado company's space division has been acquired by Slingshot Aerospace, a company focused on building space simulation and analytics products for Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Coordination. This divestiture will allow Numerica to focus on innovations in air and missile defense with even greater investment in its short-range air defense product line – including the Spyglass™ short-range surveillance radar and MIMIR™ C2 software.
Numerica's distinguished space division provides high-quality data and state-of-the-art software solutions that inform operator action to help protect satellites from on-orbit hazards and threats. To help address critical space needs, Numerica has developed market-leading uncorrelated track processing software and transitioned it to multiple space operation centers, deployed a global telescope network to provide a responsive, robust and affordable commercial satellite tracking service and developed the world's first commercial daytime optical LEO-to-GEO satellite tracking capability.
Through the agreement, Slingshot has acquired the following:
- An autonomous global network of proprietary sensors and software comprising more than 150 sensors including 30 telescopes across 20 locations around the globe with advanced data processing capabilities.
- The Numerica SDA team including research scientists, orbital analysts, software engineers and applied mathematicians in remote work settings including Vandenburg Air Force Base as well as the Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, Colo. offices.
- The Numerica office in Colorado Springs.
"We are proud to have developed such an effective global network of proprietary ground-based sensors and software for deep space surveillance and look forward to seeing its continued evolution with an established industry leader like Slingshot Aerospace," President Jeff Poore said. "This acquisition will help accelerate advancements in spaceflight safety and sustainability during a time of great need, but it will also allow Numerica to strategically focus resources on our growing air and missile defense business."
The air and missile defense teams at Numerica are dedicated to developing and deploying high-performance command and control systems for applications from theater integrated air and missile defense to tactical counter-UAS. Several of their biggest developments lately have included:
- Launch of Spyglass radar, a purpose-built multi-mission KU-band radar that addresses short-range air defense (SHORAD) missions inclusive of counter-small, unmanned aircraft systems (C-SUAS), ground surveillance and other missions.
- MFATS™, a mature and widely deployed sensor fusion software engine used to generate fire control quality tracks from a network of heterogeneous sensors.
- MIMIR, a software product for integrating networks of sensors and weapons, includes MFATS for sensor data fusion and a lightweight user display for operator engagement.
- An 18-year membership of the Lockheed Martin-led Missile Defense National Team, providing advanced algorithms to assist the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).
- A 13-year position providing advanced algorithms and software on the Northrop Grumman-led Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) program.
- Renovation of a 33,000 square foot facility to support the continued development of Spyglass radar – this new building located at 4450 Denrose Court in Fort Collins is the only location in Colorado that is currently manufacturing radar and one of only a few in the entire country.
About Numerica: Founded in 1996, Numerica focuses on creating innovative solutions to the most pressing technical challenges faced by customers in the areas of air defense and missile defense. Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colo., Numerica's rapidly growing team of talented research scientists and engineers tackle data science problems by developing advanced algorithms to power mission-critical national security software. This year, Numerica celebrates 25 years of developing state-of-the-art technologies that have been deployed around the world to integrate networks, fuse data, precisely track targets and quantify uncertainty. Learn more at www.numerica.us.
CONTACT: Kelly Wakefield
[email protected]
970-449-6870
SOURCE Numerica | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/numerica-announces-divestiture-of-space-division-301599009.html | 2022-08-03T14:40:22 | en | 0.922506 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi flew into Taiwan on an Air Force passenger jet, she became the highest-ranking American official in 25 years to visit the self-ruled island. China announced military maneuvers in retaliation, even as Taiwanese officials welcomed her and she headed to her hotel.
The reason her visit Tuesday ratcheted up tension between China and the United States: China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and it views visits by foreign government officials as them recognizing the island’s sovereignty.
President Joe Biden has sought to calm that complaint, insisting there’s no change in America’s longstanding “one-China policy,” which recognizes Beijing but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei.
Pelosi portrays her high-profile trip as part of a U.S. obligation to stand with democracies against autocratic countries, and with democratic Taiwan against China.
A look at some of the issues at play:
WHY DID PELOSI GO TO TAIWAN?
Pelosi has made a mission over decades of showing support for embattled democracy movements. Those include a trip in 1991 to Tiananmen Square, where she and other lawmakers unrolled a small banner supporting democracy, as frowning Chinese security officers tried to shut them down. Chinese forces had crushed a homegrown democracy movement at the same spot two years earlier.
The speaker is framing her Taiwan trip as part of a broader mission at a time when “the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.” She led a congressional delegation to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the spring, and her latest effort serves as a capstone to her years of promoting democracy abroad.
“We must stand by Taiwan,” she said in an opinion piece published by The Washington Post on her arrival in Taiwan. She cited the commitment that the U.S. made to a democratic Taiwan under a 1979 law.
“It is essential that America and our allies make clear that we never give in to autocrats,” she wrote.
WHAT IS THE U.S. STAND ON TAIWAN?
The Biden administration, and Pelosi, say the United States remains committed to its “one-China policy.”
Taiwan and mainland China split during a civil war in 1949. But China claims the island as its own territory and has not ruled out using military force to take it.
China has been increasing both diplomatic and military pressure in recent years. It cut off all contact with Taiwan’s government in 2016 after President Tsai Ing-wen refused to endorse its claim that the island and mainland together make up a single Chinese nation, with Communist Beijing the sole legitimate government.
Beijing sees official American contact with Taiwan as encouragement to make the island’s decades-old de facto independence permanent, a step U.S. leaders say they don’t support.
HOW IS THE CHINESE MILITARY HANDLING THE TENSION-RAISING TRIP?
Soon after Pelosi’s arrival, China announced a series of military operations and drills, which followed its promises of “resolute and strong measures” if Pelosi went through with her visit.
China’s People’s Liberation Army said the maneuvers would take place in the waters and skies near Taiwan and include the firing of long-range ammunition in the Taiwan Strait.
China’s official Xinhua News said the army planned to conduct live-fire drills from Thursday to Sunday across multiple locations. An image released by the news agency indicated that the drills were to take place in six different areas in the waters surrounding Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said early Wednesday that China had sent 21 planes flying toward Taiwan, 18 of them fighter jets. The rest included an early warning plane and an electronic warfare plane.
HOW HAS THE UNITED STATES RESPONDED?
While Biden has expressed some wariness about Pelosi’s trip, the administration has not openly opposed it and said it is up to Pelosi to decide whether to go.
Ahead of Pelosi’s visit, the American military increased its movements in the Indo-Pacific region. The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group were in the Philippine Sea on Monday, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.
The Reagan, the cruiser USS Antietam and the destroyer USS Higgins left Singapore after a port visit and moved north toward their home port in Japan. The carrier has an array of aircraft, including F/A-18 fighter jets and helicopters, as well as sophisticated radar systems and other weapons.
IS ARMED CONFLICT A RISK?
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Biden both have made clear they don’t want that. In a call with Biden last week, Xi echoed a theme of Biden’s — their countries should cooperate on areas where they can.
The biggest risk is likely an accident if China tries the kind of provocative maneuver it’s increasingly been executing with other militaries around the South China Sea. Those include close fly-bys of other aircraft or confronting vessels at sea.
However, when it comes to the United States, with the world’s strongest military, “despite a chorus of nationalistic rhetoric, China will be careful not to stumble into a conflict with colossal damages on all fronts,” said Yu Jie, a senior research fellow at the Chatham House think tank.
For China, the best approach is patience and time, Jie said — building toward the day when its economy and military could be too big for the U.S. to challenge.
___
This story has been corrected to show the name of the expert is Jie, not Lie. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/explainer-why-pelosi-went-to-taiwan-and-why-chinas-angry/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:23 | en | 0.961653 |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The charred body of an 81-year-old woman was found at her Los Angeles home, and police said Tuesday that the place had been ransacked.
A relative found the victim unresponsive Tuesday evening in the bedroom of the house in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Annie Hernandez said.
The woman's body had been set on fire, Hernandez said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
“There was evidence of forced entry and possible burglary," Hernandez said.
Homicide detectives were investigating.
Police said they have no suspect information. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Charred-body-of-woman-81-found-at-Los-Angeles-17348077.php | 2022-08-03T14:40:24 | en | 0.988093 |
ERLANGER, Ky. — A foursome recently broke the record for most rounds of miniature golf in 24 hours.
Cole Hetzel, Chris Hetzel, Tony Centers and Bob Schoettinger played 116 rounds in one day at The Putt-Putt Fun Center in Erlanger, Kentucky. The previous record was set back in 2005 by a group out of Germany who played 80 rounds in 24 hours.
The foursome had to follow some restrictions. They had to go in order, couldn't start the next hole until everyone was finished with the previous hole and they had to have someone keep score of every single putt and hole.
There were cameras and a clock at the course for Guinness World Record Officials to confirm the record.
They started playing at 8 a.m. Sunday and stopped playing Monday at 8 a.m., completing 24 hours straight of Putt-Putt Golf.
The group actually broke the previous record in under 15 hours, at 10:44 p.m. Sunday. Still, they played through the night to push the record even further to 116 rounds.
At 10:44pm last night, the foursome broke the record! Here’s the shot that broke the old record of 80. The foursome is still playing until 8am. I’ll have the updated world record as soon as I receive it.
— Adam Duwel🇺🇸🎥 (@AdamDuwel) August 1, 2022
Video courtesy: Laci Shea@WCPO @GWR pic.twitter.com/VQwOxbRZmB
Cole Hetzel said the group was raising money for Matthew 25: Ministries.
"They do some great work here locally with recent tornadoes... and now the flood in Eastern Kentucky, just stuff in our community," Hetzel said.
This isn't the Hetzels' first world record. They've previously broken the longest marathon of playing wiffleball, which is 30 straight hours, and the longest marathon of playing four square, 30 straight hours.
This article was written by Adam Duwel for WCPO. | https://www.fox13now.com/sports/group-breaks-world-record-for-most-mini-golf-rounds-played-to-raise-money-for-kentucky-flooding-victims | 2022-08-03T14:40:26 | en | 0.976227 |
HUNTINGTON, Ind., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. (OSV) has named Gretchen R. Crowe Editor-in-Chief of OSV News, the new Catholic news agency launching January 1, 2023, to fill the void created by the closure of the U.S. bishops' Catholic News Service.
"I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to pioneer OSV News as we build on the foundation of the long legacy of exemplary Catholic journalism provided by Catholic News Service," Crowe said. "As I begin to assemble a dedicated team of Catholic professionals committed to quality journalism, I look forward to working with them to share information, spread the Gospel, and promote the common good.
"The creation of OSV News further expands the vision of OSV founder Archbishop John Francis Noll, who sought to serve the Catholics of the early to mid-20th century by informing them about the events of the day through a Catholic lens, while also forming them in their faith. At OSV News, that mission will continue as we strive to report the news accurately and completely, within the bounds of justice and charity, at the service of truth," Crowe said.
"From the moment we considered creating OSV News," OSV Publisher Scott P. Richert said, "Gretchen Crowe was the clear choice to lead this new effort. In her two decades of work in the Catholic press, Gretchen has proved that no one has a greater heart for Catholic news, nor a better understanding of the vital role that the Catholic media must play in bringing the truth to a world desperately in need of it. As one of the leaders of OSV's Content Team, Gretchen also understands the changing landscape of all Catholic publishing and knows what the Catholic media must do to engage new generations of readers, listeners, and viewers."
Crowe began her tenure at OSV in 2013, when she was appointed by former publisher Greg Erlandson as Editor of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper, OSV's flagship publication founded in 1912 by Archbishop Noll. Crowe led the newspaper's efforts to respond to an ever-changing media landscape with an increased emphasis on daily content on the web and responding to news as it happens. She spearheaded strategy and market research efforts that led to a redesign of the newspaper in 2018 and its website in 2019. She helped lead efforts to move Our Sunday Visitor to its current state as a content-first publication, allowing for nimble production of content across multiple channels.
During her nearly 10 years at OSV, Crowe's position expanded with promotion to editorial director for periodicals. Under her leadership and direction, OSV launched four new publications: The Deacon magazine (a companion publication to OSV's nearly century-old magazine, The Priest), OSV Kids magazine, SimplyCatholic.com and RadiantMagazine.com. She also oversees TeachingCatholicKids.com. In addition to growing periodicals, Crowe serves on OSV's Publishing Committee and Book Acquisitions teams, and she assists with content creation for OSV's parish solutions division.
Crowe currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Media Association, for which she is chair of the Education Committee. Since 2013, she has been the national media representative to the Catholic Media Association's CNS liaison committee. She also is leading OSV's efforts in producing "Heart of the Revival," the weekly newsletter for the U.S. bishops' National Eucharistic Revival.
In addition to her work at the national level, Crowe has experience in diocesan newspapers. From 2004-2013, Crowe worked for the Diocese of Arlington's "Arlington Catholic Herald," under the mentorship of Catholic press veterans Michael F. Flach and Ann M. Augherton. In that capacity, her work was regularly used by Catholic News Service.
Crowe has received numerous recognitions for her writing, editing and photography from the Catholic Media Association. She is the author of two books, "Why the Rosary, Why Now?" (OSV, 2017) and "Praying the Rosary with St. John Paul II" (OSV, 2019). Her third book, "Legacy of Mercy: A True Story of Murder and a Mother's Forgiveness," is forthcoming from OSV Books this fall.
Crowe is an alumna of the inaugural class of "The Church Up Close" program offered for members of the international media by the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross' School of Church Communications in Rome. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Crowe is married to writer and editor Michael R. Heinlein, and the couple have three children. Crowe and her husband currently are in formation for the Association of Pauline Cooperators, under the direction of the Daughters of St. Paul.
ABOUT OSV
As the leading Catholic publisher in the United States, OSV provides products and solutions to more than nine of every ten Catholic parishes and every Catholic diocese in the country. Founded in 1912 by Fr. John Francis Noll, OSV's team of over 350 people continues to champion the Catholic Church through a wide range of products and services. From weekly and monthly publications to software solutions, fundraising and consulting services, curriculum products, trade books, and parish publications, OSV helps individual Catholics, families, parishes, and dioceses grow closer to Christ and contribute to the growth and vitality of his Church in the world. A not-for-profit Catholic organization, OSV has been supporting the needs of the Church for over a century. Learn more at www.osv.com.
Contact: Scott P. Richert
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Our Sunday Visitor | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/our-sunday-visitor-names-editor-in-chief-of-osv-news-301599054.html | 2022-08-03T14:40:28 | en | 0.964038 |
GCI expects scores to increase even more as it progresses toward 10 gig internet speeds
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the seventh straight year, GCI has been named Alaska's fastest internet service provider (ISP) by PCMag.com. GCI raised the bar yet again, setting a record high PCMag Speed Index (PSI) score of 176.7.
GCI's PSI score places it well above national providers Cox, Sparklight and AT&T Internet, which scored 143.8, 142.6, and 134, respectively. GCI's PSI score is also nearly three times higher than low earth orbit satellite provider Starlink, which clocked in at 60.5.
According to PCMag.com, "[GCI] set a record high of 149.0 last year for a PSI and eclipsed it again this time with a 176.7. It even has plans to introduce 10-Gig in the coming years."
"We're pleased to be recognized as Alaska's fastest ISP for the seventh year running," said GCI Chief Communications Officer Heather Handyside. "With the launch of residential 2 gig internet speeds last year and the addition of even more communities to our fiber-optic footprint, it's great to see that third-party analysis confirms what we already know — GCI delivers Alaska's fastest internet on the state's most advanced network!"
GCI was the first ISP in Alaska, and among the first in the country, to make 2 gig internet speeds widely available. Currently, GCI provides access to residential 2 gig internet speeds to 80% of Alaskans and is on track to deliver 10 gig service.
"Not only are we offering the best internet experience in Alaska, but we are also offering packages that combine GCI's superior internet service with 5G mobile service to provide cost savings and value for Alaskans," said GCI Chief Marketing Officer Kate Slyker. "Our customers can now get 5G and home broadband together starting at $99 a month for both services — it's a phenomenal deal. We are committed to sharing Alaska's most advanced network for Alaskans at an unmatched value."
GCI continues to expand its fiber footprint in Alaska and expects to launch 2 gig service in six new communities through its AU-Aleutians Fiber Project. The project is scheduled to deliver urban-level speed, service and reliability for the first time to the communities of Unalaska and Akutan by the end of 2022, Sand Point and King Cove by the end of 2023, and Chignik Bay and Larsen Bay in late 2024. GCI is also exploring a potential project to extend its fiber to Bethel, Alaska, which would deliver urban-level internet to the western Alaska community.
GCI's investment in its network doesn't just mean faster internet speeds, it also lays the groundwork for improved wireless service for its customers.
"As our PCMag rating indicates, GCI's internet service is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition, but it's important to point out that we have the same intention for GCI's wireless network," said Handyside. "In fact, we've already achieved that in Anchorage, where our 5G network delivers mobile data speeds that are twice that of AT&T. Alaskans need fast connectivity everywhere, not just at home."
GCI launched Alaska's first 5G network in Anchorage in 2020 and is currently expanding its 5G footprint in the Matanuska Valley. GCI expects to invest approximately $150 million in 2022 to improve wireless connectivity in communities across the state.
To determine a provider's PSI score, PCMag incorporates 80% of the download speed with 20% of the upload speed, based on results from PCMag's speed test tool. ISPs must receive a minimum of 100 different tests to be considered.
About GCI
Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested more than $4 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 40 years and recently launched true standards-based 5G NR service in Anchorage, now the nation's northernmost 5G service area. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at http://www.libertybroadband.com.
Visit the GCI Digital Newsroom for the latest news and information
SOURCE GCI | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pcmagcom-names-gci-alaskas-fastest-isp-for-seventh-consecutive-year-301598549.html | 2022-08-03T14:40:29 | en | 0.944409 |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque city councilors have paved the way for people to get arrested if they refuse to leave an arroyo. Tuesday night, council passed an ordinance that gives the Albuquerque Police Department the authority to remove people from arroyos.
The measure sponsored by Tammy Fiebelkorn requires officers to give a written warning first, allowing time for the person to gather their belongings and move on. However, there is a key exception; if there is imminent danger of flooding, officers are allowed to command someone to leave right away.
Supporters say the measure aims to protect the public, as well as first responders who are put at risk when they have to rescue someone. In the last five years, at least a dozen people have been killed in arroyo floodwaters, including four people last year. The bill will now head to Mayor Tim Keller’s desk. | https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/people-refusing-to-leave-arroyos-could-soon-be-arrested/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:29 | en | 0.966825 |
PHOENIX (AP) — The attorney for Arizona’s most populous county sent a letter on Tuesday warning a local candidate to stop encouraging voters to steal the pens given to them at polling places on Election Day to mark their ballots.
Tuesday was the final day of voting in Arizona’s primary, and the conspiracy theories surrounding the ballot-marking pens echoed the now infamous #SharpieGate controversy that erupted after the 2020 election.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell sent the letter to Gail Golec, a candidate for county supervisor who made various social media posts on Tuesday urging supporters not to use the pens provided by election workers at polling places and to take them when they leave.
“As you well know, theft of any sort is unlawful; moreover encouraging theft of the fast-drying ink pens specifically recommended for election day voting is a deliberate attempt to interfere with election administration and will have the harmful effect of delaying the vote tabulation of election day ballots, as the wet ink harms the vote center tabulation machines,” Mitchell wrote in the letter.
Golec, in a response posted on Twitter, said her intention was to “Protect Our Vote, not encourage you to steal pens” and reiterated false claims that the pens provided by poll workers allow election workers to change people’s votes.
Maricopa County election officials have been urging voters to ignore these conspiracy theories, explaining that the felt-tip pens provided to voters are designed to limit problems such as smudging, which can happen when voters use ballpoint pens. On its website, the elections office says the ink from ballpoint pens doesn’t dry as quickly. The wet ink on the ballots could smear the inside of the machine and prevent it from working properly.
On Tuesday, Maricopa County election officials said they were having to replace some machines because voters failed to use the pens provided to them. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/false-claims-about-pens-in-arizona-primary-prompts-warning/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:30 | en | 0.956782 |
Plant-Based Coffee & Tea Latte Brand Pop & Bottle Expands Its Product Line with Super Concentrates
Certified Organic Super Concentrates unveiled this month exclusively at 2,200 Walmart stores across the nation and online
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pop & Bottle, the female-founded coffee company known for its premium, organic, dairy-free Oat and Almond Milk Lattes, is expanding its offerings with a line of Super Concentrates—in Classic Cold Brew, Vanilla Cold Brew and Mocha Cold Brew—exclusively at Walmart stores and on walmart.com.
Made with specialty grade, direct trade Arabica beans sourced from Central America, this deliciously smooth coffee concentrate requires just one tablespoon to make any favorite coffee beverage at home with ease—no French press, drip machine or espresso maker needed. Pop & Bottle's proprietary, sustainable extraction process yields 90% of the coffee extracted from each bean with minimal waste and significantly reduced oxidation, resulting in an ultra-smooth, robust-flavored, 15x strength liquid coffee concentrate.
Pop & Bottle was founded in 2015 by coffee and wellness-obsessed friends Jash Mehta and Blair Hardy, who were looking to create a convenient, high quality, clean caffeine option that met their own healthy living standards (and discerning palettes). The innovative company has redefined the daily coffee and tea ritual into one that is purposeful and nourishing—an act of self-care, a moment of indulgence without compromise.
"We first introduced Pop & Bottle plant-based lattes in 2015 with the goal to bring purpose and indulgence back into our everyday coffee routines, but in a healthy, more nourishing way," says Jash Mehta, CEO and Cofounder of Pop & Bottle. "We're so thrilled to expand our product line beyond lattes with the launch of the Super Concentrate. With the concentrate, we're adding ease, convenience, and versatility to the coffee routine, all while still staying true to our quality, clean ingredients and delicious taste."
Always pure, Pop & Bottle's newly launched concentrates not only taste deliciously smooth but are also thoughtfully crafted from superior ingredients:
- Direct trade coffee beans
- 100% certified organic ingredients
- Sustainably packaged and produced
- Free from emulsifiers, additives, and artificial flavorings
Pop & Bottle's new Super Concentrates are currently available at Walmart. Each bottle contains 16 servings and retails for $12.98. Pop & Bottle's Oat Milk Lattes and Almond Milk Lattes, infused with elevated ingredients like collagen and functional mushrooms, are also available at Walmart, as well as many other retailers across the nation and online. Visit www.popandbottle.com for more information.
Pop & Bottle manufactures organic, functional plant-based coffee & tea. The brand was founded by Blair Hardy and Jash Mehta with the goal of creating delicious, wholesome lattes made without dairy or refined sugar. All Pop & Bottle ready-to-drink lattes and super concentrates are thoughtfully crafted from responsibly sourced, high quality, plant-based ingredients. Visit popandbottle.com.
Press Contact: Kirsten Anderson, Krupa Consulting
[email protected]
212.226.2922
SOURCE Pop & Bottle | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plant-based-coffee--tea-latte-brand-pop--bottle-expands-its-product-line-with-super-concentrates-301599010.html | 2022-08-03T14:40:35 | en | 0.913423 |
(The Hill) – President Joe Biden on Wednesday will sign an executive order directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consider using Medicaid to pay for expenses for those who cross state lines to seek abortions.
The executive order will direct HHS “to consider action to advance access to reproductive healthcare services, including through Medicaid for patients who travel out of state for reproductive healthcare services,” according to a White House fact sheet released on Wednesday.
The executive order will be the second that Biden has signed since the conservative Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion ruling, in June. Biden has been under pressure to take more aggressive actions to support abortion access as various states move to restrict the procedure following the ruling.
A senior Biden administration official told reporters that the action would require states where abortion is legal to apply for Section 1115 Medicaid waivers to provide services for women crossing state lines for abortions.
The White House did not specify what costs Medicaid could potentially cover. Another senior administration official told The Hill that HHS would soon provide more information on what a waiver could look like, saying it would help “cover certain costs” and largely target low-income women who receive Medicaid.
Medicaid funds could not be used to pay for abortions themselves because the Hyde Amendment prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for most abortions.
Biden will sign the new order Wednesday afternoon at the first meeting of a reproductive healthcare access interagency task force set up by his previous executive order. Vice President Harris, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Attorney General Merrick Garland and other administration officials are scheduled to attend.
Biden is supposed to tune into the meeting virtually, as he is still isolating following a rebound infection of COVID-19.
The latest order will also instruct HHS to consider providing technical assistance and other actions to make sure healthcare providers comply with non-discrimination laws in the wake of the ruling striking down Roe, according to the White House fact sheet.
Additionally, the order directs HHS to improve federal research and data collection in order to evaluate the impact that the striking down of Roe is having on maternal health, the fact sheet said.
The executive order is likely to be well-received by those asking the administration to take more forceful action on abortion access.
However, the Biden administration has thus far resisted calls from some Democrats to declare a public health emergency exists with respect to abortion access.
The first senior administration official said that the White House continues to review options to protect access to abortion services, but suggested that such a declaration would not yield much in the way of additional resources or legal authority.
A number of states have moved to enact restrictions on abortion following the ruling striking down Roe. On Tuesday, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit challenging Idaho’s six-week abortion ban in its first legal action since the Supreme Court’s ruling. | https://www.krqe.com/news/biden-will-order-hhs-to-consider-using-medicaid-to-support-women-seeking-abortions-across-state-lines/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:35 | en | 0.953536 |
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo’s government has requested that the spokesman for the United Nations mission in Congo leave the country, saying he has made inappropriate statements amid demonstrations against the presence of the U.N. peacekeepers.
Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula wrote to the U.N. mission, known as MONUSCO, saying he considers that the current tensions between the U.N. and the population are due to the indelicate and inopportune statements by U.N. Congo spokesman Mathias Gillman.
“The Congolese government considers that the presence of this official on the national territory is not likely to promote a climate of mutual trust and serenity so essential between the Congolese institutions and MONUSCO,” the statement said.
“The Congolese government would greatly appreciate if arrangements are made for Mr. Gillman to leave the territory as soon as possible.”
There was no immediate communication from the U.N. on the request.
The government did not point to specific statements made by Gillman, but in July during a press conference, he mentioned that MONUSCO and the Congolese army have limited means to deal with several fronts of attacks, in particular those by the M23 rebel group which has gained more weapons and is staging heavy attacks on civilians.
Congo’s government held a crisis meeting earlier this week to reassess the presence of United Nations peacekeepers after protests against the force in the country’s east killed at least 36 people and injured more than 170 others.
The government will also meet with the U.N. mission to discuss the possibilities for its withdrawal.
The U.N. force has already withdrawn from two provinces of Congo, Kasai and Tanganyika.
The statement from the foreign minister mentioned 2024 as the goal, saying that they wanted the spokesman removed to help “complete the transition plan for the end of its final withdrawal from Congo, by the horizon 2024, as agreed.”
The U.N. force in Congo, known as MONUSCO, has about 16,000 uniformed personnel but has not succeeded in stabilizing the country’s volatile east.
Congo’s mineral-rich east is home to myriad rebel groups. Security has worsened there despite a year of emergency operations by the armies of Congo and Uganda. Civilians in the east have also faced violence from jihadi rebels linked to the Islamic State group. Fighting has also escalated between Congolese troops and the M23 rebels, forcing nearly 200,000 people to flee their homes. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Congo-asks-UN-mission-spokesman-to-leave-amid-17347926.php | 2022-08-03T14:40:36 | en | 0.975358 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland swore in the new director of the federal Bureau of Prisons Tuesday as the Biden administration looks to reform the beleaguered agency.
Colette Peters was sworn in at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. The former director of the Oregon state prison system replaces Michael Carvajal, who submitted his resignation in January amid mounting pressure from Congress after investigations by The Associated Press exposed widespread corruption, misconduct and abuse in the agency.
She takes the reins about a week after Carvajal appeared before a Senate subcommittee investigating the agency during which he refused to accept responsibility for a culture of corruption and misconduct that has plagued his agency for years, angering both Democratic and Republican senators.
Peters said during her swearing in that she was “humbled, honored and proud to serve” in the position. She also welcomed congressional oversight, adding that she believes in “good government” and transparency.
Peters is only the second director in the agency’s history with no prior experience in the federal prisons system. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco led the search for the new director and had been looking for someone who was focused on reforming an agency that has had cultural issues for decades.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said he had “full confidence” in Peters’ ability to innovate, reform and lead the Bureau of Prisons.
In an interview with the AP last month, Peters stressed the importance of working to “create an environment where people can feel comfortable coming forward and talking about misconduct.”
Investigations by the AP have exposed myriad crises in the agency that agency that employs more than 30,000 people and has an annual budget of about $8 billion. The AP documented sexual abuse by correctional officers, rampant criminal conduct by staff, dozens of escapes, deaths and critically low staffing levels that have hampered responses to emergencies. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/garland-swears-in-new-us-prisons-chief-in-push-for-reform/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:36 | en | 0.975911 |
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – Krispy Kreme is deflating the price of a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts to match U.S. average gas prices.
“We know everyone could use a little doughnut deflation to sweeten the recent pain at the pump,” the company said in a statement.
Every Wednesday through Aug. 31, Krispy Kreme is pricing its Beat the Pump Original Glazed Dozen based on the national average price of a gallon of regular gasoline.
The price for Aug. 3 was $4.21, with prices changing week to week.
Krispy Kreme will announce the new price for the dozen every Tuesday on its website. The new price will also be posted on the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
The company said guests are limited to two Original Glazed dozens at participating shops via in-store, drive-thru or online.
Though a gallon of regular gasoline was selling for $4.21 on average Wednesday, that’s substantially lower than in June, when the nationwide average surpassed $5 a gallon. Nevertheless, it’s still painfully high for many frontline workers and families to afford, and about 32% higher than what drivers were paying a year ago.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/krispy-kreme-matches-doughnut-prices-to-us-average-gas-price/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:40 | en | 0.948084 |
EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Two brothers – one who was paying off his debt to smugglers and another getting paid for driving unauthorized migrants from El Paso to Albuquerque – are facing federal charges in connection with last week’s fatal crash in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
Julio Garcia Rascon and his brother Jorge Garcia Rascon are each facing a charge of “conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens resulting in death” in U.S. District Court in New Mexico.
The charges stem from the July 27 rollover crash on McNutt Road that killed two Mexican nationals and sent nine others to University Medical Center in El Paso.
Federal court documents obtained by Border Report showed the driver, Julio Garcia, had orders from the migrant smuggling organization that hired him not to stop if law enforcement attempted to pull him over.
Julio Garcia is also facing state charges in New Mexico: two counts of homicide by vehicle; 10 counts of causing great bodily injury by vehicle; and reckless driving.
The tan Chevrolet Tahoe with Mississippi plates was carrying a total of 13 people, including the driver and his brother, whom the Mexican Foreign Ministry earlier referred to as the “co-pilot.”
Federal court documents say the brothers popped in the U.S. Border Patrol radar when agents spotted the SUV with Mississippi tags proceeding west on New Mexico Highway 9 near Peter Domenici Freeway, then coming back eastbound. The agents noticed the vehicle was riding low the second time around as if weighed down.
The complaint says the agents tried to stop the vehicle for a check, but the driver failed to yield and sped up along Pete Domenici – a road that starts at the Santa Teresa U.S. Port of Entry and turns into Artcraft Road near the Texas state line. Artcraft leads onto Interstate 10.
Federal court documents state that the Border Patrol “ceased pursuit” and turned off sirens and emergency lights at Pete Domenici Freeway upon seeing the driver speed away. The driver lost control on McNutt and Airport Road and the vehicle flipped and rolled off the road.
The crash killed 24-year-old Jorge Garcia Vazquez and 18-year-old Guadalupe Cruz Vazquez, both of Mexico. Federal officials say both of the Garcia Rascon brothers attempted to run away after the crash but were apprehended.
Both brothers were read their Miranda rights by law enforcement and allegedly agreed to answer questions without the presence of an attorney. Court documents state Jorge Garcia Rascon said he and his brother were smuggled into the United States illegally from Mexico and were staying in a motel in El Paso and transporting other migrants from El Paso to Albuquerque on behalf of the smugglers.
Jorge Garcia Rascon stated he transported six undocumented migrants to Albuquerque a week before the crash. He said he did not get paid by the criminal organization but in return the smugglers would forgive the money he owed them, court documents state.
Julio Garcia Rascon also agreed to talk without counsel. During the interview, he stated to law enforcement that he and his brother worked for the unnamed smuggling organization transporting migrants. He said he was paid $500 for each migrant he transported, which included two trips to Albuquerque.
Further, Julio Garcia Rascon, the alleged driver of the tan Tahoe, stated the criminal smuggling organization had instructed him not to stop if law enforcement attempted to stop him.
Both brothers have a preliminary detention hearing scheduled via Zoom on Wednesday morning in Magistrate Judge Stephan M. Vidmar’s court in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Court documents show Jorge Garcia Rascon has signed a waiver of hearings. | https://www.krqe.com/news/top-stories/cartel-to-driver-in-fatal-crash-dont-stop-for-border-patrol/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:41 | en | 0.969822 |
Lumen's Quantum Fiber service raises the speed ceiling and provides one of the fastest broadband speeds in the U.S. to homes and small businesses
DENVER, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN), through its premier fiber internet service, Quantum Fiber, is now offering one of the fastest internet speeds in the U.S. Upload and download speeds up to 8 gigabits per second are now available to select residents and small businesses in cities near Denver, Minneapolis and Seattle, with more cities to come.
"Technology is evolving and so is Lumen as we tap into the power of our fiber network to give communities more bandwidth to excel at work, play and online life," said Andrew Dugan, chief technology officer at Lumen. "Lumen is strengthening its portfolio and increasing gigabit speeds to fuel consumer and small business broadband connections – and it's just the beginning. We're investing in technology and internet speeds that will continue to push families and businesses into the future."
Tech Talk:
- Quantum Fiber service up to 8 gigabits provides internet speeds 40 times faster than the average advertised U.S. download speed*.
- Lumen is using XGS-PON technology, a passive optical network to provide the symmetric multi-gig capabilities.
- Innovative installation: Lumen will install a permanent network interface and router at the premise that is separate from the customer's Wi-Fi, allowing for easy Wi-Fi activations and simple upgrades as technology evolves.
"This is a game-changer for internet users who want to broaden their horizons with multi-gigabit connections," said Maxine Moreau, president of Lumen Mass Markets. "Quantum Fiber service delivers reliably fast internet for the increasing number of connected devices, virtual work environments, next-level gaming and the ability to upload extremely large files in a matter of seconds. We're so pleased to bring this industry-leading technology to our Quantum Fiber communities to help them thrive in a digital world."
Quantum Fiber Benefits:
Quantum Fiber is built for the always-online home and small business, with a focus on symmetrical high-speed fiber connectivity and a fully enabled digital customer experience offering:
- Gigabit and multi-gigabit broadband speeds
- 99.9% reliability based on network uptime or availability
- Symmetrical upload and download speeds
- No contracts, no bundles, no data caps
- 100% digital ordering and subscription-based billing
What's Next:
Quantum Fiber will begin offering up to 8 gigabit internet plans in additional markets later this year. More information about Quantum Fiber can be found at www.Q.com.
* Based on the weighted average advertised U.S. data connection download speed of participating Internet Service Providers of 193.9 Mbps. FCC Measuring Fixed Broadband Eleventh Report, December 2021.
About Lumen Technologies and the People of Lumen:
Lumen is guided by our belief that humanity is at its best when technology advances the way we live and work. With approximately 500,000 route fiber miles and serving customers in more than 60 countries, we deliver the fastest, most secure platform for applications and data to help businesses, government and communities deliver amazing experiences. Learn more about the Lumen network, edge cloud, security, communication and collaboration solutions and our purpose to further human progress through technology at news.lumen.com/home, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, Twitter: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies and YouTube: /lumentechnologies. Lumen and Lumen Technologies are registered trademarks in the United States.
SOURCE Lumen Technologies | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quantum-fiber-launches-multi-gig-service-delivering-symmetric-8-gigabit-internet-speeds-in-select-cities-301598930.html | 2022-08-03T14:40:41 | en | 0.915995 |
Tiger Woods turned down an offer that Greg Norman says was “somewhere in that neighborhood” of $700 million to $800 million to take part in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series.
During an appearance on Fox News with Tucker Carlson that aired Monday night, Norman confirmed what he told the Washington Post in a story two months ago. Norman told the Post in June the offer was “mind-blowingly enormous; we’re talking about high nine digits.”
Woods has been opposed to LIV Golf since late last year, and he delivered his strongest comments at the British Open when he said players who took the money funded by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund had “turned their back” on the PGA Tour that made them famous.
When an offer was made to Woods was not clear.
“That number was out there before I became CEO. So that number has been out there, yes,” Norman said in the Fox News interview, which took place Sunday at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey, where the third LIV Golf Invitational was held.
“And, look, Tiger is a needle-mover and of course you have to look at the best of the best,” Norman said. “So they had originally approached Tiger before I became CEO. So, yes, that number was somewhere in that neighborhood.”
Various reports out of the United Kingdom have said Phil Mickelson received a $200 million signing bonus, while Dustin Johnson received $150 million. The 48-man fields, which play 54 holes with no cut, offer $25 million in prize money at each event. Norman announced a 14-tournament schedule for next year.
LIV Golf currently has only one player — Johnson at No. 18 — from the top 20 in the world.
The source of the funding has led to sharp criticism of the series and the players who have enlisted because it is viewed as an attempt to distract attention from its human rights record and links to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Asked why his rival tour has caused such an uproar among American golf fans, Norman responded plainly, “I don’t know.”
“I really don’t care,” Norman said. “I just love the game so much and I want to grow the game of golf and we at LIV see that opportunity not just for the men but for the women.”
The LIV Golf Invitational is off for a month during the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour, returning over Labor Day weekend about an hour west of Boston, and then two weeks later plays in the Chicago suburbs. | https://www.krqe.com/sports/ceo-of-liv-golf-reveals-mind-blowingly-enormous-amount-of-money-tiger-woods-turned-down/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:42 | en | 0.988242 |
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
David Drake, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Bret Shaw, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Mary Magnuson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
(THE CONVERSATION) Coyotes have become practically ubiquitous across the lower 48 United States, and they’re increasingly turning up in cities. The draws are abundant food and green space in urban areas.
At first these appearances were novelties, like the hot summer day in 2007 when a coyote wandered into a Chicago Quiznos sub shop and jumped into the beverage cooler. Within a few years, however, coyote sightings became common in the Bronx and Manhattan. In 2021 a coyote strolled into a Los Angeles Catholic school classroom. They’re also appearing in Canadian cities.
People often fear for their own safety, or for their children or pets, when they learn about coyotes in their neighborhoods. But as an interdisciplinary team studying how people and coyotes interact in urban areas, we know that peaceful coexistence is possible – and that these creatures actually bring some benefits to cities.
Adaptable animals
Coyotes can thrive in urban environments because they are incredibly adaptable. As omnivores, coyotes can change their diets depending on the type of food that’s available.
In rural areas coyotes may feed on bird eggs, rabbits, deer and a wide range of nonanimal matter, like plants and fruits. In urban environments they’ll supplement their natural diet with human-provided food sources, such as outdoor pet feeders and garbage cans.
Coyotes prefer to live in packs, and usually do so in rural areas. In urban areas, coyotes live in packs as well, although it may not seem that way because they are often seen individually rather than as a group.
Solitary coyotes not associated with a pack are somewhat common but tend to be transitory animals looking to join a pack or establish a new one in an unoccupied territory. These solitary coyotes can roam many miles per day, which enables them to disperse to new cities in search of food.
Some wild species need very specific types of habitat to survive. For example, the Kirtland’s warbler is a rare North American songbird that breeds only in young jack pine forests in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario. In contrast, coyotes are habitat generalists that can live on and around a wide variety of land types and covers.
Many kinds of habitat that coyotes use in rural areas, such as parks, prairies, forest patches and wetlands, are also found in cities. Typically coyotes avoid the urban cores, but in Chicago they inhabit the downtown area and have been able to survive quite well.
Finally, urban coyotes have flexible activity patterns. Most urban coyotes are active mainly between dusk and dawn, when they are less visible than in daylight. However, as coyotes grow used to humans and begin to lose their fear of people, they may be seen more frequently during daylight hours.
Hunting rodents and spreading seeds
Studies show that urban coyotes generally avoid direct interactions with people. A long-term study in Chicago found that these animals are good at adapting to human-built environments and navigating urban areas without being seen by humans. Often people may not realize they’re sharing the urban landscape with coyotes until they see one in their neighborhood.
Despite their trickster portrayal in folklore and popular media, coyotes tend to avoid conflict. They enter urban landscapes because they’re opportunistic. And because cities don’t have apex predators like wolves or bears, there are lots of smaller wild prey species, such as squirrels and rabbits, running around for coyotes to feed on.
A 2021 study conducted in Madison, Wisconsin, found that the vast majority of human interactions with coyotes there were benign. When asked to rank how aggressive coyotes had been during interactions on a scale of 0 (calm) to 5 (aggressive), most of the 398 people in the study chose zero. More than half of the coyotes in the study moved away from the human, indicating that the animals maintained a healthy fear of people.
And having coyotes around can be useful. In urban areas they are at the top of the food chain and can help regulate populations of prey species such as rabbits, rats and mice. Since coyotes are omnivores, they also eat plant material and spread seeds when they defecate.
Our team is working to learn how people feel about coyotes in their urban communities so that we can identify the best ways to foster positive human-coyote relationships. In Madison, we’ve found that many people appreciate coyotes and are likely to respond positively to messages that highlight coyotes as a valued part of the urban landscape.
Don’t be afraid to haze
If you encounter an urban coyote, it’s OK to enjoy watching it from a safe distance. But then haze it by making noise – for example, yelling and waving your arms to look big.
For animal lovers, this might seem harsh, but it’s extremely important to make sure the coyote doesn’t get too close. This teaches the animal to keep away from people. In the rare cases in which urban coyotes have attacked humans, the animals typically had become habituated to human presence over time.
If you have pets, keep them leashed in public parks and watch them when they’re loose in unfenced yards. Keep their food inside as well. To a coyote, a dishful of dog food is an easy free meal, and it may cause coyotes to revisit the area more frequently than they would if human-provided food weren’t accessible.
Based on existing research, we believe urban landscapes have plenty of room for coyotes and humans to coexist peacefully. It starts with each species giving the other enough room to go about its business. To learn more about these amazingly adaptable animals, check out the national nonprofit Project Coyote and the Wisconsin-based Urban Canid Project.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/coyotes-are-here-to-stay-in-north-american-cities-heres-how-to-appreciate-them-from-a-distance-186893. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Coyotes-are-here-to-stay-in-North-American-cities-17347937.php | 2022-08-03T14:40:43 | en | 0.95811 |
Members of the far-right Oath Keepers’ extremist group charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol will face jurors this fall after a judge on Tuesday denied defense attorneys’ bid to delay the high-profile trial until next year.
Lawyers for Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, and other associates of the antigovernment group argued a trial beginning in September would be tainted by publicity surrounding recent Jan. 6 House committee hearings and that attorneys still have too much evidence to sort through.
But U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said he is confident the court will find a fair jury for the Oath Keepers’ case in Washington next month and that he’s obligated to oversee a speedy trial for the defendants, who have been locked up for months. Moving the trial would also “wreak havoc” on the court’s calendar, which is filled with trials into next year, he said.
“This is a court of law, we cannot wait on the legislative process to unfold,” Mehta said.
Rhodes and four co-defendants are heading to trial on Sept. 26 on charges including seditious conspiracy, a rarely used Civil War-era charge that calls for up to 20 years in prison. They are accused of plotting for weeks to block the peaceful transfer of power and keep President Donald Trump in office.
Defense attorneys have argued there was no plan to storm the Capitol and that any plans they made were only about providing security at the rally before the riot or protect themselves against possible attacks from far-left activists.
Mehta suggested Tuesday that he believes the defense has a strong case, saying he didn’t believe it was a “laydown” case for prosecutors and he’s “not sure jurors in the District of Columbia will either.”
A different judge overseeing the other major case stemming from the Jan. 6 riot — involving members of the Proud Boys extremist group — agreed to postpone the start of that trial from Aug. 8 to Dec. 12 after attorneys for several of the men argued that their clients couldn’t get a fair trial in the midst of the committee’s hearings. The committee has said it’s public hearings will resume in September.
In a separate matter on Tuesday, Mehta rejected Trump’s request to dismiss lawsuits filed by four Capitol police officers seeking damages arising from injuries they sustained while defending the Capitol from the violent mob.
Mehta cited an earlier February ruling denying Trump’s bid to dismiss other lawsuits filed by lawmakers and two Capitol police officers. In that ruling, Mehta said Trump’s words during a rally before the storming of the Capitol were likely “words of incitement not protected by the First Amendment.”
“Only in the most extraordinary circumstances could a court not recognize that the First Amendment protects a President’s speech,” Mehta wrote at the time. “But the court believes this is that case.”
Trump’s lawyers are appealing that ruling, saying in court papers filed last week that the Supreme Court has “made clear that when acting in his official capacity, a President of the United States is immune from civil suit.” | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/judge-wont-delay-oath-keepers-trial-over-jan-6-hearings/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:43 | en | 0.970789 |
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Adrienne Mayor, Stanford University
(THE CONVERSATION) As if the tumultuous din of battle is not horrendous enough, over the ages humans have discovered plenty of ways to exploit sound in warfare. I found an astonishing variety of ancient acoustic weapons while researching my book “Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs: Unconventional Warfare in the Ancient World.” Deploying sound in war has evolved over millennia, from natural animal sounds and music to today’s advanced sonic devices.
Calling a jig in the midst of battle
In antiquity, cavalry horses were trained to endure the piercing pipe music that led armies to battle. But a clever reversal of this training could spell victory.
In the seventh century B.C., the Kardians of Thrace, who lived in what is now northwest Turkey, were renowned for their cavalry. For entertainment, the mounted soldiers taught their horses to dance to pipes played at drinking parties. Rearing up and pawing the air, the horses kept time to the lively music.
Captured as a boy from Bisaltia in northeastern Greece, a prisoner named Naris heard about the marvelous dancing horses in the Kardian barbershop where he worked. According to the story recounted by the ancient Greek writer Athenaeus, Naris escaped, returned to Bisaltia, and prepared to make war on Kardia.
He had a secret weapon: a piper girl who had also escaped from Kardia. She taught the Bisaltian soldiers songs from Kardian banquets. Naris led his army out against the Kardian cavalry and signaled for his pipers to play. Pricking up their ears at the familiar tunes, the Kardian horses reared up to dance, throwing off their riders. In the chaos, the Bisaltians crushed the Kardians.
When squeals terrorize living tanks
Cavalrymen of classical antiquity accustomed their horses to the clash of bronze weapons. But in the fourth century B.C., when Alexander the Great’s successors brought war elephants from India, the animals’ trumpeting threw horses into a frenzy.
Alexander had learned from King Porus during his 326 B.C. Indian campaign that elephants have sensitive hearing and poor eyesight, which makes them averse to unexpected loud, discordant sounds. When Alexander’s scouts reported that elephants were approaching, Porus advised Alexander’s horsemen to grab up pigs and trumpets and ride out to meet them. The shrill sound of the pigs combined with blaring trumpets sent the elephants fleeing.
In 280 B.C., the Romans first encountered war elephants, brought to Italy by Greek King Pyrrhus. The riders in the howdah seats upon their backs created an ear-splitting commotion with drums and clanging spears, causing the Romans and their horses to panic.
But Romans noticed that Pyrrhus’ elephants were unnerved by high-pitched squeals of swine. Like Alexander, the Romans deployed pigs to deflect Pyrrhus’ pachyderms, which contributed to his heavy losses. Later, in 202 B.C., blasts of Roman war trumpets panicked Carthaginian general Hannibal’s war elephants in the Battle of Zama, ending the Second Punic War.
Some commanders tried to obtain an elephant or two to condition their horses in advance of battle. Perseus of Macedon prepared for a Roman attack with war elephants in 168 B.C. by having artisans build wooden models of elephants on wheels. Pipers hidden inside the huge mock-ups played harsh sounds, acclimating the Macedonian horses to the sight and sound of elephants. But Perseus’ preparations were for naught. Even though the mountainous terrain at the Battle of Pydna got the better of the Romans’ 20 elephants, Rome was victorious.
War cries and wailing weapons
Bloodcurdling war cries are a universal way of striking terror in foes. Maori war chants, the Japanese battle cry “Banzai!” (Long Live the Emperor) in World War II, the Ottomans’ “Vur Ha!” (Strike), the Spanish “Desperta Ferro!” (Awaken the Iron), and the “Rebel Yell” of Confederate soldiers are examples. In antiquity, the sound of Greek warriors bellowing “Alala!” while banging swords on bronze shields was likened to hooting owls or a screeching flock of monstrous birds.
The Roman historian Tacitus described the hair-raising effects of the barritus, the war cry of Germanic tribes. The Germans devised a simple technique for intensifying the barritus, which began as a low murmur. The chanting became a roar, then rose to a reverberating crescendo as the men held up their shields in front of their mouths to amplify the thunderous sound.
Another technological invention was the karnyx, the Celtic war trumpet. Romans were awed by the eerie, spine-tingling sounds made by the long bronze tube with a wide bell shaped like the gaping jaws of a fierce dragon, boar or wolf. The horn’s loud, lugubrious tones “suited the tumult of war,” wrote Diodorus Siculus around 50 B.C. Later Roman troops used the karnyx themselves.
Another early military sound technology was an arrow that created a fearsome noise. “Whistling” or “screaming” arrows (shaojian) made by the horseback archers of the steppes were described by the Chinese chronicler Sima Qian in about 100 B.C. A small, perforated bone or wood sound chamber – the whistle – was attached to the shaft behind the arrowhead. In battle, the shrieking sound of thousands of whistling arrows terrified enemies and their horses. Screaming arrows have been recovered from archaeological sites in central Asia.
Numerous other technologies to produce booming detonations to disorient and frighten enemies were described in ancient Chinese war manuals. These explosive devices employed gunpowder, invented in China around A.D. 850, reaching Europe about 1250.
Sound weapons in the modern era
Music was used during World War II to cause stress and anxiety: The Soviet army played Argentine tangos through loudspeakers all night to keep German soldiers awake. U.S. loudspeaker teams blasted deafening rock music (including The Doors, Alice Cooper and The Clash) day and night during the U.S. siege of Panamanian Gen. Manuel Noriega in 1989. In the 2000s, Americans again deployed aggravating, incessant music in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sound weapons have their uses off the battlefield, too. Shopping centers have borrowed the idea, broadcasting classical symphonies and frequencies registered only by teenage ears to keep young loiterers away. In 2022, Australian police bombarded anti-COVID-19 vaccine protesters with recordings of Barry Manilow songs on repeat to break up the crowd.
Recent development of weaponized sound energy is more ominous, often intended for civilian crowd control. Military scientists in the United States, Israel, China and Russia have unveiled “nonlethal” high-decibel and pulsating high- and low-frequency armaments designed to assault the senses. Examples include hand-held or tank-mounted magnetic acoustic devices, sonic-vibration cannons, and long-range acoustic devices, first used by U.S. forces in Iraq in 2004 and later by police against citizen protests in New York and Missouri.
Since 2016, American diplomats in Cuba, Russia, China and elsewhere have experienced “Havana Syndrome,” associated with mysterious neurological and brain injuries thought to be inflicted by unknown high-powered microwave or targeted sonic energy systems. Sound wave transmitters are not only psychologically toxic but can cause pain and dizziness, burns, irreversible damage to inner ears and possibly neurological and internal injuries.
Since antiquity, human creativity in weaponizing devastating noise to confuse and overwhelm adversaries has progressed from intimidation to the infliction of physical injury.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/from-whistling-arrows-and-trumpeting-elephants-to-battle-cries-and-eerie-horns-ancient-soldiers-used-sound-to-frighten-and-confuse-their-enemies-182116. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/From-whistling-arrows-and-trumpeting-elephants-to-17347938.php | 2022-08-03T14:40:49 | en | 0.944795 |
Trott recognized by Ohio business leaders for creating the healthcare navigation category and guiding the industry's fastest-growing employer.
DUBLIN, Ohio, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum Health, the industry-leading healthcare navigation and care coordination company, announced today that Kara Trott, Founder and Board Chair, has received the C-Suite Most Admired Executives Award from Columbus Business First. Trott created Quantum Health over 20 years ago, when her research identified that consumers needed expert and empathetic guidance to effectively and efficiently navigate the healthcare experience. Trott was named to this prestigious list of most admired executives based on peer votes from the Columbus, Ohio business community.
"Kara is a true innovator whose commitment to doing what's right for consumers has helped millions of individuals experience better, more caring healthcare journeys with optimal financial and clinical outcomes," said Zane Burke, CEO of Quantum Health. "By creating the only navigation model that proactively connects consumers, providers and employers, Quantum Health has helped hundreds of employer organizations improve their employees' health and wellbeing while simultaneously reducing their healthcare costs and gaining stronger financial returns."
Because of its differentiated model, Quantum Health's Healthcare Warriors™ serve as the single connection point between the employee, the employer's benefits ecosystem and its associated providers. By engaging all stakeholders at the earliest stages in the healthcare process and leveraging the platform's advanced technology and tools, Quantum Health ensures that employees receive a better experience and optimal outcomes — regardless of whether their healthcare issue is simple or complex.
"No one should navigate the complicated world of healthcare and benefits alone, and with the right healthcare navigation partner, they don't have to," said Trott. "I am honored to receive this recognition and to be included among this exceptional group of Ohio business leaders. Quantum Health is successful because of our dedicated and talented teams, and I am proud and grateful for all they do to support our stakeholders and make these outcomes possible."
Trott, who was honored among the C-Suite Award executives in 2015 and 2019, is widely recognized for her business vision, leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and success. She serves on multiple local and national nonprofit boards and is a strong business supporter for both the Columbus community and the state of Ohio.
Quantum Health is the industry-leading consumer healthcare navigation and care coordination company that delivers an unparalleled consumer experience to its members, as well as validated claims savings and high satisfaction rates for its self-insured employer clients.
The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Dublin, Ohio. Since its inception, Quantum Health has earned numerous awards and honors, including being named among the Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. 5000, and a Great Place to Work by FORTUNE Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine. Quantum Health has consistently been named one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies by the Women Presidents Organization, and Columbus Business First has consecutively honored Quantum Health as a Best Place to Work.
To learn more about the company, visit quantum-health.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Susan Simkins
Quantum Health, Corporate Communications
[email protected]
800-257-2038 x 13494
SOURCE Quantum Health | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quantum-health-founder-and-health-tech-innovator-kara-trott-receives-c-suite-most-admired-executives-award-from-columbus-business-first-301599066.html | 2022-08-03T14:40:49 | en | 0.961266 |
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Justice Department on Tuesday filed a lawsuit that challenges Idaho’s restrictive abortion law, arguing that it conflicts with a federal law requiring doctors to provide pregnant women medically necessary treatment that could include abortion.
The federal government brought the lawsuit seeking to invalidate the state’s “criminal prohibition on providing abortions as applied to women suffering medical emergencies,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said.
The announcement is the first major action by the Justice Department challenging a state trigger law since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. The court’s decision has led some states to enact restrictive abortion laws and is likely to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states in the U.S.
The Justice Department brought the suit because federal prosecutors believe Idaho’s law would force doctors to violate the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, a federal law that requires anyone coming to a medical facility for emergency treatment to be stabilized and treated, Garland said.
“Idaho’s law would make it a criminal offense for doctors to provide the emergency medical treatment that federal law requires,” Garland said.
Idaho, like many Republican-led states, has several anti-abortion laws on the books, creating a legal quagmire now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the landmark abortion rights case Roe v. Wade.
The law targeted by the Justice Department criminalizes all abortions, subjecting anyone who performs or attempts to perform an abortion to a felony punishable by between two and five years in prison.
People who are charged under the law could defend themselves against the criminal allegations by arguing that the abortion was done to save a pregnant person from death, or that it was done after the pregnant person reported that they were a victim of rape or incest to a law enforcement agency — and provided a copy of that report to the abortion provider.
“Under the Idaho law, once effective, any state or local prosecutor can subject a physician to indictment, arrest, and prosecution merely by showing that an abortion has been performed, without regard to the circumstances,” the Department of Justice wrote in the lawsuit. “The law then puts the burden on the physician to prove an ‘affirmative defense’ at trial.”
Advocates for sexual assault survivors have said the rape and incest exception is essentially useless, because Idaho’s public record law doesn’t allow law enforcement agencies to release reports when a case is still under investigation — a process that generally takes weeks or months.
Dr. Caitlin Gustafson, a family physician, and a regional Planned Parenthood organization have already sued over the abortion ban and two other anti-abortion laws in the Idaho Supreme Court, which is expected to hear arguments in the case on Wednesday. In the lawsuit, Gustafson contends that the exception for medical emergencies is vague and impossible to interpret.
“It would be very difficult, if not impossible, for me to implement the medical exception and provide care to a pregnant person whose life may be at risk,” wrote Gustafson, noting that some serious pregnancy-related medical conditions like preeclampsia can cause death though it is not guaranteed to do so.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, said the U.S. Supreme Court gave states the ability to regulate abortion, “end of story.” He promised to work with the state’s attorney general, Lawrence Wasden, to defend the law.
“The U.S. Justice Department’s interference with Idaho’s pro-life law is another example of Biden overreaching yet again,” Little said in a prepared statement.
Wasden, also a Republican, said the lawsuit was “politically motivated” and said the Justice Department should have reached out to Idaho some time over the past six weeks work out the issue.
“Instead of complying with the requirements of this provision,” Wasden said, referencing the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, “or even attempting to engage Idaho in a meaningful dialogue on the issue, the federal government has chosen to waste taxpayer dollars on an unnecessary lawsuit.”
Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea praised the Justice Department’s lawsuit in a prepared statement, saying the state’s Republican politicians “would rather let a pregnancy kill a person than allow them to receive an abortion.”
“Idaho’s radical abortion ban gives health care providers an impossible choice: withhold medically necessary care or face prison time,” Necochea said. “In states where these bans have gone into effect, providers are waiting for medical conditions to worsen before assisting their pregnant patients, increasing the risk of sepsis and other life-threatening complications. This is immoral.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last month informed hospitals that they must provide abortion services if the life of the mother is at risk, saying federal law on emergency treatment guidelines preempt state abortion bans if the bans don’t have adequate exceptions for medical emergencies.
In response, the state of Texas sued the federal government, contending that the guidance from the Biden administration is unlawful and that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act does not cover abortions. That case is still pending.
___
Balsamo reported from Washington, D.C. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/justice-dept-sues-over-idahos-abortion-law/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:50 | en | 0.955529 |
Responding to a strong demand for more sustainable and transparent cane sugar supply chains, Raízen and ASR Group have partnered in this world first: Through a unique and dedicated farming, bioenergy parks and infrastructure operation, Raízen has created a 100% physically traceable and non-genetically modified supply chain. In return, ASR Group is making an investment and long-term purchasing commitment to Raízen, the proceeds of which will be dedicated to strengthening the sustainability of both companies' supply operations and supply chains.
SAO PAULO and WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Raízen, the world's largest sugar exporting company, and ASR Group, the world's largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar, announce a partnership that sets the standard for sustainable raw cane sugar supply chains globally. The unprecedented multi-year agreement between the partners creates the world's first fully physically traceable and 100 percent non-genetically modified (non-GM) certified supply chain. The partnership stretches from Raízen's sustainably certified sugarcane farms and bioenergy parks in Center-South Brazil, all the way to supporting the well-loved brands that make up ASR Group's cane sugar consumer products in North America and Europe.
Supported by an investment and a 10-year purchasing commitment from ASR Group, Raízen has developed unique processes, infrastructure, and technological solutions to track raw cane sugar from their farms and bioenergy parks – where the sugarcane is milled to produce raw sugar and biofuels – and segregate the final raw sugar through to a dedicated port terminal facility for export. In addition to carrying non-GM status, Raízen also ensures that the raw cane sugar meets the highest global ethical and environmental standards.
The first shipments of raw cane sugar under the new partnership are running through a dedicated export facility contracted by Raízen at the Port of Paranaguá in Paraná State, Brazil. During the first year of the partnership, ASR Group's cane sugar refineries in Canada, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Italy will receive deliveries as part of the supply chains of ASR Group's local brands, including Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle's®, and Sidul®. Future shipments to ASR Group's refineries in the United States and its Domino® and C&H® brands are also being considered.
"This partnership marks a new chapter in global sugar traceability," said Paulo Neves, Vice President of Trading at Raízen. "By segregating our operation, this initiative enables us to measure the full impact and footprint reduction in our supply chain more accurately. This certification enables us to confirm, through a third-party audit, the absence of GM sugarcane in our entire process, increasing the value of the product to customers who seek this type of sugar. We want to offer another alternative to this market."
The premium that ASR Group will pay for the raw cane sugar will be re-invested by Raízen to continue to further both companies' ESG targets. This will include projects looking at improving land productivity, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through operational efficiency and innovation, increasing water circularity, and other sustainability initiatives.
Alan Wood, ASR Group's Senior Vice President of Global Sugars, said, "This partnership between ASR Group and Raízen represents a big and important investment by both of us in our commitments to be the most sustainable sugar companies in the world. We are paying a premium for this sugar and are excited that this will be re-invested back into even more sustainability projects by Raízen. We're confident this will give our customers, as well as the thousands of people working in our own businesses, great pride that the supply chains they are a part of will continue at the cutting edge of reducing their impact on people and the planet."
The traceability of the whole chain is independently certified by FoodChain ID, an international leader in standard-setting and certification of food supply chains. The company has more than 20 years experience in creating secure and certified supply chains across the industry, working with agriculture, food brands, and food and drink retailers. Raízen is the first company in the sugar and energy sector to earn the certification for non-GM sugar. FoodChain ID has supported ASR Group for more than 10 years with verification and certification work in its global raw cane sugar sustainability program.
The bioparks involved in the process are located in the hubs of Piracicaba, Araçatuba, Andradina, Brotas, Araraquara, and Assis, and are part of the certified structure that covers Raízen's 15 bioenergy parks.
We are Raízen – a global benchmark in bioenergy with an integrated business ecosystem: from the cultivation and processing of sugarcane in our bioenergy parks, to the sales, logistics and distribution of fuels, we continually invest in innovation to reshape the future of energy.
Through advanced technologies, we seek to play a leading role in the energy transition by expanding our portfolio of renewable energy sources, such as second-generation ethanol (2GE), biogas, bioelectricity and solar energy. By doing so, Raízen has already avoided the emission of 5.2 million tonnes of C02 per year (reference: 2020); by 2030, we aim to avoid twice this amount.
With a team of 40,000 employees, we operate 35 bioenergy parks with an installed sugarcane crushing capacity of up to 105 million tonnes. In the 2020-2021 crop year, they produced 2.5 billion liters of ethanol and 4.4 million tonnes of sugar. We have approximately 1.3 million hectares of agricultural areas that are cultivated with state-of-the-art technology and mechanized harvesting. Our installed power generation capacity is 1.3GW; in the last harvest we produced 2.1 TWh of electricity using sugarcane biomass.
Through a network of 7,300 gas station resellers bearing the Shell brand in Brazil and Argentina, we serve millions of consumers on their daily journeys, offering everything from the exclusive Shell V-Power family of fuels to convenience and benefits when paying with Shell Box. Through Grupo Nós (a joint venture with FEMSA Comercio), we operate in the convenience and proximity retail market with Shell Select stores and OXXO markets.
In the 2020-2021 crop year, we sold 29 billion liters of fuel and 7.3 million tonnes of sugar through our infrastructure that includes 69 airport supply bases, 70 distribution terminals located across the country and operations in 11 ports.
We are one of the largest companies in Brazil in terms of revenue (R$ 114.6 billion in the last crop year); we create jobs and income, drive the economy, and invest in social responsibility via the Raízen Foundation.
ASR Group International, Inc. is the world's largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar, with an annual production capacity of more than 6 million tons of sugar. The company produces a full line of grocery, industrial, foodservice and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group owns and operates six sugar refineries, located in New York, California, Maryland, Louisiana, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, the company owns and operates sugar refineries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and, with a joint venture partner, Italy. ASR Group also farms sugarcane and owns sugar mills in Mexico and Belize. The company's portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Florida Crystals®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle's® and Sidul®. ASR Group is owned by Florida Crystals Corporation and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. ASR Group and its parent companies jointly own Tellus Products, LLC, a maker of compostable tableware and foodservice products from sugarcane and other plant fibers. For more information, visit www.ASR-Group.com.
SOURCE ASR Group | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/raizen-and-asr-group-partner-to-create-worlds-first-sustainable-and-fully-traceable-supply-chain-with-non-gm-raw-cane-sugar-backed-by-independent-certification-301599076.html | 2022-08-03T14:40:55 | en | 0.934717 |
BERLIN (AP) — The German government on Wednesday presented its plans for new coronavirus measures for the coming fall and winter as it expects virus cases to go up again during the colder season.
Wearing masks on planes and during long-distance travel by train and bus will be mandatory from October to early April all over Germany. Mandatory mask-wearing and the presentation of a negative coronavirus test will apply to hospitals, nursing homes and similar institutions with vulnerable people.
Many other rules will be implemented individually by the country's 16 states depending on how severely the virus spreads in their regions. This could include the wearing of masks on local public transportation, in schools for students in grade five and up, and at public indoor events.
Some community facilities such as schools, prisons or asylum-seeker shelters may also implement regular testing again if virus numbers rise, the German health and justice ministers said in a joint statement.
“Germany should be better prepared for the next coronavirus winter than in previous years,” Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said, adding that a vaccination campaign would start in the fall as well, with new vaccines.
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann added that special efforts will be made to keep schools open.
“Children have a right to school education and a school day that is as carefree as possible. School closures must therefore not be allowed,” Buschmann said, adding that states will “only be able to impose a mask requirement at schools if this is necessary in order to be able to continue to provide in-person teaching.”
The new regulations still need to go to Cabinet and parliament but are expected to pass. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Germany-announces-new-coronavirus-measures-for-17347957.php | 2022-08-03T14:40:55 | en | 0.971389 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new round of U.S. sanctions targeting Russian elites includes a woman named in news reports as Vladimir Putin’s longtime romantic partner.
The Treasury Department said Tuesday that the government has frozen the visa of Alina Kabaeva, an Olympic gymnast in her youth and former member of the state Duma, and imposed other property restrictions. The department said she is also head of a Russian national media company that promotes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Critics of the Kremlin and imprisoned Russian rights campaigner Alexey Navalny have been calling for sanctions against Kabaeva, saying her news outlet took the lead in portraying Western commentary on the invasion as a disinformation campaign.
The U.K. sanctioned Kabaeva in May and the EU imposed travel and asset restrictions on her in June.
Also named in Treasury’s latest sanctions package is Andrey Grigoryevich Guryev, an oligarch who owns the Witanhurst estate, a 25-bedroom mansion that is the second-largest estate in London after Buckingham Palace.
His $120 million yacht, the Alfa Nero, was also identified as blocked property. Also sanctioned was his son Andrey Andreevich Guryev and his son’s Russian investment firm Dzhi AI Invest OOO.
Christian Contardo, a former Treasury attorney now at Lowenstein Sandler LLP says “what we’ve seen is that the US government has identified that a lot of oligarchs are using family as a way to evade sanctions.”
“Some of the oligarchs will transfer ownership to their wives and children,” he said.
In April, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Putin’s adult daughters Katerina Vladimirovna Tikhonova and Maria Vladimirovna Vorontsova.
Russian steel manufacturer Publichnoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat, also known as MMK, its chairman of the board of directors, Viktor Filippovich Rashnikov, and its subsidiaries, were also designated for financial penalties.
Additionally, the State Department reported today that 893 Russian Federation officials, including Federation Council and military members, will have their visas blocked.
“As innocent people suffer from Russia’s illegal war of aggression, Putin’s allies have enriched themselves and funded opulent lifestyles,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
“Together with our allies, the United States will also continue to choke off revenue and equipment underpinning Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated U.S. support “for the brave people of Ukraine and will continue to promote accountability for President Putin and his cronies whose actions have caused so much suffering and destruction in Ukraine. ” | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/putins-rumored-girlfriend-hit-with-latest-u-s-sanctions/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:57 | en | 0.96183 |
Multifamily Veteran Will Bring the First-to-Market, Fully-Integrated Eviction Management Technology to the California Rental Housing Industry
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Resident Interface, the only comprehensive revenue recovery management solution designed for rental housing operators, today announced the addition of Mikel Persky-Hassman to the company's all-star team of strategic executives working to expand the reach of Possession Partner, its automated eviction management service.
Persky-Hassman, who brings more than 30 years of experience in sales and multifamily on both the residential and supplier-partner sides, is focused on adding California to Possession Partner's service lineup by Q4 of this year. Possession Partner will expand its reach from its current presence in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee and Texas.
"I am excited for Mikel to join our incredible sales team and bring the benefits of Possession Partner to our industry when it's needed the most," said Resident Interface Founder and CEO Stephen Sobota. "Having worked on the residential side, she brings a unique perspective to the operational knowledge and expertise of Possession Partner. As our industry continues to face challenges, it is imperative to deploy automated eviction management technologies that make day-to-day life easier for onsite teams while delivering greater loss recovery for operators."
Prior to joining Resident Interface, Persky-Hassman served as district sales manager with WASH, a supplier of laundry services to multifamily communities. She was the owner and CEO of The Package Solver, a Luxor One partner that supplied package lockers, before she moved to WASH. Throughout her stellar career, Persky-Hassman has worked in sales, consulting and management for suppliers and residential companies. She and her husband, Mark, split their time between northern and southern California and have five adult children.
"I am truly humbled and excited to be part of the team that is bringing a needed solution to our industry," said Persky-Hassman. "When I learned about the system's case processing, analytics and reporting capabilities, I wanted to be a part of the Possession Partner team. I look forward to helping industry leaders streamline and manage the eviction process through the Possession Partner platform."
"We are thrilled to have Mikel as the newest member of Possession Partner's first-rate sales team as we roll out the industry's first-ever, fully-integrated eviction management software to a brand new state," said Larry Bellack, executive vice president of Possession Partner. "California needs automated solutions for the eviction process, and Mikel is perfect to lead its introduction to the West Coast."
As one of four complementary Resident Interface services – which include Resident Advocate, Resident PreCollect and Hunter Warfield – Possession Partner leverages technology to coordinate all eviction-related paperwork, communication and filings on behalf of properties. The platform also establishes the relationship between properties and eviction attorneys and facilitates all correspondence with the court. Resident Interface's goal is to increase vacancy loss recovery and increase resident retention.
With more than three decades of maximizing property revenues through Hunter Warfield, Resident Interface offers property owners and managers a financially transformative, end-to-end delinquency management experience. Resident Interface is a comprehensive bad debt management solution that offers a single contact, responsible for the entire process from first late payment to final debt collection. The company achieves this through technological innovation, operational transparency and respectful recovery procedures. For more information, please visit www.residentinterface.com.
SOURCE Resident Interface | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/resident-interface-adds-mikel-persky-hassman-to-possession-partners-executive-sales-team-301598769.html | 2022-08-03T14:41:01 | en | 0.947248 |
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch government declared a national water shortage Wednesday caused by the hot, dry summer that is parching much of Europe, and formed a national team to draw up measures to manage supplies, while asking the public to also chip in with savings.
“The water shortage is already having a negative effect on shipping and agriculture in particular,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Mark Harbers.
He urged people “to think carefully about whether they should wash their car or completely fill their inflatable swimming pool. The Netherlands is a water country, but our water is precious here too.”
Very little rain has fallen in the Netherlands over the summer, and dry conditions further north and east in Europe mean less water is streaming into the country in rivers.
The government said that drinking water supplies are not threatened and said new measures are not yet necessary, but could be “in coming weeks.”
Water authorities in parts of the country already have put restrictions on farmers spraying crops with water, and several small ferries crossing rivers have been forced out of service because of low water levels. The drought conditions also are hindering freight-carrying barges that ply the country's rivers.
Amid soaring temperatures last month, authorities in Amsterdam were forced to spray water on mechanical bridges to stop them expanding and jamming shut.
The Netherlands is the latest country to feel the effects of the dry conditions. The European Union’s executive warned last month that the continent is facing one of its toughest years when it comes to natural disasters like droughts and wildfires because of increasing climate change. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Hot-dry-summer-Dutch-government-declares-water-17347991.php | 2022-08-03T14:41:01 | en | 0.967419 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is set to ratify NATO membership for Finland and Sweden, a crucial step toward swiftly expanding the Western military alliance with a show of U.S. support in response to Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Senators have invited the ambassadors of the countries to witness Wednesday’s historic debate and vote, which would open a new era for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. President Joe Biden has sought quick entry for the two previously non-militarily aligned northern European allies, and approval of the ratification resolution has vast bipartisan support in Congress.
“Our NATO alliance is the bedrock that has guaranteed democracy in the Western world since the end of World War II,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Schumer said he and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had committed to the country’s leaders that the Senate would approve the ratification resolution “as fast as we could” to bolster the alliance “in light of recent Russian aggression.”
NATO’s 30 member countries are in the process of considering the addition after Sweden and Finland set aside their longstanding stance of military nonalignment. It was a major shift of security arrangements for the two countries after neighboring Russia launched its war on Ukraine earlier this year.
The U.S. and its European allies have rallied with newfound partnership in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression, strengthening the NATO alliance first formed after World War II.
Biden sent the protocols to the Senate for review in July, launching a notably speedy process in the typically divided and slower-moving Congress.
Each member country in NATO needs to approve the accession of new members. The process ran into trouble when Turkey raised concerns over adding Sweden and Finland, in part because it views the two countries as soft on banned Turkish Kurdish exile groups. But the process has continued to move forward despite those early reservations.
On Wednesday, the Senate is expected launch several hours of debate, including on two amendments, before the final vote.
One amendment from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., would ensure that NATO’s guarantee to defend its members does not replace a formal role for Congress in authorizing the use of military force. Another from Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, would declare that all NATO members should spend a minimum of 2% of their gross domestic product on defense and 20 percent of their defense budgets on “major equipment, including research and development.”
Funding for NATO sparked as a top concern during the Trump era, including among some Republicans, but those issues have slid from prominence in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
McConnell has taken a lead role urging GOP support for NATO and vowing during Sweden and Finland would be quickly approved for membership during his own visit to Kyiv and the region earlier this year.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of NATO at https://apnews.com/hub/nato. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/senate-set-to-vote-to-ratify-adding-sweden-finland-to-nato/ | 2022-08-03T14:41:03 | en | 0.963301 |
The Exclusive Development Marks Rosewood's First Standalone Branded Residential Project in Los Angeles, California
HONG KONG, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® continues to grow its portfolio of exceptional residences with the announcement of Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills, the brand's first standalone residential condominium development in California. Located on Santa Monica Boulevard neighboring world-renowned landmarks and timeless Beverly Hills icons, the boutique development, comprised of 17 ultra-luxury residences, will serve as a model for enriched living in Southern California. Developed by Nahla Capital and GPI Companies, Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills is scheduled for completion in 2024, with sales to officially commence in 2023.
Situated in the heart of Beverly Hills, Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills features exterior architecture and interiors designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen, known internationally for his excellence in craftsmanship and design of residential developments, custom residences, and elegant restaurants. Evoking Rosewood's guiding A Sense of Place® philosophy, wherein each property reflects the texture and typology of its location, the residences will feature custom interiors and exquisite finishes that epitomize California's timeless and casual sophistication. Ranging from 3,000 to over 7,000 square feet, every private home comprises a vast array of truly unique amenities including private elevator access, large entry foyers, indoor and outdoor living areas, expansive chefs' kitchens with double islands, and mudroom/laundry rooms accessed by a discrete service elevator. Private swimming pools in nearly half the residences will create a focal point for their large terraces. Additional al-fresco features and amenities scattered across select residences include fully equipped outdoor kitchens, wet bars, and firepits, lending to exceptional living and entertaining.
"As the popularity of standalone branded residences continues to grow, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is thrilled to present this opportunity to enjoy the height of living in the prominent market of Beverly Hills," said Brad Berry, vice president of Global Residential Development at Rosewood Hotel Group. "Thoughtfully conceived to extend the utmost in design, service, and experience, Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills is poised to emerge as one of the most desirable destinations not only in California but across the country. We are proud to bring this incredible project to life alongside our partners and to further reinforce our commitment to delivering exceptional residential experiences in the most sought-after locations around the world."
Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills will be exclusively managed by a dedicated Rosewood Residential Team who oversee every aspect of the property's luxury service offerings. Coveted amenities will be available to its intimate group of homeowners, including a beautiful resort-like rooftop retreat featuring a pool, whirlpool spa, fitness center, and outdoor relaxation areas boasting breathtaking views of the city. Residents will also enjoy a communal rooftop lounge and dining spaces affording them the ability to host gatherings small or large.
"Nahla Capital and GPI Companies are proud to work alongside Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to introduce Rosewood Residences to the iconic Beverly Hills community," said Genghis Hadi, co-founder and managing principal of Nahla Capital. "Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills will consist of one-of-a-kind homes with many exquisite amenities, and we are excited to collaborate with Rosewood, Compass Development Marketing group, and best-in-class firms including Thomas Juul-Hansen and executive architect MVE Architects to bring this project to life."
For more information about Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills, please visit www.9900SantaMonica.com.
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® manages a global collection of 30 one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, resorts and residences in 18 countries. Each Rosewood property embraces the brand's A Sense of Place® philosophy to reflect the individual location's history, culture and sensibilities. The Rosewood collection includes some of the world's most legendary hotels and resorts, including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris, as well as new classics such as Rosewood Hong Kong and Rosewood São Paulo. For those who wish to stay a little longer, Rosewood Residences offer a distinct opportunity for the ownership or rental of properties co-located with a Rosewood hotel or resort and of standalone for-sale residences. Rosewood Residences are defined by the brand's commitment to Enriched Living through thoughtful details and experiences that enhance the quality of life while evoking a sense of discovery and inspiration.
For more information: rosewoodhotels.com
Connect with us: Facebook Twitter Instagram WeChat @RosewoodHotels
Nahla Capital is a New York based Real Estate Private Equity firm that manages and invests capital for institutional and global private clients in core urban markets in the United States. We invest in urban markets that are major gateway cities in the United States including New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin and Chicago, which have positive economic growth factors, compelling supply and demand dynamics, and strong employment sectors. At Nahla Capital we create a risk-adjusted investment strategy for our investors. We focus on delivering superior returns while actively managing exposure to risk and market fluctuations. We invest in core-plus, value add and opportunistic and mezzanine transactions. To date, Nahla Capital has invested in excess of $400 million in equity for a total AUM of $1.85 billion.
Lean more about Nahla Capital at https://www.nahlacapital.com
Founded in 2008 as Goldstein Planting Investments, GPI Companies is managed by Cliff Goldstein, Drew Planting, and Lee Wagman. GPI Companies is a real estate investment and development firm that pursues a targeted range of properties where value can be enhanced through repositioning, redevelopment, or increased operational efficiency. The company and its principals have a history of delivering superior returns to their investors by successfully identifying and exploiting mispriced assets while at the same time minimizing volatility. GPI has the expertise and experience to execute projects of various sizes and complexity. With a team of seasoned real estate executives, the company's real estate investments are managed and operated directly by GPI Companies. Capital partners include prominent private equity funds, public pension plans, offshore investors, and family offices. The three partners of GPI Companies have more than 100 years of combined experience and have acquired or developed over $6 billion in award-winning urban real estate assets and leased and managed more than 20 million square feet of commercial space.
Learn more about GPI at https://www.gpicompanies.com.
From project inception to building sellout, Compass Development Marketing Group partners with the world's most forward-thinking developers and innovative architects through the lifespan of a project. Leveraging tenured expertise and the industry's most powerful technological resources, we provide strategic advice for record-breaking results. The company offers a comprehensive range of developer services, including research and analysis, planning and design, marketing and sales for luxury real estate. With nationwide representation in over 200 Compass offices, CDMG empowers residential developers with an unparalleled sales footprint in the United States. Licensed as Compass.
CDMG is a subsidiary of Compass, a Fortune 500 company and the leading real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume.
For more information, visit https://www.compass.com/development
Media Contact:
North America
Kendall Trainer
Nike Communications
Telephone: +1 646 654 3438
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE Rosewood Hotels & Resorts | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rosewood-hotels--resorts-announces-rosewood-residences-beverly-hills-301599053.html | 2022-08-03T14:41:07 | en | 0.91936 |
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The climate deal reached last week by Senate Democrats could reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that American farmers produce by expanding programs that help accumulate carbon in soil, fund climate-focused research and lower the abundant methane emissions that come from cows.
The bill includes more than $20 billion to improve the agriculture sector’s impact on the environment, mostly by expanding existing U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that help farmers change to better practices. Farmers would be paid to improve the health of their soil, withstand extreme weather and protect their land if the bill is enacted.
The roughly $370 billion climate and energy spending deal would bring the country closer to cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, according to new analyses. That is something many scientists say is important, and that President Joe Biden promised. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., a long-time holdout on climate legislation, endorsed measures that would benefit electric vehicles, renewable energy and climate-friendly farming. Agriculture is responsible for 11% of the country's climate-warming emissions.
The funding would expand programs favored by both environmental groups and the agricultural sector, said Ben Thomas, who focuses on agriculture at the Environmental Defense Fund.
“They are voluntary, they are incentive-based, they get results in terms of implementing conservation practices on working lands,” said Thomas. “It’s great to see.”
Thomas said historically, the agricultural sector has not aggressively tackled its contribution to climate change, but that hesitation has shifted in recent years and more money will accelerate progress. There's a lot of potential, he said.
“It is worth taking very, very seriously,” Thomas said.
Cows belch an enormous amount of methane and agriculture is responsible for more than one-third of human-caused methane emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is a way that people's diets — if they are high in meat or dairy — contribute to greenhouse gas buildup. The bill directs funds towards altering what cows eat to reduce those emissions.
On farms, soil can hold or sequester carbon if it is left undisturbed and covered by a crop. Money from the bill will expand programs that help farmers turn their soil less, implement climate-friendly crop rotation practices and plant cover crops that aren’t for harvest but improve soil health.
“The historic funding validates the fact that these practices are important,” said Ranjani Prabhakar, an agriculture and climate policy specialist at the environmental group Earthjustice
Cover crops, for example, are only used by a fraction of farmers. If their use were to triple — from around 5% of cropland to 15% — it could remove the equivalent of 14 megatons of carbon dioxide per year, roughly the total annual emissions of New Hampshire, according to Kevin Karl, a flood food and climate researcher at Columbia University.
“The adoption rate is so low,” Karl said. “There’s a lot of potential improvement.”
Federal officials already offer farmers help with a variety of environmentally-focused issues including irrigation and fertilizer use. One program helps fund conservation easements for agricultural land.
Dan Sheafer works on nitrogen research with the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association and operates a 20-acre farm. He plants cover crops and keeps soil disturbance to a minimum — practices that benefit soil health and reduce soil erosion. But he said cover crops also have drawbacks, requiring farmers who want an environmental benefit to change their practices.
“There's just more time involved with doing cover crops,” he said.
The bill also includes money for research. While it is clear that managing soil properly can capture carbon, more needs to be known about important questions like how long sequestered carbon stays in soil.
Kaiyu Guan, a professor focused on climate and agriculture at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, said some people believe farmers don’t pay enough attention to climate change.
“I think farmers shouldn’t be blamed, they actually should be incentivized,” Guan said. “Not only are they doing this to be part of the solution to help the climate, they are doing this to help their land."
The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/How-the-climate-deal-would-help-farmers-aid-the-17348064.php | 2022-08-03T14:41:07 | en | 0.957902 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A bill enhancing health care and disability benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits won final approval in the Senate on Tuesday, ending a brief stalemate over the measure that had infuriated advocates and inspired some to camp outside the Capitol.
The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 86-11. It now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Biden described the legislation as the biggest expansion of benefits for service-connected health issues in 30 years and the largest single bill ever to address exposure to burn pits.
“I look forward to signing this bill, so that veterans and their families and caregivers impacted by toxic exposures finally get the benefits and comprehensive health care they earned and deserve,” Biden said.
The Senate had overwhelming approved the legislation back in June, but a do-over was required to make a technical fix. That process derailed when Republicans made a late attempt to change another aspect of the bill last week and blocked it from advancing.
The abrupt delay outraged veterans groups and advocates, including comedian Jon Stewart. It also placed GOP senators in the uncomfortable position of delaying the top legislative priority of service organizations this session of Congress.
A group of veterans and their families have been camping out at the Capitol since that vote. They had endured thunderstorms and Washington’s notorious summer humidity, but they were in the galleries as senators cast their votes.
“You can go home knowing the good and great thing you have done and accomplished for the United States of America,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told them.
The legislation expands access to health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs for millions who served near burn pits. It also directs the VA to presume that certain respiratory illnesses and cancers were related to burn pit exposure, allowing veterans to obtain disability payments to compensate for their injury without having to prove the illness was a result of their service.
Roughly 70% of disability claims related to burn pit exposure are denied by the VA due to lack of evidence, scientific data and information from the Defense Department.
The military used burn pits to dispose of such things as chemicals, cans, tires, plastics and medical and human waste.
Hundreds of thousands of Vietnam War era veterans and survivors also stand to benefit from the legislation. The bill adds hypertension, or high blood pressure, as a presumptive disease associated with Agent Orange exposure.
The Congressional Budget Office projected that about 600,000 of 1.6 million living Vietnam vets would be eligible for increased compensation, though only about half would have severe enough diagnoses to warrant more compensation.
Also, veterans who served in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa and Johnston Atoll will be presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. That’s another 50,000 veterans and survivors of deceased veterans who would get compensation for illnesses presumed to have been caused by their exposure to the herbicide, the CBO projected.
The bill also authorizes 31 major medical VA health clinics and research facilities in 19 states.
The bill is projected to increase federal deficits by about $277 billion over 10 years.
The bill has been a years-long effort begun by veterans and their families who viewed the burn pits used in Iraq and Afghanistan as responsible for respiratory problems and other illnesses the veterans experienced after returning home. It was named after Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson from Ohio, who died in 2020 from cancer he attributed to prolonged exposure to burn pits. His widow, Danielle Robinson, was first lady Jill Biden’s guest at the president’s State of the Union address earlier this year.
Stewart, the former host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” also brought increased exposure to the burn pit maladies veterans were facing. He also was in the gallery watching the vote Tuesday. He wept and held his head in his hand as the final vote began.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a situation where people who have already given so much had to fight so hard to get so little,” he said after the vote. “And I hope we learn a lesson.”
The House was the first to act on the burn pits legislation. An earlier version the House approved in March was expected to increase spending by more than $320 billion over 10 years, but senators trimmed some of the costs early on by phasing in certain benefit enhancements. They also added funds for staffing to help the VA keep up with the expected increase in demand for health care and an increase in disability claims.
Some GOP senators are still concerned that the bill will increase delays at the VA because of an increased demand for veterans seeking care or disability compensation.
“What we have learned is that the VA cannot deliver what is promised because it does not have the capacity to handle the increase,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.
Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., led the effort to get the bill passed in the Senate. After passage, Tester told reporters he received a call from Biden, thanking him for “taking a big weight” off his shoulder.
For Biden, the issue is very personal. He has raised the prospect that burn pits in Iraq were responsible for the death of his son Beau.
“We don’t know for sure if a burn pit was the cause of his brain cancer, or the diseases of so many of our troops,” Biden said at his State of the Union speech. “But I’m committed to finding out everything we can.”
Moran said that when the bill failed to pass last week, he was disappointed but remembered the strength of the protesters who had sat outside in the scorching heat for days.
“Thanks to the United States Senate for demonstrating when there’s something good and a good cause, this place still works,” Moran said.
___
Associated Press staff writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/senate-tees-up-vote-on-bill-to-aid-vets-exposed-to-burn-pits/ | 2022-08-03T14:41:10 | en | 0.975143 |
A popular supply chain job board, career resource hub and podcast will now be part of a leading Supply Chain Executive Search Firm
ASHEVILLE, N.C., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A year after start-up, the partners at Supply Chain Careers (SCC) decided to compound their influence and join forces with SCM Talent Group, a supply chain recruiting firm started by SCC partner Rodney Apple. The merger brings a supply chain career-focused podcast, a supply chain job board, and a robust career development resource hub to the already formidable content base of SCM Talent Group. In addition to strengthening the supply chain career development resources, the new SCM Talent Group will expand its service offerings into fractional consulting for supply chain clients in need of interim executives and consultative leadership and guidance.
The move burnishes SCM Talent Group's expertise in supply chain talent with Rodney Apple's 20+ years of building out supply chain teams with Chris Gaffney's logistics & supply chain leadership experience as a former senior supply chain executive with Coca-Cola. Supply chain professor Mike Ogle rounds out the supply chain talent trifecta with his decades of academic and supply chain association leadership experience.
"When Rodney approached us with the idea, I don't think either of us hesitated. We knew that the fastest way to grow would be to take advantage of existing relationships and resources. We're really excited about the potential to serve a larger supply chain audience. The growth potential is intriguing and I'm really looking forward to meeting supply chain employers where they are and helping them to meet and exceed their goals," says Chris Gaffney.
Along with the consolidated content hub that will bring supply chain career advancement and development tools and resources, the supply chain careers podcast will also be migrated to SCM Talent Group. A new podcast series hosted by Chris Gaffney will launch with the merger as well. This leadership series is tailored towards budding executives, highlighting some of the most sought-after leadership tactics used by successful supply chain executives.
In addition to the content and podcasts, a supply chain job board will be part of the merge as well. This will allow supply chain hiring managers and talent professionals to post their supply chain openings to a job board that leverages an ever-expanding portfolio of supply chain career resources and digital marketing tactics to attract active and passive job seekers alike.
"The merging of SCM Talent Group and Supply Chain Careers creates one of the most unique career and talent service offerings in the supply chain marketplace. I am truly excited about partnering with Chris, Mike and our collective team to evolve our product and serving offerings that create value for supply chain employers, professionals and students", states Rodney Apple.
SCM Talent Group is a supply chain executive search firm and career advancement & development organization. We serve the end-to-end supply chain career opportunists and have partnered with hundreds of companies over the years to fill their supply chain talent and leadership needs. The addition of Supply Chain Careers content, podcasts, and personnel will serve to increase our reach and ability to provide unparalleled service to our clients. By focusing on serving employers, professionals and students that span the end-to-end supply chain discipline, we go well above and beyond most firms that only recruit talent for their client companies.
scmtalent.com
[email protected]
877-236-0420
SOURCE SCM Talent Group | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scm-talent-group-merges-with-supply-chain-careers-301599052.html | 2022-08-03T14:41:13 | en | 0.955509 |
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran, the United States and the European Union said Wednesday they would send representatives to Vienna amid what appears to be a last-ditch effort at reviving talks over Tehran's tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
It wasn't immediately clear if other parties to the landmark accord would attend the surprise summit, nor if there had any progress after a monthslong stalemate and fruitless round of indirect talks between Iran and the U.S. in Doha.
The European Union official who chairs the talks, Enrique Mora, wrote on Twitter that the negotiations would focus on the most recent draft on restoring the agreement, while Tehran said it was dispatching nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani to the Austrian capital.
U.S. Special Representative for Iran Rob Malley was expected to go to Vienna for the talks on Thursday, two American officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans before they were announced.
The prospects for the deal's restoration have darkened in the past few months with major sticking points remaining, including Tehran's demand that Washington provide guarantees that it won’t again quit the pact and that it lift terrorism sanctions on Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
The abruptly called meeting in Vienna comes after EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has repeatedly pushed to break the deadlock and salvage the deal in past weeks. He recently wrote in The Financial Times that “the space for additional significant compromises has been exhausted.”
Former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 deal, which lifted most international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for tight restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. Since then, Iran has massively expanded its nuclear work and now has enough highly enriched uranium to fuel one nuclear weapon, according to nonproliferation experts.
However, Iran still would need to design a bomb and a delivery system for it, likely a monthslong project. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though U.N. experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003.
___
Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington and Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Iran-and-EU-send-envoys-to-Vienna-to-revive-17348001.php | 2022-08-03T14:41:14 | en | 0.967164 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is holding out the CIA operation that killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri as a monumental strike against the global terror network responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001. But there’s a downside, too.
The drone strike also is putting into stark relief the mounting evidence that after 20 years of America’s military presence — and then sudden departure — Afghanistan has once again become an active staging ground for Islamic terror groups looking to attack the West.
The operation, carried out over the weekend after at least six months spent monitoring movements by al-Zawahri and his family, came just weeks before the one-year anniversary of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from the country.
The Biden administration is making the case that the operation shows Americans at home and allies abroad that the United States hasn’t lost focus — or the ability to strike terrorists in the region — and validates its decision to end two decades of fighting in Afghanistan with its withdrawal.
Announcing the strike from the White House, President Joe Biden said Monday night that “justice” had been exacted on a leader who in recent weeks had recorded videos calling for his followers to attack the United States and allies. And the White House on Tuesday framed the operation as an enormous counterterrorism win.
“The president has made good on his word when we left,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on NBC’s “Today” show. “After 20 years of war to keep this country safe, he said we would be able to continue to target and take out terrorists in Afghanistan without troops on the ground.”
But as details of the operation continue to emerge, the administration has also revealed troubling evidence of al-Qaida’s presence and of the Taliban once again offering refuge to the group that was behind the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
White House officials believe that senior members of the Haqqani Network, an Islamist terror group with strong ties to the Taliban, were aware that al-Zawahri was in Kabul. Sullivan said that while al-Zawahri wasn’t involved in day-to-day planning at the time of his killing, he continued to play an active role in directing al-Qaida and posed “a severe threat” against the U.S. and American citizens.
On Tuesday, the State Department updated its Worldwide Caution, warning U.S. citizens traveling abroad that “there is a higher potential for anti-American violence given the death of Ayman al-Zawahri.”
Concerns about al-Qaida efforts to regroup inside Taliban-controlled Afghanistan are hardly new.
Before the strike, U.S. military officials, including Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had said al-Qaida was trying to reconstitute in Afghanistan, where it faces limited threats from the now-ruling Taliban. Military leaders have warned that the group still aspired to attack the U.S.
Al-Qaida leadership has reportedly played an advisory role since the Taliban returned to power in the leadup up to the U.S. withdrawal, according to a U.N. Security Council report last month.
The U.N. report also noted that ISIS-K — the group that carried out a massive attack that killed 13 U.S. troops and dozens of Afghans near the Kabul International Airport just days before the U.S. completed its withdrawal last year — has become increasingly active in northern and eastern Afghanistan. That’s a worry for the West though ISIS-K and the Taliban espouse different ideologies and interests, with ISIS-K carrying out a bloody insurgency against the Taliban and religious minorities across Afghanistan.
“Zawahri’s presence in post-withdrawal Afghanistan suggests that, as feared, the Taliban is once more granting safe haven to the leaders of al-Qaida – a group with which it has never broken,” said Nathan Sales, ambassador-at-large and coordinator for counterterrorism during the Trump administration who is now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
Frank McKenzie, the retired Marine general who until earlier this year was the top American military officer in the Middle East, said the U.S. has noted an effort by al-Qaida to restore training camps in Afghanistan.
“I see nothing happening in Afghanistan now that tells me that the Taliban are determined to prevent that from happening,” he said in an interview.
Since the American troop withdrawal, U.S. military leaders have said America’s ability to monitor and strike a target in the country would be difficult but not impossible.
The strike on Zawahri proved both, said McKenzie, who is now executive director of the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida.
But he cautioned not to draw broad conclusions from this one drone strike.
“This was a unique circumstance,” he said. “You had a target that didn’t move, and they had the opportunity to get a good look at pattern of life. That’s not always going to be the case. In fact, typically, that is not the case.”
That al-Zawahri was living in a Kabul neighborhood and not in rural Afghanistan as previously believed, “tells you that he got really comfortable” under the protection of the Taliban, said Colin Clarke, director of research at The Soufan Group, a global intelligence and security firm.
“These entities work hand in glove,” Clarke said of the Taliban and al-Qaida.
The Taliban had promised in the 2020 Doha Agreement on the terms of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan that they would not harbor al-Qaida members or those seeking to attack the U.S.
The Taliban were quick to condemn the U.S. strike as a “a clear violation of international principles and the Doha Agreement,” though they did not acknowledge that al-Zawahri was killed. The U.S. gave no forewarning to the Taliban government, which the United States does not recognize, that it was carrying out the operation.
“Such actions are a repetition of the failed experiences of the past 20 years and are against the interests of the United States of America, Afghanistan, and the region,” the Taliban statement said.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on how, or if, the U.S. would hold the Taliban responsible for sheltering al-Zawahri.
“The Taliban have a choice now,” Kirby said. “And that is they can comply with their agreement under the Doha agreement … or they can choose to be going down a different path. And if they go down a different path, it’s going to lead to consequences not just from the United States but from the international community.”
Kirby said the U.S. had already engaged with the Taliban about al-Zawahri’s presence following Sunday’s strike.
The Taliban remain sanctioned by the U.S. government for their role harboring al-Qaida before the 9/11 attacks. After the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Kabul last summer, the Biden administration froze billions of dollars in assets belonging to Afghanistan’s central bank to prevent the assets from falling under Taliban control. Some of that money has since been freed for humanitarian aid to address the country’s dire hunger crisis.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was quick to congratulate Biden on the operation, but also made the case that it “further indicates that Afghanistan is again becoming a major thicket of terrorist activity following the president’s decision to withdraw U.S. forces.”
“Killing al-Zawahri is a success, but the underlying resurgence of al-Qaida terrorists into Afghanistan is a growing threat that was foreseeable and avoidable,” McConnell said. “The administration needs a comprehensive plan to rebuild our capacity to combat it.”
___
AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/the-downside-us-strike-shows-afghanistan-still-terror-base/ | 2022-08-03T14:41:17 | en | 0.968631 |
Rewarded Gamified Interstitials (RoGIs) deliver value to advertisers and uninterrupted gameplay for gamers
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Scuti, the industry pioneer in gCommerce, today announced a new, patent-pending ad unit for game makers. Rewarded Gamified Interstitials, or RoGIs, will be available to players and games across web2 and web3, allowing for a seamless gaming experience that offers players real-life rewards, uninterrupted gameplay, and targeted advertisements based on player-provided information.
The team that built Massive Inc. and pioneered in-game advertising almost 20 years ago has led the creation of Scuti's RoGIs with input and guidance from the executives behind some of the biggest games on the planet including Fortnite, HALO and World of Warcraft.
Today, gaming is a global community of 3.2 billion people, including 80% of Gen Z and millennials and 75% of all US households. Mobile games are a growing sector in the games industry and reach players with more than $5 trillion in buying power. Scuti's platform offers brands and game makers a new vehicle for building loyalty with this audience.
"For our global brand clients, Scuti stands out with its gCommerce platform," said Andrew Backs, CEO and Founder of Pilot44, a global digital innovation agency. "With the addition of RoGIs, brands can have further positive impact on game play. Players seek out rewards and accomplishments from their games and now brands can reward play with the payoff of access, engagement and sales."
RoGIs are brief shell games delivered to players between game levels. Players can elect to play with the ads or continue with their game – it's their choice. RoGIs gamify advertising, rewarding players with Scuti$tm for each ad interaction. Scuti$ can be redeemed for real products in the Scuti Marketplace, exchanged for in-game items and game currencies.
Scuti allows players to opt-in and provide basic personal information to ensure the RoGIs offer a bespoke set of brands and products most relevant to player interests. Scuti never uses information not explicitly provided by the player in curating RoGIs, aiming to create a transparent relationship between the platform, gamer, and brands. RoGis comply with recent guideline changes for Google Play apps and are also compliant with Apple's App Store regulations.
"We believe RoGIs are an important step for game makers, players, and brands across the board," said Nicholas Longano, CEO and Founder of Scuti. "As we enter a new era of engagement, brands must meet consumers where they are and how they want to be met – on their terms, and those terms require a fair value exchange. Gone are the days of ads disrupting and distracting from gameplay, using deceptive tactics to cull player interests for hyper-targeted advertising. Instead, gamified advertisements will reward players, brands, and game-makers alike.
Scuti is the pioneer in gCommerce and the world's first universal rewards marketplace, accessed through video games and metaverses connected to the Scuti Network. Scuti's marketplace provides players direct access to curated products, promotional offers, and exciting rewards, which can be redeemed for in-game virtual items, exchanged for native currency or to purchase any physical goods in the Scuti catalog. Scuti was built by video game industry veterans from Blizzard, Epic, Zynga and Microsoft Games Studio, and is a portfolio company of Fasanara Capital group investment house. Fasanara Capital is a boutique alternative asset manager, offering access to a range of inventive multi-asset capacity-constrained niche products. The fund manages approximately $3.0 billion in assets.
SOURCE Scuti | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scuti-launches-first-ever-gamified-ad-units-for-video-games-301598553.html | 2022-08-03T14:41:19 | en | 0.9527 |
1 killed, 13 injured in massive warehouse fire near Moscow
Aug. 3, 2022 Updated: Aug. 3, 2022 9:24 a.m.
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1of 12 Smoke rises over a burning warehouse of the online retailer Ozon in Istra Municipal District, northwest Moscow Region, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The fire, which erupted at the warehouse belonging to Russia's leading online retailer Ozon, has covered the area of 50,000 square meters and injured 11 people, two of whom were hospitalized. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Show More Show Less
2of 12 Smoke rises over a burning warehouse of the online retailer Ozon in Istra Municipal District, northwest Moscow Region, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The fire, which erupted at the warehouse belonging to Russia's leading online retailer Ozon, has covered the area of 50,000 square meters and injured 11 people, two of whom were hospitalized. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Show More Show Less 3of 12
4of 12 Smoke rises over a burning warehouse of the online retailer Ozon in Istra Municipal District, northwest Moscow Region, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The fire, which erupted at the warehouse belonging to Russia's leading online retailer Ozon, has covered the area of 50,000 square meters and injured 11 people, two of whom were hospitalized. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Show More Show Less
5of 12 A helicopter works to extinguish fire at burning warehouse of the online retailer Ozon in Istra Municipal District, northwest Moscow Region, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The fire, which erupted at the warehouse belonging to Russia's leading online retailer Ozon, has covered the area of 50,000 square meters and injured 11 people, two of whom were hospitalized. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Show More Show Less 6of 12
7of 12 A helicopter extinguishes a fire at a warehouse of the online retailer Ozon in Istra Municipal District, northwest Moscow Region, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The fire, which erupted at the warehouse belonging to Russia's leading online retailer Ozon, has covered the area of 50,000 square meters and injured 11 people, two of whom were hospitalized. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Show More Show Less
8of 12 A helicopter works to extinguish fire at burning warehouse of the online retailer Ozon in Istra Municipal District, northwest Moscow Region, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The fire, which erupted at the warehouse belonging to Russia's leading online retailer Ozon, has covered the area of 50,000 square meters and injured 11 people, two of whom were hospitalized. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Show More Show Less 9of 12
10of 12 A helicopter extinguishes fire at a warehouse of the online retailer Ozon in Istra Municipal District, northwest Moscow Region, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The fire, which erupted at the warehouse belonging to Russia's leading online retailer Ozon, has covered the area of 50,000 square meters and injured 11 people, two of whom were hospitalized. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Show More Show Less
11of 12 Smoke rises over a burning warehouse of the online retailer Ozon in Istra Municipal District, northwest Moscow Region, Russia, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. The fire, which erupted at the warehouse belonging to Russia's leading online retailer Ozon, has covered the area of 50,000 square meters and injured 11 people, two of whom were hospitalized. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Show More Show Less 12of 12
MOSCOW (AP) — A massive fire engulfed a warehouse outside Moscow on Wednesday, killing at least one person, injuring 13 others and leaving two missing, officials said.
The fire, at a warehouse belonging to Russia's leading online retailer, Ozon, affected an area of 50,000 square meters (540,000 square feet).
Emergencies officials said that one person died in the fire, and Moscow region Gov. Andrei Vorobyov said that two people are unaccounted-for. Officials said that two of the injured were hospitalized.
Huge plumes of black smoke rose into the skies over the area near the town of Istra northwest of Moscow.
Russia's Emergencies Ministry said 150 firefighters and three fire helicopters were involved in efforts to extinguish the blaze.
The authorities haven't said what triggered the fire, but RIA-Novosti news agency reported that investigators were looking at arson as the most likely cause. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Large-fire-erupts-at-warehouse-outside-Moscow-11-17347971.php | 2022-08-03T14:41:20 | en | 0.953329 |
NEW YORK (AP) — Two powerful House Democrats from New York each declined Tuesday to say that President Joe Biden should run for the White House again in 2024.
Reps. Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney, two of the party’s establishment liberals who chair powerful committees and are competing for a Manhattan-area House seat, shied away from supporting the president when they were asked in a televised debate whether Biden should seek a second term.
Nadler, who chairs the House Judiciary committee, said: “Too early to say. Doesn’t serve the purpose of the Democratic Party to, to deal with that until after the midterms.”
Maloney, who chairs the Oversight committee, said, “I don’t believe he’s running for reelection.”
Their comments follow West Virginia moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who declined Sunday to endorse the president for a second term, saying he wouldn’t get into it.
New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is more progressive than Nadler, Maloney and Manchin, also demurred when asked in a June CNN interview to say whether she would support Biden running in 2024.
Last month, Minnesota Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips said in a radio interview that he didn’t believe Biden should run again and that “the country would be well-served by a new generation of compelling, well-prepared, dynamic Democrats who step up.”
His Minnesota colleague, Rep. Angie Craig, earlier Tuesday told MinnPost that Democrats “need new leaders in Washington up and down the ballot” when asked if she would support Biden if he runs.
Biden, 79, has said he plans to seek reelection. But as the oldest person to have ever assumed the presidency, Biden has faced persistent questions about whether he will run for a second term.
While Maloney and Nadler each declined to encourage a Biden reelection bid, the third candidate in their primary, 38-year-old attorney Suraj Patel, backed the president. Patel, who has cast his campaign around a need for fresh voices in politics, said simply, “Yes,” when asked if Biden should run again. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/two-top-house-dems-decline-to-say-biden-should-run-in-2024/ | 2022-08-03T14:41:23 | en | 0.958965 |
Business Activity Index at 59.9%; New Orders Index at 59.9%; Employment Index at 49.1%; Supplier Deliveries Index at 57.8%
TEMPE, Ariz., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Economic activity in the services sector grew in July for the 26th month in a row — with the Services PMI® registering 56.7 percent — say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in the latest Services ISM® Report On Business®.
The report was issued today by Anthony Nieves, CPSM, C.P.M., A.P.P., CFPM, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Services Business Survey Committee: "In July, the Services PMI® registered 56.7 percent, 1.4 percentage points higher than June's reading of 55.3 percent. The Business Activity Index registered 59.9 percent, an increase of 3.8 percentage points compared to the reading of 56.1 percent in June. The New Orders Index figure of 59.9 percent is 4.3 percentage points higher than the June reading of 55.6 percent.
"The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 57.8 percent, 4.1 percentage points lower than the 61.9 percent reported in June. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM® Report On Business® index that is inversed; a reading of above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.)
"The Prices Index decreased for the third consecutive month in July, down 7.8 percentage points to 72.3 percent. Services businesses continue to struggle to replenish inventories, as the Inventories Index contracted for the second consecutive month; the reading of 45 percent is down 2.5 percentage points from June's figure of 47.5 percent. The Inventory Sentiment Index (50.1 percent, up 3.9 percentage points from June's reading of 46.2 percent) moved into expansion territory in July after four consecutive months of contraction."
Nieves continues, "According to the Services PMI®, 13 industries reported growth. The composite index indicated growth for the 26th consecutive month after a two-month contraction in April and May 2020. Growth continues — at a faster rate — for the services sector, which has expanded for all but two of the last 150 months. The slight increase in services sector growth was due to an increase in business activity and new orders. The Employment Index (49.1 percent) contracted for the second consecutive month, and the Backlog of Orders Index decreased 2.2 percentage points, to 58.3 percent. Availability issues with overland trucking, a restricted labor pool, various material shortages and inflation continue to be impediments for the services sector."
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
The 13 services industries reporting growth in July — listed in order — are: Mining; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Public Administration; Management of Companies & Support Services; Construction; Educational Services; Other Services; Utilities; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Health Care & Social Assistance; Transportation & Warehousing; Wholesale Trade; and Information. The three industries reporting a decrease in the month of July are: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Retail Trade; and Finance & Insurance.
WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING
- "Restaurant sales have softened the past few weeks (due to) post-holiday and seasonality factors, but we're also hearing because of consumer pressures, particularly fuel and food prices. Staffing remains a challenge in some markets. Many of our locations in (Los Angeles County) received news that there could be a return to (indoor) mask mandates." [Accommodation & Food Services]
- "Interest rates have significantly impacted the homebuilding market. Cancellation rates have increased, as homebuyers can no longer afford the monthly payment. Traffic to our communities is down. Inflation has sidelined many would-be buyers." [Construction]
- "Strengthening market overall and signs of improvement. Increased prices putting a strain on fixed budgets. There has been a shift from driving down costs to securing continuity of supply. Higher education is growing, with an increase in applicants." [Educational Services]
- "Business continues to remain below pre-pandemic levels. (Patient) census and visits have increased but seem to have plateaued in the last six-month period." [Health Care & Social Assistance]
- "Can feel the economy weakening. Clients are making appropriate moves in anticipation of a recession." [Management of Companies & Support Services]
- "Hiring demand remains robust in most industry sectors. Tech has had a slowdown in hiring and layoffs. It's still a candidate's market, as the number of job openings across all skill levels and positions remains far greater than the number of candidates for those roles." [Professional, Scientific & Technical Services]
- "Rising costs across the board seems to be the big focus now. Fuel and food are the most common focus but it is across the board, and there is pressure of a job market shortage for qualified workers to increase wages and other benefits." [Public Administration]
- "(We are) in inventory reduction mode, attempting to match inventory levels to current lower sales trends." [Retail Trade]
- "Holding steady, but some headwinds are definitely ahead on the economic front. However, supply chain issues appear to be easing, though still not great." [Utilities]
- "Food service remains strong. Retail is softening as mass is overly concerned about inventory and consumer spending." [Wholesale Trade]
Services ISM® Report On Business® data is seasonally adjusted for the Business Activity, New Orders, Employment and Prices indexes. Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business® data is seasonally adjusted for New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories indexes.
*Number of months moving in current direction.
COMMODITIES REPORTED UP/DOWN IN PRICE, AND IN SHORT SUPPLY
Commodities Up in Price
Aluminum Products* (8); Chemicals (4); Coated Freesheet; Computer Accessories; Diesel Fuel (20); Eggs; Electrical Components (18); Fuel* (19); Freight Rates; Gasoline (20); Hotel Rates (3); Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Equipment; Labor (20); Labor — Contingent; Medical Supplies; Steel Products (19); Transformers (2); Transportation Costs; Travel (3); and Utilities.
Commodities Down in Price
Aluminum Products*; Copper Wires; Fuel*; Lumber (2); Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Conduit; and Steel.
Commodities in Short Supply
Appliances (5); Coated Freesheet; Computer Hardware; Electrical Components (4); Food and Beverages; Labor (12); Masks; Microchips (3); Needles and Syringes (7); Paper Products (5); Resin Based Products; Transformers (3); and Vehicles.
Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item. *Indicates both up and down in price.
JULY 2022 SERVICES INDEX SUMMARIES
Services PMI®
In July, the Services PMI® registered 56.7 percent, a 1.4-percentage point increase compared to the June reading of 55.3 percent. The 12-month average is 60.2 percent, reflecting consistently strong growth in the services sector, which has expanded for 26 consecutive months. A reading above 50 percent indicates the services sector economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates the services sector is generally contracting.
A Services PMI® above 50.1 percent, over time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the July Services PMI® indicates the overall economy has followed the same path as the services sector: expansion for 26 straight months following two months of contraction and a preceding period of 122 months of growth. Nieves says, "The past relationship between the Services PMI® and the overall economy indicates that the Services PMI® for July (56.7 percent) corresponds to a 2.4-percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis."
SERVICES PMI® HISTORY
Business Activity
ISM®'s Business Activity Index registered 59.9 percent in July, an increase of 3.8 percentage points from the reading of 56.1 percent in June, indicating growth for the 26th consecutive month. Comments from respondents include: "With a new fiscal year starting on July 1, an uptick in demand of goods and services" and "Seeing more critical material come in, which allowed us to work on more projects."
The 13 industries reporting an increase in business activity for the month of July — listed in order — are: Mining; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Educational Services; Public Administration; Management of Companies & Support Services; Utilities; Construction; Other Services; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Health Care & Social Assistance; Wholesale Trade; Transportation & Warehousing; and Information. The four industries reporting a decrease in business activity for the month of July are: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Accommodation & Food Services; Retail Trade; and Finance & Insurance.
New Orders
ISM®'s New Orders Index registered 59.9 percent, up 4.3 percentage points from the June reading of 55.6 percent. New orders grew for the 26th consecutive month after two months of contraction and a preceding period of 128 months of expansion. Comments from respondents include: "Requests for new business" and "Moderate volume increases over the previous month."
Eleven industries reported growth of new orders in July, in the following order: Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Mining; Educational Services; Public Administration; Transportation & Warehousing; Other Services; Utilities; Management of Companies & Support Services; Construction; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; and Health Care & Social Assistance. The five industries reporting a decrease in new orders in July are: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Accommodation & Food Services; Retail Trade; Information; and Wholesale Trade.
Employment
Employment activity in the services sector contracted in July for the fourth time in the last six months. ISM®'s Employment Index registered 49.1 percent, up 1.7 percentage points from the June reading of 47.4 percent. Comments from respondents include: "Employee turnover, backfills taking longer to locate and onboard" and "Difficulties hiring new candidates as we lose more people who retire or leave the company for new opportunities."
The eight industries reporting an increase in employment in July — listed in order — are: Mining; Construction; Accommodation & Food Services; Other Services; Management of Companies & Support Services; Public Administration; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; and Wholesale Trade. The seven industries reporting a decrease in employment in July — listed in order — are: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Finance & Insurance; Educational Services; Transportation & Warehousing; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Utilities; and Health Care & Social Assistance.
Supplier Deliveries
The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 57.8 percent, down 4.1 percentage points from the 61.9 percent registered in June. A reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, while a reading below 50 percent indicates faster deliveries. Comments from respondents include: "Lack of drivers for delivery companies due to labor shortages" and "Global supply issues are causing uncertainty on when and how many products will arrive."
The 14 industries reporting slower deliveries in July — listed in order — are: Mining; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Finance & Insurance; Accommodation & Food Services; Educational Services; Construction; Utilities; Health Care & Social Assistance; Management of Companies & Support Services; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Public Administration; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Transportation & Warehousing; and Information. No industry reported faster deliveries in July.
Inventories
The Inventories Index contracted in July for the second consecutive month after four straight months of growth preceded by an eight-month period of contraction. The reading of 45 percent was a 2.5-percentage point decrease from the 47.5 percent reported in June. Of the total respondents in July, 41 percent indicated they do not have inventories or do not measure them. Comments from respondents include: "Long lead times have consumed safety stock" and "Inventories are still lower than desired due to supply chain issues."
The seven industries reporting an increase in inventories in July — listed in order — are: Mining; Utilities; Wholesale Trade; Educational Services; Transportation & Warehousing; Public Administration; and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services. The 10 industries reporting a decrease in inventories in July — listed in order — are: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Retail Trade; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Other Services; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Management of Companies & Support Services; Finance & Insurance; Health Care & Social Assistance; Construction; and Information.
Prices
Prices paid by services organizations for materials and services increased in July for the 62nd consecutive month, with the index registering 72.3 percent, 7.8 percentage points lower than the 80.1 percent recorded in June. This is the first Prices Index reading below 80 percent since September 2021 and its steepest month-over-month decrease since an 8.7-percentage point drop in May 2017.
Sixteen services industries reported an increase in prices paid during the month of July, in the following order: Mining; Public Administration; Information; Accommodation & Food Services; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Educational Services; Finance & Insurance; Management of Companies & Support Services; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Transportation & Warehousing; Construction; Health Care & Social Assistance; Other Services; Utilities; and Wholesale Trade. No industry reported a decrease in prices in July.
NOTE: Commodities reported as up in price and down in price are listed in the commodities section of this report.
Backlog of Orders
The ISM® Services Backlog of Orders Index grew in July for the 19th consecutive month. The index registered 58.3 percent, a 2.2-percentage point decrease compared to the June reading of 60.5 percent. Of the total respondents in July, 40 percent indicated they do not measure backlog of orders. Respondent comments include: "Delays caused by long lead times for components" and "Higher backlog than previous month as suppliers try to keep up with orders and slowing deliveries."
The nine industries reporting an increase in order backlogs in July — listed in order — are: Accommodation & Food Services; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Other Services; Public Administration; Utilities; Educational Services; Retail Trade; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; and Health Care & Social Assistance. The five industries reporting a decrease in order backlogs in July are: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Finance & Insurance; Construction; and Wholesale Trade.
New Export Orders
Orders and requests for services and other non-manufacturing activities to be provided outside of the U.S. by domestically based companies grew in July for the sixth consecutive month. The New Export Orders Index registered 59.5 percent, a 2-percentage point increase from the 57.5 percent reported in June. Of the total respondents in July, 79 percent indicated they do not perform, or do not separately measure, orders for work outside of the U.S.
The six industries reporting an increase in new export orders in July — listed in order — are: Accommodation & Food Services; Mining; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Construction; Utilities; and Educational Services. Six industries reported a decrease in new export orders in July, in the following order: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Information; Transportation & Warehousing; Wholesale Trade; and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services. Six industries indicated no change in new export orders in July.
Imports
The Imports Index contracted in July for the second consecutive month, registering 48 percent, up 1.7 percentage points from June's reading of 46.3 percent. Eighty percent of respondents reported that they do not use, or do not track the use of, imported materials.
The seven industries reporting an increase in imports for the month of July — listed in order — are: Mining; Information; Transportation & Warehousing; Educational Services; Utilities; Wholesale Trade; and Health Care & Social Assistance. The five industries that reported a decrease in imports in July are: Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Other Services; and Accommodation & Food Services. Six industries reported no change in imports in July.
Inventory Sentiment
The ISM® Services Inventory Sentiment Index grew in July after four previous months of contraction, registering 50.1 percent, a 3.9-percentage point increase from June's figure of 46.2 percent. This reading indicates that respondents feel their inventories are slightly high when correlated to business activity levels.
The five industries reporting sentiment that their inventories were too high in July are: Retail Trade; Health Care & Social Assistance; Information; Wholesale Trade; and Utilities. The six industries reporting a feeling that their inventories were too low in July — listed in order — are: Accommodation & Food Services; Management of Companies & Support Services; Educational Services; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; and Construction. Six industries reported no change in July.
About This Report
DO NOT CONFUSE THIS NATIONAL REPORT with the various regional purchasing reports released across the country. The national report's information reflects the entire U.S., while the regional reports contain primarily regional data from their local vicinities. Also, the information in the regional reports is not used in calculating the results of the national report. The information compiled in this report is for the month of July 2022.
The data presented herein is obtained from a survey of supply executives in the services sector based on information they have collected within their respective organizations. ISM® makes no representation, other than that stated within this release, regarding the individual company data collection procedures. The data should be compared to all other economic data sources when used in decision-making.
Data and Method of Presentation
The Services ISM® Report On Business® (formerly the Non-Manufacturing ISM® Report On Business®) is based on data compiled from purchasing and supply executives nationwide. Membership of the Services Business Survey Committee (formerly Non-Manufacturing Business Survey Committee) is diversified by NAICS, based on each industry's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP). The Services Business Survey Committee responses are divided into the following NAICS code categories: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting; Mining; Utilities; Construction; Wholesale Trade; Retail Trade; Transportation & Warehousing; Information; Finance & Insurance; Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Management of Companies & Support Services; Educational Services; Health Care & Social Assistance; Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Accommodation & Food Services; Public Administration; and Other Services (services such as Equipment & Machinery Repairing; Promoting or Administering Religious Activities; Grantmaking; Advocacy; and Providing Dry-Cleaning & Laundry Services, Personal Care Services, Death Care Services, Pet Care Services, Photofinishing Services, Temporary Parking Services, and Dating Services). The data are weighted based on each industry's contribution to GDP. According to the BEA estimates for 2020 GDP (released December 22, 2021), the six largest services sectors are: Real Estate, Rental & Leasing; Government; Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services; Health Care & Social Assistance; Information; and Finance & Insurance. Beginning in February 2020 with January 2020 data, computation of the indexes is accomplished utilizing unrounded numbers.
Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month. For each of the indicators measured (Business Activity, New Orders, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, Inventory Change, Inventory Sentiment, Imports, Prices, Employment and Supplier Deliveries), this report shows the percentage reporting each response and the diffusion index. Responses represent raw data and are never changed. Data is seasonally adjusted for Business Activity, New Orders, Prices and Employment. All seasonal adjustment factors are subject annually to relatively minor changes when conditions warrant them. The remaining indexes have not indicated significant seasonality.
The Services PMI® is a composite index based on the diffusion indexes for four of the indicators with equal weights: Business Activity (seasonally adjusted), New Orders (seasonally adjusted), Employment (seasonally adjusted) and Supplier Deliveries. Diffusion indexes have the properties of leading indicators and are convenient summary measures showing the prevailing direction of change and the scope of change. An index reading above 50 percent indicates that the services economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally declining. Supplier Deliveries is an exception. A Supplier Deliveries Index above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries and below 50 percent indicates faster deliveries.
A Services PMI® above 50.1 percent, over time, indicates that the overall economy, or gross domestic product (GDP), is generally expanding; below 50.1 percent, it is generally declining. The distance from 50 percent or 50.1 percent is indicative of the strength of the expansion or decline.
The Services ISM® Report On Business® survey is sent out to Services Business Survey Committee respondents the first part of each month. Respondents are asked to ONLY report on U.S. operations for the current month. ISM® receives survey responses throughout most of any given month, with the majority of respondents generally waiting until late in the month to submit responses to give the most accurate picture of current business activity. ISM® then compiles the report for release on the third business day of the following month.
The industries reporting growth, as indicated in the Services ISM® Report On Business® monthly report, are listed in the order of most growth to least growth. For the industries reporting contraction or decreases, those are listed in the order of the highest level of contraction/decrease to the least level of contraction/decrease.
ISM ROB Content
The Institute for Supply Management® ("ISM") Report On Business® (Manufacturing, Services and Hospital reports) ("ISM ROB") contains information, text, files, images, video, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, applications, and any other materials or content (collectively, "Content") of ISM ("ISM ROB Content"). ISM ROB Content is protected by copyright, trademark, trade secret, and other laws, and as between you and ISM, ISM owns and retains all rights in the ISM ROB Content. ISM hereby grants you a limited, revocable, nonsublicensable license to access and display on your individual device the ISM ROB Content (excluding any software code) solely for your personal, non-commercial use. The ISM ROB Content shall also contain Content of users and other ISM licensors. Except as provided herein or as explicitly allowed in writing by ISM, you shall not copy, download, stream, capture, reproduce, duplicate, archive, upload, modify, translate, publish, broadcast, transmit, retransmit, distribute, perform, display, sell, or otherwise use any ISM ROB Content.
Except as explicitly and expressly permitted by ISM, you are strictly prohibited from creating works or materials (including, but not limited to: tables, charts, data streams, time-series variables, fonts, icons, link buttons, wallpaper, desktop themes, online postcards, montages, mashups and similar videos, greeting cards, and unlicensed merchandise) that derive from or are based on the ISM ROB Content. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the derivative works or materials are sold, bartered, or given away. You shall not either directly or through the use of any device, software, internet site, web-based service, or other means remove, alter, bypass, avoid, interfere with, or circumvent any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices marked on the Content or any digital rights management mechanism, device, or other content protection or access control measure associated with the Content including geo-filtering mechanisms. Without prior written authorization from ISM, you shall not build a business utilizing the Content, whether or not for profit.
You shall not create, recreate, distribute, incorporate in other work, or advertise an index of any portion of the Content unless you receive prior written authorization from ISM. Requests for permission to reproduce or distribute ISM ROB Content can be made by contacting in writing at: ISM Research, Institute for Supply Management, 309 W. Elliot Road, Suite 113, Tempe, AZ 85284-1556, or by emailing [email protected]; subject: Content Request.
ISM shall not have any liability, duty, or obligation for or relating to the ISM ROB Content or other information contained herein, any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or delays in providing any ISM ROB Content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. In no event shall ISM be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages, arising out of the use of the ISM ROB. Report On Business®, Manufacturing PMI®, Services PMI®, and Hospital PMI® are registered trademarks of Institute for Supply Management®. Institute for Supply Management® and ISM® are registered trademarks of Institute for Supply Management, Inc.
About Institute for Supply Management®
Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) serves supply management professionals in more than 90 countries. Its 50,000 members around the world manage about US$1 trillion in corporate and government supply chain procurement annually. Founded in 1915 as the first supply management institute in the world, ISM is committed to advancing the practice of supply management to drive value and competitive advantage for its members, contributing to a prosperous and sustainable world. ISM leads the profession through the ISM® Report On Business®, its highly regarded certification programs and the ISM® Advance™ Digital Platform. This report has been issued by the association since 1931, except for a four-year interruption during World War II.
The full text version of the Services ISM® Report On Business® is posted on ISM®'s website at www.ismrob.org on the third business day* of every month after 10:00 a.m. ET.
The next Services ISM® Report On Business® featuring August 2022 data will be released at 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
*Unless the New York Stock Exchange is closed.
SOURCE Institute for Supply Management | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/services-pmi-at-56-7-july-2022-services-ism-report-on-business-301598327.html | 2022-08-03T14:41:25 | en | 0.919431 |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to ban homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools and daycare centers during a meeting that was disrupted by protesters who said it criminalizes homelessness.
The council voted 11-3 to vastly broaden an existing ban on sitting, sleeping or camping that currently only applies to daycare centers and schools specified by the council. The vote, which applies to public and private schools, came after a previous vote last month failed to pass unanimously.
The meeting was recessed for about an hour before the vote after dozens of people became unruly, at one point chanting “shut it down!”
A second and final vote will still be needed next week.
About 750 public school sites are within the city limits, Los Angeles Unified School District officials told the Los Angeles Times, which said nearly 1,000 commercial day-care businesses are registered with the city. The next public school year starts on Aug. 15.
Los Angeles is among many cities struggling to deal with a surge in homelessness and large encampments scattered along sidewalks that have sparked public outcry.
Supporters of the blanket ban said homeless camps are a health and safety threat to schoolchildren, especially because of the disruptive presence of people with drug addictions or mental illness.
The camps “are unsafe and traumatic for students, families and staff as they enter school campuses,” Martha Alvarez, who is in charge of government relations for the school district, told the council.
Opponents, including homeless advocates, said the measure would further criminalize homelessness.
The ban comes as several hotels are set to end their involvement in the government’s Project Roomkey, which paid them to provide hundreds of rooms to unsheltered people. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Los-Angeles-OKs-sweeping-ban-on-homeless-camps-17348104.php | 2022-08-03T14:41:26 | en | 0.978389 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday approved two massive arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to help them defend against Iran.
The more than $5 billion in missile defense and related sales follow President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East last month, during which he met with numerous regional leaders in Saudi Arabia. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been hit in recent months with rocket attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi rebel movement in Yemen.
Although Tuesday’s approvals are for defensive weapons, they may be questioned by lawmakers who had supported Biden’s decision last year to cut Saudi Arabia and the UAE off from major purchases of offensive U.S. arms because of their involvement in the war in Yemen.
The new sales include $3 billion for Patriot missiles for Saudi Arabia specifically designed to protect itself from rocket attacks by the Houthis, and $2.2 billion for high-altitude missile defense for the UAE.
“The proposed sale will improve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by replenishing its dwindling stock of PATRIOT GEM-T missiles,” the State Department said in its notice informing Congress of the sale.
“These missiles are used to defend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s borders against persistent Houthi cross-border unmanned aerial system and ballistic missile attacks on civilian sites and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia,” the department said.
For UAE, the department said the sale would “support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of an important regional partner. The UAE is a vital U.S. partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”
Early in his administration Biden had pledged to cut off or cut back weapons sales to both Saudi Arabia and the UAE because of their actions in Yemen. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/us-approves-massive-arms-sale-to-saudi-uae-to-counter-iran/ | 2022-08-03T14:41:30 | en | 0.954422 |
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Ping Identity (NASDAQ: COWN) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Thoma Bravo.
Click here to learn how to join the action: https://www.ademilaw.com/case/ping-identity-holding-corp or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.
Ademi LLP alleges Ping Identity's financial outlook and prospects are excellent and yet Ping Identity holders will receive only $28.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at an Enterprise Value of approximately $2.8 billion. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for Ping Identity by imposing a significant penalty if Ping Identity accepts a superior bid. Ping Identity insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.
We are investigating the conduct of Ping Identity's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for Ping Identity.
If you own Ping Identity common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/ping-identity-holding-corp.
We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Contacts
Ademi LLP
Guri Ademi
Toll Free: (866) 264-3995
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SOURCE Ademi LLP | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-alert-ademi-llp-investigates-whether-ping-identity-holding-corp-has-obtained-a-fair-price-in-its-transaction-with-thoma-bravo-301598972.html | 2022-08-03T14:41:31 | en | 0.890298 |
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Sajish Mathew, University of South Carolina
(THE CONVERSATION) The effects a drug or chemical compound have on the body depend on how its atoms are arranged in space. Some compounds have a dark twin with the same molecular formula but different 3D structure – and this can have consequences for what they do or don’t do in the body.
Consider the tragic story of thalidomide, a morning sickness drug that caused thousands of birth defects and miscarriages. While one form, or isomer, of thalidomide has a sedative effect, the other is thought to cause abnormal physiological development. Because the two versions can convert back and forth in the body, it’s dangerous to take either form of thalidomide while pregnant.
My research has focused on one such compound found in red grapes and peanuts, resveratrol. It has been a scientific mystery why clinical trials on using resveratrol to treat Alzheimer’s disease have had inconsistent results. Turns out, it may be because two different forms were used – while one may help with cognition and memory, the other may be toxic to the nervous system.
Isomers and amino acids
Many drugs have the same atoms and bonds but are arranged differently in space. These drugs are called chiral compounds – meaning they exist as two nonsuperimposable mirror images. For example, your hands are also nonsuperimposable mirror images of each other. Although they look the same, they don’t overlap when you put one on top of the other.
Usually these mirror-image versions have very similar properties because they share the same elements and bonds. But the way they are arranged in space can drastically change the effects they have in the body. Just as you wouldn’t be able to fit a left-handed glove on your right hand, a left-handed version of a drug wouldn’t be able to fit into a target in the body shaped to fit a right-handed molecule.
Chiral molecules come in two versions, or isomers, defined by their optical activity. This means that if you shine polarized light on a chiral molecule, one will rotate the light to the left (indicated by the prefix L-, or levorotatory) while the other will rotate it to the right (indicated by the prefix D, or dextrorotatory).
Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, are chiral molecules. Living organisms primarily make proteins from amino acids with L configurations. The D configuration, however, has many other functions in nature. Bacteria, for example, use D configuration amino acids to make their cell walls. Mammals use D configuration amino acids as messengers in their nervous and endocrine systems.
The amino acid tyrosine is one important exception to the L configuration rule. Unlike other amino acids, both the L and D configurations of tyrosine can be activated for protein synthesis by an enzyme called tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS).
The presence of D-tyrosine can make it difficult for cells to synthesize proteins that only use L-tyrosine. However, cells have evolved enzymes that can discriminate between both versions and ensure that only L-tyrosine is used. When tyrosine-consuming enzymes are absent, the resulting increased levels of tyrosine in the body can have toxic effects, including damage to the nervous system.
Recently published work from my lab suggests a potential reason why too much tyrosine can be neurotoxic. When we added increasing amounts of L-tyrosine to rat brain cells in a petri dish, we found that it decreased levels of TyrRS, the enzyme that activates tyrosine to make proteins without causing damage to the body. Surprisingly, adding D-tyrosine not only caused TyrRS levels to drop, but also killed the neurons.
When we looked at the brains of Alzheimer’s patients who show increased tyrosine levels, we also found that TyrRS enzyme levels are depleted. Our hypothesis is that as tyrosine levels in the brain increase, TyrRS enzyme levels drop and cause damaging effects on the brains of those with Alzheimer’s. These findings indicate the potentially important role TyrRS may play in the synthesis of proteins essential for cognition and memory.
Grapes, peanuts and Alzheimer’s
These findings have implications for studies on resveratrol, a compound found in red wine that researchers have been examining for potential health benefits. While some clinical trials found that resveratrol can improve cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease, others found it had the opposite effect and made the disease more severe. Why resveratrol can have such varying effects has remained a scientific enigma.
Resveratrol comes in two forms, cis-resveratrol and trans-resveratrol. The “cis-” and “trans-” prefixes, much like L- and D-, describe how the same atoms in two isomers are arranged differently in space.
My colleagues and I found that because the two forms of resveratrol bind to TyrRS in different ways, they can result in opposite effects in neurons. While cis-resveratrol was able to increase TyrRS levels in rat neurons in a petri dish, high concentrations of trans-resveratrol depleted TyrRS and caused neural damage. However, low concentrations of trans-resveratrol can convert into cis-resveratrol in the body. This result leads to an increase in TyrRS levels and its associated benefits.
We hypothesize that many clinical trials on resveratrol failed because none tested cis-resveratrol alone. We believe that this may also explain why trials that used high doses of trans-resveratrol saw harmful effects, while trials that used low doses of trans-resveratrol that were then converted into cis-resveratrol in the body saw beneficial effects.
Beyond the individual atoms and bonds of molecules, the body also cares about how they’re arranged in space. Paying attention to the different forms a drug takes could help lead to more effective treatments.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/many-drugs-have-mirror-image-chemical-structures-while-one-may-be-helpful-the-other-may-be-harmful-186975. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Many-drugs-have-mirror-image-chemical-structures-17347934.php | 2022-08-03T14:41:32 | en | 0.941369 |
NATIONAL PARK, N.J. (AP) — Researchers believe they have uncovered in a mass grave in New Jersey the remains of as many as 12 Hessian soldiers who fought during the Revolutionary War, officials announced Tuesday.
The remains, found at the site of Fort Mercer and the 1777 Battle of Red Bank, rested for 245 years until a human femur was found in June during an archaeologicall dig of a trench system that surrounded the fort, scientists said. Additional excavation yielded more skeletal remains and items including pewter and brass buttons and a King George III gold guinea, which would have been a soldier’s pay for a month.
A team of scientists from Rowan University and officials from Gloucester County presented their preliminary findings during a news conference at Red Bank Battlefield Park, just south of Philadelphia.
Officials believe the remains are part of a mass grave of Hessian soldiers — German troops hired by the British — who were part of about 377 troops killed by Colonial forces during the Battle of Red Bank. Americans lost 14, historians said.
The victory allowed Americans at the fort to delay the British from moving supplies up the Delaware River.
“Based on everything we’ve found and the context of what we’ve found, these appear to be Hessians,” Wade Catts, principal archaeologist for South River Heritage Consulting of Delaware, said in a statement.
The remains have been turned over to forensic anthropologists at the New Jersey State Police forensic unit to extract DNA from the bones and teeth to identify their origin. Additional studies are being conducted to examine life history, health and disease.
The scientists hope they can identify the remains and find their descendants.
“We’re hoping that eventually, perhaps, we can find some of these individuals,” Rowan University public historian Jennifer Janofsky said in a statement. “If we can extract their stories, and if we can tell their stories, it lets us put a name to a face. And that, to me, is a very powerful moment in public history.”
Officials said the remains were excavated with “extraordinary attention” to preserving the dignity of war dead.
When the study is complete, they will be interred at another site, and the trench will be refilled. The land will be incorporated into the park on a bluff overlooking the river.
“Archaeology is helping us better understand what happened on the battlefield,” Janofsky said.
___
Marsh reported from Manasquan, New Jersey. | https://cw33.com/news/science-technology/ap-science/hessian-remains-unearthed-at-revolutionary-war-battle-site/ | 2022-08-03T14:41:37 | en | 0.967066 |
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLP, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to:
Cowen Inc. (NASDAQ: COWN)'s sale to TD Bank Group for $39.00 per share. If you are a Cowen shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Sierra Wireless, Inc. (NASDAQ: SWIR)'s sale to Semtech Corporation for $31.00 per share. If you are a Sierra shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. (NYSE: BHVN)'s sale to Pfizer Inc. for $148.50 per share in cash. Biohaven common shareholders, including Pfizer, will also receive 0.5 of a share of New Biohaven, a new publicly traded company that will retain Biohaven's non-CGRP development stage pipeline compounds, per Biohaven common share. If you are a Biohaven shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Galata Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: GLTA)'s merger with Marti Technologies Inc. If you are a Galata shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Halper Sadeh LLP may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders.
Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
Halper Sadeh LLP represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Halper Sadeh LLP
Daniel Sadeh, Esq.
Zachary Halper, Esq.
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SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-investigation-notice-halper-sadeh-llp-investigates-cown-swir-bhvn-glta-301598994.html | 2022-08-03T14:41:37 | en | 0.874272 |
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Zachary Neal, Michigan State University and Jennifer Watling Neal, Michigan State University
(THE CONVERSATION) Fears about declining fertility rates have come from sources as diverse as Pope Francis and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson could force women to give birth against their wishes, while a recent British editorial even proposed a tax on people without children.
Media outlets regularly point out that more Americans are having fewer children or forgoing parenthood altogether.
But how many Americans want to have kids and can’t? Or are still planning to be parents down the road? How many are consciously making the choice to never have kids?
While official statistics in the United States and elsewhere track fertility, they don’t provide insight into the people who have not had children. There are many different types of nonparents: “Childfree” people do not want children; “childless” people want children but can’t have them; “not-yet parents” plan to have children in the future; “undecided” people aren’t sure they will have children; and “ambivalent” people aren’t sure they would have wanted children.
In a 2022 study of 1,500 adults in Michigan, wefound that 21.64% of adults do not want to have children and therefore are choosing to be childfree.
Identifying childfree people
To identify childfree people, we asked each participant a series of up to three questions:
- Do you have, or have you ever had, any biological, step-, or adopted children?
- Do you plan to have any biological or adopted children in the future?
- Do you wish you had or could have biological or adopted children?
Respondents could answer “yes,” “no,” or “I don’t know” to each question. We classified as childfree those who answered “no” to all three.
Our estimate of the number of childfree people is much higher than past national studies, which placed the percentage between 2% and 9%. This likely happened because our measurement focuses on a person’s desire to have children, not their ability. This is important because a person can be childfree whether they are biologically capable of having children or not.
Our estimate is also slightly lower than an initial estimate – 27% – from a 2021 study that we wrote about a year ago. The original study did not allow respondents to answer “I don’t know” to these questions and therefore could not separate the undecided or ambivalent from the childfree. We were surprised that after refining our measurement to distinguish these unique groups, we still observed so many childfree adults.
Roughly half the adults in our study were parents, but childfree adults were the largest nonparent group. While our survey wasn’t nationally representative, the 2021 Census showed that Michigan is demographically similar to the United States in terms of age, race, education and income. If the pattern we have observed in Michigan reflects national trends, it would mean 50 million to 60 million American adults are childfree.
They’re deciding early in life
People, especially women, who say they don’t want children are often told they’ll change their mind. But we found that’s likely not the case.
In our study, people reported making the decision to be childfree early in life, most often in their teens and 20s. Moreover, it isn’t just young people who are claiming they don’t want children. Many women who decided in their teens to be childfree are much older now, and are still childfree.
Our findings depart from research conducted in the 1970s, which found that childfree adults tended to arrive at their decision later in life after postponing parenthood for many years. Earlier decisions may reflect changing norms toward parenthood and an increasing recognition and acceptance of a childfree lifestyle.
Underpopulation isn’t the problem
Despite Musk’s insistence that there is an underpopulation crisis, the global population will continue to grow.
This growth will likely have a negative impact on climate change – some researchers contend that one of the best ways to reduce carbon emissions is to have fewer children.
Meanwhile, the Dobbs decision has chilling implications for the millions of Americans who are childfree: A significant swath of them are now at risk of being forced to have children despite not wanting them.
Issues affecting childfree Americans go beyond reproductive freedom. For example, workplace policies on work-life balance often favor parents. Because so many people are childfree, we believe the needs of this group warrant more attention from policymakers.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/more-than-1-in-5-us-adults-dont-want-children-187236. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/More-than-1-in-5-US-adults-don-t-want-children-17347932.php | 2022-08-03T14:41:38 | en | 0.963679 |
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLP, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to:
VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW)'s sale to Broadcom Inc. Under the terms of the merger, VMware shareholders may elect to receive either $142.50 in cash or 0.2520 shares of Broadcom common stock for each share of VMware they own. The shareholder election is subject to proration. If you are a VMware shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Zendesk, Inc. (NYSE: ZEN)'s sale to Permira and Hellman & Friedman LLC for $77.50 per share. If you are a Zendesk shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY)'s merger with TransGlobe Energy Corporation. Under the terms of the merger, VAALCO will acquire each TransGlobe share for 0.6727 of a VAALCO share of common stock. If you are a VAALCO shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FBMS)'s merger with Heritage Southeast Bancorporation, Inc. Subject to the terms of the definitive merger agreement, Heritage shareholders would receive 0.965 shares of First Bancshares common stock for each share of Heritage common stock upon the closing of the transaction. If you are a First Bancshares shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options.
Halper Sadeh LLP may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders.
Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
Halper Sadeh LLP represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors.
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SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-investigation-notice-halper-sadeh-llp-investigates-vmw-zen-egy-fbms-301598976.html | 2022-08-03T14:41:43 | en | 0.891318 |
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s government on Wednesday released its first-ever climate adaptation plan, which includes the possibility of moving some communities to higher ground.
But the six-year plan, which runs nearly 200 pages, comes up short on some important details, including how much the changes will cost and who will pay.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw told reporters that about 70,000 coastal homes in New Zealand were at risk from rising seas, and many more inland homes were at risk from flooding rivers. He said New Zealand had been slow to adapt to climate change, which would end up costing more money over time.
“I am frustrated that for the last three decades, successive governments have not paid any attention in any real form to the challenges that we face from the effects of climate change,” Shaw said. “We had to start somewhere.”
The National Adaptation Plan includes the possible relocation of low-lying homes and assets as rising seas and increased storms make flooding more common.
“In some highly exposed areas, the risk from natural hazard and climate impacts may become intolerable,” the report says. “Inundation of buildings and infrastructure will start to occur, leading to direct damage and loss of some facilities like roads or other lifeline services, and public open space.”
The report says that a “managed retreat” from such areas will often be considered a last resort, to be used in conjunction with other adaptations such as installing seawalls and raising houses on stilts.
Shaw said the costs for adaptation will be borne by a combination of homeowners, insurers, banks, local councils and central government. He said the government was taking hardship into account, and would target help to those least able to pay for changes themselves.
The plan also aims to make granular climate-change data more widely accessible, which in some cases could impact insurance rates and property prices.
Luke Harrington, a senior lecturer in climate change at the University of Waikato, said in a statement the report was a timely reminder that New Zealand needed to contend not only with rising seas, but also with other climate impacts such as more severe droughts and extreme rainfall.
“This National Adaptation Plan is a great first step towards addressing some of these challenges, though paucity remains in some of the details,” he said.
The adaptation plan comes two months after the government released a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which includes a trial program to help lower-income people scrap their old gas guzzlers and replace them with cleaner hybrid or electric cars.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said that the first six months of 2022 were the second-hottest ever recorded in New Zealand, with temperatures averaging 15 Celsius (59 Fahrenheit), about 1.2 C (2.2 F) above normal. | https://cw33.com/news/science-technology/ap-science/new-zealand-climate-plan-includes-relocating-some-homes/ | 2022-08-03T14:41:43 | en | 0.973474 |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of senators on Wednesday proposed a bill to regulate cryptocurrencies, the latest attempt by Congress to formulate ideas on how to oversee a multibillion-dollar industry that has been racked by collapsing prices and lenders halting operations.
The regulations offered by Senate Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow and top Republican member John Boozman would authorize the Commodities Futures Trading Commission to be the default regulator for cryptocurrencies. That would be in contrast with bills proposed by other members of Congress and consumer advocates, who have suggested giving the authority to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This year, crypto investors have seen prices plunge and companies crater with fortunes and jobs disappearing overnight, and some firms have been accused by federal regulators of running an illegal securities exchange. Bitcoin, the largest digital asset, trades at a fraction of its all-time high, down from more than $68,000 in November 2021 to about $23,000 on Wednesday. Industry leaders have referred to this period as a “crypto winter,” and lawmakers have been desperate to implement stringent oversight.
The bill by Stabenow, a Democrat from Michigan, and Boozman, of Arkansas, would require all cryptocurrency platforms — including traders, dealers, brokers and sites that hold crypto for customers — to register with the CFTC.
The CFTC is historically an underfunded and much smaller regulator than the SEC, which has armies of investigators to look at potential wrongdoing. The bill attempts to alleviate these issues by imposing on the crypto industry user fees, which in turn would fund more robust supervision of the industry by the CFTC.
"Our bill will empower the CFTC with exclusive jurisdiction over the digital commodities spot market, which will lead to more safeguards for consumers, market integrity and innovation in the digital commodities space,” Boozman said in a statement.
Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and John Thune, R-S.D., are co-sponsors of the bill.
"It’s critical that the (CFTC) has the proper tools to regulate this growing market,” Thune said.
The legislation can be added to the list of proposals that have come out of Congress this year.
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., in April introduced legislation, called the Stablecoin TRUST Act, that would create a framework to regulate stablecoins, which have seen massive losses this year. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency pegged to a specific value, usually the U.S. dollar, another currency or gold.
Additionally, in June, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., proposed a wide-ranging bill, called the Responsible Financial Innovation Act. That bill proposed legal definitions of digital assets and virtual currencies; would require the IRS to adopt guidance on merchant acceptance of digital assets and charitable contributions; and would make a distinction between digital assets that are commodities and those that are securities, which has not been done.
Along with the Toomey legislation and the Lummis-Gillibrand legislation, a proposal is being worked out in the House Financial Services Committee, though those negotiations have stalled.
Committee chair Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said last month that while she, top Republican member Patrick McHenry of North Carolina and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had made considerable progress toward an agreement on the legislation, "we are unfortunately not there yet, and will therefore continue our negotiations over the August recess.”
President Joe Biden's working group on financial markets last November issued a report calling on Congress to pass legislation that would regulate stablecoins, and Biden earlier this year issued an executive order calling on a variety of agencies to look at ways to regulate digital assets.
___
Follow AP's coverage of the cryptocurrency industry at https://apnews.com/hub/cryptocurrency. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/New-crypto-oversight-legislation-arrives-as-17347946.php | 2022-08-03T14:41:44 | en | 0.958647 |
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — It’s likely that virtually all abortions will be banned eventually in deeply conservative Idaho, along with most other Republican-dominated states, but there are still battles to play out in court and maybe the legislature before it happens.
Wednesday, lawyers representing a physician and the regional Planned Parenthood affiliate will be before the Idaho Supreme Court asking the justices to block enforcement of three laws intended to restrict abortion.
Since the top federal court’s June 24 ruling overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the abortion fight has continued to play out in courts, with judges deciding whether bans or other deep restrictions can be enforced.
The landscape has been shifting nearly daily. Bans on abortion at any point in pregnancy are being enforced in eight states and as soon as fetal cardiac activity can be detected – generally around six weeks’ gestation – in another five. And most or all clinics have stopped offering abortion services in a handful of additional states because of legal uncertainty.
Abortion rights groups, which have spent decades in courts trying to preserve access, are continuing the fight even in places such as Idaho, where they’re unlikely to prevail in the long run.
In several cases, judges have paused enforcement of bans, allowing at least some abortions to continue, at least for a time.
In Kentucky, where enforcement of a ban has stopped and started multiple times since June, enforcement was allowed to resume with a ruling Monday.
And in Louisiana, there were about 610 abortions per month in 2021. With the shifting status, 249 were reported from June 24 through July 29. While that’s far fewer than normal in that period, the legal fight did allow some patients access.
In the Idaho cases, Dr. Caitlin Gustafson and Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky are suing the state over over three laws. One expected to take effect on Aug. 19 would bans abortions for pregnancies beyond six weeks of gestation and one that would take effect on Aug. 25 would effectively ban all abortions. A third law allows potential relatives of a fetus or embryo to sue medical providers who perform an abortion.
Though the six-week abortion ban both contain exceptions for procedures done to save the life of the pregnant person or in cases of rape or incest, the exceptions set a very high bar that experts say will be difficult to meet. For instance, people using the rape or incest exception will have to report the crime to law enforcement and then show that report to the abortion provider — but it often takes weeks or months to obtain a copy of a newly filed police report under Idaho’s public record laws.
The total abortion ban would allow health care providers to be charged with a crime even if the abortion is the only way to save their patient’s life — but the health care providers could then try to defend themselves in court with evidence that the procedure was necessary because of an immediate medical emergency.
Gustafson and Planned Parenthood have argued in court documents that the medical emergency exemptions are vague and would be difficult or impossible to implement to provide care to a pregnant person whose life may be at risk. They say that some situations — like where the placenta starts to pull away from the uterine wall, causing risky bleeding, or when a pregnant person’s blood pressure begins to skyrocket — patients do sometimes die or experience long-term harm, but those outcomes aren’t always certain.
The doctor and abortion rights group argue that the law allowing potential relatives of an embryo or fetus to sue abortion providers wrongly takes enforcement of a state law and puts it in the hands of individuals instead of state entities, a violation of the separation of government powers. The law allows the father, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles of a “preborn child” to each sue an abortion provider for a minimum of $20,000 in damages within four years after the abortion. Rapists can’t file a lawsuit under the law, but a rapist’s relatives could.
The Idaho Legislature and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office have countered that it is in the state’s best interest to prohibit abortion and that the Legislature has the right to enact anti-abortion legislation. Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden’s office has also argued that abortion rights advocates should take their fight to the ballot box, not the courts.
And the Idaho GOP during its annual convention last month passed a resolution opposing abortion in all instances — even if it is done to save the life of the mother.
Still, abortion rights advocates have become galvanized in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling.
Kansas voters on Tuesday rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten restrictions or ban the procedure outright in the conservative state with deep ties to the anti-abortion movement.
Abortion rights protests have garnered big crowds in Boise, with anti-abortion rallies frequently held nearby. One abortion rights protest was scheduled to be held at the Statehouse on Wednesday evening, starting several hours after the state’s highest court finishes hearing arguments in the Planned Parenthood cases.
The Boise City Council last month passed a resolution that limits the funding for investigating abortions and stating that investigations for the purpose of prosecuting abortion providers will not be prioritized.
___
AP writers Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, contributed to this article. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/abortion-court-battles-press-on-even-in-deep-red-states/ | 2022-08-03T14:41:49 | en | 0.948907 |
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Fighting back tears and finally given the chance to confront conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, the parents of a 6-year-old killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting described being put through a “living hell” of death threats, harassment and ongoing trauma over the last decade caused by Jones using his media platforms to push claims that it was all a hoax.
The parents led a day of charged testimony that included the judge scolding the bombastic Jones for not being truthful with some of what he said under oath.
Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse was killed at Sandy Hook, took the witness stand Tuesday on the final day of testimony in the two-week defamation damages trial against Jones and his media company Free Speech Systems. They are seeking at least $150 million in damages.
In a gripping exchange, Lewis spoke directly to Jones, who was sitting about 10 feet away. Earlier that day, Jones was on his broadcast program telling his audience that Heslin is “slow” and being manipulated by bad people.
“I am a mother first and foremost and I know you are a father. My son existed,” Lewis said to Jones. “I am not deep state… I know you know that… And yet you’re going to leave this courthouse and say it again on your show.”
At one point, Lewis asked Jones: “Do you think I’m an actor?”
“No, I don’t think you’re an actor,” Jones responded before the judge admonished him to be quiet until called to testify.
Lewis continued trying to impress on Jones that the Sandy Hook shooting and trauma inflicted in the decade since then were real.
“It seems so incredible to me that we have to do this — that we have to implore you, to punish you — to get you to stop lying,” Lewis said. “I am so glad this day is here. I’m actually relieved. And grateful… that I got to say all this to you.”
Jones visibly shook his head several times while Scarlett Lewis was addressing him.
Heslin and Lewis are among several Sandy Hook families who have filed several lawsuits alleging that Sandy Hook hoax claims pushed by Jones have led to years of abuse by Jones and his followers.
Heslin and Lewis both said they fear for their lives and have been confronted by strangers at home and on the street. Heslin said his home and car have been shot at. The jury heard a death threat sent via telephone message to another Sandy Hook family.
“I can’t even describe the last nine and a half years, the living hell that I and others have had to endure because of the recklessness and negligence of Alex Jones,” Heslin said.
Scarlett Lewis also described threatening emails that seemed to have uncovered deep details of her personal life.
“It’s fear for your life,” Scarlett Lewis said. “You don’t know what they were going to do.”
Heslin said he didn’t know if the Sandy Hook hoax conspiracy theory originated with Jones, but it was Jones who “lit the match and started the fire” with an online platform and broadcast that reached millions worldwide.
“What was said about me and Sandy Hook itself resonates around the world,” Heslin said. “As time went on, I truly realized how dangerous it was.”
Jones skipped Heslin’s morning testimony while he was on his show — a move Heslin dismissed as “cowardly” — but arrived in the courtroom for part of Scarlett Lewis’ testimony. He was accompanied by several private security guards.
“Today is very important to me and it’s been a long time coming… to face Alex Jones for what he said and did to me. To restore the honor and legacy of my son,” Heslin said when Jones wasn’t there.
Heslin told the jury about holding his son with a bullet hole through his head, even describing the extent of the damage to his son’s body. A key segment of the case is a 2017 Infowars broadcast that said Heslin didn’t hold his son.
The jury was shown a school picture of a smiling Jesse taken two weeks before he was killed. The parents didn’t receive the photo until after the shooting. They described how Jesse was known for telling classmates to “run!” which likely saved lives.
An apology from Jones wouldn’t be good enough, the parents said.
“Alex started this fight,” Heslin said, “and I’ll finish this fight.”
Jones later took the stand himself, initially being combative with the judge, who had asked him to answer his own attorney’s question. Jones testified he had long wanted to apologize to the plaintiffs.
“I never intentionally tried to hurt you. I never said your name until this came to court,” Jones said. “The internet had questions, I had questions.”
Later, the judge sent the jury out of the room and strongly scolded Jones for telling the jury he complied with pretrial evidence gathering even though he didn’t, and that he is bankrupt, which has not been determined. Plaintiff’s attorneys were furious about Jones mentioning he is bankrupt, which they worry will taint a jury decision about damages.
“This is not your show,” Judge Maya Guerra Gamble told Jones. “Your beliefs do not make something true. You are under oath.”
Last September, Guerra admonished Jones in her default judgment over his failure to turn over documents requested by the Sandy Hook families. A court in Connecticut issued a similar default judgment against Jones for the same reasons in a separate lawsuit brought by other Sandy Hook parents.
Heslin and Lewis suffer from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder that comes from constant trauma, similar to that endured by soldiers in war zones or child abuse victims, a forensic psychologist who studied their cases and met with them testified Monday.
Jones has portrayed the lawsuit against him as an attack on his First Amendment rights.
At stake in the trial is how much Jones will pay. The parents have asked the jury to award $150 million in compensation for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The jury will then consider whether Jones and his company will pay punitive damages.
The trial is just one of several Jones faces.
Courts in Texas and Connecticut have already found Jones liable for defamation for his portrayal of the Sandy Hook massacre as a hoax. In both states, judges issued default judgements against Jones without trials because he failed to respond to court orders and turn over documents.
Jones has already tried to protect Free Speech Systems financially. The company filed for federal bankruptcy protection last week. Sandy Hook families have separately sued Jones over his financial claims, arguing that the company is trying to protect millions owned by Jones and his family through shell entities.
___
Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber contributed to this report.
___
For more of the AP’s coverage of school shootings: https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/alex-jones-cowardly-for-missing-court-sandy-hook-dad-says/ | 2022-08-03T14:41:56 | en | 0.985907 |
CHICAGO (AP) — An 8-year-old boy whose spine was severed in the shooting at a parade on July 4 has moved to a rehabilitation-focused hospital after spending nearly a month in a Chicago pediatric intensive care unit.
Cooper Roberts’ family said the boy was moved Sunday to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab from the University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s Hospital. The family’s statement released Monday said Cooper’s medical team will focus on physical and occupational therapy along with other rehabilitation and mental health services.
Cooper was among the 48 people wounded when a gunman opened fire on the Highland Park Independence Day parade. His twin brother, Luke, was hit by shrapnel, and his mother was wounded in the leg.
Seven people were killed.
Since the shooting, Cooper has undergone at least seven surgeries and is paralyzed from the waist down. In previous statements, his family said he required time on a ventilator and breathing tube after some of those procedures, and he experienced high fevers and other complications.
Each sign of progress has been celebrated in the family’s public updates: Cooper’s first time consuming liquids, the first trip outside the hospital doors in a wheelchair, trips to the hospital’s play room and a reunion with the family’s French bulldog, George.
Word of Cooper’s move to the rehabilitation hospital this week sparked another burst of financial support for the Roberts family. An online fundraiser reported more than $1.7 million has been raised toward Cooper’s care.
In a statement last week, their mother Keely asked people to continue praying for Cooper and Luke.
“Their lives are so much more and better than this terrible thing than was done to them,” she said. “Their lives are not a tragedy, they are a triumph.”
Lake Country prosecutors have charged Robert E. Crimo III with 21 counts of murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery, representing the seven people killed and dozens wounded in the attack. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/boy-wounded-in-parade-attack-moves-to-rehab-focused-hospital/ | 2022-08-03T14:42:03 | en | 0.975039 |
Mobile ID Card, Home Team™, and more!
CHICAGO, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stern Pinball, Inc. expands its award-winning Insider Connected platform with new features making it easier to access the service. With Stern Insider Connected, over 43,000 users track their scores and earn achievements on our network of more than 11,000 connected machines. New features launched today include an easier to use mobile ID card and Home Team system that will automatically log in home users. Code updates are available today for all 18 Stern commercial LCD pinball machines that include Home Team and additional improvements across titles.
Insider Connected now offers our players the ability to save an ID card with their personal QR code in their mobile wallet. It saves time previously spent retrieving a QR code by logging into the Insider Connected service on a phone or by finding a previous screenshot of your QR code saved somewhere in your photo library. These mobile ID cards can be used on connected machines.
With Home Team, users' home pinball machines will remember them. Owners will be able to set standard home Insider Connected user profiles that are always available without needing a phone to scan in. Guests won't be left out either. When guests scan into a Home Team enabled machine their profile will be temporarily remembered for rapid replays, until they log out or the machine is turned off. Turning on Home Team can be done through the service menu on free play machines and accessed by pressing the flipper buttons before starting a game.
For more information on how to set up your own Mobile ID Card and Home Team, visit sternpinball.com/support/faq/ where you will find:
- Mobile ID Card Set-up Video
- Home Team Set-up Video
- PDF Mobile ID Card Set-up Guide
- PDF Home Team Set-up Guide
Stern Pinball takes the safety of our customer's data seriously. Stern works with both legal and security organizations to vet all aspects of Insider Connected for legal compliance and best practices worldwide. As part of this effort, our new machine updates will notify users if any third party code modifications are identified that may put data at risk.
Insider Connected enables users to automatically download and update code across their machines. All code updates and read me files are available at sternpinball.com/support/game-code/. Every new machine produced by Stern Pinball comes from the factory Insider Connected-enabled. Upgrade kits for earlier Stern Pinball LCD Machine are available through authorized dealers and distributors or at shop.sternpinball.com for both Pro and Premium/LE game editions.
Insider Connected is a comprehensive technology initiative to connect the universe of Stern pinball machines. The platform is designed to enhance and extend player engagement with the games across both home and commercial environments. It also presents professional operators of the pinball machines a robust set of tools to drive location play, build player loyalty, analyze performance, make adjustments remotely, and maintain the machines.
Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/. Players can also register at a connected game by scanning a registration QR code on the machine. Once a player registers, they are issued a unique QR Code that can be used to identify that player at any connected Stern pinball machine anywhere in the world. When a player scans into the machine, they can track progress, earn new game specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests.
"Insider Connected is transforming how players interact with pinball machines. Operators are benefiting from new tools that drive repeat play and help maintain games while players benefit from easier log-in access both on location and in their homes," said Seth Davis, President of Stern Pinball, Inc.
Stern Pinball, Inc. is a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball. Headquartered minutes from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe.
Recent Stern Pinball titles include Rush, Godzilla, The Mandalorian, Led Zeppelin, Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira's House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball's games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com.
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SOURCE Stern Pinball, Inc. | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stern-pinball-launches-new-insider-connected-features-301598944.html | 2022-08-03T14:42:08 | en | 0.916214 |
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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A record amount of seaweed is smothering Caribbean coasts from Puerto Rico to Barbados as tons of brown algae kill wildlife, choke the tourism industry and release toxic gases.
More than 24 million tons of sargassum blanketed the Atlantic in June, up from 18.8 million tons in May, according to a monthly report published by the University of South Florida’s Optical Oceanography Lab that noted “a new historical record.”
July saw no decrease of algae in the Caribbean Sea, said Chuanmin Hu, an optical oceanography professor who helps produce the reports.
“I was scared,” he recalled feeling when he saw the historic number for June. He noted it was 20% higher than the previous record set in May 2018.
Hu compiled additional data for The Associated Press that showed sargassum levels for the eastern Caribbean at a near record high this year, second only to those reported in July 2018. Levels in the northern Caribbean are at their third highest, following July 2018 and July 2021, he said.
Scientists say more research is needed to determine why sargassum levels in the region are reaching new highs, but the United Nations’ Caribbean Environment Program says possible factors include a rise in water temperatures as a result of climate change and nitrogen-laden fertilizers and sewage waste fueling algae blooms.
“This year has been the worst year on record,” said Lisa Krimsky, a researcher and faculty member with Florida Sea Grant and a water resources regional specialized agent at University of Florida. “It is absolutely devastating for the region.”
She said large masses of seaweed have a severe environmental impact, with decaying algae altering water temperatures and the pH balance as well as leading to declines in seagrass, coral reef and sponge populations.
“They’re essentially being smothered out,” Krimsky said.
The “golden tide” also has hit humans hard.
The concentration of algae is so heavy in some parts of the eastern Caribbean that the French island of Guadeloupe issued a health alert in late July. It warned some communities about high levels of hydrogen sulfide emanating from huge rotting clumps of seaweed, which can affect people with respiratory problems including asthma.
The Biden administration declared a federal emergency after the U.S. Virgin Islands warned last month of “unusually high amounts” of sargassum affecting water production at a desalination plant near St. Croix that is struggling to meet demand amid a drought.
“We’re consuming as much as we can produce right now,” said Daryl Jaschen, director of the islands’ emergency management agency. “We’re very concerned about that.”
In addition, the U.S. Virgin Island’s electricity generating station relies on ultra-pure water from the desalination plant to reduce emissions monitored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The loss of such water would force the government to use a type of diesel fuel that is more expensive and in limited supply, officials said.
Experts first noted large amounts of sargassum in the Caribbean Sea in 2011 that Hu and other scientists think were created by stronger than normal winds and currents. The problem has worsened as clumps multiplied, fueled by nutrients and strong sunlight.
“In the tropical Atlantic, everything was right,” Hu said. “Everything grows fast.”
Sargassum in moderation helps purify water, absorb carbon dioxide and is a key habitat for fish, turtles, shrimp, crabs and other creatures. But it is bad for tourism, the economy and the environment when too much accumulates just offshore or on beaches.
A carpet of brown algae recently surrounded an uninhabited island near the French Caribbean territory of St. Martin that is popular with tourists, forcing officials to suspend ferry service and cancel kayaking and snorkeling tours. The normally translucent waters around Pinel Island turned into a prickly brown slush.
“This is the worst we’ve ever seen it for sure,” said Melody Rouveure, general manager for a tour company in the Dutch Caribbean territory of St. Maarten, which shares an island with St. Martin. “It did ruin my personal beach plans.”
On Union Island, which is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the seaweed invasion has forced some resorts to close for up to five months in the past.
Masses of sargassum also have strangled the Caribbean’s fishing industry. It damages boat engines and fishing gear, prevents fishermen from reaching their boats and fishing areas and leads to a drop in the number of fish caught. Barbados has been especially hit hard since flying fish make up 60% of the island’s annual landed catch, according to the University of the West Indies.
An overabundance of sargassum was blamed for the recent deaths of thousands of fish at the French Caribbean island of Martinique. It also has activists concerned about the plight of endangered turtles, with some dying at sea entangled in seaweed or unable to lay their eggs given the mat of algae covering the sand.
In the Cayman Islands, a thick carpet of sargassum had prompted officials to launch a trial program in which crews pumped more than 2,880 square feet (268 square meters) of seaweed out of the water. But on Tuesday, the government announced it suspended removal efforts because the level of decomposition made it impractical.
“The sargassum stranding in the North Sound is unlike any we have experienced previously in terms of its location, weather conditions and scale," officials said.
Other island nations have opted to use heavy machinery to remove seaweed from the beach, but scientists warn that causes erosion and could destroy the nests of endangered turtles.
Attempts to use sargassum as fertilizer, food, biofuel, construction material or medicinal products continue, but many Caribbean islands are unable to remove the vast amounts of the seaweed because they are struggling financially and have limited resources.
Gov. Albert Bryan of the U.S. Virgin Islands said he asked President Joe Biden to declare a federal emergency for the entire three-island territory, not just St. Croix, but that didn’t happen. Bryan said he is now trying to find local funds to clean beaches, “but a lot of things need money right now.”
Since 2011, large amounts of sargassum have invaded the Caribbean every year except 2013 — an anomaly that scientists believe may have resulted from a lack of nutrients and a change in wind strength and direction. And the record amounts reported in recent years are even more concerning for scientists and island governments.
“We don’t know if this is a new normal,” Krimsky said. “This has been devastating for over a decade.” | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Record-amount-of-seaweed-is-choking-shores-in-the-17347942.php | 2022-08-03T14:42:09 | en | 0.960811 |
A federal judge on Tuesday tossed out a public records lawsuit on the 2020 census based on a Webster’s dictionary definition of one obscure word: “whereby.”
The lawsuit was over an even more obscure concept: how a statistical method was used to fill in details when information was lacking about people residing in dorms, nursing homes, prisons and other group living spaces.
A Republican-leaning redistricting advocacy group had sued the Census Bureau and the Commerce Department, which oversees the statistical agency, in an effort to get records showing by state the number of times the statistical method was used for group quarters. Fair Lines America Foundation had said it had “significant implications for our nation’s redistricting and electoral process” and demanded transparency in how the method was implemented.
In group quarters, the method known as imputation involves using already available information about the facility, such as its maximum capacity, to fill in missing details.
People living in group quarters were particularly difficult to count during the 2020 census because the coronavirus pandemic sent college students fleeing campuses and put nursing homes and prisons in lockdown. In response, the Census Bureau unexpectedly decided to use the statistical technique for group housing, where about 3% of the U.S. population lives. Because of concerns over the group quarters count during the pandemic, the Census Bureau set up a separate program for governments to appeal that count in their jurisdictions.
The census determines how many congressional seats each state gets, as well as the distribution of $1.5 trillion in federal spending each year.
The Census Bureau had argued that releasing the records to Fair Lines would violate a law protecting census participants’ privacy and confidentiality. Bad actors could reconstruct the larger data set and identify people’s private information if the information was released, the statistical agency argued.
In her order, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson conceded that releasing the aggregated data itself wouldn’t jeopardize participants’ privacy or confidentiality. But the law prohibits “‘any publication whereby the data furnished by any particular establishment or individual under this title can be identified,'” she wrote, quoting from the law.
“The interpretation of this sentence hinges on the word ‘whereby,'” she wrote.
Citing a Webster’s dictionary definition from 1953, a year before the law was enacted, the judge said the meaning of ‘whereby’ led her to believe that publication of the data was prohibited. An attorney for Fair Lines didn’t respond to an email and text seeking comment.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/census-lawsuit-tossed-based-on-definition-of-whereby/ | 2022-08-03T14:42:10 | en | 0.955796 |
Survey: Most Teens Aspire to Own a Home Someday but Report Significant Financial and Homeownership Knowledge Gaps
Junior Achievement and Fannie Mae Youth Homeownership Survey Shows Teens Interested in Programs That Teach How Mortgages and Homeownership Work
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey by Junior Achievement USA and Fannie Mae shows most teens (88%) would like to own a home someday. The survey reflects that most teens (85%) believe "owning a home" is part of "the good life," compared to nearly as many adults (87%) based on Fannie Mae's Q4 2020 National Housing Survey®. However, fewer than half (45%) of surveyed teens could correctly identify the definition of a home mortgage and 76% said they lacked clear understanding of credit scores. The survey of 1,000 nationally representative U.S. teens between the ages of 13 and 17 was conducted from May 25 through May 31, 2022, by Wakefield Research.
While nearly all teens (96%) believe credit scores plays an important role in the ability to purchase a home, approximately three in four (76%) said they understood credit scores only "somewhat," "a little," or "not at all." Nearly all teens (97%) thought it would be helpful if schools offered lessons that explained homeownership, including mortgages.
"There's been this theme that younger Americans aren't interested in homeownership, but the results of this survey contradict that assumption," said Jack E. Kosakowski, President and CEO of Junior Achievement USA. "Teens appear very interested in owning a home someday but seem to realize they need more information on how to do it."
"Young people today are the homebuyers of tomorrow. By providing them access to quality, foundational education now, Fannie Mae and Junior Achievement are helping these future homeowners to prepare for the mortgage and homebuying process when they're ready to take that step," said Jeffery Hayward, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Fannie Mae. "Fannie Mae is committed to supporting sustainable homeownership, and the results of this survey reinforce how homeownership and financial education can enable aspiring homeowners to be successful in their housing journey, both in buying a home and sustaining it over the long term."
In response to young people's interest in learning more about the financial aspects of buying a home, Fannie Mae is supporting the development and deployment of Junior Achievement learning experiences for thousands of students annually in various age groups. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, relevant content from Fannie Mae's HomeView™ homeownership course materials and resources, designed with first-time homebuyers in mind, are integrated in an age-appropriate manner into Junior Achievement programs and made available to students in both digital and print formats.
Other key survey findings include:
- In addition to owning a home, most teens also believe that "living in a location I like" (90%), "being in good health" (96%), "having an interesting job" (87%), and "having a good work-life balance" (96%) are an important part of "the good life." Only a slight majority of teens (51%) said "having children" is an important part of having "the good life," compared to more than three in four adults (77%) from the 2020 National Housing Survey.
- Most teens (61%) say their parents own their home. Less than half of Black teens (44%) responded that way, with nearly as many saying they rent (42%). A little over half of Hispanic/Latino teens (52%) say their parents own their home, compared to one-third (33%) who say they rent.
- A slight majority of White teens (52%) correctly identified the definition of a mortgage, compared to around a quarter (26%) of Black teens and fewer than half (41%) of Hispanic/Latino teens.
- A majority of White teens (72%) identified their family as being the biggest influence on their opinions about homeownership. This sentiment was shared by more than half of Black teens (59%) and Hispanic/Latino teens (66%).
An executive summary of the survey can be found here.
Methodology
The Junior Achievement/Fannie Mae Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. Teens ages 13-17, between May 25th and May 31st, 2022, using an email invitation and an online survey. Respondents were not affiliated with or enrolled in Junior Achievement programs. Data was weighted to ensure a reliable and accurate representation of U.S. teens ages 13-17.
Demographic notes:
- Black, non-Hispanic – Any teen (13-17) who reports their race as "black" or "African American" and are not of Hispanic or Latino heritage.
- Hispanic – Any teen (13-17) who reports being of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.
- White, non-Hispanic – Any teen (13-17) who reports their race as "white" and are not of Hispanic or Latino heritage.
- Other – Any teen (13-17) who reports their race as something other than the above (include Asian/Pacific Islander or Native American as asked in this survey) and are not of Hispanic or Latino heritage.
Wakefield is following the approach the U.S. Census and surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau use when asking for ethnicity and race. The definitions used in the table are commonly used to present data for ethnicity and race.
For fielding this survey, Wakefield used benchmarks from the Current Population Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.
About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 2.5 million students per year in 103 markets across the United States, as part of 10 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.
About Fannie Mae
Fannie Mae advances equitable and sustainable access to homeownership and quality, affordable rental housing for millions of people across America. Fannie Mae enables the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and drives responsible innovation to make homebuying and renting easier, fairer, and more accessible. Visit fanniemae.com for more information.
SOURCE Junior Achievement USA | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survey-most-teens-aspire-to-own-a-home-someday-but-report-significant-financial-and-homeownership-knowledge-gaps-301598006.html | 2022-08-03T14:42:14 | en | 0.960845 |
KLAMATH RIVER, Calif. (AP) — Roger Derry, 80, and his son have lived together in the tiny scenic hamlet of Klamath River in Northern California for more than 40 years.
They know most of the town’s 200 or so residents.
Now, they’re one of the few families left after California’s largest and deadliest wildfire of the year raged through the modest homes and stores of the riverside town.
“It’s very sad. It’s very disheartening,” Derry said. “Some of our oldest homes, 100-year-old homes, are gone. It’s a small community. Good people, good folks, for the most part, live here and in time will rebuild. But it’s going to take some time now.”
The McKinney Fire that erupted last Friday remained out of control, despite some progress as firefighters took advantage of thunderstorms that dumped rain that temporarily took a bit of heat out of the parched, scorched region not far from the Oregon border.
The area saw another thunderstorm Tuesday that dumped heavy rain and swelled rivers.
The fire has burned more than 88 square miles (228 square kilometers), and is the largest of several wildfires burning in the Klamath National Forest.
The fire didn’t grow on Tuesday, and fire officials said crews were able to use bulldozers to carve firebreaks along a ridge to protect homes and buildings in the county seat of Yreka.
But several thousand people remained under evacuation orders, 100 buildings ranging from homes to greenhouses have burned and at least four bodies have been found in the region.
The destruction of a small community has sadly become a real possibility as wildfires become fiercer in the Western United States.
Wildfires in Montana, Idaho and Nebraska have destroyed some homes and continue to threaten communities.
Just four years ago, a massive blaze in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California virtually razed the Butte County town of Paradise, killing 85 people.
Scientists have said climate change has made the West warmer and drier over the last three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive.
When it began, the McKinney Fire was only a couple hundred acres and firefighters thought they would quickly have it under control. But then, a thunderstorm cell came in with ferocious wind gusts that within hours had pushed it into an unstoppable conflagration.
Roger Derry and his son, whose name is spelled Rodger Derry, decided not to evacuate when the fire broke out and said their home, which they’d tried to safeguard by trimming away nearby bushes, survived. Firefighters also showed up and dug firebreaks around the neighborhood.
But they could see the fire as it tore its way through the places around them.
“When that fire came over that ridgeline, it had 100-foot flames for about 5 miles and the wind was blowing. It was coming down like a solid blowtorch,” Roger Derry said. “There was nothing to stop it,”
The fire destroyed most of the homes, including those in a trailer park, along with the post office, community hall and other scattered businesses.
The cause hasn’t been determined.
In northwestern Montana, a fire that started Friday near the town of Elmo on the Flathead Indian Reservation has burned some structures, but authorities said they didn’t immediately know if any were homes. The blaze measured 25 square miles (66 square kilometers) on Tuesday, with 10% containment, fire officials said. Some residents were forced to flee Monday as gusting afternoon winds drove the fire.
The Moose Fire in Idaho has burned more than 85 square miles (220 square kilometers) in the Salmon-Challis National Forest while threatening homes, mining operations and fisheries near the town of Salmon. It was 23% contained Tuesday, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center.
And a wildfire raging in northwestern Nebraska led to evacuations and destroyed or damaged several homes near the small city of Gering. The Carter Canyon Fire began Saturday as two separate fires that merged. It was more than 30% contained by Tuesday.
___
Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press reporters Amy Hanson in Helena, Montana; Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska; and Keith Ridler in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/deadly-california-wildfire-wipes-out-scenic-river-town/ | 2022-08-03T14:42:17 | en | 0.971917 |
Shlomit Harth will help define and communicate Tenurex's revolutionary vision for correspondent banking services
TEL AVIV, Israel , Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Israeli fintech startup TenureX has appointed Shlomit Harth, board member of Meitav, and former Gartner Vice President as an Advisory board member to help develop strategy and communicate the value of the company's disruptive technology evolution to the Financial Community.
The company believes that Shlomit will play a crucial role in advising on TenureX's branding and long-term marketing strategy. Using her expertise, she is well positioned to help Tenurex shape and communicate the narrative around TenureX's "correspondent banking in a box" platform, reviving a once-moribund industry by slashing the cost, complexity, and risk of partnering with correspondent banks.
Shlomit Harth brings three decades of experience in the technology and fintech industries, including nearly 20 years as a senior executive at Gartner, where she was Vice President and Israel Country Manager. Since leaving Gartner in 2019, Harth has been an active angel investor specializing in seed-stage technology startups; she is also Venture Partner at TPY Capital.
"Getting Shlomit on board is a real coup for TenureX, especially at such a crucial early stage in our story," said Izhar Arieli, co-founder, and CEO of TenureX. "When we founded the company in 2020, we were four banking industry veterans who realized that correspondent banking was broken and had a plan to fix it. But that's only half the battle - we needed someone skilled at storytelling, with unrivaled contacts throughout the industry, and who knows how to engage financial institutions and get them passionate about the new opportunities that digital technology affords."
"At TenureX, hiring the most talented people is built into our DNA, and Shlomit stands head and shoulders above everyone else," continued Arieli. "Not only has she spent two decades building partnerships at Gartner, but she is one of only a handful of senior executives that helped define new categories of technology verticals.
"It's an open secret In the financial services industry that correspondent banking is broken," said Shlomit Harth. "The continued reliance on legacy technology makes it incredibly complex and risky for financial institutions to partner with correspondent banks and prevents them from expanding into new markets and developing new international revenue streams."
"I was deeply impressed by TenureX's technology and its vision of embedding full, end-to-end data into every transaction, making it easy for financial institutions to make intelligent, strategic, and compliant decisions. Above all, I love the chutzpah: Izhar and the team know they're doing something unique and valuable; I look forward to a fruitful collaboration and company success."
About TenureX
TenureX was founded in 2020 by four banking experts with a wide variety of industry experience.
They know first-hand the frustrations and missed opportunities faced by non-bank financial institutions as they struggle to work together, and are passionate about making things simpler for everyone in correspondent banking.
The TenureX vision is to democratize correspondent banking by moving away from subjective, rigid, bilateral, relationship banking. Instead the company is building objective, streamlined, multilateral, transaction-based relationships.
For further information:
Izhar Arieli - CEO and Co-founder
Phone
+ 972 (0) - 73 – 326-0303 (ISR)
+1- 605 – 836-8739 (USA)
Email: [email protected]
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1871833/TenureX_Shlomit_Harth.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1838172/TenureX_Logo.jpg
SOURCE TenureX | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tenurex-appoints-former-gartner-vp-as-a-board-advisor-301599082.html | 2022-08-03T14:42:20 | en | 0.957809 |
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BEIRUT (AP) — Ukraine's ambassador to Lebanon on Wednesday insisted a Syrian ship docked at a Lebanese port is carrying stolen Ukrainian grain and urged Lebanon to block the vessel from leaving.
The claim comes just days before the tiny cash-strapped country receives Ukraine’s first grain shipment since Russia’s invasion began over five months ago.
The Syrian-flagged Laodicea has been anchored at the port of Tripoli since it arrived last Thursday, carrying 10,000 tons of wheat flour and barley. Ukraine says the grain was stolen by Russia.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Lebanon Ihor Ostash urged Lebanon not to allow the vessel to leave the port.
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the ship in 2015 for its affiliation with the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad, a close political and military ally to Moscow.
A senior Lebanese customs official said Friday that Ukraine’s claims that the ship contained stolen goods were untrue and that the vessel's papers appeared in order following an inspection.
Lebanon, already in the throes of a crippling economic and political crisis, has found itself entangled in the fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine. A judge on Monday ordered the Laodicea not to set sail for 72 hours, following a request from Kyiv. However, Lebanon’s prosecutor general the following day decided the ship could set sail.
The Laodicea is now free to go once those 72 hours pass but that would anger Ukraine. Russia’s diplomatic mission in Lebanon praised the move, accusing Ukraine of lying about the cargo and trying to damage relations between Moscow and Beirut.
Ostash at a news conference Wednesday presented documents and mapping of the Laodicea’s journey and cargo. He said that evidence from Kyiv’s security agencies and judiciary indicates the vessel contained stolen goods.
“Of course it’s important to understand that we would like to go via legal procedures to ... provide all possible evidences and proofs of the Ukrainian side,” Ostash said. He presented a photo of what appears to be the Laodicea being loaded with the cargo in the Russia-annexed Crimea peninsula.
The ongoing fuss over the Laodicea comes as the first grain ship carrying 26,000 tons of Ukrainian corn aboard the Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni entered Turkey’s Bosporus Strait en route to the Tripoli port in Lebanon. It’s the first grain ship heading from the war-torn country since Russia’s invasion in late February.
A Lebanese official told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the ship is expected to take about four days to arrive in Lebanon from Istanbul after it was searched.
After presenting Kyiv’s latest evidence about the Laodicea, Ostash turned to the Razoni, which he said unlike the Syrian ship carried “in a legal way, not stolen, original Ukrainian grain.”
Lebanon condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, which angered Moscow and its allies in Beirut. Ostash praised Lebanon again for taking this position.
The shipments come at a time when Lebanon is suffering from a food security crisis, with soaring food inflation, wheat shortages and breadlines. Three-quarters of its population lives in poverty. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Ukraine-urges-Lebanon-to-block-ship-with-grain-17347964.php | 2022-08-03T14:42:22 | en | 0.95064 |
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A grieving father erupted in anger Tuesday as he told jurors about the daughter Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz murdered along with 16 others four years ago, his voice rising as he recounted her “infectious laugh that I can only get to watch now on TikTok videos.”
Dr. Ilan Alhadeff’s emotional testimony about his 14-year-old daughter Alyssa marked a second day of tears as families, one after another, took the witness stand to give heartrending statements about their loved ones who died at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018.
He and his wife, Lori, described Alyssa’s role as captain of her soccer team, the friend others always turned to for advice or a shoulder to cry on, and her plans to become a business lawyer. He cried as he recounted how he will not dance with his daughter at her wedding or see the children she would have had.
“My first-born daughter, daddy’s girl was taken from me!” yelled Alhadeff, an internal medicine physician. “I get to watch my friends, my neighbors, colleagues spend time enjoying their daughters, enjoying all the normal milestones, taking in the normal joys and I only get to watch videos or go to the cemetery to see my daughter.”
He said one of Alyssa’s two younger brothers was too young to comprehend her death when it happened, but now “asks to go see his sister at the cemetery from time to time.”
“This is not normal!” he said angrily.
Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of first-degree murder in October; the trial is only to determine whether he is sentenced to death or life without parole. Over the two days of family statements, he has shown little emotion, even as several of his attorneys wiped away tears and Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer’s voice broke when she gave directions. He mostly stares straight ahead or looks down at the table where he sits.
As one family testifies, others sob in the gallery while awaiting their turn. When finished, they stay to lend support. They exchange packets of tissues, shoulder rubs and, when breaks come, hugs. Some jurors wipe away tears, but most sit stoically.
Some families had statements read for them. The mother of 14-year-old Martin Duque wrote that while he was born in Mexico, he wanted to become a U.S. Navy Seal. The wife of assistant football coach Aaron Feis wrote that he was a doting father to their young daughter and a mentor to many young people.
The mother of 16-year-old Carmen Schentrup wrote that she was a straight-A student whose letter announcing she was a semifinalist for a National Merit Scholarship arrived the day after she died. She wanted to be a doctor who researched amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Shara Kaplan sobbed as she told the jurors of her two sons’ sadness that they weren’t there to protect their little sister, 18-year-old Meadow Pollack.
Luke Hoyer’s mom, Gina, said the 15-year-old was her “miracle baby,” her “Lukey Bear.” She said he yelled down that Valentine’s Day morning to thank her for the card and Skittles she’d placed in his bathroom. The gifts stayed there for a year. His father, Tom, said he never saw his son that morning, but yelled up “Have a good day” as he hurried to work. “That is the kind of exchange you have when you think you have tomorrow,” he said.
Fred Guttenberg, who has become a national advocate for tighter gun laws, said he regrets that the last words he said to his 14-year-old daughter Jaime weren’t “I love you” but instead, “You gotta go, you are going to be late” as he pushed her and her older brother out the door that morning. He said his son is angry with him for telling him to run when he called in a panic to say there was a gunman at the school instead of having him find his sister, even though it would have made no difference.
His wife, Jennifer Guttenberg, said that while her daughter was known for her competitive dancing, she volunteered with the Humane Society and with special needs children. She planned to be a pediatric physical therapist.
Annika Dworet, her husband Mitch sitting somberly at her side, told the jurors about their son Nick, who was 17 when he died. A star swimmer, he had accepted a scholarship to the University of Indianapolis and was training in hopes of competing for his mother’s native Sweden in the 2020 Olympics. His younger brother, Alex, was wounded in the shooting.
“He was always inclusive of everyone. On his last evening with us, he spent time speaking to the younger kids on the swim team, giving them some pointers,” she said.
But now, she said, “our hearts will forever be broken.”
“We will always live with excruciating pain. We have an empty bedroom in our house. There is an empty chair at our dining table. Alex will never have a brother to talk or hang out with. They will never again go for a drive, blasting very loud music. We did not get to see Nick graduate from high school or college. We will never see him getting married.
“We will always hesitate before answering the question, ‘How many kids do you have?’” | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/grieving-father-erupts-at-parkland-school-shooters-trial/ | 2022-08-03T14:42:23 | en | 0.98996 |
You can attend this informative hybrid event in-person or virtually!
HOUSTON, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Health Matters (BHM) is excited to announce that they are hosting the Black Health Matters Summer Summit and Health Fair on August 6th. This interactive event will feature educational sessions led by leading medical professional and patient advocates, fitness classes, cooking tutorials and more! The best part? People can attend in-person in Houston or virtually from the comfort of their own homes.
Even better, this program is free and open to all and will take place virtually at https://bhmsummerhealthsummit.vfairs.com/en/ and in-person at the Kingdom Builders' Center, 6011 Orem Drive, Houston, TX 77085. To secure your spot, register at www.bhmsummersummit.com.
Note: In-person attendees can also take advantage of free health screenings and enjoy complimentary breakfast and lunch.
Whether you decide to attend in-person or virtually, you will hear from medical and lifestyle experts on important health topics including shingles, sexual health, mental wellness, fitness tips, diabetic eye disease, mindfulness, kidney disease and more. You'll also get a chance to move your body while participating in fun exercises. And, we can't forget about the easy-to-follow cooking demonstrations that will satisfy all your senses. Most importantly, you'll get to network with like-minded people to help build a culture of health in your local community and beyond.
Key speakers include:
- Dr. Ashish Jha, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator
- Dr. Garvin Davis, Ophthalmologist on Diabetic Eye Disease
- Crystal Wall, Fitness Expert
- Paul Wall, Entertainer, Entrepreneur and Health Enthusiast
- Kevin Mott, NephCure Advisory Board Member
- Dr. Sheri Prentiss, Public Health Expert & Author
- Dr. Gary Jerome Sheppard, General Practitioner & Author
- Dr. Gregory Scott Brown, Psychiatrist & Author
- Dr. Ogo Egbuna, Physician Scientist
- Chris Williams, Houston Executive Chef, Activist and Founder of Lucille's restaurant
Our goal is to demonstrate new ways of confronting illness through social interaction in a non-traditional setting. So, our summits are designed to engage the mind, body, and soul of the Black community within a unique and supportive environment that is fun, conversational, and patient-centric.
Both online and in-person, we aim to offer an innovative feast for the senses not previously available to the Black community because we understand the importance of being empowered on your health journey. Structural racism poses a material threat to Black mental and physical health. Its insidious power harms all Black people, regardless of one's socio-economic status. The conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work, and age can determine our potential for a long and healthy life. But knowledge is power—and our goal is to help close the health equity gap.
The good thing is we have lots of help! Because we're highly respected for creating award-winning, evidence-based and experiential public health programs that attract the largest audiences of color, we're able to partner with lots of like-minded supporters and sponsors for this event. See below for a list.
Supporters:
- Prince Hall Shriners
- National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
- African American Health Coalition
- North Houston Associates of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
- Sisters Network, Inc.
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
- National Association of Black Professional Women's Clubs, Inc.
- The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation's (CISCRP)
- The Links, Incorporated
- African American Health Coalition
Sponsors:
- Genentech (Presenting)
- GSK, Vertex, Sage Therapeutics and Travere (Gold)
- MD Anderson and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Supporting)
Black Health Matters (BHM) was launched a decade ago, and is the leading health, wellness and chronic disease interactive digital platform dedicated to improving health outcomes among African Americans. We have collaborated with a wide range of partners, including fraternities, sororities, and faith-based and civic organizations to raise awareness around chronic diseases, mental and physical health, and fitness in the Black community. Our mission is to improve health literacy, which includes addressing health care, health policy, health equity, and health disparities for positive outcomes. For more information go to www.blackhealthmatters.com
SOURCE Black Health Matters | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-black-health-matters-summit--health-fair-comes-to-houston-301598952.html | 2022-08-03T14:42:26 | en | 0.92241 |
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app. | https://sportspyder.com/nba/phoenix-suns/articles/40274680 | 2022-08-03T14:42:26 | en | 0.738227 |
A Utah-based resort company that owns several ski areas has made a bid to buy Jay Peak Resort, the Vermont ski resort that was rocked by a massive fraud case involving its former owner and president.
The court appointed receiver who has been overseeing Jay Peak for more than six years is seeking court approval to sell it for $58 million to Pacific Group Resorts, Inc., which owns Ragged Mountain Resort in New Hampshire, Powderhorn Mountain Resort in Colorado, and Mount Washington Alpine Resort in Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Receiver Michael Goldberg wants to be able to continue to market Jay Peak, and if there are qualified bids, an auction would be held “in order to assure the highest and best offer," according to Monday's court filing.
“The time has come for the Receiver to sell Jay Peak Resort," Goldberg wrote, adding that when he took over Jay Peak in April 2016 it was on the verge of collapse but now is “significantly more profitable and hundreds of jobs have been saved.”
The former Jay Peak owner, former president and an adviser were sentenced this spring to federal prison for their roles in a failed plan to build a biotechnology plant using tens of millions of dollars in foreign investors’ money raised through a special visa program.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the state of Vermont also alleged in 2016 that the then-owner and then-president took part in a “massive eight-year fraudulent scheme" that involved misusing more than $200 million of about $400 million raised from foreign investors for various ski area developments through the same visa program.
They settled civil charges with the SEC, with former owner Ariel Quiros surrendering more than $80 million in assets, including Jay Peak and Burke Mountain ski resorts. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Utah-based-company-makes-bid-to-buy-Vermont-17348097.php | 2022-08-03T14:42:28 | en | 0.982953 |
HONOLULU (AP) — In Hawaii, there’s a common question posed in the pidgin language of the islands: “Where you went grad?”
Knowing where someone went to high school has long been an important identity marker for Hawaii residents and helps connect people in the state’s close-knit communities. It’s an affiliation that goes far deeper than rooting for a certain team or cross-town rivalries.
“It’s how you understand your place in Hawaii and your belonging,” said Ty P. Kāwika Tengan, a professor in the Departments of Ethnic Studies and Anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “It tells all these stories about race, class and other things that are kind of implied by the school and the communities that you imagine go there.”
But for some, answering that question gets complicated when the school bears the name of President William McKinley, who many Native Hawaiians disdain for his role in the annexation of the Hawaiian Kingdom to the United States. And now a proposal to change the name of Honolulu’s McKinley High School has sharply divided graduates, often along generational lines.
Sautia Tanoa, a 2005 graduate, said changing the name to Honolulu High — the name the school bore before it was changed to McKinley in 1907 — is appropriate and would help rekindle his pride in the school.
“As I grew up and I got more educated about the history … all of these names that were chosen or celebrated were the very ones that overtook the place,” he said. “In the sense of historical justice, if I can be one of the many voices asking to restore the name, I can be a little bit more proud of being part of the effort and also being part of that school.”
But even talking about changing the school’s name makes 1979 graduate Suzanne Chun Oakland cry.
“It was like stabbing me in the heart,” the former state lawmaker said of hearing about the effort. “It’s like going into your family and saying you have to change your family name.”
The debate comes amid a growing movement across the islands to restore traditional Hawaiian place names to honor and respect Native Hawaiian culture and history.
What used to be known as Barbers Point in west Oahu is now Kalaeloa. On Kauai, Fort Elisabeth State Historical Park was renamed to Pa‘ula‘ula. Iconic Diamond Head is increasingly being called Leahi and some people prefer to say Puuloa instead of Pearl Harbor.
The movement to return to traditional names stretches beyond Hawaii, with efforts afoot across the United States. One of the most high-profile name changes also involved McKinley: North America’s tallest mountain, which was named after the former president for more than a century, was returned to its previous name, Denali, in 2015 to honor Alaska Natives.
But the attachment many in Hawaii feel toward their high school is proving to be an unlikely stumbling block in the growing quest for authenticity in the islands, where some public schools are named for their locations and some are named after people, including the businessmen who dominated during Hawaii’s sugar plantation past.
Less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from McKinley High, Central Middle School changed its name to Princess Ruth Ke’elikōlani Middle School — a change some say was easy because “Where you went grad” always refers to high school.
Hawaii’s statewide public school teachers union has backed plans to change McKinley High’s name.
The school’s “name glorifies a man who illegally annexed a country against the will of her queen and people,” the union wrote last year urging members to support a legislative resolution on the matter.
The resolution stalled in the last legislative session, as did another calling for the Big Island community of Captain Cook to be restored to its original name of Kaawaloa.
“I think we’re in this time period where people are really starting to recognize just the changes that need to be made, the historical wrongdoings that have been done towards Native and Indigenous peoples, and the importance of restoring place names,” said state Rep. Jeanne Kapela, who introduced the name change resolutions.
Kapela said she understands people may resist changing names of places they feel connected to.
“I have my own affinity to my own alma mater, but the reality is that no matter what the school is named, that school sits on a place,” said Kapela, who graduated from Konawaena High School, which means central Kona, where it’s located. “It’s the community that built us. And that community is based on a place name. In order to honor that community, we have to honor the place it’s standing on.”
In arguing to keep the name, McKinley High’s principal, Ron Okamura, also cited the connection between identity and high school, saying it goes “deep into the make up of who we are.”
“We are often asked ‘Where you grad from?′ and the answer is always the name of our high school,” he wrote in testimony opposing the change. “It is not about who the school is named after, but the ’branding’ of the school’s culture that is attached to that school.”
Keeping the name also ensures history is learned from and not erased, he said.
Still efforts to change the school’s name continue.
Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, a Hawaiian cultural practitioner who did not attend McKinley, said it’s insulting to keep a name honoring a man who “was no friend to Hawaiians.”
“It would be one thing if you were to say, get rid of the school,” she said. “But to change the name is about the dignity of a people.”
The importance the “Where you went grad” question has roots in Polynesian culture, which places an emphasis on knowing where someone is from, but it’s also been co-opted by foreign colonizers who became Hawaii locals, she said.
“Because when you say, ‘Oh, where are you from,’ they cannot claim the land itself because they know that’s not where their family originated,” Wong-Kalu said. “But you can claim the school.”
Nanette Kaiwi, a Native Hawaiian graduate of the class of 1967 said she meets weekly with some of her classmates and they discuss plans for their upcoming 55th reunion and their strong feelings against the name change.
Kaiwi said she and her classmates worry how they would answer when asked, “Where you went grad,” a question Kaiwi faced numerous times at a recent family gathering. They even worry how their descendants will remember them.
“It was not wanting our grandchildren, great-grandchildren to say, ‘What school did Tutu go? Oh McKinley, where’s that?’” Kaiwi said using a Hawaiian term of endearment for grandparent. “It was the thought of losing the identity of the school we went to.”
Kaiwi said she also wants to keep the name and a statue of McKinley that stands on campus so the injustices of the past are not forgotten.
“I want it to stay because I don’t want people to forget that book he is holding is not a treaty,” she said of the statue. “That it’s all a lie and that our lands were stolen.”
Catherine Anderson Orlans, a 2005 graduate, said she learned McKinley’s true place in Hawaii’s history not from school but from her kupuna, or elders.
“It’s kind of like that awkward elephant in the room,” she said of attending McKinley. “As Hawaiian student, you always kind of know the real meaning of who he is … but it really wasn’t taught at the school.”
While she’s still proud to have graduated from the school, she believes changing its name will help heal a more profound identity loss for fellow Native Hawaiians.
“I have no problem saying in the future, ‘I graduated from Honolulu High School, formerly McKinley High School,'” she said. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/hawaii-school-named-for-us-leader-muddles-alumni-identity/ | 2022-08-03T14:42:30 | en | 0.978497 |
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Red e App, the world leader in creating meaningful frontline employee engagement and connection through mobile, today announced the launch of the Red e App Hub.
With the Red e App Hub, employers are now able to drive usage across all employee platforms by leveraging established work habits of their non-desk workforce, turning Red e App's industry leading communications and employee engagement platform into a powerful service delivery and change management tool.
Red e App Founder and CEO Jonathan Erwin, in announcing the launch said, "The Red e App Hub brings a new level of engagement to a part of the workforce for whom basic work needs are not always fully met. Employees use Red e App every day, they trust us and we are an integral part of their work process. Initial trials of the Red e App Hub increased use of alternate platforms by as much as 300%. By providing employee services through App Hub, companies can leverage the meaningful connection already in place to create additional value and realize new ROI."
Employee services accessed through the Red e App Hub include employee rewards and recognition, benefits, payroll, scheduling, forms, health and wellness, surveys, communications, engagement, and more.
Red e App is the innovation leader in mobile workforce connection providing highly structured communication, engagement, content, and workflow, all driven by Shelbe.AI, an enterprise-class, intelligent software engine that continuously ingests unstructured data and automates the creation and maintenance of relevant operational structures to optimize engagement for any size company's deskless employees. With seamless interoperability and integration with existing or legacy employee platforms, Red e App attaches to and extends critical employee services securely and privately to employees' mobile devices — anywhere. Red e App, the only platform courageously committed to connecting the non-desk workforce to drive success for the entire organization. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Red e App is online at redeapp.com.
SOURCE Red e App | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-red-e-app-hub-consolidates-access-to-all-employee-apps-for-frontline-workers-into-a-single-mobile-download-minimizing-complexity-and-costs-for-hr-and-it-departments-in-the-deployment-and-management-of-disparate-human-capital--301597889.html | 2022-08-03T14:42:32 | en | 0.941483 |
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app. | https://sportspyder.com/nba/phoenix-suns/articles/40275208 | 2022-08-03T14:42:32 | en | 0.738227 |
REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano in southwest Iceland began erupting Wednesday, the country’s meteorological authorities said.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office said the eruption is near the Fagradalsfjall mountain, 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of the capital, Reykjavik. A live video feed from the site shows molten lava spewing from a narrow fissure.
The eruption follows days of small earthquakes in the area and is close to Keflavik Airport, Iceland’s international air traffic hub.
An eruption in the same area last year — the first on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula in almost 800 years — produced spectacular lava flows for several months.
Iceland, located above a volcanic hotspot in the North Atlantic, averages an eruption every four to five years.
The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which sent clouds of ash and dust into the atmosphere, interrupting air travel for days between Europe and North America because of concerns the ash could damage jet engines. More than 100,000 flights were grounded, stranding millions of passengers. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Volcano-begins-erupting-in-southwest-Iceland-near-17348099.php | 2022-08-03T14:42:34 | en | 0.932793 |
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — The man accused of opening fire at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago is due back in court Wednesday, a week after prosecutors announced he faces 117 felony counts in the attack that killed seven people and wounded dozens more.
Robert E. Crimo III is scheduled to appear for an arraignment Wednesday in Lake County’s circuit court to enter a formal plea to the charges — 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery representing those killed and wounded during the parade on July 4 in Highland Park.
Lake County prosecutors in late July announced that a grand jury had indicted Crimo on the charges. They had previously filed seven murder charges against the 21-year-old in the days following the shooting.
The multiple first-degree murder charges allege Crimo intended to kill, caused death or great bodily harm and took action with a strong probability of causing death or great bodily harm on the seven people who died.
A representative for the county public defenders office, which is representing Crimo, has said the office does not comment publicly on any cases.
Prosecutors have said Crimo admitted to the shooting once police arrested him following a hourslong search for the gunman who opened fire from the rooftop of a building along the parade route.
Authorities have said the wounded range in age from 8 to their 80s, including an 8-year-old boy who was paralyzed from the waist down when the shooting severed his spine. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/illinois-parade-attack-suspect-expected-back-in-court/ | 2022-08-03T14:42:37 | en | 0.979059 |
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for AMTD, AEMD, PSTX, KYMR, and SOFI.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- AMTD: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=AMTD&prnumber=080320222
- AEMD: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=AEMD&prnumber=080320222
- PSTX: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=PSTX&prnumber=080320222
- KYMR: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=KYMR&prnumber=080320222
- SOFI: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=SOFI&prnumber=080320222
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
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.
SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thinking-about-buying-stock-in-amtd-idea-group-aethlon-medical-poseida-therapeutics-kymera-therapeutics-or-sofi-technologies-301599063.html | 2022-08-03T14:42:38 | en | 0.797361 |
___
Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal, 3 p.m.
Fulham vs. Liverpool, 7:30 a.m.
Bournemouth vs. Aston Villa, 10 a.m.
Leeds vs. Wolverhampton, 10 a.m.
Newcastle vs. Nottingham Forest, 10 a.m.
Tottenham vs. Southampton, 10 a.m.
Everton vs. Chelsea, 12:30 p.m.
Leicester vs. Brentford, 9 a.m.
Man United vs. Brighton, 9 a.m.
West Ham vs. Man City, 11:30 a.m.
Aston Villa vs. Everton, 7:30 a.m.
Arsenal vs. Leicester, 10 a.m.
Brighton vs. Newcastle, 10 a.m.
Man City vs. Bournemouth, 10 a.m.
Southampton vs. Leeds, 10 a.m.
Wolverhampton vs. Fulham, 10 a.m.
Brentford vs. Man United, 12:30 p.m.
Nottingham Forest vs. West Ham, 9 a.m.
Chelsea vs. Tottenham, 11:30 a.m.
___
Huddersfield 0, Burnley 1
Blackburn 1, QPR 0
Blackpool 1, Reading 0
Cardiff 1, Norwich 0
Hull 2, Bristol City 1
Luton Town 0, Birmingham 0
Millwall 2, Stoke 0
Rotherham 1, Swansea 1
Wigan 0, Preston 0
Middlesbrough 1, West Brom 1
Sunderland 1, Coventry 1
Watford 1, Sheffield United 0
Birmingham vs. Huddersfield, 2:45 p.m.
Norwich vs. Wigan, 7:30 a.m.
Bristol City vs. Sunderland, 10 a.m.
Burnley vs. Luton Town, 10 a.m.
Preston vs. Hull, 10 a.m.
QPR vs. Middlesbrough, 10 a.m.
Reading vs. Cardiff, 10 a.m.
Sheffield United vs. Millwall, 10 a.m.
Stoke vs. Blackpool, 10 a.m.
Swansea vs. Blackburn, 10 a.m.
Coventry vs. Rotherham, 10 a.m.
West Brom vs. Watford, 3 p.m.
Watford vs. Burnley, 3 p.m.
Cardiff vs. Birmingham, 7:30 a.m.
Blackpool vs. Swansea, 10 a.m.
Huddersfield vs. Stoke, 10 a.m.
Hull vs. Norwich, 10 a.m.
Luton Town vs. Preston, 10 a.m.
Millwall vs. Coventry, 10 a.m.
Rotherham vs. Reading, 10 a.m.
Sunderland vs. QPR, 10 a.m.
Wigan vs. Bristol City, 10 a.m.
Middlesbrough vs. Sheffield United, 9 a.m.
Blackburn vs. West Brom, 10 a.m.
___
Accrington Stanley 2, Charlton 2
Bristol Rovers 1, Forest Green 2
Cambridge United 1, Milton Keynes Dons 0
Cheltenham 2, Peterborough 3
Derby 1, Oxford United 0
Ipswich 1, Bolton 1
Lincoln 1, Exeter 1
Morecambe 0, Shrewsbury 0
Plymouth 1, Barnsley 0
Port Vale 2, Fleetwood Town 1
Sheffield Wednesday 3, Portsmouth 3
Wycombe 3, Burton Albion 0
Barnsley vs. Cheltenham, 10 a.m.
Bolton vs. Wycombe, 10 a.m.
Burton Albion vs. Bristol Rovers, 10 a.m.
Charlton vs. Derby, 10 a.m.
Exeter vs. Port Vale, 10 a.m.
Fleetwood Town vs. Plymouth, 10 a.m.
Forest Green vs. Ipswich, 10 a.m.
Milton Keynes Dons vs. Sheffield Wednesday, 10 a.m.
Oxford United vs. Cambridge United, 10 a.m.
Peterborough vs. Morecambe, 10 a.m.
Portsmouth vs. Lincoln, 10 a.m.
Shrewsbury vs. Accrington Stanley, 10 a.m.
Bristol Rovers vs. Oxford United, 7:30 a.m.
Accrington Stanley vs. Burton Albion, 10 a.m.
Cambridge United vs. Exeter, 10 a.m.
Cheltenham vs. Portsmouth, 10 a.m.
Derby vs. Barnsley, 10 a.m.
Ipswich vs. Milton Keynes Dons, 10 a.m.
Lincoln vs. Forest Green, 10 a.m.
Morecambe vs. Fleetwood Town, 10 a.m.
Plymouth vs. Peterborough, 10 a.m.
Port Vale vs. Bolton, 10 a.m.
Sheffield Wednesday vs. Charlton, 10 a.m.
Wycombe vs. Shrewsbury, 10 a.m.
___
AFC Wimbledon 2, Gillingham 0
Bradford 0, Doncaster 0
Carlisle 1, Crawley Town 0
Harrogate Town 3, Swindon 0
Leyton Orient 2, Grimsby Town 0
Northampton 3, Colchester 2
Rochdale 1, Crewe 2
Salford 2, Mansfield Town 0
Stockport County 2, Barrow 3
Sutton United 1, Newport County 1
Tranmere 1, Stevenage 2
Walsall 4, Hartlepool 0
Barrow vs. Bradford, 10 a.m.
Colchester vs. Carlisle, 10 a.m.
Crawley Town vs. Leyton Orient, 10 a.m.
Crewe vs. Harrogate Town, 10 a.m.
Doncaster vs. Sutton United, 10 a.m.
Gillingham vs. Rochdale, 10 a.m.
Grimsby Town vs. Northampton, 10 a.m.
Hartlepool vs. AFC Wimbledon, 10 a.m.
Mansfield Town vs. Tranmere, 10 a.m.
Newport County vs. Walsall, 10 a.m.
Stevenage vs. Stockport County, 10 a.m.
Swindon vs. Salford, 10 a.m.
AFC Wimbledon vs. Doncaster, 10 a.m.
Bradford vs. Newport County, 10 a.m.
Carlisle vs. Swindon, 10 a.m.
Harrogate Town vs. Crawley Town, 10 a.m.
Leyton Orient vs. Mansfield Town, 10 a.m.
Northampton vs. Hartlepool, 10 a.m.
Rochdale vs. Grimsby Town, 10 a.m.
Salford vs. Crewe, 10 a.m.
Stockport County vs. Colchester, 10 a.m.
Sutton United vs. Barrow, 10 a.m.
Tranmere vs. Gillingham, 10 a.m.
Walsall vs. Stevenage, 10 a.m. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/sports/article/English-Standings-17348061.php | 2022-08-03T14:42:40 | en | 0.737457 |
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for AAPL, ALNY, AAWW, AYX, and CVX.
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.
Stock Report - Measures a stock's suitability for investment with a proprietary scoring system combining short and long-term technical factors with Wall Street's opinion including a 12-month price forecast.
- AAPL: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=AAPL&prnumber=080320224
- ALNY: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=ALNY&prnumber=080320224
- AAWW: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=AAWW&prnumber=080320224
- AYX: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=AYX&prnumber=080320224
- CVX: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=CVX&prnumber=080320224
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
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.
SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thinking-about-trading-options-or-stock-in-apple-alnylam-pharmaceuticals-atlas-air-worldwide-alteryx-or-chevron-301599059.html | 2022-08-03T14:42:44 | en | 0.7428 |
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The man charged with killing his mother at sea during a 2016 fishing trip off the coast of New England in a plot to inherit millions of dollars will remain detained pending trial, a federal judge in Vermont ruled Tuesday.
U.S. District Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford denied Nathan Carman’s request to be released, saying he is a flight risk and potential danger due to the seriousness of the charges, lack of strong family, employment or community connections “and his involvement with firearms and the ongoing feud with his family” over his late grandfather’s inheritance.
Crawford said the evidence regarding the loss of his mother at sea, and “the acrimonious dispute” with relatives over the inheritance, as well as his purchase of AR-15 type weapons “are evidence that this is a volatile situation.”
Carman, 28, of Vernon, was charged in May with murder and fraud in the killing of his mother, Linda Carman of Middletown, Connecticut, during a fishing trip in which his boat sank. He was found floating in a raft and rescued eight days after departing from a Rhode Island marina. He pleaded not guilty in his mother’s death.
Prosecutors also have accused Carman of killing his grandfather, John Chakalos, who they say was shot in his home in Windsor, Connecticut, in 2013 as part of a scheme to obtain money and property from his grandfather’s estate. Carman has not been charged in that case and has denied any involvement in his grandfather’s death. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/man-charged-with-killing-mother-at-sea-to-remain-detained/ | 2022-08-03T14:42:43 | en | 0.989724 |
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for TSLA, NTLA, PYPL, XOM, and MRNA.
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.
Stock Report - Measures a stock's suitability for investment with a proprietary scoring system combining short and long-term technical factors with Wall Street's opinion including a 12-month price forecast.
- TSLA: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=TSLA&prnumber=080320223
- NTLA: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=NTLA&prnumber=080320223
- PYPL: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=PYPL&prnumber=080320223
- XOM: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=XOM&prnumber=080320223
- MRNA: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=MRNA&prnumber=080320223
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
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.
SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thinking-about-trading-options-or-stock-in-tesla-intellia-therapeutics-paypal-exxon-mobil-or-moderna-301599067.html | 2022-08-03T14:42:50 | en | 0.735965 |
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A former police officer in Virginia should not be criminally charged but should be investigated for potential civil rights violations after he pepper-sprayed, struck and handcuffed a Black U.S. Army lieutenant during a 2020 traffic stop, a special prosecutor has determined.
The prosecutor’s findings are the latest fallout from a confrontation involving two police officers and a uniformed military officer that drew outrage and national attention to the small town of Windsor, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of Richmond.
The man who was pulled over, Caron Nazario, was never charged. Video of the December 2020 traffic stop surfaced in April 2021 after Nazario sued in federal court, alleging that his constitutional rights were violated. The images sparked outrage and served as a grim reminder to many Black Americans that a military uniform doesn’t necessarily protect against mistreatment by police.
In December, then-Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s office sued the town, alleging that it operated in a way that discriminated against Black Americans.
One of the officers, Joe Gutierrez, was fired from the department. He was the target of the special prosecutor’s criminal probe.
“Although I find the video very disturbing and frankly unsettling, Gutierrez’s use of force to remove Nazario did not violate state law as he had given multiple commands for Nazario to exit the vehicle,” special prosecutor Anton Bell said in his report, dated July 29 and posted online by Nazario’s attorneys.
“The problematic issue, however, were Gutierrez’s statements throughout the entire ordeal, which would lead a reasonable person to wonder whether underlying bias was at the root of how and why Nazario was treated in like manner,” Bell wrote.
Bell’s findings were first reported Monday by The Virginian-Pilot newspaper.
The incident began when Nazario was driving home from his duty station, according to his lawsuit. Officer Daniel Crocker radioed that he was attempting to stop a vehicle with no rear license plate and tinted windows.
Crocker said the driver was “eluding police” and he considered it a “high-risk traffic stop,” according to a report that’s included in the lawsuit. One of Nazario’s attorneys, Jonathan Arthur, later explained that Nazario was trying to stop in a well-lit area “for officer safety and out of respect for the officers.”
The other officer, Gutierrez, was driving by and decided to join the traffic stop, the lawsuit stated. By the time the two officers reached Nazario’s SUV, the license plate was visible in the rear.
When Nazario stopped at a well-lit gas station, the two officers immediately drew their guns and pointed them at Nazario, his lawsuit alleges. The officers then attempted to pull Nazario out of the vehicle while he continued to keep his hands in the air. Gutierrez pepper-sprayed Nazario multiple times as the officers yelled for him to get out.
At one point, Gutierrez told Nazario he was “fixin’ to ride the lightning,” a reference to the electric chair that was also a line from the movie “The Green Mile,” a film about a Black man facing execution, the lawsuit said.
Nazario got out and asked for a supervisor. Gutierrez responded with “knee-strikes” to his legs, knocking him to the ground, the lawsuit says. The two officers struck him multiple times, then handcuffed and interrogated him.
The traffic stop was captured on Nazario’s cellphone as well as the officer’s body-worn cameras.
Tom Roberts, another attorney representing Nazario, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that a judge or a jury, not a special prosecutor, should have determined whether Gutierrez violated the law.
“I think that there’s sufficient evidence to show that he was intentional in his actions,” Roberts said. “And I believe that he exceeded any authority to use force, and therefore he committed assault and battery.”
Roberts said that would have been a misdemeanor offense, for which the statute of limitations is one year, well before the special prosecutor released his findings.
“All too often, when it comes to law enforcement violating the laws, we see our Commonwealth’s Attorneys fail to apply the same zeal at prosecuting law enforcement as they do with other offenders,” Roberts’ firm said in a statement.
John Becker Mumford Jr., an attorney listed for Gutierrez in Nazario’s lawsuit, did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Bell, the special prosecutor, wrote that he asked the local U.S. Attorney’s Office to review the case for possible civil rights violations. Karoline Foote, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, said Tuesday that the office had no comment.
In February, the town of Windsor asked a court to dismiss the state attorney general’s lawsuit, arguing that it only refers to one person — Nazario — “in a cursory and inconclusive manner.”
Jason Miyares, who defeated Herring in November’s election, took over as Virginia’s AG in January. Victoria LaCivita, a spokeswoman for Miyares’ office, said Tuesday that the lawsuit is still pending. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/no-charges-for-officer-who-pepper-sprayed-army-lieutenant/ | 2022-08-03T14:42:50 | en | 0.983559 |
Aug. 4
1884 — Pud Galvin pitched the most lopsided no-hitter in major league history as the Buffalo Bisons routed the Detroit Wolverines 18-0. It is the second career no-hitter for Galvin.
1910 — Jack Coombs of the Philadelphia A’s and Ed Walsh of the Chicago White Sox hooked up in a 16-inning scoreless tie. Coombs struck out 18 and allowed three hits.
1945 — Bill Salkeld of Pittsburgh hit for the cycle in a 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Pirate catcher went 5 for 5 and drove in all five runs.
1945 — Boston’s Tom McBride became the third player to drive in six runs in an inning as the Red Sox pounded Washington 15-4. McBride had a bases-loaded double and triple during the Red Sox’s 12-run fourth inning.
1953 — New York’s Vic Raschi set a record for a pitcher by driving in seven runs in a 15-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.
1963 — New York’s Mickey Mantle, batting for the first time in two months after breaking his left foot, hit a pinch home run as the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 11-10 for a split of a doubleheader.
1973 — John Briggs of the Milwaukee Brewers went 6-for-6 in a 9-4 win over the Cleveland Indians.
1979 — Atlanta knuckleballer Phil Niekro set modern major league records with four wild pitches in one inning (fifth) and six in one game. The Braves lost to Houston 6-2.
1982 — Joel Youngblood became the first player in major league history to play and get a base hit for two different teams in two different cities in the same day. In the afternoon, his hit drove in the winning run for the New York Mets in a 7-4 victory at Chicago. After the game, he was traded to the Montreal Expos and played that night in Philadelphia. He entered the game in right field in the fourth inning and later got a single.
1985 — Tom Seaver, 40, became the 17th 300-game winner in major league history with a six-hitter — all singles — as the Chicago White Sox defeated the New York Yankees 4-1 on Phil Rizzuto Day.
1985 — Rod Carew of the California Angels got his 3,000th hit in a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins, his first major league team.
2006 — Chase Utley went 0-for-5 night in Philadelphia’s 5-3 victory over the New York Mets, ending a 35-game hitting streak that tied him for the 10th longest in major league history and the fourth longest in National League history.
2007 — Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player in major league history to hit 500 home runs with a first-inning homer in a 16-8 victory over Kansas City.
2010 — Alex Rodriguez hit his 600th home run and became the youngest player to attain the milestone. His two-run, first-inning drive off Toronto’s Shaun Marcum put New York ahead, and the Yankees coasted to a 5-1 victory over the Blue Jays.
2021 — Japan moves into the gold medal game in the Tokyo Olympics. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/sports/article/Rod-Carew-get-his-3-000th-hit-17348053.php | 2022-08-03T14:42:52 | en | 0.955249 |
NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR; www.timken.com), a global industrial leader in engineered bearings and power transmission products, today declared a quarterly cash dividend of 31 cents per share. The dividend is payable on Sept. 2, 2022, to shareholders of record as of Aug. 15, 2022.
Timken has paid a dividend on its common shares every quarter since its listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 1922. The upcoming dividend represents 401 consecutive quarters, one of the longest-running dividend streaks among NYSE-listed companies.
About The Timken Company
The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR; www.timken.com) designs a growing portfolio of engineered bearings and power transmission products. With more than a century of knowledge and innovation, we continuously improve the reliability and efficiency of global machinery and equipment to move the world forward. Timken posted $4.1 billion in sales in 2021 and employs more than 18,000 people globally, operating from 43 countries. Timken has been recognized among America's Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, the World's Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere, and America's Best Employers, Best Employers for New Graduates and Best Employers for Women by Forbes.
Media Relations:
Scott Schroeder
234.262.6420
[email protected]
Investor Relations:
Neil Frohnapple
234.262.2310
[email protected]
SOURCE The Timken Company | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/timken-declares-quarterly-dividend-of-31-cents-per-share-301599099.html | 2022-08-03T14:42:56 | en | 0.914677 |
The wife of a U.S. defense contractor, who together are charged in Hawaii federal court with fraudulently cloaking themselves in the stolen identities of two deceased Texas infants for three decades, said Tuesday that she’s not the person prosecutors say she is.
When the case of Gwynn Darle Morrison was called in U.S. District Court in Honolulu, she said: “That’s what they’re calling me.”
She claims she’s actually Julie Lyn Montague, who prosecutors said died in 1968 when she was three weeks old and later had her identity stolen.
The assertion put her at odds with her husband, who has acknowledged he’s Walter Glenn Primrose and not Bobby Edward Fort, the identity he allegedly used to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1994 and gain secret security clearance that allowed him to work as a defense contractor.
Fort was about 10 weeks old when he died in late 1967 at the same Burnet, Texas, hospital where Montague died a few months later.
Not guilty pleas were entered Tuesday on behalf of the couple to charges of conspiracy, false statement in a passport application and aggravated identity theft. They face up to 17 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
Both were ordered detained until a trial was scheduled Sept. 26.
The dispute over the real name of the wife added a new layer of intrigue to a case that may amount to more than stolen identities.
A search of the couple’s Hawaii home turned up photos that appear to be shot in the 1980s of the two wearing uniforms of the Russian KGB, the former spy agency, prosecutors said. Investigators also found an invisible ink kit, documents with coded language and maps showing military bases.
When the couple were left in a room together, they were unwittingly recorded saying “things consistent with espionage,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Myers said last week.
Defense lawyer Megan Kau said Montague is the only name her client has ever used. Kau said the couple appeared to wear the same KGB jacket in the photos and her client was only in a T-shirt. Kau said she hasn’t heard the recording of a discussion allegedly involving espionage.
“All my client remembers is that her husband told her, ‘They think we’re spies,’” Kau said. “So, yes, the word spy was brought up because the government is accusing them of being spies.”
Kau argued that her client had no criminal record and there was not enough reason to keep her locked up while facing trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Muehleck said it was “a little strange” she maintains she’s Montague rather than choosing to not address the identity issue.
The father and sister of Montague last week told The Associated Press last week that Julie died shortly after birth and was buried in a cemetery.
Morrison and Primrose — both born more than a decade before Fort and Montague — went to high school and college together and married in 1980 and bought a house in Nacogdoches, Texas, prosecutors said.
They left Texas in the early 1980s, telling at least one family member they were going into the witness protection program, prosecutors said. They resurfaced later as Fort and Montague, telling some people they had changed their identities for financial and legal reasons.
An unnamed sister of Morrison said the photo on the Hawaii driver’s license with Montague’s name appeared to be her sister though it listed the wrong birth date, Muehleck said.
“We have a situation here where this defendant and her co-defendant, of course, have used false identities to deceive Social Security, the Department of Defense, Hawaii Department of Transportation, the State Department national passport center for 30 years,” Muehleck said. “There’s no verification of who she says she is.”
U.S. Magistrate Judge Rom Trader said he was holding her without bail because he couldn’t trust her to comply with terms and conditions of release if he wasn’t sure of her identity.
“At the core of this case, is some serious, albeit unusual, circumstances where the defendant claims to be an individual other than the person named in the indictment,” Trader said. “I can’t even really say that I have confidence in who Miss Morrison or Miss Montague really, truly is.” | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/wife-of-defense-contractor-claims-stolen-id-is-her-real-name/ | 2022-08-03T14:42:57 | en | 0.982021 |
RIGA, Latvia (AP) — Latvian soccer player Andrejs Rubins, who played 117 times for the national team, has died at the age of 43, the country’s soccer federation said Wednesday.
Rubins wore the No. 10 shirt when Latvia qualified for its only major tournament, the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, and started all three games, including a 0-0 draw with Germany.
The soccer federation did not give details about his death.
Rubins played for clubs in England, Sweden, Russia and Azerbaijan, including three years at Crystal Palace between 2000-03. He retired in 2012.
“The thoughts of everyone associated with Crystal Palace are with Andrejs’ loved ones at this truly sad time,” the Premier League club said in a statement.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/sports/article/Soccer-player-Rubins-capped-117-times-by-Latvia-17347925.php | 2022-08-03T14:42:59 | en | 0.972903 |
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TrueCar, Inc., (NASDAQ:TRUE), the easiest, most efficient and transparent online destination for buying and selling new and used vehicles, today announced that President and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Darrow, will participate in a fireside chat at the 2022 J.P. Morgan Auto Conference on August 10, 2022.
2022 J.P. Morgan Auto Conference Presentation Details
About TrueCar
TrueCar is a leading automotive digital marketplace that lets auto buyers and sellers connect to our nationwide network of Certified Dealers. With access to an expansive inventory provided by our Certified Dealers, we are building the industry's most personalized and efficient auto shopping experience as we seek to bring more of the process online. Consumers who visit our marketplace will find a suite of vehicle discovery tools, price ratings and market context on new, used and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. When they are ready, shoppers in TrueCar's marketplace can connect with a Certified Dealer in our network, who shares our belief that truth, transparency and fairness are the foundation of a great auto shopping experience. As part of our marketplace, TrueCar powers auto-buying programs for over 250 leading brands, including AARP, Sam's Club, Navy Federal Credit Union and American Express.
For more information, please visit www.truecar.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. TrueCar media email: [email protected]
SOURCE TrueCar.com | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/truecar-to-participate-in-upcoming-investor-conference-301598371.html | 2022-08-03T14:43:02 | en | 0.900848 |
Which bearded dragon leash is best?
Bearded dragons need more out of life than a glass terrarium and occasional handling. You want to let your bearded dragon experience outside, but you’re nervous about it getting loose. If something startles it in public, you could lose it or it could get injured.
Getting a dragon leash solves this problem and looks adorable, too. If you’re looking for a quality dragon leash, the Adoggygo Bearded Dragon Harness is the top choice.
What to know before you buy a bearded dragon leash
A bearded dragon leash is a tiny harness and adjustable leash small enough for a lizard to fit in. Popular versions have leather wing attachments to give your reptile the dragon look. Harnesses are made with your dragon in mind and should not harm it during use.
How to use a bearded dragon leash
Before applying the leash, make sure you and your dragon are calm. It is not safe to try leashing a frustrated lizard.
- Lay it out: Loosen your leash as wide as possible to make it easy to put on your dragon.
- Fit the arms: Gently help your dragon put its arms through the harness. If one size doesn’t fit, try another. Don’t force your dragon’s arms through the harness.
- Adjust the leash: Once you have the right size, adjust the leash to hold it snugly to your dragon. The harness shouldn’t let your dragon slip out or be too tight and squeeze it.
- Observe and review: Put your dragon on the floor or other space where it’s safe to see if the dragon can slip out of the harness. Adjust your harness as needed to ensure proper fitting.
- Have an adventure!
Size
Whether your bearded dragon is a juvenile or an adult, you want your leash to fit well. Just like terrariums and other dragon needs, leashes come in multiple sizes. This lets the leash continue to fit your dragon throughout its life cycle.
Materials
Your dragon’s skin is tough, but it is still delicate enough to injure or irritate. Look for leashes or harnesses with soft leather and other material that won’t chafe them. If you have a larger dragon, some owners can use ferret or small animal harness options.
Style
Your bearded dragon leash should fit like a harness and go over its arms. Some black or colorful strap leashes simply go around the dragon to secure it. Other options include decorative dinosaur or dragon wings that make your dragon the talk of the day. These wings can typically be removed if needed.
What to look for in a quality bearded dragon leash
Adjustability
Your dragon may not be fully grown, or maybe it had a big meal recently. An adjustable harness lets you ensure your dragon is comfortable on the leash. It should not be too loose or your dragon can get out; too tight and you could injure it. Be sure your harness is adjustable so it fits your dragon properly.
Wingspan
The wings attached to many dragon leashes are adjustable, removable and have different wingspans. Smaller wings are better for juvenile lizards or those new to this style leash. There are also wings that expand directly out, making it look like your dragon is in flight. With larger wingspans, be sure your dragon has enough room to roam without being stepped on.
Safety
The safety of your bearded dragon can depend on the leash entirely. If it is too loose or breaks and your dragon gets free, something could harm it or it could get lost. You want to ensure that your leash is made of quality materials that won’t break or irritate your dragon’s scales.
How much you can expect to spend on a bearded dragon leash
They’re typically priced around $8-$12.
Bearded dragon leash FAQ
Is a leash safe for my dragon?
A. Yes. Dragon leashes are made to comfortably hold the dragon without harming it. However, you should always monitor your dragon when it’s on the leash to avoid injury.
What kinds of leashes can I use for my dragon?
A. Leashes made for bearded dragons are ideal but other small animal leashes also work. The style of leash is what is most important when selecting one. Use a harness rather than a collar-style leash, because collars can injure a bearded dragon’s neck.
What’s the best bearded dragon leash to buy?
Top bearded dragon leash
Adoggygo Bearded Dragon Harness
What you need to know: This is a leash with small dinosaur wings to help your bearded dragon stand out.
What you’ll love: The harness and wings are made of soft leather. The wings are designed to be smaller and safer for juvenile or smaller lizards. There are three harness sizes in the pack to provide your dragon with comfort as it grows into an adult.
What you should consider: This leash is designed for smaller lizards and may not fit every life stage.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top bearded dragon leash for the money
Yamadura Adjustable Lizard Leash
What you need to know: This is a classic dragon leash with soft, black leather wings and an adjustable strap.
What you’ll love: There are three harness options to keep your dragon snug on the leash. The leather is designed to protect your dragon’s skin and is lined with gold to accentuate the wings.
What you should consider: A few customers reported difficulty with adjusting this dragon leash and said their dragons escaped the harness.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Adoggygo Leather Wing Harness with Removable Leash
What you need to know: This is a lizard harness with a classic wing design, adjustable leash and colorful options.
What you’ll love: This leash has three sizes of chest straps to fit your lizard throughout its life. It comes in pastel blue and pink so your dragon stands out in a crowd.
What you should consider: A few reviewers said this harness was not comfortable for larger dragons.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-bearded-dragon-leash/ | 2022-08-03T14:43:03 | en | 0.945398 |
Aug. 4
1945 — Byron Nelson wins his 11th consecutive PGA Tour event, beating Herman Barron by four strokes. Nelson finishes the year with a record for most tournament wins (18) in a season.
1982 — Joel Youngblood becomes the only player in major league history to play and get hits for two different teams in two different cities on the same day. In the afternoon, his hit drives in the winning run for the New York Mets in a 7-4 victory at Chicago. After the game, he’s traded to the Montreal Expos and plays that night in Philadelphia. He enters the game in right field in the fourth inning and later gets a single.
1984 — Carl Lewis wins the 100-meter dash in 9.99 seconds at the Los Angeles Summer Games. US teammate Sam Graddy wins the silver in 10.19 and Canada’s Ben Johnson gets the bronze with a time of 10.22.
1985 — Tom Seaver, 40, becomes the 17th 300-game winner in major league history with a six-hitter — all singles — as the Chicago White Sox beat the New York Yankees 4-1.
1985 — Rod Carew of the California Angels gets his 3,000th hit in a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins, his first major league team.
1996 — Laura Davies shoots a 6-under 66 for a two-stroke victory over Nancy Lopez and Karrie Webb in the du Maurier Classic.
1996 — The Atlanta Olympic Games end with U.S. boxer David Reid’s stunning gold-medal knockout, and the women Dream Team’s romp over Brazil. Reid captures America’s only boxing gold, knocking down Cuban Alfredo Duvergel, while the U.S. women roll to a 111-87 victory behind Lisa Leslie’s 29 points. A record 11,000 athletes from 197 countries make it the biggest Olympics.
2011 — Cappie Pondexter scores 15 points to lead New York past Chicago 59-49, and the Liberty hold the Sky to a WNBA-record one point in the fourth quarter.
2012 — Michael Phelps wins another gold medal as the United States wins the medley relay at the London Olympics. Phelps leaves the sport with a record 18 golds and 22 medals overall. At these games, he wins four golds and two silvers.
2012 — Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 to join Steffi Graf as the only women to complete the Golden Slam — winning the Olympics and the four majors. In a men’s semifinal match, Roger Federer outlasts Juan Martin del Potro in a 19-17 final set and clinches his first Olympic singles medal. Canadian equestrian Ian Millar rides into Olympic history by competing in his 10th games — the most of any athlete.
2013 — Missy Franklin claims her record sixth gold medal on the final day of the world championships in Barcelona, becoming the most successful female swimmer ever at a world meet. Franklin eclipses the record shared by Tracy Caulkins — who won five times in 1978 — and Libby Trickett, who did it in 2007.
2013 — Stacy Lewis wins the Women’s British Open after a marathon final day. Lewis finishes with a pair of birdies on the Old Course at St. Andrews and closes with an even-par 72. It’s her second major on the LPGA Tour, and it ends a record streak of 10 straight majors won by Asian players. Forced to play 36 holes, Lewis is the only player at par or better from the last 21 groups that tee off.
2018 — British swimmer Adam Peaty improves his own world record in the 100-meter breaststroke to 57.1 seconds at the European Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
2021 — Sydney McLaughlin sets a world record in in the women’s 400m hurdles, 51.46s, for a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/sports/article/Sportlight-Rod-Carew-gets-his-3-000th-hit-17348054.php | 2022-08-03T14:43:05 | en | 0.926478 |
The TruSight and Whistic partnership helps suppliers turn their validated risk assessments into sales acceleration tools
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TruSight, the financial industry's leading provider of validated third-party risk data, today announced a partnership with Whistic, the creator of an innovative network to assess, publish, and share vendor security information. The alliance will enable third parties to quickly inform prospects and customers that they are TruSight validated and streamline customers' requests to access their TruSight assessments and additional audit reports.
TruSight and Whistic aim to improve the third-party experience by reducing the duplicative work associated with third-party risk assessment requests. Whistic helps companies streamline and automate their third-party risk management (TPRM) programs through the Whistic Vendor Security Network, which accelerates the vendor assessment process by enabling businesses to access and evaluate a vendor's Whistic Profile – which consolidates all a vendor's security documentation, including questionnaires, certifications, and audits, into one place. TruSight, an industry-backed platform, facilitates the efficient exchange of standardized and fully validated risk data between service providers and their customers. The TruSight utility model, in which assessments are performed once and shared by many, reduces the time and effort spent by both financial services institutions and third parties by eliminating the need for repetitive and duplicative questionnaires and assessment inquiries.
The partnership between TruSight and Whistic helps suppliers take their assessment reports and turn them into a sales acceleration tool. As a TruSight partner, Whistic is exclusively offering a free Profile to TruSight Third Party Suppliers. TruSight third-party suppliers can upload their TruSight Validated Badge, security questionnaires, audit reports, security certifications, and other documentation to their Whistic Profile to effortlessly share due diligence efforts with customers and prospects to expedite the security review process. The TruSight Validated Badge will link to a third-party assessment inquiry form, allowing customers and prospects to easily request access to the third-party's assessment – cutting down on the sales cycle while promoting the due diligence efforts of the third-party and ensuring third parties retain the rights to their security data.
"Whistic shares our belief in the importance of a trusted supply chain, particularly in today's volatile risk environment," said Luke Nordlie, Chief Revenue Officer of TruSight. "Our partnership allows us to further streamline the assessment process by centralizing the distribution of due diligence information. We are excited by the opportunities this partnership brings and look forward to working with Whistic to provide even more advantages to third parties and customers in the future."
"TruSight has played a key role in driving industry change around third-party risk assessments, and this partnership is another step in that direction," said Sunil Dsouza, Vice President of Partnerships and Business Development at Whistic. "By giving vendors the ability to quickly respond to common risk assessment and review process challenges, our partnership will give them improved support to build trust with customers. Through the Whistic Profile, third parties will be able to proactively share a snapshot of their security efforts with prospects and customers, giving businesses greater visibility into supply chain risk and make more informed risk decisions."
About TruSight
TruSight, an industry-initiated utility, is the leading provider of comprehensive, validated third-party risk assessments. Developed and backed by five of the largest global financial institutions, including American Express, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, BNY Mellon, and Wells Fargo, the TruSight methodology combines best practices and standardization to deliver the highest quality data, enabling businesses to gain greater visibility into supply chain resilience.
For more information, contact:
Laura Nelson or Erin O'Brien
SVM Public Relations
401.490.9700
[email protected]
[email protected]
SOURCE TruSight | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trusight-collaborates-with-whistic-to-help-third-parties-efficiently-share-due-diligence-information-301599092.html | 2022-08-03T14:43:08 | en | 0.942232 |
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman urges TuSimple Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: TSP) investors who suffered significant losses after the company completed its IPO in Apr. 2021 to submit your losses now.
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/TSP
Contact An Attorney Now: [email protected]
844-916-0895
The investigation focuses on TuSimple's statements which enabled it to go public in April 2021 through the issuance of 33.7 million shares at $40 per share, raising $1.1 billion in gross proceeds.
Specifically, TuSimple has repeatedly touted its Autonomous Freight Network, including its L4 autonomous semi-trucks, and claimed its AFN is the most comprehensive solution to address the freight industry's long term safety challenges.
These claims came into question on Aug. 1, 2022, when The Wall Street Journal reported that, on Apr. 6, 2022, an autonomously driven truck fitted with TuSimple technology suddenly veered left, cut across the I-10 highway in Tucson, AZ and slammed into a concrete barricade.
The WSJ further reported that: (1) according to independent analysts and over a dozen of TuSimple's former employees, "[t]he accident … underscores concerns that [TuSimple] is risking safety on public roads in a rush to deliver driverless trucks to market;" (2) while "the company has repeatedly blamed the accident on human error," details contained in the company's June 2022 regulatory disclosure along with internal company documents show what autonomous-driving specialists say are "fundamental problems" with TuSimple's technology; and, (3) researchers at Carnegie Mellon University who have spent decades studying autonomous-driving systems say that blaming the entire accident on human error is misleading.
This news sent the price of TuSimple shares sharply lower on Aug. 1, 2022, closing at $8.99, or more than 77% lower than the IPO price.
"We're focused on investors' losses and whether TuSimple put potential profits ahead of safety," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.
If you invested in TuSimple Holdings and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.
Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding TuSimple Holdings should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
Contact:
Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895
SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tsp-investor-alert-hagens-berman-national-trial-attorneys-encourages-investors-in-the-tusimple-holdings-tsp-ipo-to-contact-the-firms-attorneys-firm-investigating-possible-securities-law-violations-301598667.html | 2022-08-03T14:43:10 | en | 0.914374 |
Which strawberry planter is best?
Strawberries are delicious and easy to grow. They produce fruit in their first spring or summer, which is far less of a wait than most other fruits. Strawberry planters take advantage of the fact that strawberry plants don’t have large root balls to grow them vertically, saving space.
You have plenty of planter options, including stacking and hanging versions. If you’re looking for a stacking planter with a large capacity, the Mr. Stacky Five-Tier Strawberry and Herb Garden Planter is a great choice.
What to know before you buy a strawberry planter
Types of planters
You’ll find three main types of strawberry planters: stacking planters, pocket planters and hanging planters.
- Stacking: These planters usually have three to five tiers, with each tier holding three or four plants. Each tier is stacked, so it’s offset from the one below it, giving ample space for each strawberry plant to grow.
- Pocket: You can find pocket planters that are either cylindrical or urn-shaped. They have protruding pocket-like holes down the sides where you plant your strawberries.
- Hanging: Hanging planters are suspended rather than sitting on the ground. They’re great for gardeners with small spaces who want to make the most of the area available. You’ll need something sturdy to hang this type of planter from, as they’re heavy when full of soil.
Materials
Consider the common materials used to make strawberry planters and determine which is best for your yard.
- Ceramic: Ceramic planters look great, but they’re heavy and can break if dropped or knocked over. Unglazed ceramics, such as terracotta, are porous, which makes soil dry out more quickly, so they’re not the best choice.
- Hard plastic: Planters made from hard plastic are relatively durable but inexpensive. Most stacking planters are made from hard plastic.
- Felt: Felt is an extremely inexpensive fabric that’s also lightweight and breathable, allowing more oxygen to plants’ roots. However, felt planters aren’t all that durable over time, so they wear out after a year or two.
What to look for in a quality strawberry planter
Water filtration system
Some stacking planters have a filtration system, so you only need to irrigate the top layer and water filters down to the layers below.
Color
While some people don’t mind what color their planters are, others prefer them to match other garden planters or want decorative options. You can find plastic planters in colors such as green, terracotta, black and beige. Ceramic planters are more decorative and may be patterned or use interesting glazes.
Saucer
Planters with a saucer catch water as it drains. These are great for greenhouses, balconies and decks. Keeping water from leaking out of the bottom of the planter prevents stains and wet spots on the ground.
How much you can expect to spend on a strawberry planter
You can find basic felt strawberry planters for around $10-$15, while versions you can use yearly cost roughly $30-$50.
Strawberry planter FAQ
How often should you water strawberries in planters?
A. Strawberry plants grown in containers need more regular watering than those grown in beds to prevent them from drying out. They like to have moist but not wet soil, so you should water them regularly but not too regularly. You can water them with a garden hose or a large watering can.
Watering frequency depends on various factors, such as ambient temperature and rainfall, but roughly two to four times a week. Once the top inch of soil has dried out, it’s time to give your strawberries a drink.
Do strawberry planters need to be positioned in full sun?
A. Although strawberries will grow in partial sun or even fairly shaded areas, they produce the greatest fruit yield when grown in full sun. Ideally, position your planter in an area that gets direct sunlight for at least eight hours a day. Strawberry plants that get plenty of sunlight give you more fruit and produce tastier fruit.
What’s the best strawberry planter to buy?
Top strawberry planter
Mr. Stacky Five-Tier Strawberry and Herb Garden Planter
What you need to know: This five-tier stackable planter holds 20 strawberry plants.
What you’ll love: You can stack as many of these planters on top of one another as you choose, giving you a huge yield of strawberries while taking up minimal ground space. You can choose from five colors, including terracotta, black and pink.
What you should consider: If you want to stack more than five tiers, you’ll need a stake or similar to keep them from toppling.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top strawberry planter for the money
Pri Gardens Hanging Strawberry Planter
What you need to know: With 11 holes, you can get an excellent yield of strawberries from just one planter.
What you’ll love: You get two planters to a pack, letting you grow up to 22 plants. You can hang them to save on ground space. The hanging design makes it challenging to overwater your strawberries since the drainage is excellent.
What you should consider: The felt material isn’t all that rugged, so it’ll probably last for just a year or two.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Vivosun Vertical Gardening Stackable Planter
What you need to know: It has five tiers with a three-plant capacity per tier so that you can grow up to 15 strawberry plants.
What you’ll love: Thanks to the water filtration system, evenly watering all your plants is easy. You can hang it or place it on the ground. The hard plastic material is weather-resistant and won’t crack in the sun or frost.
What you should consider: It’s slightly unstable unless you put a stake or rod through the center.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-strawberry-planter/ | 2022-08-03T14:43:10 | en | 0.930986 |
WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, August 3, 2022
_____
HEAT ADVISORY
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
828 AM CDT Wed Aug 3 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Heat index values up to 113 expected.
* WHERE...La Salle, McMullen, Live Oak, Jim Wells, Inland
Kleberg and Inland Nueces Counties.
* WHEN...From 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM CDT this evening.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses to occur.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.myjournalcourier.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-CORPUS-CHRISTI-Warnings-Watches-and-17347993.php | 2022-08-03T14:43:11 | en | 0.854507 |
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Turning Rock Partners ("TRP" or "Turning Rock"), a New York-based private investment firm, today announced it has closed its second fund with commitments of approximately $475M, exceeding its target raise. Turning Rock received strong support from new and existing investors, including notable public and corporate pension plans, banks, insurance companies, global asset managers, foundations, and large family offices.
Turning Rock has been active in the marketplace with investments across a diversified portfolio of structured debt, equity, and hybrid investments targeting North American small and mid-capitalization businesses.
Turning Rock has raised over $900M of committed capital and is poised for continued growth. The firm is a majority woman-owned business, which continues to be owned and operated by its founders. TRP has grown to include 15 full-time employees as of August 1, 2022.
"Turning Rock Partners' growth can be attributed to a consistent strategy over its six-year operating history," said TRP Partner and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Saba Ahmad. "We will continue to follow an approach informed by a combination of top-down capital markets knowledge, paired with fundamental equity and credit analysis. We are grateful for the continued participation and support of our clients and partners, including Eaton Partners."
Eaton Partners, one of the largest capital placement agents and fund advisory firms and a wholly owned subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE:SF), acted as a placement agent for TRP's Fund II LP.
"Turning Rock's all-weather investment strategy, focused on opportunistic private credit continues to be in high demand from institutions seeking outsized returns," said Michael Crawford, Managing Director at Eaton Partners. "Investors see Turning Rock as a platform with a rigorous and repeatable approach, which is evident by how quickly we were able to meet our fundraising goals. It was our pleasure to partner with the TRP team on this successful capital raise."
About Turning Rock Partners
Turning Rock Partners (TRP) targets debt, equity and hybrid investments in underserved or capital constrained lower-middle market businesses in North America. TRP structures bespoke financing solutions for companies across the private market landscape. For more information, please visit Turning Rock Partners' website: www.turningrockpartners.com. For Turning Rock investor relations, please contact [email protected].
About Eaton Partners
Eaton Partners, a Stifel Company, is one of the world's largest capital placement agents and fund advisory firms, having raised more than $130 billion for over 175 highly differentiated alternative investment funds and offerings. Founded in 1983, Eaton advises and raises institutional capital for investment managers across alternative strategies – private equity, private credit, real assets, real estate, and hedge funds/public market – in both the primary and secondary markets. Eaton Partners maintains offices and operates throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
Eaton Partners is a division of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Member SIPC and NYSE. Eaton Partners subsidiary Eaton Partners (UK) LLP is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Eaton Partners subsidiary Stifel Hong Kong Limited, doing business as Eaton Partners Hong Kong, is approved as a Type 1-licensed company under the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong. Eaton Partners and the Eaton Partners logo are trademarks of Eaton Partners, LLC, a limited liability company. ® Eaton Partners, 2022. For more information, please visit https://eaton-partners.com/.
Stifel Company Information
Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifel's broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners business division; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC; and Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC. The Company's broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company's website at www.stifel.com. For global disclosures, please visit https://www.stifel.com/investor-relations/press-releases.
Media Contact:
Kate Shepherd, [email protected], 317-442-1674
SOURCE Turning Rock Partners | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/turning-rock-partners-closes-fund-ii-301599106.html | 2022-08-03T14:43:16 | en | 0.943062 |
Which TCL sound bar is best?
You’d be hard-pressed to find a TV that has adequate speakers and audio quality for movies and music. The default speakers usually favor one over the other, and that can lead to disappointment and frustration.
If you don’t want to splurge on a new home theater audio system, an affordable, quick solution is to get a sound bar. These audio gadgets are specifically tuned to give you big sound in a small package, perfect for when space is a luxury.
TCL has been in the consumer technology industry for over 40 years and knows a thing or two about sound — it manufactures TVs, mobile phones and home audio setups. If you want to upgrade your film streaming experience, the TCL Alto 8 Plus 3.1.2 Channel Dolby Atmos Smart Sound Bar is an excellent choice.
What to know before you buy a TCL sound bar
Power output
You naturally want to hear all the sounds when watching a movie and don’t want to strain during dialogue. The best way to prevent incomprehensible audio is to consider the sound bar’s power output relevant to your viewing environment. The power output determines how loud the sound bar will be before distorting.
Bigger isn’t always better
It’s natural to assume that a larger speaker will produce a loud sound. While that is true sometimes, it’s not always the case for sound bars. These elongated audio players are made to be as small as possible while still producing excellent sound quality. Together with the power output, you might find a smaller sound bar that is just as clear and loud as a full home theater system. It will cost a fraction of the price too.
Active sound bars are better than passive ones
While passive sound bars have better speakers than active ones, they do require a receiver or an amplifier to work. This takes up more space in your living room and requires additional cables. On the other hand, active sound bars have an amplifier built into them that also separates the right, left and center channels. They are easier to set up and get going but aren’t as loud or clear as passive sound bars.
What to look for in a quality TCL sound bar
Multiple connections
Most sound bars provide additional audio for your TV, but you don’t want to be limited to just that. A good-quality TCL sound bar has multiple connections that include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB. This lets you easily pair a mobile device to stream audio from your favorite music sources.
Remote control
Getting up off the couch to change the volume is so last century. You want the comfort of being able to change the input source and volume without having to walk over to the sound bar. That is why a good-quality TCL model comes with a remote controller. In fact, several of them are compatible with TCL’s Roku TV remote.
Mounting the sound bar
You’ll usually find a sound bar in front of the TV, but placing it just above can improve the audio clarity. You can only do that, though, if the sound bar is mountable on a wall. Consider a TCL sound bar that lets you do this. Several include a wall mounting kit.
How much you can expect to spend on a TCL sound bar
The average cost of a TCL sound bar largely depends on the model, the number of speaker channels and additional functions. An affordable sound bar costs $60-$80, while a surround-sound model costs $150-$200.
TCL sound bar FAQ
What do the channel numbers mean?
A. Sound bars and home theater systems use several speakers to produce the audio, and the channels indicate the corresponding amount. For example, a 2.1-channel sound bar has a left and right audio channel and a subwoofer. A setup with more speakers is a 7.1-channel system.
Can you add more speakers?
A. That isn’t possible with TCL sound bars.
What’s the best TCL sound bar to buy?
Top TCL sound bar
TCL Alto 8 Plus 3.1.2 Channel Dolby Atmos Smart Sound Bar
What you need to know: This 3.1.2-channel sound bar comes with a wireless subwoofer for added bass.
What you’ll love: In addition to the wireless subwoofer, it has eight small speakers to create surround sound through Dolby Atmos. The center channel is specifically for dialogue, letting you hear every word clearly. It’s compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant.
What you should consider: There was a rare complaint that lips didn’t sync with sound.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top TCL sound bar for the money
TCL Alto 6 2.0 Channel Home Theater Sound Bar
What you need to know: An affordable option to upgrade your TV’s audio, it has a two-channel system with an active speaker amplifier.
What you’ll love: Through Dolby technology, this sound bar creates virtual surround sound. The Bluetooth connection lets you pair it with mobile devices and connects to others through HDMI and USB.
What you should consider: You can’t pair this sound bar with other speakers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
TCL Alto 8i 2.1 Channel Dolby Atmos Sound Bar with Built-in Subwoofers
What you need to know: This TCL sound bar has a built-in subwoofer with rich bass, letting you feel the onscreen action.
What you’ll love: Measuring almost 40 inches long, it’s easily mounted on a wall. It is compatible with the TCL Roku TV remote and supports Dolby Atmos technology for great surround sound.
What you should consider: As it has a built-in subwoofer, you can’t add an additional woofer if you want more thumping bass.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-tcl-sound-bar/ | 2022-08-03T14:43:17 | en | 0.915736 |
$15 million will scale Year Up's growth, allowing it to reach ten times more young adults annually by 2030
$10 million will be endowed to provide scholarships to Year Up participants in honor of former Year Up President and current Board member Garrett Moran
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Year Up, a workforce development nonprofit committed to ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and justice for young adults, announced it has received a transformative $25 million gift from The Meg and Bennett Goodman Family Foundation.
The donation allows Year Up to scale its programs in ways that will deliver major impacts, including achieving its goal of reaching ten times more young adults annually by 2030 than it does today.
Year Up serves young adults from under-represented communities and provides them with training and other resources, as well as connecting them to a nationwide network of employers that are increasingly in need of skilled, diverse talent.
Bennett Goodman said: "Our foundation's primary mission is to improve social mobility. Matching diverse talent to opportunity is the quickest path to sharing economic prosperity. Connecting more young adults to impactful jobs builds careers and communities."
"We are grateful for Meg and Bennett's generous support of our mission to close the Opportunity Divide in this nation. Their gift will allow us to serve thousands more young adults who deserve access to opportunity and economic mobility," said Year Up Founder and CEO Gerald Chertavian. "This transformative gift will make a difference across the nation for years to come as we continue building and improving our organization, while helping to build inclusive and diverse pipelines of talent to the nation's leading employers."
The gift includes two parts: a $15 million grant to fund innovative pilot programs allowing Year Up to be more flexible, responsive, and sustainable; and $10 million that will be endowed in perpetuity in honor of former Year Up President and current Board Member Garrett Moran. The "Garrett Moran Scholars" initiative will provide funding for 40 young adults selected annually who have shown significant leadership potential.
In May 2022, the federally-sponsored Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE) evaluation of Year Up showed that $1 spent on Year Up produced a $2.46 return to society. The study found that over a seven-year study period, young adults assigned to Year Up earned $8,000 more per year compared with a control group — the largest sustained impact on earnings reported to date for a workforce program tested in a randomized controlled trial.
About Year Up Inc.
Year Up is a national 501(c)3 workforce development organization committed to ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and justice for all young adults—no matter their background, income, or zip code. Year Up utilizes a high-expectations, high support model where students learn in-demand technical and professional skills and apply them during a corporate internship. Year Up has served more than 36,000 young adults across 19 geographies since its founding in 2000 and has been voted one of the "Best Non-Profits to Work For" by The NonProfit Times. To learn more, visit http://www.yearup.org, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
For More Information Contact:
Lauren Peachey
[email protected]
SOURCE Year Up | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/year-up-receives-25-million-gift-from-the-meg-and-bennett-goodman-family-foundation-301599098.html | 2022-08-03T14:43:22 | en | 0.94119 |
Which two-slice toaster is best?
A toaster with two slots is the perfect size for small households or limited countertop space. You’ll want to pick one that evenly browns your bread and includes the features you need. For instance, if you’re using a toaster for English muffins, you’ll want one with a high enough lift so you don’t have to fish out your muffins. For toasting bagels, look for a toaster with wider slots, such as the KitchenAid Two-Slice Toaster with Manual Lift Lever.
What to know before you buy a two-slice toaster
Function
Toasters with two slots serve one function: to toast. A good toaster can warm and brown sliced bread, frozen waffles, sliced English muffins and sliced bagels. They are not intended for warming frozen pizza, toast with butter or cheese, or American-style muffins. You’ll need a toaster oven for these functions.
Size and capacity
Two-slice toasters are small kitchen appliances but they do require some countertop space. Consider a toaster’s footprint and how much room you have in your kitchen. Typically, footprint measurements are around 7 by 10 inches or 8 by 11 inches. For a larger capacity — but a bigger footprint — opt for a four-slice toaster.
Slot width
Any two-slice toaster will accommodate pre-sliced bread you buy in the grocery store. However, if you’re looking to toast thicker slices such as homemade bread or a halved bagel, you’ll need wider slots. Look for a model that’s advertised as a wide-slot toaster or having extra-wide slots.
Slot length and depth
For eaters of round- or wide-loaf breads, such as sourdough, consider a toaster with extra-long slots or extra-deep ones so that the entire surface area of your bread is toasted and not just a portion of it. Often these slots are extra wide, too.
Manual vs. automatic lift
Most two-slice toasters have a manual lift, which means you need to push a lever or button to lower toast into them. You also have to manually operate the lever or button to lift the toast out when it’s done. An automatic lift senses when your bread is in the slots and automatically lowers it. When the bread is toasted, it also automatically lifts it from the slots.
Shade control
Most toasters have shade settings so you can control how dark or light you want your bread toasted. These typically come in numbered settings on a dial from five to seven shades.
What to look for in a quality two-slice toaster
Toasting functions
Even basic toasters can feature a bagel and/or frozen setting. The bagel setting toasts the sliced inside of your bagel without burning the outside. Other toasters may include a keep-warm setting and reheat setting, which lets you warm cooked toast that has cooled down — without burning it.
Cancel button
A cancel button lets you prematurely terminate the toasting cycle. For example, if you smell burning, hit the cancel button to eject your toast. Some toasters feature a pause button that lets you check on your toast mid-cycle.
High lift
If you toast smaller items, such as English muffins or a sliced baguette, look for a toaster with a high lift, which forcefully pops up the smaller slices above the top of the appliance so you don’t have to reach inside the narrow slots to retrieve them. Never stick a fork down the slot of a toaster.
Adjustable slots
Toasters with adjustable slots let you manually narrow the slot for smaller or thinner slices to ensure even toasting.
How much you can expect to spend on a two-slice toaster
They range in price from $30-$100. High-end toasters can cost up to $200.
Two-slice toaster FAQ
Can I toast frozen waffles in my toaster?
A. While most two-slice toasters have wide enough slots to heat waffles, to cook frozen ones it’s better to have a frozen function that will defrost your waffles before toasting them.
What is a crumb tray?
A. All toasters come with a removable tray at the base to collect the crumbs that inevitably gather. These crumbs can accumulate and cause a burnt smell to your toast or kitchen. It’s important to empty it regularly to prevent fires.
What’s the best two-slice toaster to buy?
Top two-slice toaster
KitchenAid Two-Slice Toaster with Manual Lift Lever
What you need to know: This sharp-looking toaster is well-built and comes with a bagel and frozen setting.
What you’ll love: It evenly toasts store-bought or homemade bread and comes in four attractive finishes. There’s a bell that rings to alert you when your toast is about to pop up. The design is compact and minimalist, and the slots are wide.
What you should consider: Even though it’s advertised as having a high lift, some reviewers had a hard time removing muffins from the slots.
Where to buy: Sold by KitchenAid, Amazon, Home Depot and Macy’s
Top two-slice toaster for the money
What you need to know: This low-cost toaster features the bells and whistles you’d expect on a more expensive model.
What you’ll love: It has seven shade settings and four toasting functions, including ones for frozen items and bagels. The smooth profile combines a retro style with a sleek modern look.
What you should consider: Some people said the bagel function isn’t different from the toast setting.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Wayfair
Worth checking out
Redmond Two-Slice Stainless Steel Toaster
What you need to know: Add a pop of fun and color to your countertop with this retro-style toaster that comes in multiple colors.
What you’ll love: The stainless steel construction is durable and the toaster is nontoxic and free of the potentially harmful chemical bisphenol A. It includes six shade settings and a frozen, cancel and bagel button. The design is attractive and so are the color choices.
What you should consider: Over time the springs may wear out some and have trouble lifting the bread up all the way.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-two-slice-toaster/ | 2022-08-03T14:43:23 | en | 0.923057 |
Which Rtic cooler is best?
Whether you’re heading on a weeklong camping trip or a picnic at the park, the right cooler keeps food and drink fresh and chilled. Rtic coolers are known for being rugged and good at what they do.
Your main choice is between hard and soft coolers, but you should also consider factors such as capacity and ease of carrying. Rtic Heavy-Duty Hard Cooler is the top choice if you’re looking for a hard cooler.
What to know before you buy an Rtic cooler
Cooler types
Rtic makes both hard coolers and soft coolers. The right one for you depends on how you intend to use your cooler and how long you need to keep its contents cool.
- Hard coolers: These are generally larger than soft coolers and hold ice for up to 10 days. This makes them great for camping trips or other overnight adventures and for days when you need plenty of supplies, such as big family picnics.
- Soft coolers: Lighter than hard coolers but with significantly less insulation, these types of coolers are better for day trips and picnics. They’re more easily transportable than their hard counterparts and are available as totes or backpacks.
Capacity
While soft coolers tend to list their capacity in cans, hard coolers usually have a quart capacity listed. This will help you figure out roughly how much you can fit in an Rtic cooler. However, it can vary somewhat depending on factors such as the type of cooler and the size of any cans you want to put inside.
- 45 quarts: Coolers of this size cold roughly 36 cans or 40 pounds of ice. They’re good for days out or weekend trips for one or two people.
- 65 quarts: Expect a cooler of this size to hold 64 cans or 70 pounds of ice. They’re good for weekend trips for large groups or longer trips for one to three people.
- 145 quarts: This size cooler holds around 145 cans or 155 pounds of ice. It can keep a small group going for up to 10 days or hold supplies for eight to 10 people on shorter trips.
What to look for in a quality Rtic cooler
Carry straps and handles
These coolers can have handles, single-shoulder straps or double-shoulder straps, like a backpack. They’re durable enough that they shouldn’t break halfway to or from your destination and leave you in a tricky situation
Drain
Rtic hard coolers have drains to empty the water left behind by melted ice. Without this, they’d be hard to empty, especially without making a huge mess.
No-sweat exterior
The no-sweat exterior of these coolers doesn’t gather beads of condensation. This is a particular bonus when loaded into a car next to other items that a sweaty cooler could get wet.
Bear-resistant
This company’s hard coolers are extremely rugged and seal tightly, making them bear-resistant. This is great news for camping trips or days out in the wilderness.
How much you can expect to spend on an Rtic cooler
Soft coolers cost roughly $50-$200, while hard coolers can cost from $200-$600. Larger versions are always pricier than smaller ones.
Rtic cooler FAQ
Are Rtic coolers worth it?
A. Naturally, an item worth buying for some people isn’t for others. However, if you’re looking for a durable cooler, Rtic models offer excellent value.
You might pay more than you would for a simple soft cooler or a thin-walled hard cooler, but they can hold ice for up to 10 days and are incredibly rugged. They’re especially worthwhile purchases for keen campers or anyone who takes lots of picnics or trips to the beach.
Can you put hot food and warm drinks in a cooler?
A. While you technically can use a cooler to chill food and drinks, you’ll get the best results if you chill them in the fridge before loading your cooler. This way, any ice or cool packs stay cool for longer since they don’t have to chill warm food or drinks. They just maintain an already-cool temperature.
It’s also more efficient to layer your food or drinks under ice or cool packs rather than on top. Warm air rises, and cold air drops, so ice more effectively chills anything below it.
What’s the best Rtic cooler to buy?
Top Rtic cooler
What you need to know: This exceptionally durable hard cooler is perfect for serious campers and tailgaters.
What you’ll love: It’s available in three sizes: 45, 65 and 145 quarts. It can hold ice for up to 10 days. It’s bear-resistant, thanks to the tough body and secure latches. The easy-flow spout makes draining it a breeze.
What you should consider: It’s on the heavy side, so you wouldn’t want to carry it over long distances.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Rtic cooler for the money
What you need to know: Ideal for picnics, hikes and day trips, this soft cooler is light and easy to transport.
What you’ll love: The exterior is leakproof and doesn’t sweat. Its shoulder strap makes it easy to carry around. You can choose from five sizes, holding eight, 12, 20, 30 or 40 cans.
What you should consider: The zipper is tough to undo, which can be frustrating.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: As it’s 30% lighter than Rtic’s standard hard cooler, it’s great for anyone who would struggle with the weight of the heavier model.
What you’ll love: It holds up to 64 cans or around 40 pounds of ice. The removable divider and basket make organizing different types of food and drinks easier. It’s durable with heavy-duty marine rope handles.
What you should consider: It’s only available in one size.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/coolers-br/best-rtic-cooler/ | 2022-08-03T14:43:30 | en | 0.936779 |
Which clear phone case is best?
Phone manufacturers work hard to make visually engaging phones, but most people immediately cover their hard work with colorful phone cases. If you enjoy your phone’s natural design but still want a little protection, grab a clear case instead. Some cases meet in the middle by including a touch of color or some other design element without becoming opaque.
The best clear phone case is the Oribox Clear Phone Case. It packs in multiple layers of protection and offers tinted clear cases in addition to a standard clear option.
What to know before you buy a clear phone case
What phone do I have?
This is the first question to ask yourself before you begin shopping for a clear phone case. Every phone is built differently, even phones from the same manufacturer that look like they’re identical. If you don’t buy a case that’s specifically made for your phone, you could cover the ports, buttons and camera lenses.
If you don’t know the answer, finding it is easy. All you need to do is go into your phone’s settings and look for the “about” section. Your model name and number are there, and either can be used to narrow your search results to matching cases.
Design
Clear phone cases are usually just plainly translucent all over, but they don’t have to be. Many are tinted with a range of colors, either only on the sides or all over. Other cases may have an opaque design on the back that still leaves room for translucency around it.
What to look for in a quality clear phone case
Protection level
Clear phone cases offer different degrees of protection.
- Light: Most clear phone cases offer light protection. These cases cling tightly to the phone to avoid adding bulk. Mild drop protection is about all you can expect.
- Moderate: Bulkier clear cases offer moderate protection. This can include strong drop protection, raised edges to protect the screen and camera lenses and anti-slip sides for a better grip.
- Heavy: Few, if any, clear cases offer heavy protection, as this class usually involves hiding the phone in multiple thick layers.
Screen protector
Some clear cases come with either a built-in screen protector or are bundled with a screen protector you need to apply.
- Built-in screen protectors are typically thin sheets of plastic that cover the screen. These can make it harder for your phone to detect inputs, but it’s also easier to use and maintain.
- Bundled screen protectors are separate sheets of plastic or glass that need to be applied. Your inputs aren’t affected, but the application process can be difficult; trapping specks of dust underneath is one of the most common issues.
Wireless charging compatibility
As wireless charging continues to become more utilized, many phone case manufacturers look to ensure their cases are thin enough not to block wireless charging from working. Most clear cases are thin enough, but thicker and more protective cases may not be compatible.
How much you can expect to spend on a clear phone case
Clear phone cases are typically more simple than other cases, so their cost is frequently lower. Most cost around $5-$15 but some of the more rugged or brand-name options might cost up to $30.
Clear phone case FAQ
Do clear phone cases offer warranties?
A. Some do. Whether a phone case offers a warranty is an easy way to determine its quality. The best offer lifetime warranties and will send you a replacement case for free should the original break in the line of duty.
Are clear phone cases made of recycled materials?
A. Some are. This isn’t a feature that’s often clearly promoted though. You may need to look hard before you find a case that’s both made of recycled materials and worth buying. Additionally, clear cases made of recycled materials tend to be more expensive.
An easier option to find is a clear case made of recyclable materials such as something plant-based. These are also more expensive than most plastic cases.
What’s the best clear phone case to buy?
Top clear phone case
What you need to know: This is the perfect blend of protection with limited visual impact.
What you’ll love: The case uses a hard inner layer for high protection and a soft outer layer for impact absorption and hand comfort. The sides have nonslip stripes to make it easier to hold. It comes in plain clear or tinted gray, purple or light blue.
What you should consider: With the extra protection comes extra weight and bulk. Some consumers were unhappy with the case’s degree of water protection.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top clear phone case for the money
What you need to know: It is slim and offers a solid amount of protection for a good price.
What you’ll love: It has military-grade drop protection and raised edges around the screen and camera lenses to protect it from direct falls. The back is acrylic for scratch protection. It’s compatible with wireless charging. The edges can be plain clear or tinted with black or red.
What you should consider: The camera flash can be caught by the case, lowering its effectiveness. A few customers noted that the red option looks closer to pink.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This case is a good choice if you want as little weight and bulk added as possible.
What you’ll love: It fits tightly against the phone to add effectively no bulk or weight while still helping to prevent scratches and other basic damage. The edges can be plain clear or tinted red or blue. The ports and buttons are precisely cut out so there’s no interference in operation.
What you should consider: There’s no grip assistance, so it can feel a little slick. A few purchasers found the case yellowed over time, starting as soon as six months.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/cell-phones-accessories-br/best-clear-phone-case/ | 2022-08-03T14:43:37 | en | 0.933344 |
Which Puma backpack is best?
Puma backpacks are practical for school, work, the gym, hiking trips and everyday use. Most buyers want a bag that isn’t just functional but also looks great.
Whatever your needs and preferences, you’ll find a Puma backpack that fits the bill. If you’re looking for something versatile and stylish, the Puma Dash Backpack is a great choice.
What to know before you buy a Puma backpack
Backpack types
Puma makes a range of backpack types. Some of the most common are standard backpacks, mini versions, sling backpacks and carry sacks.
- Standard: These full-size backpacks are great all-rounders and a sensible choice for most buyers. They’re roomy enough for school, work and day trips.
- Mini: If you’re looking for something smaller than a standard backpack, Puma makes plenty of mini versions. They’re also great for young kids.
- Sling: Sling backpacks have single cross-body straps instead of two shoulder straps. Some buyers prefer the casual look of these backpacks.
Pockets and compartments
Pockets and compartments in backpacks help you organize your items. Rather than digging around the bottom of your bag for your keys, you can keep them in a zippered pocket so that you always have easy access. Puma generally makes backpacks with plenty of handy compartments.
- Front pockets: Front pockets are great for any belongings you need regular easy access to, such as your phone or wallet. Some front pockets on Puma bags have smaller zippered pockets inside to provide an extra layer of security.
- Side pockets: These are usually elasticated and perfect for holding water bottles and umbrellas.
- Interior pockets: Small interior zippered pockets are great for items like keys, phones and wallets, or any small things that could easily get lost in the bottom of a backpack.
- Laptop sleeves: Padded interior laptop sleeves help protect your laptop. This is a great feature if you need to bring a laptop to work or school.
Padding
A well-padded backpack is much more comfortable to wear. If you carry heavy items or wear your bag all day, you’ll appreciate padding all the more.
- Back: Padding on the back wall of a backpack keeps items inside from digging into your back.
- Straps: Padded straps lessen the feeling of weight on your shoulders.
What to look for in a quality Puma backpack
Color
While many Puma backpacks come in muted hues, such as black and gray, you can also find them in bright colors, including neon yellow and primary red. Most versions offer at least a couple of color options, with some giving you more than 10 choices.
Logo
The iconic Puma leaping cat logo is on most of its backpacks. The logo color can vary from solid colors to rainbow hues.
Adjustable straps
The shoulder straps on your backpack should be easy to adjust, even while wearing it. This lets you set it to a comfortable position for your height.
How much you can expect to spend on a Puma backpack
Most cost $20-$50, but you can find a handful that cost up to $75. The most affordable options usually have fewer features or simpler designs.
Puma backpack FAQ
How do you clean a Puma backpack?
A. Not all backpacks are machine washable, so check the label before throwing yours in the washer. If your backpack is machine washable, you should start by opening all the zippers and pockets and removing the dust and debris from inside. Then you can turn it inside out to protect the hardware and wash it on a cool, gentle cycle in a laundry bag or old pillowcase.
With backpacks that aren’t machine washable, you’ll need to spot clean them with a stain remover, laundry detergent or water solution. If you’re unsure whether you can machine wash your backpack, basic nylon backpacks generally wash well.
However, you clean your backpack, always let it air dry. It’s likely to shrink or get damaged in a tumble dryer.
Are Puma backpacks waterproof?
A. They aren’t waterproof, but most are made from dense nylon fabric that provides water resistance. Still, if the rain is coming down hard, you can expect the contents of your backpack to get wet.
What’s the best Puma backpack to buy?
Top Puma backpack
What you need to know: Simple yet stylish, this backpack has a quilted front and is comfortable to wear.
What you’ll love: The logo comes in rainbow, sunset and gold versions. The front pocket has a second interior pocket to secure your phone or wallet. The protective laptop sleeve inside is handy.
What you should consider: It’s smaller than some buyers expect, so you should check the dimensions to avoid disappointment.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Puma backpack for the money
Puma Evercat Contender Backpack
What you need to know: With a spacious interior, it’s great for school, work and hiking.
What you’ll love: It has a large front pocket, side pockets for drink bottles and an interior laptop sleeve. You can choose from 13 color combinations, including navy, gray and coral and dark red.
What you should consider: It’s not the most durable overall, so it’s unlikely to last more than a couple of years of regular use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This sling backpack has a single cross-body strap, which some people prefer over two-strap versions.
What you’ll love: The strap is easily adjusted for a comfortable fit. It has front and interior pockets to help organize your belongings. It comes in black or heather gray.
What you should consider: It’s fairly small, so it’s better for casual use than school or work.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/fashion-accessories-br/backpacks-br/best-puma-backpack/ | 2022-08-03T14:43:43 | en | 0.928616 |
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