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The third wave, though a relatively mild one, has hit the real-estate industry very hard in Hyderabad. During January, the city has reported a drop of 27 per cent year-on-year in home registrations.
In the first month of 2022, the city witnessed registrations of 5,568 homes, with bulk of them coming from the sub ₹50-lakh segment.
According to a Knight Frank India report, regular market operations such as site visits and registration of documents were adversely affected due to mobility restrictions during the month. The aggregate value of realestate properties transacted was pegged at ₹2,695 crore in the four districts of Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Rangareddy and Sangareddy.
“Hyderabad was the best performing residential market in terms of primary sales, among the top eight in India during 2021. However, the drop in registration activity caused by the mobility restrictions due to the third wave of Covid-19 in January this year have impacted sales across many markets in India, including Hyderabad,” Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India, said.
“We expect that sales registration volumes in the market should regain lost ground once normal market operations resume, given that other market indicators such as prices continue to see steady growth despite the impact of the pandemic,” he said.
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Manoj Kumar and Sunil Kumar, the two chief general managers with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), have been promoted to the rank of Executive Director (ED), an office order by the regulator said. For the first time, SEBI will have 11 EDs handling various portfolios. In September 2020, Manoj Kumar was appointed as ED of International Finance Services Centres Authority (IFSC) the regulator for GIFT City in Gandhinagar. Kumar will return to SEBI’s Mumbai office in the new role now.
Published on
February 10, 2022
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Sun TV Network on Thursday reported a consolidated net profit of ₹471 crore for the third quarter of the current fiscal year, slightly higher than ₹445 crore posted during the corresponding quarter in the previous fiscal.
The company’s consolidated revenue from operations, on a year-on-year basis, grew 7 per cent to ₹1,060 crore (from ₹994 crore) during the December 2021 quarter.
On a standalone basis, overall revenues went up by 6.25 per cent to ₹1,033 crore (from ₹972.34 crore a year ago) while revenues (excluding IPL) stood at ₹975.16 crore (against ₹763.27 crore).
EBITDA grew 20.18 per cent to ₹721.87 crore (₹600.68 crore). Earnings per share for the 2021 quarter grew by 3.52 per cent to ₹11.61 from ₹11.21 during the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
The board of directors of the company declared an interim dividend of ₹2.50 per share (50 per cent) on a face value ₹5 per share.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) caught the markets by surprise — of the pleasant kind — in its February monetary policy statement. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was widely expected to hike the reverse repo rate, now at 3.35 per cent, to normalise the rate ‘corridor’. In the event, the MPC refrained from tinkering with rates, but what was more surprising was the projection on inflation and the continuation of the accommodative policy stance. Inflation has been on the upcurve since September 2021 — it was at 5.59 per cent in December 2021 and pressures have only intensified over the last one month. Crude oil prices have shot past the $90 per barrel mark. Domestic fuel prices have remained unchanged in the last couple of months, but it is only a question of time before they are revised upwards. Though food prices have softened, prices of other industrial commodities such as steel and cement, to name just two, have been on the upswing. User industries such as FMCG and automobiles have, in turn, adjusted their products prices upwards. In short, the cost-push pressures on inflation are very apparent. Yet, the central bank has actually revised its projection for the first quarter of FY23 downwards to 4.9 per cent, from 5 per cent that it had forecast in its last policy statement in December. By Q3 of FY23, inflation will be at the mandated level of 4 per cent according to the RBI. The fervent hope is that the RBI is right in its estimate because the rest of the policy, including the accommodative stance, flows from it.
Yield on the 10-year paper fell to as low as 6.69 per cent post the policy — it closed the day at 6.73 per cent, down 6 basis points — as the bond market rallied riding on the optimistic picture painted by the RBI.The RBI’s ploy is not hard to discern: it will try to cool yields to facilitate a gross government borrowing programme of ₹14.95-lakh crore for 2022-23, ₹4.5-lakh crore in excess of the borrowings for this fiscal (revised estimates). Perhaps, the RBI is of the view that this borrowing will not stoke inflation when private investment is tepid, or it hopes that the actual borrowing will be lower. Anyway, by not adjusting rates now, the RBI is sending a signal to the market to fall in line with its optimistic assessment. Yet, if the scenario does not play out as per the RBI’s view — and that’s a real possibility — the central bank may find itself in a spot in the next policy, by which time the markets would have run far ahead of the RBI. The best chance to align rates to the market may have been in this policy when the markets were anticipating it.
The Governor was at pains to explain in the post-policy press conference that India’s position should not be compared with that of advanced countries in the matter of inflation. One hopes that the RBI is right, but the assessment seems to be that the central bank is falling behind the curve. Perhaps, the central bank felt persuaded not to rock the boat in a busy credit season. Or it probably knows something that the market does not at this point in time.
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The Economic Survey 2021-22 devotes considerable space to highlight the emphasis laid by the Union Government on improvement of the Railways in the past few years. While capital expenditure allocation quintupled since 2014, the National Railway Plan (NRP) was formulated in tBudget o2021-22, which aims at the creation of a future ready railway system that is able to meet passenger demand as well as increase the modal share of the Railways in freight to 40-45 per cent.
Budget 2022-23 does not deviate from the above theme, with the Railways again figuring centrally in the Finance Minister’s Budget speech. While the announcements to introduce 400 new Vande Bharat trains, roll out the indigenous train collision avoidance system (KAVACH) on 2,000 km track length and create 100 Gati Shakti cargo terminals were aimed at capacity creation and augmentation within the Railways, those pertaining to creation of ‘one station-one product’ to help local businesses and creation of products and services for farmers and MSMEs highlight the role of Railways as an economic multiplier.
The priority given to multimodal connectivity between mass urban transport and railway stations along with integration of postal and railway services would also act as catalysts in boosting rail transport.
These plans for the Railways are highly ambitious and require the budgetary outlay o match The UBudget 2does not disappoint on this front, allocating ₹1,40,367 crore as gross budgetary support (GBS) to the Railways; the highest ever allocation till date. The major chunk of the GBS (₹1,37,100 crore) his towards capital expenditure, a near 28 per cent increase from the previous year. This will greatly aid in the early completion of railway projects essential for immediate capacity enhancement of the rail network.
Capacity generation
A closer examination of the distribution of capex grant reveals a marked emphasis on capacity generation and expansion of the rail network. Allocation for the creation of new lines has increased by nearly 55 per cent and for doubling of existing lines, a whopping 303 per cent over the previous year’s Budget Estimates.
These numbers are indicative of the importance of the Railways in the government’s capex strategy to boost the growth of the economy. The gross budget outlay for the National High Speed Rail Corporation, at ₹24,102 crore, is a 72 per cent jump ifrom that in FY 2021-22. This will give a fillip to the ongoing Ahmadabad-Mumbai bullet train project.
On the performance side as well, the Budget figures indicate a steady improvement in the Revenue Estimates of the Railways. While passenger earnings targets set in Budget Estimates 2021-22 were always going to be difficult to achieve given Covid related constraints, the Railways has performed remarkably well in achieving its freight earning targets.
As on January 20, 2022, the Railways had achieved freight earnings of ₹1,13,054 crore making the 2021-22 Budget target of ₹1,28,849 crore well within reach. The estimated freight revenue for 2022-23 is an impressive ₹1,65,000 crore. The booming freight business also augurs well for the achievement of the goal of garnering 40-45 per cent modal freight share envisaged in the NRP.
The move to make the Railways develop new products and efficient logistics services for small farmers and small and medium enterprises is a logical step after the success of Kisan Rail, which saw the Railways transport approximately six lakh tonnes of perishables including fruits and vegetables in the last year-and-a-half. The Survey also expects the Railways to play a major role in India’s push to meet its commitments made at COP26, Glasgow, through the Railways’ ‘Net Zero Carbon Emission’ target that it aims to achieve by 2030.
Areas needing attention
Moving forward, there are some areas which would require attention to ensure there are tangible ‘outcomes’ for this fiscal backing given to the Railways. Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR) of financing have been pegged at ₹1,08,500 crore in 2022-23 against ₹97,700 crore in the RE figures of 2021-22. Since EBR carry an interest burden, it is essential that projects chosen to utilise such funds are remunerative, with fixed completion timelines to alleviate the interest burden of the Railways.
A major decision in this regard is the categorisation of projects into “critical” and “super critical” and prioritisation accorded to completion of sanctioned projects as per the NRP. This will help set completion targets and prevent accumulation of interest liability due to time overruns.
While all EBR funded projects are monitored by a committee of the Railway Board and MoUs detailing specific targets to be achieved are signed with the Zonal Railway undertaking such work, additional measures such as formation of coordination committees with State governments to expedite forest clearances and land acquisition can be considered.
Further, to maximise return on investment through EBR, the planned introduction of private operators on select routes and private party led tourism-based schemes such as Bharat Gaurav can help in generation of revenue which can offset the cost of borrowing for infrastructure investment.
In addition, the original tenure of the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK), a special safety fund with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore, ended in FY 2021-22. The budgetary allocation towards RRSK has hence come down to ₹12,000 crore in 2022-23 from ₹25,000 crore in 2021-22.
This resource gap would need to be bridged through alternative sources. Further, the planned execution of new Dedicated Freight Corridors and High Speed Passenger Corridors in the second half of the decade would require sustained financing.
The vision of a safe, efficient, competitive and world class railway system seems to be taking shape and if provided with necessary support, it will ensure that the Railways truly emerges as the engine of national growth in the ‘Amrit Kaal’.
Sharma, Indian Railway Accounts Service, is Divisional Finance Manager, Bengaluru Division, South Western Railways, and Suman, Indian Revenue Service, is Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Karnataka Goa. Views are personal
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At the conclusion of its last bi-monthly meeting in FY 2021-22, the Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent. As previously, while this decision was unanimous, continuance of the accommodative stance of the monetary policy entailed a dissent vote.
A section of the market participants and analysts expected that the MPC will change the stance from ‘accommodative’ to ‘neutral’. And there were a few others, who expected that it will normalise the policy corridor back to 50 basis points by raising the reverse repo rate from 3.35 per cent to 3.50 per cent.
Nevertheless, the bond market extended a smile to the policy announcements with the yield on the benchmark 10-year government security falling by 5 basis points. For the present, the bearish tendency that enveloped the bond market in the wake of the Union Budget last week, on the back of record increases in both gross and net market borrowings of the Centre in FY2022-23, stands reversed.
Fighting shy of normalisation?
The rationale behind the expectations, as above, has been that in the recent weeks, variable rate reverse repo (VRRR) auction for two days to 14 days, which is now the main instrument for liquidity absorption by the RBI, was done at much higher rates — close to 4 per cent. In fact, the weighted average rate — which the RBI now terms as the effective reverse repo rate (ERRR) — for the 2-day VRRR auction on February 9, 2022, was 3.98 per cent.
ERRR increased from 3.37 per cent as at end-August 2021 to 3.87 per cent as on February 4, 2022. This coupled with the fact that the overnight MIBOR benchmark which is currently at around 3.50 per cent has been slowly creeping up since the middle of 2021 clearly indicating that keeping the policy reverse repo rate unchanged at 3.35 per cent is not consistent with the underlying liquidity condition. Buoyant credit growth, on one hand and lower deposit growth, on the other, in recent months lend support to this observation.
It is not clear why the MPC has avoided normalisation of the policy corridor by raising the reverse repo rate. Two considerations might have weighed with the MPC: One, any rate action could push up yields on government securities, which will impact banks adversely when they close their books on March 31.
Two, the banks’ ability to absorb the very large supply of government securities in FY23 at the current level of their yields will be constrained, particularly in the light of the RBI’s plan to align their valuation norms in sync with the global standards and practices in this regard.
Consequently, the RBI will be required to step in to make a success of the government’s borrowing programme. As a fallout of this, the RBI will also be required to soak, by way of reverse repo of overnight and other tenors, the significant primary liquidity that will flow to the banks as a result. If this scenario indeed turns out to be the case, then the RBI will prove to be a really slow-turning ship when it comes to liquidity normalisation and/or an adjustment of the policy corridor.
Growth and inflation outlook
Projected growth for FY23 has been pegged at 7.8 per cent, with a good bit of quarter-to-quarter unevenness. In fact, growth in the last quarter is projected at 4.5 per cent as against 17.2 per cent in the first quarter.
As regards inflation, the MPC expects a good deal of moderation in FY23, with the headline CPI inflation decreasing to 4.5 per cent from 5.3 per cent in FY22. In the MPC’s assessment, while there are significant downside risks to the growth outlook, risks to the inflation outlook are broadly balanced.
The MPC’s favourable inflation outlook rests on three broad pillars: One, private consumption demand is still weak. Two, supply-side issues, if any, will be addressed adequately and on time by the government. Three, although core inflation remains elevated, yet demand-pull pressures are still muted and pricing power of manufacturing and services firms is not likely to be strong.
In other words, the pass-through impact of prevailing very high WPI inflation to CPI inflation remains limited. The only wild card here is crude price.
The reasons why private consumption is still lagging and has yet to surpass its pre-pandemic level are varied and complex. It is likely that in the period following the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020, private spending patterns have undergone some long-term shifts, principally on account of increased adoption of technology in the workplaces as well as in the day-to-day lives of households, especially in the urban areas.
The exact features and characteristics of this phenomenon are not fully known yet. But it is doubtful if continuation of the status quo in the monetary policy will in any manner support private consumption.
As regards regulatory measures, the decision to increase the NACH (National Automated Clearing House) mandate limit for settlement of TReDS transactions from the current ₹1 crore to ₹3 crore is a welcome step. But it’s time both the RBI and the government take a hard look at the causes of low growth in TReDS volumes in all the three platforms that exist for this purpose now.
Reluctance of most central public sector enterprises (CPSE) to facilitate discounting of invoices drawn on them by their supplier MSME units is the core issue. Interestingly, although following the government’s diktat of 2017 in this regard, a majority of the CPSEs have registered themselves with TReDS platforms, the actual volume of transactions attributable to them has remained very low till now. Unlike their private sector counterparts, CPSEs take excessive time in approving invoices, thereby making it impossible for the invoices to be subjected to any discounting mechanism.
Permission for banks to deal in Foreign Currency Settled Overnight Indexed Swaps (FCS-OIS) with non-residents is also a welcome step. FCS-OIS has been in existence in a few offshore locations for quite some time now. Making possible a formal link between OIS traded in offshore and onshore markets will benefit all the users of this rupee interest rate derivative.
By all indications, this ‘no change’ policy draws its justification from a favourable inflation outlook. It also seeks to signal that the RBI would continue to stand ready to provide support in case any of the downside risks to growth materialise in FY23. However, in doing so, it has attempted to downplay the risks of a further rise in commodity prices and the imminence of monetary tightening in the US. A clearer picture on all these issues will emerge when the MPC meets next in April.
The writer is a former central banker and a consultant to the IMF. Through The Billion Press
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Today's Poll
Today’s Poll
Published on
February 10, 2022
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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is “very honored” that she will one day be queen consort when Prince Charles becomes king.
The duchess spoke about the momentous announcement for the first time on Thursday, while opening UKHarvest’s new community food center, called the Nourish Hub.
Camilla said she was “very, very honored” and “very touched” by Queen Elizabeth’s wish for her to be the future queen consort, according to video captured by Hello!’s royal editor, Emily Nash.
Queen Elizabeth announced over the weekend that it was her “sincere wish” for Camilla to one day be called Queen Camilla.
“When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes king, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me,” the queen said in a jubilee message over the weekend, one day before the sovereign marked her Accession Day.
“And it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service,” the queen added.
The Prince of Wales responded to his mother’s blessing on Sunday in a message regarding the queen’s “remarkable achievement” of reaching 70 years on the throne.
“We are deeply conscious of the honour represented by my mother’s wish,” Charles said in a statement from Clarence House. “As we have sought together to serve and support Her Majesty and the people of our communities, my darling wife has been my own steadfast support throughout.”
Both Charles and Camilla later appeared together for the first time since the announcement on Wednesday, for an event on behalf of the British Asian Trust at the British Museum.
The celebrations were seemingly short-lived, as the Prince of Wales later tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time and is currently isolating, according to a statement from Clarence House on Thursday.
He first tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2020 and apparently only experienced mild symptoms at the time.
Subscribe to HuffPost’s Watching the Royals newsletter for all things Windsor (and beyond). | https://www.huffpost.com/entry/camilla-duchess-responds-queen-consort-title-first-time_n_620518a7e4b0328e0022beee | 2022-02-10T16:00:17 | en | 0.968336 |
Some athletes at the Winter Olympics are applying tape on their cheeks and noses to protect them from China’s bitter cold. Many appear to be using the kind of tape usually applied on limbs to support muscles, USA Today reported Wednesday.
The so-called kinesiology tape might look cool, but its functionality on the face has not been tested, warned the CEO of KT Tape, which many athletes are using. In areas outside Beijing where ski, snowboard and biathlon events are hosted, temperatures have regularly plunged to zero. And it’s been windy.
“We’ve seen KT Tape used as protection against the wind in winter sports over the years, so although it isn’t a clinically approved usage, we appreciate the ingenuity,” CEO Greg Venner told USA Today.
“KT Tape doesn’t endorse the use of kinesiology tape on the face as it isn’t clinically tested,” Venner added. “However, we certainly applaud the creativity – we are proud to support Team USA!”
Tape designed to insulate the face is available.
Here’s a look at some taped Olympians: | https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tape-face-winter-olympics_n_620507c6e4b04af87f3967b0 | 2022-02-10T16:00:23 | en | 0.958749 |
Today's 30-year mortgage rates fall to lowest level this week | Feb. 10, 2022
Our goal here at Credible Operations, Inc., NMLS Number 1681276, referred to as "Credible" below, is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we do promote products from our partner lenders, all opinions are our own.
Check out the mortgage rates for Feb. 10, 2022, which are largely unchanged from yesterday. (iStock)
Based on data compiled by Credible, mortgage rates remained mostly unchanged since yesterday, except for 30-year rates, which fell.
- 30-year fixed mortgage rates: 3.750%, down from 3.875%, -0.125
- 20-year fixed mortgage rates: 3.500%, unchanged
- 15-year fixed mortgage rates: 3.000%, unchanged
- 10-year fixed mortgage rates: 2.990%, unchanged
Rates last updated on Feb. 10, 2022. These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary.
What this means: Rates for a 30-year mortgage, which is the most common term, fell to their lowest level in four days, giving homebuyers another opportunity to save amid steady increases across all terms. Mortgage experts have predicted that 30-year rates could reach 4% by the end of 2022. At 3.750%, buyers who act today to lock in a rate for this longest term, rather than waiting, could realize significant interest savings over the life of their mortgage.
These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary.
To find the best mortgage rate, start by using Credible, which can show you current mortgage and refinance rates:
Browse rates from multiple lenders so you can make an informed decision about your home loan.
Credible, a personal finance marketplace, has 4,500 Trustpilot reviews with an average star rating of 4.7 (out of a possible 5.0).
Looking at today’s mortgage refinance rates
Mortgage refinance rates held steady across all terms for the first time this week, offering a bit of breathing room for homeowners who have been watching rates fluctuate and waiting for a good day to lock in a refinance rate. If you’re considering refinancing an existing home, check out what refinance rates look like:
- 30-year fixed-rate refinance: 3.750%, unchanged
- 20-year fixed-rate refinance: 3.500%, unchanged
- 15-year fixed-rate refinance: 3.125%, unchanged
- 10-year fixed-rate refinance: 2.990%, unchanged
Rates last updated on Feb. 10, 2022. These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary.
A site like Credible can be a big help when you’re ready to compare mortgage refinance loans. Credible lets you see prequalified rates for conventional mortgages from multiple lenders all within a few minutes. Visit Credible today to get started.
Credible has earned a 4.7-star rating (out of a possible 5.0) on Trustpilot and more than 4,500 reviews from customers who have safely compared prequalified rates.
What is a good mortgage rate?
Many factors influence the mortgage rate a lender may offer you. But generally, a good mortgage rate is one that’s the lowest you can qualify for based on your individual factors, such as credit history, income, other debts, down payment amount, and more.
A rate that’s good for your financial situation should result in a monthly mortgage payment that you can manage, while leaving plenty of room in your monthly budget to put toward savings, investments, and an emergency fund. And a good rate should be competitive with average rates in the geographic area where you’re looking to buy.
Once you’ve chosen the home loan type that works for you, you can compare multiple lenders to truly find the best rates.
Current mortgage rates
Today’s average mortgage interest rate edged down to 3.310%, which is the lowest it’s been all week but higher than this same time last week.
Current 30-year mortgage rates
The current interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.750%. This is down from yesterday. Thirty years is the most common repayment term for mortgages because 30-year mortgages typically give you a lower monthly payment. But they also typically come with higher interest rates, meaning you’ll ultimately pay more in interest over the life of the loan.
Current 20-year mortgage rates
The current interest rate for a 20-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.500%. This is the same as yesterday. Shortening your repayment term by just 10 years can mean you’ll get a lower interest rate — and pay less in total interest over the life of the loan.
Current 15-year mortgage rates
The current interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.000%. This is the same as yesterday. Fifteen-year mortgages are the second most-common mortgage term. A 15-year mortgage may help you get a lower rate than a 30-year term — and pay less interest over the life of the loan — while keeping monthly payments manageable.
Current 10-year mortgage rates
The current interest rate for a 10-year fixed-rate mortgage is 2.990%. This is the same as yesterday. Although less common than 30-year and 15-year mortgages, a 10-year fixed rate mortgage typically gives you lower interest rates and lifetime interest costs, but a higher monthly mortgage payment.
You can explore your mortgage options in minutes by visiting Credible to compare current rates from various lenders who offer mortgage refinancing as well as home loans. Check out Credible and get prequalified today, and take a look at today’s refinance rates through the link below.
Thousands of Trustpilot reviewers rate Credible "excellent."
Rates last updated on Feb. 10, 2022. These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary.
How Credible mortgage rates are calculated
Changing economic conditions, central bank policy decisions, investor sentiment, and other factors influence the movement of mortgage rates. Credible average mortgage rates and mortgage refinance rates are calculated based on information provided by partner lenders who pay compensation to Credible.
The rates assume a borrower has a 740 credit score and is borrowing a conventional loan for a single-family home that will be their primary residence. The rates also assume no (or very low) discount points and a down payment of 20%.
Credible mortgage rates will only give you an idea of current average rates. The rate you receive can vary based on a number of factors.
How mortgage rates have changed
Today, mortgage rates are up compared to this time last week.
- 30-year fixed mortgage rates: 3.750%, up from 3.625% last week, +0.125
- 20-year fixed mortgage rates: 3.500%, up from 3.250% last week, +0.250
- 15-year fixed mortgage rates: 3.000%, up from 2.750% last week, +0.250
- 10-year fixed mortgage rates: 2.990%, up from 2.625% last week, +0.365
Rates last updated on Feb. 10, 2022. These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary.
If you’re trying to find the right rate for your home mortgage or looking to refinance an existing home, consider using Credible. You can use Credible's free online tool to easily compare multiple lenders and see prequalified rates in just a few minutes.
With more than 4,500 reviews, Credible maintains an "excellent" Trustpilot score.
Factors that influence mortgage rates (and are out of your control)
Many factors influence the interest rate a lender may offer you. Some — such as your credit score — are in your control. But others you have no ability to affect, such as:
- The economy — During financial downturns, the Fed may lower interest rates to try to stimulate the economy. And when the economy is doing well, interest rates can rise.
- Inflation — Interest rates tend to move with inflation. When the overall cost of goods and services increases, interest rates are also likely to rise.
- The Federal Reserve — The Fed may choose to lower interest rates to stimulate a struggling economy, or raise rates in an attempt to put the brakes on inflation.
- Macro employment trends — When many people are out of work, as they were during the months of pandemic lockdown, mortgage rates may fall. As employment increases, interest rates typically also increase.
Looking to lower your home insurance rate?
A home insurance policy can help cover unexpected costs you may incur during home ownership, such as structural damage and destruction or stolen personal property. Coverage can vary widely among insurers, so it’s wise to shop around and compare policy quotes.
Credible has a partnership with a home insurance broker. You can compare free home insurance quotes through Credible's partner here. It's fast, easy, and the whole process can be completed entirely online.
Have a finance-related question, but don't know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at moneyexpert@credible.com and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.
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As a Credible authority on mortgages and personal finance, Chris Jennings has covered topics that include mortgage loans, mortgage refinancing, and more. He’s been an editor and editorial assistant in the online personal finance space for four years. His work has been featured by MSN, AOL, Yahoo Finance, and more. | https://www.fox29.com/money/todays-mortgage-rates-february-10-2022 | 2022-02-10T16:00:24 | en | 0.952328 |
Today's mortgage refinance rates rest across all terms | Feb. 10, 2022
Our goal here at Credible Operations, Inc., NMLS Number 1681276, referred to as "Credible" below, is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we do promote products from our partner lenders, all opinions are our own.
Check out the mortgage refinancing rates for Feb. 10, 2022, which are unchanged from yesterday. (iStock)
Based on data compiled by Credible, current mortgage refinance rates remained unchanged across all terms since yesterday.
- 30-year fixed-rate refinance: 3.750%, unchanged
- 20-year fixed-rate refinance: 3.500%, unchanged
- 15-year fixed-rate refinance: 3.125%, unchanged
- 10-year fixed-rate refinance: 2.990%, unchanged
Rates last updated on Feb. 10, 2022. These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary.
Mortgage refinance rates held steady across all terms for the first time this week, offering a bit of breathing room for homeowners who have been watching rates fluctuate and waiting for a good day to lock in a refinance rate. Even though rates have been steadily increasing this year, homeowners who took out their original mortgage before the pandemic can still find interest savings with one of today’s refinance rates — which are much lower than they were in 2019 and before.
These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary.
If you’re thinking of refinancing your home mortgage, consider using Credible. Whether you're interested in saving money on your monthly mortgage payments or considering a cash-out refinance, Credible's free online tool will let you compare rates from multiple mortgage lenders. You can see prequalified rates in as little as three minutes.
Current 30-year fixed refinance rates
The current rate for a 30-year fixed-rate refinance is 3.750%. This is the same as yesterday. Refinancing a 30-year mortgage into a new 30-year mortgage could lower your interest rate, but may not have much effect on your total interest costs or monthly payment. Refinancing a shorter term mortgage into a 30-year refinance could result in a lower monthly payment but higher total interest costs.
Current 20-year fixed refinance rates
The current rate for a 20-year fixed-rate refinance is 3.500%. This is the same as yesterday. By refinancing a 30-year loan into a 20-year refinance, you could secure a lower interest rate and reduce total interest costs over the life of your mortgage. But you may get a higher monthly payment.
Current 15-year fixed refinance rates
The current rate for a 15-year fixed-rate refinance is 3.125%. This is the same as yesterday. A 15-year refinance could be a good choice for homeowners looking to strike a balance between lowering interest costs and retaining a manageable monthly payment.
Current 10-year fixed refinance rates
The current rate for a 10-year fixed-rate refinance is 2.990%. This is the same as yesterday. A 10-year refinance will help you pay off your mortgage sooner and maximize your interest savings. But you could also end up with a bigger monthly mortgage payment.
You can explore your mortgage refinance options in minutes by visiting Credible to compare rates and lenders. Check out Credible and get prequalified today.
Rates last updated on Feb. 10, 2022. These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary.
What are the different types of refinancing?
Refinancing your mortgage basically means you take out a new mortgage to pay off your current home loan. But your reasons for wanting to refinance can affect the type of mortgage refinance you choose.
Here are four types of refinancing to consider.
Rate and term refinance
This type of refinance is probably what many people think of when they consider refinancing their mortgages. As the name implies, a rate and term refinance changes the rate, repayment period — or both — of your current mortgage by paying it off and replacing it with a new mortgage. With a rate and term refinance, you would borrow exactly the amount you need to pay off your current mortgage.
Cash-out refinance
Like a rate and term refinance, a cash-out refinance may change the rate, term or both. But with this type of refinance, you borrow more than you need to pay off your current loan and take that balance as cash. This is only possible if you have sufficient equity built up in your home.
Cash-in refinance
As with other types of refinancing, a cash-in refinance replaces your current mortgage with one that has a different interest rate and/or term. But for your new loan, you’ll also make a lump sum payment to reduce the principal balance on your new mortgage. Of course, if you have the money to make a lump sum payment, you could just pay extra toward the principal on your current loan. But making this payment in connection with a refinance allows you to reap the interest savings that can come with refinancing.
FHA streamline refinance
This type of refinancing is only available for people who have FHA mortgages. It offers the same basic benefits as other types of refinancing but requires less paperwork. Some limitations apply. For example, you can’t be behind on your current mortgage, and you can’t cash out more than $500.
How to get your lowest mortgage refinance rate
If you’re interested in refinancing your mortgage, improving your credit score and paying down any other debt could secure you a lower rate. It’s also a good idea to compare rates from different lenders if you're hoping to refinance so you can find the best rate for your situation.
Borrowers can save $1,500 on average over the life of their loan by shopping for just one additional rate quote, and an average of $3,000 by comparing five rate quotes, according to research from Freddie Mac.
Be sure to shop around and compare rates from multiple mortgage lenders if you decide to refinance your mortgage. You can do this easily with Credible’s free online tool and see your prequalified rates in only three minutes.
How does Credible calculate refinance rates?
Changing economic conditions, central bank policy decisions, investor sentiment and other factors influence the movement of mortgage refinance rates. Credible average mortgage refinance rates are calculated based on information provided by partner lenders who pay compensation to Credible.
The rates assume a borrower has a 740 credit score and is borrowing a conventional loan for a single-family home that will be their primary residence. The rates also assume no (or very low) discount points and a down payment of 20%.
Credible mortgage refinance rates will only give you an idea of current average rates. The rate you receive can vary based on a number of factors.
Is now a good time to refinance?
Mortgage refinance rates have been at historic lows all year. It’s unlikely they’ll go much lower and extremely possible they’ll begin to rise in the coming months. But low rates aren’t the only factors that determine whether now is a good time for you to refinance your home loan.
Everyone’s situation is different, but generally, it may be a good time to refinance if:
- You’ll be able to get a lower interest rate than you currently have.
- Refinancing will save you money over the life of your home loan.
- Your savings from refinancing will ultimately exceed closing costs.
- You know you’ll be staying in your home long enough to recoup the costs of refinancing.
- You have sufficient equity in your home to avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI).
If your home needs significant, costly repairs it might be a good time to refinance in order to withdraw some equity to pay for those repairs. Just be aware that lenders generally limit the amount you can take from your home in a cash-out refinance.
Credible also has a partnership with a home insurance broker. You can compare free home insurance quotes through Credible's partner here. It's fast, easy and the whole process can be completed entirely online.
Think it might be the right time to refinance? You can explore your mortgage refinance options in minutes by visiting Credible to compare rates and lenders. Check out Credible and get prequalified today.
Rates last updated on Feb. 10, 2022. These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary.
Have a finance-related question, but don't know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at moneyexpert@credible.com and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.
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As a Credible authority on mortgages and personal finance, Chris Jennings has covered topics that include mortgage loans, mortgage refinancing, and more. He’s been an editor and editorial assistant in the online personal finance space for four years. His work has been featured by MSN, AOL, Yahoo Finance, and more. | https://www.fox29.com/money/todays-mortgage-refinance-rates-february-10-2022 | 2022-02-10T16:00:25 | en | 0.952876 |
Biden to tout how provisions of stalled agenda would lower prescription drug costs
CULPEPER, Va. - President Joe Biden on Thursday is set to tout how his "Build Back Better" legislation would limit the cost of prescription drugs during an appearance in Virginia, part of an effort to revive his stalled domestic agenda.
Biden will visit the town of Culpeper, Virginia, for an event scheduled at 12:30 p.m. ET where he will call attention to the "unacceptable" cost of medications.
"We need to act to stop the abuse of American families," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a preview of the president’s visit.
Biden’s roughly $1.75 trillion social and environmental package, officially called the Build Back Better Act, has been stalled in the Senate amid a months-long disagreement between more progressive and moderate Democrats on what should be included in the measure. The plan includes a wish list of Democratic priorities, such as an extended child care tax credit, climate legislation, paid family leave and universal prekindergarten.
The bill’s provision also includes capping out-of-pocket medication costs for Medicare recipients at $2,000 per year and insulin at $35 per month. In addition, Medicare would be allowed to negotiate prices for a limited number of prescription drugs and drugmakers would be required to pay rebates if they raise costs faster than inflation.
Biden has previously touted components of his sweeping agenda that would "hold drug companies accountable."
"Imagine if you're a parent of one of the roughly 200,000 young people in this country that suffer from Type 1 diabetes. Imagine if you can't afford their insulin," Biden said Dec. 6 in remarks from the White House. "It's not only a risk to your child's life, it deprives of you your dignity."
The president’s trip to Virginia will also serve as an opportunity for him to start promoting his party’s candidates in the 2022 midterm elections. He’s expected to appear alongside Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., who is in danger of losing her seat representing a central Virginia district.
"He is eager to go out there and hit the road for Democrats who are fighting for an agenda for the American people," Psaki added on Wednesday.
FILE - U.S. President Joe Biden speaks while meeting with chief executive officers of electric utilities in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Feb. 9, 2022. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Spanberger said in an interview Thursday that she wants to put prescription drug costs "at front and center of the discussion," and that addressing the issue could help Americans at a time of rising inflation.
"If you're facing increased prices at the gas pump or the cost of chicken at the grocery store goes up, it hurts," she said.
Her comments came on the same day as the release of the U.S. inflation report, which showed that consumer prices jumped 7.5% last month compared with a year earlier. It was the steepest year-over-year increase in four decades.
Spanberger is one of several Democrats who have raised alarms about slipping support from voters. She suggested in a November interview with The New York Times that Biden had overreached with his plans for new government programs that recalled the Depression-era agenda of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
"Nobody elected him to be FDR; they elected him to be normal and stop the chaos," she said.
After the article was published, Spanberger said, she got a call from Biden, who said "this is President Roosevelt calling." Biden was "belly laughing," she said.
Prescription drugs remain a politically safe focal point for Biden’s visit, and Spanberger said the president was right to push forward on it.
"One of the most unsettling things for people is the inability to afford their prescription drugs," she said.
Efforts to lower prescription drug costs have long been popular with voters, but bipartisan consensus has proved elusive. It remains unclear if there's a political path forward for Biden's plans in Congress.
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This story was reported from Cincinnati. The Associated Press contributed. | https://www.fox29.com/news/biden-to-tout-how-provisions-of-stalled-agenda-would-lower-prescription-drug-costs | 2022-02-10T16:00:29 | en | 0.972754 |
Emerald Bay brush fire: Mandatory evacuation orders issued in Laguna Beach
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. - Officials ordered mandatory evacuation orders in Laguna Beach after a brush fire fueled by strong winds erupted above the Emerald Bay community Thursday morning.
The wind-driven fire was reported just before 4:10 a.m. in the 1400 block of Emerald Bay, located near the Pacific Coast Highway. By 7:30 a.m., fire officials said the fire was burning between 7 and 10 acres and that they have slowed the spread of the fire. Fire authorities also noted they believe they can get the fire contained by the end of the day.
Orange County Fire Authority Chief Brian Fennessy confirmed the fire came close to the homes on the north end of Emerald Bay. However, no homes have been damaged.
The embers and ash were pushing down the hillside as firefighters were up against fierce Santa Ana winds with the potential to gust between 40 and 60 mph. Southern California is in the midst of a heat wave as hot and dry conditions have prevailed over the past several days with summer-like temperatures.
Santio Rossi, a Laguna Beach resident who alerted the fire department, told FOX 11’s Gigi Graciette he woke up when the howling winds caused a garbage can to hit his bedroom window. He went back to sleep but a short time later, he decided to wake up his parents.
"We all smelled smoke in the house so we went outside and saw a fire in the hill and the authorities came and started clearing it up," he said.
Multiple agencies are working to contain the blaze including the Orange County Fire Authority and the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Evacuation orders
A mandatory evacuation order is in place for the Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove communities.
An evacuation warning is currently in place for the entire North Laguna Beach area.
Evacuees are being told to go south on PCH to evacuate the area.
"Just because the fire looks better, it’s too early to return to those homes," Chief Fennessy said.
Evacuation Center
The Los Olivos Community Center in Irvine is open to evacuees impacted by the fire.
- Address: 101 Alfonso, Irvine, CA 92618
Road closures
PCH is closed in both directions from Ledtroit Street to Reef Point Drive.
School closures
Classes have been canceled at all schools in the Laguna Beach Unified School District Thursday.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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Advertisement | https://www.fox29.com/news/brush-fire-sparks-in-laguna-beach | 2022-02-10T16:00:30 | en | 0.962869 |
Commanders' Jonathan Allen says he'd have hypothetical dinner with Adolf Hitler
WASHINGTON - Washington Commanders star defensive tackle Jonathan Allen apologized on Wednesday after he admitted that he would invite Adolf Hitler to a dream dinner, along with his grandfather and Michael Jackson.
Early Wednesday morning, Allen asked his Twitter followers to ask him anything, and that's when he replied to one question with his hypothetical dinner situation. The follower responded saying, "2 of the 3 I understand. But please explain Hitler?"
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"He's a military genius," Allen responded. "And I love military tactics but honestly I would want to pick his brain as to why he did what he did. I'm also assuming that the people I've chosen have to answer all my questions honestly."
Allen, a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, faced backlash from other followers. He explained that he wasn't giving Hitler "props" but that "I was giving my reason as to why I think it would be interesting to have a [conversation] with him."
"He's easily one [of] if not the most evil persons [sic] to have ever lived but this was a hypothetical question," Allen added.
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One Twitter user said he was Jewish, and it was hurtful to hear Allen say that.
"I'm sorry i offended you that definitely was not my [intention]," Allen wrote. "I was just answering a question."
Allen signed a big extension last offseason with the Commanders and became a Pro Bowler this past year. Washington leaned on Allen to be one of the faces of the organization during its rebranding process.
Allen later tweeted out an apology.
"[Earlier] I tweeted something that probably hurt people and I apologize about what I said," he wrote on Twitter. "I didn't express properly what I was trying to say and I realize it was dumb."
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Democrats propose temporary suspension of federal gas tax to offset soaring prices
WASHINGTON - Two Democratic senators on Wednesday unveiled a proposal to temporarily suspend the federal gas tax in order to help blunt the financial pain of surging prices at the pump.
The Gas Prices Relief Act, introduced by Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, would eliminate the federal gas tax – which has remained at 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993 – for the remainder of the year. Although four other Democrats signed onto the bill, it still faces an uphill battle in the 50-50 Senate.
"People are feeling a real pinch on everyday goods, and we must do more to help address rising costs, particularly the price of gas," Hassan said in a statement. "We need to continue to think creatively about how we can find new ways to bring down costs, and this bill would do exactly that, making a tangible difference for workers and families."
The federal gas tax is used to pay for the Highway Trust Fund, which covers expenses like highway construction and public transit. The bill would require the Treasury Department to deposited general funds into the trust fund to make up for the lost tax revenue and to ensure the fund remains solvent. It could require further borrowing.
The bill also directs the Treasury Department to monitor the program in order to ensure that oil and gas companies pass along the savings to consumers.
"Arizonans are paying some of the highest prices for gas we have seen in years and it’s putting a strain on families who need to fill up the tank to get to work and school," Kelly said. "This bill will lower gas prices by suspending the federal gas tax through the end of the year to help Arizona families struggling with high costs for everything from gas to groceries."
A gallon of gas, on average, cost $3.46 nationwide on Wednesday, according to AAA – up from $2.46 a year ago. In California, gas prices are well over $4 per gallon. Prices are expected to climb higher as the country enters peak travel season and as heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine threaten to further rattle the market.
For months, the prices of all kinds of energy – gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, oil and more – have been a major driver behind inflation, which surged 7% in December, the highest level since 1982. Energy costs have climbed more than 29% over the past year, in part due to lopsided supply and demand. Consumers are traveling more, but the supply side has not kept up with the demand.
The rising prices are eating away at the strong wage gains Americans saw last year and are hitting the lowest-income households the hardest. An analysis from the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Wharton Budget Model shows that higher energy prices cost the average American an additional $1,200 last year. The lowest-income households spent about 11% of total expenditures on energy in 2021, up from 8% in 2020.
Advertisement | https://www.fox29.com/news/democrats-propose-temporary-suspension-of-federal-gas-tax-to-offset-soaring-prices | 2022-02-10T16:00:44 | en | 0.96314 |
Jon Dorenbos details moment he helped save a woman’s life in California after she caught fire
PHILADELPHIA - Former Eagles long snapper and magician Jon Dorenbos is now being called a hero after saving a woman’s life in January. He joined Alex Holley and Mike Jerrick on Good Day Philadelphia to discuss the incident.
Ana and Akira Nakao were working at their restaurant, VegiLicious, in Huntington Beach, California on Jan. 19. As Ana was serving tables for outdoor diners, her clothes caught fire from a gas heater and her lower body became engulfed in flames.
Dorenbos and his wife were eating at another restaurant nearby when he heard a scream and saw Ana covered in flames.
"Her apron just caught on fire and I would say in two or three seconds it went from her apron to just fully engulfed," he said. "It was like watching a stuntman walk out of a burning building in the making of a movie.
Before sitting down to eat at the nearby restaurant, Dorenbos had grabbed a blanket to keep his wife warm as they dined outdoors due to COVID-19 restrictions. That blanket then became the tool he used to stop the flames from further burning Ana.
RELATED: Fundraiser, support grows to help survivors of devastating Fairmount rowhome fire
He credits his NFL training for his ability to respond to the situation quickly. "I ran over there and just acted like I was a fireman in a movie," Dorenbos said. "I happened to have a blanket and kind of got her to the ground and tried to smother the fire as quick as I could."
Ana has a long road ahead of her as she works to recover from her injuries. According to a GoFundMe, she sustained several second-degree and third-degree burns to her legs and buttock.
The Nakaos emigrated from Japan to start their restaurant, but their overseas travel insurance maxes out at $250,000, which will not be enough to cover her months-long hospital stay.
The GoFundMe page created for Ana has a goal of raising more than $2 million to help pay for hospital and living expenses. With Ana in the hospital, the couple’s restaurant, which is their only source of income, is closed. Thousands of people have already donated nearly $161,000.
Dorenbos said he has been able to communicate with the couple via text, but noted they speak very limited English. He plans to wait until hospital COVID-19 regulations allow for more guests before he pays her a visit.
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North Carolina beach house collapses into ocean as rising seas eat up shoreline
RODANTHE, N.C. - A beachfront home on North Carolina’s Outer Banks collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean, officials with the National Park Service said on Wednesday — as the area faces worsening beach erosion, sea-level rise and high-tide flooding.
The collapse occurred sometime overnight on Feb. 9 in an area that has been particularly prone to erosion for more than a decade, according to the Island Free Press.
The five-bedroom beach cottage, which had been listed as a vacation rental, was built in 1980, real estate records on Trulia.com show. It had a market value of $328,900, according to the site.
The waves were also spreading debris along the Outer Banks shoreline, according to the National Park Service. It warned beach visitors to "use caution" on the beach and in the ocean between the villages of Rodanthe and Salvo due to home wreckage.
"The bulk of the debris is at the site of the collapsed house, located at 24183 Ocean Drive, Rodanthe," Cape Hatteras National Seashore said in a statement. "However, smaller amounts of debris have been spotted as far south as off-road vehicle ramp 23, more than seven miles away."
The sea level along North Carolina’s coast has risen roughly 3 inches since the early 1980s, according to NASA. Coastal erosion, which is common at most beaches in the state, results in U.S. property losses of about a half-billion dollars each year in the form of damaged structures and lost land, the agency said, citing the U.S. Global Change Research Program.
In May 2020, another nearby Rodanthe house also collapsed into the ocean, resulting in a similarly large debris field, according to local news outlets.
Earlier that month, the National Park Service said that it was planning to relocate the Long Point Cabins in Cape Lookout National Seashore, which is located south of Rodanthe, amid extreme high tides and hurricane surges.
"The NPS cannot sustain the Long Point Cabins where they are right now," the NPS wrote on Facebook in a May 1, 2020, post. "20 years ago, there was over 300' of beach and dunes between the cabins and high tide. Today, there is 48' of flat sand."
Experts have been sounding the alarm about the increasing risk coastal communities like Rodanthe face due to sea-level rise. The sea level off North Carolina’s coast is up to 11 inches higher than it was in 1950, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data.
SeaLevelRise.org, a group that aims to educate the public and elected officials about the issue to help implement solutions, cites melting ice from the North and the South Poles as well as the slowing of the Gulf Stream as the "two largest contributors."
High tide flooding, sometimes referred to as "nuisance flooding" or" king tide flooding," is occurring more frequently every year as sea levels continue to rise, NOAA says. The U.S. Southeast Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions saw an increase of over 400 to 1,100%, respectively, in high tide flooding days compared to the year 2000, according to the agency.
NOAA predicts that by 2050, high tide flooding is likely to occur between 25 and 75 days per year, depending on the location.
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This story was reported from Cincinnati. | https://www.fox29.com/news/north-carolina-beach-house-collapses-into-ocean-as-rising-seas-eat-up-shoreline | 2022-02-10T16:00:56 | en | 0.966499 |
US inflation report: Consumer prices jumped 7.5% in past year, a 40-year high
WASHINGTON - Inflation soared over the past year at its highest rate in four decades, hammering America’s consumers, wiping out pay raises and reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s decision to begin raising borrowing rates across the economy.
The Labor Department said Thursday that consumer prices jumped 7.5% last month compared with 12 months earlier, the steepest year-over-year increase since February 1982. Shortages of supplies and workers, heavy doses of federal aid, ultra-low interest rates and robust consumer spending combined to send inflation accelerating in the past year.
When measured from December to January, inflation was 0.6%, the same as the previous month and more than economists had expected. Prices had risen 0.7% from October to November and 0.9% from September to October.
There are few signs that inflation will slow significantly anytime soon. Most of the factors that have forced up prices since last spring remain in place: Wages are rising at the fastest pace in at least 20 years. Ports and warehouses are overwhelmed, with hundreds of workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation’s busiest, out sick last month. Many products and parts remain in short supply as a result.
The steady surge in prices has left many Americans less able to afford food, gas, rent, child care and other necessities. More broadly, inflation has emerged as the biggest risk factor for the economy and as a serious threat to President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats as midterm elections loom later this year.
The Fed and its chair, Jerome Powell, have pivoted sharply away from the ultra-low-interest rate policies that the Fed pursued since the pandemic devastated the economy in March 2020. Powell signaled two weeks ago that the central bank would likely raise its benchmark short-term rate multiple times this year, with the first hike almost surely coming in March. Investors have priced in at least five rate increases for 2022.
Over time, those higher rates will raise the costs for a wide range of borrowing, from mortgages and credit cards to auto loans and corporate credit. For the Fed, the risk is that in steadily tightening credit for consumers and businesses, it could trigger another recession.
Many large corporations, in conference calls with investors, have said they expect supply shortages to persist until at least the second half of this year. Companies from Chipotle to Levi’s have also warned that they will likely raise prices again this year, after having already done so in 2021.
Chipotle said it’s increased menu prices 10% to offset the rising costs of beef and transportation as well as higher employee wages. And the restaurant chain said it will consider further price increases if inflation keeps rising.
"We keep thinking that beef is going to level up and then go down, and it just hasn’t happened yet," said John Hartung, the company’s chief financial officer.
Executives at Chipotle, as well as at Starbucks and some other consumer-facing companies, have said their customers so far don’t seem fazed by the higher prices.
Levi Strauss & Co. raised prices last year by roughly 7% above 2019 levels because of rising costs, including labor, and plans to do so again this year. Even so, the San Francisco-based company has upgraded its sales forecasts for 2022.
"Right now, every signal we’re seeing is positive," CEO Chip Bergh told analysts.
Many small businesses, which typically have lower profit margins than larger companies and have struggled to match their sizable pay raises, are also raising prices. The National Federation for Independent Business, a trade group, said it found in a monthly survey that 61% of small companies raised their prices in January, the largest proportion since 1974 and up from just 15% before the pandemic.
"More small business owners started the new year raising prices in an attempt to pass on higher inventory, supplies and labor costs," said Bill Dunkelberg, the NFIB’s chief economist. "In addition to inflation issues, owners are also raising compensation at record-high rates to attract qualified employees to their open positions."
Those pay gains could eventually force additional price hikes as companies seek to cover the costs of the higher wages.
In the past year, sharp increases in the costs of gas, food, autos and furniture have upended many Americans’ budgets. In December, economists at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School estimated that the average household had to spend $3,500 more than in 2020 to buy an identical basket of goods and services.
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AP Business Writers Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit and Anne D’Innocenzio in New York contributed to this report. | https://www.fox29.com/news/us-inflation-climbed-7-5-in-the-past-year-a-40-year-high | 2022-02-10T16:01:02 | en | 0.975015 |
BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Liquidity Services (Nasdaq: LQDT), a leading global commerce company powering the circular economy, received the 2021 Value in Excellence Award from ADM (NYSE: ADM). The award program honors company suppliers that deliver superior performance and exceptional value to ADM and its customers.
Liquidity Services received the Value in Excellence award after the company's Surplus Asset Management program streamlined ADM's surplus inventory process, supported its sustainability goals, and created over $11 million in incremental value. ADM recovered more than $4 million from asset sales and over $6 million from capital expenditures, achieving a combined $11 million in revenue, cost avoidance, and capital expenditure savings. The program was also able to positively impact the environment by enabling the reuse and redeployment of underutilized assets - leveraging key circular economy enablers in the process.
"This achievement is a testament to our mission and team's focus on transforming surplus into wealth to create a better future for all stakeholders - sellers, buyers, and the planet," said Chairman and CEO Bill Angrick. "Liquidity Services is truly honored to be recognized for its partnership with ADM and its value-creating solutions that empower companies like ADM to build a better future for itself and its customers."
"We rely on our suppliers and vendor partners to help us maintain the entire global food supply chain in a reliable, efficient and sustainable manner," said Camille Batiste, ADM Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Procurement. "We appreciate the continued partnership with Liquidity Services and are pleased to recognize their significant contributions to ADM with this award."
Liquidity Services was chosen from more than 500 ADM Global Procurement Suppliers as the sole recipient of the Value in Excellence award. The award criteria were based on both hard and soft data points from the supplier scorecard process and direct feedback from ADM stakeholders. Awards were presented to non-commodity suppliers across six categories: Value in Excellence, Safety Excellence, Quality, Sustainability, Service in Excellence, and Supplier of the Year.
About Liquidity Services
Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: LQDT) is the world's largest B2B e-commerce marketplace platform for surplus assets with over $9 Billion of completed transactions, to more than 4.7 million qualified buyers and 15,000 corporate and government sellers worldwide. It supports its clients' sustainability efforts by helping them extend the life of assets, prevent unnecessary waste and carbon emissions, and defer products from landfills. For more information, visit LiquidityServices.com.
About ADM
At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We're a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world's premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.
Press Contact:
Melissa Whitworth
Lightspeed PR/M for Liquidity Services, Inc.
[email protected]
SOURCE Liquidity Services | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adm-names-liquidity-services-as-a-2021-supplier-award-winner-301479572.html | 2022-02-10T16:02:12 | en | 0.93256 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — A baseball team mascot in a bit of a pickle.
Dillon T. Pickle is the mascot for the Portland Pickles in Oregon.
He was recently lost on a Delta flight from the Dominican Republic.
The airline eventually delivered him home to the right place but didn’t tell the team until hours later.
That’s when things took a turn for the worse.
By that time, someone had already swiped Dillon off the porch
The thief is seen in this Ring doorbell video.
Portland Police are investigating, but in the meantime, the team is left worried.
"Who knows… who knows where he's gonna turn up”, said Colleen Schroht, Operations Director for the Portland Pickles.
The team hopes the thief will be surprised by what’s in the bag and bring back Dillon.
“I mean there's a giant pickle staring back at you when you open it up, right? And my thing is I couldn’t keep that a secret,” said Ross Campbell, General Manager for the Portland Pickles.
The team is already getting tips about Dillon on social media.
“We don't have any solid evidence yet. We're researching every angle that we’re getting,” said Schroht.
The Pickles are offering a reward for Dillon’s safe reward, no questions asked. | https://www.wsfltv.com/news/national/baseball-team-searches-for-pickle-porch-pirate-after-its-mascot-disappeared | 2022-02-10T16:02:12 | en | 0.959805 |
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alo Yoga, leading fashion and lifestyle brand, along with Roblox (NYSE: RBLX), a global platform bringing millions of people together through shared experiences, today announced the opening of the virtual 'Alo Sanctuary,' an immersive wellness space for yoga and meditation. The experience is available roblox.com/aloyoga, starting February 10, just as Alo is preparing to open its real-life Wellness Sanctuary at Spring Studios during New York Fashion Week: The Shows.
With the goal of raising awareness around the importance of well-being and meditation,* the Alo Sanctuary welcomes the Roblox community to experience meditation and learn more about personal wellness. Through its nonprofit foundation Alo Gives, Alo will be donating to mental health initiatives for every user that completes mindful movement quests through the immersive experience on Roblox.
"Our mission at Alo is to bring mind-body wellness to the world, and we are so excited to bring this to the metaverse with Roblox," said Danny Harris, cofounder of Alo. "This first-of-a-kind partnership deepens our longstanding commitment to supporting the mental and overall health of the global community at large."
The Alo Sanctuary experience takes place on an island, with a landscape that encompasses three earthly elements of the brand name Alo, an acronym for 'Air Land Ocean,' all set to a meditative and soothing sound bath-style audio track. Upon arrival, visitors will receive a digital Warrior Yoga Mat to carry along on their wellness journey into the metaverse as they exploreguided meditation retreats led by contemplative guide Kirat Randhawa and new daily on-demand yoga content from the Alo Moves fitness platform.
"There is a vast variety of truly unexpected and inspiring experiences on Roblox for people of all ages, and now our community has a space to practice mindfulness and learn about the importance of meditation directly from top wellness experts," said Christina Wootton, VP of global brand partnerships, Roblox. "We've heard many powerful stories about how Roblox has served as 'a healing platform' and a central lifeline for our community members' well-being. It's extremely important to us that through this partnership with Alo we continue inspiring and promoting safe and inclusive community spaces that people can enjoy together with their friends and like-minded individuals."
This is also Alo's foray into digital fashion with a five-piece collection which will be shoppable at The Alo Store located in the 'Alo Sanctuary' experience on Roblox. Here users can redeem items including the iconic Goddess legging paired with the Throwback sock, the District trucker hat, the collegiate-style G.O.A.T. jacket, and two Alo logo pieces, the Ambient tank and the Renown sweatshirt.
Alo will take this experience a step beyond as the official wellness partner of New York Fashion Week: The Shows, bringing part of its metaverse world to real life at its Wellness Sanctuary at Spring Studios in New York City from February 12 to February 14, offering daily meditation at 11:30 am and 3:00 pm EST for the fashion community. Immerse yourself now at www.roblox.com/aloyoga.
*According to studies released in 2011 by the Clinical Psychology Review, a team of researchers from Boston University and Harvard Medical School found that meditation helps alleviate anxiety and allows individuals to better cope with stressful situations. The same study also showed how mindfulness meditation results in physical changes to the brain, leading to increased happiness and healthiness.
About Alo Yoga
Alo Yoga (Alo) is a Los Angeles-based premium lifestyle brand that specializes in luxury activewear with a mission to spread mindful movement, inspire wellness and create community. Since launching in 2007, Alo has become a global leader in activewear design and its franchised fabrics. Alo is eco-aware and has been W.R.A.P. Certified in a humane and sweat-shop free environment since day one. An acronym for Air, Land, and Ocean, Alo has a studio-to-street mentality that transcends fashion and goes beyond the mat. Alo is available online at www.aloyoga.com and at Alo Sanctuaries in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, San Diego, Scottsdale, Austin and select retailers.
About Roblox
Roblox is reimagining the way people come together to connect, create, and express themselves through immersive, interactive shared experiences. Every day, millions of people around the world play, learn, communicate, and expand their friendships as they explore millions of user-generated digital experiences, all built by creators on the platform. Our mission is to connect billions of users with civility and optimism and support a safe and diverse community—one that inspires and fosters creativity and positive relationships among people around the world. For more information, please visit corp.roblox.com.
SOURCE Alo Yoga | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alo-yoga-brings-wellness-to-the-metaverse-with-roblox-301479855.html | 2022-02-10T16:02:18 | en | 0.938969 |
CLEVELAND — Diversity in the classroom is a matter close to the hearts of many educators.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about eight in 10 U.S. public school teachers, or 79%, identified as non-Hispanic white during the 2017-18 school year. Less than 7% identify as Black and only 24% are men.
In the city of Cleveland, just 2% identify as Black males.
The student demographics of school districts, including those in the Cleveland area, are far more diverse. Populations of Black, Hispanic and Asian American students are increasing rapidly, making up nearly half the classroom.
The push to diversify educators is now in full swing.
An organization called "Black Men Teach Cleveland" recently teamed up with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to help encourage Black men and other races to become teachers.
"We want Black male educators, as well as other educators of all races," said Bruce Ransom, the chair of Black Men Teach Cleveland. "It's very important that students have someone to look at as a role model. And what better person than a Black, educated man to have them help guide their education in their learning and also life choices?"
Ransom has been an educator in the Cleveland Municipal School District for the past 27 years. He said the group has a five-phase theory of action to help attract more Black men to be teachers by offering ways to help them grow professionally.
- Recruit
- Prepare
- Place
- Position
- Retain
"I think it's very important that we are visible in the classroom settings because there's so few of us. I didn't run into my first Black male teacher until I was in college," said Aaron Eatman, an educator at Warrensville Heights City Schools, said in a YouTube campaign video.
Black Men Teach Cleveland meets every second Thursday of the month to answer questions or address concerns. Thursday, Feb. 10 is the group's next meeting. Click here for more information.
This story was originally published by Meg Shaw on Scripps station WEWS in Cleveland. | https://www.wsfltv.com/news/national/group-hopes-to-recruit-more-black-men-to-be-teachers-in-effort-to-diversify-community-classrooms | 2022-02-10T16:02:18 | en | 0.979323 |
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ampio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE American: AMPE), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the advancement of immunomodulatory therapies for prevalent inflammatory conditions, today announced the appointment of Elizabeth Varki Jobes, Esq. to the Company's Board of Directors. The appointment of Ms. Jobes expands the Company's Board of Directors from seven members to eight.
"We welcome Elizabeth as an addition to our Board of Directors as we enter into a pivotal period at Ampio," said Mike Martino, Chairman and CEO of Ampio. "Throughout her impressive career, Elizabeth has amassed extensive governance and compliance expertise that strengthens our competence and deepens our skillset as we initiate a discussion with the FDA on a BLA submission for Ampion in parallel with the pursuit of a partnership."
Ms. Jobes has nearly three decades of legal and compliance experience. As a practicing attorney, she has built and guided compliance and legal programs for small- and medium-size biopharmaceutical corporations. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Global Chief Compliance Officer at Amryt Pharmaceuticals Inc., where she led the development and implementation of a global compliance program following the acquisition of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals.
Previously, Ms. Jobes held leadership positions at many biopharmaceutical companies, including: Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer North America for EMD Serono, Inc.; Global Chief Compliance Officer and Legal Counsel for Spark Therapeutics, Inc.; Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer for Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer for Adolor Corporation; and Senior Director, Global Compliance for Cephalon, Inc.
About Ampio Pharmaceuticals
Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the advancement of immunology-based therapies to treat prevalent inflammatory conditions for which there are limited treatment options. Ampio's lead drug, Ampion™, is backed by an extensive patent portfolio with intellectual property protection extending through 2037 and may be eligible for 12-year FDA market exclusivity upon approval as a novel biologic under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA).
Forward Looking Statements
Ampio's statements in this press release that are not historical fact, and that relate to future plans or events, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding Ampio's expectations with respect to Ampion and its classification, as well as those associated with regulatory approvals and other FDA decisions, the Biological License Application (BLA), the ability of Ampio to enter into partnering arrangements, clinical trials and decisions and changes in business conditions and similar events, the ability to receive regulatory approval to conduct clinical trials, that Ampion may be used to treat ARDS induced by COVID-19, all of which are inherently subject to various risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties involved include those detailed from time to time in Ampio's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, under Ampio's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ampio undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor and Media Contacts:
Tony Russo or Nic Johnson
Russo Partners
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
SOURCE Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ampio-expands-board-of-directors-with-addition-of-elizabeth-varki-jobes-301479595.html | 2022-02-10T16:02:24 | en | 0.947081 |
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — If at first, you don't succeed, try, try again.
Brand new homes in South Florida are not immune to the outrageous demand in the housing market. Buyers are finding out it all comes down to what you are willing to sacrifice.
Owning a new home has always been Terrance Diaz's dream, but he never foresaw the challenges he would face in a market with little inventory, high demand, and increasing prices.
"It's all about your will. How bad do you want it?" Diaz said.
It turns out you have to want it bad.
"It's definitely way more challenging than it's ever been with new construction," said real estate agent Karen Moody.
Moody said she doesn't always jump at new construction these days. The competition is nothing like she's seen before.
"Some of these buyers are having to put in offers at the sales centers, and they don't know what they'll get," she said. "You go over $100,000; are you competing against the sales center? Or are you competing against another buyer?"
Bidding wars are a new part of the insatiable demand for new homes.
"There is no shortage of buyers," said Tonia Abrahamsson, vice president of sales at Minto Communities, a known developer in the area currently building a master plan neighborhood in western Palm Beach County.
At the Minto Communities' building site located in Westlake off Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, developers build a city within a city.
Even with a plan to build 4,500 homes in the next 10 years, more buyers than lots are available.
"We are limiting the amount of home sites that we release at a time just to control what's going on in the market," Abrahamsson said.
With supply chain issues and worker shortages, Abrahamsson said it's all-new territory for builders who must order materials six months in advance instead of 60 days.
"Initially, when someone came in, in the beginning, prior to the pandemic, and what’s going on, our build time was anywhere from six to eight months," Abrahamsson said. "Now, what we're looking at, about 11 months."
So, what do buyers have to do if they want that new home?
"Me, I'm always reaching for the stars," Diaz said.
Diaz and his wife, Veronica, live in Broward County and set their heart on a brand-new home for their growing family in Westlake.
"They have a resort, living style waterpark. Let's start with that, for the family," he said. "And I'm more excited because I'm back in my hometown, you know, Palm Beach County."
Ken H. Johnson, a real estate economist and Florida Atlantic University's associate dean of graduate programs, said a higher percentage of people move into Palm Beach County than move south to Miami-Dade.
"Palm Beach County, for example, in the next 10 years, is expecting an increase in population of slightly over 14%," Johnson said. "That all puts a strong high demand on homes in Palm Beach County."
For Diaz, that meant it wasn't going to be easy to get his dream home.
"We slept in the back of her SUV, and it was all night, all morning," Diaz said.
He and his wife learned the system to purchase at Sky Cove homes in Westlake. A few lots are released every couple of weeks, but only to those willing to be the first in line.
"You think, how many times am I going to have to do this?" said Veronica Nieto-Diaz, Terrance's wife.
Two times the Diazs waited outside the sales center on release days, hours before the office would open, but were too late. Other buyers arrived before them and got the first pick for the only three lots released.
He arrived 20 hours before lot release time the third time, spending the night in his car.
"When you got there, you took your picture, you signed in," Diaz said. "The tough part is, you couldn't leave; you had to stay."
Not all new developments at Westlake have the same system.
Minto Communities has a confidential electronic system where those buyers on the waiting list are sent an email to submit a form when lots are released.
The first buyers to submit the form get a chance to secure the very few lots released. This process can take months for many buyers before they are first in line.
The Diazs overnight adventure landed them on spot No. 2 out of three. They secured a lot, but it's going to cost more.
Every release date, the lots to build are increasing at different increments. Sometimes those increases are $10,000, $20,000 even up to $40,000.
"Don't go by the signs you're seeing on the road," said Moody regarding homes no longer selling starting in the $300s.
The market's challenges and demand are driving up new builds costs.
"If you keep waiting, prolonging it, it's only going to go up," Diaz said.
While demand is not slowing down, the Diazs are finally in the home stretch.
"A story that we have to tell behind this home," Veronica Nieto-Diaz said.
"It may be our 'Happy New Year' present. At the latest, January of next year, we should be moving in," Diaz said. "It's brand new, from the ground. Yes, American dream."
Realtors say if you have your heart set on a brand-new home, there are a couple of things that can help you above the competition in this market:
- Make sure you are pre-approved for your home loan before you start looking.
- Hiring a real estate agent, even with new construction, can help you deal with the sales centers and building process.
- If you really like one specific developer and location is flexible, check to see what other communities are being built by the same company. | https://www.wsfltv.com/news/national/priced-out-of-paradise-buyers-engage-in-bidding-wars-camp-overnight-for-new-homes-in-florida | 2022-02-10T16:02:25 | en | 0.982391 |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Lexington woman says an issue that has plagued Hertz users across the country has impacted her.
According to a report by LEX 18, Trinity Johnson claims the company falsely accused her of stealing one of their cars and threatened to have her arrested.
"I realized something was wrong the last week of January when Hertz called me and told me that I was 13 days past my rental coverage," she told LEX 18.
She says State Farm, her insurance company, told her that her coverage had been extended and Hertz was being paid. She needed a rental cover after being involved in a crash where she says she was injured.
Last Saturday, she woke up to a text on her phone saying that if a vehicle recovery service was unable to find her car that Hertz would report the vehicle as stolen, "and a warrant for your arrest could be issued," according to a copy of the text provided to LEX 18.
A Hertz employee then told her over the phone that if the car was not returned, police would show up at her house that day.
"I was a nervous wreck," Johnson said. "I was worried the police were going to barge in while I was cooking my kids breakfast."
Johnson said she decided to return the car to ensure she would not be arrested, she said. Days later, Hertz charged her nearly $600.
Johnson is not alone. Two-hundred and thirty people across the country are now part of a lawsuit that accuses Hertz of taking action, which led to them being wrongfully arrested, jailed or prosecuted. Lawyer Francis Alexander Malofiy, who is leading the legal effort, told LEX 18 Hertz has destroyed all of their lives.
Malofiy said he believes Hertz's actions are intentional.
"It's really simple to do an investigation to find a lost car costs a lot of money, it costs a lot of money," Malofiy said. "Hertz is transferring that burden to taxpayers, to police officers and prosecutors."
Hertz did not respond to Johnson's claims at press time, saying they needed time to investigate. They did respond to the lawsuit, which is provided below:
"Hertz cares deeply about our customers, and we successfully provide rental vehicles for tens of millions of travelers each year. Unfortunately, in the legal matters being discussed, the attorneys have a track record of making baseless claims that blatantly misrepresent the facts. The vast majority of these cases involve renters who were many weeks or even months overdue returning vehicles and who stopped communicating with us well beyond the scheduled due date. Situations where vehicles are reported to the authorities are very rare and happen only after exhaustive attempts to reach the customer."
As part of Hertz's investigation into what took place, the called Johnson Wednesday afternoon. A Hertz employee told Johnson they were unable to find history of her rental reservation, she said.
Copyright 2022 by WDRB Media. All rights reserved. | https://www.wdrb.com/news/lexington-woman-says-hertz-threatened-to-have-her-arrested-over-misunderstanding/article_ca86132a-8a80-11ec-a59e-33d7ba66606b.html | 2022-02-10T16:02:29 | en | 0.990207 |
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global augmented and virtual reality in healthcare market size was USD 2.0 Billion in 2020 and is expected to register a revenue CAGR of 21.5% over the forecast period. Increasing deployment of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in various areas across the healthcare sector and for medical training, clinical trials, and to ensure more accuracy and precision surgical procedures are some key factors driving global augmented and virtual reality in healthcare market.
Drivers: Demand for cardiovascular surgeries
Increasing demand for cardiovascular surgeries and use of augmented and virtual reality in surgical procedures owing to higher accuracy and precision, reduced recovery time, and fewer complications are some major factors driving revenue growth of the AR and VR in healthcare market. In addition, rising importance of surgical robots, use of preventive medicine, increasing importance of medical visualization, and advent of various healthcare and medical-related apps are boosting global augmented reality and virtual reality in healthcare market revenue growth.
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Restraints: High development cost
Cost of augmented and virtual reality technologies and devices and equipment is significantly high, which in turn is resulting in increased overall development costs and cost of end products. This is a factor limiting deployment of augmented and virtual reality technologies in many clinics. Professionals are accustomed to using paper-based systems for a long period of time and increasing adoption of electronic medical records requires technical knowledge and training. Also, lack of skilled personnel in healthcare sector to enable deployment of more advanced technologies and solutions is hindering market growth.
Growth Projections
The global augmented reality and virtual reality in healthcare market size is expected to reach USD 14.06 Billion in 2030 and register a revenue CAGR of 21.5% over the forecast period. Increasing adoption of more advanced technologies in clinics and hospitals to perform precision surgeries is a key factor driving AR and VR in healthcare market revenue growth.
COVID-19 Direct Impact
During the COVID-19 outbreak, augmented and virtual reality applications in the healthcare sector gained momentum owing to increasing adoption of telemedicine, medical training & education, and patient care management. Rapid digitalization of hospitals to limit physical contact during this period is another factor driving revenue growth of the global augmented and virtual reality in healthcare market. Use of telehealth services among individuals in remote areas and for those for whom visiting clinics was challenging or not possible increased significantly.
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Current Trends and Innovations
HoloLens 2 is a pair of mixed reality smart glasses that is combination of augmented reality and virtual reality developed by Microsoft. Use of Microsoft HoloLens 2 improves patient treatment and enables medical teams to work securely. HoloLens 2 permits care teams to conduct remote consultations with real-time spatial information and reduces treatment time. It advances clinical diagnosis and offers personalized treatment plans. In addition, it provides innovative telehealth solutions, and better & faster care at relatively lower cost.
Geographical Outlook
Augmented and virtual reality in healthcare market in Asia Pacific contributes major part in terms of revenue share in 2020. Increasing research and development activities and technological advancements in countries in the region are driving Asia Pacific augmented and virtual reality in healthcare market growth. Markets in other regions are also expected to register steady revenue growth as these technologies continue to gain popularity and traction in a variety of applications and procedures in the healthcare sector and related fields.
Strategic Initiatives
In August 2021, VirtaMed AG, which is a global leader in medical training, announced strategic collaboration with STAN Institute, which is a provider of technical and non-technical training to medical teams. VirtaMed's high-fidelity simulators are the world's most advanced simulators, which integrate virtual reality graphics along with anatomic models, and adopted surgical tools for realistic assessment. This advanced technology would be installed in hospitals to train residents autonomously.
Some Key Highlights From the Report
- Training and education segment revenue is expected to register a significantly robust growth rate during the forecast period. Augmented and virtual reality technologies enable provision of more realistic training to medical students and surgeons.
- Hospital segment revenue is expected to register a significantly steady growth rate during the forecast period. Many hospitals are increasingly incorporating augmented reality based healthcare products to be more efficient. Augmented reality and virtual reality technologies and tools are being deployed in hospitals for conducting various medical training programs and procedures such as for exploring human anatomy, and training for operative and post-operative procedures. This is expected to continue over the forecast period and boost revenue growth of this segment.
- Some major players in the global market report include Siemens, Koninklijke Philips N.V., CAE Inc., General Electric, Laerdal, EON Reality, Firsthand Technology Inc., Intuitive Surgical Inc., WorldViz Inc., and VirtaMed AG.
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Emergen Research has segmented the global augmented and virtual reality in healthcare market on the basis of technology, component, application, end-use, and region:
- Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018–2030)
- Augment Reality (AR)
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018–2030)
- Hardware
- Software
- Services
- Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018–2030)
- Surgery
- Training & Education
- Behavioral Therapy
- Medical Imaging
- Others
- End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018–2030)
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Academic Institute
- Others
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- Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018–2030)
- North America
a. U.S.
b. Canada
c. Mexico - Europe
a. Germany
b. U.K.
c. France
d. BENELUX
e. Rest of Europe - Asia Pacific
a. China
b. India
c. Japan
d. South Korea
e. Rest of APAC - Latin America
a. Brazil
b. Rest of LATAM - Middle East & Africa
a. Saudi Arabia
b. UAE
c. Israel
d. Rest Of MEA
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SOURCE Emergen Research | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ar-and-vr-in-healthcare-market-size-to-reach-usd-14-06-billion-in-2030--rising-demand-for-robotic-surgeries-owing-to-ability-for-more-accurate-surgical-procedures-is-a-key-factor-driving-industry-demand-says-emergen-research-301479771.html | 2022-02-10T16:02:31 | en | 0.891503 |
The Oakland Athletics announced that former Major League Baseball star Jeremy Giambi has died.
"We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of a member of our Green and Gold family, Jeremy Giambi," the A's said in a statement on Twitter. "We offer our condolences to Jeanne, Jason, and his family and friends."
The Associated Press reported that the former outfielder and first baseman died at his parents' home in Southern California on Wednesday.
He was 47.
A cause of death has not been determined.
Giambi spent six seasons in the bigs, having played for the Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, A's, and Boston Red Sox.
"The Phillies are saddened to hear the news of Jeremy Giambi's tragic passing," the team said in a statement on Twitter. "Our condolences go out to his family during this very difficult time."
According to CNN, Giambi last played ball in 2003 after playing in Boston.
"We send our heartfelt condolences to the Giambi family," the Red Sox said in a statement on Twitter.
During his time with the A's, Jeremy played alongside his older brother Jason. | https://www.wsfltv.com/sports/former-mlb-player-jeremy-giambi-dies-at-47-in-california | 2022-02-10T16:02:31 | en | 0.990962 |
Biggest Gaming Deal in History Reveals Importance of Premium, World-Class Content
FN Media Group Presents Microsmallcap.com Market Commentary
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Megadeals within the video gaming space over the last month confirm that content really is king. Technology giant Microsoft just announced the acquisition of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) for a whopping $68.7 billion, marking the biggest sale in video game history. The deal, which is far ahead of the takeover of Zynga by Take-Two for $12.7 billion, will make Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) the third-largest game company after Sony and Tencent. According to Microsoft CEO, gaming is the most dynamic and exciting category in entertainment and it's creating exciting opportunities for companies like Bragg Gaming Group (NASDAQ:BRAG) (TSX:BRAG), Enthusiast Gaming Holdings (TSX:EGLX) (NASDAQ:EGLX), and Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ:SGMS) who are focused on providing the growing market with world-class content.
Global B2B iGaming technology and content specialist Bragg Gaming Group (NASDAQ:BRAG) (TSX:BRAG) is continuing to expand its reach across North America, Latin America and Europe. The company is growing to become an international force in the global online gaming market.
Bragg has launched Egyptian Magic, the first title from Atomic Slot Lab, in several European iGaming markets. Atomic Slot Lab is Bragg's new game development studio focused on providing the highest quality online games to slot players around the world. Egyptian Magic, which is slated to roll out in the US later this year, is set to be an instant classic.
"Our first title, Egyptian Magic, from our newest game development studio, Atomic Slot Lab, demonstrates our strategic focus on developing high-quality content that is customized to meet the engaging entertainment features players in various iGaming markets favor.," said Bragg's Group Director of Content Doug Fallon.
"Through years of experience, we have learned what content players want and have tailored our math, features and themes to the preferences in specific markets. Atomic Slot Lab will draw on our knowledge of the U.S. market and coupled with Bragg's experience in Europe, we will focus on delivering the highest quality online games to slot players globally. We are very excited to release Egyptian Magic, which was developed to appeal to a wide demographic of players as we introduce our online casino content on both sides of the Atlantic."
Atomic Slot Lab is the latest addition to Bragg's growing portfolio of content studios, which includes ORYX Gaming studio, O2X, and Wild Streak Gaming. ORYX Gaming has expanded its reach into the UK market after bringing its content to Novibet online. The launch follows ORYX obtaining its UK license in November, allowing it to provide its content to major brands in the large and established market.
Bragg Gaming Group also recently entered into an agreement to supply its range of exclusive slots to Swiss operator Casino Interlaken through ORYX Gaming, marking the iGaming provider's expansion into the market. The partnership with Interlaken marks ORYX's third partnership in Switzerland following agreements with major operators Grand Casino Luzern and Grand Casino Baden.
For more information about Bragg Gaming Group (NASDAQ:BRAG) (TSX:BRAG), click here.
Gaming Companies Understands the Importance of Optimizing Content
On January 18, Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI) announced it will be acquired by Microsoft for $95 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion, including Activision Blizzard's net cash. The planned acquisition includes iconic franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty and Candy Crush, in addition to the global esports business through the Major League Gaming. Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision and he and his team will continue to focus on efforts to further strengthen company culture and accelerate company growth. Once the deal is done, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) reported strong second-quarter results, fueled by Microsoft Cloud strength. For the three months ended December 31, 2021, revenue grew 20% to $51.7 billion and net income increased 21% to $18.8 billion. Amy Hood, executive vice president and CFO of Microsoft said that strong business execution, represented by strong growth in reservations from Azure's long-term commitments, drove Microsoft Cloud revenue to $22.1 billion, up 32% year-over-year. Microsoft returned $10.9 billion to shareholders through stock buybacks and dividends in the second quarter of fiscal 2022, an increase of 9% from the second quarter of fiscal 2021.
Enthusiast Gaming Holdings (TSX:EGLX) (NASDAQ:EGLX) announced on January 31 that its digital media property hit a record 51.8 million unique visitors in the US in December 2021. According to the release, the spotlight on the games industry has never been brighter following the Microsoft-Activision deal. Time spent on gaming-related media activities now nearly equals time spent actually playing video games. Enthusiast Gaming's audience consists of Millennials and Gen Z visitors, ages 13-34. The growth of gaming media is driven by these demographics as they shift content consumption from traditional social media, sports media, and streaming platforms to gaming platforms. Enthusiast Gaming generated 254% growth in this audience for the three years ending December 2021.
Scientific Games Corporation (NASDAQ:SGMS) has expanded its industry-leading OpenGaming™ platform offering in key US regulated states after signing an exclusive aggregation agreement with award-winning studio Wazdan. The two companies will work closely together to bring high-quality mobile games to gamers in the states of New Jersey and West Virginia, starting in the first quarter of 2022. This latest addition to Scientific Games' ever-growing ecosystem further demonstrates the appeal of the OpenGaming™ platform to operators and lotteries in major regulated markets in the United States and the rest of the world.
As content needs are exploding, opportunities for iGaming companies like Bragg Gaming Group are unprecedented.
Disclaimer: Microsmallcap.com (MSC) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. FN Media Group (FNM) is a third-party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated with MSC or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by MSC are solely those of MSC and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable MSC and FNM for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. MSC and FNM and their respective affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.
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SOURCE Microsmallcap.com | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biggest-gaming-deal-in-history-reveals-importance-of-premium-world-class-content-301479501.html | 2022-02-10T16:02:37 | en | 0.946852 |
BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brivo – the global leader in cloud-based access control and smart building technologies that recently entered into a definitive merger agreement with Crown PropTech Acquisitions (NYSE: CPTK) – today announced that its comprehensive enterprise security solution, Brivo Access Enterprise Edition, is being used by some of the biggest companies in retail, home services, and data, including Afterpay and Angi.
"Large enterprise organizations face unique challenges managing their corporate facility footprint across multiple locations. Brivo allows them to manage everything in one place. We help them understand space utilization and occupancy trends across their portfolio and how to enable the hybrid workplace. Our vast partner ecosystem provides many options for add-on capabilities," said Steve Van Till, Brivo's founder, and CEO. "With more than 20 years of experience serving this industry at scale, Brivo is the proven choice with an established track record of cybersecurity that enterprises trust."
As businesses evaluate their physical security cloud technology, full security ecosystems that span access control, mobile management, mobile credentialing, video surveillance and identity and visitor management are becoming an operational imperative. Cloud technology allows building and property managers to bring all of their physical security and cross-functional security systems together to create an integrated, data-driven, technology-forward platform. For enterprises that have multiple locations, Brivo's cloud-based security technology allows them to manage more sites and open more locations in this increasingly hybrid-first world. Over 70,000 locations across 42 countries rely on Brivo's enterprise security solution to achieve their objectives of securing their employees, customers and visitors.
"Brivo's system goes beyond just access control and offers us a complete enterprise solution," said TJ Garber, security manager at Angi. "As someone who manages the program across multiple sites and different states, we know we have a strong partner in Brivo for reliable, accurate data and access control."
Liz Russell, workplace team lead at Afterpay, added, "Since the pandemic, Afterpay has been trying to tackle the task of occupancy tracking for our spaces. Brivo is the only system that gives us accurate, raw data of who is actually scanning into the space, which is now a very important metric that we count on for reporting."
Brivo's enterprise security solution features several new innovative technologies, including Brivo Snapshot and Anomaly Detection. With Brivo Snapshot, customers can flip through a "photo album" of single frames derived from a video associated with an access event without having to watch a full 30-60 second recording for each event. This enhancement saves customers an incredible amount of time over the course of a day. Brivo Anomaly Detection's AI engine learns the unique behavioral patterns of each person in each property to develop a signature user and spatial profile, which is continuously refined. This dynamic real-time picture of behavioral changes complements static security protocols, permissions and schedules.
Learn more about Brivo's enterprise solutions here. Click here to learn more about the suite of Brivo solutions.
About Brivo
Brivo, Inc., created the cloud-based access control and smart spaces technology category over 20 years ago and remains the global leader serving commercial real estate, multifamily residential and large distributed enterprises. The company's comprehensive product ecosystem and open API provide businesses with powerful digital tools to increase security automation, elevate employee and tenant experience, and improve the safety of all people and assets in the built environment. Brivo's building access platform is now the digital foundation for the largest collection of customer facilities in the world, occupying over 300 million square feet across 42 countries. On November 10, 2021, Brivo entered into a definitive merger agreement with Crown PropTech Acquisitions (NYSE: CPTK) that will result in Brivo becoming a publicly listed company on the New York Stock Exchange under the new ticker symbol "BRVS." Additional information about the transaction can be viewed here: www.brivo.com/about/investor-relations. Legal Disclaimer: https://www.brivo.com/about/investor-relations/legal-disclaimer/.
This press release is provided for informational purposes only and has been prepared to assist interested parties in making their own evaluation with respect to a potential business combination (the "proposed business combination") between Brivo, Inc. ("Brivo") and Crown PropTech Acquisition Corp. ("Crown") and related transactions and for no other purpose.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and market share, expectations and timing related to commercial product launches, potential benefits of the proposed business combination and the potential success of Brivo's go-to-market strategy, and expectations related to the terms and timing of the proposed business combination. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Brivo's and Crown's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Brivo and Crown. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed business combination, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed business combination or that the approval of the shareholders of Crown or Brivo is not obtained; the lack of third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed business combination; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Brivo; the risk that the conditions to the financing for the proposed business combination may not be satisfied or waived; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed business combination on Brivo's business relationships, performance and business generally; risks that the proposed business combination disrupts current plans of Brivo and potential difficulties in Brivo employee retention as a result of the proposed business combination; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts and other expectations after the completion of the proposed business combination, and identify and realize additional opportunities; Brivo's ability to attract and retain customers; the combined company's ability to up-sell and cross-sell to customers, including the success of Brivo's customers' development programs, which will drive future revenues; the ability of the combined company to compete effectively and its ability to manage growth; the amount of redemption requests made by Crown's public shareholders; the ability of Crown or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed business combination or in the future; the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; the risk that the combined company's securities will not be approved for listed on the New York Stock Exchange or if approved, maintain the listing; and those factors discussed in Crown's final prospectus dated February 8, 2021 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, dated August 16, 2021, and, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus of Crown related to the proposed business combination, in each case, under the heading "Risk Factors," and other documents of Crown filed, or to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Crown nor Brivo presently know or that Crown and Brivo currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Crown's and Brivo's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this presentation. Crown and Brivo anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Crown's and Brivo's assessments to change. However, while Crown and Brivo may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Crown and Brivo specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Crown's and Brivo's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
Additional Information About the Proposed Business Combination and Where To Find It
The proposed business combination will be submitted to shareholders of Crown for their consideration. Crown has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") and will file amendments with the SEC which include preliminary and definitive proxy statements to be distributed to Crown's shareholders in connection with Crown's solicitation for proxies for the vote by Crown's shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to Brivo's shareholders in connection with the completion of the proposed business combination. After the Registration Statement has been filed and declared effective, Crown will mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its shareholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed business combination. Crown's shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, once available, the preliminary proxy statement / prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement / prospectus, in connection with Crown's solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of shareholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combination, because these documents will contain important information about Crown, Brivo and the proposed business combination. Shareholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed business combination and other documents filed with the SEC by Crown, without charge, at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to 667 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10065, attention: Nikki Sacks.
INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Participants in the Solicitation
Crown, Brivo and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management, employees and consultants may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from Crown's shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Crown's shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination will be set forth in Crown's proxy statement / prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find more information about Crown's directors and executive officers in Crown's final prospectus dated February 8, 2021 and filed with the SEC on February 10, 2021. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests will be included in the proxy statement / prospectus when it becomes available. Shareholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the proxy statement / prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources indicated above.
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
SOURCE Brivo / BAM | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brivo-delivers-enterprise-security-solutions-to-global-customers-including-afterpay-and-angi-301479338.html | 2022-02-10T16:02:43 | en | 0.936468 |
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 32% of the growth will originate from UAE for the Chocolate Market in MEA. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are the key markets for chocolate in MEA. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Rest of the MEA. The rise in consumption of countline chocolate in the country has accelerated market growth in the past couple of years. The UAE is one of the most emerging potential markets for chocolate in the MEA. This is attributed to the increase in international chocolate companies and domestic players and the changing snacking preferences of customers. Additionally, the consumers in the UAE prefer to gift premium boxed chocolate, which is available in varied shapes and sizes and in attractive packaging, over traditional sweets. This is further elevating the influx of premium global chocolate brands, such as Godiva, in the country. Technavio has been monitoring the chocolate market in MEA and it is set to grow by USD 4.66 billion from 2021 to 2026. The report projects the market to progress at a CAGR of 8.41%. In addition, the report offers a detailed analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.
For more highlights on the regional information - Download a Free Sample Report
Chocolate Market In MEA: Segmentation Analysis & Revenue Generating Segment
This market research report segments the chocolate market in MEA by Type (Milk, Dark, and White) and Geography (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, South Africa, and the Rest of MEA).
The chocolate market share growth in MEA by the milk segment will be significant for revenue generation. The growth is attributed to the high demand for milk chocolate owing to several health benefits such as it helps in boosting memory, smoothening and hydrating the skin, reducing the risk of heart strokes and attacks, and improving the immune system. Furthermore, the rising purchasing power of the consumers is further expected to increase in the consumption of milk chocolate across the region in the forecast period.
Technavio report provides an accurate prediction of the contribution of all the segments to the growth of the chocolate market size in MEA and actionable market insights on each segment.
To gain further insights on the market contribution of various segments - Request a free sample report
Chocolate Market in MEA: Rising awareness regarding health benefits offered by chocolate to drive growth
The key factor driving the chocolate market growth in MEA is the rising awareness regarding health benefits offered by chocolate as it is especially recommended to slow down aging and prevent certain diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In addition, antioxidant-enrichment, blood pressure-suppressing character, and assumed anti-aging properties of chocolate will remain the key factors propelling the adoption of chocolate and chocolate products. Furthermore, a few recent research findings indicate that chocolate consumption aids in looking younger and relieves stress, which is expected to further push the demand for chocolate in the Middle East and African countries
To know about more drivers & challenges - Request a Free Sample
Some of the key topics covered in the report include:
Market Drivers
Market Challenges
Market Trends
Vendor Landscape
- Vendors covered
- Vendor classification
- Market positioning of vendors
- Competitive scenario
Related Reports:
White Chocolate Market -The white chocolate market share is expected to increase by USD 1.78 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 1.82%.Download a free sample now!
Dark Chocolate Market -The dark chocolate market share is expected to increase by USD 15.93 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.29%. Download a free sample now!
About Technavio
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.
With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Contacts
Technavio Research
Jesse Maida
Media & Marketing Executive
US: +1 844 364 1100
UK: +44 203 893 3200
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.technavio.com/
SOURCE Technavio | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chocolate-market-in-mea---32-of-growth-to-originate-from-uae--milk-segment-to-be-significant-for-revenue-generation--17000-technavio-research-reports-301477663.html | 2022-02-10T16:02:49 | en | 0.928221 |
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClickUp, the world's only all-in-one productivity platform, today announced the opening of a new Salt Lake City office to further its corporate expansion across the globe. Headquartered in San Diego, ClickUp's Utah location is its second in the United States and fourth in the world. The company has also announced an international expansion into Dublin, Ireland, and Sydney, Australia, in recent months.
ClickUp plans to add 250+ employees to its Salt Lake City division over the next three years across sales, customer service, marketing, and engineering. The office will be led by Howard Baik, a former Instructure, InsideSales.com, and Ivanti executive with more than a decade of experience in the Silicon Slopes.
"We're excited to bring our second domestic headquarters to the Slopes, an area rife with tech talent and a notable startup presence," said Baik. "This is a thriving technology community and we have no doubt that the depth of local talent will align well with the exciting work we're doing at ClickUp. We look forward to having a positive impact in the community."
ClickUp's domestic expansion comes on the heels of its $400 million Series C funding announcement in October 2021, one of the largest Series C rounds to date in the workplace productivity market. The new round brought the company's total funding to $535 million with a $4 billion post-money valuation.
"With the latest round of funding, our goal was to continue reshaping how teams work and give businesses a competitive advantage," said Zeb Evans, CEO and Founder of ClickUp. "Expansion into Utah will allow us to tap into a strong, local talent pool to help us deliver innovative solutions that make people more productive and efficient."
ClickUp, one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the world, has tripled its revenue and grew its user base from 200,000 to 800,000 teams in the last year. Businesses all over the world, including teams at McDonalds, Booking.com, Papa Johns, Netflix, and Utah-based Podium, are choosing ClickUp to meet the demands of their evolving workplaces.
About ClickUp
ClickUp is the world's only all-in-one productivity platform that flexes to the way people want to work. It replaces all individual workplace productivity tools with a single, unified platform that includes project management, document collaboration, spreadsheets, chat, and goals. Founded in 2017 and based in San Diego, ClickUp is on a mission to make the world more productive. As one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the world, ClickUp has helped more than 800,000 teams and millions of users lead a more productive life and save at least one day every week. To learn more, visit www.clickup.com.
SOURCE ClickUp | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clickup-continues-corporate-expansion-with-opening-of-salt-lake-city-office-301479326.html | 2022-02-10T16:02:55 | en | 0.948397 |
BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eddie Bauer is excited to announce its second annual One Outside Film Grant in support of the brand's mission to bring the benefits of the outdoors to all communities, particularly those who have been underrepresented.
To further amplify the voices, stories, and experiences of these communities in the outdoors, the brand will award up to six $10,000 film grants to help fund the creation of outdoor films made by filmmakers from underrepresented groups. Last year, the brand awarded film grants to filmmakers who identify as part of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities, aiding them in telling their stories. This year, the grants will be awarded to filmmakers who identify as part of LGBTQIA+ communities.
In addition to financial support and promotion of the films across Eddie Bauer channels, the brand aims to partner with filmmakers to tell stories that allow all to feel invited, accepted, and validated in their full range of outdoor experiences.
"We're thrilled to bring this program back for its second year. We truly believe outdoor experiences should be for everyone, and this is one of many ways we can further support underrepresented communities in the outdoors," said Damien Huang, Eddie Bauer CEO. "I look forward to seeing more of these stories come to life in the coming months."
The brand has also compiled a film grant committee to review submissions and select the final film grant recipients. This advisory panel includes community leaders within the outdoor industry with diverse backgrounds in the arts, storytelling, and the outdoors. The following will serve on the committee:
- Shaandiin Cedar, Indigenous Writer, Climber and Climate Advocate
- Latria Graham, Independent Journalist
- Abdul Kassamli, Film Producer and Director
- Jess Schmidt, Paraclimbing Athlete
- Travis Wood, Award Winning Filmmaker and 2021 One Outside Film Grant Recipient
- Mikah Meyer – Travel Expert, Speaker, Advocate and Eddie Bauer Contributor
- Claire Buss – Director
Eddie Bauer is now accepting applications through March 17, 2022. For more information about eligibility, grant details, and more visit: www.eddiebauer.com/campaign/one-outside-film-grant.
About Eddie Bauer
For more than 100 years, outdoor brand Eddie Bauer has been inspiring, enabling, and empowering people to live their adventure with products that are built to last. Their performance outerwear, apparel, footwear, accessories, and gear are available at eddiebauer.com and more than 200 stores in the U.S., Canada, Germany, and other international markets.
SOURCE Eddie Bauer | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eddie-bauer-announces-second-annual-one-outside-film-grant-301479823.html | 2022-02-10T16:03:07 | en | 0.949385 |
Environmental Control Systems Market Expected to Reach $4.6 Billion by 2026
PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The quick rise in the R&D element of finding ways to protect and heal the environment, has spurred the Environmental Control Systems Market to new heights. A report from Global Industry Analysts projects that the Global Environmental Control Systems Market will reach $4.6 Billion by 2026. It said: "Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Environmental Control Systems estimated at US$3.6 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$4.6 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 4.2% over the analysis period. Rotary, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 4.8% CAGR and reach US$2.1 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Fixed segment is readjusted to a revised 3.7% CAGR for the next 7-year period. The U.S. Market is estimated at $1.1 Billion in 2021, while China is forecast to reach $821 million by 2026. The Environmental Control Systems market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.1 Billion in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$821 Million by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 3.9% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 3.8% and 3.5% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 4% CAGR." Active companies in the markets today include: Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. (OTCQB: MEEC), Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG), FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP), Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE: CLH).
A report from another source, MarketsAndMarkets added: "The energy source for power generation and fuel segment is projected to lead the market during the forecast period due to the growing demand for renewable energy technologies. Also, electricity generation using renewable sources such as wind energy, solar energy, and geothermal energy is gaining momentum in all the sectors, including commercial and industrial, globally. Based on technological solutions, the greentech/renewable energy segment dominated the market in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 213.3 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period. The high demand for the greentech/renewable energy segment can be attributed to the increasing demand for carbon footprint management services. The industrial segment is projected to grow from USD 547.1 USD billion in 2021 to USD 683.5 billion by 2026. Under industrial segment, the power, energy & utilities industry is the largest consumer of environmental technologies during the forecast period. The large market share of the power, energy & utilities industry is majorly due to the rising renewable energy sector.
Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. (OTCQB: MEEC) BREAKING NEWS: ME2C® Environmental Gains New Supply Business at Another Midwest Plant Operated by Large Utility Customer, Patented Mercury Emissions Technology Licensee - Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. ("ME2C Environmental" or the "Company"), a leading environmental technologies firm, today announced that the Company has received new supply business with a licensee of the Company's patented Sorbent Enhancement Additive (SEA®) technology for mercury emissions capture. The utility's license allows for their continued operation of the Company's patented technologies.
The new supply business, expected to continue through 2022, was gained after product testing was completed in late 2021. The utility was initially granted a license agreement in 2020 that would allow continued operation of the Company's patented mercury capture technologies. In mid-2021, a new supply contract for a plant in the Southwest was announced with this utility. On February 1, 2022, the Company announced a second plant location owned by this major utility to become a direct product supply customer of the Company in addition to the utility's plant which had already been a direct supply customer when the license agreement was signed in 2020. The additional supply business being announced today represents the third new plant location under this utility's fleet to become a direct product supply customer of ME2C Environmental.
"Since providing this significant utility a license to operate our mercury emissions technologies, we have gained additional supply business driven by the measurable benefits that working with ME2C directly provides," stated Richard MacPherson, Chief Executive Officer of ME2C Environmental. "Adopting a business-first approach across the coal-fired industry, a license to operate our patented technologies allows for continued operations of our innovative approach to mercury emissions capture. Working with us directly as a supply customer provides the plant with additional efficiencies and bottom-line operational improvements."
Continued MacPherson, "This third plant location operated by this significant power producer represents momentum in our efforts to monetize the value of our patents and in improving the environmental effects of coal-fired power generation. This major utility was one of the first to enter into a license agreement in 2020 and the first to extend their agreement with another plant for direct supply business which was announced in mid-2021. CONTINUED… Read the MEEC full press release by going to: https://ir.me2cenvironmental.com/press-releases
In other news and developments of note in the markets this week:
Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG) recently announced it will release its 2021 fourth quarter earnings Friday, February 25, 2022, before market open. The company plans to host its quarterly conference call and audio webcast to discuss the results Friday, February 25, 2022.
In conjunction with the earnings release and conference call, the company plans to post on its website supplemental financial information related to fourth quarter 2021 performance. The materials will be available under Supplemental Materials in the Investors section of the company website at investors.evergy.com.
Penn Power, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) electric company, recently reported that it is upgrading and expanding its power system in Butler County, Pennsylvania, to support the future energy demands of the area's rapidly growing population and help prevent lengthy service disruptions during severe weather. Work underway includes construction of a new 8,000-square-foot distribution substation and installation of automated equipment and technology in substations and along power lines serving more than 20,000 customers in parts of Cranberry, Mars, Evans City, Jackson Township and nearby areas.
"This is an exciting time for economic development in our region as more people realize Butler County is a great place to live and work," said Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania operations. "We're proud to help advance development in the region while strengthening our system to meet the growing demand for safe and reliable power for many years to come."
MP Materials Corp. (NYSE: MP) recently announced it will release its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021, after the U.S. markets close on Thursday, February 24, 2022.
MP Materials' management will host a conference call and webcast that afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss and answer questions about the Company's financial results. Prior to the conference call and webcast, the Company will issue a press release and post a slide presentation at https://investors.mpmaterials.com/.
Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE: CLH), the leading provider of environmental and industrial services throughout North America, recently announced it will host its fourth-quarter and full-year 2021 financial results conference call on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
On the call, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Alan S. McKim, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Michael L. Battles, and Senior Vice President of Investor Relations Jim Buckley will discuss Clean Harbors' financial results, business outlook and growth strategy.
DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third- party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated twenty five hundred dollars for news coverage of current press release issued by Midwest Energy Emissions Corp. by a non-affiliated third party.
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This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.
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SOURCE FinancialNewsMedia.com | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/environmental-control-systems-market-expected-to-reach-4-6-billion-by-2026--301479440.html | 2022-02-10T16:03:13 | en | 0.954284 |
CALGARY, AB, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- POPcodes is excited to announce the appointment of Patrick McLellan, as the value-added solution provider's chief growth officer. Patrick joins POPcodes, with over 12 years of experience in the financial services industry, from one of Canada's most well-respected banking and financial services institutions. He will be responsible for accelerating POPcodes' revenue growth, new client acquisition, channel partner development, and overall market penetration.
Patrick brings his experience from ATB Financial as a former managing director having led Merchant Services, Digital, and Business Banking teams. During his tenure at ATB Financial, Patrick led the build and go to market of several new value propositions and business units. "I am very excited to be joining the POPcodes team," expressed Patrick McLellan. "POPcodes solutions solve very real problems for acquirers, ISOs, and merchants. They are well-positioned to capitalize on the growing adoption of smart payment terminals as their flexible platform enables multiple new value propositions. These combining factors make POPcodes poised for tremendous growth."
POPcodes created the chief growth officer role as the payments landscape adopts new technology faster than ever. POPcodes solutions utilize these upgraded smart payment terminal estates to connect acquirers, ISOs, and other merchant service providers to their merchants. "Patrick's experiences, from an esteemed banking and merchant services provider, position him incredibly well to help maximize POPcodes' growth," Gregg Aamoth, POPcodes CEO and Co-Founder explains. "He knows firsthand the challenges our clients, prospects, and their merchants face – and how our platform can help."
About POPcodes
POPcodes transforms smart payment terminals to provide innovative solutions for payment providers and their merchants. Using the payment terminal as an exclusive media channel, acquirers leverage an owned platform for optimum merchant communications – from onboarding and support to VAS sales. Merchants use their provider's POPcodes app to enable promotion redemption, customer SMS/Email opt-in, buy online pickup in-store, loyalty point redemption, and more. POPcodes' flexible workflow and content delivery solution adapts to any communication need, digitizing in-store needs for an omnichannel experience.
Learn more at www.popcodes.com
Help us welcome Patrick McLellan to our team on LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Jodi Taylor – Marketing and Content Manager
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SOURCE POPcodes | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fintech-popcodes-welcomes-patrick-mclellan-as-chief-growth-officer-301479307.html | 2022-02-10T16:03:20 | en | 0.934523 |
FloodFlash Raises $15m Series A led by Buoyant Ventures and Featuring Munich Re Ventures
Funding to capitalize international growth as company targets $58bn flood underinsurance problem
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FloodFlash, the parametric insurance technology company that pays catastrophic flood claims within 48 hours, today announced a Series A raise of $15m. The round was led by Chicago-based Buoyant Ventures with San Francisco-based fund Munich Re Ventures also featuring as an investor. Sony Financial Ventures/Global Brain (Tokyo), MS&AD Ventures (San Francisco) and PropTech1 (Berlin) all participated in the round alongside existing investors Pentech, Local Globe and Insurtech Gateway.
The investment comes three months after FloodFlash announced a new insurance capacity partnership with Munich Re, a leading provider of reinsurance, primary insurance and insurance-related risk solutions. FloodFlash plans to use the investment and capacity to fuel international expansion and begin closing the $58bn flood protection gap. Target markets include the US, Germany, Australia, and Japan.
According to NOAA, inland flooding alone caused over $151bn in damages across the US in the last 40 years. Despite the prevalence of flood risk in America, only 5% to 15% of homeowners, and fewer than 5% of small to mid-size businesses, carry flood insurance. This represents a massive opportunity in the US for FloodFlash, who have already made an impact on the UK flood underinsurance problem.
Since launching in 2019, FloodFlash has established a track record for combatting extreme weather losses. Their unique coverage combines computer models, cloud software and connected technology to provide flood cover to those the insurance industry has left behind. Customers choose a depth and payout amount for their policy. When flooding reaches the depth selected, the insurance pays out, typically within 48 hours.
FloodFlash CEO Adam Rimmer said "This investment is an endorsement of our parametric cover. The group of investors for the round couldn't be better tailored to supporting our efforts in solving the issues around underinsurance in the face of climate change."
About FloodFlash:
80% of the world's catastrophic flood losses aren't insured. That's $58bn of uncovered damage, and it's getting bigger each year because of climate change, population growth and urbanization. FloodFlash is an insurance technology company that combines computer models, cloud software and internet-of-things sensors into flood cover that protects those the insurance industry has left behind. FloodFlash is headquartered in London, is a registered coverholder at Lloyd's of London and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
SOURCE FloodFlash | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/floodflash-raises-15m-series-a-led-by-buoyant-ventures-and-featuring-munich-re-ventures-301479562.html | 2022-02-10T16:03:26 | en | 0.937149 |
BURLINGTON, Mass., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: NUAN) announced today that it has been named one of America's Best Employers in 2022 by Forbes and Statista. This prestigious distinction is based on feedback from approximately 60,000 U.S. employees who answered a series of questions around culture and working conditions, salary, the potential for development, and company image regarding their current employer. Employees were also asked about their willingness to recommend their company to friends and family.
Nuance is deeply committed to ensuring its employees are supported across all facets of their lives. The company offers competitive benefits and leave policies, professional development, and continuing education opportunities, as well as employee resource groups, flexible work schedules, paid time off and paid volunteer hours with the objective of encouraging all employees to bring their best selves to work while also being able to pursue personal interests. Additionally, Nuance places a large focus on its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts and has been recognized for its work across recruitment, retention, and advancement of people from underrepresented groups, as well as inclusive culture through leadership, employee engagement, accountability, and workforce demographics.
"Our employees are the reason that Nuance is such an incredible place to work and why our market-leading technology is trusted by the largest companies in the world," said Beth Conway, Executive Vice President and Chief People & Places Officer at Nuance. "The world of work is ever-evolving, and it's critical that we continue to support our great people with a culture where they can be themselves, learn, grow, and thrive—and that includes providing benefits that empower, inspire, and support their varying needs. We are so proud to be named to Forbes' America's Best Employers 2022 list!"
This award is the latest in a growing number of global employer of choice accolades that Nuance has recently received, including being awarded in the 2022 Top Workplaces USA list, a 2022 Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the HRC Foundation, the 2022 #1 Best Place to Work in Boston by Built In Boston, a 2021 Top Place to Work by The Boston Globe, Seramount's 2021 100 Best Companies and Best Companies for Dads, Selling Power's Top Places to Sell For, Best Places to Work for Moms, Best Places to Work for Dads, Best Places for Parents Working Remotely, and Montréal's Top Employers for 2021, a certified Great Place to Work by the Great Places to Work Institute in the U.S., and a certified Great Place to Work in India by the Great Places to Work Institute. To learn more about Nuance and the career opportunities currently available, visit https://www.nuance.com/about-us/careers.html.
About Nuance Communications, Inc.
Nuance Communications (NASDAQ: NUAN) is a technology pioneer with market leadership in conversational AI and ambient intelligence. A full-service partner trusted by 77 percent of U.S. hospitals and 85 percent of the Fortune 100 companies worldwide, Nuance creates intuitive solutions that amplify people's ability to help others.
Trademark reference: Nuance and the Nuance logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
Media Contacts
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SOURCE Nuance Communications, Inc. | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/forbes-names-nuance-one-of-americas-best-employers-for-2022-301479792.html | 2022-02-10T16:03:32 | en | 0.967672 |
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This report offers detailed insights and analysis of the major cost drivers, volume drivers, top suppliers, most suitable supplier selection criteria, supplier evaluation metrics, SLA that buyers should consider and innovations of the 3D Printing procurement and sourcing market, which the global suppliers have been leveraging to gain a competitive edge across regions.
The 3D Printing procurement category is projected to grow at a CAGR of 26.22% during the forecast period. This 3D Printing procurement market report provides detailed analysis of procurement strategies deployed by major category end-users across several industries while sourcing for 3D Printing requirements. In addition, most adopted and high potential pricing models considered by buyers have been analyzed in this report, which will help understand business scopes for revenue expansion. These data will assist buyers to realize cost savings and identify business strategies to improve sales.
Get a free sample of this data, download our sample report: https://spendedge.com/procurement-report/3d-printing-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report
Who are the Top Suppliers in the 3D Printing Market?
The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several top suppliers. Some of the leading 3D Printing suppliers profiled extensively in this report include:
- Stratasys Ltd
- 3D Systems Corp
- HP Inc
These are a few of the key suppliers in 3D Printing market. Discover more about these vendors, including the detailed analysis of procurement strategies deployed by major category end-users across several industries while sourcing for 3D Printing requirements.
Download a free sample of this report: https://spendedge.com/procurement-report/3d-printing-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report
What are the Most Adopted Procurement Strategies for the 3D Printing Market?
The research includes a complete analysis of the most commonly used procurement strategies by buyers across sectors, as well as an insight into these strategies' innovation, regulatory compliance, quality, supply, and cost. Adopting these procurement tactics would enable buyers to minimize category TCO and achieve cost savings while sourcing 3D Printing.
What Are the Most Effective Price Strategy That a Vendor Can Adopt and What is The Forecasted Incremental Spend?
It is critical to monitor current and future pricing changes in order to maximize the value of the purchase. Price forecasts can assist in purchase planning, especially when combined with constant monitoring of price-influencing factors. The market expects an incremental spend of USD 29.41 billion over the forecast period as a result of several market drivers prevalent across multiple geographies. In addition, the sourcing and procurement report discusses different cost-cutting factors by analyzing the following criteria:
- Identify favorable opportunities in 3D Printing TCO (total cost of ownership)
- Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes
- Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities
Download the free sample report to get detailed insights into few more pricing strategies.
Which are the Key Regions for 3D Printing Market?
The 3D Printing market will register an incremental spend of about USD 29.41 billion during the forecast period. However, only a few regions will drive the majority of this growth. Moreover, on the supply side, North America, Europe, and APAC will have the maximum influence owing to the supplier base. The growth is expected to be primarily driven by increasing demand and adoption of the category across those few regions.
To get more information on the volume drivers that are driving the adoption of the category across regions, download our free sample report.
Smart Procurement Starts Here:
SpendEdge's procurement intelligence platform is the go-to tool for companies looking to access latest procurement research insights and supplier data on an easy to use platform:
Subscribe now for free, to get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment.
Table of Content
- Executive Summary
- Market Insights
- Category Pricing Insights
- Cost-saving Opportunities
- Best Practices
- Category Ecosystem
- Category Management Strategy
- Category Management Enablers
- Suppliers Selection
- Suppliers under Coverage
- US Market Insights
- Category scope
- Appendix
About SpendEdge:
SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.
Contacts
SpendEdge
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Marketing Manager
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https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us
SOURCE SpendEdge | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-3d-printing-sourcing-and-procurement-report-with-top-suppliers-supplier-evaluation-metrics-and-procurement-strategies--spendedge-301476428.html | 2022-02-10T16:03:38 | en | 0.895563 |
Global Blockchain Technology Market Expected to Reach $1.4 Trillion by 2030
FinancialNewsMedia.com News Commentary
PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain technology applied to many industries including the transportation sector is seen by many analyts as a fast growing and essential technology that will continue to grow at increasingly substantial revenues in the coming years. Grand View Research reported the global blockchain technology market size is expected to reach USD $1,431.54 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 85.9% from 2022 to 2030. The market growth can be attributed to the increasing digitalization across the BFSI sector. Furthermore, the growing use of contactless blockchain digital ticketing at various events is expected to drive the market. A different report from ReportLinker projected that the blockchain technology market in transportation and logistics industry and was poised to grow by $888.97 million during 2021-2025, progressing at a CAGR of 49.93% during the forecast period, while another report from Prophecy market Insights projected that the global blockchain in transportation and logistics market accounted for US$ 22.5 million in 2019 and is estimated to be US$ 765.5 million by 2025 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 80.0%. Active Companies in the markets today include Pushfor Investments Inc. (OTCPK: PUSOF) (CSE: PUSH), Hut 8 Mining Corp. (NASDAQ: HUT) (TSX: HUT), HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: HIVE) (TSXV: HIVE), Riot Blockchain, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIOT), Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA).
Reports and projections may differ in some parts but they all do seem to predict great growth in the next few years. The Prophecy Report said: "Depending upon mode, the land segment is projected to grow at highest CAGR over the forecast period. Depending upon organizational size, the SMEs segment is projected to grow at highest CAGR over the forecast period due to the need for streamlining the business processes cost-effectively across SMEs. The adoption of the blockchain technology is currently in the experimentation phase in most of the SMEs; however, the adoption rate in the SMEs segment is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, owing to the low infrastructure costs and transparency. Depending upon application, the smart contracts segment is projected to grow at highest CAGR over the forecast period owing because smart contracts cut costs and eliminate middlemen."
Pushfor Investments Inc. (CSE: PUSH) (OTCPK: PUSOF) BREAKING NEWS: PUSHFOR INVESTMENTS INC. SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH NORTHERN BLOCK INC. TO INTEGRATE ITS NB ORBIT TECHNOLOGY TO THE AFX LOGISTICS PLATFORM - Pushfor Investments Inc. (the "Company" or "Pushfor") and its wholly owned subsidiary AFX Networks, Inc. ("AFX") are pleased to announce the engagement of Northern Block Inc. ("NBI"). This technology integration brings the latest advances in blockchain, smart contracts, and digital identification to the AFX logistics platform providing unparalleled security and data integrity for drivers and shippers.
The trucking industry is the dominant freight model for hauling goods within North America and is essential for a growing global economy. Independent Truckers and Logistic companies need to advance their toolset to integrate with large vendors and vendor specific platforms to process their transactions. Individual Owner/Operators, Third-Party and Transportation companies are excellent problem solvers; with many of these independent operators and companies operating with 20 or fewer trucks. They simply do not have the capital or means to develop platforms that can provide seamless communications, secure transactions, and digital interactions with the numerous trucking companies across the continent.
The AFX logistics platform integration to NBI's NB Orbits Solution provides next-generation dedicated Blockchain applications. AFX is designed to remove the risk and streamline key 'pain points' of the North American trucking industry by eliminating data redundancy, allowing immediate payment settlements, mitigating fraud, supporting digital identification, and providing end-to-end supply chain visibility. CONTINUED… Read this full release for Pushfor Investments at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/push-news/
Other recent developments in the markets of note include:
Hut 8 Mining Corp. (NASDAQ: HUT) (TSX: HUT), one of North America's largest, innovation-focused digital asset mining pioneers, supporting open and decentralized systems since 2018, recently announced the closing of its definitive agreement to purchase the cloud and colocation data center business from TeraGo Inc.
The acquisition consists of expanded operations from five data centers across Canada with a comprehensive information technology offering that includes a complete selection of scalable cloud services. The acquisition establishes Hut 8 as a leading high-performance computing platform, providing unique positioning for the Company within the digital asset ecosystem.
HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: HIVE) (TSXV: HIVE) recently announced the production figures from the Company's global Bitcoin and Ethereum mining operations for the month of January 2022, with a BTC HODL balance of 2,043 Bitcoin and 25,404 Ethereum as of January 31, 2022.
HIVE is pleased to announce its January 2022 production figures and mining capacity: 264 BTC Produced; 1.87 Exahash of Bitcoin mining capacity; 2,170 ETH Equivalent Produced; and 4.56 Terahash of Ethereum mining capacity
Riot Blockchain, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIOT) recently announced production and operations update for January 2022, updates to the status of miner shipments and deployment, updates on the 400 megawatt ("MW") infrastructure expansion at the Company's Whinstone US, Inc., ("Whinstone") facility in Rockdale, Texas (the "Whinstone Facility"), and an update on remaining flexible for the ERCOT power grid stabilization.
"Riot is well-positioned for continued growth and production in 2022," said Jason Les, CEO of Riot Blockchain. "We are pleased to share that miner deployments in one of our immersion-cooled buildings are now fully underway. We have refined our process for driving immersion-based miner installations and are now initiating tests on productivity enhancements supported by this cooling technology. We expect to see increases in our hash rate capacity as we continue to execute on deployments in the newly completed Building F and the soon to be completed, Building G.
Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA) recently published unaudited bitcoin ("BTC") production and miner installation updates for January 2022.
"In January, we improved our bitcoin production 816% year-over-year as we produced 462 bitcoin during the month and increased our bitcoin holdings to 8,595 BTC," said Fred Thiel, Marathon's CEO. "As in prior months, our bitcoin production was impacted by fluctuations at the power generating station in Hardin, MT as well as the total network's hash rate increasing by approximately 14% in January to over 190 Exahash. While we continue to work with the power operators in Hardin to address these issues, we believe our operations will become more stable in the coming months as we begin to accelerate deployments with Compute North.
"We have begun installing miners in containers at Compute North's new facilities, where construction is progressing well. These containers are currently awaiting energization. Based on current schedules, we believe that miner deployments will accelerate during the first quarter and that that trend will continue into the second quarter and throughout the rest of the year. Additionally, we have bolstered our technical team to research immersion and other solutions that may allow us to further optimize the performance of our mining fleet.
DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult =a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated forty five hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by Pushfor Investments Inc. by a non-affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.Contact Information:
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SOURCE FinancialNewsMedia.com | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-blockchain-technology-market-expected-to-reach-1-4-trillion-by-2030--301479438.html | 2022-02-10T16:03:44 | en | 0.942952 |
DUBLIN, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Cyber Security Market (2022 Edition) - Analysis By Security (Wireless, Application, Network, End Point, Infrastructure Protection, Others), Deployment, End User, By Region, By Country Market Insights and Forecast with Impact of COVID-19 (2021-2026)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The Global Cyber Security Market was valued at USD 171.05 billion in the year 2020.
The power and threat of malware, including viruses and Trojans, to infiltrate, manipulate, or damage entire electronic information networks have increased significantly. Cyber attackers often use malware to take control of devices or machines to generate a financial gain. Internet security is also gaining traction due to the increase in cyber-crimes across various industries.
Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of malware attacks on databases of large organizations has increased, which creates a need to strengthen the security of database, thus boosting the cyber security market growth, globally.
Based on End User, the market is segmented into Government & Defense, IT & Telecom, BFSI, Retail, Healthcare and Others. The BFSI segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period with Government and Defense being the largest end-user in 2020, representing about 25.70% of the Cyber Security market.
North America holds the maximum share in the global Cyber Security Market in 2020. During the forecast period, APAC is set to be the fastest-growing regional market.
Furthermore, APAC is seeing great growth as a result of a variety of factors, including the rise of IoT devices and government programs aimed at advanced technical breakthroughs. Some countries in the region, such as China and Japan are rapidly deploying cyber security technologies.
By 2026, wireless security will be the key to the prevention of unwanted users from accessing a particular wireless network. Wireless security helps in detecting, alerting, and preventing wireless networks and sends an alarm to the network administrator in case of any security breach.
Also, the major opportunities, trends, drivers and challenges of the industry have been analysed in the report. The report tracks competitive developments, strategies, mergers and acquisitions and new product development.
The companies analysed in the report include
- Cisco Systems
- NortonLifeLock Inc.
- Fortinet Group
- Check Point
- FireEye
- Juniper Networks
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Palo Alto Networks
- F5 Inc.
- Broadcom Inc.
Key Topics Covered:
1. Report Scope and Methodology
1.1 Scope of the Report
1.2 Research Methodology
1.3 Executive Summary
2. Strategic Recommendations
3. Global Cyber Security Market: Product Overview
4. Global Cyber Security Market: An Analysis
4.1 Market Size, By Value, Year 2016-2026
4.2 Impact of COVID-19 on Cyber Security Market
4.3 Global Cyber Security Market
5. Global Cyber Security Market Segmentation Analysis
5.1 Global Cyber Security Market By End User
5.2 Competitive Scenario of Global Cyber Security Market: By End User (2020 & 2026)
5.3 By Government & Defense-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
5.4 By IT & Telecom-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
5.5 By BFSI-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
5.6 By Retail-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
5.7 By Healthcare-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
5.8 By Others-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
6. Global Cyber Security Market: Analysis By Security
6.1 Competitive Scenario of Global Cyber Security Market: By Security (2020 & 2026)
6.2 By Wireless Security-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
6.3 By Application Security-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
6.4 By Network Security-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
6.5 By End Point Security-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
6.6 By Infrastructure Protection-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
6.7 By Others-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
7. Global Cyber Security Market: Analysis By Deployment
7.1 Competitive Scenario of Global Cyber Security Market: By Deployment (2020 & 2026)
7.2 By Cloud Based-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
7.3 By On-Premises-Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
8. Global Cyber Security Market: Regional Analysis
8.1 Competitive Scenario of Global Cyber Security Market: By Region (2020 & 2026)
9. North America Cyber Security Market: An Analysis (2016-2026)
9.1 North America Cyber Security Market by value: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
9.2 North America Cyber Security Market: Prominent Companies
9.3 Market Segmentation By End User (Government & Defense, IT & Telecom, BFSI, Retail, Healthcare, Others)
9.4 Market Segmentation By Security (Wireless Security, Application Security, Network Security, End Point Security, Infrastructure Protection, Others )
9.5 Market Segmentation By Deployment (Cloud Based, On-Premises)
9.6 North America Cyber Security Market: Country Analysis
9.7 Market Opportunity Chart of North America Cyber Security Market - By Country, By Value (Year-2026)
9.8 Competitive Scenario of North America Cyber Security Market-By Country (2020 & 2026)
9.9 United States Cyber Security Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
9.10 United States Cyber Security Market Segmentation By End User (2016-2026)
9.11 United States Cyber Security Market Segmentation By Security (2016-2026)
9.12 United States Cyber Security Market Segmentation By Deployment (2016-2026)
9.13 Canada Cyber Security Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)
9.14 Canada Cyber Security Market Segmentation By End User (2016-2026)
9.15 Canada Cyber Security Market Segmentation By Security (2016-2026)
9.16 Canada Cyber Security Market Segmentation Deployment (2016-2026)
10. Europe Cyber Security Market: An Analysis (2016-2026)
11. APAC Cyber Security Market: An Analysis (2016-2026)
12. Global Cyber Security Market Dynamics
12.1 Global Cyber Security Market Drivers
12.2 Global Cyber Security Market Restraints
12.3 Global Cyber Security Market Trends
13. Market Attractiveness
13.1 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Cyber Security Market - By End User (Year 2026)
13.2 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Cyber Security Market - By Security (Year 2026)
13.3 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Cyber Security Market - By Deployment (Year 2026)
13.4 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Cyber Security Market - By Region (Year 2026)
14. Competitive Landscape
14.1 Market Share of Leading Global Companies
14.2 SWOT Analysis-Global Cyber Security Market
14.3 Porter Five Force Analysis-Global Cyber Security Market
15. Global Cyber Security Market: Recent Developments, Merger & Acquisition
16. Company Profiles (Business Description, Financial Analysis, Business Strategy)
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yjur87
Media Contact:
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SOURCE Research and Markets | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-cyber-security-market-report-2022-2026-featuring-cisco-systems-nortonlifelock-fortinet-check-point-fireeye-juniper-networks-hewlett-packard-palo-alto-networks-f5--broadcom-301479789.html | 2022-02-10T16:03:50 | en | 0.804578 |
DUBLIN, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Mining Equipment Market, By Category (Crushing, Pulverizing, Screening, Mineral Processing, Surface & Underground), By Application (Metal, Mineral, Coal, Others), By Propulsion, By Power Output, By Vehicle Type, By Region, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The Global Mining Equipment Market stood at around USD2.87 billion in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.50% to reach USD4.55 billion by 2026.
An increase in the activities focusing on metal procurement to meet the high demand from all over the globe, the introduction of advanced and efficient mining equipment, and flourishing automotive industry are the primary drivers for the Global Mining Equipment Market growth.
Ongoing infrastructure developments, rapid urbanization, and the rise in the initiatives taken by the leading authorities in developing economies to construct roads, buildings, highways, railways, and other network systems are bolstering the demand for mining of raw materials to ensure continuous construction process.
Mechanization of the mining industry and the introduction of advanced and efficient equipment providing better results to accelerate the mining process are contributing to the market growth. With the growing per capita income of consumers and the high demand for convenience products, the demand for automobiles is witnessing exponential growth all around the globe.
During the automobile manufacturing process, the need for raw materials such as steel for the frame, rubber for tires, and lithium for making batteries is also growing. High production of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and four-wheeler vehicles are boosting the growth of the Global Mining Equipment Market.
Increased demand for electric vehicles, rise in mining industries, and growing use of telematics technology in the mining industry is expected to create growth opportunities for the Global Mining Equipment Market in the forecast period.
Based on the vehicle type, the market is divided into articulated dump trucks, crawler dozers, crawler excavators, motor graders, rigid dump trucks, drills, electric shovels, hydraulic excavators, mining dozers, mining trucks, wheeled loaders, and others. The mining trucks are expected to hold the major market share in the forecast period, 2022-2026.
Continuous rise in the demand for minerals and ores and growing mining activities, and the launch of electric mining trucks are fueling the demand for mining trucks all around the globe.
Major players are developing advanced technologies to stay competitive in the market and enhancing their product portfolio in the regions to increase their customer outreach.
Objective of the Study:
- To analyze the historical growth in the market size of the Global Mining Equipment Market from 2016 to 2020.
- To estimate and forecast the market size of the Global Mining Equipment Market from 2021 to 2026 and growth rate until 2026.
- To classify and forecast the Global Mining Equipment Market based on category, application, propulsion, power output, vehicle type, regional distribution, and competitive landscape.
- To identify the dominant region or segment in the Global Mining Equipment Market.
- To identify drivers and challenges for the Global Mining Equipment Market.
- To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, etc., in the Global Mining Equipment Market.
- To identify and analyze the profiles of leading players operating in the Global Mining Equipment Market.
- To identify key sustainable strategies adopted by market players in the Global Mining Equipment Market.
Key players in the market include
- Caterpillar Inc.
- Komatsu Ltd.
- Liebherr International AG
- Hitachi Ltd.
- Deere & Company
- Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG)
- Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd.
- SANY Group
- Volvo Construction Equipment AB
- JC Bamford Excavators Ltd.
Report Scope:
Years considered for this report:
- Historical Years: 2016-2019
- Base Year: 2020
- Estimated Year: 2021
- Forecast Period: 2022-2026
Mining Equipment Market, By Category
- Surface & Underground
- Crushing
- Pulverizing
- Mineral Processing
- Screening
Mining Equipment Market, By Application
- Coal
- Metal
- Mineral
- Others
Mining Equipment Market, By Propulsion
- Diesel
- CNG/LNG
- Electric
Mining Equipment Market By Power Output:
- <_00hp__li>
- 500HP-2000HP
- >2000HP
Mining Equipment Market, By Vehicle Type
- Mining Trucks
- Drills
- Hydraulic Excavators
- Mining Dozers
- Electric Shovels
- Articulated Dump Trucks
- Wheeled Loaders
- Crawler Excavators
- Rigid Dump Trucks
- Crawler Dozers
- Motor Graders
- Others
Mining Equipment Market, By Region
- Asia-Pacific
- China
- Australia
- India
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- South Korea
- North America
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
- Europe & CIS
- Russia
- Germany
- Norway
- United Kingdom
- Uzbekistan
- France
- Sweden
- Middle East & Africa
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Iran
- UAE
- Qatar
- South America
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Argentina
- Peru
- Chile
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dde7af
Media Contact:
Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
[email protected]
For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470
For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630
For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
SOURCE Research and Markets | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-mining-equipment-market-report-2022-category-application-propulsion-power-output-vehicle-type-regional-distribution-and-competitive-landscape-301479751.html | 2022-02-10T16:03:56 | en | 0.873506 |
Hand Tools Market Size to Reach USD 31,817.3 Million by 2030 at CAGR 4.2% - Valuates Reports
BANGALORE, India, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hand Tools Market is Segmented by Type (Wrench, Plier, Screw Drivers, Hammers, Cable Cutter, and Others), Distribution Channel (In-Store and Online), and End User (DIY, Commercial, and Industrial). The report covers global opportunity analysis, regional outlook, growth potential, industry forecast from 2021 to 2030.
The global hand tools market size was valued at USD 21,290.4 Million in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 31,817.3 Million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 4.2%.
Major Factors Driving The Growth Of The Global Hand Tools Market:
An increase in construction activities due to rapid urbanization in developing countries along with industrial growth in developed countries is expected to drive the growth of the hand tools market. Moreover, the growing automotive industry and automation in hand tools are expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities.
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Trends Influencing The Growth Of The Hand Tools Market :
The demand for infrastructure development and rapid urbanization is growing rapidly in the developing world. Governments from all developing countries are seen putting effort into infrastructure development and making necessary investments in the sector in order to promote such developments. Roads, railways, airports, energy, utilities, and commercial and residential buildings are among the projects involved in this infrastructure development. During the forecast period, the growth of the hand tools market will be fueled by an increase in construction and infrastructure activities, as well as a changing hand tool ecosystem.
Furthermore, the industrial growth in developed countries like the United States and Germany is expected to further drive the growth of hand tools market size.
With the growth of the global automotive industry, the demand for hand tools is expected to rise significantly, as they are increasingly used for high-precision automotive maintenance and repairs. This in turn is expected to drive the growth of the hand tools market.
Browse the Table of Contents and List of figures at: https://reports.valuates.com/reports/ALLI-Manu-1S61/hand-tools
Hand Tools Market Segmentation
The industrial segment accounted for the largest market share in the hand tools market in 2020, based on end-user. The market is expected to grow as a result of an increase in the use of hand tools in industrial applications due to their durability. Furthermore, rising urbanization around the world, particularly in developing regions, has increased the demand for residential construction, boosting the demand for hand tools.
The in-store segment accounted for the largest share of the hand tools market in 2020, and the online segment is expected to maintain its lead throughout the forecast period. This is due to rising income levels, rapid urbanization and industrialization, population and household income growth, and governments' ongoing efforts to expand and upgrade physical infrastructure.
Asia-Pacific generated the most revenue in 2020 and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. The demand for hand tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, cable cutters, and other hand tools is expected to rise in developing countries such as China, India, and Brazil as the residential construction industry grows. The growing popularity of cordless power tools, on the other hand, may stifle market growth. Due to intense completion and new product launches by market players, the impact of this factor is expected to diminish in the future.
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The key companies profiled in the report include Akar Tools Limited, Snap-On Incorporated., Stanley Black and Decker, Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd., Wera Tools, Apex Tool Group, Klein Tools Inc., Channellock, Inc., JCBL India, and Emerson Electric Co.
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SIMILAR REPORTS
- The global Power Tools market was valued at US$ 30900 million in 2020 and it is expected to reach US$ 46450 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.5% during 2021-2027.
- The global battery power tools market size was valued at $20,772.3 million in 2020 and is projected to reach $41,196.3 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2021 to 2030
- The South Korea battery power tools market size was valued at $141.1 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $351.2 million by 2030, registering a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.5% from 2021 to 2030.
- The global electric power tools market size is expected to generate revenue worth $24,063.0 million in 2020 and is projected to reach $49,242.6 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period
- The global Drilling Tools market size is projected to reach US$ 8184 million by 2028, from US$ 6264.5 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 3.8% during 2022-2028
- The global Industrial Power Tools market was valued at US$ 25620 million in 2020 and it is expected to reach US$ 37250 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.3% during 2021-2027.
- In 2020, the global Multi-Tool Power Tools market size was US$ 269 million and it is expected to reach US$ 392.7 million by the end of 2027, with a CAGR of 5.8% during 2021-2027.
- Global Residential Hand and Power Tools Market Research Report 2022
- Global Downhole Tools Market Size, Status and Forecast 2022
- Global Automotive Hand and Power Tools Market Research Report 2022
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- Global ESD Safe Hand Tools Market Outlook 2022
To see the full list of related reports on the Hand Tools
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SOURCE Valuates Reports | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hand-tools-market-size-to-reach-usd-31-817-3-million-by-2030-at-cagr-4-2---valuates-reports-301479762.html | 2022-02-10T16:04:02 | en | 0.921237 |
IBM and SAP Strengthen Partnership to Help Clients Move Workloads from SAP® Solutions to the Cloud
IBM is the first partner to offer cloud infrastructure and technical managed services as part of the RISE with SAP offering
ARMONK, N.Y. and WALLDORF, Germany, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it is teaming with SAP (NYSE: SAP) to provide technology and consulting expertise to make it easier for clients to embrace a hybrid cloud approach and move mission-critical workloads from SAP® solutions to the cloud for regulated and non-regulated industries.
As clients look to adopt hybrid cloud strategies, moving the workloads and applications that are the backbone of their enterprise operation requires a highly secured and reliable cloud environment. With today's launch of the premium supplier option with IBM for RISE with SAP, clients will have the tools to help accelerate the migration of their on-premise SAP software workloads to IBM Cloud, backed by industry-leading security capabilities1.
IBM is also unveiling a new program, BREAKTHROUGH with IBM for RISE with SAP, a portfolio of solutions and consulting services that help accelerate and amplify the journey to SAP S/4HANA® Cloud. Built on a flexible and scalable platform, the solutions and services use intelligent workflows to streamline operations. They provide an engagement model that helps plan, execute and support holistic business transformation. Clients are also offered the flexibility and choice to migrate SAP solution workloads to the public cloud with the support of deep industry expertise.
Today's announcement of IBM becoming a premium supplier makes IBM the first cloud provider to offer infrastructure, business transformation and application management services as part of RISE with SAP. IBM's premium supplier designation is a continuation of SAP's long-standing efforts to provide choice and optionality to customers, further supporting IBM customers that have a preference for their RISE with SAP package to run on IBM Cloud.
Additionally, migration to SAP S/4HANA® on IBM Cloud from on-premise data centers can potentially deliver the following benefits, according to a study by IDC, sponsored by IBM:2
- Return on investment: Migrating to SAP S/4HANA® on IBM Cloud delivered revenue increases for up to 90% of organizations making the transition according to users surveyed.
- Reduced costs: More than 80% of the organizations in the study said they experienced a reduction in operational costs.
- Greater productivity: 9 out of 10 businesses in the study said they improved their productivity after migrating to SAP S/4HANA on IBM Cloud.
"We are thrilled to advance our long-standing partnership through RISE with SAP," said John Granger, Senior Vice President, IBM Consulting. "Our shared commitment is to meet our clients, especially those in highly regulated industries, where they are in their digital journey, while giving them choices for migrating or modernizing their mission critical workloads with a hybrid cloud approach."
"BREAKTHROUGH with IBM is an outstanding complement to RISE with SAP as it lays the foundation for our customers to embark on or advance their business transformation journeys. Further, it reaffirms the value customers recognize from RISE with SAP and the impact and innovation opportunity RISE with SAP offers to organizations that move to the cloud. I have every confidence that the combined expertise and experience SAP and IBM offer will accelerate cloud adoption and business growth for customers across the globe," said Brian Duffy, President of Cloud, SAP.
IBM and SAP have worked with hundreds of clients globally on thousands of individual projects to modernize their systems and business processes based on an open, hybrid cloud approach. Recent examples include Coca-Cola European Partners, Parle Products, Harmont & Blaine, Puravankara Ltd and Virgin Megastore KSA.
Underscoring its commitment to SAP S/4HANA® both as an SAP customer and a business partner for 50 years, IBM has also made a significant investment in RISE with SAP to help transform its own infrastructure. IBM is a new premium supplier for the RISE with SAP offering and is using the IBM Hybrid Cloud, including IBM Power-enabled Infrastructure as a Service, to enhance the performance, availability and security of deployments of private editions of SAP S/4HANA® Cloud.
To learn more about the BREAKTHROUGH with IBM program for the RISE with SAP offering, please visit: https://www.ibm.com/services/sap/rise-with-sap.
About IBM
IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.
Visit www.ibm.com for more information.
Statements regarding IBM's future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice and represent goals and objectives only.
About SAP
SAP's strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: SAP customers generate 87% of total global commerce. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want – without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com.
This document contains forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections, or other statements about future events. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to materially differ. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors section of SAP's 2020 Annual Report on Form 20-F.
SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices.
Media Contacts:
Stacy Ries
SAP
+1 484 619 0411
[email protected]
Lauren Nowicki
IBM
[email protected]
SOURCE IBM | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ibm-and-sap-strengthen-partnership-to-help-clients-move-workloads-from-sap-solutions-to-the-cloud-301479221.html | 2022-02-10T16:04:08 | en | 0.941474 |
Inspira Technologies to Present at the Aegis Capital Corp. Virtual Conference
RA'ANANA, Israel, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspira Technologies OXY B.H.N. Ltd. (Nasdaq: IINN) (Nasdaq: IINNW), a groundbreaking respiratory support technology company, today announced that Joe Hayon, Inspira's President & Chief Financial Officer will present at the Aegis Virtual Event on February 23, 2022 at 8:30am EST. The presentation can be accessed using this link here.
For more information, please visit Inspira Technologies' Investor Relations page here.
About Inspira Technologies OXY B.H.N. Ltd.
Inspira Technologies is an innovative medical device company in the respiratory care industry. Inspira is developing the ART system, a cost effective early extracorporeal respiratory support system with an intent to function as an "Artificial Lung" for deteriorating respiratory patients. The ART is designed to utilize a hemo-protective flow approach aimed to rebalance saturation levels while patients are awake and spontaneously breathing, potentially minimizing the patient's need for invasive mechanical ventilation. The Company's product has not yet been tested or used in humans and has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the CE or other required regulatory agencies.
For more information, please visit our corporate website: https://inspira-technologies.com
For more details:
Miri Segal
Investor Relations
MS-IR LLC
+1-917-607-8654
[email protected]
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1668495/Inspira_Technologies_Logo.jpg
SOURCE Inspira Technologies | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inspira-technologies-to-present-at-the-aegis-capital-corp-virtual-conference-301479742.html | 2022-02-10T16:04:14 | en | 0.85889 |
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leena AI, an innovative technology solution that's transforming the employee experience, introduced the 2022 State of Employee Onboarding in the U.S. report, which examines hiring and onboarding trends across the U.S. and highlights the growing impact of AI and automation. The report is based on a survey of nearly 500 senior HR managers at small, mid-sized, and large organizations across a broad range of industries in the U.S.
After two years marked by layoffs, furloughs, and hiring pauses compounded by the Great Resignation, seven out of 10 small and mid-sized organizations indicated they plan to increase their workforces, with 64% indicating they'll be hiring extensively over the next year. This is compared to nearly half of large organizations (46%) that plan to increase their headcount in 2022. Entry- and mid-level roles will make up nearly three-quarters of open positions. Manufacturing and retail are expected to emerge as the busiest sectors, followed by technology and healthcare which will continue building momentum from last year.
HR professionals noted that along with the acceleration of hiring comes two significant challenges: attracting the right candidates and being able to hire fast enough to fill their needs. Half of the respondents (52%) stated that it takes a month or longer to fill a position. Additionally, large organizations reported facing double-digit attrition (16%) within the first six months of hiring new employees, a costly problem considering those surveyed revealed that the average cost of onboarding an employee is $1,830.
AI and automation are poised to play an increasingly important role in the hiring and onboarding process. Nine in 10 recognized the importance of AI and automated processes to help HR managers better utilize their time and focus on building better experiences in the workplace. More than 68% of organizations report they're already using AI in their processes.
"Now that we're turning the corner on the pandemic, the data clearly signals companies are ramping up hiring in an incredibly competitive and inefficient environment," said Adit Jain, Leena AI co-founder and CEO. "There's increasing demand for solutions that can help speed up both the hiring and onboarding processes. Automation and AI will play a key role not just for hiring and onboarding, but for retention and cost reduction as well."
The State of Employee Onboarding in the U.S. report is available for download here.
Survey Methodology
The online survey was conducted between August 15 and October 31, 2021 with a total of 489 senior-level human resource decision-makers in the U.S. The survey was balanced across small, medium, and senior organizations. Additional methodology can be found within the report.
About Leena AI
Leena AI is an autonomous conversational AI platform that helps enterprises better HR Service Delivery. With Leena AI, companies can eliminate the need for HR staff to work on tasks such as answering policy-related questions, knowledge management, generating employee documents on demand, and managing employee tickets so they can focus on high-value activities.
Leena AI plays well with 100 plus platforms, including SAP SuccessFactors, ADP, Oracle, Workday, and Microsoft Office 365, and has over 200+ customers, including companies like Nestle, Puma, AirAsia, Coca-Cola, Lafarge Holcim, and Abbott, with millions of employees worldwide relying on the platform. Leena AI was founded in 2018.
For more information, visit https://leena.ai.
SOURCE Leena.AI | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leena-ai-introduces-first-state-of-employee-onboarding-report-uncovers-mounting-pressure-on-hr-leaders-as-us-businesses-accelerate-hiring-plans-301479590.html | 2022-02-10T16:04:20 | en | 0.959754 |
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Linewize, a division of FamilyZone (ASX: FZO), a rapidly growing education technology company serving more than 10 million K-12 students across the globe, today announced it will be hosting an interactive webinar on Thursday, February 24 at 11 a.m. PT focused on monitoring technology in schools. The webinar, A complete guide to student safety & online monitoring solutions for K-12, will feature a diverse panel of EdTech thought leaders, a Linewize customer and cyber safety experts. Those interested in attending the webinar, which will take place via Zoom, can register here.
"Our mission is to reduce school violence and protect students with effective classroom controls and monitoring technology. With the number of school shootings only continuing to rise, and in the wake of the recent tragedy at Oxford High School in Michigan, this conversation is more important than ever before," said Ross Young, executive vice president of Linewize. "We want all attendees to walk away from the webinar feeling knowledgeable and prepared to take the next step in implementing the tools they need to better support their school districts and improve safety measures."
Young will be joined by Lenny Libitz, chief technology officer at New Jersey's South Bound Brook School District, and Teodora Pavkovic, a psychologist and certified digital wellness educator at Linewize. The panelists will discuss the need for student monitoring, the challenges some districts face when implementing new technology and what education leaders should look for when investigating solutions.
"I am proud to be a part of this webinar, which will undoubtedly help shed light on how school districts can better manage student safety in today's digital world," says Libitz. "Often, students will type things into a digital notepad, encrypted app, Word doc or a search bar and that's their voice; that's their outlet. Having Linewize Monitor as a tool allowed us to help some of our most vulnerable students and our community. Without Linewize, I believe we would have missed the opportunity to reach students at risk."
Speakers will expand on the details of student monitoring, discuss why it's important for schools today and debunk common myths surrounding it. They will also provide tactical advice and next steps, as well as checklists and key takeaways, to ensure that attendees are equipped with a framework to successfully evaluate and implement online monitoring technology and student safety measures.
To learn more about Linewize Monitor, please visit https://www.linewize.com/linewize-monitor.
About Linewize:
A division of ASX-traded company FamilyZone, Linewize is a K-12 cyber safety management system and an emerging leader in the fast-growing global cyber-safety and EdTech sector. Built by a global team of education experts and former school IT administrators, Linewize's comprehensive suite of tools and resources is designed to keep kids safe online and address a range of digital learning needs. Founded on the premise that promoting digital wellbeing in students goes beyond a simple content filter, Linewize offers products and resources that enable schools to partner with families in order to protect every child's digital journey, both in the classroom and at home. For more information, please visit www.linewize.com.
SOURCE Linewize | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/linewize-announces-webinar-to-highlight-the-importance-of-online-monitoring-systems-in-k-12-to-support-student-safety-301479376.html | 2022-02-10T16:04:26 | en | 0.942222 |
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Local Media Consortium (LMC), a strategic alliance of local media companies, today announced the results from its NewsPassID pilot program, an initiative to help publishers build new consumer and advertising monetization strategies, create more transparency in the digital advertising supply chain, address consumer privacy concerns and mitigate the impact of digital platform changes.
"As the local news industry prepares for the elimination of the third-party cookie in 2023, NewsPassID provides a promising new path for generating revenue in a privacy compliant way,'' said Fran Wills, CEO of the LMC. "Using NewsPassID, publishers can seize the opportunity to enhance the value of their content and audiences in the digital landscape, have greater control of their data and own and optimize their programmatic integrations."
The LMC and digital media and advertising technology veteran Scott Cunningham launched NewsNext in 2021, a strategic initiative to redefine local media's standing in the digital ecosystem, improve its sustainability and create a more privacy compliant, scalable way to connect advertisers with consumers. Based on insights from NewsNext's advertiser and publisher working groups, the LMC launched NewsPassID, an ad network and federated login solution that optimizes local media first-party data and ad inventory in programmatic channels. A new white paper released today, details findings from a pilot program that launched in June 2021 with four LMC members. The paper summarizes issues the working groups addressed, discusses the impact of the pilot program, and lays out next steps for 2022.
"NewsPassID provides a scalable way for local media to reestablish the value of their audiences, reposition their standing in the online ecosystem and accelerate the growth of their digital businesses," said Chris Loretto, executive vice president revenue and chief digital officer for Media News Group. "We are really encouraged by these positive results and look forward to deployment for all LMC members."
The NewsPassID pilot delivered very positive results for participants including:
- 90% uplift in revenue in most cookieless environments
- 45%-50% revenue uplift in environments that still support cookies
- 15%-25% increase in volume of ad inventory sold in Google Chrome environments
In addition to these results, the NewsNext working groups tested multiple identifiers across a variety of distribution channels to understand their impact while working to overcome challenges of the overly complex setup of programmatic integrations. The findings from the efforts paved a path for local media companies to optimize their onboarding of NewsPassID.
Based on the pilot findings, NewsPassID will focus on a few key areas in 2022, including:
- Minimizing publisher first party data and content leakage
- Optimizing the publisher's consumer funnel and value exchange
- Maximizing all programmatic distribution channels including CTV
- Scaling the NewsPassID network to meet advertiser demand
"As we look to the next year, transparency in the supply chain and use of privacy enhancing technologies are the main focus across distribution channels for NewsPassID," said Scott Cunningham. "We have created a solid foundation and look forward to providing that new front door of packaged local journalism inventory for national marketers and buyers."
Third party cookie deprecation presents a unique opportunity for local media and advertisers alike to derive more value from digital advertising. NewsNext and NewsPassID demonstrate that there is a sustainable alternative for targeting audiences and building advertising revenue with first-party data in a privacy-compliant and scalable way. In this new ecosystem, brands and agencies will have more of their digital ad dollars go toward working media instead of intermediaries. Additionally, local media will have greater control of their data and own and optimize their programmatic integrations.
SOURCE NewsNext | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/local-media-consortium-newspassid-pilot-program-shows-90-uplift-in-revenue-in-most-cookieless-environments-301479477.html | 2022-02-10T16:04:33 | en | 0.908599 |
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Luna Automotive Detailing is thrilled to be offering high-quality car care and ceramic coating services to potential customers in the Indianapolis area. Their full-service auto detailing company helps preserve the quality of clients' cars for years down the line with exterior and interior services, window tinting, and, notably, ceramic coatings that can clear out any impact that saline solutions on the open road can take on vehicles. Anyone in the Indianapolis area that is looking for the care and attention to detail of auto experts that care about the quality of their work and the state of their car should reach out for a quote at (317) 353-7583!
The mission of Luna Automotive Detailing is to preserve the aesthetic of each and every vehicle that pulls into the garage, so that every other client is driving around in a car that they are proud to display on the open road. They specialize in ceramic coatings to protect their customers' vehicles from harm for multiple years at a time. Not only do they offer exterior coating service, but they also offer interior detailing that prevents harm in specific areas at risk to general wear and tear, as well as the elements. The specialists that work at Luna genuinely care about customers' automotive wants and needs. They are there to protect the aesthetic of each and every vehicle that rolls into their shop with a high level of care and skill put towards each new project.
When someone invests in something as pricey as a new automobile, they should take pride in the preservation of their purchase. Luna Automotive Detailing can ensure that no matter how many miles are on the odometer of a vehicle, it can still look phenomenal on the road.
Find out what Luna Automotive Detailing can help preserve the quality of vehicles. Visit https://www.lunadetailing.com/
About Us: Luna Automotive Detailing is a comprehensive auto detailing company in Indianapolis, Indiana, that takes great pride in not only preserving the quality of vehicles, but also enhancing it. Their expert automotive team goes above and beyond general maintenance and cleaning — they believe that clients should be spoiled with thorough, consistent, and detail-oriented services that go above and beyond the everyday automotive shop.
Contact:
Nick Stucky
(317) 353-7583
[email protected]
SOURCE Luna Automotive Detailing | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/luna-automotive-detailing-offers-high-quality-car-care-and-ceramic-coating-services-301479545.html | 2022-02-10T16:04:39 | en | 0.954299 |
Maxine's Heavenly Introduces New Line of Clean Ingredient Crispy Cookies
US Cookie Brand Expands Product Offering to Provide Consumers with Both Crispy and Soft-Baked Versions of Its Better-For-You Cookies
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Maxine's Heavenly, a Los Angeles-based company that specializes in making homemade-style cookies that are sweetened with natural sugars, has released a new line of crispy cookies. The first products released outside its original line of super-soft cookies, the company's new Crispy Cookies are now available in two flavors: Chocolate Chip and Cinnamon Speculoos Crunch.
Maxine's Heavenly's thin, new, Crispy Cookies—like all the company's products—are sweetened by nature (using organic coconut sugar and organic coconut nectar) with the sugar-conscious consumer in mind. Baked to perfection, the Chocolate Chip Crispy Cookie contains a hint of caramel, plenty of chocolate, and a satisfying snap with each bite. Similarly, the Cinnamon Speculoos Crunch—the company's take on the traditional spiced biscuit from The Netherlands and Belgium—is bursting with classic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom. Both varieties are vegan and gluten-free.
"We've created something extremely special with this new product," said CEO Robert Petrarca. "Not only does the taste rival the top selling conventional crispy cookie brands, but it's unbelievable how this incredible taste comes from such simple and pure ingredients."
"It really captures the core mission of our brand," he continued. "We launched our soft-baked cookies because we couldn't find a delicious dessert that matched our food values. The same is true of the crispies. While there are many tasty crispy cookies on the market, none of them are really made for today's food values. And that's our north star—making mom's treats for today."
Both Crispy Cookie flavors are sweetened with unrefined sugar and are built on a clean base of natural ingredients: Oat Flour, Organic Coconut Sugar, Coconut Oil, Organic Coconut Nectar, Flaxseed, Vanilla Extract, Baking Soda, and Sea Salt.
The fast-growing cookie brand aims to raise the taste standards for natural products, and is confident that cookie lovers of all kinds will love these new products, regardless of the ingredient panel.
Maxine's Heavenly Crispy Cookies are now available for purchase online through the company's website at www.maxinesheavenly.com/collections/crispy-cookies for an MSRP of 6.99.
ABOUT MAXINE'S HEAVENLY: Maxine's Heavenly makes delicious, homemade-style cookies that are Sweetened By NatureTM with coconut sugar and dates. Inspired by our mom's beloved cookie recipe, Maxine's Heavenly was born out of a desire to provide consumers with great tasting, wholesome cookies that remind them of mom, but with healthier ingredients, less sugar, and way less guilt. To learn more about Maxine's Heavenly, please visit maxinesheavenly.com or follow the brand on Instagram or Facebook.
Media Contact:
Rachel B. Carmichael
Maxine's Heavenly
424-261-7625
[email protected]
T-Aira Jelks
HYPH PR
310-694-0895
[email protected]
SOURCE Maxine's Heavenly | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maxines-heavenly-introduces-new-line-of-clean-ingredient-crispy-cookies-301479546.html | 2022-02-10T16:04:45 | en | 0.905435 |
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM Growth Properties LLC ("MGP" or the "Company") (NYSE: MGP) today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2021. Net income attributable to MGP Class A shareholders for the quarter was $52.0 million, or $0.33 per dilutive share, and for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $205.5 million, or $1.36 per dilutive share.
Financial highlights for the fourth quarter of 2021:
- Consolidated rental revenue of $193.0 million;
- Consolidated net income of $87.0 million, or $0.32 per diluted Operating Partnership unit;
- Consolidated Funds From Operations(1) ("FFO") of $160.2 million, or $0.60 per diluted Operating Partnership unit;
- Consolidated Adjusted Funds From Operations(2) ("AFFO") of $179.5 million, or $0.67 per diluted Operating Partnership unit;
- Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA(3) ("Adjusted EBITDA") of $249.4 million;
- General and administrative expenses of $6.2 million; and
- Income from unconsolidated affiliate of $25.0 million.
Financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2021:
- Consolidated rental revenue of $757.9 million;
- Consolidated net income of $359.2 million, or $1.33 per diluted Operating Partnership unit;
- FFO of $638.4 million, or $2.37 per diluted Operating Partnership unit;
- AFFO of $693.3 million, or $2.57 per diluted Operating Partnership unit;
- Adjusted EBITDA of $979.2 million;
- General and administrative expenses of $18.1 million; and
- Income from unconsolidated affiliate of $100.8 million.
As of December 31, 2021, there were approximately 268.1 million Operating Partnership units outstanding in the Operating Partnership of which MGM owned approximately 111.4 million, or 41.5%, while MGP owns the remaining 58.5%.
On October 29, 2021, the Company acquired the real estate assets of MGM Springfield from MGM for $400 million of cash consideration. MGM Springfield was added to the MGM-MGP Master Lease between the Company and MGM and, as a result, the annual rent payment increased by $30 million.
In addition, on December 13, 2021, MGM entered into an agreement to sell the equity interests of The Mirage to an affiliate of Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc ("Hard Rock"). Upon closing, the master lease agreement between the Company and MGM (or MGM's master lease with VICI, in the event that the VICI transaction is consummated prior to closing) will be amended and restated to reflect a $90 million reduction in annual cash rent and a new lease will be entered into with Hard Rock to reflect an initial $90 million annual cash rent. The transaction is expected to close during the second half of 2022, subject to certain closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the consummation or termination of the VICI transaction.
The following table provides a reconciliation of MGP's consolidated net income to FFO, AFFO and Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021:
Financial Position
The Company had $8.1 million of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021. Cash received from rent payments under the Master Lease for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2021 was $215.9 million and $844.3 million, respectively. Cash received from distributions from the unconsolidated affiliate, MGP BREIT Venture, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2021 was $23.7 million and $94.1 million, respectively.
On January 15, 2022, the Operating Partnership made a cash distribution of $140.8 million relating to the fourth quarter, $58.5 million of which was paid to MGM and $82.3 million of which was paid to MGP. Simultaneously, MGP paid a cash dividend of $0.525 per share.
The Company's debt at December 31, 2021 was as follows (in thousands):
FFO, FFO per unit, AFFO, AFFO per unit and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental performance measures that have not been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") that management believes are useful to investors in comparing operating and financial results between periods. Management believes that this is especially true since these measures exclude depreciation and management believes that real estate values fluctuate based on market conditions rather than depreciating in value ratably on a straight-line basis over time. The Company believes such a presentation also provides investors with a meaningful measure of the Company's operating results in comparison to the operating results of other REITs. Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors to further supplement AFFO and FFO and to provide investors a performance metric which excludes interest expense. In addition to non-cash items, the Company adjusts AFFO and Adjusted EBITDA for acquisition-related expenses. While we do not label these expenses as non-recurring, infrequent or unusual, management believes that it is helpful to adjust for these expenses when they do occur to allow for comparability of results between periods because each acquisition is (and will be) of varying size and complexity and may involve different types of expenses depending on the type of property being acquired and from whom.
FFO, FFO per unit, AFFO, AFFO per unit and Adjusted EBITDA do not represent cash flow from operations as defined by U.S. GAAP, should not be considered as an alternative to net income as defined by U.S. GAAP and are not indicative of cash available to fund all cash flow needs. Investors are also cautioned that FFO, FFO per unit, AFFO, AFFO per unit and Adjusted EBITDA as presented, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other REITs due to the fact that not all real estate companies use the same definitions.
Reconciliations of consolidated net income to FFO, AFFO and Adjusted EBITDA are included in this release.
About MGM Growth Properties
MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE:MGP) is one of the leading publicly traded real estate investment trusts engaged in the acquisition, ownership and leasing of large-scale destination entertainment and leisure resorts, whose diverse amenities include casino gaming, hotel, convention, dining, entertainment and retail offerings. MGP, together with its joint venture, currently owns a portfolio of properties, consisting of 13 premier destination resorts in Las Vegas and elsewhere across the United States, MGM Northfield Park in Northfield, OH, Empire Resort Casino in Yonkers, NY, as well as a retail and entertainment district, The Park in Las Vegas. As of December 31, 2021, MGP's portfolio of destination resorts, the Park, Empire Resort Casino, and MGM Northfield Park collectively comprised approximately 32,700 hotel rooms, 1.7 million casino square footage, and 3.6 million convention square footage. As a growth-oriented public real estate entity, MGP expects its relationship with MGM Resorts and other entertainment providers to attractively position MGP for the acquisition of additional properties across the entertainment, hospitality and leisure industries. For more information about MGP, visit the Company's website at http://www.mgmgrowthproperties.com.
This release includes "forward-looking" statements and "safe harbor statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and/or uncertainties, including those described in MGP's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. MGP has based forward-looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include risks related to MGP's ability to complete the VICI Transaction on the anticipated terms or at all; MGP's ability to receive, or delays in obtaining, any regulatory approvals required to own its properties, or other delays or impediments to completing MGP's planned acquisitions or projects, including any acquisitions of properties from MGM; the ultimate timing and outcome of any planned acquisitions or projects; MGP's ability to maintain its status as a REIT; the availability of and the ability to identify suitable and attractive acquisition and development opportunities and the ability to acquire and lease those properties on favorable terms; MGP's ability to access capital through debt and equity markets in amounts and at rates and costs acceptable to MGP; changes in the U.S. tax law and other state, federal or local laws, whether or not specific to REITs or to the gaming or lodging industries; and other factors described in MGP's period reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In providing forward-looking statements, MGP is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If MGP updates one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those other forward-looking statements.
SOURCE MGM Growth Properties LLC | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mgm-growth-properties-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-financial-results-301479327.html | 2022-02-10T16:04:51 | en | 0.9512 |
Molex Earns IP68 Rating for Compact Squba Sealed Wire-to-Wire Connectors, Bolstering Performance Resiliency in Extremely Harsh Environments
- Small connectors certified as resistant to nearly five feet of water for 30 minutes
- Patented design delivers reliable power for space-constrained applications
- Industry-leading performance offers unprecedented design freedom and flexibility
- 2022 Winter Games reinforce demand for durable power interconnectivity
LISLE, Ill., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Molex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, today announced that its Squba sealed wire-to-wire connectors have earned the coveted IP68 rating for meeting the stringent international standard of waterproofing and resistance to dust, dirt, sand and other contaminants. In achieving this milestone, Molex addresses ever-increasing demand for compact connectors ideally suited for a variety of consumer device, commercial vehicle, industrial automation, connected home and other space-constrained applications where protection from harsh environmental conditions are critical.
"As devices shrink in size yet grow in capabilities, product designers must balance greater demands for reliability with the realities of having less space for electrical components," said Ken Stead, director, power products, Power & Signal Business Unit, Molex. "Our compact, IP68-rated Squba connectors optimize power delivery in one of the smallest, most durable form factors, giving product developers unparalleled peace of mind, as well as unprecedented design freedom and flexibility."
Ensuring Reliable Power Delivery for Diverse Applications
Molex's Squba connectors feature Ingress Protection (IP) at the IP68 certification level as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission. This designation demonstrates that Squba connectors are fully resistant to dust, dirt and sand as well as the effects of being immersed in up to 1.5 meters (nearly five feet) of water for up to 30 minutes.
The Molex Squba 1.80mm pitch connector holds a 6.0A current rating, enabling transmission of more power over smaller gauge wire for additional space savings and reduced costs. The connector's narrow pitch further alleviates space constraints while availability in 2-to-10 circuits and support for high operating temperatures offer additional product design options.
Equally important, Molex's Squba connectors are made with rubber-molded plastic and include a durable cap to protect the seal from damage during shipping, handling, assembly and use. As a result, these smaller, ruggedized connectors are optimized to deliver unfailing performance for a wide range of applications and wet, dusty environments where connector size, resiliency and quality are paramount.
A Track Record of Top-Performing Connectors
As a prime application example, a world-class manufacturer of marine motors relies on Molex Squba connectors to power both outboard and inboard boat engines. Molex's high-performance connectors also can be found in a vast array of consumer and commercial products, including sensors, lighting, liquid dispensers, home appliances, recreational vehicles, buses, food processing equipment, robotics and more.
Plans are underway to add a panel-mount option to the Squba connector later this year to help minimize potential vibration. Molex's track record of Squba innovation and power-interconnect excellence is bolstered by a comprehensive product lineup, which also includes Fit Family power connectors and Coeur CST high-current interconnect systems.
2022 Winter Games: Game-Winning Connector Strategies
On February 4th, the opening ceremony for the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing underscored the fact that athletes aren't the only ones facing harsh environmental conditions. Simply supporting the sheer magnitude of electrical components at the Winter Games is a daunting task, especially in powering outdoor lighting, scoreboards, transport vehicles, sensors, snow equipment, and many other types of gear. Nearly two decades earlier, Molex demonstrated the power of an always-connected experience as the supplier of cabling infrastructure for the high-speed communications network at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece.
With its latest line of Squba IP68-rated connectors, Molex is empowering game-winning innovation for customers around the world while advancing the delivery of increasingly smaller, more resilient power interconnectivity.
Molex Power & Signal Expertise
Molex's proven portfolio of innovative interconnect products and solutions offer current ratings of up to 350.0A per circuit in a multitude of sizes to address escalating application needs across a multitude of industries spanning consumer, automotive, commercial vehicles and industrial automation. A vast selection of power connectors can be modified or customized to accommodate virtually any application requirement or environmental condition.
About Molex
Molex is a global electronics leader committed to making the world a better, more-connected place. With a presence in more than 40 countries, Molex enables transformative technology innovation in the automotive, data center, industrial automation, healthcare, 5G, cloud and consumer device industries. Through trusted customer and industry relationships, unrivaled engineering expertise, and product quality and reliability, Molex realizes the infinite potential of Creating Connections for Life. For more information, visit www.molex.com.
SOURCE Molex | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/molex-earns-ip68-rating-for-compact-squba-sealed-wire-to-wire-connectors-bolstering-performance-resiliency-in-extremely-harsh-environments-301479541.html | 2022-02-10T16:04:57 | en | 0.905203 |
New Edition Highlights Importance of Personal and Informal Learning Networks to Professional Growth
ReportOUT looks at the revolution in theories on lifelong learning, smarter approaches to learning in an increasingly complex world
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SynED, a national non-profit focused on education, today released ReportOUT, a quarterly publication that highlights innovative educational initiatives that promise different perspectives and lasting changes, with its latest edition entitled "Personal Networks & Informal Learning: Making Learning Routine."
ReportOUT includes insights from across the economic, educational, and political world, bringing an array of viewpoints and analysis on how to approach education differently. In Volume 12, ReportOUT looks at a disrupted education landscape where a world increasingly defined by connectivity means informal learning and personal learning networks (PLNs) are the key to unlocking personal and professional development.
"We live in a world increasingly defined by connectivity with friends, business associates, potential spouses, political allies, and, of course, information, learning opportunities, and mentors," said Guy Smith, Executive Editor of ReportOUT. Mr. Smith, a former Vice President at Antioch University who also previously served as the Dean of Educational Programs at Santa Barbara City College, continued: "The educational landscape is being challenged and disrupted by these forces. A growing appreciation for the porous boundaries between the classroom and life experience, along with the power of social learning, authentic audiences, and integrative contexts, has created not only promising changes in learning but also disruptive moments in the process."
This issue is a compendium of 14 articles that provide insight on the need for a reorientation in individual's and businesses' approach to learning. With 80% of CEOs saying the need for new skills is their biggest business challenge, and research showing 80% of learning happens informally, more and more organizations are looking for ways to help harness informal learning and align those results with tangible business goals and strategies.
Several articles provide practical tips on building personal learning networks, embedding continuous lifelong learning in companies, and encouraging informal learning among employees. Rob Cross, Nitin Nohria and Andrew Parker write about six myths of informal networks and how to overcome them, in an article originally published in Sloan Review. "Despite the explosion of information that is accessible through the Internet and databases, people still rely heavily on their networks for help with their work," they note.
One myth they address is the assumption that everyone should be connected to everyone else, or that more connections are necessarily better. Instead, they advise that, "People should be connected when a strategic payoff is likely. Instead of trying to develop a fully integrated network, managers will find it more fruitful to invest in developing and maintaining relationships that have strategic value. A tool called social network analysis can be applied to make clear where such critical junctures exist within the organization."
Randy Bass, in an article first published in EDUCAUSE, says, "Our understanding of learning is expanding in ways that are at least partially incompatible with the structures of higher education institutions."
Bass writes, "These developments are occurring at the same time that higher education is being asked to become more accountable for what students are learning. Ironically, these pressures for accountability are making us simultaneously more thoughtful and more limited in what we count as learning. The question that campus leaders need to address is how to reinvent a curriculum that lives in this new space."
Volume 12 ends with two articles exploring a counterintuitive notion: the "Weak Tie Theory" is the proposition that acquaintances are likely to be more influential than close friends, particularly in social networks. The conclusion is that "weak ties" can add tremendous value to one's personal learning network.
"The Volume contains multiple launching points to explore further the revolution that is taking place in learning," Smith concluded. "But what is different here…is the magnitude and velocity modern culture requires of the learning process."
About SynED®
SynED is a non-profit organization that acts as a catalyst to help individuals and businesses improve their lives through education and knowledge and skill acquisition, giving them rich career opportunities. Our team will help you explore the many possibilities and potential solutions available to achieve your desired outcomes. SynED is the proud recipient of the 2021 Association for Career & Technical Education Business-Education Partnership Award.
About ReportOUT
Recognizing that real change is necessary, ReportOUT focuses on the non-traditional, and the notion that effective educational practices can be found in some unlikely places. When searching around the edges, exploring techniques and technologies outside of traditional education, and looking within the ancillary realms of corporate training, for-profit schools, and independent learning systems, it helps to have a guidebook.
Contact: Guy Smith
866-420-4573
[email protected]
SOURCE SynED | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-edition-highlights-importance-of-personal-and-informal-learning-networks-to-professional-growth-301479547.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:03 | en | 0.954167 |
New Report Shows Just 14.3% of Hospitals Complying with Hospital Price Transparency Rule
The semi-annual report issued by PatientRightsAdvocate.org is a detailed look at hospital compliance with price transparency requirements required by law
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report released by PatientRightsAdvocate.org shows that one year after a law requiring hospitals to post their real prices online went into effect, a large majority of hospitals continue to hide the cost of care from consumers.
The Semi-Annual Hospital Price Transparency Compliance Report showed that just 14.3% of the 1,000 randomly sampled hospitals are complying with a rule that went into effect Jan. 1, 2021 and was re-enforced by the Biden Administration via Executive Order in July 2021.
The report found most of the hospitals' pricing files incomplete. Noncompliant hospitals failed to show the different prices for the same services by all insurers and plans accepted as well as cash prices.
According to the report, only two of the 361 hospitals owned by three of the largest hospital systems (HCA Healthcare, Ascension, and CommonSpirit Health) were compliant with the rule. Strikingly, for HCA Healthcare, the largest for-profit hospital system in the country, none of its 188 hospitals were complying. In 2021, these three hospital systems' combined total revenue approached $120 billion making their noncompliance more egregious given the estimated cost of compliance calculated in the rule is only $12,000 per hospital.
"Unfortunately, the vast majority of hospitals remain noncompliant after more than a year has passed since the Hospital Price Transparency rule took effect," said Cynthia Fisher, Founder and Chairman of PatientsRightsAdvocate.org. "Hospitals' omission of comparative price information in advance of care blocks consumers from benefiting from knowing the competition, seeking fair and equitable prices, and having the choice to lower their costs."
The new report follows PatientRightsAdvocate.org's first Semi-Annual Hospital Price Transparency Compliance Report released last July which found that of 500 hospitals sampled, only 5.6% were compliant.
PatientRightsAdvocate.org's new analysis of 1,000 randomly selected hospitals found:
- Only 14.3% were complying with the transparency rule.
- Only 37.9% of the hospitals posted a sufficient amount of negotiated rates, but over half were not compliant in other criteria of the rule, such as listing rates by each insurer and named plan.
- Only 0.5% of hospitals owned by the three largest hospital systems in the country – HCA Healthcare, Ascension, and CommonSpirit Health – are complying.
"The Biden Administration has been a huge supporter of competition and transparency in healthcare," said Fisher. "The law unleashes the pricing data which is the foundation of creating a functional, competitive market. We're confident they will deliver for the American people, holding hospitals and insurance companies accountable by increasing penalties and enforcement and refusing any additional delays to the Transparency in Coverage Rule."
The Transparency in Coverage Rule, which will become law in July 2022, will require group health plans and health insurance issuers to publicly disclose negotiated prices for all covered items and services and historical payments, and disclose cost-sharing information upon request to a participant, beneficiary, or enrollee. The Transparency in Coverage Rule was originally scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022 but was delayed after intense lobbying by the insurance industry.
You can view the full PatientRightsAdvocate.org transparency report here.
SOURCE Patient Rights Advocate | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-shows-just-14-3-of-hospitals-complying-with-hospital-price-transparency-rule-301479786.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:09 | en | 0.966045 |
Odys Aviation, Formally Craft Aerospace, Secures $12.4M in Seed Funding to Take The Friction Out of Travel
The funding round will significantly expand the company's footprint with a new state-of-the-art development facility, and accelerate prototype aircraft development
LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Odys Aviation (formally Craft Aerospace), the innovative aircraft startup making hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for regional mobility, is excited to announce a $12.4M seed funding round. This funding will be instrumental in expanding the company to meet its anticipated goal of making door-to-door regional travel simpler, faster, cheaper, and greener. The round also included strategic investment from Giant Ventures, Soma Capital, 11.2 Capital, Countdown Capital, Uber Elevate co-founder Nikhil Goel and Cruise Automation founder Kyle Vogt.
Odys Aviation, a Y Combinator (YC) S21 company with $13.7M in total funding, is accelerating development to join the top-tier of the regional VTOL market. Odys Aviation's aircraft uses a patented VTOL architecture and a flap based lifting technology that allows for a simple transition to lofted flight and more efficient cruise, which the company will demonstrate via a one passenger prototype aircraft this year. The seed funding round will help expand the company's physical footprint with a new state-of-the-art facility, as well as expand their executive leadership and engineering teams. Co-founder Axel Radermacher will take on a new role as Head of Product to assure the company's VTOL product exceeds the needs of the customer and the market.
"Traveling shouldn't be a painful experience, and it certainly shouldn't be taking a toll on our environment and communities," said James Dorris, Co-founder & CEO. "Odys Aviation is building an aircraft that reduces CO2 by up to 80 percent while eliminating travel pain. Beyond and distinct from air taxis, our range covers 65% of domestic flights, and we're proud to be getting so much traction with airlines so soon after inception."
Odys Aviation's hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft will carry nine passengers and have a maximum speed of 345 mph (555 km/h), a range of 1,000 miles (1,609 km), and a cruise altitude of 30,000 ft (9,144 meters). This design, combined with the use of city helipads, municipal airports, and future vertiports, cuts travel time in half on the world's busiest travel corridors and offers total trip cost competitive with existing travel options. The aircraft's speed, range, and size is uniquely suited for high volume operators. The company expects type certification in 2026
"Airlines flying Odys Aviation will unlock new market opportunities and a superior travel experience via new point-to-point routes," said Axel Radermacher, Co-founder & Head of Product. "Additionally, they will strengthen their existing networks by broadening the catch basin of existing hubs and airports. We are designing the aircraft with input from major airlines to make sure we are a good fit for their operations. Our customers expressed the need for a high productivity, low CO2 aircraft, and we listened."
Current investors in Odys Aviation include Y Combinator, Brogan BamBrogan and Pedram Keyani.
"This truly unique aircraft is on track to reimagine travel as we know it," said Tommy Stadlen, Co-Founder and General Partner, Giant Ventures. "Led by a world class team of industry pioneers, Odys Aviation is creating systemic change in the way we travel. This will eliminate the frustration and long hours spent in traffic and at airports, as well as the detrimental impact that planes and cars have on the planet. This is exactly the type of ambitious, purpose-driven innovation Giant was set up to fuel."
"I'm excited about Odys Aviation because their concept uniquely complements eVTOL by focusing on regional transportation between cities, not just within them," said Nikhil Goel at Moving Capital (Uber alumni syndicate).
For more information, visit www.odysaviation.com.
About Odys Aviation
Odys Aviation is an advanced air mobility startup that was established in 2019 to make travel seamless and sustainable. The innovative company is building vertical take-off and landing aircraft for the world's busiest travel corridors. With a mission to make door-to-door regional travel smooth, sustainable, and affordable, Odys is transforming aviation to bring everyone closer to everything.
Media Contact:
Jack Buttacavoli
[email protected]
SOURCE Odys Aviation | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/odys-aviation-formally-craft-aerospace-secures-12-4m-in-seed-funding-to-take-the-friction-out-of-travel-301479573.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:13 | en | 0.935699 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — A baseball team mascot in a bit of a pickle.
Dillon T. Pickle is the mascot for the Portland Pickles in Oregon.
He was recently lost on a Delta flight from the Dominican Republic.
The airline eventually delivered him home to the right place but didn’t tell the team until hours later.
That’s when things took a turn for the worse.
By that time, someone had already swiped Dillon off the porch
The thief is seen in this Ring doorbell video.
Portland Police are investigating, but in the meantime, the team is left worried.
"Who knows… who knows where he's gonna turn up”, said Colleen Schroht, Operations Director for the Portland Pickles.
The team hopes the thief will be surprised by what’s in the bag and bring back Dillon.
“I mean there's a giant pickle staring back at you when you open it up, right? And my thing is I couldn’t keep that a secret,” said Ross Campbell, General Manager for the Portland Pickles.
The team is already getting tips about Dillon on social media.
“We don't have any solid evidence yet. We're researching every angle that we’re getting,” said Schroht.
The Pickles are offering a reward for Dillon’s safe reward, no questions asked. | https://www.fox13now.com/news/national/baseball-team-searches-for-pickle-porch-pirate-after-its-mascot-disappeared | 2022-02-10T16:05:15 | en | 0.959805 |
SAN DIEGO — Scientists have repeatedly demonstrated that the COVID-19 vaccines do not cause fertility issues, but mounting research shows the virus can.
This week, researchers in Brazil released biopsies on 11 men showing how the virus can infiltrate the testes and cause damage. All of the men died from COVID-19, and the paper has not yet undergone peer review.
It follows a study published this month on 120 Belgian men that showed both mild and severe COVID-19 infections could temporarily reduce sperm count and quality. Among those tested within one month of infection, 60% had reduced sperm motility, and 28% of the men had reduced motility after two months. The authors found no statistical differences between men admitted to the hospital and those treated at home.
Another study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, tracked 2,000 couples trying to conceive. It found a couple’s chance of success dropped 18% if the man had been infected with the coronavirus sometime in the last two months. After two months, the fertility rates of infected men returned to normal.
“Generally, the low sperm count or the infertility issues are within the first two or three months of infection because it takes about three months for a man to make new sperm,” said Dr. Mike Hsieh, the director of the UC San Diego Men’s Health Center.
Researchers are still studying how the virus can limit a man's fertility. Still, the new biopsies from Brazil show that infected cells can travel into the testes and cause damage directly. Inflammation in blood vessels and surrounding tissues can also impact hormone levels and sperm production, Hsieh said.
Scientists have theorized that fever caused by COVID-19 could also disrupt sperm production.
“Our testicle works best at two degrees below body temperature," Hsieh said. "So, when you get a high fever or a fever for a long period of time, that can impair the function of the testicle, both in producing sperm and testosterone.”
Changes in hormone levels and blood flow can cause erectile dysfunction, and research has linked COVID-19 infections to higher rates of ED. A study by a team at the University of Florida found men with COVID-19 were more than three times as likely to be diagnosed with ED. In all, about 5% of the male COVID-19 patients in their healthcare system developed ED.
In most men, fertility issues resolve, Hsieh said. But vaccination can greatly reduce these risks.
Studies by UC San Diego and scientists worldwide have found that vaccination does not affect fertility in either partner.
This story was originally published by Derek Staahl on Scripps station KGTV in San Diego. | https://www.fox13now.com/news/national/coronavirus/research-shows-that-covid-19-vaccines-do-not-cause-infertility-issues-but-the-virus-itself-can | 2022-02-10T16:05:21 | en | 0.962884 |
Patrick Industries, Inc. Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results
Fourth Quarter 2021 Highlights (compared to Fourth Quarter 2020 unless otherwise noted)
- Net sales of $1.1 billion increased 49%
- Operating income of $95 million increased 52%
- Operating margin of 8.3% increased 30 basis points
- Net income of $61 million increased 61%
- Diluted earnings per share of $2.62 increased 60%
- Operating cash flows of $105 million increased 121%
- Acquisitions of Williamsburg and Wet Sounds
Full Year 2021 Highlights (compared to Full Year 2020 unless otherwise noted)
- Net sales of $4.1 billion increased 64%
- Operating income of $352 million increased 103%
- Operating margin of 8.6% increased 160 basis points
- Net income of $225 million increased 132%
- Diluted earnings per share of $9.63 increased 129%
- Operating cash flows of $252 million increased 57%
- Completed 10 acquisitions
ELKHART, Ind., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Patrick Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: PATK), a leading component solutions provider for the RV, marine, manufactured housing ("MH") and industrial markets, today reported record financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.
Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased $375 million, or 49%, to $1.1 billion from $773 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Strong performance in both our leisure lifestyle and housing markets drove results in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Operating income of $95 million increased $33 million, or 52%, from $62 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Operating margin of 8.3% in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased 30 basis points compared to 8.0% in the same period a year ago.
Net income was $61 million, an increase of 61%, compared to $38 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Diluted earnings per share was $2.62, an increase of 60% for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $1.64 for the fourth quarter of 2020. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2021 reflects the benefit of state and other income tax items of $0.07 per share.
"We are pleased with our overall performance during the fourth quarter and full year and extremely grateful for the efforts of our entire team, particularly given the supply chain challenges and labor constraints impacting businesses throughout the country," said Andy Nemeth, Chief Executive Officer. "In partnership with our customers, our team members worked tirelessly to leverage our flexible operating model against the backdrop of strong demand and production levels in our leisure lifestyle and housing markets. The investments we have been making over the past eighteen months, both strategically and in operating infrastructure, are resulting in positive contributions and will continue to enhance our ability to meet and exceed our customers' needs."
Jeff Rodino, President, said, "Market conditions across our platform have remained strong, with positive inventory recalibration starting to occur in the RV industry and strong backlogs in our marine, MH, and industrial markets. Demographic trends point toward long-term growth with new buyers continuing to enter our markets. Our growth has been supported by ongoing implementation of best practice solutions, continuous improvement initiatives and investments in automation and capacity expansion which continue to drive our results."
Fourth Quarter 2021 Revenue by Market Sector
(compared to Fourth Quarter 2020 unless otherwise noted)
RV (59% of Revenue)
- Revenue of $674 million increased 51% while wholesale RV industry unit shipments increased 13%
- Full year content per wholesale RV unit increased 24% to $4,006
Marine (16% of Revenue)
- Revenue of $189 million increased 75% while wholesale powerboat industry unit shipments increased 1%
- Full year content per wholesale powerboat unit increased 76% to $3,632
MH (13% of Revenue)
- Revenue of $151 million increased 24% while wholesale MH industry unit shipments increased 7%
- Full year content per wholesale MH unit increased 13% to $5,153
Industrial (12% of Revenue)
- Revenue of $134 million increased 39% while housing starts increased 5%
Full Year 2021 Results
Net sales of $4.1 billion for the full year 2021 increased $1.6 billion, or 64%, from $2.5 billion in 2020, primarily reflecting a significant increase in demand in our leisure lifestyle and housing markets as well as contributions from acquisitions completed during 2021. As previously disclosed, net sales for 2020 reflect the impact of COVID-19 related production shutdowns during the second quarter of 2020.
Full year 2021 operating income of $352 million increased $179 million, or 103%, compared to $173 million in 2020. Operating margin of 8.6% improved 160 basis points from 7.0% in the prior year. Net income of $225 million increased 132% compared to $97 million in 2020. Diluted earnings per share of $9.63 increased 129% compared to $4.20 in the prior year.
Balance Sheet, Cash Flow and Capital Allocation
Operating cash flow for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $105 million, an increase of 121%, compared to $47 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Full year 2021 operating cash flow of $252 million increased 57% compared to the prior year due to strong profitability and growth across all end markets. Business acquisitions for the fourth quarter of 2021 totaled $210 million, including the previously announced acquisitions of Wet Sounds, Inc., a designer, fabricator, engineer, and distributor of innovative audio systems and accessories to marine OEMs and consumers, and Williamsburg Furniture and Williamsburg Marine, manufacturers of seating for the motorized RV and marine end markets. For the full year 2021, business acquisitions in RV, marine and industrial markets totaled $520 million. Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2021 totaled $21 million, an increase of 108%, compared to $10 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Capital expenditures for full year 2021 totaled $65 million, an increase of 102% from 2020, reflecting continued investments in automation and capacity in support of scalable growth.
In alignment with our capital allocation strategy, we returned $25 million to shareholders in the fourth quarter of 2021, consisting of $17 million in opportunistic repurchases of 223,396 shares and $8 million of dividends. For the full year 2021, we repurchased 612,325 shares for a total of $49 million and returned $27 million in dividends to our shareholders.
Our net debt at the end of the quarter was approximately $1.4 billion, resulting in a net leverage ratio of 2.3x (as calculated in accordance with our credit agreement). Available liquidity, comprised of borrowing availability under our credit facility and cash on hand, was approximately $532 million.
Business Outlook and Summary
"The strength and tailwinds in our markets coupled with the focus and dedication of our team and great partnerships with our customers resulted in record results in 2021," said Mr. Nemeth. "Additionally, through continued strategic diversification and the patient and disciplined execution of our capital allocation strategy, we are continuing to position our platform to drive results and scalability into 2022 and many years beyond. Our marine business almost doubled year over year through both strategic and organic growth, and represented 16% of our 2021 consolidated revenue, up from 14% in 2020. Our continued focus on growing our marine presence, in combination with both the strength of the solid foundation in our RV businesses and long runway we see in our housing and industrial markets, will continue to help propel our business model going forward, complemented by our focus on efficiency and production of highly engineered products and proprietary solutions. We improved our overall margin profile in 2021 and we believe we will have the opportunity to drive further margin improvement in 2022. We expect OEM production in our end markets to remain strong in 2022, and we also expect to continue to use our strong cash flows to invest in automation, strategic information technology solutions, human capital, innovation, and philanthropic efforts to support our customers, team members, and communities as well as our growth and diversification strategy."
Conference Call Webcast
As previously announced, Patrick Industries will host an online webcast of its fourth quarter 2021 earnings conference call that can be accessed on the Company's website, www.patrickind.com, under "For Investors," on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. In addition, a supplemental earnings presentation can be accessed on the Company's website, www.patrickind.com under "For Investors."
About Patrick Industries, Inc.
Patrick Industries (NASDAQ: PATK) is a leading component solutions provider for the RV, marine, manufactured housing and various industrial markets – including single and multi-family housing, hospitality, institutional and commercial markets. Founded in 1959, Patrick is based in Elkhart, Indiana, with over 11,000 employees across the United States.
Use of Financial Metrics
In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company also provides financial metrics, such as net leverage ratio, content per unit, net debt and available liquidity, which we believe are important measures of the Company's business performance. These metrics should not be considered alternatives to U.S. GAAP. Our computations of net leverage ratio, content per unit, net debt and available liquidity may differ from similarly titled measures used by others. We calculate net debt by subtracting cash and cash equivalents from the gross value of debt outstanding. RV wholesale unit shipments are provided by the RV Industry Association. Marine wholesale unit shipments are provided by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. MH wholesale unit shipments are provided by the Manufactured Housing Institute. Housing starts are provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. You should not consider these metrics in isolation or as substitutes for an analysis of our results as reported under U.S. GAAP.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements related to future results, our intentions, beliefs and expectations or predictions for the future, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors. Potential factors that could impact results include: the impact of the continuing financial and operational uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on the overall economy, our sales, customers, operations, team members, suppliers, and the countries where we have operations or from which we source products and raw materials, such as China; adverse economic and business conditions, including cyclicality and seasonality in the industries we sell our products; inflationary pressures; the deterioration of the financial condition of our customers or suppliers; the ability to adjust our production schedules up or down quickly in response to rapid changes in demand; the loss of a significant customer; changes in consumer preferences; pricing pressures due to competition; conditions in the credit market limiting the ability of consumers and wholesale customers to obtain retail and wholesale financing for RVs, manufactured homes, and marine products; the imposition of restrictions and taxes on imports of raw materials and components used in our products; information technology performance and security; any increased cost or limited availability of certain raw materials; the impact of governmental and environmental regulations, and our inability to comply with them; our level of indebtedness; the ability to remain in compliance with our credit agreement covenants; the availability and costs of labor and production facilities and the impact of labor shortages; inventory levels of retailers and manufacturers; the ability to generate cash flow or obtain financing to fund growth; future growth rates in the Company's core businesses; realization and impact of efficiency improvements and cost reductions; the successful integration of acquisitions and other growth initiatives; increases in interest rates and oil and gasoline prices; the ability to retain key executive and management personnel; the disruption of business resulting from natural disasters or other unforeseen events, and adverse weather conditions impacting retail sales.
There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will be realized or that actual results will not be significantly different from that set forth in such forward-looking statement. Information about certain risks that could affect our business and cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are contained in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and in the Company's Forms 10-Q for subsequent quarterly periods, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date on which it is made.
SOURCE Patrick Industries, Inc. | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/patrick-industries-inc-reports-record-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2021-financial-results-301479859.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:25 | en | 0.942726 |
CLEVELAND — Diversity in the classroom is a matter close to the hearts of many educators.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about eight in 10 U.S. public school teachers, or 79%, identified as non-Hispanic white during the 2017-18 school year. Less than 7% identify as Black and only 24% are men.
In the city of Cleveland, just 2% identify as Black males.
The student demographics of school districts, including those in the Cleveland area, are far more diverse. Populations of Black, Hispanic and Asian American students are increasing rapidly, making up nearly half the classroom.
The push to diversify educators is now in full swing.
An organization called "Black Men Teach Cleveland" recently teamed up with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to help encourage Black men and other races to become teachers.
"We want Black male educators, as well as other educators of all races," said Bruce Ransom, the chair of Black Men Teach Cleveland. "It's very important that students have someone to look at as a role model. And what better person than a Black, educated man to have them help guide their education in their learning and also life choices?"
Ransom has been an educator in the Cleveland Municipal School District for the past 27 years. He said the group has a five-phase theory of action to help attract more Black men to be teachers by offering ways to help them grow professionally.
- Recruit
- Prepare
- Place
- Position
- Retain
"I think it's very important that we are visible in the classroom settings because there's so few of us. I didn't run into my first Black male teacher until I was in college," said Aaron Eatman, an educator at Warrensville Heights City Schools, said in a YouTube campaign video.
Black Men Teach Cleveland meets every second Thursday of the month to answer questions or address concerns. Thursday, Feb. 10 is the group's next meeting. Click here for more information.
This story was originally published by Meg Shaw on Scripps station WEWS in Cleveland. | https://www.fox13now.com/news/national/group-hopes-to-recruit-more-black-men-to-be-teachers-in-effort-to-diversify-community-classrooms | 2022-02-10T16:05:27 | en | 0.979323 |
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure Storage® (NYSE: PSTG), an IT pioneer that delivers storage as-a-service, today announced a strategic engagement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) for solution development and enablement programs for Pure's Portworx solutions to help enterprises move Kubernetes workloads into production.
Gartner predicts that by 2025, more than 85% of global organizations will be running containerized applications in production, up from less than 35% in 2019.1 Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS) is a managed service to run and scale Kubernetes on AWS without needing to install, operate, and maintain a Kubernetes control plane or nodes. As container adoption increases and more applications are being deployed in the enterprise, these organizations want more options to manage stateful and persistent data associated with these modern applications.
Portworx by Pure Storage can bring a fully integrated solution to customers for persistent storage, data protection, disaster recovery, data security, cross-region and hybrid data migrations, and automated capacity management for Kubernetes applications built by developers.
- Portworx Enterprise gets right to the heart of what developers and Kubernetes admins want: data to behave just like a cloud service. These users want to simply request storage based on their requirements (capacity, performance level, resiliency level, security level and access, protection level, and more), and let the data management layer figure out all the details.
- Portworx PX-Backup adds enterprise-grade point-and-click backup and recovery for all applications running on Kubernetes, even if they are stateless.
As part of its work with AWS, Portworx has also announced an Early Access Program for Portworx Backup as-a-Service (BaaS) on AWS. Portworx BaaS introduces a modern data protection control plane to accelerate implementation of data and application recovery objectives, delivering speed and simplicity to application owners for safeguarding Kubernetes applications. Portworx BaaS is one of the many as-a-Service offerings the company will deliver to its customers in the future.
This three year strategic engagement is the latest step in expanding the relationship between Pure Storage and AWS, and will deliver a comprehensive Kubernetes platform for mutual customers moving applications into production.
"Portworx and Amazon EKS deliver a truly better together solution that tackles some of the biggest challenges organizations face when bringing Kubernetes applications to enterprise scale," said Murli Thirumale, VP and General Manager, Cloud Native Business Unit, Pure Storage. "We are excited by the results we've seen from our many joint customers who are using our solutions together today, and look forward to being able to accelerate Kubernetes applications for many more as a result of our expanded relationship with AWS, including our new Portworx Backup as-a-Service offering on AWS."
"As more and more organizations adopt containers and Kubernetes to build and modernize applications, solutions that accelerate their journey to the cloud create significant value," said Deepak Singh, VP Compute Services, AWS. "We are excited to work with Portworx to provide customers another option for backup and data management on Amazon EKS."
"As demand for healthcare workers skyrocketed, we needed to rapidly deliver new digital tools that better serve our customers, who count on us to provide more than 30% of the temporary medical employees in the United States. We started by migrating most of our technology infrastructure on AWS and adopting Kubernetes to develop, test, and deploy new applications, but we needed a storage layer that was as flexible as the other elements of our cloud-native stack," said Reed Glauser, Director of Engineering, CHG Healthcare. "Portworx added the capabilities to Amazon EKS we needed, enabling us to optimize and automate our storage management, spin up new clusters and migrate seamlessly, and significantly accelerate and streamline our cloud development life cycle."
To learn more, visit:
- Portworx Enterprise in AWS Marketplace
- PX-Backup in AWS Marketplace
- Early Access Program for Portworx Backup as-a-Service (BaaS) on AWS
About Pure Storage
Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG) gives technologists their time back. Pure delivers a modern data experience that empowers organizations to run their operations as a true, automated, storage as-a-service model seamlessly across multiple clouds. Pure helps customers put data to use while reducing the complexity and expense of managing the infrastructure behind it. And with a certified customer satisfaction score in the top one percent of B2B companies, Pure's ever-expanding list of customers are among the happiest in the world. For more information, visit www.purestorage.com.
Analyst Recognition:
- Leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Primary Storage Arrays
- Leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Distributed File Systems & Object Storage
Connect with Pure
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Pure Storage, the Pure P Logo, Portworx, and the marks on the Pure Trademark List at www.purestorage.com/legal/productenduserinfo.html are trademarks of Pure Storage, Inc. Other names are trademarks of their respective owners.
1 Arun Chandrasekaran, Best Practices for Running Containers and Kubernetes in Production, Gartner, August 2020
SOURCE Pure Storage | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/portworx-by-pure-storage-announces-strategic-engagement-with-aws-301479567.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:31 | en | 0.909884 |
Royal Health Earns ONC Health IT Cures Update Certification from Drummond Group
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Health has achieved the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC-Health IT) 2015 Edition Cures update Health IT certification via Drummond Group LLC, an Authorized Certification Body (ACB). This milestone designates the software delivers the required functionality in support of enabling eligible providers and hospitals to meet the requirements of various regulatory programs that involve the use of certified electronic health records (EHR) technology.
"Royal continues its commitment in delivering best-in-class interoperable solutions while strictly complying with government directives and security measures," said Park Vestal, Chief Technology Officer at Royal Solutions Group. "We deliver flexible, vendor agnostic EHR solutions that purposefully surpass rigorous security and compliance mandates." To earn the certification, Royal Solutions 5.0 was tested to be in accordance with applicable standards and certification criteria put forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Royal Solutions platform, which first met the requirements for ONC Certified HIT over a decade ago, now complies with the ONC's 21st Century Cures Act final rule, making it the only complete Radiology Information System (RIS) on the market that can also deliver an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) suite to its customer portfolio. "By virtue of this certification, RoyalEMR® is born and combines the power of our trusted patient experience, provider engagement and market leading order management, scheduling, medical records, documents and report distribution capabilities," says Peter Nassif, Chief Executive at Royal Solutions Group, "Altogether, Royal enables a new brand of healthcare operations."
This Health IT Module is 2015 Edition Cures Update compliant and has been certified by an ONC-ACB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
About Drummond Group LLC
Drummond Group LLC is a global software test and certification lab that serves a wide range of vertical industries. In healthcare, Drummond tests and certifies Controlled Substance Ordering Systems (CSOS), Electronic Prescription of Controlled Substances (EPCS) software and processes, and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) – designating the trusted test lab as the only third-party certifier of all three initiatives designed to move the industry toward a digital future. With more than 20 years of testing experience across various industries, Drummond brings a high level of technical expertise to this process. Since becoming an ONC-ACB in 2010, Drummond has conducted more than 3,000 health IT tests and certifications. Drummond was founded in 1999 and is an ONC-Accredited Certification Body (ACB) and an Authorized Test Lab (ATL) and continues to build on its deep experience and expertise to deliver reliable and cost-effective services.
About Royal Solutions Group, LLC and its subsidiaries
Royal Solutions Group, LLC is a leading provider of software and services in healthcare. Together with its subsidiaries Royal Health, Inc, RoyalPay, Inc and Royal Concierge, Inc, the suite of solutions focuses on patient, provider, operational, and financial workflows that optimize engagement in all areas of patient care. Royal utilizes straight through processing (STP) to automate information movement through electronic transactions resulting in the elimination of manual work. This results in significantly fewer low-value activities leading to improved patient care and provider satisfaction as well as enabling a level of accuracy and controls in the work that is otherwise unachievable. Royal Enterprise Care and Revenue Management applies STP to all aspects of the imaging workflow to significantly improve order conversion rates, patient and provider satisfaction scores, time of service collections, and all other aspect of the imaging life cycle. Our experience, coupled with the strength of true information management, workflow automation, and cloud services, ensures best practices and tailored innovation to solve our client's unique challenges and achieve measurable business results and improved clinical outcomes. www.royalsolutionsgroup.com
Royal Solutions 5 meets the following certification criteria:
Criteria Tested: 170.315 (a)(1-5, 12-14); (b)(1-2); (d)(1-9, 12-13); (e)(1-3); (g)(2-9); (h)(1)
Clinical Quality Measures Tested: None
Additional Software Used: NLM API, EMRDirect
Holds Certificate No: 15.04.04.2845.Roya.05.00.1.211229
Date Certified: 12/29/2021
Effective Date: 2015 Edition
DEVELOPER CODE: 2845
SELF-DEVELOPER: No
STATUS: Active as of Aug 18, 2016
CONTACT: Peter Nassif
333 Westchester Ave, STE E2204
White Plains, NY 10604, USA
Phone: 646.405.4878
[email protected]
SOURCE Royal Solutions Group | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-health-earns-onc-health-it-cures-update-certification-from-drummond-group-301479358.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:33 | en | 0.89528 |
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — If at first, you don't succeed, try, try again.
Brand new homes in South Florida are not immune to the outrageous demand in the housing market. Buyers are finding out it all comes down to what you are willing to sacrifice.
Owning a new home has always been Terrance Diaz's dream, but he never foresaw the challenges he would face in a market with little inventory, high demand, and increasing prices.
"It's all about your will. How bad do you want it?" Diaz said.
It turns out you have to want it bad.
"It's definitely way more challenging than it's ever been with new construction," said real estate agent Karen Moody.
Moody said she doesn't always jump at new construction these days. The competition is nothing like she's seen before.
"Some of these buyers are having to put in offers at the sales centers, and they don't know what they'll get," she said. "You go over $100,000; are you competing against the sales center? Or are you competing against another buyer?"
Bidding wars are a new part of the insatiable demand for new homes.
"There is no shortage of buyers," said Tonia Abrahamsson, vice president of sales at Minto Communities, a known developer in the area currently building a master plan neighborhood in western Palm Beach County.
At the Minto Communities' building site located in Westlake off Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, developers build a city within a city.
Even with a plan to build 4,500 homes in the next 10 years, more buyers than lots are available.
"We are limiting the amount of home sites that we release at a time just to control what's going on in the market," Abrahamsson said.
With supply chain issues and worker shortages, Abrahamsson said it's all-new territory for builders who must order materials six months in advance instead of 60 days.
"Initially, when someone came in, in the beginning, prior to the pandemic, and what’s going on, our build time was anywhere from six to eight months," Abrahamsson said. "Now, what we're looking at, about 11 months."
So, what do buyers have to do if they want that new home?
"Me, I'm always reaching for the stars," Diaz said.
Diaz and his wife, Veronica, live in Broward County and set their heart on a brand-new home for their growing family in Westlake.
"They have a resort, living style waterpark. Let's start with that, for the family," he said. "And I'm more excited because I'm back in my hometown, you know, Palm Beach County."
Ken H. Johnson, a real estate economist and Florida Atlantic University's associate dean of graduate programs, said a higher percentage of people move into Palm Beach County than move south to Miami-Dade.
"Palm Beach County, for example, in the next 10 years, is expecting an increase in population of slightly over 14%," Johnson said. "That all puts a strong high demand on homes in Palm Beach County."
For Diaz, that meant it wasn't going to be easy to get his dream home.
"We slept in the back of her SUV, and it was all night, all morning," Diaz said.
He and his wife learned the system to purchase at Sky Cove homes in Westlake. A few lots are released every couple of weeks, but only to those willing to be the first in line.
"You think, how many times am I going to have to do this?" said Veronica Nieto-Diaz, Terrance's wife.
Two times the Diazs waited outside the sales center on release days, hours before the office would open, but were too late. Other buyers arrived before them and got the first pick for the only three lots released.
He arrived 20 hours before lot release time the third time, spending the night in his car.
"When you got there, you took your picture, you signed in," Diaz said. "The tough part is, you couldn't leave; you had to stay."
Not all new developments at Westlake have the same system.
Minto Communities has a confidential electronic system where those buyers on the waiting list are sent an email to submit a form when lots are released.
The first buyers to submit the form get a chance to secure the very few lots released. This process can take months for many buyers before they are first in line.
The Diazs overnight adventure landed them on spot No. 2 out of three. They secured a lot, but it's going to cost more.
Every release date, the lots to build are increasing at different increments. Sometimes those increases are $10,000, $20,000 even up to $40,000.
"Don't go by the signs you're seeing on the road," said Moody regarding homes no longer selling starting in the $300s.
The market's challenges and demand are driving up new builds costs.
"If you keep waiting, prolonging it, it's only going to go up," Diaz said.
While demand is not slowing down, the Diazs are finally in the home stretch.
"A story that we have to tell behind this home," Veronica Nieto-Diaz said.
"It may be our 'Happy New Year' present. At the latest, January of next year, we should be moving in," Diaz said. "It's brand new, from the ground. Yes, American dream."
Realtors say if you have your heart set on a brand-new home, there are a couple of things that can help you above the competition in this market:
- Make sure you are pre-approved for your home loan before you start looking.
- Hiring a real estate agent, even with new construction, can help you deal with the sales centers and building process.
- If you really like one specific developer and location is flexible, check to see what other communities are being built by the same company. | https://www.fox13now.com/news/national/priced-out-of-paradise-buyers-engage-in-bidding-wars-camp-overnight-for-new-homes-in-florida | 2022-02-10T16:05:34 | en | 0.982391 |
Shaquille O'Neal's Big Game Weekend Party Joins with Lomotif for Worldwide Exclusive Live Stream
Lomotif to Stream "Shaq's Fun House Presented by FTX" Live on LoMoTV, Utilizing Blended Media Cross Platform Distribution Strategy to Stream on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch and other top Video Platforms
LoMoTV Live Stream to be Featured on YouTube and Twitch Through its Exclusive Distribution with Insomniac
FAIRPORT, N.Y., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vinco Ventures (NASDAQ: BBIG) and ZASH Global Media and Entertainment through their Joint Venture, ZVV Media Partners, announced today that Lomotif's digital entertainment network LoMoTV has joined with Shaquille O'Neal to produce his over-the-top Big Game Weekend Party "Shaq's Fun House" which is presented by FTX, and produced by Medium Rare and ABG Entertainment. The festival is scheduled to take place on Friday, February 11, 2022 in Los Angeles and is expected to feature top performances by Lil Wayne, Zedd, Diplo and DJ Diesel, along with appearances from iconic athletes and other talent.
Through its exclusive distribution with Insomniac, a producer of top music festivals and events in the world, LoMoTV plans to live stream "Shaq's Fun House" on YouTube's home page throughout the event. Lomotif expects to generate a large audience for the event, deploying its blended media, cross-platform distribution strategy to stream on additional platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch.
Powered by Bulldog DM the live stream of "Shaq's Fun House" follows the momentum LoMoTV received from its launch at the 2021 Electronic Daisy Carnival where it featured exclusive backstage content and interviews, as well as an exclusive performance from Lil Nas X and The Kid Laroi. LoMoTV's EDC stream was viewed by hundreds of millions of people.
Fans will be able to live stream "Shaq's Fun House" from the short-form video platform Lomotif on LoMoTV, in addition to TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch.
Magnifi U, an immersive, online personal and professional development platform that helps people align with their purpose and nurture their unique superpowers, will join as a sponsor of "Shaq's Fun House." Magnifi U will provide guests information to download the Magnifi U app to develop their own skills.
"We are excited to be doing this again after our successful live stream of EDC which was viewed by hundreds of millions of people," said Ted Farnsworth of ZVV Media Partners. "We are deploying our blended media, cross-platform distribution strategy to increase our audience by utilizing the streams of other video platforms, raising our own visibility and awareness."
This is the fourth year running that Shaquille O'Neal will host the ultimate Friday night event leading into football's biggest game of the year. Unlike other VIP experiences during Big Game Weekend, Shaq has created a signature event that is open to the public, allowing fans to partake in the fun. "Shaq's Fun House" has attracted the biggest names in sports and entertainment, solidifying itself as a "must-attend" event of Big Game Weekend.
Headliners this year are expected to include: Lil Wayne, Zedd, and Special Guest Diplo with a special Halftime Show Featuring DJ Diesel presented by Pepsi Stronger Together. Lil Wayne, an award-winning and game-changing icon, has sold over 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists. He has won five GRAMMY® Awards, 11 BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and eight NAACP Image Awards. Multi-platinum, GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, DJ, and producer Zedd is known for chart-topping collaborations and headlining major music festivals around the world.
About Lomotif
Lomotif is a video-sharing social networking platform that is democratizing video creation. Since the company was co-founded by video enthusiast Paul Yang in 2014, Lomotif has been granted three technology patents focused on empowering creators to share and watch short videos through remix and collaboration. Yang's vision is to build the world's largest video vocabulary to accelerate the world's transition to video-first expression. Lomotif, available in the Apple and Google stores, is a downloadable app that has grown worldwide as a grassroots social community with dedicated users spanning from Asia to South America to the U.S. For additional information about Lomotif, please visit Lomotif's website at www.lomotif.com.
About LomoTV
LoMoTV is a digital entertainment and lifestyle content network offering original programming within the Lomotif app.
About Vinco Ventures, Inc.
Vinco Ventures, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBIG) is focused on the development of digital media and content technologies. Vinco Ventures' consolidated subsidiary, ZVV Media Partners, LLC, a joint venture of Vinco Ventures and ZASH Global Media and Entertainment Corporation, has an 80% ownership interest in Lomotif Private Limited. For more information visit Investors.vincoventures.com.
About Insomniac
Insomniac produces some of the most innovative, immersive music festivals and events in the world. Enhanced by state-of-the-art lighting, pyrotechnics and sound design, large-scale art installations, theatrical performers and next-generation special effects, these events captivate the senses and inspire a unique level of fan interaction. The quality of the experience is the company's top priority.
For over 28 years, Insomniac has produced more than 2,000 festivals, concerts and club nights for nearly seven million attendees across the globe. The company's premier annual event, Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas, is the world's largest dance music festival and attracts more than 525,000 fans over three days.
The company was founded by Pasquale Rotella and has been based in Los Angeles since it was formed in 1993. In 2013, Insomniac entered into a partnership with global entertainment company Live Nation.
About Medium Rare
Focused at the intersection of Sports & Entertainment, Medium Rare partners with athletes, celebrities, and brands to build iconic media properties. Medium Rare is the creator and producer of Webby Award-winning brands including The Shaq Bowl, Shaq's Fun House, Daymond John's Black Entrepreneurs Day, Guy Fieri's Restaurant Reboot, The Sports Illustrated Awards, Rob Gronkowski's Gronk Beach, Shaq vs Gronk, and more. Medium Rare was founded by Joe Silberzweig and Adam Richman, who were recently honored with 4X Webby Awards, Variety Hollywood's New Leaders, Forbes 30 Under 30, and Pollstar's Next Gen Impact. Learn more at www.Medium-Rare.com.
About ABG Entertainment
ABG Entertainment offers unparalleled storytelling through long-form and short-form content, live event production, hospitality, and immersive experiences in collaboration with the world's most influential creators, distributors, brands, and artists. ABG Entertainment is a division of Authentic Brands Group, a global brand development, marketing, and entertainment company, and owner of a portfolio of iconic and renowned brands that generate more than $14 billion in retail sales worldwide. For more information, visit authenticbrandsgroup.com.
Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimers
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based upon beliefs of, and information currently available to, Vinco Ventures' management as well as estimates and assumptions made by Vinco Ventures' management. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. When used in this presentation the words "estimate," "expect," "intend," "believe," "plan," "anticipate," "projected," and other words or the negative of these terms and similar expressions as they relate to the applicable company or its management identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of Vinco Ventures with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors relating to Vinco Ventures and its consolidated subsidiaries including ZVV Media Partners and Lomotif, their industry, financial condition, operations and results of operations. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the expected benefits from Vinco Ventures' investments in Lomotif and production of "Shaq's Fun House" and related growth initiatives involving LomoTV, the expected benefits of Lomotif's participation in and partnership with live entertainment events such as EDC, and such other risks and uncertainties described more fully in documents filed by Vinco Ventures with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors discussed in Vinco Ventures' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2020 filed on April 15, 2021, and Vinco Ventures' Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed thereafter including the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 filed on November 22, 2021, which are available at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended, or planned. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.
SOURCE ZASH Global Media and Entertainment | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shaquille-oneals-big-game-weekend-party-joins-with-lomotif-for-worldwide-exclusive-live-stream-301479609.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:39 | en | 0.938159 |
The Oakland Athletics announced that former Major League Baseball star Jeremy Giambi has died.
"We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of a member of our Green and Gold family, Jeremy Giambi," the A's said in a statement on Twitter. "We offer our condolences to Jeanne, Jason, and his family and friends."
The Associated Press reported that the former outfielder and first baseman died at his parents' home in Southern California on Wednesday.
He was 47.
A cause of death has not been determined.
Giambi spent six seasons in the bigs, having played for the Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, A's, and Boston Red Sox.
"The Phillies are saddened to hear the news of Jeremy Giambi's tragic passing," the team said in a statement on Twitter. "Our condolences go out to his family during this very difficult time."
According to CNN, Giambi last played ball in 2003 after playing in Boston.
"We send our heartfelt condolences to the Giambi family," the Red Sox said in a statement on Twitter.
During his time with the A's, Jeremy played alongside his older brother Jason. | https://www.fox13now.com/sports/former-mlb-player-jeremy-giambi-dies-at-47-in-california | 2022-02-10T16:05:40 | en | 0.990962 |
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for DRMA, IRNT, APTS, MAT, and VKTX.
To see how InvestorsObserver's proprietary scoring system rates these stocks, view the InvestorsObserver's PriceWatch Alert by selecting the corresponding link.
- DRMA: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=DRMA&prnumber=021020221
- IRNT: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=IRNT&prnumber=021020221
- APTS: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=APTS&prnumber=021020221
- MAT: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=MAT&prnumber=021020221
- VKTX: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-stocks-lp-2/?symbol=VKTX&prnumber=021020221
(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-dermata-therapeutics-ironnet-preferred-apartment-communities-mattel-or-viking-therapeutics-301479840.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:45 | en | 0.774522 |
TEANECK, N.J., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Validated Claim Support, an FDA Registered and Inspected Personal Care Clinical Testing Laboratory in Teaneck NJ, has just announced a major expansion of their Before and After photographic capabilities which help demonstrate product efficacy.
As a leading provider of skincare claim support in the Clinical Research Organization (CRO) space, also known as Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC), Validated provides custom tailored claim studies designed to differentiate products in domestic and global markets. Specializing in In-vivo testing by way of Expert Grading, Bio-Instrumental Assessments, Consumer In-Use Studies, and High-Resolution Imaging, Validated Claim Support offers a unique bridge between scientifically backed claims and marketing ready presentation formats.
According to Brian Ecclefield, VCS' Managing Director, "Validated is proud to announce that we've recently purchased a Canfield Visia CR Generation 5, and will be one of the first labs in the world to use it in a clinical setting. With the newest version of 3D analysis through Canfield's Primos capture system at our fingertips, we'll be an early adapter of the new cutting-edge hardware and the analysis software that backs it up."
As clinical support for products becomes more sought after in the ever-changing, competitive skincare and cosmetic marketplace, staying ahead of industry trends is something that Jane Tervooren, Vice President of VCS, believes is a core competency of their organization. "Every year the latest and greatest trends in skincare evolve as consumers demand more effective and transparently sourced products. As the consumer learns about how ingredients are sourced and how effective they are claimed to be, the entire supply chain has to adapt and help present product claims in an ethical, efficient and easy to understand manner."
As a result, VCS has invested heavily into its Clinical Before and After Testing studios within its research laboratory. Validated recommends including clinical photos in most study designs, as they provide a window into what technicians see behind the scenes. Historically, expert grading and instrumentation have been the strongest supporting data for studies and new product launches. By combining high resolution Before and After images, 3D skin model analysis, and custom visual support, Validated hopes to further educate the industry and consumers on what a product actually does by letting them see it with their own eyes.
"People used to say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in our industry a high resolution, digitally controlled photograph that clearly shows product efficacy can be worth tens of millions of dollars to a brand in global product sales," says Brian Ecclefield. "Our Clinical Photography Studios and imaging technology allow even smaller brands and newcomers to the skincare and cosmetic world to have an equal opportunity to prove how well their products work."
According to Jane Tervooren, not every product can be shot in the same lighting conditions. The proprietary nature of Validated's customizable studios provides a real competitive edge for their clientele. "Our sponsors trust us to completely custom tailor their studies, sometimes even creating one off studio environments to control the variables associated with individual products and their efficacy and application." Jane adds that Validated is not like other competitor laboratories, because they have a uniquely trained, 16-year veteran behind the lens. "At Validated Claim Support our clinical photography studio has been completely custom build by James VanZetta, who has spent his career custom tailoring novel, high end clinical studios for major multinational sponsors, as well as other clinical testing laboratories. We're incredibly lucky to have the best in the business behind the camera."
Visit VCS on the web at www.validatedcs.com
Contact:
Brian Ecclefield
[email protected]
201 331 9300
SOURCE Validated Claim Support | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/validated-claim-support-expands-before-and-after-clinical-imaging-capabilities-301479370.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:51 | en | 0.948792 |
DURHAM, N.C., Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verity Asset Management (VAM), a Registered Investment Advisor, is today pleased to announce the appointment of Robert McLean, as Chief Governance Officer of their newly launched service offering, the Plan Governance Platform, Vynntana™. Vynntana™ is a service providing a comprehensive suite of tools and expert services in support of 403(b) and 457(b) plan sponsors and the non-ERISA retirement vehicles they provide for their eligible employees.
Having served since 2008 in the employer-sponsored retirement plans space, McLean joined Verity Asset Management in October 2021. Former President and CEO of independent 3rd party administrator, U.S. OMNI, he brings a wealth of knowledge and senior-level executive experience acquired in roles ranging from Chief Counsel and C-suite executive to public sector retirement plan industry consultant. He earned his Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, from Boston College.
His responsibilities will focus on designing operational policies and procedures, service offerings, training systems, and customer experience systems underpinning Vynntana™.
"I've known Verity for quite a while and thought highly of them. My decision to join the company was due to the fact they're well respected in the industry, the people, and the new business platform," says McLean. "Vynntana™ offered through Verity Asset Management is the next step in the evolution of the 403(b) industry. It brings employers the technology, process and expertise for responsible and effective plan oversight (including investment provider management), as well as fee transparency, investment performance evaluation, the establishment and execution of appropriate education, fee and investment policies, improved participation, plan management, and complaint resolution."
Al Otto, National Director – Plan Governance Systems at Verity says, "Rob is an excellent addition to our team and is perfectly positioned with the skills and mindset to help launch Vynntana™ into the industry leader that we all envision, bringing an institutional set of tools and thought leadership to Governmental DC plans."
For questions or to learn more about Vynntana™, contact the company at (https://www.verityinvest.com/contact-us/) or call us at (800) 247-6717.
About Verity Asset Management:
Verity Asset Management is a Durham, N.C.-based Registered Investment Advisor. Founded in 1996, VAM provides a suite of advisory services nationally to investors, employers and other investment advisors. Services include: Wealth Management for individual investors, integrating decades of expertise and evolving new technologies; Customized Financial and Retirement Savings Guidance to help better assure investor savings last their lifetime; Governance and Oversight for Employer Plans providing specialized expertise in tax-exempt and corporate plans; and Turnkey Solutions for Investment Advisors delivering investment management and practice support. For more information, visit https://www.verityinvest.com/.
Media Contact:
Jae Di Lorenzo
[email protected]
762-787-7396
SOURCE Verity Asset Management | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/verity-asset-management-names-robert-mclean-chief-governance-officer-for-new-advisory-services-business-unit-vynntana-301479544.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:53 | en | 0.943474 |
Vorto Launches 5F to Optimize and Improve The Entire Trucking Ecosystem
Expands Technology Suite to Digitally Transform The Supply Chain and Empower Truckers
DENVER, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vorto, a company focused on making supply chains more efficient and environmentally sustainable, today announced the launch of 5F, the industry's first fully integrated transportation platform set to create more opportunities for drivers and reliable capacity for shippers and brokers.
Through the 5F platform, Vorto produces operational efficiencies for the whole trucking ecosystem. Brokers and shippers gain access to the largest platform of cross-industry owner operators. Asset owners gain networks of both owner operators to lease to and maintenance yards to manage and maintain assets, all in one place. The platform is focused on maximizing the utilization rate and earnings for drivers, while reducing cost inflation for shippers and brokers.
On Halliburton's recent Q4 earnings call, CEO Jeff Miller said, "... in 2021, we expanded our collaboration with Vorto and now benefit from 5F, the largest integrated transportation platform in the oil and gas industry. This platform has several thousand drivers, hundreds of carriers, and a chain of asset-management yards. It allows us to effectively manage trucking inflation and availability constraints and significantly reduce logistics-related, nonproductive time."
Low pay and inconsistent work has caused drivers to flee the industry, exacerbating existing problems within the supply chain. With massive optimization challenges and the overall shortage of resources, there's a critical need for a true end-to-end solution. Through its user-friendly app (available for free on iOS and Android), 5F connects shippers, drivers, asset owners and infrastructure owners on a single platform. Focused on making trucking a more sustainable and consistent career, 5F "gives drivers the wheel" to create their own schedules and build wealth.
When drivers sign up for 5F, they benefit from:
- Increased Pay, Next-Day: 5F automates the overhead costs of a trucking company, which means they are able to pay drivers 92.5% to 95% of the load price versus the 75% to 80% standard of the industry. It also pays them the next day, rather than weeks later, allowing drivers to more easily manage their cashflow.
- Maximized Driver Utilization Rates: Because the app is connected to Vorto's proprietary AI, 5F predicts the shipping demand and matches drivers with the best loads so they can make more money. Using this AI, deadhead and idle time of drivers is reduced from 50% to 10%.
"The 'driver shortage' is really more a function of poor utilization causing inconsistent and low income, making the industry less attractive to new generations. Since the supply chain is so dynamic, it's impossible to manually optimize drivers' utilization rates and incomes. As a result, they play musical chairs with carriers in search of better income, which creates significant driver churn and volatility for shippers and brokers," said Priyesh Ranjan, CEO of Vorto. "Launching 5F is a natural extension of Vorto's AI technology suite. By maximizing the driver's utilization rate and income with AI, we are able to reduce driver churn and provide stable and lower cost freight to shippers. We have been able to move the same amount of freight with up to 60% less trucks by reducing deadhead and idle time for drivers."
To learn more about 5F from Vorto visit: https://5f.app
About Vorto:
Vorto is on a mission to increase sustainability and create more jobs by making supply chains more efficient across the entire value chain. Through powerful AI technology, Vorto's autonomous supply chain platform seeks to reduce carbon emissions caused by supply chain transportation, improve the lives of approximately 3.5 million truck drivers by better utilizing their time and create more jobs across all players in B2B transactions. Vorto is facilitating a digital transformation in B2B supply chains by automating how we move, sell, and buy goods and eliminating the cognitive overload associated with other supply chain management technology. This technology automates data preparation, analysis and decision making, and is already used by Fortune 500 companies across North America. In just one year, Vorto's transformative approach to the supply chain has saved users over $480 million and eliminated 150,000 tons of CO2 emissions by reducing inefficiencies. Vorto was founded in 2018 to service every industry dealing with bulk logistics in North America and is headquartered in Denver. For more information visit, vorto.ai.
SOURCE Vorto | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vorto-launches-5f-to-optimize-and-improve-the-entire-trucking-ecosystem-301478913.html | 2022-02-10T16:05:59 | en | 0.934099 |
Web 3.0 Takes Fashion into the Future: Nitches to Accept Cryptocurrency and Interact with Ethereum / Polygon Wallets
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nitches Inc., (NICH) (the "Company") a designer and manufacturer of high-end clothing and accessories, today announced it's entering the Web 3.0 revolution with its Owner Verification System (OVS™), which features a decentralized application (dApp). The OVS dApp is being built on the Ethereum, an open public decentralized platform, where no single person or group has control. The dApp will integrate with leading Ethereum/Polygon wallets, including MetaMask, Ledger Nano X, TronLink, Scatter, Coinbase and Trust. The company also plans to accept cryptocurrency payments on its web stores. Customers will be able to check out using Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, DAI, Dogecoin or USD Coin for limited-edition clothing items from celebrity capsule collections.
"Nitches is fully embracing Web 3.0 and metaverse technologies, whether it's creating NFTs of our luxury clothing, accepting crypto payments or developing our dApp with smart contracts on the Ethereum/Polygon blockchain," said John Morgan, Nitches' CEO. "We want to lead the fashion industry by merging cutting-edge technology with the highest-quality clothing items in the market, created with today's top celebrities and influencers."
Web 3.0, the third version of the Internet, will be decentralized, giving people more control over their data. Nitches' OVS dApp interacts with Web 3.0 technologies, such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs of hoodies, baseball caps and other items are currently being created. They will be transferred to owners after they are registered using the OVS dApp. Registration will prove ownership and verify the legitimacy of the items. The dApp consists of four other Web 3.0-related components.
- Front end - the dApp takes input from users and builds requests that are deployed on the network as smart contracts.
- QR codes – users scan the QR code that is sewn into each piece of clothing to start the verification process.
- Polygon/Ethereum wallets – where users sign transactions and send them to the network.
- Smart contracts – our developers wrote the logic of the dAPP into smart contracts, which are programs that run on the Ethereum blockchain. Smart contracts are created when money is exchanged, services delivered or digitally protected content unlocked.
Web 3.0 is being built on blockchain technology that is maintained without a central authority. Blockchain data is distributed, making it more safe and secure.
About Nitches Corporation
Nitches is a high-end clothing and accessories company that specializes in creating limited-edition athleisure and streetwear apparel that are sustainable, authentic and exclusive. We collaborate with fashion-forward influencers and celebrities to create capsule collections that reflect their vision and brand. We developed innovative technology to protect our intellectual property and prevent counterfeiting. We strive for creativity, excellence and value in all that we do for our collaborators, customers and stakeholders. For more information, visit nitchescorp.com.
Forward Looking Statements:This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "plan," "could," "target," "potential," "is likely," "will," "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Some or all of the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not be achieved. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
SOURCE Nitches | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/web-3-0-takes-fashion-into-the-future-nitches-to-accept-cryptocurrency-and-interact-with-ethereum--polygon-wallets-301479770.html | 2022-02-10T16:06:05 | en | 0.939186 |
Webber Research Promotes Gregory Wasikowski To Leadership Role And Expands Equity Platform
NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Webber Research & Advisory LLC ("Webber Research"), a leading Renewables & Energy Infrastructure research and advisory boutique announces the continued expansion of its Independent Equity Research practice, including the promotion of Gregory Wasikowski, CFA to Senior Analyst, covering Renewables, Alternative Fuels, & LNG Infrastructure, and the addition of Bhavesh Nath to its research team.
Wasikowski's promotion to Senior Analyst follows three years of service to the firm he co-founded in 2019, and will see his role expand to include leadership of Webber Research's New York-based equity research team, and coordination with Webber Research's Energy Engineering & Project Development team in Houston, W|EPC.
Wasikowski brings nearly a decade of financial experience to the leadership role, including his work as a senior member of the Institutional Investor (I.I.) ranked research teams at both Webber Research and Wells Fargo, which ranked #1 in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Wasikowski was also instrumental in leading Webber Research to a Runner-Up finish in the 2020 I.I. All-America Research Team, becoming the only new platform to receive ranked I.I. recognition across any of the survey's +60 sectors.
Webber Research is also pleased to announce the addition of Bhavesh Nath to its equity research team as an associate. Prior to joining Webber Research, he spent three years with CRISIL (S&P Global) as a Senior Analyst, supporting credit trading at bulge bracket European Investment Banks.
Prior to CRISIL, Bhavesh spent five years with Transparent Value Pvt. Ltd. (a Guggenheim Partners Company) as a part of the credit research team working with Guggenheim, focused on both Investment Grade and High Yield credit opportunities across multiple geographies and verticals. Bhavesh has an MBA from N.L. Dalmia Institute of Management Research.
"We're tremendously fortunate to have Greg at the helm of our growing research platform, which he played an instrumental role in developing three years ago, particularly as we expand into new sectors and verticals, and continue building out our teams in New York, Houston, and Philadelphia," said Michael Webber, Managing Partner.
"We're also very excited for Bhavesh Nath to join our platform, particularly with his multidisciplinary credit background, which should help create an even stronger value proposition for our clients."
Webber Research has been at the forefront of Energy Infrastructure for the past 15 years, providing market leading equity and industry research for institutional investors, corporates, project developers, and private capital providers.
Media Contact:
Walter Lobo
[email protected]
646-776-6425
Related Links
https://webberresearch.com/
SOURCE Webber Research & Advisory LLC | https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/webber-research-promotes-gregory-wasikowski-to-leadership-role-and-expands-equity-platform-301479352.html | 2022-02-10T16:06:11 | en | 0.946264 |
Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin seeks Olympic reset; enters super-G after training
The on-the-slopes portion of what Mikaela Shiffrin hopes will be a "reset" at the Beijing Olympics — moving on from early mistakes that eliminated her from two races — began under a cloudless sky with a pair of trips about a half-hour apart down the competition hill during an official training session Thursday for the upcoming super-G.
Wearing a maroon racing helmet, bright red reflective goggles and a white racing suit with "USA" on the front in blue capital letters, the two-time Olympic gold medalist eased across the finish line each time, upright instead of in a speed-preserving tuck. After the first, she paused briefly to chat with two other racers. After the second, she swiftly made her way past a gathering of about a dozen folks and was on her way.
All of that was clear to anyone present. Less certain right there and then: How Shiffrin is faring with her off-the-slopes attempt to get over those sudden and surprising exits in her best disciplines.
What became known via the U.S. ski team a few hours later, though, was that Shiffrin will, indeed, take part in the super-G on Friday as the women move from the technical to the speed events. That will be her third start of what still could end up being a six-race trip to China.
"It's hard to accept what happened, but she has to work through it. And one of the better ways to do that is to keep looking forward. She has multiple events here, which is great for her," U.S. head women's Alpine coach Paul Kristofic said. "You have to look at what's in front of you and try to put what's behind you to rest, as difficult as that is."
Kristofic said Thursday's practice "went well."
Shiffrin, a 26-year-old from Colorado, never has entered a super-G at an Olympics, but she did win it at the 2019 world championships.
"Being outside and switching events and doing something different — it's a different impulse, for sure, in speed, and it's a good feeling to be out here and pushing and skiing well," Kristofic said. "That's part of the process to get through it."
Shiffrin's boyfriend, Norwegian skier Aleskander Aamodt Kilde, described her as being "in a good state; she's all right."
"She's a hero and she can handle this. She handles pressure like no one else, and this is something she will come out of," said Kilde, who won a silver Thursday in Alpine combined. "But it's been a couple of tough days."
A U.S. ski team spokeswoman said Thursday that Shiffrin and her mother, Eileen, who also serves as a coach, would not "be doing any media for the foreseeable future."
Shiffrin spoke at length to reporters Wednesday, when her opening leg of slalom (which she won at the 2014 Olympics) ended after about five seconds, roughly half as long as her opening leg of giant slalom (which she won at the 2018 Olympics) had lasted Monday.
"I will try to reset again, and maybe try to reset better this time," Shiffrin said after the slalom.
"But I also don't know how to do better because," she continued, and then paused, before adding, "because I just don't."
So much success on skis came so quickly, and seemingly so easily, for Shiffrin.
On a World Cup podium at age 16. A world champion at 17. An Olympic gold medalist at 18. And the accolades kept on coming for the American, who now is 26: A second Winter Games gold, along with a silver. Six world championships in all. Three overall World Cup titles. A total of 47 World Cup slalom wins, more than any other athlete in any event, ever.
That's why her start in China is so difficult for everyone to comprehend, including her.
"It is strange to see. But it also makes her human. It makes her more like all of us — because, sometimes, you ask yourself whether she actually is. She's so precise, so strong mentally, that you ask yourself whether what she does is even possible," said Federica Brignone of Italy, who won a silver in the giant slalom this week and a bronze behind Shiffrin in that race four years ago. "She's an athlete who has won so much, but maybe she was too stressed out."
In the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics, Shiffrin talked about the pressure and expectations she was all-too-aware of — from within, from fans, from coaches, friends and family.
Kristofic raised that topic when asked to explain what might have gone wrong with Shiffrin's skiing so far.
"Mikaela has her technical cues, and obviously they work. In a big event like this, the pressure is something that most of us aren't able to comprehend, especially when you're a medal favorite, or a gold medal favorite, for multiple events. That's the piece that's hard for anyone else, other than the actual person in it, to really wrap your head around," he said. "That kind of pressure is not the easiest thing to manage and it can manifest in physical ways."
AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf contributed to this report. | https://www.4029tv.com/article/mikaela-shiffrin-enters-super-g-after-training/39031983 | 2022-02-10T16:06:43 | en | 0.980191 |
Report: National Archives asks DOJ to probe Trump record handling
The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the National Archives and Records Administration has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether former President Donald Trump violated federal law in the handling of documents.
The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm the report.
The referral followed several Post stories chronicling how then-President Trump dealt with documents, including tearing them up. In one report, since confirmed by the National Archives, the agency arranged the transport of 15 boxes of documents from the Mar-a-Lago property in Florida after Trump's representatives discovered them and notified the archives.
The Post says the referral is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether Trump violated the Presidential Records Act, which requires that all presidential records of an administration be turned over to the archives when a president leaves office.
The Archives did not return multiple messages seeking comment. The Justice Department declined comment.
Trump said in a statement that “following collaborative and respectful discussions, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) arranged for the transport of boxes that contained Presidential Records in compliance with the Presidential Records Act” from Mar-a-Lago that will one day become part of the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library.
The statement went on to say that the media’s “characterization of my relationship with NARA is Fake News. It was exactly the opposite! It was a great honor to work with NARA to help formally preserve the Trump Legacy.”
In its own statements earlier this week, the archives acknowledged Trump representatives had been cooperating with NARA and had located records “that had not been transferred to the National Archives at the end of the Trump administration.” NARA arranged for them to be transported to Washington. “NARA officials did not visit or raid the Mar-a-Lago property,” the agency said.
NARA said the former president’s representatives are continuing to search for additional records that belong to the archives.
In a separate statement, Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero said: “Whether through the creation of adequate and proper documentation, sound records management practices, the preservation of records, or the timely transfer of them to the National Archives at the end of an Administration, there should be no question as to need for both diligence and vigilance. Records matter.”
The issue of presidential records, the Trump administration and the archives has been central to the investigation by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection that sought to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election. Trump tried to withhold White House documents in a dispute that rose to the Supreme Court.
In an 8-1 ruling last month, the Court let stand a lower court ruling that said the archives could turn over documents, which include presidential diaries, visitor logs, speech drafts and handwritten notes dealing with Jan. 6 from the files of former chief of staff Mark Meadows. At the time, the House committee agreed to defer its attempt to get some documents, at the request of the Biden White House.
A referral for potential criminal prosecution from a federal agency or from Congress does not mean that the Justice Department is likely to bring charges or that it will even investigate the matter.
Questions about Trump's handling of records date back to 2018, when Politico reported that Trump aides, fearing he might violate the law, routinely pieced documents together with tape because of his habit of tearing them up. | https://www.4029tv.com/article/report-national-archives-asks-doj-to-probe-trump-record-handling/39029502 | 2022-02-10T16:06:53 | en | 0.951549 |
Should you still be wearing a mask?
At this point in the coronavirus pandemic, some areas are phasing out mask mandates, but, at the national level, the guidance to wear masks is staying put, at least for now.
So, should you mask up or not? Infectious disease experts have some advice for wherever you live.
The mask landscape
Whether you must wear a mask depends on where you live in the United States. Whether you should is an entirely different matter, experts say.
About a fifth of states never had mask mandates. Some states with more conservative governors, such as Florida, punished schools that put mask mandates in place by withholding funds, even when COVID-19 cases were at record levels.
Officials in Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and California — states that had more strict mask rules — announced this week that as cases drop significantly in their areas, people can ditch their masks soon if they choose.
Some public health experts think now is the right time to remove mandates, particularly in highly vaccinated communities.
"As the cases are decreasing right now with omicron, you know, in a couple of weeks, maybe removing masks is actually the right thing to do," said Dr. Carlos del Rio, the executive associate dean of the Emory University School of Medicine.
But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines haven't changed. The agency still advises anyone 2 and older to wear a mask when indoors in public if they are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.
Many Americans are not. Only 42.4% of eligible people — about 27% of the total population — are fully vaccinated and boosted, according to the CDC.
In schools, the CDC still recommends that everyone wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has said it's not yet the right time to lift the mandates, though she acknowledged Wednesday that her agency is starting to consider updating its guidance.
"We are working on that guidance. We are working on following the trends for the moment," Walensky said at a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing, adding that even though hospitalizations and death rates are still high, "we are encouraged by the current trends."
Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, agreed. He said knows people are sick of masks but urged them to hang in there a little while longer.
"Independent of whether there's mandates or not, I think people should reasonably wear masks when they're indoors for the next few weeks until we're much farther down then where we are right now," Offit told CNN on Tuesday. "We're almost there."
The science behind masks
Masks have proved to be one of the better aspects of the pandemic, Dr. Erica Johnson said.
"Masks were one of our earliest effective tools, and I think it will continue to be an absolutely important tool, particularly when rates are high within a community," said Johnson, chair of the infectious disease board of the American Board of Internal Medicine. "They work."
A December review of multiple studies by the CDC showed as much. Masks control the spread of disease, and they protect the wearer, particularly a well-fitting mask that the CDC recommends, such as an N95 or KN95.
Masks work in schools too, studies show; there have been more COVID-19 cases in areas without school masking policies. The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to recommend that all students wear well-fitting masks at school, with an emphasis on indoor masking.
The odds are significantly lower that someone will catch COVID-19 if they consistently wear a face mask in an indoor public setting, according to a study published Friday by the CDC.
That would be the case even if few others were wearing one, said Johnson, who is also an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
"People still derive protection from wearing a mask, particularly an effective mask like the N95," Johnson said. "They will go a long way in terms of keeping an individual safe."
Dr. Patty Manning, chief of staff at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, added that masks also are a good reminder to the wearer.
"When you're wearing a mask, you're more cognizant of safe practices," Manning said. It reminds you that there's still a virus out there that can make you really sick. So you may be more apt to observe prevention measures like keeping physical distance from others and washing your hands regularly.
Masking after mandates
So, should you continue to wear a mask? It depends.
Even when all the mandates are gone, Johnson said, some people should keep wearing them.
"Removing the mask mandate doesn't mean that no one should wear a mask," Johnson said. "There are definitely people who are maybe at higher risk or may just have a different level of acceptance of risk for whom wearing a mask will make sense. And for those people, they should absolutely continue to wear a mask, and in wearing a mask, it will help protect them from the virus."
People without underlying conditions that put them at high risk of severe COVID-19 illness should make decisions based on a few factors, Johnson said. "There's going to be a lot of variability."
Tracking COVID-19:
• Nearly two years into the pandemic, what does life after COVID-19 look like?
• Four states set timelines for the end of school mask mandates
• As states plan to lift school mask mandates, CDC remains vague on updating its guidance
People should look at the rate of transmission and hospitalization in their community. If these numbers are high, they may want to wear a mask when indoors in public.
"Different environments have different priorities," Johnson said.
Professor William Haseltine, an infectious disease expert and the president of ACCESS Health International, said people could think of it like how they watch the weather. "We have to watch the infection rates by area. One thing I've always said is that understanding the risk of COVID is very much like understanding the risk of weather. You have to know what's happening in your area," he said.
If you're in a highly public-facing job and interact with a lot of people, for example, you may want to keep masking. In a school, where it's basically the same people every day and many are vaccinated, you won't necessarily need one. It depends on your comfort level for risk.
"I think we just need to assume that the reason to wear a mask is a highly personal one and respect people's choice around it," Johnson said.
She said people won't have to wear masks forever, but there will be times when community transmission and hospitalization rates are high enough that they should.
"I think it's pretty reasonable to expect that, as long as we're dealing with this virus, we are going to see higher rates during certain times of year," Johnson said. "So we probably are going to have to go back to wearing masks multiple times throughout all of this. And I think we should be wearing masks right now, to be frank, but the time will come where we don't need them."
Manning, who is also an attending physician in developmental and behavioral pediatrics, said she thinks the pandemic has put more people at ease with the idea of wearing masks, and that could help with future outbreaks.
"Despite all the politics around masks, COVID has normalized mask wearing in a way that didn't exist in this country," Manning said. "You can wear one and for the most part, you'll be left alone, and it's not anybody's business if you wear a mask or not."
But as the mandates lift, she said, it will be even more important to remind people to respect those who choose to wear masks.
"Somebody who chooses to wear a mask — they have their personal reasons. They might have somebody in their family that they're trying to protect. It's their personal choice, and it's nice to be respectful of people's choices. Wearing a mask doesn't hurt anybody else. It's their business." | https://www.4029tv.com/article/should-you-still-be-wearing-a-mask/39033495 | 2022-02-10T16:07:03 | en | 0.981163 |
US Navy discharges 240 service members for refusing COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. Navy said Wednesday that it has discharged 240 service members for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine as required by the Pentagon's vaccine mandate.
A majority of the service members, 217, were active duty, and one was a U.S. Navy Reserve member, according to a Navy news release. All of those service members received honorable characterizations for their discharges from service, meaning they are still eligible to receive veteran benefits.
Fewer than two dozen -- 22 of the 240 -- were discharged while still undergoing training within their first 180 days of active-duty service.
As of Wednesday, the Navy has granted 10 permanent medical exemptions, 250 temporary medical exemptions and 50 administrative exemptions to the military's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for active-duty service members, according to the release.
In the Reserves, the Navy has granted nine temporary medical exemptions and nine administrative exemptions to the mandate.
The Navy said it has received 3,348 requests for religious exemptions from active-duty service members and nearly 800 such requests from Navy Reserve members. So far, no requests for religious exemptions have been granted.
More than 8,000 Navy service members remained unvaccinated against COVID-19 as of Wednesday, according to the release.
The Navy's deadline for its active-duty members to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus was Nov. 28, 2021. It gave Reserve Navy members until December 28, 2021, to do so.
In December, the Navy announced it would begin discharging members who refuse to get vaccinated, the same week that the Air Force said it had discharged 27 service members and the Marine Corps said it had discharged 103.
The U.S. Army, which is the largest service, just last week announced it will begin separating soldiers from service who refuse vaccination. | https://www.4029tv.com/article/us-navy-discharges-240-service-members-for-refusing-covid-19-vaccine/39029569 | 2022-02-10T16:07:13 | en | 0.976162 |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Florida State University announced Thursday that they have hired a new Chief of Police.
Rhonda L. Harris, a 37-year law enforcement veteran, was tapped to be the new assistant vice president for public safety in addition to being the Chief of Police. She will start in the new position in May.
Harris comes to FSU from Old Dominion University where she has served as chief of police since 2012, adding the title of assistant vice president for public safety in 2014.
Vice President of Finance and Administration Kyle Clark said Harris’ credentials and track record of success help make her a welcome addition at FSU.
“The safety of our students and the entire campus community is a responsibility that we take very seriously,” Clark said. “I am delighted that Chief Harris has agreed to join us. Her dedication to public safety and decades of experience, including serving campus communities, make her a great fit to lead the FSU Police Department.”
In her new role, Harris will oversee the FSU Police Department, a fully accredited law enforcement agency employing about 80 sworn officers and is responsible for law enforcement, campus access and security services, emergency management, and transportation and parking services on campus properties.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead this department,” Harris said. “I’m looking forward to meeting the FSU community and working together to help ensure we maintain a safe campus environment.”
Before Old Dominion, Harris spent 23 years at Rutgers University, where she started as a police officer in 1989 and rose through the ranks to serve as chief of police from 2006-2012.
Harris, who began her career in law enforcement in 1985 as a police officer in El Reno, Oklahoma, holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University, a master’s degree in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in public affairs and administration from Rutgers.
She is also a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership Program, the Advanced Police Executive Development Program of Penn State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminars, The FBI National Academy Session #232, and the Harvard Kennedy School for Executive Education.
The announcement of Harris caps a national search to fill the post, which has been vacant since last August after the retirement of Terri Brown, who stepped down after 30 years on the force at FSU. Justin Maloy served in an interim capacity during the search for Brown’s replacement. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/florida-state-university-hires-new-chief-of-police | 2022-02-10T16:09:00 | en | 0.964769 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — A baseball team mascot in a bit of a pickle.
Dillon T. Pickle is the mascot for the Portland Pickles in Oregon.
He was recently lost on a Delta flight from the Dominican Republic.
The airline eventually delivered him home to the right place but didn’t tell the team until hours later.
That’s when things took a turn for the worse.
By that time, someone had already swiped Dillon off the porch
The thief is seen in this Ring doorbell video.
Portland Police are investigating, but in the meantime, the team is left worried.
"Who knows… who knows where he's gonna turn up”, said Colleen Schroht, Operations Director for the Portland Pickles.
The team hopes the thief will be surprised by what’s in the bag and bring back Dillon.
“I mean there's a giant pickle staring back at you when you open it up, right? And my thing is I couldn’t keep that a secret,” said Ross Campbell, General Manager for the Portland Pickles.
The team is already getting tips about Dillon on social media.
“We don't have any solid evidence yet. We're researching every angle that we’re getting,” said Schroht.
The Pickles are offering a reward for Dillon’s safe reward, no questions asked. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/baseball-team-searches-for-pickle-porch-pirate-after-its-mascot-disappeared | 2022-02-10T16:09:06 | en | 0.959805 |
SAN DIEGO — Scientists have repeatedly demonstrated that the COVID-19 vaccines do not cause fertility issues, but mounting research shows the virus can.
This week, researchers in Brazil released biopsies on 11 men showing how the virus can infiltrate the testes and cause damage. All of the men died from COVID-19, and the paper has not yet undergone peer review.
It follows a study published this month on 120 Belgian men that showed both mild and severe COVID-19 infections could temporarily reduce sperm count and quality. Among those tested within one month of infection, 60% had reduced sperm motility, and 28% of the men had reduced motility after two months. The authors found no statistical differences between men admitted to the hospital and those treated at home.
Another study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, tracked 2,000 couples trying to conceive. It found a couple’s chance of success dropped 18% if the man had been infected with the coronavirus sometime in the last two months. After two months, the fertility rates of infected men returned to normal.
“Generally, the low sperm count or the infertility issues are within the first two or three months of infection because it takes about three months for a man to make new sperm,” said Dr. Mike Hsieh, the director of the UC San Diego Men’s Health Center.
Researchers are still studying how the virus can limit a man's fertility. Still, the new biopsies from Brazil show that infected cells can travel into the testes and cause damage directly. Inflammation in blood vessels and surrounding tissues can also impact hormone levels and sperm production, Hsieh said.
Scientists have theorized that fever caused by COVID-19 could also disrupt sperm production.
“Our testicle works best at two degrees below body temperature," Hsieh said. "So, when you get a high fever or a fever for a long period of time, that can impair the function of the testicle, both in producing sperm and testosterone.”
Changes in hormone levels and blood flow can cause erectile dysfunction, and research has linked COVID-19 infections to higher rates of ED. A study by a team at the University of Florida found men with COVID-19 were more than three times as likely to be diagnosed with ED. In all, about 5% of the male COVID-19 patients in their healthcare system developed ED.
In most men, fertility issues resolve, Hsieh said. But vaccination can greatly reduce these risks.
Studies by UC San Diego and scientists worldwide have found that vaccination does not affect fertility in either partner.
This story was originally published by Derek Staahl on Scripps station KGTV in San Diego. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/coronavirus/research-shows-that-covid-19-vaccines-do-not-cause-infertility-issues-but-the-virus-itself-can | 2022-02-10T16:09:11 | en | 0.962884 |
CLEVELAND — Diversity in the classroom is a matter close to the hearts of many educators.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about eight in 10 U.S. public school teachers, or 79%, identified as non-Hispanic white during the 2017-18 school year. Less than 7% identify as Black and only 24% are men.
In the city of Cleveland, just 2% identify as Black males.
The student demographics of school districts, including those in the Cleveland area, are far more diverse. Populations of Black, Hispanic and Asian American students are increasing rapidly, making up nearly half the classroom.
The push to diversify educators is now in full swing.
An organization called "Black Men Teach Cleveland" recently teamed up with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to help encourage Black men and other races to become teachers.
"We want Black male educators, as well as other educators of all races," said Bruce Ransom, the chair of Black Men Teach Cleveland. "It's very important that students have someone to look at as a role model. And what better person than a Black, educated man to have them help guide their education in their learning and also life choices?"
Ransom has been an educator in the Cleveland Municipal School District for the past 27 years. He said the group has a five-phase theory of action to help attract more Black men to be teachers by offering ways to help them grow professionally.
- Recruit
- Prepare
- Place
- Position
- Retain
"I think it's very important that we are visible in the classroom settings because there's so few of us. I didn't run into my first Black male teacher until I was in college," said Aaron Eatman, an educator at Warrensville Heights City Schools, said in a YouTube campaign video.
Black Men Teach Cleveland meets every second Thursday of the month to answer questions or address concerns. Thursday, Feb. 10 is the group's next meeting. Click here for more information.
This story was originally published by Meg Shaw on Scripps station WEWS in Cleveland. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/group-hopes-to-recruit-more-black-men-to-be-teachers-in-effort-to-diversify-community-classrooms | 2022-02-10T16:09:11 | en | 0.979323 |
60,000 bees stolen from grocery company’s pollinator field
CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) — Nearly 60,000 bees have been stolen from a grocery store company’s field in Pennsylvania, the company said.
The bees were said to be stolen in Carlisle between Jan. 28 and Jan. 30, Pennlive.com reported Wednesday.
In a statement, the Giant Company’s community impact manager, Jessica Groves, said that the bees were an essential part of the local food chain that is suffering a declining bee population.
“We are extremely disappointed that this happened and are continuing to cooperate with Middlesex Township Police Department,” Groves said.
In 2021, beekeepers in the state reported a loss of 41% of their populations, which was less than the national average loss of 45.5% of bees between April 2020 and 2021.
The nationwide loss of bee populations is causing serious concerns with the agricultural industry and environmentalists because about one-third of the United States’ food supply relies on bees to pollinate plants, the newspaper said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2022/02/10/60000-bees-stolen-grocery-companys-pollinator-field/ | 2022-02-10T16:09:13 | en | 0.966945 |
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — If at first, you don't succeed, try, try again.
Brand new homes in South Florida are not immune to the outrageous demand in the housing market. Buyers are finding out it all comes down to what you are willing to sacrifice.
Owning a new home has always been Terrance Diaz's dream, but he never foresaw the challenges he would face in a market with little inventory, high demand, and increasing prices.
"It's all about your will. How bad do you want it?" Diaz said.
It turns out you have to want it bad.
"It's definitely way more challenging than it's ever been with new construction," said real estate agent Karen Moody.
Moody said she doesn't always jump at new construction these days. The competition is nothing like she's seen before.
"Some of these buyers are having to put in offers at the sales centers, and they don't know what they'll get," she said. "You go over $100,000; are you competing against the sales center? Or are you competing against another buyer?"
Bidding wars are a new part of the insatiable demand for new homes.
"There is no shortage of buyers," said Tonia Abrahamsson, vice president of sales at Minto Communities, a known developer in the area currently building a master plan neighborhood in western Palm Beach County.
At the Minto Communities' building site located in Westlake off Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, developers build a city within a city.
Even with a plan to build 4,500 homes in the next 10 years, more buyers than lots are available.
"We are limiting the amount of home sites that we release at a time just to control what's going on in the market," Abrahamsson said.
With supply chain issues and worker shortages, Abrahamsson said it's all-new territory for builders who must order materials six months in advance instead of 60 days.
"Initially, when someone came in, in the beginning, prior to the pandemic, and what’s going on, our build time was anywhere from six to eight months," Abrahamsson said. "Now, what we're looking at, about 11 months."
So, what do buyers have to do if they want that new home?
"Me, I'm always reaching for the stars," Diaz said.
Diaz and his wife, Veronica, live in Broward County and set their heart on a brand-new home for their growing family in Westlake.
"They have a resort, living style waterpark. Let's start with that, for the family," he said. "And I'm more excited because I'm back in my hometown, you know, Palm Beach County."
Ken H. Johnson, a real estate economist and Florida Atlantic University's associate dean of graduate programs, said a higher percentage of people move into Palm Beach County than move south to Miami-Dade.
"Palm Beach County, for example, in the next 10 years, is expecting an increase in population of slightly over 14%," Johnson said. "That all puts a strong high demand on homes in Palm Beach County."
For Diaz, that meant it wasn't going to be easy to get his dream home.
"We slept in the back of her SUV, and it was all night, all morning," Diaz said.
He and his wife learned the system to purchase at Sky Cove homes in Westlake. A few lots are released every couple of weeks, but only to those willing to be the first in line.
"You think, how many times am I going to have to do this?" said Veronica Nieto-Diaz, Terrance's wife.
Two times the Diazs waited outside the sales center on release days, hours before the office would open, but were too late. Other buyers arrived before them and got the first pick for the only three lots released.
He arrived 20 hours before lot release time the third time, spending the night in his car.
"When you got there, you took your picture, you signed in," Diaz said. "The tough part is, you couldn't leave; you had to stay."
Not all new developments at Westlake have the same system.
Minto Communities has a confidential electronic system where those buyers on the waiting list are sent an email to submit a form when lots are released.
The first buyers to submit the form get a chance to secure the very few lots released. This process can take months for many buyers before they are first in line.
The Diazs overnight adventure landed them on spot No. 2 out of three. They secured a lot, but it's going to cost more.
Every release date, the lots to build are increasing at different increments. Sometimes those increases are $10,000, $20,000 even up to $40,000.
"Don't go by the signs you're seeing on the road," said Moody regarding homes no longer selling starting in the $300s.
The market's challenges and demand are driving up new builds costs.
"If you keep waiting, prolonging it, it's only going to go up," Diaz said.
While demand is not slowing down, the Diazs are finally in the home stretch.
"A story that we have to tell behind this home," Veronica Nieto-Diaz said.
"It may be our 'Happy New Year' present. At the latest, January of next year, we should be moving in," Diaz said. "It's brand new, from the ground. Yes, American dream."
Realtors say if you have your heart set on a brand-new home, there are a couple of things that can help you above the competition in this market:
- Make sure you are pre-approved for your home loan before you start looking.
- Hiring a real estate agent, even with new construction, can help you deal with the sales centers and building process.
- If you really like one specific developer and location is flexible, check to see what other communities are being built by the same company. | https://www.wtxl.com/news/national/priced-out-of-paradise-buyers-engage-in-bidding-wars-camp-overnight-for-new-homes-in-florida | 2022-02-10T16:09:15 | en | 0.982391 |
Alabama revisits pairing KKK leader and Black student names
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The University of Alabama is reconsidering its decision last week to retain the name of a one-time governor who led the Ku Klux Klan on a campus building while adding the name of the school’s first Black student.
Trustees will meet publicly in a livestreamed video conference on Friday to revisit their decision to keep the name of former Alabama Gov. Bibb Graves on a three-story hall while renaming it Lucy-Graves Hall to also honor Autherine Lucy Foster, the University of Alabama System said.
The decision to honor Lucy alongside a one-time KKK grand cyclops was criticized harshly by some. An editorial in the student newspaper said Graves’ name doesn’t belong beside Lucy’s, given his association with the violent, racist organization.
Foster herself expressed ambivalence, telling WIAT-TV she didn’t know much about Graves, who was considered a progressive, pro-education governor in the 1930s, despite having led the Klan in Montgomery during a period when it was at its strongest.
“I wouldn’t say it doesn’t bother me, but I accept it because I didn’t ask for it and I didn’t know they were doing it until I was approached the latter part of last year,” said Foster, 92.
The committee that recommended honoring both people together “acknowledges the complexity of this amended name,” the university said.
“The board’s priority is to honor Dr. Autherine Lucy Foster, who, as the first African American student to attend the University of Alabama, opened the door for students of all races to achieve their dreams at the university. Unfortunately, the complex legacy of Governor Graves has distracted from that important priority,” it said.
Foster, who lives in metro Birmingham, briefly attended classes in Graves Hall after enrolling at all-white Alabama in 1956 but was expelled three days later after her presence brought protests and threats against her life. In 2019, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university, where she had returned and earned a masters degree in education in 1992.
The university also recognized Foster in 2017 with a historic marker in front of Graves Hall, which houses the college of education. It named a clock tower after Foster, and she’s a member of the university’s student hall of fame.
Graves, who began the first of two terms as governor in 1927, left the KKK in the late 1920s, after multiple terms in the legislature. As a member of the House, he opposed ratification of Alabama’s 1901 Constitution, which was meant to ensure white supremacy in the state and remains in effect today although heavily amended.
Several state universities have stripped Graves’ name from buildings in recent years as the nation reconsidered its past. Troy University renamed its Bibb Graves Hall for the late Rep. John Lewis, who was denied admission there in 1957 and led voting rights marchers in Selma in 1965.
John England Jr., a former Alabama trustee who is Black, served as chairman of the naming committee. He previously said the members wrestled with what to do about Graves’ name.
“Some say he did more to directly benefit African American Alabamians than any other governor through his reform. Unfortunately, that same Gov. Graves was associated with the Ku Klux Klan. Not just associated with the Ku Klux Klan, but a Grand Cyclops – It’s hard for me to even say those words,” he said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2022/02/10/alabama-revisits-pairing-kkk-leader-black-student-names/ | 2022-02-10T16:09:20 | en | 0.978687 |
The Oakland Athletics announced that former Major League Baseball star Jeremy Giambi has died.
"We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of a member of our Green and Gold family, Jeremy Giambi," the A's said in a statement on Twitter. "We offer our condolences to Jeanne, Jason, and his family and friends."
The Associated Press reported that the former outfielder and first baseman died at his parents' home in Southern California on Wednesday.
He was 47.
A cause of death has not been determined.
Giambi spent six seasons in the bigs, having played for the Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, A's, and Boston Red Sox.
"The Phillies are saddened to hear the news of Jeremy Giambi's tragic passing," the team said in a statement on Twitter. "Our condolences go out to his family during this very difficult time."
According to CNN, Giambi last played ball in 2003 after playing in Boston.
"We send our heartfelt condolences to the Giambi family," the Red Sox said in a statement on Twitter.
During his time with the A's, Jeremy played alongside his older brother Jason. | https://www.wtxl.com/sports/former-mlb-player-jeremy-giambi-dies-at-47-in-california | 2022-02-10T16:09:20 | en | 0.990962 |
DHS enlists community leaders to fight violent extremism, but experts fear it could further political divide
The government is changing its strategy for combating domestic violent extremism, but experts think they’ll have to tread the line carefully to avoid dividing Americans further.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - According to the Department of Homeland Security, political disinformation and racial bias are most often behind violent extremist attacks in the U.S. Now, they’re investing in local leadership to help stop the violence before it begins.
“This really starts at the community level, and we are about empowering communities,” said Robert Silvers, the under secretary for policy at DHS.
From teachers to ministers to coaches, Silvers said local leaders are in the best position to stop violent extremism in their neighborhoods.
The federal government is pouring millions into community programs to teach those leaders how to spot when someone’s views could escalate. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas designated tackling domestic violent extremism as a “National Priority Area” for FEMA grants for the first time. Since 2021, the department has also made information sharing a new priority to keep the public up to date on threats.
Silvers said the goal is not to police beliefs.
“This is about speech or view or false narratives that are encouraging people to act violently and harm others,” he said.
Kara Frederick from the conservative Heritage Foundation said she worries the government doesn’t have a concrete definition of extremist speech. Because of this, she said she fears opposing politics could be viewed as a threat in some community programs.
“They have to consistently apply their policies to American citizens,” Frederick said. “They can’t just target one specific group and let another say whatever they want.”
Behavioral scientist Todd Helmus from the nonpartisan, nonprofit RAND Corporation is in favor of DHS’s strategy, calling it “the only way to go.” He said politicization of the issue is inevitable due to the focus on right-wing extremists.
“It’s a minefield as to how to address and counter these groups without coming off like you’re countering right wing ideology,” Helmus said.
He said the government will need to tread carefully in election years to keep these methods effective.
DHS, Helmus and Frederick all agreed that tech companies should also play a role in preventing extremism from spreading on their platforms moving forward.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2022/02/10/dhs-enlists-community-leaders-fight-violent-extremism-experts-fear-it-could-further-political-divide/ | 2022-02-10T16:09:26 | en | 0.960083 |
Truck blockade at U.S.-Canadian border shuts auto plants
TORONTO (AP) — The truck blockade by Canadians protesting the country’s COVID-19 restrictions is tightening the screws on the auto industry, forcing Ford, Toyota and General Motors to shut down plants or otherwise curtail production on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border.
The bumper-to-bumper demonstration entered its fourth day Thursday at the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, disrupting the flow of auto parts and other products back and forth across the border.
Meanwhile, U.S. authorities braced for the possibility of similar truck-convoy protests in the United States, and authorities in Paris and Belgium banned road blockades to head off disruptions there too.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a bulletin to local and state law enforcement agencies that it has received reports that truckers are planning to “potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities” in a protest against vaccine mandates and other issues.
DHS said the convoy could begin in Southern California as early as this weekend, possibly disrupting traffic around the Super Bowl, and reach Washington in March in time for the State of the Union, according to a copy of Tuesday’s bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. It said that the protest could be disruptive and tie up traffic but that there have been no calls for violence.
The ban on road blockades in Europe and the threat of prison time and heavy fines were likewise prompted by online chat groups in France that have been calling for drivers to converge on Paris starting Friday night, and to continue on to Brussels on Monday.
The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries, and the effects of the blockade there were felt rapidly.
Ford said its Windsor, Ontario, engine plant reopened Thursday after being shut down on Wednesday because of a lack of parts. But the factory and the company’s assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, near Toronto, are operating at reduced capacity, the automaker said.
“This interruption on the Detroit-Windsor bridge hurts customers, auto workers, suppliers, communities and companies on both sides of the border,” Ford said in a statement. “We hope this situation is resolved quickly because it could have widespread impact on all automakers in the U.S. and Canada.”
On the U.S. side, GM canceled the second shift on Wednesday and the first shift Thursday at its midsize SUV factory outside Lansing, Michigan.
Toyota said it will not be able to manufacture anything at three Canadian plants for the rest of the week because of parts shortages. In a statement, the automaker blamed supply chain disruptions, weather and pandemic-related problems, but the shutdowns came just days after the blockade began Monday.
Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, said all of its North American factories were running Thursday, but shortages because of the blockade forced it to shorten shifts at several plants.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration is watching the bridge blockade closely, noting the risk to the U.S. auto industry.
Hundreds of demonstrators in trucks have also paralyzed the streets of downtown Ottawa for almost two weeks, and dozens more have been blocking the border crossing at Coutts, Alberta, decrying vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers and other COVID-19 restrictions and railing against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The Freedom Truck Convoy has been promoted and cheered on by many Fox News personalities and attracted support from the likes of former President Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said Wednesday that police had not removed protesters there for fear of inflaming the situation. But he added: “We’re not going to let this happen for a prolonged period of time.”
As of Wednesday, the demonstration involved 50 to 74 vehicles and about 100 protesters, police said. Ottawa police said Thursday they were “able to negotiate for a dozen more trucks to leave” downtown and said 10 others left, but the city warned about traffic disruptions because of a new demonstration at the Ottawa airport.
To avoid the blockade and get into Canada, truckers in the Detroit area have had to drive 70 miles north to Port Huron, Michigan, and cross the Blue Water Bridge, where there was a 4½-hour delay leaving the U.S.
While protesters have been calling for Trudeau’s removal, most of the restrictive measures around the country have been put in place by provincial governments. Those include requirements that people show proof-of-vaccination “passports” to enter restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and sporting events.
Many provinces announced plans this week to remove or relax those restrictions after the surge in omicron cases crested in the country.
Pandemic restrictions have been far stricter in Canada than in the U.S., but Canadians have largely supported them. Canada’s COVID-19 death rate is one-third that of the U.S.
____
Krisher contributed from Detroit and Ben Fox contributed from Washington.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.ktre.com/2022/02/10/truck-blockade-us-canadian-border-shuts-auto-plants/ | 2022-02-10T16:09:33 | en | 0.959593 |
High-stakes talks between Russia and the West have so far failed to de-escalate a tense standoff between the sides, with the United States warning of a serious risk of a Russian offensive against Ukraine.
In addition to demanding a ban on Ukraine’s future membership to NATO, Russia wants the Western alliance to pull back its forces to where they were in 1997, before eastern European members joined.
Moscow has amassed some 140,000 troops close to the border with Ukraine and in annexed Crimea, and its announcement of surprise military exercises with neighboring Belarus has fueled tensions further.
NATO and the U.S. have called Russia’s demands “non-starters,” instead offering to open a dialogue with Russia on a host of lesser issues such as missile deployment and military exercises. Moscow said this was unacceptable and awaited written responses from the U.S on each of its demands. The U.S. and NATO delivered their confidential written responses on Jan. 26 and are still awaiting an official reply from Moscow.
Feb. 10: What you need to know today
- Russia and Belarus launched joint military drills on Thursday. The war games, labeled “Allied Resolve,” are set to run until Feb. 20 and will center around “suppressing and repelling external aggression,” Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement.
- The West quickly denounced the drills, NATO calling them a “dangerous moment” and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he regards them as “psychological pressure.”
- Talks between British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday were tense. Lavrov described them as “like a mute talking to a deaf person,” and criticized U.K. diplomats for being “unprepared” for the meeting. Truss responded to the dressing down by saying “I certainly wasn’t mute in our discussions earlier. I put forward the UK’s point of view on the current situation as well as seeking to deter Russia from an invasion of Ukraine.”
- Britain said Wednesday it was ready to deploy additional troops in response to the crisis in Ukraine. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “1000 more British troops will be put at readiness in the UK to support a humanitarian response in the region should it be needed.”
- Russia issued warnings on Wednesday that it will close off Ukraine’s coastline for upcoming missile drills next week. The exercises taking place in the Black and Azov seas will occur in tandem with drills north of Ukraine in Belarus between Feb. 13 and Feb. 19.
- British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and Chief of the Defense Staff Admiral Sir Antony David Radikin will meet with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu on Friday. Wallace told reporters “lessons from the [ending of the] Cold War” must be learned.
- Four B-52 strategic bombers landed in the United Kingdom from the United States, and a number of F-15 fighter aircraft at Łask Air Base, Poland, from Scotland on Thursday in response to the Russian troop build-up near Ukraine.
- Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Malyar said on Wednesday that the Russian forces massed on Ukraine’s borders did not appear ready to launch an all-out assault, dismissing them as being used primarily “for political pressure and blackmail.”
AFP contributed reporting. | https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/02/09/russia-ukraine-standoff-daily-briefing-feb-10-a76089 | 2022-02-10T16:09:55 | en | 0.961816 |
On a cold and windy Saturday morning at a shooting range west of Moscow, a group of men in full military uniform are holding shooting drills.
They are members of the Union of Donbas Volunteers (UDV), a nationalist organization partly made up of former Russian volunteers who have fought intermittently alongside pro-Russian separatist forces in the Donbas region since the conflict began in 2014.
“Conditions in war won’t be easy either, this will keep us in shape for if we need to go back to the Donbas,” Sergei, who declined to give his last name, told The Moscow Times.
While mounting evidence from independent research groups points to the Kremlin’s military involvement in the simmering conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives, separatist efforts against Ukrainian government forces have been boosted by Russian volunteers — ordinary citizens like Sergei, with varying degrees of military training, who are keen to join what they see as a just cause.
The Kremlin has vigorously denied any official ties to the war in the Donbas, saying that any Russians fighting in Eastern Ukrainian are volunteers concerned about alleged threats against the Russian-speaking population in the area from Ukrainian ultranationalists.
Sergei said he joined the fighting in 2014 because he was inspired by the concept of Novorossiya — meaning new Russia — the historical name for a large swathe of southern and eastern Ukraine that became part of imperial Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin first revived the idea shortly after Russia's annexation of Crimea last March, and the term was subsequently adopted by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine's east to justify their efforts to spread their anti-Kyiv movement across the country's southeast.
However by late 2015, the Kremlin had largely abandoned the concept, and many volunteers like Sergei left the region to return to their normal lives in Russia.
But as tensions over Ukraine have reached new heights amid what the West sees as a threatening large scale Russian military build-up on the border with its neighbor, members of the UDV say they are preparing to once again take up arms in the Donbas.
“This chapter never closed for us. If things heat up again, of course, we will arm ourselves and go. We can be easily mobilized,” said Viktor Zaplatin, a senior member of the UDV whose social media indicated he has previously fought in Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine.
“We won’t give up all the hard-fought gains the republics have made,” he added, referring to the region’s breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DNR and LNR).
Soaring membership
It remains unclear how many volunteers have fought in the Donbas, or what a possible new mobilization would look like.
A representative of UDV, which was founded by Vladislav Surkov, the ex-long-time advisor to President Vladimir Putin who was previously in charge of Russia’s policy in Ukraine, told The Moscow Times that it currently has 49 branches across Russia and that its membership has soared to 14,500 as of this year..
Its main activities now revolve around sending humanitarian aid to DNR and LNR citizens and promoting the cause of the two unrecognized territories across Russia through “educational programmes” and political lobbying.
UDV’s vocal chairman Alexander Boroday, a member of Russia’s Duma lower house of parliament, is a former separatist leader who was de facto prime minister of the self-proclaimed DRP in 2014.
The union last month issued a statement on its official social media saying it has started to mobilize its units as a reaction to “large-scale aggression from Ukraine.”
“The Union of Donbas Volunteers declares that we will not stand aside. Russian volunteers have begun to form units to participate in the defense against Ukrainian aggression,” the statement on Vkontakte said.
It is also unclear what role Russian volunteers would play if new fighting were to break out in Ukraine.
In 2014, the Kremlin openly encouraged volunteerism despite denying involvement in the war, running television programs praising the actions of the fighters. Critics accused the government of using genuine volunteers to disguise its own involvement in the conflict.
This time around, with Russian troops deployed near its border with Ukraine, experts say it is unlikely the Kremlin will have much use for volunteers in case of a full-blown invasion.
“If there is an escalation this time, there will be no pretense: it will be fought by regular Russian soldiers without their needing or being able to hide behind mercenaries and amateurs,” said Mark Galeotti, an analyst at the U.K.’s Royal United Services Institute think tank.
Official recognition
However, Galeotti suggested that volunteers could be useful for Russia if it formally recognizes the two breakaway republics.
While for a long time Russian authorities have taken a cautious approach to openly backing the DNR and LNR, recent signals hint that the Kremlin is ready to change its approach.
Last month, Russia’s ruling, pro-Kremlin United Russia party for the first time urged the government to deliver military supplies to the separatist regions. Russian lawmakers are scheduled on Feb. 14 to discuss recognizing them. Such a move would mark a major escalation by Russia.
Russia had also fast-tracked the granting of over half a million Russian passports to Donbas residents as of mid-2021. Now, one of the possible Russian invasion scenarios being discussed by Ukraine is Russian military forces justifying entering Eastern Ukraine to defend the newly minted local population of Russian citizens.
Donbas volunteers told The Moscow Times they welcomed Russia’s apparent embrace of the two unrecognized republics.
“Russia should officially recognize both republics and provide them with all possible military and economic assistance, include both republics in its economic and customs space, give Russian citizenship to all citizens of the republics who wish to get it,” said Alexander Kolesnikov, another volunteer who has fought in the Donbas.
Others hoped that this time around Russia would push through and annex Eastern Ukraine.
“We don’t think Russia has gone far enough. We have been soft on Ukraine. We are ready to help change that,” said Zaplatin. | https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/02/10/russian-armed-volunteers-prepare-for-action-in-eastern-ukraine-a76331 | 2022-02-10T16:10:02 | en | 0.96743 |
The head of Texas Department of Motor Vehicles has resigned amid pressure on the agency to address security vulnerabilities that have allowed criminals to create and sell hundreds of thousands of fake paper license plates.
Whitney Brewster announced her resignation Monday but did not directly address the issue surrounding the sale of fake license plates.
“I understand the frustrations of our stakeholders to the problems and evolving situations we are working daily to resolve,” Brewster said in a statement Monday. “Often the hardest thing to do as a public servant leader is to step back and accept that you have done everything you can, and that it might be time to allow new leadership to take the reins.”
TV news station NBC 5, based in North Texas, aired an investigation in November on how criminals have exploited loopholes in the state’s system to create a $200 million enterprise selling illegitimate paper license plates across the country.
Fake tags can be used by criminals to remain anonymous from law enforcement or by people whose vehicles might not pass an inspection. They have been tied to offenses that range from avoiding toll charges and selling damaged vehicles to robberies and carjackings out of state, the Houston Chronicle reported last year.
Temporary tags or paper license plates are issued to drivers to use for a short period before they register their vehicles or to car dealerships for loaner vehicles or for demonstrations.
However, criminals have generated hundreds of thousands of fraudulent tags through security loopholes in the TxDMV’s system and then sold them for a profit, NBC 5 reported. By posing as car dealers, sellers used fraudulent information to sell tags across the U.S. Law enforcement officials have bemoaned the department’s slow action to address the issue, saying it impedes their ability to locate offenders.
“Texas is leading the way in the volume of paper tags that are being fraudulently issued across the country,” Brannon Coker, an FBI special agent with the Houston Division, said in December.
Last May, three people were charged with a nationwide scheme to sell these fake license plates — one of them a Houston resident. The trio were accused of using fake car dealerships to issue nearly 600,000 automobile paper tags and sell them on the internet without selling any cars. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
Although the issue has persisted for years, TxDMV officials have said their hands were tied on how to address it. In a Dec. 1 statement, Brewster said the agency is “responsible for implementing laws passed by the legislature” but had “limited authority” to go past that.
However, the Texas Legislature and TxDMV have both recently made policy changes to tackle the issue.
Texas lawmakers passed a bill in June that authorizes TxDMV to “take swifter action when fraud is identified and to reduce the potential number of tags at risk for illegal use,” according to a department press release late last month. The law allows officials to limit the number of temporary tags available to dealers and terminate access to temporary plates if the department finds out licensed dealers are involved in illegal activities.
“These tools will reduce the ability of criminals to print unlimited numbers of temporary tags for illegal purposes while ensuring legitimate dealers retain full access to temporary tags needed to support vehicle sales,” the release said.
Brewster has been with TxDMV since 2012. Shelly Mellott, the department’s deputy executive director, has been named as interim executive director until the board finds a replacement.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Cop who killed young Houston mother in fiery crash has checkered driving record with force
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New speed limits coming to several Houston streets
For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here. | https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-dmv-fake-license-plates-16847168.php | 2022-02-10T16:10:33 | en | 0.95462 |
When an Austin church told William he couldn’t stay there with his two dogs during the ice storm last year, he and his wife decided to brave the subfreezing temperatures in their tent under a bridge. They used two stoves to stay warm and rationed out canned goods for meals.
This year it was different. William, a 45-year-old Austin resident who is experiencing homelessness and asked to remain anonymous for privacy reasons, secured shelter ahead of the winter storm last week. But many others stayed out in the cold and, despite the promises made after last year’s devastation, William said aid efforts again fell short.
“One thing they didn’t think about was the people that were left out there, whether or not they would need things like heat, propane, blankets, thick clothes,” said William, adding that homelessness aid groups passed out some sweatsuits and blankets ahead of the storm, but they were too thin to combat the cold. “It was like the cries for help that actually were needed went on deaf ears.”
After a deadly freeze last year in which the unhoused were among the most vulnerable, local officials vowed to do a better job next time, particularly with emergency communications. But during last week’s storm, many unhoused Texans still did not have adequate information from municipalities about where to find shelter and how to get there. And compounding the problem, advocates say recent state and local policies that target people experiencing homelessness have made unhoused Texans more hesitant to seek help.
In Austin, “the city had a year to prepare and broadcast a plan for cold weather shelter in the case of a dramatic freeze,” said Scott Hoft, an organizer with Stop the Sweeps Austin, a local advocacy group against the clearing of homeless encampments. “The city left houseless people, their friends and service providers wondering what the plan was.”
In Houston, officials are reporting at least three people without shelter died when temperatures dropped last week. It’s unclear how many people died or required treatment across the state after being exposed to the cold during this year’s winter storm.
Lack of communication
One of the biggest takeaways from last year’s storm at both the state and local levels was the need to improve emergency communications. During the freeze, Texas failed to provide accessible and life-saving updates on outages and inclement weather. A November audit of Austin’s 2021 storm response found that the city left many residents without critical information and did not effectively reach people experiencing homelessness.
A year later, advocates report a similar break in communication.
Last-minute announcements of shelter plans this year echo those of a year ago, when 24-hour shelters were not opened until two days into freezing weather, Hoft said. Bryce Bencivengo, a spokesperson for the city of Austin, said shelter plans are announced the day they are activated to prevent confusion.
The city of Austin also directed people in need of shelter to dial 311 this year, but Cam Bond, an Austin-based organizer and social worker, said her calls to the phone line went to an automated voicemail throughout the storm.
Bond said she was fielding calls as late as 4 a.m. from unhoused people who did not know where to find shelter or how to get there. She tried to call the 311 line herself and could not get information about transit services available.
“Why [does the city] not have the capacity to go out there and publicize information that is crucial to these folks’ literal survival?” Bond said. “Crisis is impending, and they have no information.”
Bond also received reports of unhoused families being separated by gender at city shelters.
“We’re talking about people who live in really tight-knit relationships and communities with other people for their own physical safety and survival. And so something as simple as ‘we’re separating you, men here, women here,’ is not only transphobic, it’s also really harmful and really devastating,” she said.
Bencivengo, the Austin spokesperson, said the city’s policy is to keep families together at shelters. When asked about the reports Bond received, he said he couldn’t imagine why families would have been separated at the shelters this year.
When local governments do not meet the needs of unhoused people, organizers say they are forced to mobilize — even when they are strapped for resources.
In Houston, volunteers at the Black Trans Texas Connection picked up unhoused people and transported them to the group’s shelter, Thrive House. The group housed 17 people during last week’s storm, organizers said. Black and trans residents are especially vulnerable and are among the last to get accepted into a shelter or have access to a safe environment, said Black Trans Texas Connection founder Sarah Pope.
Houston at the time was advising residents against travel. Pope said the city should have hired staff to transport people to shelters so she and other organizers wouldn’t have to put themselves at risk.
“There needs to be more shelter, and there especially needs to be a trans shelter put into place in Texas. We have an emergency shelter open every day, but we do this work on our own,” Pope said. “The government has so much money. Money we don’t have as we hear our community crying, and it is devastating.”
The Houston mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
More need help, fewer seek it
An affordability crisis is driving an increase in homelessness across the state. Texans are moving out of metropolitan areas, driving up the cost of housing in rural areas, said Tresha Silva, the executive director of the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry.
In Bastrop County, a mostly rural region 30 miles southeast of Austin, a growing unhoused population has resulted in a greater demand for food, shelter and resources.
“If I compare the number of homeless or unhealthy people that have come in from last year to this year, there’s growth for food assistance and some of those other basic need items that we provide,” Silva said.
The greater demand for shelter can be especially challenging for rural counties, where resources can be more limited. Bastrop County has just one shelter that opens during bad weather conditions. County officials also opened warming centers last week.
Nick Thompson, the statewide initiatives manager at the Texas Homeless Network, said recent state and local efforts targeting homeless people make Texans less likely to seek help.
The legislature passed House Bill 1925 last year, which amounts to a statewide ban on homeless camping. Texans now face a fine of up to $500 and a Class C misdemeanor if they camp in public spaces. The city of Austin, which has struggled with a rise in homelessness, reinstated a local camping ban this year.
“This really incentivizes folks, a lot of times, to stay out of the public eye so that they’re not going to be contacted by the police, so they’re less likely to be found or called upon by law enforcement officers,” Thompson said. “It makes it a lot more challenging to be able to connect folks and know where they are with the services that are available.”
William has been without shelter since he was 18 years old. He’s been in Austin with his wife for seven years. Since camping in public spaces was made a criminal offense, he’s been subject to city sweeps of homeless encampments, during which cleanup crews have taken his belongings.
He said that while he and other unhoused people in Austin managed to get through another winter storm, the dehumanization of people experiencing homelessness will continue.
“We can’t sleep, so we’re always tired. We can’t make a job interview because we’re always worried about APD [Austin Police Department] taking our stuff. It sucks being homeless here now. I had people that used to look out for me,” William said. “The only difference between an ice day and a non-ice day is the ice. These things don’t change year-round.”
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Cop who killed young Houston mother in fiery crash has checkered driving record with force
Texas Democrats sending 500K voter registration cards across state amid shortage
Video shows Houston cop's deadly crash while speeding on patrol
New speed limits coming to several Houston streets
For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here. | https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-winter-storm-homelessness-16847619.php | 2022-02-10T16:10:39 | en | 0.972571 |
MIDLAND — One local said it sounded like a pickup truck had rammed into the side of their house. Another said it sounded like the air conditioner fell off the roof. A third compared the experience to getting off of a rollercoaster, dizzy and a bit shaky.
“In the hardest ones we’ve experienced, there is a bunch of shaking, and the pictures shook off the walls,” said Christina Bock, 45, who lives in Gardendale, a rural community north of Odessa in the heart of West Texas oil and gas country. Earthquakes have dislodged her deck from the house and left cracks in her walls, she said.
“You’ll hear a loud bang. If you’re inside, you assume it’s a car wreck or that something exploded outside,” said Bock, a paralegal who has lived in Gardendale for 13 years. “The scary thing is that they are happening pretty much daily at this point.”
More than 200 earthquakes of 3 magnitude and greater shook Texans in 2021, more than double the 98 recorded in 2020, according to a Texas Tribune analysis of state data maintained by the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin.
The record-setting seismic activity is largely concentrated in West Texas’ Permian Basin, the most productive oil and gas region in the state. Scientific studies show that the spike in earthquakes is almost certainly a consequence of disposing huge quantities of contaminated, salty water deep underground — a common practice by oil companies at the end of the hydraulic fracturing process that can awaken dormant fault lines.
During hydraulic fracking, oil companies shoot a mixture of fluids and sand through ancient shale formations, fracturing the rock to free the flow of oil. But oil isn’t the only thing that’s been trapped underground for millions of years: Between three and six barrels of salty, polluted water also come up to the surface with every barrel of oil.
The cheapest, and most commonly used, way to dispose of this “produced water” is to drill another well and inject it into porous rock formations deep underground.
For years, oil companies have loaded those formations with hundreds of millions of gallons of the black watery mixture — which contains a slurry of minerals, oil and chemicals used in fracking — every day, slowly increasing the pressure on ancient fault lines. An analysis by Rystad Energy provided to The Texas Tribune found that the amount of wastewater injected underground in the Permian Basin quadrupled in a decade, from 54 billion gallons in 2011 to 217 billion gallons last year.
In a 2021 study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Texas found that the vast majority of seismicity since 2000 near Pecos — a city roughly 100 miles southwest of Midland — was likely triggered by increased wastewater disposal. State regulators, too, have found that an increase in seismic activity most likely occurs as a consequence of saltwater disposal.
“The cumulative volumes [of water] increase the pressure, and that is the force that triggers the fault to slip,” said Alexandros Savvaidis, a research scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT-Austin.
The result is that communities like Gardendale, where Bock lives, as well as the bustling cities of Odessa and Midland — which many oilfield workers, engineers and service workers call home — are experiencing not only more frequent earthquakes, but stronger ones.
Between 2018 and 2020, Texas recorded nine earthquakes above magnitude 4, almost all of them in the western half of the state. Last year, Texans were shaken by 15 earthquakes above magnitude 4 — including a 4.6 magnitude earthquake in late December that rattled homes from an epicenter about 30 miles northeast of Midland.
“That was different,” said David Rosen, a geologist who has lived in Midland for almost 50 years. “That was like riding a bicycle over cobblestones.”
While distance, soil composition and other factors determine at what magnitude earthquakes cause damage, earthquakes above magnitude 3 can typically be felt indoors; above a 4, walls may make a cracking sound and dishes can be disturbed, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Rosen, who was also a former Democratic Party chair for the county, said it used to be a novel thing, feeling an earthquake in West Texas. His wife felt one in 1991; he didn’t. Now, they both feel the quakes fairly often in their home on the north side of Midland.
The huge jump in seismic activity compelled the Railroad Commission of Texas, the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency, to indefinitely suspend underground water injections late last year in a swath of land from Odessa north to Midland, and west to Andrews and Martin counties. The decision affected all 33 disposal wells in the targeted area.
“RRC staff has determined that [produced water] injection into deep geologic strata — below the top of the Strawn Formation and especially the Ellenburger Formation — across the area is likely contributing to recent seismic activity,” the agency wrote in its justification for suspensions.
It may take months after the injections halt for the area to stop shaking, scientists said, since the pressure needs time to ease.
Since October, two other areas of West Texas — a region north of Stanton, about 25 miles east of Midland, and an area that straddles Culberson and Reeves counties between the Guadalupe Mountains and Pecos — have also been categorized as areas of concern by the agency because seismic activity has increased, though regulators have not yet suspended produced water injections there.
Instead, the agency instructed companies to work together and come up with a plan to limit seismicity to earthquakes under 3.5 magnitude after 18 months.
Andrew Keese, spokesperson for the Railroad Commission, said in a statement that the agency hopes the industry can cooperate to reduce the magnitude and frequency of the quakes. If it fails, the agency is “prepared to implement actions of its own if needed,” he wrote. An industry plan to reduce seismicity in the Stanton region is due in mid-April, Keese said.
“Operators have already made adjustments in the volume of water injected,” Keese said.
Rosen, the former Democratic Party chair, said he considered buying earthquake insurance before deciding it wasn’t worth the cost unless the quakes get even stronger. Still, he’s disappointed in what seems to him to be reluctant action by state regulators to the increasing seismic activity.
“[The Railroad Commission] has been getting feedback for months,” he said, “and finally they decided to temporarily suspend disposal for a couple of wells. That’s a pretty sluggish response.”
“We’re just paying the price”
Residents of the Permian Basin are used to the noise of drilling construction; the damaged roads from heavy trucks hauling sand, water and more; the trash snagged in mesquite branches blown from camps of the here-today-gone-tomorrow oilfield workers. Many say they have switched to bottled water or installed water softeners because their tap water turned cloudy with minerals and tastes metallic and salty since fracking took off in the area a decade ago.
But the earthquakes are different, said Bock, the paralegal and mother of two in Gardendale. One contractor’s estimate to level her home’s foundation was $8,000, she said. At least for her family, the shaking was the last straw.
“I don’t want to stay out here,” she said. “Not like this.”
She and her family will likely sell the house and relocate to Central or Southwest Texas in a couple of years, she said.
“Were the earthquakes a reason? I would say about 50% of it, yes,” Bock said. “The damage [from fracking] is done, and now we’re just paying that price. And this is what it is.”
Eli Hilbert, 20, a political science student at the University of Texas Permian Basin in Odessa, said many locals view the earthquakes as part of the natural environment — like the strong winds or tumbleweeds — despite science that shows the phenomena is almost certainly caused by humans.
“People treat them as just a part of life around here,” said Hilbert, an environmental advocate who will soon help launch a nonprofit organization focused on pollution and climate change in the Permian Basin.
Hilbert said it’s difficult to get community buy-in to organize around environmental issues because much of the population moves in and out with the oil industry. “You aren’t particularly invested in stopping air pollution if you’re only going to be here for two years,” Hilbert said. “But with the increase in [seismicity] last year, I feel like it’s a thing people are becoming more worried about.”
Other residents of Midland, Odessa and surrounding areas echoed Hilbert’s sentiment that the near-daily shakes were beginning to crack the community’s long-hardened endurance to the nuisances and environmental consequences of living with the oil industry.
Ashley Gunter, 40, whose family has lived in Midland for three generations, wonders if the quakes will keep getting stronger and more frequent and eventually make the free-spirited, religious city where she grew up unlivable. “I’m no scientist, but this is not supposed to be happening,” Gunter said. “We don’t live in California.”
Catherine Allen, an artist in Midland, said she has considered relocating because of the quakes. Allen lives in a midcentury house just a few minutes from downtown. It’s the kind of place she says she would love to live the rest of her life in — but she’s not sure if she can.
“The earthquakes seem to be getting closer, and I’m also not sure if our groundwater is going to be safe for much longer,” Allen said. “It seems like disaster is getting closer, but I always question if I am overreacting.”
Where the water goes
The earthquakes often make the local news, and they spark regular alerts on the neighborhood app Nextdoor. Still, Allen said, she’s disappointed at the lack of a broader community discussion about what should or could be done to prevent the seismic activity in Midland.
“Our local leaders do not talk about it, and I don’t know how that’s possible,” Allen said.
Allen and other residents concerned about the quakes point to the oil industry’s power in the Permian Basin as the reason there hasn’t been a more aggressive response by local officials. About 30% of Midland’s workers are employed directly by the energy and mining industry, according to federal employment data.
Midland’s City Council has not had a meeting to address the rise in seismic activity, according to recent City Council agendas and member John Norman, who confirmed that the council has discussed seismicity only in casual conversations. He wasn’t surprised that it hasn’t come up yet, he said.
Norman, who grew up in Midland and worked in the oilfield for more than two decades, said the reason the council has not taken action or formally discussed the quakes is that the injection wells are largely outside city limits. While the quakes shake Midland, it’s difficult to see what the city might do to prevent the practice, he said. That’s for the Railroad Commission to decide. (Norman praised the agency’s most recent response.)
But the industry itself isn’t blind to the business risk the quakes pose: At an annual oil and gas industry luncheon hosted by the Midland Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 26, an executive with Chevron Corp. listed the increase in seismic activity as one of the industry’s biggest challenges in the Permian Basin.
Ryder Booth, Chevron’s vice president of North America exploration and production, called on the roughly 300-person crowd of Midland oil and gas executives, workers and leaders to work together to reduce the earthquakes, pointing to the increase in seismic activity from water injections as one of the industry’s major challenges in the Permian.
“We’re going to have to work together, partner together, to make sure we’re tackling it,” Booth said.
A few companies in the Permian Basin have built recycling facilities for produced water — an alternative to pumping it underground. One such facility outside of Big Spring, northeast of Midland, pipes in produced water from surrounding drill sites up to 20 miles away.
First: Water pours into the storage pool after going through the recycling process at Breakwater Energy Partners in Big Spring on Jan. 27, 2022. Last: Workers at Breakwater Energy Partners in Big Spring. The facility processes “produced water” from fracking, reducing contaminants so it can be used again for oil and gas drilling. Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune
“What’s cool about this is that ordinarily, that kind of stuff might be going downhole, instead of coming to us,” said Jim Hudgins, midstream operations manager at Breakwater Energy Partners, which opened the facility in 2020.
The facility separates the solids from the liquids and presses them into a cake-like material that can be dumped at a landfill. “It looks like a brownie,” said Zac Hall, the recycling operations manager at Breakwater Energy. “You wouldn’t want to eat it.”
Then the brackish-looking water is pushed through 10 large tanks, where chemical reactions remove the impurities until the water looks clear enough to drink — although it’s far too salty for that.
“This is probably five to seven times saltier than the ocean,” Hall said. “It would taste like crap.”
First: Recycling operations manager Zac Hall holds a piece of the nonhazardous waste extracted from produced water at Breakwater Energy Partners. Last: A sample of the salty water produced during the recycling process at Breakwater Energy Partners in Big Spring. Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune
The water is stored in a large, open pool that can hold roughly 63 million gallons of water. The company then sells the water back to oil companies for the next round of fracking.
But recycling facilities, while helpful, are only a partial solution over the long term, Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright pointed out in a recent statement and op-ed. The amount of water needed by oil companies for the hydraulic fracturing process is far less than the amount of produced water being dislodged and dredged up from underground each day. Without a more promising solution on the horizon, the Texas Legislature in 2021 directed scholars and industry leaders to study the problem.
In the meantime, the earth continues to shake under the feet of West Texas residents. On a recent brisk but sunny Friday afternoon, a howling West Texas wind pushed tumbleweeds across roads, natural gas flares burned across the horizon and a seismometer recorded another earthquake — this one a 3.1 magnitude, just outside Odessa, 14 miles west of Midland.
That same day, Norman, the Midland City Council member, sat in a local coffee shop in his district. He said he worries that the earthquakes could make the area unsafe. He hopes the industry, state regulators and the city can find a solution.
“The oil industry has been good to me and my family, but if you die from an earthquake what does it matter?” he said. “I know this is how we make our money [in Midland]. That’s fine, but the safety and the empathy for human beings — that’s what I try to focus on.”
Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas Permian basin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
José Luis Martínez contributed to this story.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Cop who killed young Houston mother in fiery crash has checkered driving record with force
Texas Democrats sending 500K voter registration cards across state amid shortage
Video shows Houston cop's deadly crash while speeding on patrol
New speed limits coming to several Houston streets
For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here. | https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/west-texas-earthquakes-fracking-16847180.php | 2022-02-10T16:10:45 | en | 0.956757 |
60,000 bees stolen from grocery company’s pollinator field
CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) — Nearly 60,000 bees have been stolen from a grocery store company’s field in Pennsylvania, the company said.
The bees were said to be stolen in Carlisle between Jan. 28 and Jan. 30, Pennlive.com reported Wednesday.
In a statement, the Giant Company’s community impact manager, Jessica Groves, said that the bees were an essential part of the local food chain that is suffering a declining bee population.
“We are extremely disappointed that this happened and are continuing to cooperate with Middlesex Township Police Department,” Groves said.
In 2021, beekeepers in the state reported a loss of 41% of their populations, which was less than the national average loss of 45.5% of bees between April 2020 and 2021.
The nationwide loss of bee populations is causing serious concerns with the agricultural industry and environmentalists because about one-third of the United States’ food supply relies on bees to pollinate plants, the newspaper said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/2022/02/10/60000-bees-stolen-grocery-companys-pollinator-field/ | 2022-02-10T16:10:55 | en | 0.966945 |
Alabama revisits pairing KKK leader and Black student names
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The University of Alabama is reconsidering its decision last week to retain the name of a one-time governor who led the Ku Klux Klan on a campus building while adding the name of the school’s first Black student.
Trustees will meet publicly in a livestreamed video conference on Friday to revisit their decision to keep the name of former Alabama Gov. Bibb Graves on a three-story hall while renaming it Lucy-Graves Hall to also honor Autherine Lucy Foster, the University of Alabama System said.
The decision to honor Lucy alongside a one-time KKK grand cyclops was criticized harshly by some. An editorial in the student newspaper said Graves’ name doesn’t belong beside Lucy’s, given his association with the violent, racist organization.
Foster herself expressed ambivalence, telling WIAT-TV she didn’t know much about Graves, who was considered a progressive, pro-education governor in the 1930s, despite having led the Klan in Montgomery during a period when it was at its strongest.
“I wouldn’t say it doesn’t bother me, but I accept it because I didn’t ask for it and I didn’t know they were doing it until I was approached the latter part of last year,” said Foster, 92.
The committee that recommended honoring both people together “acknowledges the complexity of this amended name,” the university said.
“The board’s priority is to honor Dr. Autherine Lucy Foster, who, as the first African American student to attend the University of Alabama, opened the door for students of all races to achieve their dreams at the university. Unfortunately, the complex legacy of Governor Graves has distracted from that important priority,” it said.
Foster, who lives in metro Birmingham, briefly attended classes in Graves Hall after enrolling at all-white Alabama in 1956 but was expelled three days later after her presence brought protests and threats against her life. In 2019, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the university, where she had returned and earned a masters degree in education in 1992.
The university also recognized Foster in 2017 with a historic marker in front of Graves Hall, which houses the college of education. It named a clock tower after Foster, and she’s a member of the university’s student hall of fame.
Graves, who began the first of two terms as governor in 1927, left the KKK in the late 1920s, after multiple terms in the legislature. As a member of the House, he opposed ratification of Alabama’s 1901 Constitution, which was meant to ensure white supremacy in the state and remains in effect today although heavily amended.
Several state universities have stripped Graves’ name from buildings in recent years as the nation reconsidered its past. Troy University renamed its Bibb Graves Hall for the late Rep. John Lewis, who was denied admission there in 1957 and led voting rights marchers in Selma in 1965.
John England Jr., a former Alabama trustee who is Black, served as chairman of the naming committee. He previously said the members wrestled with what to do about Graves’ name.
“Some say he did more to directly benefit African American Alabamians than any other governor through his reform. Unfortunately, that same Gov. Graves was associated with the Ku Klux Klan. Not just associated with the Ku Klux Klan, but a Grand Cyclops – It’s hard for me to even say those words,” he said.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/2022/02/10/alabama-revisits-pairing-kkk-leader-black-student-names/ | 2022-02-10T16:11:01 | en | 0.978687 |
Ambulance companies struggling to find paramedics in Mississippi
BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - The state is in dire need of paramedics as staffing shortages have hit a critical low during the pandemic. Right now, there’s not an ambulance company in the state that is fully staffed.
According to Mississippi Ambulance Alliance president, Julia Clarke, it’s a national problem, and on the Gulf Coast, paramedics are hard to come by.
“We had a workforce shortage before the pandemic, and since the pandemic, it’s gotten even worse,” said Clarke.
Retaining workers has been a challenge as many have traded EMS work for jobs inside hospitals. The root of the mass exodus is linked to money.
“We’re paid below our cost of doing business and so our wages have not kept up with other healthcare industries,” Clarke added.
Clarke said the key is for workers to get paid as healthcare providers instead of transporters. That difference is causing a substantial wage gap.
“You may go into industrial medicine and you’re going to make $30-$35 an hour,” Clarke said. “Whereas if you work for EMS, it can be anywhere from $14-$22 an hour.”
Industry leaders are now pushing for workforce development and increasing reimbursements.
“A lot of people don’t realize that if an ambulance shows up at your house and we provide treatment to you, first-aid or insulin, but you don’t transport, you don’t go to a hospital, we don’t get reimbursed,” Clarke explained.
Clark said retention money would also go a long, and if the problem isn’t resolved soon, it will cause some areas to be left in the dark.
“The reality right now in Mississippi is that any county at any time could lose their EMS service,” she said. “We are that short with paramedics. Right now, there’s not an ambulance company in the state that is fully staffed.”
Clark traveled to Jackson Wednesday morning to talk to lawmakers about the importance of workforce development and using American Rescue Plan funds to go towards training and schooling paramedics who want to stay in EMS.
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Copyright 2022 WLOX. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/2022/02/10/ambulance-companies-struggling-find-paramedics-mississippi/ | 2022-02-10T16:11:07 | en | 0.950206 |
Hello again one and all and welcome back to this week's edition of Laura's Links, and hot diggity dog, what a week it has been.
As I mentioned last week, the Canadian truckers have given me a sense of hope I haven't felt in almost two years. They mean business and I have great confidence in them and their ability to bring the Trudeau government and all of his dictatorial mandates to its knees (hopefully with a spillover effect onto all the Canadian provinces still strangling their citizens' freedoms).
When the convoy started rolling and the videos started coming online I experienced an overwhelming sense, of relief, gladness, and hope, that bordered on a religious experience. And the more I read or watched about the organization behind this tremendous campaign, the more I understood instinctively that there were a great many clever minds behind it possessing a truly glorious sense of resolve. I was sure of it and I wanted to hear more, so please take a read of my conversation with BJ Dichter, one of the spokesmen of the convoy, and let me know what you think. Do you think my Jewdar was accurate? I think I'm batting a thousand.
Despite the fact that countries around the world are dropping all Covid restrictions and mandates, the evil, scowling gargoyle Christine Elliott of Ontario is doubling down, just like our emasculated, petulant prime minister Justin Trudeau. But the calls for freedom are now coming from within the house. A second Liberal MP from Quebec has broken ranks with Justin Trudeau over the his pandemic policies and COVID-19 vaccination mandates. This is a big deal. Things are not looking good for Trudeau and everyone around the world can see.
I feel like we are finally at the very beginning of the end, so now is the time to put even more effort toward reclaiming our freedoms and forcing an end to the Covid-inspired Chinese style tyranny. More pressure is needed. Every one of us has a role to play, whether it's driving the truck or simply removing one's mask. Everyone individually must choose their battle and their weapon. I may not drive an 18-wheeler, but I will use every ounce of strength I have and any G-d given talents that I do have for this fight. You know why? Because I don't want to live under communist rules and policies. Why? Because the carnage is unforgivable and has to stop. Why? Because a little girl ran up to a construction worker in wonder, and told him "I like your face", and he cried.
I have also had my eye on the mask war. The mask, I believe, is the evil talisman of the covid religion. When the mask goes, so does everything else. So I'm putting some effort into that front of the war in particular. So, Ontario parents and families, I would encourage you to please send a note to the terrible people in government and demand the unmasking of our children.
Watch the fault lines of the Battle of the Mask. There is a great sorting going on now between good and evil, free and unfree. There's a battle between people who want to live as free human beings and those who want to control other humans completely. There's a battle between people who want to live free and between those who wish every aspect of their life to be governed and regulated from cradle to grave. These lines will tell you a lot about people, power and evil and they have nothing to do with race, gender, class or sexual orientation, much to Justin Trudeau's chagrin. The Battle of the Mask in particular, will show you who hates you and who hates your children and who wants your children to suffer indefinitely – all for their own power. Be aware, be brave, and be prepared to fight. Look straight into this evil, face it and fight it head on. Make sure it never happens again.
Blessings of safety, health and success upon all the truckers and all the protesters in Ottawa and all the people standing beside them literally and figuratively.
Godspeed and #HonkHonk.
~
North America:
There's been very little coverage of the lawsuit launched by the Honourable Brian Peckford against the Canadian federal government because of its travel ban for unvaccinated Canadians. Read the whole thing here.
Trudeau doubles down.
Chicago: Judge blocks schools from enforcing mask and vaccine mandates.
"Masks forever, at least every winter, where Democrats are in charge. Just to avoid admitting they were wrong."
Dr. Naomi Wolf: Thinking Like a Tyrant, from her new Substack: "Some monsters are very near to us; some monsters are wearing lovely suits and chatting away about their kids, or about their renovation hurdles, at dinner parties; and some kinds of monstrosity and sociopathy are actively cultivated by the norms and networks that are all around us, albeit half-hidden at elite levels, and systematized and accepted at very high levels."
School mask mandates are not necessary (duh).
~
Israel and Jews:
Do not mess with the Rebbe's army. The laying of Tefillin is a very important commandment for Jewish men, and that Rabbi would have gone to a hundred chin ups if he had to for the sake of getting more men to wear Tefillin.
"Naomi Pearlman survived the Holocaust. At 91 years old, she was killed by a different kind of hatred of Jewish people. Nine months after her home was hit by a Hamas rocket, the great-grandmother of 12 — the youngest born last week — died of her injuries." Same Nazi spirit in its current incarnation. Who are the real "neo-Nazis"?
~
Europe:
Macron is pretty butch on statues, but pretty stupid on this.
The Great Prophet Mark Steyn is on official notice that there is serious competition for my affections. I didn't think "Laura finds septuagenarian Frenchman moderately arousing" would be on my 2022 bingo card, but here we are: "I am not the Santa Claus of humankind."
~
Covid:
Never again.
Mask compliance for two year olds. Courtesy of educators.
School reopening: "The Indian children who have never seen the inside of a classroom."
"Switch Health is certainly winning."
~
Down Under:
Welcome to "Wellcamp". Your host for the duration of your stay will be George Orwell. Check out time is never.
Rules for thee but not for me.
Evil bastards.
~
Barbarians:
All cultures are equal, etc.
~
Human Grace:
Singing from the heart.
First steps.
When you find out you're not alone.
It's open thread time! Log into SteynOnline and let Laura know what you think of these stories or other happenings from week that was. Commenting privileges are among the many perks of membership in The Mark Steyn Club. While going off topic is permitted on Laura's Links, do stick to the other rules as you engage: no URLs, no profanity, and no ad hominem attacks. | https://www.steynonline.com/12126/the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-covid-era | 2022-02-10T16:11:12 | en | 0.969371 |
DHS enlists community leaders to fight violent extremism, but experts fear it could further political divide
The government is changing its strategy for combating domestic violent extremism, but experts think they’ll have to tread the line carefully to avoid dividing Americans further.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - According to the Department of Homeland Security, political disinformation and racial bias are most often behind violent extremist attacks in the U.S. Now, they’re investing in local leadership to help stop the violence before it begins.
“This really starts at the community level, and we are about empowering communities,” said Robert Silvers, the under secretary for policy at DHS.
From teachers to ministers to coaches, Silvers said local leaders are in the best position to stop violent extremism in their neighborhoods.
The federal government is pouring millions into community programs to teach those leaders how to spot when someone’s views could escalate. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas designated tackling domestic violent extremism as a “National Priority Area” for FEMA grants for the first time. Since 2021, the department has also made information sharing a new priority to keep the public up to date on threats.
Silvers said the goal is not to police beliefs.
“This is about speech or view or false narratives that are encouraging people to act violently and harm others,” he said.
Kara Frederick from the conservative Heritage Foundation said she worries the government doesn’t have a concrete definition of extremist speech. Because of this, she said she fears opposing politics could be viewed as a threat in some community programs.
“They have to consistently apply their policies to American citizens,” Frederick said. “They can’t just target one specific group and let another say whatever they want.”
Behavioral scientist Todd Helmus from the nonpartisan, nonprofit RAND Corporation is in favor of DHS’s strategy, calling it “the only way to go.” He said politicization of the issue is inevitable due to the focus on right-wing extremists.
“It’s a minefield as to how to address and counter these groups without coming off like you’re countering right wing ideology,” Helmus said.
He said the government will need to tread carefully in election years to keep these methods effective.
DHS, Helmus and Frederick all agreed that tech companies should also play a role in preventing extremism from spreading on their platforms moving forward.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/2022/02/10/dhs-enlists-community-leaders-fight-violent-extremism-experts-fear-it-could-further-political-divide/ | 2022-02-10T16:11:13 | en | 0.960083 |
Truck blockade at U.S.-Canadian border shuts auto plants
TORONTO (AP) — The truck blockade by Canadians protesting the country’s COVID-19 restrictions is tightening the screws on the auto industry, forcing Ford, Toyota and General Motors to shut down plants or otherwise curtail production on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border.
The bumper-to-bumper demonstration entered its fourth day Thursday at the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, disrupting the flow of auto parts and other products back and forth across the border.
Meanwhile, U.S. authorities braced for the possibility of similar truck-convoy protests in the United States, and authorities in Paris and Belgium banned road blockades to head off disruptions there too.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a bulletin to local and state law enforcement agencies that it has received reports that truckers are planning to “potentially block roads in major metropolitan cities” in a protest against vaccine mandates and other issues.
DHS said the convoy could begin in Southern California as early as this weekend, possibly disrupting traffic around the Super Bowl, and reach Washington in March in time for the State of the Union, according to a copy of Tuesday’s bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. It said that the protest could be disruptive and tie up traffic but that there have been no calls for violence.
The ban on road blockades in Europe and the threat of prison time and heavy fines were likewise prompted by online chat groups in France that have been calling for drivers to converge on Paris starting Friday night, and to continue on to Brussels on Monday.
The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries, and the effects of the blockade there were felt rapidly.
Ford said its Windsor, Ontario, engine plant reopened Thursday after being shut down on Wednesday because of a lack of parts. But the factory and the company’s assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, near Toronto, are operating at reduced capacity, the automaker said.
“This interruption on the Detroit-Windsor bridge hurts customers, auto workers, suppliers, communities and companies on both sides of the border,” Ford said in a statement. “We hope this situation is resolved quickly because it could have widespread impact on all automakers in the U.S. and Canada.”
On the U.S. side, GM canceled the second shift on Wednesday and the first shift Thursday at its midsize SUV factory outside Lansing, Michigan.
Toyota said it will not be able to manufacture anything at three Canadian plants for the rest of the week because of parts shortages. In a statement, the automaker blamed supply chain disruptions, weather and pandemic-related problems, but the shutdowns came just days after the blockade began Monday.
Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, said all of its North American factories were running Thursday, but shortages because of the blockade forced it to shorten shifts at several plants.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration is watching the bridge blockade closely, noting the risk to the U.S. auto industry.
Hundreds of demonstrators in trucks have also paralyzed the streets of downtown Ottawa for almost two weeks, and dozens more have been blocking the border crossing at Coutts, Alberta, decrying vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers and other COVID-19 restrictions and railing against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The Freedom Truck Convoy has been promoted and cheered on by many Fox News personalities and attracted support from the likes of former President Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said Wednesday that police had not removed protesters there for fear of inflaming the situation. But he added: “We’re not going to let this happen for a prolonged period of time.”
As of Wednesday, the demonstration involved 50 to 74 vehicles and about 100 protesters, police said. Ottawa police said Thursday they were “able to negotiate for a dozen more trucks to leave” downtown and said 10 others left, but the city warned about traffic disruptions because of a new demonstration at the Ottawa airport.
To avoid the blockade and get into Canada, truckers in the Detroit area have had to drive 70 miles north to Port Huron, Michigan, and cross the Blue Water Bridge, where there was a 4½-hour delay leaving the U.S.
While protesters have been calling for Trudeau’s removal, most of the restrictive measures around the country have been put in place by provincial governments. Those include requirements that people show proof-of-vaccination “passports” to enter restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and sporting events.
Many provinces announced plans this week to remove or relax those restrictions after the surge in omicron cases crested in the country.
Pandemic restrictions have been far stricter in Canada than in the U.S., but Canadians have largely supported them. Canada’s COVID-19 death rate is one-third that of the U.S.
____
Krisher contributed from Detroit and Ben Fox contributed from Washington.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/2022/02/10/truck-blockade-us-canadian-border-shuts-auto-plants/ | 2022-02-10T16:11:21 | en | 0.959593 |
WLBT’s things to know 2/10/22: Flurona signs and symptoms, Flora ministry helps cover food pantry recipients, juveniles arrested for bomb threats
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - If you missed a few of the most important headlines and need to play catch up, no worries. WLBT has gathered some of the top stories from our website to get you up to speed.
1. What is Flurona? The signs and symptoms of the co-infection
“We saw a few occasional cases of people testing positive for both influenza and coronavirus even back in the first year of the pandemic. We didn’t think that much of it and, frankly, it is not unusual to have a couple of different viruses,” said Dr. Stephen Threlkeld. The infectious disease specialist with Baptist Memorial Health Care. He says the term “Flurona” may be unfamiliar to some people, but respiratory co-infections are possible - especially during flu season, which lasts from October to May. Health officials say cases of this respiratory co-infection have been detected in Israel, Brazil and right here in the United States. Some local doctors say they’ve also had a few patients who contracted both viruses at the same time. Read the full story here.
2. Flora ministries team up to feed those in need after legal battle forces food pantry to shut down
We first brought you the story about a legal battle that forced a food pantry in Flora to close its doors after 10 years of feeding those in need. Now, First Baptist Church of Flora is filling the void by serving those impacted by the loss. If it weren’t for First Baptist’s efforts, about 300 people in the community would’ve been without the food that they depend on due to misunderstandings between the pastor and some members at Union Hill Baptist Church. See the full story here.
3. 2 juveniles arrested after bomb threats made against Natchez High School 2 days in a row
Two people have been arrested after bombs threats were made against Natchez High School two days in a row this week. The first threat came in on Tuesday, February 8. Natchez police were notified of the threat and students and school personnel was re-routed to a safe location. MHP and the Madison Police Department were contacted for the assistance of their bomb dogs. The all-clear was given, but the school administration decided to cancel school for the day. At approximately 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, another bomb threat was called into the school. See more here.
Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Copyright 2022 WLBT. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/2022/02/10/wlbts-things-know-21022-flurona-signs-symptoms-flora-ministry-helps-cover-food-pantry-recipients-juveniles-arrested-bomb-threats/ | 2022-02-10T16:11:27 | en | 0.980142 |
TEXAS, USA — The Texas abortion law that passed last year is best known as the “Texas Heartbeat Act.” The law has faced multiple legal challenges and has been widely debated, but one viewer reached out to KVUE about some of the medical terminologies in the law.
We spoke with three doctors of varying political beliefs to get that viewer's question answered.
The law essentially bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. But although the title of the law uses the term “heartbeat,” the text of the law also uses the term “cardiac activity.”
Our viewer wanted to know: Is it correct to say a "fetal heartbeat" can be detected at six weeks?
Dr. Jennifer Villavicencio, the lead for equity transformation with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Washington, D.C., said she believes it is more accurate to call it "cardiac activity" since the heart is not fully developed yet at six weeks.
“It's the electrical impulses that will eventually begin to form the anatomy of the human heart,” Villavicencio said. “So, when we say, 'Can you detect a fetal heartbeat?,' it's complex because we can start to see the beginnings of it, but it’s not the entire anatomical heart. It's not developed at that point.”
KVUE also spoke with two other doctors, Dr. Ingrid Skop and Dr. Blake Weidaw.
Skop is a board-certified OBGYN who has a private practice in San Antonio and is also the medical director of The Source nonprofit clinics. Weidaw is a board-certified OBGYN with the Vitae Clinic in Austin.
Both agreed the heart is not fully formed at six weeks, but they believe the term “fetal heartbeat” is the correct wording for what is being detected by ultrasound at six weeks into pregnancy.
“The reality is, the structure is present – the heart, the blood cells are present to be pumped, and the electrical activity is present,” Skop said. “Now, the heart will get more complicated. So, at this initial point, it's more or less a tube, but it will convolute and fold so that it has four chambers, so that it has valves.”
“The heart's not fully formed at six weeks,” Weidaw said. “There's still development that's happening, but there definitely is a heartbeat.”
When doctors listen to an adult heartbeat by stethoscope, they say the sound we hear is the heart's valves opening and closing. But those valves are not yet formed during the sixth week of pregnancy.
“Those valves are not present until about 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy,” Villavicencio said. “And so, you're not able to really hear those valves opening and closing until they've developed and are present. So, the heartbeat that you're hearing very early in pregnancy is actually a machine.”
The machine she is talking about is a doppler ultrasound machine, which measures sound waves that are reflected from moving objects, like flowing red blood cells.
“Some of our ultrasound machines have the ability to do doppler flow so that you can actually hear it then,” Skop said. “But the doppler through the abdomen that an obstetrician does typically is about four weeks later.”
So, in conclusion, all three doctors KVUE spoke with agreed that six weeks into pregnancy, the heart is not fully formed and is still developing, but fetal "cardiac activity" can be detected. Two doctors consider this to be called a "fetal heartbeat," while the other says it is more complicated.
Skop has voiced her support for the Texas Heartbeat Act, while Villavicencio has voiced her opposition to the law. That is why KVUE chose to interview both doctors, plus a third doctor, to get the most well-rounded and medically factual answer possible.
When it comes to the law itself, the Texas Heartbeat Act has faced multiple legal challenges since it went into effect five months ago. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments related to the law but didn't intervene to stop it. Right now, a court case challenging the law is waiting to be heard by the Texas Supreme Court.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING:
- North Austin hotel to be converted into homeless housing community
- Some Austin Energy customers kept power during the Texas freeze. Here's why the utility's GM says that's no guarantee for the future
- HBO Max series 'Love and Death' to film in Williamson County later this month: Report
- 65-year-old Caldwell County man indicted for murder of Adil Dghoughi | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/health/texas-heartbeat-act-fetal-cardiac-activity/269-473e52f7-ca00-4a80-b52a-f44e772f36a0 | 2022-02-10T16:12:45 | en | 0.969938 |
HOUSTON — On the world's biggest stage, NFL stars want to shine the brightest. So many of them turn to Houston's own Leo Frost.
"The list goes on and on and on," said Frost, one of the hottest custom jewelers in the country. "I rep Houston all the way."
Frost says about 30 guys playing in this year's Super Bowl have shopped with him.
"I got Ja'Marr Chase," said Frost. "I got Joe Burrow."
"You designed his chain, right?" asked KHOU 11's Xavier Walton.
"Yeah," said Frost. "100%."
From Burrow to Antonio Brown, even the Rocket's rookie Jalen Green, Frost is working with the biggest names in sports, but just like the diamonds he sells, this is all fresh.
"I dropped out of school like two and half years ago and I started selling grills," said Frost.
"You were studying supply chain management?" asked Walton.
"And now I supply chains," said Frost.
Frost went from a University of Houston dropout to jeweler extraordinaire.
"This morning I was with Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase," said Frost. "And those are just like regular friends to me."
Frost was born in California but was raised in Houston. He appreciates all the support from the city.
"The city gave me all the tools I need to succeed," said Frost. "Just saying that I kind of got goosebumps because that's real life." | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/houston-celebrity-jeweler-leo-frost/285-1c0fd482-81c2-4259-8efe-6a6e4c6a845b | 2022-02-10T16:12:52 | en | 0.990043 |
In 2021, nearly one in three Americans said they had fallen victim to a phone scam, according to a Truecaller Insights U.S. Spam & Scam Report. In fact, millions of people reported having lost an average of $502 to phone scams last year – up from $351 in 2020, Truecaller said.
VERIFY producer Tamika says she recently received three phone calls claiming to be from Apple Support alleging that her Apple ID had been compromised. She wants to know whether these calls are real or fake.
THE QUESTION
Are scammers impersonating Apple Support to try to steal your iCloud account information?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
Yes, scammers are impersonating Apple Support to try to steal your iCloud account information.
WHAT WE FOUND
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been warning people about these fake calls from scammers pretending to represent Apple Support since December 2020. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) also warned of the same phishing scam in June 2021.
Alvaro Puig, who serves as the FTC’s consumer education specialist, explains how the scam works on the FTC’s website. Puig writes that the scammers are known to leave a recorded message that says there has been suspicious activity on an individual's Apple iCloud account. The scammers also claim the person’s account may have been breached.
“The scammers say you can conveniently press 1 to speak with someone (how nice of them!). Or they give you a phone number to call. Don’t do either. It’s a scam. They’re trying to steal your personal information, like your account password or your credit card number,” according to Puig.
The FTC and Apple Support say if you get an unexpected call or message about a problem with any of your Apple iCloud accounts, hang up. They also share tips on what not to do if you receive one of these scam calls:
- Do not press 1 to speak with customer support
- Do not call a phone number they gave you
- Do not give out your personal information
Puig says if you think there may actually be a problem with one of your accounts, you should contact Apple using a phone number or website you know is real. You can also learn how to block unwanted calls on a mobile phone or on your home phone on the FTC’s website.
The BBB also offers advice regarding these scam calls on its website:
- Don’t answer these calls and inform your local carriers.
- Never give anyone you’re not familiar with access to your devices, including smart phones, laptops and PCs.
- Set up two-factor authentication on your iCloud and other accounts to add a layer of protection and security.
- Never provide personal information to someone you don’t know or any unsolicited requests.
- Remember, scammers can use fake caller ID information to make it appear the calls are coming from Apple or other familiar companies or people.
If you do get a call you think is a scam, you can report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to the BBB Scam Tracker. If you believe that your Apple ID has been compromised, or if you might have entered your password or other personal info on a scam website, Apple says you should change your Apple ID password immediately.
More from VERIFY: Yes, the Equifax data breach settlement email and website are real | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/verify/scams-verify/apple-support-phony-fake-calls-icloud-phone-scam/536-c66424e5-bd05-43da-ba94-f0b2a16ead44 | 2022-02-10T16:12:58 | en | 0.944956 |
NEW YORK — It is officially NBA Trade Deadline day as the NBA's annual deadline to get a deal done approaches at 3 p.m. E.T. this year.
We're already had some big trades this week in the Blazers trading C.J. McCollum to the Pelicans and the Pacers trading away key players in Caris LeVert to the Cavaliers and All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis to the Kings.
Will we get more fireworks?
Much of the buzz centers around players including Brooklyn's James Harden and Philadelphia's Ben Simmons.
We're tracking all the action on deadline day with reaction from our Locked On NBA local experts around the country below.
Locked On NBA's Live Trade Deadline Show kicks off at 2 p.m. E.T. on all TEGNA websites and the Locked On NBA YouTube Channel
NBA Trade Deadline: Trades and rumors tracker
Could Russell Westbrook be on his way out of L.A. already?
The Lakers traded away a lot to get Russell Westbrook to the Lakers this past summer but it hasn't been working out for Westbrook or the Lakers. What is L.A. going to look like after Thursday?
James Harden reportedly hopes for trade to 76ers before deadline
James Harden wants out of Brooklyn without making it publicly known, according to reports from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Rumors have swirled that the Nets and 76ers could try to make a deal involving Harden and Sixers star Ben Simmons, who has sat out this season thus far, but they reportedly aren't close to a deal as of Thursday morning.
Pre-Trade Deadline Day Moves
Feb. 9: Jazz get Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 3-team deal
Jazz get:
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker (via Portland)
- Juancho Hernangomez (via San Antonio)
Blazers get:
- Joe Ingles (via Utah)
- Elijah Hughes (via Utah)
- Second-round pick (via Utah)
Spurs get:
- Tomas Satoransky (via Portland)
- Second-round pick (via Utah)
Feb. 9: Thunder trade pick for KZ Okpala
Heat get:
- 2026 second-round pick
Thunder get:
- KZ Okpala
Additional agreement: The 2023 first-round pick already owed to Oklahoma City from Miami has been amended to a 2025 first-round pick (1-14 protected), and if not conveyed, to a 2026 unprotected pick.
Feb. 8: Sacramento Kings trade Haliburton to Pacers for Sabonis
Pacers get:
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Buddy Hield
- Tristan Thompson
Kings get:
- Domantas Sabonis
- Justin Holiday
- Jeremy Lamb
- 2023 second-round pick
Feb. 8: Portland Trail Blazers trade C.J. McCollum to Pelicans
Pelicans get:
- CJ McCollum
- Larry Nance Jr.
- Tony Snell
Blazers get:
- Josh Hart
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- Tomáš Satoranský
- Didi Louzada
- 2022 first-round draft pick (protected)
- 2026 second-round pick (whichever is better between teams)
- 2027 second-round pick (whichever is better between teams)
Feb. 7: Indiana Pacers trade Caris LeVert to Cleveland Cavaliers
Cavaliers get:
- Caris LeVert
- 2022 second-round pick (via Miami)
Pacers get:
- Ricky Rubio
- 2022 first-round draft pick (lottery protected)
- 2022 second-round pick (via Houston)
- 2022 second-round pick (via Utah)
Feb. 4: Blazers trade Norman Powell, Robert Covington to Clippers
Clippers get:
- Norman Powell
- Robert Covington
Blazers get:
- Eric Bledsoe
- Justise Winslow
- Keon Johnson
- 2025 second-round pick (via Detroit) | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/sports/locked-on/nba-podcast/nba-trade-deadline-tracker-will-big-moves-come-before-thursdays-deadline/535-8ddbfef8-0a90-4e78-b2a9-aef3b8751fe1 | 2022-02-10T16:13:04 | en | 0.842699 |
WASHINGTON — How do you eat mixed nuts? That question causes all out chaos in this year's Super Bowl ad for Planters.
The "Feed the Debate" commercial stars former "Community" co-stars Ken Jeong and Joel McHale. Jeong told Forbes he was "giddy" to get to work with McHale on the Super Bowl ad because "he is one of my best friends."
During the 60-second spot, the two actors are seen hanging out in a bar, when it's revealed Jeong eats mixed nuts one at a time, which McHale, who eats mixed nuts all together, is taken aback by.
Jeong and McHale go back and forth arguing on the nutty topic.
"If only you were as selective with your roles as you are with your nuts," McHale tells Jeong.
They then decide to settle the debate in the most reasonable way possible...by asking the internet.
As you can see in the ad, the question quickly tears friendships apart and prompts protests and even news coverage.
"Huh, who knew America would tear itself apart over a minor difference of opinion," McHale remarks in the ad.
NBCUniversal said it has sold all of the ad space for the 2022 Super Bowl, with some 30-second commercial spots going for as much as $7 million.
Some of the other Super Bowl ads released so far includes Michelob ULTRA's "Superior Bowl" spot with Peyton Manning and Serena Williams, Budweiser's "A Clydesdale's Journey" and Guy Fieri in the "Land of Loud Flavors."
Back in 2020, Planters got a lot of attention for its pre-game Super Bowl ad that killed Mr. Peanut. The brand then aired an ad featuring the 104-year-old spokesnut's funeral, where he was then reborn as "Baby Nut."
The Super Bowl is on Sunday, Feb. 13. | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/sports/nfl/superbowl/ken-jeong-joel-mchale-reunite-planters-super-bowl-ad/507-0b81b390-615d-4252-9334-5a0ca42587a5 | 2022-02-10T16:13:10 | en | 0.967758 |
BEIJING, China — American halfpipe champion Chloe Kim opened about her mental health on Thursday after successfully defending her Olympic title, joining Shaun White as the only snowboarders to win back-to-back titles on the halfpipe.
Kim said she is able to handle fame and pressure much better now than after she won her first Olympic gold four years ago in Pyeongchang. After making history in 2018, Kim went home and realized that life as an Olympic champion wasn't as great as she thought it might be.
There were demands on her time; she could not go out without being noticed. There was a dark side — a trove of racist, anti-Asian messages and posts on social media. She threw her gold medal in the trash (but later fished it out), wondering if fame and fortune were really for her.
But she won't be tossing out her Beijing medal and hopes to inspire others by opening up about her own struggles.
"It's unfair to be expected to be perfect, and I'm not perfect in any way. But I think after my last Olympics, I put that pressure on myself to be perfect at all times and that would cause a lot of issues at home. I would be really sad and depressed all the time when I was home and that's not something...I was hurting the people I love the most by doing that," Kim explained.
"And so I think the biggest challenge for me now is just to be as open as possible because I hope that maybe one day a little girl can hear my story and be inspired to be, you know, to keep going, to never give up, to learn that it's OK to have a bad day, that you can move on and that you'll come out in a better place at the end of it all," the Olympic champion added.
The conversation surrounding Olympic athletes' mental health was thrust into the spotlight during the Tokyo Games, when gymnast Simone Biles and swimmer Caeleb Dressel shared their feelings about pressure and expectations. It's been a big topic again this week after two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin's struggles in competition and the outpouring of support online afterward. | https://www.12newsnow.com/article/sports/olympics/chloe-kim-opens-up-on-mental-health/507-0809496a-8afd-4d50-b51a-372807acbd84 | 2022-02-10T16:13:16 | en | 0.987263 |
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