text
stringlengths 10
159k
| url
stringlengths 19
865
| crawl_date
timestamp[s]date 2022-02-01 01:02:23
2024-12-02 05:16:38
| lang
stringclasses 1
value | lang_conf
float64 0.65
1
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
WFO PENDLETON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, July 30, 2022
_____
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
446 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT
SATURDAY...
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures approaching
110. Very warm overnight lows in the upper 60s to lower 70s.
* WHERE...Portions of central, south central and southeast
Washington and central, north central and northeast Oregon.
* WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential
for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or
participating in outdoor activities. Warm overnight lows
compared to normal will continue to add to the heat stress into
the next day.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT SATURDAY...
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS CANCELLED...
* WHAT...Temperatures 95 to 105. Warm overnight lows as high as
the upper 50s to mid 60s.
* WHERE...In Washington, Northwest Blue Mountains. In Oregon,
Grande Ronde Valley, Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon,
Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon and Ochoco-John Day
Highlands.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 105.
Very warm overnight lows in the mid to upper 60s.
* WHERE...East Slopes of the Washington Cascades.
* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the
potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those
working or participating in outdoor activities. Warm overnight
lows compared to normal will continue to add to the heat stress
into the next day.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
|
https://www.myjournalcourier.com/weather/article/WA-WFO-PENDLETON-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17334596.php
| 2022-07-28T13:26:18
|
en
| 0.89421
|
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus and Greece plan to consult with other European Union members on how to respond if Turkey tries again to drill for oil and gas inside waters that Cyprus claims as its exclusive economic zone, the Cypriot foreign minister said Thursday.
Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said earlier this week that the country’s newest drill ship, the Abdullhamid Han, would set sail Aug. 9 for a drilling operation “in the Mediterranean.” The exact location has not been announced.
“We have discussed some actions in the hope that they can avert the creation of such tensions in our exclusive economic zone," Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said after talks with Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias.
Turkey, which doesn’t recognize Cyprus as a sovereign state, claims much of the ethnically split island’s offshore economic zone as its own. Turkish Cypriots in the breakaway north claim their waters overlap many of the 13 blocks off the country's southern coast that make up the zone.
Kasoulides said Cypriot authorities believe there “more than six” potential areas where the Turkish drill ship could start work, and not all may be inside the area claimed by Cyprus.
The government of Cyprus has granted drilling and exploration rights in nine of the blocks to ExxonMobil and its partner Qatar Petroleum, Chevron and partners Dutch Shell and Israel NewMed, as well as a consortium made up of Italy’s Eni and France's TotalEnergies
Turkey previously dispatched warship-escorted drill ships and survey vessels inside Cypriot-claimed waters. Similar excursions into waters claimed by Greece have ratcheted up military tensions. The EU has strongly condemned Turkey’s actions and imposed sanctions on two individuals involved in such drilling expeditions.
Cyprus split into ethnically Greek and ethnically Turkey sides in 1974, when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence. Although Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, only the southern, Greek Cypriot part enjoys full membership benefits.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Cyprus-Greece-look-to-EU-if-Turkey-renews-gas-17334753.php
| 2022-07-28T13:26:19
|
en
| 0.961023
|
American basketball star Brittney Griner testified Wednesday at his drug trial in Russia that a language interpreter translated only a fraction of what was said during his interrogation and the officials ordered him to sign documents without giving an explanation. Furthermore, he reiterated that he had no intention of bringing drugs into Russia.
He admitted in court earlier this month that he had vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in his luggage when he arrived in Russia, but he claimed he had no criminal intent and inadvertently packed the cartridges.
“I did not think or plan to bring banned substances to Russia”Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in basketball, told a court in the city of Khimki, outside Moscow.
Griner was detained at a Moscow airport in February.just days before Putin launched his offensive in Ukraine.
During his testimony, the star of Phoenix Mercury described taking a grueling 13-hour flight to Moscow from Arizona while recovering from COVID-19. Griner said he still doesn’t know how the cannabis oil ended up in his bag, but explained that he had a doctor’s recommendation and that he had packed it in a hurry.
She recalled being detained at the airport on February 17 after inspectors found the cartridges.
Along with the interpreter who provided an incomplete translation, Griner said he did not receive an explanation of his rights or access to an attorney and was instructed to sign documents without an explanation of what they entailed.
After hours of proceedings that he did not understand, he was allowed to hand over his personal belongings to a lawyer before she was led away in handcuffs, Griner said. She said that He received only a cursory translation of the accusations during a hearing on February 19 where a court sanctioned his arrest.
Griner faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs. His trial began on July 1, and Wednesday was his first appearance as a witness. The court on the outskirts of Moscow held five earlier sessions that were brief, some lasting just an hour.
It’s unclear how long the trial will last, but a court has authorized Griner’s detention until Dec. 20. The athlete went to Russia to play for a Russian team in the WNBA offseason.
During Tuesday’s court session of about 90 minutes, a Russian neuropsychologist testified about the worldwide use of medicinal cannabiswhich is still illegal in russia. Griner’s defense team submitted a letter from a US doctor recommending that the basketball player use medical cannabis to treat pain.
Griner testified Wednesday that he was in pain from injuries sustained during his basketball career.. He stressed that cannabis oil is widely used in the United States for medicinal purposes and has fewer negative effects than some other pain relievers.
A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said last week thatThe legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use in parts of the US was unrelated to what is happening in Russia.
Griner’s slow trial and five-month detention have drawn strong criticism from her teammates and supporters in the United States, which formally declared her “wrongfully detained”a designation that the Russian authorities flatly rejected.
Griner was arrested in February amid heightened tensions between the United States and Moscow before Russia invaded Ukraine later that month. Some supporters maintain that she is being held in Russia as a pawn, possibly for a prisoner swap. American soccer star Megan Rapinoe she said last week that “she’s being held as a political prisoner, obviously.”
Russian media have speculated that Griner could be swapped for prominent Russian arms dealer Viktor Boutwho is incarcerated in the United States, and who Paul Whelanan American jailed in Russia for espionage, could also figure in a trade.
US officials have not commented on the prospects for such a deal. Russian officials have said no trade could be discussed until the legal process against Griner is concluded.
(With information from AFP and AP)
|
https://thenewstrace.com/american-basketball-star-brittney-griner-testified-before-the-russian-court-i-did-not-think-or-plan-to-bring-prohibited-substances/242055/
| 2022-07-28T13:26:21
|
en
| 0.985464
|
What's in, and out, of Democrats' climate, health care and inflation bill
WASHINGTON - What started as a $4 trillion effort during President Joe Biden's first months in office to rebuild America's public infrastructure and family support systems has ended up a much slimmer, but not unsubstantial, compromise package of inflation-fighting health care, climate change, and deficit reduction strategies that appears headed toward quick votes in Congress.
Lawmakers are poring over the $739 billion proposal struck by two top negotiators, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and holdout Sen. Joe Manchin, the conservative West Virginia Democrat who rejected Biden's earlier drafts but surprised colleagues late Wednesday with a new one.
What's in, and out, of the Democrats' 725-page "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" as it stands now:
Lower prescription drug costs
Launching a long-sought goal, the bill would allow the Medicare program to negotiate prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, saving the federal government some $288 billion over the 10-year budget window.
Those new revenues would be put back into lower costs for seniors on medications, including a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap for older adults buying prescriptions from pharmacies.
Money would also be used to provide free vaccinations for seniors, who now are among the few not guaranteed free access, according to a summary document.
Help pay for health insurance
The bill would extend the subsidies provided during the COVID-19 pandemic to help some Americans who buy health insurance on their own.
Under earlier pandemic relief, the extra help was set to expire this year. But the bill would allow the assistance to keep going for three more years, lowering insurance premiums for people who are purchasing their own health care policies.
‘Single biggest investment in climate change in U.S. history’
The bill would invest $369 billion over the decade in climate change-fighting strategies including investments in renewable energy production and tax rebates for consumers to buy new or used electric vehicles.
It's broken down to include $60 billion for a clean energy manufacturing tax credit and $30 billion for a production tax credit for wind and solar, seen as ways to boost and support the industries that can help curb the country's dependence on fossil fuels.
For consumers, there are tax breaks as incentives to go green. One is a 10-year consumer tax credit for renewable energy investments in wind and solar. There are tax breaks for buying electric vehicles, including a $4,000 tax credit for purchase of used electric vehicles and $7,500 for new ones.
In all, Democrats believe the strategy could put the country on a path to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030, and "would represent the single biggest climate investment in U.S. history, by far."
FILE - Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) talks to reporters as he leaves the Senate Democrats’ weekly policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on July 20, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
How to pay for all of this?
The biggest revenue-raiser in the bill is a new 15% minimum tax on corporations that earn more than $1 billion in annual profits.
It's a way to clamp down on some 200 U.S. companies that avoid paying the standard 21% corporate tax rate, including some that end up paying no taxes at all.
The new corporate minimum tax would kick in after the 2022 tax year and raise some $313 billion over the decade.
Money is also raised by boosting the IRS to go after tax cheats. The bill proposes an $80 billion investment in taxpayer services, enforcement and modernization, which is projected to raise $203 billion in new revenue — a net gain of $124 billion over the decade.
The bill sticks with Biden's original pledge not to raise taxes on families or businesses making less than $400,000 a year.
The lower drug prices for seniors are paid for with savings from Medicare's negotiations with the drug companies.
Extra money to pay down deficits
With $739 billion in new revenue and some $433 billion in new investments, the bill promises to put the difference toward deficit reduction.
Federal deficits have spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic when federal spending soared and tax revenues fell as the nation's economy churned through shutdowns, closed offices and other massive changes.
The nation has seen deficits rise and fall in recent years. But overall federal budgeting is on an unsustainable path, according to the Congressional Budget Office, which put out a new report this week on long-term projections.
What's left behind
This latest package after 18 months of start-stop negotiations leaves behind many of Biden's more ambitious goals.
While Congress did pass a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill of highway, broadband and other investments that Biden signed into law last year, the president's and the party's other priorities have slipped away.
Among them, a continuation of a $300 monthly child tax credit that was sending money directly to families during the pandemic and is believed to have widely reduced child poverty.
Also gone, for now, are plans for free pre-kindergarten and free community college, as well as the nation's first paid family leave program that would have provided up to $4,000 a month for births, deaths and other pivotal needs.
___
Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed to this report.
|
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/climate-health-care-inflation-bill-manchin-schumer-democrats-package-explained
| 2022-07-28T13:26:21
|
en
| 0.966103
|
EA Sports delves into what’s new in HyperMotion2, and mechanics like “the shoe.”
As they advanced a few days ago, EA Sports has chosen this afternoon to present the first FIFA 23 gameplay trailer, the latest installment of the franchise under this name that will hit stores on September 30. In just over 10 minutes, users of the soccer video game have been able to see a preview of some of the main playable novelties of the soccer simulator.
Specifically, they wanted to dedicate this long gameplay commented on by various video game managers to delve into HyperMotion2, the great advance against FIFA 22 presented by EA Sports, but a lot of footage has also been dedicated to talking about everything related to women’s football , as well as the new mechanics incorporated in the side of the attack, the defense, the goalkeepers and the skill moves.
HyperMotion describes itself in video as innovative new generation technology, which combines advanced 11v11 match capture and machine learning. Specifically, motion capture data has been taken from two full matches and five training sessions with professional teams, including the first motion capture of a women’s match, which allows its developers to offer more realistic and higher quality animationson the one hand, but also bet on even more advanced AI systems.
You can go into more detail about all this through a section on the FIFA 23 website, which also includes another special dedicated to new mechanics. Among them, considerable attention has been paid to the shoea new skill-based, risk-reward balancing shooting option that brings even more powerful and impressive shots to the gaming experience.
There are also novelties for rehearsed plays, advanced impact physics, network interaction physics, a new collision prediction system that improves the perception of players on the field, etc.
FIFA 23 launches on September 30 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | S and Stadia in its new generation version. It will also come to PS4 and Xbox One, with a Legacy Edition reserved for another year for those who play on Switch. You can read more about the simulator in the impressions playable with FIFA 23 published in 3DJuegos.
3D Games Discord
More about: FIFA 23 and EA Sports.
|
https://thenewstrace.com/fifa-23-shows-its-cards-in-an-extensive-gameplay-one-more-step-in-its-soccer-simulation/242062/
| 2022-07-28T13:26:22
|
en
| 0.960996
|
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Zachary Lamb, University of California, Berkeley; Jason Spicer, University of Toronto, and Linda Shi, Cornell University
(THE CONVERSATION) When you hear the words “trailer park” or “mobile home park,” what comes to mind? Crime? Poverty? Vulnerability to natural disasters? These negative images reflect the stigma, reinforced by popular culture, that many U.S. residents assign to manufactured home parks – the official name for these dwellings under federal standards adopted in 1976.
Over 20 million Americans live in manufactured housing – more than in public housing and federally subsidized rental housing combined. Yet many people, including urban planners and affordable housing researchers, see manufactured housing parks as problems. In contrast, we see them as part of the solution to housing crises.
We are urban planning scholars who study climate vulnerability, community economic development and equity in urban land use. Our research suggests that misguided stereotypes blind scholars and policymakers to the possibility that mobile homes can help address the affordable housing crisis and climate change. Here are some misperceptions about this widespread form of housing.
Stereotype 1: Manufactured housing is shoddy
Many people think manufactured homes are poorly built, even though these structures, unlike site-built houses, have had to meet federal safety standards since 1976. These safety standards have been periodically updated, often in response to disasters. Today, new well-installed factory-built homes are comparable to site-built homes when it comes to standing up to wind, fire and other disaster threats.
Compared to homes built on-site, manufactured housing costs half as much per square foot – partly because it’s easier, more predictable and cheaper to build homes in factories. Many quality problems associated with manufactured housing arise from home installation, park maintenance and infrastructure issues. No matter how well-built homes are, residents can suffer if they are installed on unstable foundations, or if park owners allow water, sewer or power utility infrastructure to crumble.
Stereotype 2: Manufactured housing parks are always exploitative
While many manufactured housing residents own their homes, they may not own the land the homes sit on. This can leave them at the mercy of predatory park owners and investors. Moving manufactured homes is difficult and expensive, despite the “mobile” label, so residents of manufactured home parks can’t easily relocate when park owners allow conditions to deteriorate, raise rents or evict residents.
But there are alternatives. Residents at over 1,000 manufactured housing parks in the U.S. have jointly bought their land, creating Resident Owned Communities.
This cooperative model gives residents control over their homes and neighborhoods. Resident-owned parks preserve affordability and help residents address their own problems, including vulnerability to climate-driven disasters.
Stereotype 3: Manufactured housing parks aren’t urban or dense
Manufactured home parks are often dismissed as rural and low-density, and therefore irrelevant to urban housing needs. However, 61% of all manufactured housing is located in a metro area, and 8% is in urban centers.
The density of these communities, typically eight to 15 homes per acre, is often greater than nearby neighborhoods. In Houston, for example, many manufactured housing parks are located in suburban areas close to the central business district. If anything, local zoning in many cities limits the density of manufactured housing parks.
Stereotype 4: Manufactured housing parks are uniquely disconnected
Critics often assert that manufactured housing parks are disconnected from surrounding neighborhoods. In reality, this pattern applies to most U.S. residential neighborhoods built since World War II, including gated communities and cul-de-sacs. Residents of these communities value the privacy, safety and neighborhood cohesion their street patterns provide.
Biased local zoning regulations also frequently reinforce manufactured housing parks’ isolation by requiring them to be separated and hidden behind tall privacy fencing. Where fragmented street networks create problems for residents, like reduced walkability, they can be retrofitted by reconnecting streets.
The real challenges
While these stereotypes often don’t reflect reality, manufactured housing communities face real challenges.
Local governments and park owners often are eager to convert parks to what they describe as “higher and better uses,” which frequently means evicting residents for commercial development or more expensive housing. Private equity investors, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds are buying up manufactured housing parks, which they view as reliably profitable investments. When owners redevelop parks, they can evict residents with little recourse.
Residents of manufactured home parks are also increasingly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Biased zoning rules have forced many of these communities to locate on less desirable land, including flood-prone sites, industrial areas and highway fringes. In a 2021 review, we found that 22% of manufactured housing parks across nine states were located within current 100-year floodplains – zones with a 1% chance of flooding every year.
Manufactured housing is especially common in hurricane-prone regions like Florida, Louisiana and Texas. While updated building standards have substantially improved safety, increasingly ferocious storms still pose a real threat.
Aging manufactured home park infrastructure, including sewer, water and electricity systems, is highly vulnerable to extreme heat, wind, drought, flooding and wildfires. And since residents typically have lower incomes, they have fewer resources to respond when extreme events strike.
Manufactured housing, resilience and justice
With economic, political and technical support, evidence shows that manufactured housing can overcome these challenges.
To date, 20 states have adopted laws that help residents purchase the manufactured home parks where they live. These policies have helped ROC USA, a nonprofit social venture, create a network of over 280 cooperatively owned, limited-equity resident-owned communities that are home to over 18,000 households.
ROC USA provides low-cost loans to resident cooperatives to buy land and make needed capital improvements such as upgrading water, sewer and electric systems. Their network of regional housing experts then works with communities for at least a decade to develop and sustain their ability to manage their parks.
Over three decades, no ROC USA community has ever defaulted on a loan or sold their park. A growing number have adopted climate-responsive measures, such as building storm shelters and community centers, upgrading drainage infrastructure and providing emergency post-storm tree clearance and other forms of mutual aid. Other resident-owned communities are investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs for their residents.
Policymakers are paying attention. The Biden administration’s 2022 housing plan includes extensive support for manufactured housing parks.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for increasing state funding to preserve manufactured housing parks as affordable housing. The U.S. Department of Energy recently adopted more ambitious efficiency standards to reduce energy costs for residents of manufactured housing.
In our view, these efforts should be coupled with legislation that protects manufactured housing park tenants and expands the limited-equity ROC model. Governments could enact laws that offer tenants opportunities to purchase their rental units and provide subsidized loans and grants to resident cooperatives. Decades of experience shows that resident ownership can transform manufactured home parks from sites of stigma and vulnerability into stable and resilient communities.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/debunking-stereotypes-about-mobile-homes-could-make-them-a-new-face-of-affordable-housing-186105.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Debunking-stereotypes-about-mobile-homes-could-17334737.php
| 2022-07-28T13:26:25
|
en
| 0.962754
|
Congressional Baseball Game: US Capitol Police say security plan in place ahead of possible protest
WASHINGTON - U.S. Capitol Police are prepared for any protests that could take place during the Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park Thursday.
In a statement released online, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said a "robust" plan is in place and that the department "will not tolerate" any unlawful behavior during the charity event.
"We are aware that demonstrators are planning to protest political issues at the Congressional Baseball Game for Charity. Our mission is to protect the Members of Congress during this family event, so we have a robust security plan in place," Manger said in the statement. "We urge anyone who is thinking about causing trouble at the charity game to stay home. We will not tolerate violence or any unlawful behavior during this family event."
FOX 5's Bob Barnard was at Nationals Park Thursday morning ahead of the game where Republicans and Democrats took batting and fielding practice and spoke with Minority Whip Steve Scalise about the possible protests.
"Anytime a group is threatening to come and shut the game down or something, you know it's disgraceful to me because it's a game for charity. I mean, this is helping local youth clubs in D. C.," he said. "We raised over a million, almost a million and a half dollars. Maybe if somebody doesn't like their lives, they should maybe go help some of those people that are less fortunate instead of trying to disrupt something that's helping young kids. BUT we're going to play the game - and the show must go on and we're going to have a lot of fun. We're going to compete. Hopefully we're going to win and we're going to raise a lot of money for local youth groups here in D. C."
In 2017, a rifle-wielding attacker opened fire on Republican lawmakers as they practiced for the charity baseball game, wounding Scalise and others as they dove for cover.
The 2022 Congressional Baseball Game will be played at 7:05 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are available online.
|
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/congressional-baseball-game-us-capitol-police-say-security-plan-in-place-ahead-of-possible-protest
| 2022-07-28T13:26:27
|
en
| 0.978334
|
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer Americans applied for jobless benefits last week, but the previous week's number was revised upward significantly, with claims breaching the 250,000 level in back-to-back weeks for the first time in more than eight months.
Applications for jobless aid for the week ending July 23 declined by 5,000 to 256,000 from the previous week’s 261,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The number of claims for the week of July 16 was revised upward by 10,000 from the previous estimate of 251,000.
First-time applications generally reflect layoffs.
The four-week average for claims, which smooths out some of the week-to-week volatility, rose by 6,250 from the previous week, to 249,500. That number is also at its highest level since November of last year.
The total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits for the week ending July 16 fell by 25,000 from the previous week, to 1,359,000. That figure has been near 50-year lows for months.
Earlier this month, the Labor Department reported that employers added 372,000 jobs in June, a surprisingly robust gain and similar to the pace of the previous two months. Economists had expected job growth to slow sharply last month given the broader signs of economic weakness.
The unemployment rate remained 3.6% for a fourth straight month, matching a near-50-year low that was reached before the pandemic struck in early 2020.
Earlier in July the government reported that U.S. employers advertised fewer jobs in May amid signs that the economy is weakening, though the overall demand for workers remained strong. There are nearly two job openings for every unemployed person.
Though the labor market is still considered strong, other indicators are pointing to some weakness in the U.S. economy. The government said Thursday that the U.S. economy shrank 0.9% in the second quarter, the second straight quarterly contraction.
Consumer prices are still soaring, up 9.1% in June compared with a year earlier, the biggest yearly increase in four decades. In response, the Federal Reserve raised its main borrowing rate by another three-quarters of a point on Wednesday. That follows last month’s three-quarter point hike and a half-point increase in May.
Those higher rates have already sent home sales tumbling, made the prospect of buying a new car more burdensome and pushed credit card rates up.
All of those factors paint a divergent and confusing picture of the post-pandemic economy: Inflation is hammering household budgets, forcing consumers to pull back on spending, and growth is weakening, heightening fears the economy could fall into recession.
Though the labor market is still strong, there have been some high-profile layoffs announced recently by Tesla, Netflix, Carvana, Redfin and Coinbase.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Fewer-Americans-applied-for-jobless-benefits-last-17334715.php
| 2022-07-28T13:26:31
|
en
| 0.971987
|
Dan Snyder testifies remotely before congressional committee Thursday
WASHINGTON - Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Commanders, testified remotely before a congressional committee Thursday as part of the investigation into the NFL team’s workplace culture.
A Committee spokesperson says Snyder gave a deposition virtually and in private.
In a letter sent last month to Snyder's attorney Karen Patton Seymour, the Committee said it would allow him to testify remotely and would give him access to interviews of witnesses and other information used in prior depositions ahead of his own.
Seymour told the Committee that while he would testify - there is no reason for Snyder to testify under subpoena. She argued in a letter that it is not valid since the committee previously invited Snyder to participate voluntarily.
Seymour sent a letter to committee chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney confirming Snyder would participate virtually Thursday from Israel while on a planned family trip. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell testified at a hearing held in June.
The committee has the discretion to decide what, if any, information it releases from Snyder's deposition.
Congress launched an investigation into Washington's workplace culture in 2021 after the league declined to release a report of its independent review into the organization. The Commanders were fined $10 million.
The committee has since looked into accusations of pervasive sexual harassment of women who worked for the team by Snyder and other executives.
The committee said Snyder conducted a "shadow investigation" that sought to discredit former employees making accusations of workplace sexual harassment, hired private investigators to intimidate witnesses, and used an overseas lawsuit as a pretext to obtain phone records and emails.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
|
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/dan-snyder-expected-to-testify-remotely-at-house-oversight-committee-hearing-thursday
| 2022-07-28T13:26:33
|
en
| 0.96939
|
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Melanie Gall, Arizona State University; Christopher Emrich, University of Central Florida, and Marie Aquilino, Arizona State University
(THE CONVERSATION) If you look at homes on real estate websites today, you’ll likely see risk ratings for flooding, hurricanes and even wildfires.
In theory, summarizing risk information like this should help homebuyers and renters make more informed housing choices. But surveys show it isn’t working that way, at least not yet. Housing developments and home sales are still expanding in flood- and wildfire-prone areas.
The problem isn’t necessarily that consumers are ignoring the numbers. In our view, as experts in hazards geography, it’s that the way risk information is being presented ignores long-established lessons from behavioral science.
These ratings tend to appear as a single number for each hazard and lack an intuitive interpretation. What does it mean to have a heat risk of 84 (“extreme”) with 52 hot days in 2050, or a flood risk of 10 (“extreme”)?
We believe that current and future hazard and climate risks can more effectively be translated as costs, savings and trade-offs.
Making risk personal
Studies show that people rely on personal experience as the dominant driver when considering risk. In the absence of having personally experienced a flood or wildfire damage, they need actionable and understandable information.
We belong to a group of more than 20 interdisciplinary researchers at universities in Arizona, Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina who are trying to improve risk rating information. We’re currently testing an online tool for the Gulf Coast that provides residents with actionable resilience information. It is an early model of what residential risk reporting could look like.
Rather than just presenting a score, the tool offers information on the costs annually and over time that one can expect from each hazard, such as flooding or wind damage, and how the home’s census block compares with the local area, county and state. To capture the effects of sea-level rise, for example, we model the number of years it will take for a home to go from outside a high flood risk area to being inside.
Homebuyers’ psychological hurdles
The development of real estate-focused climate and hazard risk metrics, such as those offered by First Street Foundation and ClimateCheck, is a step in the right direction, going beyond government risk maps that provide risk data by county. The next step is to ground those numbers in behavioral science research.
People do not ignore risk ratings per se, but the point at which information motivates people to take protective actions varies.
The motivation hurdle is lower for people with past experience, those who are aware of the risks and receptive to this kind of information, and those who have the financial resources to choose safer communities.
For others, the hurdle can be much higher. They might struggle with common decision biases, such as oversimplifying the severity of the risk, which leads to either an overestimation or underestimation of the threat depending on the type of hazard, focusing on today rather than the future, or simply assuming nothing bad is going to happen. They might just follow what others do – which research finds is what most of us do when deciding on a home.
Many people also have unrealistic beliefs that insurance and government payouts after disasters will fully compensate them for their losses, and a false sense of security that building codes and permitting mean homes are built to withstand any natural hazard.
The combination of these decision biases causes residents to underestimate the risk and impacts from disasters and climate change. Most people then underprepare and don’t consider these risks in their housing choices.
Risk ratings could help overcome those biases by expressing risk information in relatable terms such as the number of assistance requests made to the Federal Emergency Management Agency after disasters, the rejection rate and the average FEMA funds received per applicant in the area.
Next step: Pull it all together in one location
Ideally, homebuyers and renters would have a one-stop shop for all of this risk information about a property. To be prepared for climate change, risk must become a factor in housing choices similar to square footage and number of bedrooms.
Currently, risk data is scattered. For example, people can learn about insurance costs by checking flood insurance rate maps, which outline the areas with a 1% or greater annual chance of flooding. Or they can ask an insurance agent to generate a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange report, which lists all flood insurance claims made on a property in the past five to seven years. A handful of states such as California require sellers to disclose the risk of natural hazards to the property.
In our view, the continuing influx of residents into high-risk areas, along with skyrocketing disaster losses, presents an urgent need to give prospective renters and buyers better information about the risks properties face.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/flood-and-wildfire-risks-translating-risk-ratings-into-future-costs-can-help-homebuyers-and-renters-grasp-the-odds-and-act-on-them-186798.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Flood-and-wildfire-risks-Translating-risk-17334733.php
| 2022-07-28T13:26:33
|
en
| 0.942314
|
JetBlue to buy Spirit for $3.8 billion, creating nation's 5th largest airline
JetBlue Airways has agreed to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion and create the nation's fifth-largest airline if the deal can win approval from antitrust regulators.
The agreement Thursday capped a months-long bidding war and arrives one day after Spirit’s attempt to merge with fellow budget carrier Frontier Airlines fell apart.
Spirit CEO Ted Christie was thrust into the awkward position of defending a sale to JetBlue after arguing vehemently against the deal, saying that antitrust regulators would never let it happen.
"A lots been said over the last few months obviously, always with our stakeholders in mind," Christie said on CNBC. "We have been listening to the folks at JetBlue, and they have a lot of good thoughts on their plans for that."
RELATED: Strong dollar vs. euro: Time to book European travel?
JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes has argued all along that a larger JetBlue would create more competition for the four airlines that control about 80% of the U.S. market — American, United, Delta and Southwest.
Shares of Spirit, based in Miramar, Florida, rose 4% in trading before Thursday's opening bell, to $25.28, still below the price that JetBlue is offering. JetBlue shares gained about 1%.
JetBlue and Spirit will continue to operate independently until the agreement is approved by regulators and Spirit shareholders, with their separate loyalty programs and customer accounts.
The companies said they expect to conclude the regulatory process and close the transaction no later than the first half of 2024. If that happens, the combined airline would be based in JetBlue's hometown of New York and led by Hayes. It would have a fleet of 458 planes.
JetBlue said Thursday that it would pay $33.50 per share in cash for Spirit, including a prepayment of $2.50 per share in cash payable once Spirit stockholders approve the transaction. There is also a ticking fee of 10 cents per share each month starting in January 2023 through closing to compensate Spirit shareholders for any delay in winning regulatory approval.
If the deal doesn’t close due to antitrust reasons, JetBlue will pay Spirit a reverse break-up fee of $70 million and pay Spirit shareholders $400 million, minus any amounts paid to the shareholders prior to termination.
Spirit and Frontier announced their plan to merge in February, and Spirit's board stood by that deal even after JetBlue made a higher-priced offer in April. However, Spirit's board could never convince the airline's shareholders to go along. A vote on the merger was postponed four times, then cut short Wednesday when Spirit and Frontier announced they were terminating their agreement, which made a Spirit-JetBlue coupling inevitable.
JetBlue anticipates $600 million to $700 million in annual savings once the transaction is complete. Annual revenue for the combined company is anticipated to be about $11.9 billion, based on 2019 revenues.
|
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/jetblue-buying-spirit-airlines-3-8-billion-deal-nations-5th-largest-airline
| 2022-07-28T13:26:36
|
en
| 0.96547
|
After signing as the new coach of the Aston Villa last November 2021, Steven Gerrard He will officially start a full season at the helm of the British team and wants to do it his way both at a sporting and institutional level.
To do this, the former Liverpool star established a regulation that soccer players must comply with to the letter if they do not want their economy to be affected during the competition.
Several English media published the list in question, which has 18 points with their respective fines in case of committing any infraction. Penalties range from $60 to $1,291.
After the strict measures installed by the new Manchester United coach, Erik Ten Hag, for his squad became known, the British press leaked those of Steven Gerrard for his team, which they could be between severe and comical.
Among the most expensive fines is that of “being late for a meeting, outing, or with the coach on game day”If the player commits this offense, he will have to pay a fine of 1,200 dollars, as stipulated in the document in question.
Apparently, what the English coach emphasizes the most is punctuality, since there are several items that point to it. Being late for training camp, being late for a coaching appointment, being late for a meeting, and being late for a physical therapist will cost $239 per minute.
At the same time, other regulations could also be seen in the regulations with their respective amounts for not complying with them, somewhat comical as those of forget the cake on your birthday ($60), not wearing flip-flops in the shower ($120), and leaving gum anywhere ($239).
In turn, they also revealed that whoever receives a straight red card shall invite the whole campus to eat within four weeks of expulsion.
THE COMPLETE LIST OF STEVEN GERRARD RULES AND FINES
1. Arriving late to training USD 607
2. Forget the GPS training USD 120
3. Being late to training camp $239 a minute
4. Being late for a meeting, outing or with the coach on game day USD 1,200
5. Being late for the coach $239 a minute
6. Being late for a meeting $239 a minute
7. Incorrect clothing on match day USD 120 per item
8. Leaving clothes in the training field USD 120 the item
9. Leaving plates or glasses on the canteen table USD 120 per item
10. Illegal Parking $120
11. Being late for a commercial appearance $300
12. Forget the cake on your birthday USD 60 a day
13. Not wearing flip flops in the shower $120
14. Not reporting to the doctor before 10am for new injuries or illnesses USD 239
15. Arriving late to the physical therapist USD 239
16. Leaving the ‘snuns’ (gum) anywhere USD 239
17. Forget the $60 Recovery Stockings
18. Sanctioned for protesting USD 239
The Aston Villa, which comes from drawing 2-2 against Manchester United in a friendly, they will face Rennes of France to close their pre-season tour. Later, on August 6, they will debut in the Premier League against Bournemouth as a visitor with the aim of being able to fight against Big Six and qualify for the Champions League next year.
KEEP READING
|
https://thenewstrace.com/gerrards-unusual-fines-at-aston-villa-from-60-for-forgetting-the-birthday-cake-to-punishment-for-bathing-without-flip-flops/242051/
| 2022-07-28T13:26:36
|
en
| 0.955787
|
Laxatives recalled from CVS, Walgreens, other major retailers after contamination
Certain laxatives have been recalled from major retailers for microbial contamination after reports of "serious adverse reactions" to the products.
Smyrna, TN, Vi-Jon, LLC expanded its voluntary recall to all flavors of Magnesium Citrate Saline Laxative Oral Solution, saying that immunocompromised patients who consume the product may be at risk for "invasive infections caused by Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens that could lead to serious, life-threatening adverse health consequences."
"To date, Vi-Jon, LLC is aware of three reports of serious adverse reactions potentially related to this recall," the company said in a statement on the Food and Drug Administration’s website. "Vi-Jon, LLC is in the process of investigating these reports."
The recall now includes all lots of lemon, cherry and grape flavors of Magnesium Citrate Saline Laxative Oral Solution, 10 FL OZ (296 mL) within expiry.
The product – distributed nationwide to wholesale and retailer outlets such as CVS, Kroger, Walgreens, Harris Teeter, Rite Aid and Walmart – is used for relief of occasional constipation.
The product is packaged in a 10 oz clear round plastic bottle.
For a complete list of the recalled products, click here.
|
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/laxatives-recalled-from-cvs-walgreens-other-major-retailers-after-contamination
| 2022-07-28T13:26:38
|
en
| 0.935012
|
On August 12, 2021, the famous ‘rider law’ came into force with which all companies that used delivery men they had to hire them legally, ceasing to use freelancers to be able to carry out these deliveries. This caused the Labor Inspection to become very serious with all these companies, not taking their eyes off them and in the end they have had to act against Glovo with a million-dollar penalty for skipping this new legislation.
This sanction that we have been able to learn about goes up to €2.06 millionimposed by the Inspection to Glovo, to the fraudulently maintaining 351 riders in Girona, Tarragona and Lleida, this being the first sanction that comes from many others that will be scattered throughout the peninsula. And it is that although this sanction may seem high, it is expected that In the end, Glovo will be fined 100 million euros for this same case at the national level.
Glovo faces the consequences of not complying with the ‘rider law’
This is not an investigation that has been started recently, but rather the different Inspections were already working in different provinces for months trying to cross data to be able to finally find the false self-employed. In the end, what Glovo has done is violate this legislation, something that other companies have tried to comply with, such as Just Eat or Uber, which They have managed to adapt to the market.
In the end, it will be really expensive for Glovo to save social security fees of your employees. Because according to the source of this news, of these 2 million euros that must be paid, 419,918.18 euros will correspond to social security in concept of unpaid quotas by its workers.
As we have mentioned before, the rest of the platforms have been known to adapt. Uber opted to hire a part of its fleety Just Eat switched to an outsourcing model. But Glovo only liberalized the rates and eliminated the prior assignment of work shifts. But the algorithm and the app are still there, and it will be very expensive for this Spanish company that started operating precisely in Barcelona.
Obviously this is a sanction that still has a long journey through the courts to be able to be challenged. But what is clear is that in the coming months Glovo is going to see how many problems are generated around it for not regularizing its situation by hiring its workers copying its competition.
Source | The newspaper
|
https://thenewstrace.com/millionaire-and-historical-fine-to-glovo-for-not-complying-with-the-rider-law-it-could-still-exceed-100-million-euros/242060/
| 2022-07-28T13:26:38
|
en
| 0.982358
|
BERLIN (AP) — Germany's annual inflation rate has declined slightly for the second consecutive month, official data showed Thursday, but July's pace of 7.5% was still within sight of the nearly half-century high it reached in May.
Inflation in Europe's biggest economy rose 7.9% in May from a year earlier, the highest level since the early 1970s, before slipping to 7.6% last month. The preliminary monthly figure for July, reported Thursday by the Federal Statistical Office, is usually confirmed in a final report about two weeks later.
Energy prices spiked 35.7% this month from a year earlier and food prices rose 14.8%.
Germany temporarily lowered taxes on diesel fuel and gasoline at the start of June and introduced an ultra-cheap ticket that allows people to use all local and regional public transportation for 9 euros ($9.15) a month. The measures are due to last for three months. The statistics office said it wasn't yet clear to what extent they dampened inflation.
As in other countries around the world, inflation in Germany has been stoked by Russia's war in Ukraine, which has led to a rise in energy costs and food prices.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to work with unions and employers to find ways to address the impact of rising prices while preventing an inflationary spiral.
The July inflation rate for all 19 countries that use the euro will be released by the European Union's statistics office Friday after consecutive months of record highs. It reached 8.6% in June.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/German-inflation-rate-slips-again-in-July-from-17334722.php
| 2022-07-28T13:26:39
|
en
| 0.970739
|
Sprite retiring its signature green plastic bottles after more than 60 years
Sprite will no longer be sold in its signature green plastic bottles in favor of more environmentally-friendly packaging.
Coca-Cola announced on Wednesday that it will begin transitioning from green to clear plastic on Aug. 1 to increase the material’s likelihood of being remade into new beverage bottles. The beverage giant previously committed to making 100% of its packaging recyclable by 2025 and using at least 50% recycled material in its packaging by 2030.
Sprite’s current plastic bottles contain green polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — an additive that is commonly converted into single-use items like clothing and carpeting that can’t be recycled into new PET bottles, the company said.
Such PET additives have become widely used across the packaging industry as the demand for colored plastics has increased.
"Taking colors out of bottles improves the quality of the recycled material," said Julian Ochoa, CEO, R3CYCLE, which is working with Coca-Cola to improve bottle-to-bottle recycling. "When recycled, clear PET Sprite bottles can be remade into bottles, helping drive a circular economy for plastic."
Cocoa-Cola will begin transitioning from green to clear plastic on Aug. 1 to increase the material’s likelihood of being remade into new beverage bottles. (Credit: Coca-Cola Company)
The popular lemon and lime-flavored soft drink, which first hit shelves in 1961, is also getting a revamped logo and packaging design. Sprite’s packaging will retain the brand’s recognizable green hue and include prominent "Recycle Me" messaging, the company said.
Other beverages that use green bottles in Coca-Cola’s North American portfolio, including Fresca, Seagram’s, and Mello Yello, will also transition to clear packaging in the coming months.
All of the new Cola-Cola brand bottles are pictured with new packaging. (Credit: Coca-Cola Company)
Both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have been criticized for contributing to the world’s plastic pollution. In 2021, both companies ranked as the world’s top plastic polluters for the 4th consecutive year by the environmental organization Break Free From Plastic.
Global beach cleanups were carried out by more than 11,000 volunteers in 45 countries to identify the most common plastic polluters. Break Free From Plastic’s audit found that 20,000 Coca-Cola branded products were picked up, representing more pollution than the next two top polluters combined, the organization said.
Coca-Cola announced its "World Without Waste" sustainable packaging program in 2018, in which it pledged to make all of its packaging recyclable — excluding the caps and labels — as well as have at least 25% of its beverages sold in refillable/returnable packaging by 2030.
The company also announced on Wednesday that the majority of Dasani bottles in the U.S., including 20-ounce singles and 12-ounce multipacks, will also be made from 100% recycled PET plastic excluding the caps and labels, beginning "this summer."
The recycled Dasani water bottles are pictured. (Credit: Coca-Cola Company)
RELATED: Coca-Cola introducing new limited-time product called 'Coca-Cola Starlight'
This story was reported from Cincinnati.
|
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/sprite-retiring-green-plastic-bottles-north-america-recycled-pet-packaging-coca-cola
| 2022-07-28T13:26:41
|
en
| 0.94944
|
the following film of Wonder’s Incredible 4 May not Repeat Their Starting place Tale.
All the way through an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the top of Wonder, Kevin Feige, has defined that the movie of Incredible 4 shall be a tale we’ve got by no means observed ahead of.
“Numerous other folks know this foundation tale,” mentioned. “Many of us know the fundamentals. How will we take that and convey one thing that they have got by no means observed ahead of?”
After all, we’ve already observed the origins of the crew two times at the large display screen. Led by way of Reed Richards, the crew consisting of Sue Hurricane, her brother Johnny, and Ben Grimm change into the Incredible 4, in most cases because of a failed area undertaking exposing staff to cosmic rays.
Within the film of The Incredible 4 of 2005Ioan Gruffudd took at the function of Mr. Incredible, at the side of Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis, and delivered to the displays the crew foundation tale.
A reboot advised its tale in 2015 con Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan y Jamie Bell. However whilst it gave us an overly other spin at the crew’s origins, particularly when it got here to the film’s standard villain and nemesis, Physician Doom, it nonetheless showcased the crew’s transformations.
However now, Wonder desires to skip this phase to convey their first circle of relatives again into the fold… and Feige has defined that they have got prime expectancies because of the crew’s pedigree within the comics.
“We now have put the bar very prime with bringing that to the display screen,” mentioned.
The Incredible 4, who they debuted in comics in 1961They have been Wonder’s first superhero crew. However I will’t lend a hand however suppose that assuming we all know his tale is somewhat of a stretch.
In the end, It is been 7 years because the criticized reboot and 17 years because the unique model of Fox’s Incredible 4 was once launched in theaters. Will audiences keep in mind the origins of the Incredible 4 neatly sufficient to level their very own Spider-Guy: Homecoming?
For now, we will simply have to attend till the top of Section 6, possibly a good snappy recap of the gang’s origins may well be precisely what enthusiasts need to see.
|
https://thenewstrace.com/wonders-incredible-4-is-probably-not-every-other-foundation-tale-kevin-feige-says-they-have-got-prime-expectancies/242057/
| 2022-07-28T13:26:42
|
en
| 0.943311
|
Tetsuya Takahashi, creative director at Monolith Soft, considers that the delivery is “a summary to take the next step”.
Monolith Soft is close to scoring a point with Xenoblade Chronicles 3, as specialized critics have placed it as the best rated Nintendo Switch game of the year. Apparently the development team he has unified all his ideas in an experience that shows us the eternal rivalry between two kingdoms, so they do not hesitate to refer to it as the culmination of the entire saga.
It’s like the culmination of the trilogyTetsuya Takahashiso it says Tetsuya Takahashicreative director at Monolith Soft, in the latest volume of ‘Ask the Developer’, a format in which Nintendo chats with some of the people behind the latest games: “This title is the third installment in the Xenoblade Chronicles series after Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and it’s like the culmination of the trilogy.
Along with this, Takahashi recalls the premise of all the games in the franchise, which is to create a relationship between very unrelated things, and goes on to explain what we will find in Xenoblade Chronicles 3: “I used the word ‘culmination’ before, but this title unites all the themes that we have been developing over the last 15 years since 2007, when development began on the Xenoblade Chronicles series, as well as the gameplay systems that we’ve been developing throughout the series.”
Does this mean that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will mark an end point in the franchise? Monolith Soft’s creative director calms the community by denying this possibility: “I guess you can say it’s like a summary to take the next step towards the future“.
In this way, we may have more games of Xenoblade Chronicles in the future. Focusing on the third installment, you can read in our analysis of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 why we consider it to be a must have JRPG for all lovers of the genre, although you should also know that Monolith Soft has already confirmed additional content such as an Expansion Pass with DLC.
3D Games Discord
More about: Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Monolith Soft, Nintendo and Nintendo Switch.
|
https://thenewstrace.com/xenoblade-chronicles-3-is-the-culmination-of-the-entire-saga-but-its-authors-do-not-consider-it-finished/242053/
| 2022-07-28T13:26:43
|
en
| 0.948032
|
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (AP) — Heavy rains unleashed high water and people lost electricity as storms kept pounding parts of central Appalachia on Thursday.
There were reports of flash flooding, water rescues, mudslides and power outages across a mountainous area where thunderstorms have dumped several inches of rain over the past few days. Flood watches and warnings were in effect.
Poweroutage.us reported more than 20,000 power outages in eastern Kentucky, and nearly 10,000 more in southern West Virginia among the mountains of western Virginia.
Floyd County in eastern Kentucky declared a local state of emergency due to significant rainfall and flooding, Gov. Andy Beshear said. He said the Kentucky Emergency Management crews have been deployed there.
In West Virginia's Greenbrier County, firefighters pulled people from flooded homes, and five people who got stranded by high water while camping in Nicholas County were rescued by the Keslers Cross Lanes Volunteer Fire Department, WCHS-TV reported.
Roads in many areas weren’t passable after as much as 6 inches (15 cms) of rain had fallen in some areas by Thursday, and 1-3 more inches (7.5 cms) could fall, the National Weather Service said. People in low areas in Perry, Leslie and Clay counties were urged to seek higher ground after multiple swift water rescues were reported.
The Breathitt County courthouse was opened as an overnight shelter, and Emergency Management Director Chris Friley told WKYT-TV that the Old Montessori School would serve as a more permanent shelter once crews can staff it.
“It’s the worst we’ve had in quite a while,” Friley said early Thursday. “It’s county-wide again. There’s several spots that are still not accessible to rescue crews.”
Perry County dispatchers told WKYT-TV that floodwaters washed out roads and bridges and knocked homes off of their foundations. The city of Hazard posted on Facebook that crews were out all night helping people. The city urged drivers to stay off roads and to “pray for a break in the rain.”
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Heavy-rains-cause-flooding-power-outages-in-17334614.php
| 2022-07-28T13:26:45
|
en
| 0.979773
|
Facebook is letting violent hate speech slip through its controls in Kenya as it has in other countries, according to a new report from the nonprofit groups Global Witness and Foxglove.
It is the third such test of Facebook's ability to detect hateful language — either via artificial intelligence or human moderators — that the groups have run, and that the company has failed.
The ads, which the groups submitted both in English and in Swahili, spoke of beheadings, rape and bloodshed. They compared people to donkeys and goats. Some also included profanity and grammatical errors. The Swahili language ads easily made it through Facebook's detection systems and were approved for publication.
As for the English ads, some were rejected at first, but only because they contained profanities and mistakes in addition to hate speech. Once the profanities were removed and grammar errors fixed, however, the ads — still calling for killings and containing obvious hate speech — went through without a hitch.
“We were surprised to see that our ads had for the first time been flagged, but they hadn’t been flagged for the much more important reasons that we expected them to be," said Nienke Palstra, senior campaigner at London-based Global Witness.
The ads were never posted to Facebook. But the fact that they easily could have been shows that despite repeated assurances that it would do better, Facebook parent Meta still appears to regularly fail to detect hate speech and calls for violence on its platform.
Representatives for Meta did not immediately respond to a message for comment on Tuesday. Global Witness said it reached out to Meta after its ads were accepted for publication and did not receive a response.
Each time Global Witness has submitted ads with blatant hate speech to see if Facebook’s systems would catch it, the company failed to do so. In Myanmar, one of the ads used a slur to refer to people of east Indian or Muslim origin and call for their killing. In Ethiopia, the ads used dehumanizing hate speech to call for the murder of people belonging to each of Ethiopia’s three main ethnic groups — the Amhara, the Oromo and the Tigrayans.
Why ads and not regular posts? That's because Meta claims to hold advertisements to an “even stricter” standard than regular, unpaid posts, according to its help center page for paid advertisements.
Meta has consistently refused to say how many content moderators it has in countries where English is not the primary language. This includes moderators in Kenya, Myanmar and other regions where material posted on the company’s platforms has been linked to real-world violence.
Kenya is readying for a national election in August. On July 20, Meta posted a detailed blog post on how it is preparing for the country's election, including establishing an “operations center” and removing harmful content.
“In the six months leading up to April 30, 2022, we took action on more than 37,000 pieces of content for violating our Hate Speech policies on Facebook and Instagram in Kenya. During that same period, we also took action on more than 42,000 pieces of content that violated our Violence & Incitement policies," wrote Mercy Ndegwa, director of public policy in East & Horn of Africa.
Global Witness said it resubmitted two of its ads, one in English and one in Swahili, after Meta published its blog post to see if anything has changed. Once again, the ads went through.
“If you’re not catching these 20 ads, this 37,000 number that you are celebrating, that is probably the tip of the iceberg. You have to think that there’s a lot that’s (slipping through) your filter," Palstra said.
The Global Witness report follows a separate study from June that found that Facebook has failed to catch Islamic State group and al-Shabab extremist content in posts aimed at East Africa. The region remains under threat from violent attacks as Kenya prepares to vote.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/In-a-3rd-test-Facebook-still-fails-to-block-hate-17334730.php
| 2022-07-28T13:26:53
|
en
| 0.977546
|
NEW DELHI (AP) — India on Thursday expressed "deep concern" at Myanmar’s executions of four political prisoners.
This was India’s first reaction to the executions carried out last weekend. All were tried, convicted and sentenced by a military tribunal with no access to appeal.
India supports the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ efforts to bring peace to Myanmar, which has been rocked by civil unrest and widespread fighting since the military seized power from an elected government in February 2021.
"We have noted these developments (executions) with deep concern. As a neighboring country, we have always highlighted the need for a peaceful resolution to the issue. The rule of law and democratic process must be upheld,” said a statement by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
"As a friend of the people of Myanmar, we will continue to support Myanmar's return to democracy and stability," he said.
India and Myanmar share a long land border of over 1,600 km (1,000 miles) and a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal. The proximity of the two countries has helped Myanmar become a key partner in India's fight in the remote northeast against dozens of ethnic insurgent groups whose demands range from independent homelands to maximum autonomy within India.
India and Myanmar in recent years have signed defense cooperation agreements committing to peace and stability in border areas, and they promised to not allow anyone to use their respective soil for hostile activities against the other side.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/India-expresses-deep-concern-about-executions-in-17334731.php
| 2022-07-28T13:26:59
|
en
| 0.962289
|
Teen becomes caregiver for cancer-stricken parents: 'It's all love'
MAUI, Hawaii - Sekope Sharits will turn 17 years old in August, but any celebration will be overshadowed by a daunting challenge: being the caretaker for his parents who were both recently diagnosed with cancer.
His mother, Siu Ako Tolutau Sharits, 40, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April. His father, Kenneth, 52, is battling lymphoma after being diagnosed a few weeks ago. Both parents are undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Neither one is able to work.
"I honestly felt like the world was starting to become against me," Sekope told FOX Television Stations. "We have one heck of a road ahead of us."
Sekope Sharits and his family. (Credit: Siu Ako Tolutau Sharits)
Sekope said there are no typical days, but usually, he wakes up in the mornings and tends to his parents’ needs such as administering their medicines, getting his father to exercise, and running errands for his mother. He also takes care of his 11-year-old brother.
"Some people say it’s a lot to bear, but I do it out of my love for my parents," Sekope continued. "It’s all love for my parents."
But Sekope said the medical and household bills are adding up— such as food and clothes. The family said medical and disability insurance helps out a little, but they’re racking up thousands of dollars in payments.
RELATED: Study suggests genetic cancer risks could be enhanced by metabolism
"We still got to take care of my mom’s ambulance rides...hospital stay," he added.
"We got my ambulance bill which is $1,800 and we’re not that far from the hospital," Siu explained. "Not looking forward to the mailbox with all those bills but it’s going to come soon, slowly."
A GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/f/maui-family?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer)for the family has raised more than $112,000.
Siu gets emotional when describing how her sons are trying to make ends meet.
RELATED: Small study of rectal cancer treatment brings every single patient into remission
"They’re just kids. I wanted them to grow up, enjoy their lives being kids," she said.
"But of course, the love of kids to their parents...they stop whatever they’re doing and care for us," she continued. "They wanted to sleep by us, make sure that we’re comfortable."
"We just have to go with it day by day," she added. "There’s a whole lot I wish I can do, but this is what God gives us and we just have to deal with it."
Sekope, a rising high school junior, doesn’t know if he will finish high school as he takes care of his parents. He said school leaders asked him to at least attend the first day of the upcoming school year so they can figure out the best course of action.
He said his hope is that both parents will live long enough to see him finish high school and watch him "walk down the aisle to get my diploma."
This story was reported from Los Angeles.
|
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/teen-becomes-caregiver-for-cancer-stricken-parents-its-all-love
| 2022-07-28T13:27:01
|
en
| 0.986764
|
VEVEY, Switzerland (AP) — Global food giant Nestle, which makes everything from Purina pet food to KitKat candy bars and Gerber baby food, reported higher sales in the first half of the year, even as it increased prices by 6.5% as inflation soared around the world.
The Swiss company said Thursday that total reported sales grew by 9.2%, to 45.6 billion Swiss francs ($47.53 billion), compared with the same period last year. Net profit, however, decreased by 11.7%, to 5.2 billion Swiss francs ($5.42 billion), because of one-time expenses such as taxes, according to Nestle.
Purina was its biggest sales driver, but KitKat and other treats, water brands like Perrier and S. Pellegrino, and vegetarian and plant-based food all grew at double-digit rates, the company said.
It saw strong growth for baby formula after a shortage in the United States this year. One of the largest formula suppliers, Nestle ramped up U.S. imports after the nation’s largest domestic manufacturing plant closed in February over safety concerns.
CEO Mark Schneider said the company “limited the impact of unprecedented inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints" and pointed to “growing food insecurity around the world and heightened climate concerns" as driving its mission.
“Good for you and good for the planet are the two key strategic pillars that our company pursues in an unwavering manner, even in the face of significant short-term challenges," he said in a news release.
With soaring inflation eating into people’s spending power, Nestle said it works to keep its products affordable based on wages in different parts of the world and focuses on nutrition education and boosting nutrients in products based on local needs.
Nestle, however, also has turned to “shrinkflation," slimming down its Nescafe Azera Americano coffee tins from 100 grams to 90 grams in the United Kingdom but charging the same price.
The company had faced criticism for sales in Russia after the country invaded Ukraine. It previously said it would pull KitKat, Nesquik milkshake powder and other brands but continue to supply essentials like medications and baby formula.
For the full year, Nestle expects sales growth from 7% to 8%.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Nestle-reports-higher-sales-even-as-it-raises-17334641.php
| 2022-07-28T13:27:05
|
en
| 0.971948
|
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
In his extensive papal travels, Pope Francis has never journeyed farther north than Iqaluit, capital city of the Inuit-governed territory of Nunavut. On Friday, it will be the final stop of his somber six-day visit to Canada.
It is a distinctive destination – home to about 7,500 people but not a single traffic light, with no road or rail links to the outside world. Its lone Catholic church serves parishioners from at least five continents; more than 100 of them routinely fill the pews each Sunday.
Iqaluit has welcomed world leaders before. Queen Elizabeth, for example, visited for about two and a half hours in 2002, three years after Nunavut was carved out of the eastern portion of the Northwest Territories to become a territory of its own.
The pope’s similarly brief stopover, in contrast, is not intended to be celebratory. He’ll be finishing up a Canadian visit focused on in-person apologies for the abuse and disrespect inflicted on many thousands of Indigenous Canadians – including Inuit youths -- who attended Catholic-run boarding schools from the late 1800s to the 1970s.
Given the visit’s purpose, there are mixed feelings about it in Iqaluit, among Inuit leaders and also on the part of the Rev. Daniel Perreault, who oversees the parish of Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church.
He said only a handful of his parishioners are Inuit. Most of the others hail from Africa, South America, Asia and other faraway places, have no links to the past problems of the boarding schools and would like to welcome Pope Francis joyously on Friday, Perreault said.
But the region’s Inuit organizations want the visit to be focused on their own community, said the priest. “They do not want it being an occasion of a Catholic feast.”
Iqaluit’s deputy mayor, Solomon Awa, said the Inuit community – which comprises more than half of the city’s population – abounds with swirling emotions. There is gratitude that an apology is forthcoming, and frustration that it took so long to come about.
“It will be very exciting for the people,” Awa said. “I hope that this will get us moving forward to lift ourselves as Inuit, to the point where we say, ‘Yes, we had many downsides in the past but we must move on.’”
Unlike two of his brothers, Awa was spared from attending a boarding school – his father insisted on keeping him at home as a helping hand.
“There are people still with broken hearts who went to residential schools... some of them still hold grudges with what happened,” Awa said. “They are happy that the pope is coming, finally, to say sorry for what happened.”
Iqaluit is by far the largest municipality in Nunavut, a vast territory straddling the Arctic Circle. It is roughly the size of Alaska and California combined, with a mostly Inuit population of about 40,000.
For much of the year, the weather can be severe. In February 2010, Iqaluit hosted a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven nations; several of the dignitaries went dog-sledding in sub-zero temperatures.
Pope Francis, however, is expected to encounter cloudy skies and mild temperatures – about 57 F or 14 C.
“My gosh, he picked the softest kind of a moment to go,” teased David Phillips, senior climatologist for Environment Canada. “Until he feels what it’s like in February, it’s no badge of courage.”
Nunavut’s premier, P.J. Akeeagok, is pleased and grateful that Iqaluit was chosen as one of the three main stops on the pope’s itinerary.
“When people from around the world think of the north, they often think it’s vast, white and barren, when it’s totally opposite,” he told The Associated Press. “We have so much life, in terms of the resiliency of the people... We have incredible opportunities both culturally and economically.”
Along with opportunities, Iqaluit has its share of problems. Last fall, government officials declared a state of emergency after water in the capital was deemed undrinkable and potentially tainted with petroleum. They issued a do-not-consume order, and potable water was flown in by plane.
In May, the city issued an advisory warning that some local youths were throwing rocks at taxis – the main source of public transportation in Iqaluit.
As for the papal visit, community preparations have been low-key. The city says the main street will be closed to regular traffic for five hours on Friday, and in the run-up to the visit volunteers were invited to join in a clean-up of the downtown area.
Perreault, the Catholic priest, said his parishioners have been pitching in, offering to provide food and lodging to priests and other Catholic personnel traveling to Iqaluit from afar for the pope’s visit.
“Life is not always exciting here,” Perreault said. “But people here are happy and enjoy being in a community, sharing and praying together. It’s a very nice, joyful community.”
___
Gillies reported from Toronto, where he is AP’s bureau chief. Crary, who reported from New York, is a former Toronto bureau chief who covered the creation of Nunavut in 1999.
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Pope-ends-Canadian-visit-with-stop-in-small-17334708.php
| 2022-07-28T13:27:12
|
en
| 0.973495
|
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Jennifer A. Taylor, James Madison University and Katrina Miller-Stevens, Colorado College
(THE CONVERSATION) When anger over everything from the killing of unarmed people of color to new restrictions on access to abortion bubbles over, many Americans act on it.
One avenue for someone who has gotten fed up with current events is to take part in protests, such as marching for gun reform in response to mass shootings. Another is by what nonprofit and philanthropy scholars like to call “rage giving” – charitable donations motivated by strong emotions and dissatisfaction with the political climate.
In our new book about this phenonenom, we explain that people often donate to nonprofits following breaking news about events they consider to be tragic or unjust. By donating, people may feel they are addressing the wrong they want to see righted, or they can express a strong politically driven view or value.
Divisive moments
When news coverage grows and collective anger culminates in high-profile marches, rage givers can experience an emotional release by channeling their feelings into something they consider positive.
Quick bursts of anger sometimes called “fury triggers” usually drive these gifts.
We have found that waves of rage giving are often sparked by divisive political moments. These unexpected spikes in donations are typically fueled by extensive media coverage.
For example, after the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, donations to groups that support gun violence victims in both communities surged.
And, shortly after the May 2022 leak of the Supreme Court’s draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, NARAL Pro-Choice America, an organization that advocates for access to abortion, saw a 1,400% increase in donations within 24 hours.
Likewise, the Brigid Alliance, a nonprofit abortion fund that provides financial and logistical help for people seeking abortions, saw the number of its donors quadruple from May to July. The gifts ranged from $5 to $50,000.
Growth following 2016 election
Rage giving isn’t limited to guns or abortion. Nor is it new.
But there are many signs that the phenomenon grew ahead of, during and after the heated 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. Many people who were concerned about immigration, civil rights and sexual assault and harassment during those highly polarized periods sought out opportunities to give to nonprofits and political action committees as quick and easy ways to express their outrage.
The ease and growth of online giving, up 42% in the three years ending in 2021, makes it simpler for rage givers to express their outrage. There’s no longer a need to mail a check or make a phone call.
Rage giving is, to be sure, partisan in that anger and outrage can provoke political mobilization, action and higher voter turnout.
But nonprofits on both sides of the political and cultural divide have reaped windfalls from rage giving in recent years. Giving to pro-gun organizations like the National Rifle Association, for example, can surge when gun control measures are in the news –as is generally the case after mass shootings.
More likely to be women and Democrats
In 2017, we commissioned a survey that identified 520 people who said they had donated to a nonprofit of their choice after feeling unbridled anger during the 2016 presidential election. Based on that data, we estimated that about 58% of these rage givers were women and 80% were white.
About 44% said they were Democrats, roughly 35% said they were Republicans and the remaining 21% identified as independent voters. Because the shares of Americans who lean toward one major political party or the other is more evenly matched, we found that, at that moment in time, Democrats were more likely to donate this way than more conservative Americans.
When thinking about the candidates in the 2016 presidential election and the stances each candidate takes on social and environmental issues, one rage giver from North Carolina said in response to our survey, “I’m just sick about it,” she said. “We’ve got to do something.”
We also found the surveyed rage donors were likely to be civically engaged – through behaviors such as volunteering, voting, contacting elected officials and participating in marches and protests. Rage giving, as a form of collective action, aligns with other helping behaviors by giving a voice to the underserved and unheard.
More research is needed to get a clearer picture of why certain people do this. But based on what we’ve learned so far, we believe that people who engage in rage giving see philanthropy as a type of civic engagement and that their gift, along with other donations, makes a difference.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/rage-giving-charities-can-get-a-boost-from-current-events-such-as-controversial-supreme-court-rulings-185841.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Rage-giving-Charities-can-get-a-boost-from-17334734.php
| 2022-07-28T13:27:18
|
en
| 0.96215
|
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
J. Eugene Clay, Arizona State University
(THE CONVERSATION) More than 160 Ukrainian cultural sites have been damaged or destroyed since Russia invaded the country in February 2022, according to UNESCO.
The Ukrainian government claims the number of damaged sites is far higher. Russia denies these charges.
Ukrainian officials accuse Russia of deliberately targeting cultural sites, half of which are churches, monasteries, prayer houses, synagogues and mosques. Such a targeting would be a violation of international law.
As a scholar who has spent over 30 years studying Russian and Ukrainian religion and culture, I’m deeply concerned about the cultural destruction of this war, which has already claimed thousands of lives and has turned over 12 million Ukrainians into refugees.
An important monument under threat is Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. Built in the 11th century, the church is one of Ukraine’s seven World Heritage sites recognized by the United Nations. It represents the common Orthodox Christian faith that many Russians and Ukrainians share.
Saint Sophia and the Byzantine model
Saint Sophia Cathedral was built under the reign of Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise, whose father, Volodymyr – also known as Vladimir – had adopted Orthodox Christianity in 988.
According to a legend in the early 12th-century “Primary Chronicle,” Volodymyr chose Orthodoxy for the beauty of its worship services. The envoys he sent to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, visited the famous Church of Holy Wisdom, the Hagia Sophia. Built by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century, the Hagia Sophia is devoted to the Divine Wisdom, who is personified as a woman in the biblical “Book of Proverbs.” Convinced by his envoys’ favorable report, Volodymyr decided to be baptized and to convert his subjects.
After Volodymyr’s death, Yaroslav invited Byzantine architects and artists to build an impressive cathedral for Kyiv just like the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. Yaroslav, who had fought a civil war to succeed his father, deliberately imitated the Byzantine capital to buttress his legitimacy. His new cathedral, Saint Sophia, even took its name from the imperial church in Constantinople.
Christian symbolism in the Cathedral
With 13 cupolas and a central dome that rises 29 meters (about 95 feet) into the air, Saint Sophia is an imposing structure that served as a testament to the power and piety of its ruler. Elaborate mosaics decorate the sanctuary and dome. Portraits of Yaroslav and his family are prominently displayed in the cathedral’s princely gallery, where the ruler attended services.
A mosaic of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, stands in the apse above the altar. Raising her hands in prayer, Mary is framed by a Greek inscription from Psalm 46: “God is in the midst of Her; She shall not be moved.”
The imagery and language are borrowed from Byzantium. Just as she was seen as a powerful divine protector of Constantinople, so now Mary protects Kyiv. The tall central dome is adorned with a mosaic of an all-powerful image of Christ, known as “Christ Pantokrator,” who gazes down from his throne at his worshipers.
The art historian Elena Boeck calls Saint Sophia “the most ambitious Orthodox Church built in the 11th century.”
Decline and restoration
Saint Sophia Cathedral was consecrated in 1049 and completed around 1062. As the power and importance of Kyiv declined, the church suffered from external attacks and internal neglect.
In 1169, the northern prince Andrei Bogolubskii of Vladimir sacked Kyiv – an event that the leader of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, has compared to the current Russian invasion. Mongol attacks in 1240, 1416 and 1482 further damaged the cathedral.
Restoration work in the 17th century in the baroque style radically changed the cathedral’s outward appearance. The outer walls were plastered and whitewashed. The church was bombed during the Russian civil war in 1918. Under Soviet rule, the Communists plundered its treasury and secularized the building, which became a museum. In the 1940s, the church again suffered under German occupation.
Saint Sophia Cathedral stands as a monument to the East Slavic cultural heritage that Russians and Ukrainians share. Its extraordinary Byzantine mosaics and frescoes have survived nearly a millennium.
Today, as during the Second World War, Ukraine has been invaded by a foreign army that threatens this heritage. Although Russia has assured the United Nations that its armed forces are taking “necessary precautions” to prevent damage to World Heritage sites, such as Saint Sophia, war is destructive and unpredictable. Whether Saint Sophia Cathedral remains undamaged during this latest invasion remains an open question.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-threatens-a-cultural-heritage-the-two-countries-share-including-saint-sophia-cathedral-187140.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Russia-s-invasion-of-Ukraine-threatens-a-cultural-17334736.php
| 2022-07-28T13:27:24
|
en
| 0.960806
|
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s Socialist-led coalition government wants large energy companies and banks to pay a windfall tax, which officials hope will yield around 7 billion euros (dollars) over two years.
The government delivered its proposal to parliament Thursday. A debate and vote by lawmakers were scheduled for after their summer recess.
Officials say the tax would apply to about 20 major corporations that would be prohibited from passing on the cost to customers. Under the government's proposal, watchdog bodies would monitor the companies for compliance.
Britain and Italy have adopted similar windfall taxes. Energy companies have seen bumper profits as prices of oil and natural gas soared in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Spanish government said proceeds from its tax would help pay for measures to alleviate a cost of living crisis, including high energy bills.
The proposal calls for energy companies with more than 1 billion euros (dollars) in revenue in 2019 to pay an additional 1.2% in tax on revenue this year and next. The government hopes that will raise 4 billion euros (dollars).
Financial institutions are expected to provide 3 billion euros through a 4.8% tax on their net interest and customer fees.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Spain-s-govt-wants-windfall-tax-on-banks-energy-17334664.php
| 2022-07-28T13:27:30
|
en
| 0.974672
|
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s government has a message for women who are uncomfortable about their bodies when they wear bathing costumes: Don’t be.
The government’s Equality Ministry launched a summer campaign Thursday encouraging women to reject “stereotypes” and “aesthetical violence” — a reference to social pressure some women feel to conform to beauty ideals.
A poster advertising the campaign features women of different ages, sizes and skin colors in bathing costumes on a beach.
The slogan is, “Summer belongs to us, too.”
In a tweet, Equality Minister Irene Montero said: “Enjoy (the summer) however, wherever and with whoever you like.”
The head of the Women’s Institute, a government body, said gender stereotypes are at the root of discrimination based on physical appearance.
“Expectations are projected onto women about how they should look,” Antonia Morillas told state news agency Efe. “That doesn’t only affect our self-esteem, it also takes away our rights and limits how we behave in and whether we enjoy public spaces.”
Spain's Socialist-led coalition government, which came to power four years ago, has made women’s rights one of its political banners. The Cabinet has 14 women and eight men in ministerial positions.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Spain-tells-women-Don-t-worry-about-body-image-17334595.php
| 2022-07-28T13:27:36
|
en
| 0.951011
|
TIGARD, Ore. (AP) — The City of Tigard, Oregon, will pay $3.8 million to the mother of 26-year-old Jacob Macduff, who was fatally shot by Tigard police while experiencing a mental health crisis outside of his apartment complex in January 2021.
As part of the wrongful death settlement agreement, the city agreed to undergo an independent review of their officer’s conduct during the shooting, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
The city also agreed to implement 15 changes to its policies and procedures, including training officers in de-escalation, moving up the timeline for implementing body-worn cameras and creating a mental health response team that will also serve Sherwood, Tualatin and King City.
According to the settlement, Tigard denies any “liability or fault or wrongdoing” related to the shooting. A representative for Tigard did not immediately respond Wednesday to an inquiry from The Oregonian/OregonLive.
At a news conference Wednesday, David Park, an attorney for the victim’s mother, Maria Macduff, showed police footage taken during the shooting and described a rapid and unexplained series of decisions by Tigard police officers that resulted in Jacob Macduff’s death.
Maria Macduff said in a statement provided by Park and another attorney that her son should never have died. “My deepest desire since this happened has been to do everything possible to make sure no other family loses a child the way I have,” she said. “I believe we’ve accomplished that.”
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Tigard-to-pay-3-8M-in-fatal-police-shooting-17334682.php
| 2022-07-28T13:27:43
|
en
| 0.969645
|
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyler Perry will receive an honorary AARP award for uplifting communities and helping people “overcome various obstacles” through his foundation.
The organization announced Thursday that Perry will receive the honorary AARP Purpose Prize award during a virtual ceremony on Oct. 25. The famed filmmaker-actor- philanthropist will be recognized for his work through The Perry Foundation.
Perry’s foundation – which launched in 2006 – has focused on aiding several initiatives such as education, health, human rights, technology and global sustainability. Some of his charitable efforts include building a home for a great-grandmother of seven who lost everything in a fire; surprising kids with a trip to Disney World; and holding a camp quarantine at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.
Five individuals will be awarded the AARP Purpose Prize, which honors people ages 50 and older who are making a difference through their “knowledge and life experience.” The recipients include Zerqa Abid of Columbus, Ohio, whose MY Project USA empowers youth to become productive citizens and strong community leaders in the U.S.; Jamesetta Ferguson of Louisville, Kentucky, whose Molo Village CDC takes a holistic approach toward community development; Sharron Rush of Austin, Texas, whose Knowbility creates an inclusive digital world for people with disabilities; Bill Toone of Escondido, California, whose ECOLIFE Conservation aims to protect wildlife, natural resources and the people who depend on them; and Imani Woody of Washington, D.C., whose Mary’s House for Older Adults creates affordable and communal housing.
AARP said 10 previously named Purpose Prize fellows will also be honored. Each of them will receive a $10,000 award to further the mission of their organization.
AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins said the recipients “deserve all of the praise and recognition we have to offer for their exemplary work."
“We celebrate these inspiring individuals, who have used their decades of life experience to give back in a meaningful way, to be leaders in their communities, and to create a better future for us all,” Jenkins said.
AARP also announced the return of its Inspire Award for a second year. The general public can vote for the AARP Purpose Prize winner they want to win the award, which grants the recipient an additional $10,000 for their organization.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Tyler-Perry-to-receive-honorary-AARP-Purpose-17334640.php
| 2022-07-28T13:27:49
|
en
| 0.959293
|
Labor organizers at a Trader Joe's store in Massachusetts will find out Thursday if there is enough support among employees to form the chain's first union.
About 80 workers at the store in Hadley were expected to cast ballots over two days, said Maeg Yosef, a union organizer who has worked at Trader Joe's for 18 years.
The workers are organizing under the name Trader Joe’s United, which if successful, would be an independent union, and not affiliated with a larger existing union.
Workers from at least two other Trader Joe’s locations have initiated unionization efforts. Employees at a Minneapolis location have a union vote scheduled for Aug. 11 and 12, while the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 on Tuesday filed a union election petition with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of crew members at a Boulder, Colorado store.
The Trader Joe's workers are part of a nationwide wave of employees at major companies who have or are attempting to unionize in an effort to secure a bigger say in their work conditions and compensation.
Workers at multiple Starbucks coffee shop locations across the country, as well as employees at Amazon, Apple and REI are among those who have joined unions in the past year.
Trader Joe’s management has engaged in what Yosef called “classic union-busting” tactics, including hiring a law firm specializing in fighting unionization to try and talk employees out of approving a union.
California-based Trader Joe’s, which has about 550 stores nationwide, also just announced an enhanced benefits package that includes more paid time off and better pay for some employees, which she said was an effort to head off unionization.
Trader Joe's has generous pay and benefits by retail industry standards, a company spokesperson said this week.
“Trader Joe’s is a great place to work and our compensation, benefits, flexibility, and working conditions are among the best when compared to any retailer,” Nakia Rohde said in an email. “We welcome a fair vote by our crew members.”
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Union-vote-to-wrap-up-at-Trader-Joe-s-store-in-17334724.php
| 2022-07-28T13:27:55
|
en
| 0.974753
|
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — Police in Vancouver, Washington, are investigating a double homicide at a house party as a gang-related shooting, according to court documents.
When officers arrived at about 1:20 a.m. July 17, they found 19-year-old Alexander Castagnoli of Portland, Oregon, dead inside the house, The Columbian reported. Officers learned that Amadou Keita, 18, of Portland, died on his way to or at a hospital, from gunshot wounds, according to a search warrant affidavit filed this week in Clark County Superior Court.
Two additional gunshot victims, a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man, were taken to an area hospital for treatment. Police have not released the identities of the two wounded victims or updated their conditions.
One witness told police she heard someone ask, “Who’s a Hoover?” followed by gunshots. Hoover is the name of a Portland-area gang, according to the affidavit.
Investigators say one of the gunshot victims is a member of the rival gang, Six Deuce Crips. He declined to answer detectives’ questions about the shooting, according to court records.
The teen’s mother told investigators she overheard him talking on his phone about the shooting, and she believed Hoovers were behind her son’s shooting, the affidavit says.
Witnesses have provided limited suspect information to police, and Vancouver police shared photos of witnesses earlier this week asking for help identifying them.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Vancouver-police-probe-fatal-party-shooting-as-17334768.php
| 2022-07-28T13:28:01
|
en
| 0.977841
|
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Tazreena Sajjad, American University School of International Service
(THE CONVERSATION) The U.K. government was due to begin its first deportation flight to remove asylum-seekers to the East African country of Rwanda on June 14, 2022, exactly two months after signing the U.K.-Rwanda agreement. The asylum-seekers were from several war-torn and politically unstable countries, including Syria, Sudan and Iran.
Each year, thousands of people – many fleeing repressive governments or poverty – attempt to cross the English Channel in fragile boats in the hope of starting a new life in the U.K.
Boris Johnson, the U.K. prime minister, defended the U.K.-Rwanda deal in June 2022, saying it would “remove the illegal cross-Channel trafficking of people whose lives are being put at risk.”
In exchange for Rwanda receiving the deportees, the U.K. has paid the country about US$142 million to cover the initial costs of operating the program as well as economic development projects in Rwanda.
The U.K. deportees were expected to integrate their lives into Rwandan social communities.
But the first Rwanda deportation flight did not take off as planned.
Deterring refugees and asylum-seekers
The European Court of Human Rights, the regional judicial human rights body in Europe, issued what are called interim urgent measures to stop the scheduled flights.
Such measures are most often issued in cases where there is imminent risk of death or torture.
Member states are bound by the decisions of the Court, and its rulings are enforced by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe – Europe’s leading human rights organization.
But instead of abiding by the decision, the U.K. government not only stressed its commitment to deportation flights, it also signaled its intention to pull out of the European Court of Human Rights.
As a scholar of refugees and postwar reconstruction, I see the deportation flights to Rwanda as part of a growing list of what are euphemistically known as migrant deterrence practices. These practices are used by Western countries to deter future migration of mainly people of color from countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, collectively known as the Global South.
In exchange for money paid to the receiving country, asylum-seekers are sent to those poorer countries to enable wealthier nations to circumvent international legal obligations to those seeking asylum.
Beyond Rwanda
The use of countries like Rwanda by Western states is on the rise.
The recent U.S.-Mexico Migrant Protection Protocol and the U.S.-Guatemala “third country safe” agreement follow a similar principle.
Since 1992, Australia has had a mandatory detention policy for “unauthorized” arrivals, which have included asylum-seekers.
Since 2001, it has also been removing asylum-seekers to Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru – a poor island country in the Pacific Ocean – for processing.
This has been the case even if arrivals applied for asylum in mainland Australia immediately upon arrival.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, “externalization of Australia’s asylum obligations has undermined the rights of those seeking safety and protection and significantly harmed their physical and mental health.”
European countries have also been pursuing similar programs with Libya, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and West African nations such as Nigeria.
They each provide financial aid packages to the respective low-income countries in exchange for preventing migrant mobility and absorbing deported asylum-seekers.
Thus far, Austria, Denmark and the Flemish far-right in Belgium have welcomed the U.K.-Rwanda agreement with the hope that more European states will seek partnerships with countries outside the continent to address irregular immigration.
Johnson’s resignation on July 7, 2022, is not expected to halt the U.K. government’s plans to continue deportations to Rwanda. But in a new turn of events, Rwanda said on July 22 that it can only accommodate 200 deported asylum-seekers and will not be able to stop their efforts to cross the English Channel again.
The 2022 Nationality and Borders Act
Deportations to Rwanda are part of the U.K.‘s 2022 Nationality and Borders Act, a law that drastically changed citizenship and asylum rules in the U.K.
In addition to deportations, the act allows the government to strip citizenship from British people without notice for reasons related to, among other things, national security or counterterrorism.
In the U.K., the reasons to strip citizenship can be defined broadly and may affect about 6 million Britons from immigrant backgrounds.
The 2022 Nationality and Borders Act also allows for the criminal prosecution of those who cross the English Channel on small boats to seek asylum.
The U.N. Refugee Agency has criticized the legislation on which the act is based for being at “odds with the United Kingdom’s international obligations under the Refugee Convention.” These obligations include “not expelling refugees who are lawfully in the territory except on grounds of national security or public order.”
Back into chaos
Deportations under such conditions are controversial because they are violations of the principle of non-refoulement in international refugee law.
The goal of the principle is to prevent individuals from being returned to countries where they have fled and may still be in danger of torture, persecution or death.
Despite this, the U.K. and other European countries have continued to deport asylum-seekers to such places.
Between 2007 and 2016, the U.K. deported 2,748 young people to war-torn and unstable countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Syria.
At least 605 of them were Afghans who had arrived unaccompanied as asylum-seeking children from their war-ravaged country.
According to Amnesty International, many of the deportees face arbitrary detention, kidnapping, torture and even death in the the countries where they’re sent.
In addition, studies have shown deportations like the kind that have taken place in Europe have caused long-term damage.
These include undue burdens on family members, such as loss of family income to meet basic needs, family separation that causes psychological damage including depression and trauma, especially in children.
Rwanda’s acceptance of asylum-seekers
In recent years, Rwanda has become a host country for approximately 130,000 refugees from around East Africa, particularly from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.
In addition, between 2013 and 2018, Israel paid $5,000 for every African migrant deported to Rwanda under a “voluntary” migration agreement.
Israel made a similar arrangement with Uganda. Under the terms of the controversial arrangement, several thousand Sudanese and Eritrean asylum-seekers had to choose between immigration detention in Israel or to “voluntarily” agree to be deported to Rwanda and Uganda.
Many of those deported to Rwanda have consistently struggled with lack of documentation and poverty, and have mostly fled the country and attempted to return to Europe.
Facing international and national criticism, the Israeli program was later abandoned.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/western-countries-are-shipping-refugees-to-poorer-nations-in-exchange-for-cash-185758.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Western-countries-are-shipping-refugees-to-poorer-17334740.php
| 2022-07-28T13:28:07
|
en
| 0.956762
|
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Helen Kapstein, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
(THE CONVERSATION) “Beloved.” “The Hate U Give.” “Maus.” “Burger’s Daughter.”
Each of these books has been banned at some point in time, but one stands out. Instead of being banned in 21st-century America, Nadine Gordimer’s “Burger’s Daughter” was banned in 20th century South Africa during apartheid, that country’s period of official white supremacist rule.
So why include it in this list? Despite the decades and distance between bans on this book and the others, the rise in attempts to ban and censor books in America in 2022 looks an awful lot like what South African censors did during apartheid. I make this observation as a scholar who specializes in studying literature to better understand the intersections of race, oppression and resistance.
When apartheid censors – who operated under the Directorate of Publications – sought to crack down on what they found offensive, they used terms like “sedition,” “blasphemy” and “obscenity” to justify their acts. In the 2020s in the U.S., people who’d like to censor books use labels like “objectionable,” “pornographic” or “dangerous.” Then as now, the criteria used to censor books are so broad and subjective that almost any book could be challenged on practically any grounds.
To my eye, it’s almost as though would-be American censors have taken a page directly from the South African censors’ playbook. And it’s not just that they look similar in their rationale. Rather, in my view, it’s that they set out to squash political dissent and silence social debate. Here are the similarities I see:
1. Manufactured outrage
Outrage about the content of books is often disingenuous, misplaced or manufactured.
In 1972, South African author Alex La Guma, who was officially categorized as “coloured” under the country’s racist regime, had already been forced into exile. As a person banned by the South African government, his writing already couldn’t legally be distributed inside the country. Yet, his novel “In the Fog of the Seasons’ End” was still banned for threatening state security and good order. This bureaucratic overkill speaks to the urge to censor even when it’s absurd – the authorities were banning a book that by their own rules no one could read.
La Guma’s book depicted the death and torture in detention of an anti-apartheid resistance fighter, causing the censors to complain about the book’s “wild writing against the police.” But another of his novels, “The Stone Country,” was banned even though the censors themselves acknowledged that there was nothing in the plot that merited it. This shows their willingness to manufacture a threat where none exists.
In the United States in 2022, there are reports of parents shouting at school board meetings or storming town halls, upset about material their children are exposed to and demanding it be removed from school library shelves and classrooms. Are these headline-grabbing moments spontaneous, grassroots and earnest efforts to protect innocent young minds? Or are they highly orchestrated, heavily funded and deliberately manufactured schemes to advance an ultra-conservative agenda at the expense of free speech and expression? It can be hard to tell.
While we cannot know anyone’s intent for certain, we do know that when people act to limit a society’s access to literature and libraries, and therefore to other worlds and possibilities, it makes it easier to limit its political imagination.
2. White discomfort
South African censors objected that “Burger’s Daughter” brought Afrikaners – that is, South Africans of Dutch descent – into “ridicule and contempt,” fundamentally misunderstanding how the whites in the novel are depicted. The censors’ unimaginative defensiveness is much like the language of white “discomfort” we hear bandied about in current politics.
At the same time as South Dakota tried to pass a bill that forbade discussion of any history that causes white discomfort, Florida, in spring 2022, passed the “Individual Freedom” law, which states that “an individual should not be made to feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race.” State Senator Shevrin Jones said, regarding the bill, “This was directed to make whites not feel bad about what happened years ago.”
3. Euphemism
The South African Publications Act may sound supportive of publishing but in fact was intended to censor and control it.
Likewise, the various acts and bills being passed in America today often slide through legislatures with deceptively bland names. For instance, Florida’s “K-12 Education” law requires all school materials be posted and searchable.
Proponents of the law said it was meant to help parents make decisions regarding their children’s education. But in reality, as pointed out by the National Coalition Against Censorship, the mechanism could discourage teachers and librarians from taking risks with teaching material that might lead to complaints from parents.
New legislation also sneaks through in euphemistic disguise, such as the wave of so-called “transparency bills” which use the language of transparency to embolden public scrutiny. Moreover, the bills themselves are not at all transparent.
One bill prohibits the discussion of “any controversial subject matter”, and another mixed up two historical figures. Vague wording, undefined terms, contradictory language and factual errors all make them more “sweeping” and “draconian,” as PEN America describes them.
4. Proxy wars
Hand-wringing over what’s “age-appropriate” is often a proxy today for suppressing other, potentially controversial conversations about subjects like sexuality.
In South Africa under apartheid, such a conversation was the mixing of races. “Burger’s Daughter,” for instance, was called “indecent” partly because a Black child and a white child play together in it.
Here in the U.S., books are also called “objectionable” by lawmakers and parents for reasons other than the real ones. Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” for example, gets an “NSC … not suitable material or conduct for minors per existing statute” rating for sections mentioning the “n word,” among other objections, from the Florida Citizen’s Alliance 2021 Porn in Schools report.
Ironically, the report labels itself as “contain[ing] objectionable and potentially offensive material.”
In January, a school board in Tennessee removed “Maus” from the curriculum in the name of “inappropriate words” and “objectionable language,” including profanity. However, some people, including the graphic novel’s author, Art Spiegelman, believe the real reason it was removed was disinterest in or discomfort with Holocaust education on the part of Tennessee lawmakers.
5. Unbanning and other doublespeak
“Burger’s Daughter” was first banned under the 1974 Publications Act and then unbanned. Gordimer, however, saw the lifting of the ban as a charade to make the apartheid regime look more fairminded.
A Virginia court ruling also exposes the murky area between banning and unbanning. In May 2022, a Virginia Beach judge declared two books “obscene for unrestricted viewing by minors.” Even though schools and bookstores might now be prohibited from distributing the books to young readers without parental consent, the attorney who won the case insists that, “It doesn’t mean the books are banned. It doesn’t mean we’re burning books or infringing on free speech.”
These rulings, in my view, are largely political theater. If proponents of censorship in the U.S. today are thumbing through the South African playbook, they might learn that it’s savvy to sound tolerant, if only for show.
After all, South African censors were devious enough to figure that banned books were of more use to the anti-apartheid movement because they they’d get notoriety. If the book were no longer banned, then they’d lose much of their appeal. They knew the threat of banning can actually backfire and generate more interest in the books.
Our modern American censors may be cribbing from South Africa’s notes, but they should read to the end of the history book. Despite its repressive tactics, that white minority government could not stay in power, and it was apartheid itself that wound up banned. There’s a lesson for the books.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/what-the-us-can-learn-about-apartheid-era-book-bans-in-south-africa-185114.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/What-the-US-can-learn-about-apartheid-era-book-17334739.php
| 2022-07-28T13:28:14
|
en
| 0.96255
|
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)
Jonathan B. Santo, University of Nebraska Omaha and Kelly Rhea MacArthur, University of Nebraska Omaha
(THE CONVERSATION) The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.
The big idea
Women in statistics classes do better academically than men over a semester despite having more negative attitudes regarding their own abilities, according to our recent study in the Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education.
Using data from more than 100 male and female students from multiple statistics classes, my colleagueand I assessed gender differences in grades over the course of a semester. As part of the study, students also answered surveys at the start and end of the semester that measured six different things: their fear of statistics teachers in general; their thoughts about the usefulness of statistics; their perceptions of their own mathematical ability; their anxiety in taking tests; their anxiety in interpreting statistics; and their fear of asking for help.
Overall, we found that students with more negative perceptions of their own mathematical ability had lower grades over the course of the semester. What’s even more interesting are the gender differences that emerged.
Even though men and women scored similarly on exams at the start of the semester, women finished the semester with almost 10% higher final exam grades. This was the case even though women had significantly worse attitudes about their mathematical abilities at the start of the semester than their male counterparts.
At the beginning of the semester specifically, women were more likely to rate their mathematical abilities as lower than men in the class and report more anxiety toward exams and toward interpreting statistical findings. However, each of these self-assessments improved over the course of the semester such that women’s attitudes didn’t differ from men’s by the end.
Meanwhile, the grades of male students who reported fear of statistics teachers or fear of asking for help decreased more sharply over the course of the semester. For men whose attitudes improved during the semester, grades also improved – though not as much as women’s grades improved.
Why it matters
A number of studies have shown that from an early age, boys and girls learn math equally well.
However, girls are less likely to be called on in math classes than boys, even when they raise their hands as much as boys do. Moreover, some teachers unconsciously grade girls’ math tests more harshly than boys’. By middle school, gender differences in math scores emerge. These factors may contribute to adult women’s being more likely to rate themselves as less mathematically skilled than men. As a result, women are also less likely to pursue STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – occupations.
The results from our study, in line with others, bolster the notion that women have the potential to do as well as men, and even better, in STEM fields, such as statistics. We contend that women would benefit from additional mentoring to encourage them as they begin pursuing STEM-related education.
What still isn’t known
The evidence above provides hints at some of the causes of the gender discrepancy in perceived ability. However, there is much we still don’t know.
For example, why did the attitudes of the women in our study improve over time? Was it based on their confidence in their abilities as their grades improved, or did their statistics teachers influence their perception of their own abilities over time?
More research is needed to understand exactly how women differed from men in their attitudes over the course of the school semester, among other questions. In particular, we’d like to disentangle exactly which classroom or instructor factors can lead to better attitudes among students, ultimately translating to better grades.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/women-are-better-at-statistics-than-they-think-164676.
|
https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Women-are-better-at-statistics-than-they-think-17334735.php
| 2022-07-28T13:28:20
|
en
| 0.974476
|
WFO BUFFALO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Thursday, July 28, 2022
_____
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
848 AM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Erie
and northeastern Chautauqua Counties through 930 AM EDT...
At 847 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Dunkirk, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and brief heavy downpours.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects.
Locations impacted include...
Dunkirk, Fredonia, Evans, Eden, Silver Creek, Angola, North Collins,
Lake Erie State Park, Derby, Evangola State Park, Angola on the Lake,
Sheridan, Brocton and Farnham.
This includes Interstate 90 between exits 59 and 57A.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
LAT...LON 4248 7947 4253 7939 4254 7934 4257 7927
4259 7919 4264 7916 4267 7912 4272 7909
4277 7897 4263 7883 4238 7943 4247 7947
TIME...MOT...LOC 1247Z 249DEG 32KT 4250 7937
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
|
https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/NY-WFO-BUFFALO-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17334719.php
| 2022-07-28T13:28:45
|
en
| 0.844161
|
WA Portland OR Zone Forecast for Wednesday, July 27, 2022
_____
266 FPUS56 KPQR 281151
ZFPPQR
Zone Forecasts for Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington
National Weather Service Portland OR
451 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
Spot Temperatures are for Today, Tonight, Friday, Friday
Night, and Saturday.
WAZ021-290100-
South Washington Coast-
Including the cities of Raymond, Long Beach, Ocean Park, Naselle,
Cathlamet, and Cape Disappointment
451 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy, then partly cloudy early in the
afternoon, then mostly sunny. Patchy morning fog. Highs 70 to 80.
Light wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy.
Patchy fog overnight. Lows 55 to 60. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph
becoming light after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Partly cloudy. Patchy morning fog. Highs 70 to 80.
Light wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 55 to 60. Northwest wind 5 to
10 mph becoming light after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 70 to 80. Light wind becoming
northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 55 to 60.
.SUNDAY...Partly sunny. Highs 70 to 75.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy.
Lows 55 to 60.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. Highs 65 to 70.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows around 55.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of showers in the
morning. Highs 65 to 70.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows around 55.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly sunny. Highs 65 to 70.
$$
WAZ020-290100-
Willapa Hills-
Including the cities of Willapa, Frances, Elk Mountain,
and Ryderwood
451 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then mostly sunny. Patchy
morning fog. Highs 80 to 85. Light wind becoming northwest 5 to
10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows 60 to
65. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Patchy morning fog. Highs 85 to 90. Light
wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 60. Northwest wind 5 to
10 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 80 to 90. Light wind.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear in the evening, then partly cloudy. Lows
55 to 60.
.SUNDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 75 to 80.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy.
Lows 55 to 60.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny. Highs 65 to 70.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows around 55.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. Highs 65 to 70.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 50 to 55.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 65 to 70.
$$
WAZ040-290100-
South Washington Cascade Foothills-
Including the cities of Toutle, Ariel, Lake Merwin, Yale Lake,
and Cougar
451 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Hot. Highs 90 to 95. Light wind becoming
northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 65. Northwest wind 5 to
10 mph becoming light after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot. Highs 90 to 95. Light wind becoming
northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows around 65. Northwest wind 5 to
10 mph becoming light after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Hot. Highs 85 to 95. Light wind
becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows 60 to 65.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs 80 to 90.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows around 60.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 70 to 75.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows 55 to 60.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers.
Highs 65 to 70.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows around 55.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs 70 to 75.
$$
WAZ019-290100-
South Washington Cascades-
Including the cities of Coldwater Ridge Visitors Center,
Mount St. Helens, and Wind River Valley
451 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY BELOW
4000 FEET...
.TODAY...Mostly sunny. Free air freezing level 15000 feet. Light
wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Free air freezing level 15000 feet.
North wind 5 to 10 mph shifting to the east after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Free air freezing level 15000 feet rising
to 16000 feet in the afternoon. Hot. Light wind becoming west
5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Free air freezing level 16000 feet.
North wind 5 to 10 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Free air freezing level 15000 feet. Light wind
becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Free air freezing level
16000 feet.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Free air freezing level 16000 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Free air freezing level
15000 feet.
.MONDAY...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Snow
level above 8000 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Free air freezing level
15000 feet.
.TUESDAY...Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers.
Snow level above 8000 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Free air freezing level
14000 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly cloudy in the morning, then mostly sunny.
Free air freezing level 14000 feet lowering to 13000 feet in the
afternoon.
$$
weather.gov/portland
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
|
https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/WA-Portland-OR-Zone-Forecast-17334615.php
| 2022-07-28T13:28:51
|
en
| 0.846975
|
WA Seattle WA Zone Forecast for Wednesday, July 27, 2022
_____
679 FPUS56 KSEW 281245
ZFPSEW
Zone Forecast Product for Western Washington
National Weather Service Seattle WA
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
Spot temperatures and probabilities of measurable precipitation
are for today, tonight, and Friday.
WAZ558-282300-
Seattle and Vicinity-
Including the cities of Seattle, Shoreline, Federal Way, and Kent
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s. Light
wind becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the 60s. North wind 10 to 15 mph
decreasing to 10 mph or less after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s. Light wind
becoming northwest to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the 60s. North wind to 10 mph in
the evening becoming light.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s. North wind
to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in the
mid to upper 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy
with a slight chance of rain after midnight. Lows near 60.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the lower to mid 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Seattle 92 66 93 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ559-282300-
Bremerton and Vicinity-
Including the cities of Bremerton and Silverdale
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Clear then becoming partly sunny in the morning then
becoming sunny. Highs in the 80s to lower 90s. Light wind
becoming northeast to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s. Northeast
wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s. Light wind
becoming northeast to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s. Northeast
wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s. Light wind
becoming north 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower 60s.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows near 60.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in the
mid to upper 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy
with a slight chance of rain after midnight. Lows in the upper
50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the lower to mid 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Bremerton 92 64 93 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ507-282300-
Everett and Vicinity-
Including the cities of Everett, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Marysville,
and Arlington
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s. North wind to
10 mph in the morning becoming light, then becoming northwest to
10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
Northwest wind to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s. Light wind becoming west to
10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s. Northwest
wind to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Northwest
wind to 10 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy
with a slight chance of rain after midnight. Lows in the upper
50s.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the lower to mid 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Edmonds 83 63 85 / 0 0 0
Everett 84 63 86 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ509-282300-
Tacoma Area-
Including the cities of Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, and Sumner
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Clear then becoming mostly sunny in the morning then
becoming sunny. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Light wind
becoming north to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s. North wind to
10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Light wind.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s. Light wind.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Light wind
becoming north to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower 60s.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in the
mid to upper 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy
with a slight chance of rain after midnight. Lows in the upper
50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in
the lower to mid 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Puyallup 94 66 96 / 0 0 0
Tacoma 94 64 95 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ556-282300-
Bellevue and Vicinity-
Including the cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Issaquah
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s. North wind to
10 mph in the morning becoming light, then becoming north around
10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the 60s. North wind to 10 mph becoming
northeast after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Light wind
becoming northwest to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the 60s. Northwest wind to 10 mph
becoming northeast after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Light wind
becoming northwest around 10 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy
with a slight chance of rain after midnight. Lows near 60.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the mid 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Bellevue 93 66 93 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ555-282300-
East Puget Sound Lowlands-
Including the cities of Gold Bar, Enumclaw, North Bend,
and Buckley
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Light wind
becoming north to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the 60s. North wind to 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 90s. Light wind becoming northwest
to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the 60s. North wind to 10 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Light wind
becoming northwest to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs near 90.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in the
mid to upper 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly
cloudy. A slight chance of rain. Lows in the upper 50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in
the lower to mid 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the
afternoon. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Gold Bar 95 68 96 / 0 0 0
Enumclaw 94 66 95 / 0 0 0
North Bend 96 67 98 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ503-282300-
Western Whatcom County-
Including the cities of Bellingham, Blaine, and Lynden
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s. South wind 10 to 15 mph
becoming southwest in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the 60s. Southwest wind to
10 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s. Light wind becoming southwest
to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s.
Southwest wind to 10 mph becoming south after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s. South wind to 10 mph
becoming west in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in the
70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly
cloudy. A slight chance of rain. Lows near 60.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs near 70.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in
the lower to mid 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Bellingham 82 63 84 / 0 0 0
Sumas 92 66 93 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ506-282300-
Western Skagit County-
Including the cities of Mount Vernon, Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley,
and Burlington
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s. South
wind to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s. West
wind to 10 mph becoming south after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Light wind
becoming west to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
West wind to 10 mph becoming south after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Northwest
wind to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows near 60.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows near 60.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in the
lower to mid 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain. Lows
in the mid to upper 50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs near 70.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in
the lower to mid 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Anacortes 79 59 80 / 0 0 0
Mount Vernon 86 62 87 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ001-282300-
San Juan County-
Including the cities of Friday Harbor, Eastsound,
and Roche Harbor
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
.TODAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s.
Southeast wind to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
Southwest wind to 10 mph becoming east after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s. Light wind
becoming southwest to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
South wind to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s. North wind
to 10 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 70s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in the
lower to mid 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of rain after
midnight. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs near
70.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs
near 70.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Friday Harbor 80 56 80 / 0 0 0
Eastsound 77 61 78 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ510-282300-
Admiralty Inlet Area-
Including the cities of Port Townsend and Port Ludlow
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
.TODAY...Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs
in the mid 70s to lower 80s. South wind to 10 mph becoming
southwest in the morning, then becoming northwest in the
afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s. West wind
10 to 15 mph decreasing to 10 mph or less in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
West wind to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s. Northwest
wind to 10 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows near 60.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly cloudy
with a slight chance of rain after midnight. Lows in the mid to
upper 50s.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the mid 60s to lower 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the
morning. Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Oak Harbor 73 57 74 / 0 0 0
Port Townsend 77 57 78 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ511-282300-
Hood Canal Area-
Including the cities of Hoodsport and Brinnon
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Clear then becoming partly sunny in the morning then
becoming mostly sunny then becoming sunny in the afternoon. Highs
in the 80s. Light wind becoming southeast 10 to 15 mph in the
afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the 60s. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph in
the evening becoming light.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s to lower 90s. Southwest wind to
10 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the 60s. Southwest wind 10 to
15 mph becoming west after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s to lower 90s. East wind to
10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower 60s.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows near 60.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in the
70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the lower to mid 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Shelton 92 62 95 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ504-282300-
Southwest Interior-
Including the cities of Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Centralia,
and Toledo
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Light
wind becoming north to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s. North wind to
10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 90s. Light wind becoming north to
10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 90s. Light wind becoming north to
10 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows near 60.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows near 60.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the lower to mid 70s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Chehalis 93 62 96 / 0 0 0
Olympia 94 60 96 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ512-282300-
Lower Chehalis Valley Area-
Including the city of Montesano
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy then becoming mostly sunny late in the
morning then becoming sunny. Highs in the 80s. Southwest wind to
10 mph in the morning becoming light, then becoming west to
10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s. West
wind to 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 80s. Southwest wind to 10 mph
becoming west in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
West wind to 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s. Light wind
becoming west to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear in the evening then becoming partly
cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly
cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs near 70.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 70s.
$$
WAZ514-282300-
Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca-
Including the cities of Sequim and Port Angeles
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
.TODAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Wind
variable to 10 mph becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph in the
afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s. West
wind 10 to 15 mph.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s. West wind
10 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s. West wind
10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Wind
variable to 10 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Lows near 60.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs near 70.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly
cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the mid to upper 60s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs near 70.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Port Angeles 78 60 79 / 0 0 0
Sequim 82 61 83 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ515-282300-
Western Strait of Juan De Fuca-
Including the cities of Joyce and Clallam Bay
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
.TODAY...Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming sunny. Highs
in the 70s. Wind variable to 10 mph.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s. Wind
variable to 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 70s. Wind variable to 10 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
West wind 10 to 15 mph decreasing to variable to 10 mph after
midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 70s to lower 80s. Light wind.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 70s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly
cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.MONDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the 60s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 60s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the 60s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Sekiu 72 58 73 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ517-282300-
Central Coast-
Including the cities of Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Westport,
and Ocean Shores
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy then becoming mostly sunny early in the
afternoon then becoming sunny. Highs in the 70s. Northwest wind
to 10 mph in the morning becoming light, then becoming west 10 to
15 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening then becoming mostly
cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s. Northwest wind 10 to
15 mph decreasing to 10 mph or less after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the 70s to lower 80s. Light wind
becoming west around 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
West wind to 10 mph.
.SATURDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s.
Light wind becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.SUNDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly
cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the mid to upper 60s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the mid to upper 60s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s to lower 70s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Hoquiam 71 58 72 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ516-282300-
North Coast-
Including the cities of Neah Bay, La Push, and Forks
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
.TODAY...Mostly cloudy then becoming mostly sunny in the late
morning and early afternoon then becoming sunny. Highs in the
70s. North wind to 10 mph in the morning becoming light, then
becoming west around 10 mph in the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
Northwest wind to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the 70s. West wind to 10 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
West wind to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the 70s. Light wind becoming west to
10 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid to upper 50s.
.MONDAY...Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the 60s.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain in the morning.
Highs in the 60s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming
mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Partly sunny. Highs in the mid to upper 60s.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Forks 75 56 74 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ513-282300-
Olympics-
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
.TODAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 15000 feet.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 15000 feet.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 16000 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 16500 feet.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 16000 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 16000 feet.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 15500 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Freezing level near 15000 feet.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Snow level
near 11000 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Freezing level near 13500 feet.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Snow level
near 8500 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Freezing level near 13000 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. Freezing level near 13000 feet.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Hurricane Ridge 80 64 78 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ567-282300-
Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties-
Including the cities of Marblemount and Concrete
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 15500 feet.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 15000 feet.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 15500 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 16500 feet.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 16000 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 16000 feet.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 15500 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Freezing level near 15000 feet.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Snow level
near 11500 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain in the
evening, then mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain and snow
after midnight. Snow level near 10500 feet.
.TUESDAY...Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow. Snow
level near 9500 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of rain in the
evening. Snow level near 9000 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the
morning, then a slight chance of rain and snow in the afternoon.
Snow level near 8500 feet.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Mount Baker 81 63 82 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ568-282300-
Cascades of Snohomish and King Counties-
Including the cities of Snoqualmie Pass, Darrington, and Index
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Clear. Freezing level near 15500 feet. Afternoon pass
temperatures near 90. Light wind in the passes becoming north to
10 mph in the morning, then becoming northwest around 10 mph in
the afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 15000 feet. Light wind in
the passes.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 16000 feet. Afternoon pass
temperatures near 90. Light wind in the passes becoming west
around 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 16500 feet. North wind
in the passes around 10 mph in the evening becoming light.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 16000 feet. Afternoon pass
temperatures in the mid to upper 80s. Light wind in the passes
becoming west around 10 mph in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 16500 feet.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 15500 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Freezing level near 15000 feet.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Snow level
near 11500 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly
cloudy. A slight chance of rain. Snow level near 10500 feet.
.TUESDAY...Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Snow level
near 9500 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain. Snow
level near 9000 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Snow
level near 8500 feet.
TEMPERATURE / PRECIPITATION
Snoqualmie Pass 90 63 91 / 0 0 0
Stevens Pass 88 64 88 / 0 0 0
$$
WAZ569-282300-
Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties-
Including the cities of Randle, Packwood, Ashford, and Morton
544 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PDT SATURDAY...
.TODAY...Clear. Freezing level near 15500 feet.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 15000 feet.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 16000 feet.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Clear. Freezing level near 16500 feet.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 16000 feet.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Freezing level near 16000 feet.
.SUNDAY...Sunny. Freezing level near 15500 feet.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Freezing level near 15000 feet.
.MONDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning,
then a slight chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Snow
level near 12000 feet.
.MONDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain and
snow in the evening, then mostly cloudy after midnight. Snow
level near 10500 feet.
.TUESDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning,
then a slight chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Snow
level near 9500 feet.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of rain and snow
in the evening. Snow level near 9000 feet.
.WEDNESDAY...Mostly sunny. A slight chance of rain and snow in
the afternoon. Snow level near 9000 feet.
$$
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
|
https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/WA-Seattle-WA-Zone-Forecast-17334712.php
| 2022-07-28T13:28:57
|
en
| 0.910827
|
WFO PENDLETON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, July 30, 2022
_____
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pendleton OR
446 AM PDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT
SATURDAY...
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures approaching
110. Very warm overnight lows in the upper 60s to lower 70s.
* WHERE...Portions of central, south central and southeast
Washington and central, north central and northeast Oregon.
* WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT Saturday.
* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential
for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or
participating in outdoor activities. Warm overnight lows
compared to normal will continue to add to the heat stress into
the next day.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT SATURDAY...
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS CANCELLED...
* WHAT...Temperatures 95 to 105. Warm overnight lows as high as
the upper 50s to mid 60s.
* WHERE...In Washington, Northwest Blue Mountains. In Oregon,
Grande Ronde Valley, Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon,
Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon and Ochoco-John Day
Highlands.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur.
* WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 105.
Very warm overnight lows in the mid to upper 60s.
* WHERE...East Slopes of the Washington Cascades.
* IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the
potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those
working or participating in outdoor activities. Warm overnight
lows compared to normal will continue to add to the heat stress
into the next day.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
|
https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/WA-WFO-PENDLETON-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17334596.php
| 2022-07-28T13:29:03
|
en
| 0.89421
|
BOGALUSA, La. (BRPROUD) – Louisiana rapper JayDaYoungan was killed Wednesday night in one of two “possibly related” shootings that took place within 75 minutes of each other in his hometown of Bogalusa, according to police.
The 24-year-old rapper, whose real name is Javorius Scott, was shot around 5:50 p.m. and taken to a local hospital, according to the Bogalusa Police Department.
The rapper, known for his songs “23 Island” and “Elimination,” was pronounced dead a few hours later.
A second victim, identified as Kenyatta Scott Sr., was also shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Police said Scott Sr. is considered a “close family member” of Javorius Scott and has since been listed in stable condition.
A separate shooting happened around 7 p.m. during which a “vehicle was shot, possibly related to the first shooting,” according to the Bogalusa Police Department.
There were no reported injuries in connection with the second shooting. The investigation is ongoing.
|
https://www.ktsm.com/news/national-news/rapper-jaydayoungan-shot-to-death-in-louisiana/
| 2022-07-28T13:29:24
|
en
| 0.990809
|
WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — The U.S. economy shrank from April through June for a second straight quarter, contracting at a 0.9% annual pace and raising fears that the nation may be approaching a recession.
The decline that the Commerce Department reported Thursday in the gross domestic product — the broadest gauge of the economy — followed a 1.6% annual drop from January through March. Consecutive quarters of falling GDP constitute one informal, though not definitive, indicator of a recession.
The report comes at a critical time. Consumers and businesses have been struggling under the weight of punishing inflation and higher borrowing costs.
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a sizable three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its push to conquer the worst inflation outbreak in four decades. The Fed is aiming for a notoriously difficult “soft landing”: an economic slowdown that manages to rein in rocketing prices without triggering a recession.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell and many economists have said that while the economy is showing some weakening, they doubt it’s in recession. Many economists, though, point, in particular, to a still-robust labor market, with 11 million job openings and an uncommonly low 3.6% unemployment rate, to suggest that a recession, if one does occur, is still a ways off.
This comes as the latest NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll found that voters’ fears about inflation are rising, surpassing their concerns about unemployment. More than 62% of voters surveyed ranked inflation chief atop their concerns facing the country, rising above their worries about unemployment, COVID-19 and crime.
The strength of America’s job market, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference Wednesday, “makes you question the GDP data.”
Even so, recession risks are growing as the Fed’s policymakers pursue an aggressive course of rate hikes that, while they may ease in the months ahead, will likely extend into 2023. The Fed’s hikes have already led to a doubling of the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage in the past year, to 5.5%. Home sales, which are especially sensitive to interest rate changes, have tumbled.
This story is developing. Refresh for updates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
|
https://www.ktsm.com/news/national-news/us-economy-shrank-last-quarter/
| 2022-07-28T13:29:30
|
en
| 0.956302
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/los-angeles-rams/articles/40206287
| 2022-07-28T13:29:35
|
en
| 0.738227
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/los-angeles-rams/articles/40207046
| 2022-07-28T13:29:41
|
en
| 0.738227
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/los-angeles-rams/articles/40207096
| 2022-07-28T13:29:47
|
en
| 0.738227
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/los-angeles-rams/articles/40207454
| 2022-07-28T13:29:48
|
en
| 0.738227
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/los-angeles-rams/articles/40207571
| 2022-07-28T13:29:51
|
en
| 0.738227
|
KILLEEN, Texas (FOX 44) – The Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport (GRK) would like to meet with Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (ACDBEs) wanting to do business during an Open House on Thursday.
This event will take place at 10 a.m. in the airport’s main conference room. This Open House is for all certified ACDBE firms, existing and future airport concessionaires, and other parties interested in doing business with the Killeen–Fort Hood Regional Airport. The event will include information about the updated ACDBE Program, ACDBE Goals and future airport concession opportunities.
The Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport (GRK) has updated the ACDBE program for fiscal years 2023 – 2025 in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 23. The airport has received federal funds authorized for airport development after January 1988 (authorized under Title 49 of the United States Code).
It is the policy of the City of Killeen to ensure ACDBEs as defined in Part 23, have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in concession opportunities. It is also the policy of Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport (GRK) to:
1. Ensure nondiscrimination in the award and administration of opportunities for concessions by airports receiving DOT financial assistance
2. Create a level playing field on which ACDBEs can compete fairly for opportunities for airport concessions
3. Ensure that the ACDBE program is narrowly tailored in accordance with applicable law
4. Ensure that only firms which fully meet this part’s eligibility standards are permitted to participate as ACDBEs at the airport
5. Help remove barriers to the participation of ACDBEs in opportunities for airport concessions
6. Provide appropriate flexibility to the City’s airports in establishing and providing opportunities for ACDBEs
Aairport representatives would like to meet with ACBDEs in the market area of the eleven counties surrounding Bell County and the Killeen-Fort Hood MSA – namely Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Gillespie, Hays, Lee, Llano, Mason, Travis, and Williamson Counties.
For any ACDBE businesses interested in working with the airport, they can call (254) 501-8700, Extension #4.
|
https://www.fox44news.com/news/local-news/bell-county/open-house-to-be-held-for-killeen-area-businesses/
| 2022-07-28T13:29:54
|
en
| 0.932665
|
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) – Waco’s Deep in the Heart Film Festival has announced the award winners for the sixth edition of the annual event!
The Festival concluded it’s in-person presentations on Sunday with an Awards Brunch hosted by the Art Center of Waco. The awards haul was led by Aaron Hosé’s One Pint at a Time, which took three awards – including Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, and the Audience Award for Best Feature.
Individual awards were led by The Sisters Karras’ Micah Stathis (Best Feature Film Director), and A Place Among the Dead’s’ Juliet Landau (Best Performance – Feature Film).
This year’s Festival rode the wave of its selection by MovieMaker Magazine as one of “20 Great Film Festivals for First-time Moviemakers” into another year featuring innovations and additions to presentations and events. A major focus of this year’s Festival was the celebration of Waco as a film location with their “Waco is Made for Movies” theme.
Additional highlights and new innovations include the launch of the “Made Deep in the Heart” Screenplay Grant – which is awarded to the winner of the Festival’s screenplay contest. This went to Gregory J.M. Kasunich and Lauren Noll’s The Audition. The grant provides a variety of elements for producing this screenplay in Waco.
Co-Founders and Co-Directors Louis Hunter and Samuel Thomas, said, “This year’s Deep in the Heart Film Festival was another reaffirmation of the reputation this film festival has built over the last couple of years. Forging that connection between our visiting filmmakers and the wonderful film-loving community in Waco has always been our aim and we are enjoying seeing that come to fruition in so many ways now.” They added, “Our award-winning films this year emphasized that connection and added the anticipation of more filmmakers returning to Waco to shoot their next films – and the thought of that energizes us to continue to grow in years to come.”
Leading the award winners in the short film categories were Jack Reynor’s Bainne, which took the prize for Best Short Film; Michael Charron’s First Impressions, which garnered the Best Texas Short Film award; Portlynn Tagavi’s Out of Tune, which won Best U.S. Short Film; Nick Blake’s Kafkas, which was named Best Foreign Short Film; and Luisa Maria González’s Saving Salvador, which won Best Student Short Film. Short films cited with Special Jury Awards included: Male Fadàu (Ill Fated) (Director: Matteo Incollu), Jettison (Director: JJ Pollack), Man Seeking Man (Director: Travis White), and Where the Winds Die (Director: Pejman Alipour).
Film awards by genre in the Short Film category went to; Glenn Peck’s Kalamiti for Best Drama Short; Jonathan Hammond’s We All Die Alone, which took Best Comedy Short; and Blair Thomas and Steve Vanderhiede’s Riding the Shadow, which was named Best Documentary Short. Natalie LaValley’s Telos was named Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Short; Dan Repp, Lindsay Young’s Cutter scared up the award for Best Horror/Thriller Short; Chris Sage and Stephen Schroeder’s Nickels received the award for Best Family Short; and Jill Sachs and Angeline Armstrong won Best Music Video for “Bones.”
Filmmaking craft awards were given to; Vaishali Naik for Best Director – Short Film for 7 Star Dinosor Entertainment; Rona Rees won Best Performance – Short Film (Drama) for her role in Freya; and Joe Grisaffi won Best Performance – Short Film (Comedy) for his work in Joe Returns a Video. Best Cinematography – Short Film went to Matthew Barber (Specter of Weeping Hill), Best Editing – Short Film was given to Esmeralda Hernandez for Dream Carriers, and Best Screenplay – Short Film went to Sanuel Rudykoff for Cruise. The Audience Award for Short Film went to Taylor Hinds and Savannah Sivert’s The Tale of the Daughter. Honorable mention in the Screenplay Competition went to Shanna R Riker’s “Blood Splattered Pearls”.
The full list of award winners is below:
Feature Film Awards
Best Feature Film
One Pint at a Time
Director: Aaron Hosé
Best Feature Film (Documentary)
One Pint at a Time
Director: Aaron Hosé
Best Director – Feature Film
Micah Stathis (The Sisters Karras)
Best Performance – Feature Film
Juliet Landau (A Place Among the Dead)
Audience Awards
Feature Film
One Pint at a Time
Director: Aaron Hosé
Short Film
The Tale of the Daughter
Directors: Taylor Hinds, Savannah Sivert
Short Film Awards
Best Short Film
Bainne
Director: Jack Reynor
Best Texas Short Film
First Impressions
Director: Michael Charron
Best United States Short Film
Out of Tune
Director: Portlynn Tagavi
Best Foreign Short Film
Kafkas
Director: Nick Blake
Best Student Short Film
Saving Salvador
Director: Luisa Maria González
Special Jury Award – Short Films
Male Fadàu (Ill Fated) (Director: Matteo Incollu)
Jettison (Director: JJ Pollack)
Man Seeking Man (Director: Travis White)
Where the Winds Die (Director: Pejman Alipour)
Short Film Awards by Genre
Best Drama Short
Kalamiti
Director: Glenn Pack
Best Comedy Short
We All Die Alone
Director: Jonathan Hammond
Best Documentary Short
Riding the Shadow
Directors: Blair Thomas, Steve Vanderhiede
Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Short
Telos
Director: Natalie LaValley
Best Horror/Thriller Short
Cutter
Directors: Dan Repp, Lindsay Young
Best Family Short
Nickels
Directors: Chris Sage, Stephen Schroeder
Best Music Video
“Bones”
Directors: Jill Sachs, Angeline Armstrong
Short Film Craft Awards
Best Director – Short Film
Vaishali Naik (7 Star Dinosor Entertainment)
Best Performance – Short Film (Drama)
Rona Rees (Freya)
Best Performance – Short Film (Comedy)
Joe Grisaffi (Joe Returns a Video)
Best Cinematography – Short Film
Matthew Barber (Specter of Weeping Hill)
Best Editing – Short Film
Esmeralda Hernandez (Dream Carriers)
Best Screenplay – Short Film
Samuel Rudykoff (Cruise)
Screenplay Competition
Best Unproduced Screenplay – First Place
“The Audition” (Writers: Gregory JM Kasunich, Lauren Noll)
Best Unproduced Screenplay – Honorable Mention
“Blood Splattered Pearls” (Writer: Shanna R Riker)
For more information about the Festival and to get tickets, you can go to: https://www.deepintheheartff.com/.
|
https://www.fox44news.com/news/local-news/mclennan-county/deep-in-the-heart-film-festival-awards-announced/
| 2022-07-28T13:30:00
|
en
| 0.90146
|
(NewsNation) — Voters don’t want President Joe Biden to seek re-election, but they don’t want to see former President Donald Trump on the ticket either, according to the latest NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll released Thursday.
More than 60% of all voters said Biden shouldn’t run for president. Among the Democrats polled, 30% said he should sit out 2024.
Similarly, about 57% of total voters said Trump should not run for president. Twenty-six percent of polled Republicans want someone else as the nominee. As of Wednesday, Trump had not officially declared his candidacy.
It could be memories of the contentious 2020 presidential election turning voters off from both the current and former president, The Hill White House columnist Niall Stanage said.
“Part of it, honestly, I think has to do with the bitterness and enmity of that election,” Stanage said. “I would suspect that there are a lot of voters, particularly in the middle ground or the more moderate voters in each party, who just don’t want that whole process re-litigated because it was such a divisive election.”
The next most popular choices among Democratic and Republican candidates were Vice President Kamala Harris (16%) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (23%), respectively.
It’s too early, however, to tell how the election might play out, Decision Desk HQ Senior Data Scientist Kiel Williams said. It’s also possible that four months out from the midterm election, many potential candidates simply haven’t become household names yet, Williams said.
“I think what a lot of that reflects is just a lack of name recognition among most voters,” Williams said.
|
https://www.fox44news.com/news/national-world-news/poll-majority-of-voters-dont-want-biden-or-trump-in-2024/
| 2022-07-28T13:30:06
|
en
| 0.97475
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40206673
| 2022-07-28T13:30:08
|
en
| 0.738227
|
BOGALUSA, La. (BRPROUD) – Louisiana rapper JayDaYoungan was killed Wednesday night in one of two “possibly related” shootings that took place within 75 minutes of each other in his hometown of Bogalusa, according to police.
The 24-year-old rapper, whose real name is Javorius Scott, was shot around 5:50 p.m. and taken to a local hospital, according to the Bogalusa Police Department.
The rapper, known for his songs “23 Island” and “Elimination,” was pronounced dead a few hours later.
A second victim, identified as Kenyatta Scott Sr., was also shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Police said Scott Sr. is considered a “close family member” of Javorius Scott and has since been listed in stable condition.
A separate shooting happened around 7 p.m. during which a “vehicle was shot, possibly related to the first shooting,” according to the Bogalusa Police Department.
There were no reported injuries in connection with the second shooting. The investigation is ongoing.
|
https://www.fox44news.com/news/national-world-news/rapper-jaydayoungan-shot-to-death-in-louisiana/
| 2022-07-28T13:30:09
|
en
| 0.990809
|
WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — The U.S. economy shrank from April through June for a second straight quarter, contracting at a 0.9% annual pace and raising fears that the nation may be approaching a recession.
The decline that the Commerce Department reported Thursday in the gross domestic product — the broadest gauge of the economy — followed a 1.6% annual drop from January through March. Consecutive quarters of falling GDP constitute one informal, though not definitive, indicator of a recession.
The report comes at a critical time. Consumers and businesses have been struggling under the weight of punishing inflation and higher borrowing costs.
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a sizable three-quarters of a point for a second straight time in its push to conquer the worst inflation outbreak in four decades. The Fed is aiming for a notoriously difficult “soft landing”: an economic slowdown that manages to rein in rocketing prices without triggering a recession.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell and many economists have said that while the economy is showing some weakening, they doubt it’s in recession. Many economists, though, point, in particular, to a still-robust labor market, with 11 million job openings and an uncommonly low 3.6% unemployment rate, to suggest that a recession, if one does occur, is still a ways off.
This comes as the latest NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll found that voters’ fears about inflation are rising, surpassing their concerns about unemployment. More than 62% of voters surveyed ranked inflation chief atop their concerns facing the country, rising above their worries about unemployment, COVID-19 and crime.
The strength of America’s job market, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference Wednesday, “makes you question the GDP data.”
Even so, recession risks are growing as the Fed’s policymakers pursue an aggressive course of rate hikes that, while they may ease in the months ahead, will likely extend into 2023. The Fed’s hikes have already led to a doubling of the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage in the past year, to 5.5%. Home sales, which are especially sensitive to interest rate changes, have tumbled.
This story is developing. Refresh for updates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
|
https://www.fox44news.com/news/national-world-news/us-economy-shrank-last-quarter/
| 2022-07-28T13:30:11
|
en
| 0.956302
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40206709
| 2022-07-28T13:30:17
|
en
| 0.738227
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40206874
| 2022-07-28T13:30:23
|
en
| 0.738227
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40206921
| 2022-07-28T13:30:29
|
en
| 0.738227
|
3Phase deepens its presence in Los Angeles and Orange County, CA, adding Next Level Elevator to Specialized Elevator's and 3Phase Elevator's west coast family of IUEC independents
ORANGE, Calif., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 3Phase Elevator, a leading independent elevator and escalator services provider, has merged with Next Level Elevator, a provider of top-tier maintenance, repair, modernization and testing services for all types and brands of commercial elevators and vertical conveyance systems in the Los Angeles market. The merger deepens 3Phase's presence in California where it already has a strong foothold with Specialized Elevator from San Francisco to San Diego.
Next Level Elevator, a locally owned independent elevator company, takes pride in providing quality service and making each customer a priority. The company has achieved growth by building long-term relationships with customers and targeting specific modernization projects where it has expertise. The existing Next Level Elevator team, led by Jevon Hadley and Lance Green, will remain in place and the company will continue to serve customers under the Next Level Elevator brand.
"We have a long-standing relationship with Specialized in the Los Angeles market, and it was apparent to us that our partnership would be a powerful combination. Both companies have built their businesses based on making the right decisions for customers." said Jevon Hadley, co-owner and operator of Next Level Elevator. Hadley added "This partnership gives us access to the resources to expand geographically and take risks in the Los Angeles market that are difficult to justify as a small independent. We already have plans to expand beyond our current footprint and we are excited about the future with Specialized and 3Phase." Donovan McKeever, the President leading the West for 3Phase commented, "In addition to serving and working with Next Level's customers, we are especially excited to add Jevon and Lance to the team in Los Angeles. They've built an impressive company and we are looking forward to continuing their tradition as a strong independent elevator company in the Los Angeles market."
"Deepening our presence in the Los Angeles area has been a strategic priority for 3Phase, and Next Level boasts a stellar reputation in this market that will complement the Specialized team. When we first met Jevon and Lance, we knew they were like-minded partners," said Mike Strachan, CEO of 3Phase Elevator. "This partnership further establishes our presence as a leading provider in the West."
Founded in 1997, and headquartered in Canton, Mass., 3Phase Elevator is a leading independent provider of elevator and escalator maintenance, repair, modernization and new installation services in 20 states across the United States and the District of Columbia. The company has grown in part through 18 acquisitions of other independent elevator and escalator providers. 3Phase maintains more than 23,500 units for building owners and property managers. The company is built on a foundation of exceptional customer service. For additional information, visit www.3phaseelevator.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE 3Phase Elevator
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/3phase-elevator-next-level-elevator-announce-merger/
| 2022-07-28T13:30:32
|
en
| 0.953385
|
CENTRAL TEXAS (FOX 44)- Mother nature and man made problems have caused many cities in central Texas to put in place strict drought contingency plans.
Earlier this week the city of Gatesville noticed a leak in the main line at the water treatment plant.
“Repairs were completed at 3:45 Wednesday morning and we began to pump water back into the system. And so we’re in the process of filling up all of our ground storage tanks and transmission lines,” says Gatesville city manger Will Perry.
The boil order notice issued on Tuesday night was a required precaution when the water transmission line is compromised and in anticipation the city of Gatesville would restore service in the middle of the night – most, if not all of the water going in to the tanks now is completely treated and drinkable. Bacteriological samples were taken to Waco Wednesday morning, and the city should know by noon on Thursday if the samples allow us to lift the boil order.
“The water is safe to use for everything we just recommend because of the remote possibility of bacteria in the water that you boil, you’re drinking water,” says Perry.
Water was out at the Hughes Prison Unit in Gatesville. The Texas Department of Corrections says water tankers, bottled water, ice, and portable toilets were brought in for inmates.
“The system has about 8 million gallons of storage, 13 storage tanks, but it stretches 27 miles from the water treatment plant out to the furthest point in pancake,” says Perry.
The city of Gatesville plans to stay at stage 3 drought contingency plan until the system is fully charged, which can take 24 hours. Then they will revert back to stage one.
After the Brazos River Pump broke on July 13, the city of Marlin went to stage 4 of the drought contingency plan, voluntarily asking residents to conserve water until the the part is fixed. However, according to Marlin Mayor Carolyn Lofton, Marlin residents have not followed the conservation plan.
“We’re not seeing our lake levels rise, they’re actually decreasing. And that tells us that people are not heeding the warning to conserve water like they should,” says Mayor Carolyn Lofton, with the city of Marlin.
FOX 44 news reached out to the City of Marlin asking for updates on the drought contingency plan, Mayor Lofton says Marlin will now go into a mandatory water conservation plan until there is sufficient water.
“So we need people to really take heed to what we’re telling them. We’re trying to pump water in, but even at the right there, we’re pumping. We’re never going to refill that lake,” says Lofton.
Mayor Lofton says they will start enforcing citations to those who violate the water conservation plan.
Any person who violates this The City says that anyone who violates this plan is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished with a fine not less than $100 and not more than $500.
|
https://www.fox44news.com/water-restrictions/marlin-and-gatesville-update-their-drought-contingency-plan/
| 2022-07-28T13:30:34
|
en
| 0.958829
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40206948
| 2022-07-28T13:30:35
|
en
| 0.738227
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40206951
| 2022-07-28T13:30:38
|
en
| 0.738227
|
Company to Host Conference Call and Webcast on August 10
LOS ANGELES, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aadi Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq: AADI), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing precision therapies for genetically defined cancers with alterations in mTOR pathway genes, today announced that it will host a conference call and live webcast on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 8:30 am EDT (5:30 am PDT) to report second quarter 2022 financial results and provide recent corporate updates.
Participants may access a live webcast of the call on the "Investors & News" page of the Aadi Bioscience website at aadibio.com. To participate via telephone, please register in advance at this link. Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including the dial-in number along with a unique passcode and registrant ID that can be used to access the call. A replay of the conference call and webcast will be archived on the website for at least 30 days.
Aadi is a biopharmaceutical company focused on precision therapies for genetically defined cancers. Aadi's primary goal is to bring transformational therapies to cancer patients with mTOR pathway driver alterations where other mTOR inhibitors have not or cannot be effectively exploited due to problems of pharmacology, effective drug delivery, safety, or effective targeting to the disease site. In November 2021, Aadi received FDA approval for FYARRO™ for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa), and in February 2022 Aadi announced the commercial launch of FYARRO in this indication.
Based on exploratory data from AMPECT, Aadi's registrational study supporting approval in malignant PEComa, and following a pre-IND meeting with the FDA, Aadi has initiated PRECISION 1, a Phase 2 tumor-agnostic registration-intended trial in mTOR inhibitor-naïve malignant solid tumors harboring TSC1 or TSC2 inactivating alterations. More information on Aadi's development pipeline is available on the Aadi website at www.aadibio.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Contact:
Marcy Graham
IR@aadibio.com
View original content:
SOURCE Aadi Bioscience
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/aadi-bioscience-report-second-quarter-2022-results-corporate-update/
| 2022-07-28T13:30:39
|
en
| 0.89998
|
'New Cold War': Russia and West vie for influence in Africa
Russian, French and American leaders are crisscrossing Africa to win support for their positions on the war in Ukraine, waging what some say is the most intense competition for influence on the continent since the Cold War.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French President Emmanuel Macron are each visiting several African countries this week. Samantha Power, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, went to Kenya and Somalia last week. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, will go to Ghana and Uganda next week.
"It's like a new Cold War is playing out in Africa, where the rival sides are trying to gain influence," said William Gumede, director of Democracy Works, a foundation promoting good governance.
Lavrov, in his travels across the drought- and hunger-stricken continent, has sought to portray the West as the villain, blaming it for rising food prices, while the Western leaders have accused the Kremlin of cynically using food as a weapon and waging an imperial-style war of conquest — words calculated to appeal to listeners in post-colonial Africa.
Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has been working to win support in Africa for several years, reinvigorating friendships that date back a half-century, when the Soviet Union backed many African movements fighting to end colonial rule.
"Now that campaign has gone into high gear," Gumede said.
Moscow's influence in Africa was on display in March during the U.N. vote to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While 28 African nations voted in favor of the resolution, a significant minority of countries on the continent — 25 — either voted to abstain or did not vote at all.
Russia's top diplomat this week visited Egypt, Congo, Uganda and Ethiopia, pledging friendship and charging the U.S. and European countries with driving up food prices by pursuing "reckless" environmental policies. He also accused them of hoarding food during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The situation in Ukraine did additionally negatively affect food markets, but not due to the Russian special operation, rather due to the absolutely inadequate reaction of the West, which announced sanctions," Lavrov said in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital.
Lavrov was warmly received in Uganda by President Yoweri Museveni, who for years has been a U.S. ally but has refused to criticize Russia over the invasion. Museveni even suggested at the outbreak of the war that Putin’s actions might be understandable because Ukraine is in Russia's sphere of influence.
Lavrov voiced support for reform of the U.N. Security Council to give African countries permanent seats and greater influence.
Appearing with Lavrov, the Ugandan leader spoke fondly of old ties with Russia, asking how he could spurn Moscow when he has good relations with countries that participated in slavery.
Museveni, an opinion leader on the continent who has held power for three decades, is an obvious choice for Russia as someone to strengthen ties with, said Ugandan political analyst Asuman Bisiika.
"Uganda is the center of gravity in East Africa," Bisiika said.
Museveni, 77, has been strictly wearing a mask in public since the COVID-19 outbreak. But he did not have one on when greeting Lavrov in front of photographers, apparently wanting to show warmth to the Russian. Museveni had a mask back on in his next public appearance a day later.
Russia is also courting African public opinion through its state television network, RT, formerly known as Russia Today. RT has announced that it will open a new bureau in Johannesburg.
RT was abruptly removed from Africa's biggest pay-TV platform in Africa, Johannesburg-based Multichoice, in March after the European Union and Britain imposed sanctions against Russia. It is not clear whether establishing the new bureau will enable RT to resume broadcasts to Africa through Multichoice, which claims nearly 22 million subscribers on the continent.
"For Russia, it is the battle to be heard in Africa. It is not important for the actual war effort but for their long-term political influence," Anton Harber, professor of journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. "They see it as fertile ground to cultivate their influence, and, of course, votes in the U.N. are important."
On his tour of Africa, France's Macron accused the Kremlin of using TV channels like RT to spread propaganda in support of the war. And he charged the Kremlin with blackmailing the world by thwarting the export of grain from Ukraine.
"They are blackmailing because they are the ones who blocked cereals in Ukraine. They are the ones who regulate their cereals," he said in Benin. His itinerary also included Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau.
Macron appealed to Africans to side against Russia.
"I'm telling you here in Africa, a continent that has suffered from colonial imperialism: Russia is one of the last colonial, imperial powers. She decides to invade a neighboring country to defend her interests," he said. "That's the reality."
Power, the top U.S. AID official, was in East Africa to pledge aid to help the region's fight against hunger amid a devastating multi-year drought. She did not hold back in criticizing Russia.
"By blockading Ukraine’s grain exports and restricting the trade of Russia's own fertilizer, Putin’s actions have had the consequence of inflicting pain on the people of Kenya and on other countries throughout the world," Power said in Nairobi. "He is hurting the people of Kenya in order to benefit his own situation."
___
AP journalist Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda, contributed.
|
https://www.4029tv.com/article/russia-and-west-vie-for-influence-in-africa/40741246
| 2022-07-28T13:30:42
|
en
| 0.969144
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40207021
| 2022-07-28T13:30:44
|
en
| 0.738227
|
BOSTON, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TetraScience, the Scientific Data Cloud company, announced today that ACD/Labs, a leading provider of scientific software for R&D, has joined the Tetra Partner Network to help pharma and biopharma customers achieve greater scientific insights and outcomes.
"We are thrilled to partner with ACD/Labs, who have a long history of innovating how customers use analytical data analysis in R&D," said Simon Meffan-Main, Ph.D., VP, Tetra Partner Network. "Combining their characterization, lead optimization and interpretation products with the Tetra Data Platform will further help customers respond to the ever increasing pace of innovation in biopharma."
For decades ACD/Labs has been helping scientists to assemble multi-technique analytical data from major instrument vendors in a single environment. The company's Spectrus platform standardizes analytical data processing and knowledge management to help customers get answers, make decisions, and share knowledge. Digital interpretations stored with chemical context and the expert's annotations enable R&D organizations to store and manage knowledge that is chemically searchable. ACD/Labs' enterprise technologies remove the burden of routine data analysis from the scientist, automate data marshalling, and improve data accessibility and integrity.
The Tetra Data Platform produces Tetra Data, which is vendor-agnostic, liquid, and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) scientific data that can be searched, accessed, and analyzed across the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical pipelines. With this partnership, customers will be able to use Tetra Data with ACD/Labs' Spectrus products to accelerate workflows and analyze scientific data with more specificity.
"Solutions from ACD/Labs and TetraScience work to remove the burden of data management from the scientist's workflow and make the IT function more effective," said Graham McGibbon, Director of Strategic Partnerships, ACD/Labs. "We share a common goal of creating unrestricted innovation for scientists and IT departments and are delighted to be part of the Tetra Partner Network."
"Industry participants of all kinds – global pharmas, biotech startups, informatics providers, CROs, biopharma app companies, and more – recognize that this movement to the Scientific Data Cloud must be driven by vendor-neutral and open partnerships that are deeply data-centric," explained Patrick Grady, CEO of TetraScience. "Biopharma needs to unify and harmonize experimental data in the cloud, in order to fully capitalize on the power of AI and data science. In turn, AI and data science will uncover insights that will accelerate discovery and development of therapeutics that extend and enhance human life. We are thrilled to further extend this network together with ACD/Labs."
To learn more about ACD/Labs and our partnership, please read the blog "Science at Your Fingertips - Across the Enterprise".
TetraScience is the Scientific Data Cloud company with a mission to accelerate scientific discovery and improve and extend human life. The Scientific Data Cloud is the only open, cloud-native platform purpose-built for science that connects lab instruments, informatics software, and data apps across the biopharma value chain and delivers the foundation of harmonized, actionable scientific data necessary to transform raw data into accelerated and improved scientific outcomes. Through the Tetra Partner Network, market-leading vendors access the power of our cloud to help customers maximize the value of their data. For more information, please visit tetrascience.com.
ACD/Labs is a leading provider of scientific software for R&D. We help our customers assemble digitized analytical, structural, and molecular information for effective decision-making, problem solving, and product lifecycle control. Our enterprise technologies enable automation of molecular characterization and facilitate chemically intelligent knowledge management.
ACD/Labs provides worldwide sales and support, and brings decades of experience and success helping organizations innovate and create efficiencies in their workflows. For more information, please visit www.acdlabs.com or follow ACD/Labs on Twitter and LinkedIn.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE TetraScience
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/acdlabs-tetrascience-partner-help-customers-increase-scientific-data-effectiveness/
| 2022-07-28T13:30:45
|
en
| 0.882547
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40207470
| 2022-07-28T13:30:50
|
en
| 0.738227
|
D. Scott Sheldon and Gregory C. Anderson to assume new roles as Presidents of Allegiant Travel Company
LAS VEGAS, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) announced today that D. Scott Sheldon, the company's executive vice president and chief operating officer, and Gregory C. Anderson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will assume new roles as presidents of Allegiant Travel Company.
Effective Aug. 1, Sheldon's new title will be president and chief operating officer and Anderson will be president and chief financial officer. They will continue to report to John Redmond, Allegiant's chief executive officer.
"I could not be more excited to announce these promotions," said Redmond. "Scott and Greg are truly the dynamic duo – consummate professionals who know the Allegiant business inside and out. This announcement is the product of their hard work as well as the recognition of their individual contributions and talent. As CEO, it is my job to retain talent and protect the future of the company – and these promotions go a long way toward achieving both ends. I have the utmost confidence in their abilities and firmly believe this change will benefit Allegiant in numerous ways."
Redmond also noted that while the decision to have two company presidents is unique, it makes sense given Sheldon and Anderson's cohesiveness as a team, their respective strengths, and the current workload facing the company – as the next twelve months will see the company add a new fleet type, operate the company's first joint venture with its partner VivaAerobus, and open the world-class Sunseeker Resort in Port Charlotte, Florida.
"When I joined Allegiant 18 years ago it almost felt experimental – we were still trying something new, serving small cities, offering low fares and an unbundled product," Sheldon said. "That approach has really resonated with our customers and we have been wildly successful as a result. I am grateful to John – for his leadership, mentorship, and confidence in me and this team. Having worked side-by-side with Greg for nearly two decades, I can honestly say I could not be happier to continue this amazing experiment with Greg and I am looking forward to the next two decades and beyond."
"I am both thrilled and humbled to take on this new challenge," Anderson said. "Scott and I have worked together for a long time – we know each other very well, and there is no one else I would rather share this responsibility with. I believe that together, we are greater than the sum of our parts, and that is as true for the role of president as it is for the entire company. I am very excited to see what this leadership team can do."
Sheldon has served as Allegiant's chief operating officer since 2017. He joined Allegiant in 2004 as director of accounting, and served as principal accounting officer from 2007 to 2010. He was also chief financial officer from 2010 to 2019.
Anderson joined Allegiant's accounting department in 2010. During his tenure, Anderson has held several leadership roles in the company, including senior vice president – treasury, and principal accounting officer. Anderson was appointed chief financial officer in 2019. Prior to joining Allegiant, he worked in corporate accounting for U.S. Airways.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant (NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people, places and experiences that matter most. Since 1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average fares. Today, Allegiant's fleet serves communities across the nation, with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com. Media information, including photos, is available at http://gofly.us/iiFa303wrtF
Allegiant Media Contact
Phone: 702-800-2020
Email: mediarelations@allegiantair.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Allegiant Travel Company
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/allegiant-travel-company-announces-executive-promotions/
| 2022-07-28T13:30:51
|
en
| 0.973759
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40207472
| 2022-07-28T13:30:56
|
en
| 0.738227
|
Business Talent Group's 5th annual Skills Index shows 500% increase in demand for artificial intelligence and machine learning; 400% increase in demand for cost reduction; 314% increase in human resources; 91% increase in interim finance leaders
LOS ANGELES, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report from Business Talent Group (BTG)—the leading talent marketplace for independent management consultants, interim executives, subject matter experts, and project managers, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII)—reveals the most in-demand and fastest growing skills leveraged by global companies amid ongoing economic uncertainty, an extraordinarily tight labor market, and rising geopolitical tensions.
BTG's fifth annual Skills Index, based on an analysis of proprietary BTG data, provides deep insights into how high-end independent talent are helping business leaders pursue growth while balancing risk, harness advances in data science and technology, and adapt their workforces, processes, and financial practices for the uncertain business environment ahead. The report comes as 59% of CEOs say the labor and skills shortage remains a top disruptor for their businesses, according to a recent Fortune/Deloitte study. Additionally, 55% of executives say they are concerned about the difficulty of hiring the right talent at the right price quickly enough, according to Mercer.
"Five years ago, we began reporting on project and skill needs driving the use of high-end independent talent at top companies. Since that time, we've witnessed both a massive influx of top talent choosing the independent path and a fast-growing understanding among business leaders of how to best use this highly skilled talent segment," said Jody Greenstone Miller, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Business Talent Group. "Today, high-end independent talent has become a core pillar in the talent strategies of leading enterprises—offering an indispensable source of in-demand skills that are simply inaccessible in the broader labor market."
Key insights from the 2022 Skills Index include:
- Requests for artificial intelligence and machine learning skills increased by 500% as companies seek to tap big data for more informed decision-making, automate processes for efficiency and cost reduction, and leverage technology to anticipate and respond to rising consumer needs.
- Demand for cost reduction experts grew 400% as companies look to increase resilience, right-size spending, and position organizations for choppy waters ahead.
- Global human resources (+314%), compensation strategy (+215%), and benefits planning and management (+100%) all made the list of fastest growing skills as companies seek experts to build out or scale up HR capabilities, design strategies to attract and retain top talent, and fill critical gaps in the HR organization. Notably, requests for interim HR leaders at all levels increased 400% year-over-year.
- Financial controls, accounting, and audit and financial planning, analysis, and modeling entered the top 10 most in-demand skills for the first time—driven in large part by the 91% increase in demand for interim CFOs and other finance leaders—reflecting the changing demands placed upon the function as its responsibilities grow in complexity and scope.
- Market landscape and growth strategy remained on the most in-demand skills list, but with requests for experts in risk management rising by 200% year over year, it's clear that business leaders find themselves balancing optimism for continued growth with concern that key initiatives could be derailed by any number of economic, geopolitical, ecological, and cybersecurity threats present in today's extraordinary risk environment.
BTG's most in-demand and fastest growing skills are as follows:
TOP 10 MOST IN-DEMAND SKILLS FOR 2022
- Project Management
- Organizational Design and Workforce Planning
- Market Landscape and Research
- Financial Controls, Accounting, and Audit
- Financial Planning, Analysis, and Modeling
- Process Optimization and Transformation
- Growth Strategy
- Program Management Office (PMO)
- Strategic Planning
- Corporate and Business Unit Strategy
TOP 10 FASTEST GROWING SKILLS FOR 2022
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (+500%)
- Cost Reduction (+400%)
- Global Human Resources (+314%)
- Compensation Strategy (+215%)
- Risk Management (+200%)
- Engagement Management (+167%)
- Data Visualization (+120%)
- Benefits Planning and Management (+100%)
- Database Architecture and Management (+82%)
- Product Development (+82%)
For a detailed look at the most in-demand and fastest growing skills, view the full 2022 Skills Index from BTG.
About BTG
Business Talent Group (BTG) is the leading talent marketplace that connects independent management consultants, subject matter experts, project managers, and interim executives with the world's best companies. BTG provides just the right on-demand talent needed: remote or on-site, part-time or full-time, individuals or teams, all around the world. That's why more than 50% of the F100 and hundreds of other leading companies trust BTG to curate, vet, and compliantly deliver talent who fuel growth, innovation, and performance improvement. BTG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII).
For more information, visit businesstalentgroup.com and join the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Business Talent Group Media Contact:
Jennifer Napier
+1 (312) 315-3860
jennifer.napier@businesstalentgroup.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Business Talent Group
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/amidst-ongoing-inflationary-pressures-looming-concerns-recession-new-data-reveals-most-in-demand-skills-needed-drive-growth-mitigate-risk-2022/
| 2022-07-28T13:30:58
|
en
| 0.91134
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40207474
| 2022-07-28T13:30:59
|
en
| 0.738227
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40207475
| 2022-07-28T13:31:05
|
en
| 0.738227
|
EMERYVILLE, Calif., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amyris, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMRS), a leading synthetic biotechnology company accelerating the world's transition to sustainable consumption through its Lab-to-Market™ technology platform, today announced that it will issue its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022, on the morning of Tuesday, August 9, 2022, prior to the opening of the financial markets.
The company will hold a conference call and webcast at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time (9:00 a.m. Eastern Time), during which, John Melo, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Han Kieftenbeld, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss Amyris' financial results and provide an update on the company's business. Participants may access the live webcast on Amyris' Investor Relations website, where it will be archived for 90 days. The live call can be accessed by dialing (844) 850-0551 (domestic) or (412) 902-4203 (international) and asking to join the Amyris, Inc. call.
Amyris (Nasdaq: AMRS) is a leading synthetic biotechnology company, transitioning the Clean Health & Beauty and Flavors & Fragrances markets to sustainable ingredients through fermentation and the company's proprietary Lab-to-Market™ technology platform. This Amyris platform leverages state-of-the-art machine learning, robotics and artificial intelligence, enabling the company to rapidly bring new innovation to market at commercial scale. Amyris ingredients are included in over 20,000 products from the world's top brands, reaching more than 300 million consumers. Amyris also owns and operates a family of consumer brands that is constantly evolving to meet the growing demand for sustainable, effective and accessible products. For more information, please visit http://www.amyris.com.
Amyris, the Amyris logo and Lab-to-Market are trademarks or registered trademarks of Amyris, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Amyris, Inc.
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/amyris-host-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-conference-call-august-9/
| 2022-07-28T13:31:04
|
en
| 0.914789
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40207481
| 2022-07-28T13:31:11
|
en
| 0.738227
|
JINAN, China, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Angel Yeast (SH600298), a globally listed yeast and yeast extract manufacturer, exhibited its latest products and solutions of fermentation nutrients at Bio China 2022, an expo on fermentation and biotechnology held in Jinan, Shandong province.
During the mid-July expo, the company showcased an array of new products, including yeast-derived peptones, a groundbreaking innovation in the field, a brand new plant protein hydrolysate, the first yeast hydrolysate made for cell cultivating in China, and yeast powder for industrial application.
"We feel honored to be part of the expo and we are happy to meet and talk with business partners and peers in the industry. Angel Yeast has a longstanding commitment to creating a healthy life with innovation. In many years we have been working on research and development in major fields of microbial fermentation that improve quality of life and health, such as food and feed ingredients, bio-pharmaceutical, bio-chemistry, and bio-agriculture and food culture," said Xianwu Qin, chief engineer of Angel Yeast.
"Most consumers might not be familiar with fermentation nutrients. Actually these products are vital to our daily life and health," added Qin. He further explained that fermentation nutrient products are key ingredients for the production of insulin, hyaluronic acid, vitamins, probiotics, vaccines and many others.
"We expect to see our innovation resulting in a healthier life for everyone."
At the expo, Angel Yeast also announced further steps to drive the industry forward, including building an intelligent production line for plant nitrogen sources in Binzhou, Shandong province. The production line will be in operation by October.
With a capacity of 5,000 tonnes, it is expected to produce high-quality plant nitrogen source products, such as a wide range of peptones derived from soy, wheat, corn and pea. Plant nitrogen source products by Angel Yeast can be used in conjunction with yeast-sourced fermentation nutrients to improve downstream performance and efficiency.
The company has set its sights on the biomedical sector as well. Its yeast extract powders and yeast protein hydrolysates have been applied successfully in vaccines and other biological products.
About Angel Yeast
Founded in 1986, Angel Yeast Co., Ltd specializes in the production of yeast and yeast derivatives. Its product range includes baker's yeast and ingredients, Chinese dim sum and seasoning, savory yeast extract, human health, animal nutrition, plant care, distilled spirits and biofuels, fermentation nutrients, and enzymes.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Angel Yeast
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/angel-yeast-showcases-latest-innovation-fermentation-nutrients-bio-china-2022/
| 2022-07-28T13:31:16
|
en
| 0.947444
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40207485
| 2022-07-28T13:31:20
|
en
| 0.738227
|
The audit verifies that Astrix's App-to-App Integration Security solution complies with the highest security principles
TEL AVIV, Israel, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Astrix Security, the first solution securing app-to-app integrations, today announced that it has successfully completed a System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 Type 2 compliance audit. Conducted by a Big Four audit firm, the compliance audit reviewed Astrix's App-to-App Integration Security solution, which protects enterprises as they connect to third-party integrations across their XaaS critical systems, along with all security controls and practices, and found no deficiencies.
A SOC 2 Type 2 certification verifies that the company's information security practices and processes meet the trust principles criteria for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. In today's cyber threat landscape, the audit also demonstrates a company's compliance with critical security policies over an extended period of time.
"We have always held ourselves to the highest standard of security, which is why we invested significant effort and resources into achieving this milestone, and we are proud to have done this so soon after our launch," said Alon Jackson, CEO and Co-Founder of Astrix. "Receiving this certification demonstrates our ability to offer our customers the highest quality solutions to protect them from the sprawling new attack surface of app-to-app connectivity."
Astrix launched from stealth in February 2022 with a $15 million seed round led by Bessemer Venture Partners and F2 Venture Capital, with participation from Venrock and numerous cybersecurity angel investors. Co-founded by CEO Alon Jackson and CTO Idan Gour, Astrix enables organizations to unleash the power of integration and automation by securing their critical systems as they continuously connect with third-party applications. The agentless, easy-to-deploy solution provides security teams with holistic visibility into all their app-to-app connections, and instantly detects and mitigates integration threats with automated remediation workflows, all while continuously minimizing third-party exposure with zero-trust policies and automated enforcement guardrails.
"Successfully meeting the strenuous SOC 2 standards with zero exceptions listed is a momentous achievement for any company, let alone one that emerged from stealth just five months ago," said Achiad Alter, VP Operations of Astrix. "Not only does it reflect Astrix's top-notch solution, but it also recognizes our internal commitment to adhering to industry best practices from day one."
About Astrix
Founded in Tel Aviv in 2021, Astrix Security protects cloud-first companies' growing third-party app interconnectivity against the clear and imminent threat of service supply chain attacks. By leveraging their unique "attacker" point of view, Astrix ensures enterprises' cloud services securely connect to their critical systems, enabling them to safely unleash the power of app-to-app integration and automation. The agentless, easy-to-deploy solution provides security teams with holistic visibility into all their app-to-app connections and instantly detects and mitigates integration threats with automated remediation workflows, while continuously minimizing third-party exposure with zero-trust policies and automated enforcement guardrails. Astrix's rapidly expanding team is made up of subject matter experts and was founded by veterans of the Israel Defense Forces' 8200 military intelligence unit CEO Alon Jackson and CTO Idan Gour. Astrix is backed by leading investors Bessemer Venture Partners, F2 Venture Capital, and Venrock.
Press Contact
Allison Grey
Headline Media
allison@headline.media
323 283 8176
View original content:
SOURCE Astrix Security
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/astrix-security-achieves-soc-2-type-2-certification-five-months-after-emerging-stealth/
| 2022-07-28T13:31:22
|
en
| 0.936395
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/articles/40207494
| 2022-07-28T13:31:26
|
en
| 0.738227
|
Augmentir's industry-leading suite of AI-based connected worker tools helps industrial companies combat the labor crisis with smart skills management and frontline productivity tools
HORSHAM, Pa., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Augmentir, the provider of the world's only smart connected worker suite, today announced new innovations to its industry-leading solution. The company's latest product features extend the functionality of its suite of smart connected worker tools with intelligent skills management, allowing companies to build a more skilled workforce while maximizing productivity within frontline operations.
Workforce shortages and shrinking retention rates remain top challenges for industrial operations, according to Deloitte. Today, almost 90% of manufacturers are struggling to fill crucial labor gaps, reporting that their frontline facilities are understaffed as much as 38% of the time. Augmentir's suite of connected worker tools is designed to help manufacturers more efficiently onboard new workers and reduce the time it takes to get them productive. Additionally, Augmentir's Skills Intelligence provides the data and AI-powered insights to help managers make educated staffing decisions, to allocate team members where they can be the most productive.
"Today's announcement reinforces why Augmentir is in a category of its own in the competitive world of digital solutions for industrial frontline work," stated Russ Fadel, CEO and Co-Founder of Augmentir. "Skills management has historically been paper-based and/or siloed solutions that weren't designed for the level of workforce churn that companies are experiencing today. Additionally, they don't give a clear and integrated picture of employee skills and their actual work proficiency, making it impossible to intelligently target reskilling and upskilling efforts. Not only does this impact the businesses ability to meet its production goals but it also leaves the worker without a means to grow in their career. These latest product updates deliver data-driven, digitized skills intelligence within a single suite of connected worker tools to help companies close the loop between training and work execution."
Organizations such as Colgate-Palmolive, Baker Hughes, Hunter Industries, and the US Air Force currently leverage Augmentir's suite of AI-based connected worker tools to connect, digitize, and optimize their frontline operations. With the addition of skills management and training, Augmentir is extending this value by offering organizations an easy way to visualize and track their workforce skills, while providing digitization and intelligence tools for all processes necessary to support the frontline workforce from hire to retire.
"Augmentir's skills and certifications dashboard provides invaluable analytics into how effective our training truly is, allowing us to improve overall efficiency," stated Yunior Murillo, Senior Operations Training Supervisor at Hunter Industries. "This gives us the ability to provide employees training when and where it's needed on the production floor and intelligently connect it to our automation software and learning management systems."
Augmentir's complete lineup of smart features now includes:
- Skills Management - Allows companies to efficiently track and manage skills for frontline teams, use this information when scheduling and assigning work, and leverage real performance insights to help target reskilling and upskilling
- Work Execution - Digital workflow tools allow companies to digitize existing paper-based work procedures and SOPs with Augmentir's no code content creation environment, and leverage data-driven workforce intelligence to deliver individualized worker guidance and support
- Industrial Collaboration - Provides workers with instant access to subject matter experts for specialized guidance and troubleshooting support using familiar collaboration tools, while offering the company insight into bottlenecks and improvement opportunities
- Knowledge Management - Provides workers with frictionless access to curated knowledge that was previously fragmented in silos but is now available at the moment of need from a single interface
These capabilities, built on top of Augmentir's patented "Smart" AI foundation, close the loop between training and work execution to deliver the data and in-line insights necessary to continuously improve operational excellence day-over-day, year-over-year.
Augmentir™ is the world's only Smart Connected Worker suite. Augmentir's software is a complete suite of connected worker tools that helps industrial companies digitize and optimize processes that support frontline workforces from "hire to retire". Companies in manufacturing, service, energy, and construction leverage Augmentir's suite of tools to deliver more intelligent skills management, training, collaboration, and on the job support for today's more dynamic, more flexible industrial workforce. For more information, please visit www.augmentir.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Augmentir, Inc.
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/augmentir-adds-skills-intelligence-its-smart-connected-worker-suite-help-close-manufacturings-labor-gap/
| 2022-07-28T13:31:29
|
en
| 0.935539
|
BERLIN (AP) — Average life expectancy in Germany dropped noticeably between 2019 and 2021, the national statistics office said Tuesday, a change that it attributed to unusually high numbers of deaths during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Federal Statistical Office said that life expectancy for newborn girls last year was 83.2 years and for boys 78.2 years. That was a decrease of 0.4 and 0.6 years respectively compared with 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
“The main reason for this development is unusually high death figures during the COVID-19 waves,” the office said in a statement.
An increase in the proportion of older people in the German population has led to expectations over the past 20 years of increasing numbers of deaths, the office said, but life expectancy had been rising before the pandemic.
Until COVID-19 hit, death figures were rising by an average 1-2% per year, but deaths were 5% higher in 2020 and a further 4% higher last year, statistics showed — meaning that there were 70,000 to 100,000 more deaths over the two years than would statistically have been expected.
The statistics office said that nearly 115,000 deaths of people with the coronavirus were reported in the two years, while pandemic-related precautions may have reduced deaths from other diseases. Germany has a population of 83 million.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/covid-19-pandemic
|
https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/german-life-expectancy-decreased-during-pandemic-years/
| 2022-07-28T13:31:29
|
en
| 0.978241
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/40206603
| 2022-07-28T13:31:33
|
en
| 0.738227
|
SPOKANE, Wash., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EDMO Distributors, a global leader in the distribution of avionics, test equipment, and install supplies, is excited to announce the arrival of Trig Avionics' Nav/Com Radio. The release of the TX56 completes the Trig avionics stack. Pilots can get a good looking, fully featured stack that includes a TMA44 audio panel, TY96A VHF, TX56A Nav/Com and TT31 transponder.
The TX56 is a slimline unit, at only 1.3in high, making it easier to install and saves valuable space in any avionics stack. Trig CEO Andy Davis said, "Trig's Nav/Com product family has landed. We know customers are excited by the TX56's space saving form factor and its compelling list of pilot friendly features."
The TX56 uses a bright high-resolution display, with the clearest presentation of Nav and Com information. The unit has a customizable frequency database which holds over 200 com and an additional 200 nav frequencies, loaded via a USB stick. The Nav/Com includes a two-place intercom, with support for stereo music. All TX56 models have a built-in digital course deviation indicator (CDI). Trig Nav/Com's benefit from having a built in VOR/LOC converter and can also support a composite output. This ensures the widest compatibility with installed indicators. The Nav supports VFR and IFR navigation, including ILS approaches. Trig's TI106, Course Deviation Indicator is available, as the ideal panel mounted companion to any TX56 model.
The full Trig stack is a compelling package, with a good-looking harmonized design. Visit edmo.com to view the full line of Trig Avionics products and complete your avionics stack today!
Over the course of 50 years, EDMO Distributors has secured a reputation as one of the most reliable sources for aircraft electronics, test equipment, installation supplies, wire and cable, tooling, and pilot supplies. EDMO's commitment to providing the best service and the largest selection possible has made it a company that customers count on and trust. With headquarters in Spokane, WA and a warehouse in Nashville, TN, EDMO maintains a stringent quality management system and is an ISO 9001:2015/AS9120B certified company. Visit edmo.com for more information.
Trig Avionics 'Better by Design' philosophy guides the business. It results in products that are simple to use, truly innovative and provides pilots with features that really matter - with a strong commitment to helping our customers meet regulatory changes. Whether it be development of new products or existing products, the processes have the end user at the forefront. Trig is committed to providing great customer service through our Trig Service Centers in Europe, North America, and Australia—offering prompt and responsive support throughout the lifetime of every Trig product. For more information, visit www.trig-avionics.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE EDMO Distributors Inc.
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/available-edmo-trig-avionics-releases-tx56-navcom-radio/
| 2022-07-28T13:31:36
|
en
| 0.920634
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/40206917
| 2022-07-28T13:31:39
|
en
| 0.738227
|
What didn't make the Arizona Voters' Agenda provides insight into what to focus on instead
PHOENIX, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As primary campaigns hit the final stretch, several of the front and center topics being pushed run the risk of "turning off" significant portions of the electorate. To deter non-priorities that are receiving outsized attention and shift focus to what most voters want to be discussed in this election, Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) announced today several topics that didn't make the Arizona Voters' Agenda– a data-driven look at what a majority of likely Arizona voters care about and want candidates to address in the midterm election.
The Arizona Voters' Agenda was developed from recent survey research of Republican, Democratic, and independent/unaffiliated voters of all ages and is built on where a majority of likely voters across political and age groups agree. The data reveals topics that are most important to voters. It also shows that several of the topics currently dominating political dialogue are not prioritized by majorities of voters.
"Pitfalls" create dead ends in the political discourse and drive attention away from the significant number of issues upon which large portions of the electorate agree. CFA aims to shift election dialogue away from the pitfalls of divisive issues, which tend to stifle solution-building and cause voters to tune out.
"The polarization narrative dominates our political life, and it misleads us. The way to work our way out of disillusionment with our politics is by avoiding these pitfalls and working together to achieve the prosperity Arizonans want for our state and its people," said Dr. Sybil Francis, President & CEO of CFA. "A failure to heed the voices of Arizona voters and their preferences in our election campaigns is a missed opportunity to further our democracy. This is an opportunity to better align the priorities of Arizona voters with their electoral choices. The broad agreement we see across parties and age demographics on the issues important to the future of our state can and should be reflected in our politics."
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Center For Future of Arizona
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/avoiding-election-pitfalls-by-focusing-what-majority-arizona-voters-care-about/
| 2022-07-28T13:31:42
|
en
| 0.965847
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/articles/40207637
| 2022-07-28T13:31:45
|
en
| 0.738227
|
BUCHANAN, Va., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Buchanan-based Bank of Botetourt (OTCPK: BORT) announced today its unaudited financial results for the three and six months-end June 30, 2022. The Bank produced net income amounting to $1,763,000 or $0.91 per basic share in the second quarter. This amount compares to a net income of $1,582,000 or $0.83 per share, for the same period last year. For the six months-ended the Bank produced net income amounting to $3,306,000 or $1.72 per basic share. This amount compares to a net income of $3,562,000 or $1.87 per share, for the same period last year.
At June 30, 2022, select financial information and key highlights include:
- Return on average assets of 0.94%
- Return on average equity of 11.26%
- Book value of $29.86
- Total deposit growth of 9.74%
- Total asset growth of 8.09%
- Total loan growth of 1.88%
- Community Bank Leverage Ratio of 8.84%
- Strong liquidity position
- Net interest margin of 3.26% at June 30, 2022 compared to 3.03% one year prior.
As a result of the solid financial performance, the Board of Directors voted to pay the $0.185 per share quarterly dividend, or $0.74 per share annualized which is payable on August 19, 2022 to shareholders of record August 12, 2022. President & CEO, G. Lyn Hayth, III stated, "We have had a strong 2022 so far spurred by steady loan and deposit growth. This momentum has helped our bank exceed budget expectations the first six months of the year."
Results of Operations
Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $1,763,000 compared to $1,582,000 for the same period last year, representing an increase of $181,000 or 11.4%. Basic and diluted earnings per share increased $0.08 from $0.83 at June 30, 2021 to $0.91 at June 30, 2022. The increase in net income is primarily due to $301,000 increase in investment income and $74,000 increase in interchange fees, offset by $225,000 provision for loan loss.
The provision for loan losses was $225,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to no provision for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The increase in bad debt expense is due to an increase in the historical loss factor on loans and inflationary concerns in the economy. In determining the estimated allowance, the Bank considered national and local unemployment trends, market conditions, and customer requests for payment deferrals. Net charge-offs were $233,000 at June 30, 2022 as compared to $18,000 at June 30, 2021.
At June 30, 2022 net loans increased 1.88%. Interest and fees on loans at June 30, 2022 decreased $316,000 over the same three month time period of 2021 primarily due to a $234,000 decrease in PPP loan servicing fees. Interest expense decreased by $258,000 from $691,000 at June 30, 2021 to $433,000 at June 30, 2022. The lower interest expense is a result of lower interest rates paid on the balances of interest-bearing deposits than for the same time period of 2021.
Noninterest income increased by $442,000, or 52.6%, to $1,282,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $840,000 for same time period of 2021. The increase is attributable primarily to $130,000 increase in service charges on deposit accounts, $68,000 increase in fees and commissions from wealth management division, and $74,000 in interchange fees related to customer debit cards.
Noninterest expense increased $455,000 from $3,792,000 at June 30, 2021 to $4,247,000 at June 30, 2022. The increase is primarily related to an increase in salary and employee benefits expense for the quarter. The majority of the increase in salaries expense is related to the recognized deferred costs of PPP lending during the quarter.
Income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $452,000 compared to $410,000 one year prior. The increase in tax expense is due to higher revenue for the quarter.
Financial Condition
At June 30, 2022 total assets amounted to $717,433,000, an increase of 8.1% above total assets at December 31, 2021 of $663,766,000, an increase of $53,667,000. Total net loans increased $7,997,000 or 1.9% from $425,902,000 at December 31, 2021 to $433,899,000 at June 30, 2022. Total deposits at December 31, 2021 amounted to $598,659,000, compared to $656,985,000 at June 30, 2022, an increase of 9.7% or $58,326,000. The increase in deposits is attributable to organic growth.
Stockholders' equity totaled $57,553,000 at June 30, 2022 compared to $59,137,000 at December 31, 2021. The $1,584,000 decrease during the period is due to an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss offset by net income for 2022, net proceeds from the issuance of common stock from the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.
Non-Performing Assets
Non-performing assets, which consist of nonaccrual loans and foreclosed properties decreased from $1,757,000 at December 31, 2021 to $1,499,000 at June 30, 2022. The decrease is attributable to the sale of a foreclosed property during the quarter with a gain on sale of approximately $21,000 and the charge-off of a consumer nonaccrual loan and payments on existing nonaccrual loans. Following the sale, no foreclosed properties remain and therefore nonaccrual loans were $1,499,000 at June 30, 2022 compared to $1,730,000 at December 31, 2021. There were no new additions to nonaccruals loans during the quarter. The decrease in nonaccrual loans is attributable to the charge-off of the aforementioned consumer loan.
A loan is considered impaired if it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all amounts due under the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impaired loans amounted to $2,279,000 June 30, 2021 compared to $2,915,000 at December 31, 2020. Loss exposure on impaired loans decreased from $204,000 at December 31, 2021 to $56,000 at June 30, 2022. The decrease is attributable to the charge-off of one consumer loan with a specific reserve of $198,000, offset by the addition of a specific reserve of $50,000 for an existing nonaccrual commercial real estate owner occupied loan.
The Bank historically makes a conscious effort to attempt work-out loan scenarios with past due customers. In some cases, loan restructuring is appropriate. Bank management has procedures and processes in place to identify, monitor, and report troubled debt restructurings. At June 30, 2022, troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs") totaled $1.2 million and were spread among various loan categories. No new TDRs have been identified in 2022.
Capital Ratios
Bank of Botetourt qualified for and adopted the optional, simplified measure of capital adequacy, the community bank leverage ratio framework, consistent with Section 201 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. A qualifying community banking organization is defined as having less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, a leverage ratio greater than 9%, off-balance sheet exposures of 25% or less of total consolidated assets, and trading assets and liabilities of 5% or less of total consolidated assets. It also cannot be an advanced approaches institution. Bank of Botetourt qualified to opt-in to the Community Bank Leverage Ratio ("CBLR"). As of June 30, 2022 Bank of Botetourt reported its CBLR ratio at 8.84% which is below the required regulatory minimum ratio. This compares to a CBLR ratio of 9.14% at December 31, 2021. The Bank is provided a two-quarter grace period, starting June 30, 2022 and ending December 31, 2022 to restore its ratio to 9%. If the Bank fails to meet the community bank leverage ratio qualifying criteria after the grace period, the Bank will opt out of the CBLR with the filing of the December 31, 2022 call report.
Paycheck Protection Program
Bank of Botetourt was a participant in the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") initiated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Both rounds of PPP lending totaled $44,200,000, with $43,470,000 receiving forgiveness from the SBA through June 30, 2022. As a result, $730,000 thousand of PPP loans remain on the balance sheet at the end of the second quarter. Deferred PPP loan servicing fees totaled $92,000 at June 30, 2022 while the Bank recognized $368,000 in revenue during 2022.
Bank of Botetourt was chartered in 1899 and operates thirteen retail offices in Botetourt, Rockbridge, Roanoke, and Franklin counties, the City of Salem, and the Town of Vinton, all in Virginia. Bank of Botetourt also operates a mortgage division, Virginia Mountain Mortgage and a financial services division, Botetourt Wealth Management.
View original content:
SOURCE Bank of Botetourt
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/bank-botetourt-posts-profitable-second-quarter-financial-results/
| 2022-07-28T13:31:49
|
en
| 0.963396
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/articles/40207106
| 2022-07-28T13:31:51
|
en
| 0.738227
|
COLUMBUS, Miss., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BankFirst Capital Corporation (OTCQX: BFCC) ("BankFirst" or the "Company") reported quarterly net income of $6.1 million, or $1.14 per share, for the second quarter of 2022, an increase of 36% compared to net income of $4.5 million, or $0.85 per share, for the first quarter of 2022, and an increase of 42% compared to net income of $4.3 million, or $0.81 per share, for the second quarter of 2021. The Company also reported net income of $10.6 million, or $1.99 per share, for six months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of 23% compared to net income of $8.6 million, or $1.62 per share for six months ended June 30, 2021.
2022 Second Quarter Highlights:
- Net income totaled $6.1 million, or $1.14 per share, in the second quarter of 2022 compared to $4.3 million, or $0.81 per share, for the second quarter of 2021.
- Total assets increased 21% to $2.2 billion at June 30, 2022 from $1.8 billion at June 30, 2021
- Total deposits increased 14% to $1.8 billion at June 30, 2022 from $1.6 billion at June 30, 2021
- The Company received a Bank Enterprise Award ("BEA") of $171 thousand through the Community Development Financial Institution ("CDFI") Fund in the second quarter of 2022.
- The Company received $2.3 million in Employee Retention Tax Credits for the 2021 tax period during the second quarter of 2022.
Recent Developments
- As previously disclosed, on April 26, 2022, the Company closed on its issuance of $175.0 million of senior perpetual noncumulative stock (the "Senior Preferred") to the U.S. Department of the Treasury ("Treasury") pursuant to the Emergency Capital Investment Program ("ECIP").
- On June 23, 2022, the Company announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement with Tate Financial Corporation ("Tate"), the parent company of Sycamore Bank, Senatobia, Mississippi ("Sycamore Bank"), pursuant to which the Company will acquire Tate and Sycamore Bank. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the shareholders of Tate and bank regulatory authorities.
- On June 21, 2022, the Bank expanded its presence in the State of Alabama by opening a loan production office in Birmingham, Alabama.
- On July 5, 2022, the Bank announced the opening of a fourth loan production office in the State of Mississippi located in Tupelo, Mississippi.
CEO Commentary
Moak Griffin, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, stated, "We are pleased to report another strong quarter of earnings. During the second quarter of 2022, we expanded our footprint in the State of Alabama with the opening of a new loan production office in Birmingham. We are also pleased with our recent announcement of a fourth Mississippi loan production office to open in Tupelo. Finally, we are excited about our recent announcement that we have signed a definitive agreement providing for our acquisition of Tate and Sycamore Bank. We believe that the partnership with Tate and Sycamore Bank will allow BankFirst to continue its strategic plan by partnering with community banks with strong relationships in their local markets."
Mr. Griffin continued, "Our outlook remains positive for the future, as we have encouraging pipeline for loan growth in our expanded footprint, including our core markets and our loan production offices. We believe the Bank is well positioned to navigate the current rising rate environment, which is expected to continue in light of the uncertain inflationary outlook in the United States and our market area."
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Total assets were $2.20 billion at June 30, 2022, compared to $2.02 billion at March 31, 2022 and $1.80 billion at June 30, 2021, an increase of 8% and 21%, respectively. The increase in total assets since June 30, 2021 was primarily due to organic loan and deposit growth, the acquisition of The Citizens Bank of Fayette, Fayette, Alabama ("Citizens") after the close of business on December 31, 2021, and the issuance of the Senior Preferred to Treasury pursuant to the ECIP. Total loans outstanding, net of the allowance for loan losses, as of June 30, 2022 totaled $1.22 billion, compared to $1.20 billion as of March 31, 2022 and $1.12 billion as of June 30, 2021, an increase of 1% and 8%, respectively. Net loans outstanding, excluding Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans, as of June 30, 2022 totaled $1.21 billion, compared to $1.19 billion as of March 31, 2022, an increase of 2%, and $1.05 billion as of June 30, 2021, an increase of 15%.
Non-interest-bearing deposits increased to $541.5 million as of June 30, 2022, compared to $494.5 million as of March 31, 2022, an increase of 10%, and $462.4 million as of June 30, 2021, an increase of 17%. Non-interest-bearing deposits represented 30% of total deposits as of June 30, 2022. Total deposits as of June 30, 2022 were $1.8 billion, compared to $1.8 billion as of March 31, 2022 and $1.6 billion as of June 30, 2021, an increase of 14% since June 30, 2021. Cost of funds as of June 30, 2022 was 0.24% compared to 0.25% as of March 31, 2022, and 0.31% as of June 30, 2021.
The ratio of loans to deposits was 69% as of June 30, 2022 compared to 68% as of March 31, 2022, and 72% as of June 30, 2021.
Net interest income was $15.1 million for the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of 1% compared to $15.3 million for the first quarter of 2022, and an increase of 17% compared to $12.9 million for the second quarter of 2021. Net interest margin decreased to 3.63% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 3.75% in the first quarter of 2022 and 3.34% in the second quarter of 2021. Yield on earning assets decreased 14 basis points to 3.86% in the second quarter of 2022, compared to 4.00% during the first quarter of 2022 and 3.65% during the second quarter of 2021. Accretion of deferred PPP-related SBA fees of $1.2 million were recognized during the second quarter of 2022 upon the receipt of forgiveness payments from the SBA for PPP loans, which contributed 16 basis points of the overall net interest margin, compared to the recognition of $1.6 million of deferred PPP-related SBA fees during the first quarter of 2022, which contributed 61 basis points. Net interest margin, net of PPP-related SBA fees, increased in the second quarter of 2022 to 3.47% from 3.14% in the first quarter of 2022.
Noninterest income was $5.0 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $5.1 million for the first quarter of 2022, a decrease of 2%, and $5.6 million for the second quarter of 2021, a decrease of 11%. Mortgage banking revenue was $740 thousand in the second quarter of 2022, an increase of $58 thousand from $682 thousand in the first quarter of 2022, or 9%, and a decrease of $997 thousand from $1.7 million in the second quarter of 2021, or 57%. During the third quarter of 2021, the Bank implemented a Mortgage Purchase Program to maintain mortgage loans in-house. During the second quarter of 2022, the Bank purchased $2.9 million of the $36.9 million secondary market mortgages originated to hold in-house, compared to $56.9 million secondary market loans originated during the second quarter of 2021, none of which were held in-house. Gross mortgage fees during the second quarter of 2022 were $810 thousand compared to $1.7 million during the second quarter of 2021. In the second quarter of 2022, the Bank received a nonrecurring BEA of $171 thousand through the CDFI Fund.
As of June 30, 2022, tangible book value per share was $20.85. According to OTCQX, there were 280 trades of the Company's shares of common stock during the second quarter of 2022 for a total of 82,922 shares and for a total price of $2,349,087. The closing price of the Company's common stock quoted on OTCQX on June 30, 2022 was $28.40 per share. Based on this closing share price, the Company's market capitalization was $151.2 million as of June 30, 2022.
Credit Quality
The Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $150 thousand during the second quarter of 2022 compared to $150 thousand for the first quarter of 2022, and $144 thousand for the second quarter of 2021. Net loan charge-offs in the second quarter of 2022 were $2.1 million, compared to $7 thousand in the first quarter of 2022 and $265 thousand in the second quarter of 2021. The increase in the second quarter of 2022 is primarily due to a $1.9 million charge-off related to a single credit which was previously classified as impaired. As a result, the non-performing assets to total assets were 0.58% for the second quarter of 2022, a decrease of 14 basis points compared to 0.72% for the first quarter of 2022, and a decrease of 6 basis points compared to 0.63% for the second quarter of 2021. Annualized net charge-offs to average loans for the second quarter of 2022 were 0.17%, compared to 0.01% for the first quarter of 2022 and 0.01% for the second quarter of 2021. There is continued uncertainty in the forecasted economic conditions due to the rising interest rate environment and persistent high inflation levels, and additional provisions for loan losses may be necessary in future periods.
PPP Loans
The Bank participated in the PPP, a $943.0 billion low-interest business loan program funded by Treasury and administered by the SBA, which officially ended on May 31, 2021. The PPP provided U.S. government guarantees for lenders, as well as loan forgiveness incentives for borrowers that predominately utilize the loan proceeds to cover employee compensation-related business costs. The Bank participated in Rounds 1 and 2 of the PPP during 2020 and in Round 3 of the PPP in 2021 until its expiration on May 31, 2021. In 2020, during Rounds 1 and 2 of the PPP, the Bank originated 1,489 PPP loans totaling $115.6 million. Through June 30, 2022, the Bank has received loan forgiveness payments from the SBA totaling $115.6 million on PPP loans originated in Rounds 1 and 2 of the PPP. The Bank received approximately $4.4 million in fees (net of expenses) paid by the SBA on PPP loans originated in Rounds 1 and 2 of the PPP, from which we recognized $8 thousand as loan fee income during the second quarter of 2022, compared to $11 thousand as loan fee income for the first quarter of 2022, and compared to $275 thousand for the second quarter of 2021.
In 2021, during Round 3 of the PPP, the Bank originated an additional 1,382 PPP loans totaling $62.0 million. Through June 30, 2022, the Bank has received forgiveness payments from the SBA totaling $56.3 million on PPP loans originated in Round 3 of the PPP. The Bank received approximately $4.1 million in fees (net of expenses) paid by the SBA on PPP loans originated in Round 3 of the PPP, from which we recognized $250 thousand as loan fee income during the second quarter of 2022, $1.6 million as loan fee income during the first quarter of 2022, and compared to $50 thousand for the second quarter of 2021. The Bank expects to recognize the remainder of the deferred PPP-related SBA loan fees over the next several quarters.
Merger & Acquisition Activity
On June 23, 2022, BankFirst announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Tate Financial Corporation and Sycamore Bank, headquartered in Senatobia, Mississippi. On June 30, 2022, Sycamore Bank had total assets of $326.4 million, total loans of $155.8 million, and total deposits of $304.2 million. The acquisition of Tate will result in the Bank having 42 locations serving Mississippi and Alabama, with total assets of approximately $2.4 billion, gross loans of approximately $1.4 billion and total deposits of approximately $2.1 billion. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the shareholders of Tate and bank regulatory authorities.
Emergency Capital Investment Program
As previously disclosed, the Company closed on the issuance of $175.0 million of the Senior Preferred to Treasury pursuant to the ECIP on April 26, 2022. The ECIP investment from Treasury is intended to qualify as Tier 1 capital of the Company for regulatory capital purposes. The Senior Preferred issued to Treasury will pay non-cumulative dividends, payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year beginning on the first dividend payment date after the two-year anniversary of the date of issuance. The dividend rate to be paid on the Senior Preferred will adjust annually based on certain measurements of the Company's extensions of credit to minority, rural, and urban low-income and underserved communities and low- and moderate-income borrowers. The Company is entitled to redeem the Senior Preferred on or after the fifth anniversary of the issuance of the Senior Preferred, subject to approval by the Federal Reserve and in accordance with applicable regulatory capital regulations.
ABOUT BANKFIRST CAPITAL CORPORATION
BankFirst Capital Corporation (OTCQX: BFCC) is a registered bank holding company based in Columbus, Mississippi with approximately $2.2 billion in total assets as of June 30, 2022. BankFirst Financial Services, the Company's wholly-owned banking subsidiary, was founded in 1888 and is locally owned, controlled, and operated. The Company is headquartered in Columbus, Mississippi, and the Bank operates additional branch offices in Columbus, Flowood, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Louin, Macon, Madison, Newton, Starkville, and West Point, Mississippi; and Addison, Aliceville, Arley, Bear Creek, Carrollton, Curry, Double Springs, Fayette, Gordo, Haleyville, Northport, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Bank also operates five loan production offices in Birmingham, Alabama as well as Biloxi, Brookhaven, Oxford, and Tupelo, Mississippi. BankFirst offers a wide variety of services for businesses and consumers. The Bank also offers internet banking, no-fee ATM access, checking, CD, and money market accounts, merchant services, mortgage loans, remote deposit capture, and more. For more information, visit www.bankfirstfs.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains, among other things, certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, (i) statements regarding certain of the Company's goals and expectations with respect to future events that are subject to various risks and uncertainties, (ii) statements about the merger of Citizens with and into the Bank, (iii) statements about the proposed merger of Tate and Sycamore Bank with and into the Company and the Bank, respectively, and (iv) statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursuant," "target," "continue," and similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current belief and expectations of the Company's management team and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control). Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations include, but are not limited to: the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (including any current or future variant thereof), fluctuations in market rates of interest and loan and deposit pricing, the persistence of the inflationary environment in the United States and our market areas, adverse changes in the overall national economy as well as adverse economic conditions in our specific market areas, including as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to recognize the expected benefits and synergies of the Citizens acquisition, our ability to complete the proposed acquisition of Tate and Sycamore Bank, the maintenance and development of well-established and valued client relationships and referral source relationships, and acquisition or loss of key production personnel. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and/or management's good faith belief as to future events. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, the Company can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized. Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by the Company or any person that the future events, plans or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements, express or implied, included in the press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company maintains an Internet web site at www.bankfirstfs.com/about-us/investors. The Company makes available, free of charge, on its web site the Company's annual reports, quarterly earnings reports, and other press releases. In addition, the OTC Markets Group maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding the Company (at www.otcmarkets.com/stock/BFCC/overview).
The Company routinely posts important information for investors on its web site (under www.bankfirstfs.com and, more specifically, under the Investor Relations tab at www.bankfirstfs.com/about-us/investors/). The Company intends to use its web site as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under the OTC Markets Group OTCQX Rules for U.S. Banks. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Company's web site, in addition to following the Company's press releases, OTC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.
The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company's web site is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.
Member FDIC
View original content:
SOURCE BankFirst Capital Corporation
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/bankfirst-capital-corporation-reports-second-quarter-2022-earnings-61-million/
| 2022-07-28T13:31:55
|
en
| 0.967713
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/articles/40207238
| 2022-07-28T13:31:57
|
en
| 0.738227
|
Essential-Nature of Leading Battery Retailer Affords Franchise Partners Confidence in Brand's Market Viability
HARTLAND, Wis., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After having been riddled by economic disruptions on a near-constant basis for the past two years, experts anticipate the struggles of the American marketplace to come to a head in the very near future. And while expectations for a possible recession appear to be rising by the day, a handful of brands and industries have found themselves well-positioned to withstand such calamity. They're considered recession-proof businesses, a term that Batteries Plus, the nation's largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb, key fob and phone repair franchise, credits for their uninhibited expansion and current projections for continued development.
In an increasingly battery-powered world, the product lines and services made available by the 700+ locations in the Batteries Plus system have become all the more integral to the communities they call home. Severe economic downturns or otherwise, the reality of that remains unwavering. It's the brands proven track record of riding out market volatility that has attracted an ongoing stream of new franchise prospects and made 2022 a record-breaking year for the Batteries Plus team thus far.
More significant still is the deep roster of experienced industry executives leading the advancement and providing system-wide guidance to the franchise. Coupled with the collaborative culture that franchisees hold with one another, every location is fortified with a support system primed to share insights, best practices, and business advice meant to help any and all franchise partners in keeping their doors open, their shelves stocked, and operations consistent.
"Economic roadblocks have been a very real factor this year for most businesses, and there's yet to be any signs of that subsiding. Quite the opposite, in fact," said Joe Malmuth, Vice President of Franchise Development and Relations. "But the insulation of the Batteries Plus brand has left it on continued track for another record-breaking year of growth in 2022. A clear indicator for the franchise's resilience and safety of investment."
The brand's products and services are adaptable by nature, and as technology evolves, so does Batteries Plus, and its continuous, consistent training makes it possible for all franchisees and employees to keep up. Partnerships with top-of-the-line product providers like Duracell and X2Power are just one of the ways the brand stays ahead of the curve, ensuring its customer base is given access to the latest upgrades available on the market. And as technology continues to advances amid even the most tumultuous of times, such practices are what have and will continue to make Batteries Plus recession-proof.
Looking toward the future, obstacles may surface, but it's nothing the franchise hasn't faced before. Batteries Plus has been in operation since 1988, with the brands franchise opportunity having been in place since 1992—that's more than 30 years of experience running a business that has only grown over time. The franchise, as well as its individual franchisees, has remained profitable through multiple recessions and has shown itself to be more than capable of withstanding whatever may come next.
To learn more about Batteries Plus, including information on the franchise opportunity or tour a store virtually, visit batteriesplusfranchise.com.
ABOUT BATTERIES PLUS:
Batteries Plus, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Hartland, WI, is a leading omnichannel retailer of batteries, specialty light bulbs and phone repair services for the direct-to-consumer and commercial channels. The retailer also offers key programming, replacement and cutting services. Through a nationwide network of stores, the company offers a differentiated value proposition of unrivaled product selection, in-stock availability and customer service. Batteries Plus is owned by Freeman Spogli, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles and New York City. To learn more about one of Forbes®' Best Franchises to Buy in America, visit https://www.batteriesplusfranchise.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Conner Gossel, Fishman Public Relations, cgossel@fishmanpr.com or 937-545-9812
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Batteries Plus
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/batteries-plus-recession-resilient-model-leaves-franchise-primed-sustained-growth/
| 2022-07-28T13:32:02
|
en
| 0.953303
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/nba/philadelphia-76ers/articles/40207428
| 2022-07-28T13:32:03
|
en
| 0.738227
|
You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.
|
https://sportspyder.com/mlb/los-angeles-angels/articles/40206898
| 2022-07-28T13:32:09
|
en
| 0.738227
|
- Chinese baijiu is the most consumed liquor in the world - with an estimated 40 per cent share of the global liquor market
- Moutai Bulao stands out as the finest baijiu brand and continues to make its mark overseas by introducing innovative tasting experiences for new consumers
NEW YORK, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Powerful, distinctive, and clear as water, baijiu is often cited as the most consumed liquor in the world. While much of this consumption has been driven domestically, baijiu has been gaining massive popularity all across the world, and the best drinking cities in the world - from London and New York to Singapore - are quickly embracing the potential in baijiu's fragrant aroma and complex flavour.
Among the finest baijiu brands is Moutai, which continues to stand at the top of global consumer popularity, according to a 2021 report from valuation consultancy Brand Finance. As Moutai continues to gain momentum, the liquor brand Moutai Bulao is making its mark abroad by introducing its new concept, the "Tasting Era", which refers to innovative tasting experiences for consumers. Similar to how sake is synonymous with Japanese cuisine, the "Tasting Era" aims to shape accessible and delightful baijiu experiences for new consumers by introducing Moutai Bulao with Chinese food pairings. The grand launch of the "Tasting Era" was held in Singapore on 20 July, where around 350 guests were treated to a sumptuous dinner.
Chinese Baijiu starts from Tasting Era
Tasting Era starts with Moutai Bulao
Moutai Bulao starts with Chang Chang
Moutai Bulao is exclusively distributed worldwide (excluding Mainland China) by MTBL Global Pte Ltd (MTBL), a fully-owned subsidiary of Ascent Bridge Limited(formally known as AEI Corporation Limited), and has been its key strategic brand and product since 2018. Specially designed for overseas markets, Moutai Bulao 125ml comes in a smaller volume meant to encourage trial among people who are new to the liquor. MTBL Global USA Inc, a fully-owned subsidiary of MTBL launched the product in the United States of America (USA) in 2021.
Supporting the "Tasting Era" is MTBL's newly-launched 4th generation of smart liquor experience machines, which retails Moutai Bulao in a new volume – 5 ml. Unlike traditional beverage supply and distribution channels, MTBL has leveraged technology to better manage supply to meet customers' needs by relying on digital network infrastructure, large-scale data collection and analysis, and a network of smart liquor experience machines.
With its precision marketing technology and mobile app, Chang Chang, consumers are able to sample Moutai Bulao at participating restaurants. Moutai Bulao comes in a 3-bottle bundle which makes a great present for family, friends and business partners. The full baijiu experience comes to life when consumers combine their liquor shots with curated Chinese cuisine pairings - a culture that dates more than a thousand years back.
"Baijiu is experiencing rapidly rising demand overseas and there is tremendous potential for growth. But beyond its novelty, baijiu is also rooted in centuries of culture and tradition - it is the spirit that binds and encourages social interconnectivity, perfect for large gatherings at banquet tables over a multi-course meal. By launching the latest generation of our smart machines at restaurants worldwide, our impetus is for consumers to be acquainted and immersed into the world of baijiu as authentically as possible - through a shared celebration of food and drinks," said Mr. Joe Sun, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ascent Bridge, the Group that owns MTBL.
Moutai Bulao is distilled from fermented sorghum and rice, and is the first product in its category to include longan, wolfberry, hawthorn, and Angelica dahurica - giving it a much smoother taste instead of a fiery mouthfeel. It is also one of the most valuable spirits worldwide as the alcohol is derived from a thousand-year-old traditional brewing technique which is one of the most complicated brewing processes in the liquor industry.
With its strong alcohol content and long-lasting, prominent flavour, Moutai has often been a source of inspiration in the ever-evolving culinary art scene. Moutai Bulao goes well with strong flavours such as smoked, pickled or fatty meats including Buffalo wings and pork. Seafood and Moutai Bulao also go well together as the liquor brings out the natural sweetness of fresh seafood. Other natural pairings with Moutai Bulao include grilled Korean foods, caviar and Japanese sashimi.
Baijiu also possesses great potential in cocktails, and mixologists across the world are increasingly putting their own creative spin on the drink, such as by infusing Moutai with herbs and botanicals to unlock fresh and delicate flavours. This presents a great opportunity for Moutai Bulao to appeal to and introduce the brand to younger audiences who are adventurous and want to seek bold flavours.
To further raise awareness and appreciation for baijiu, MTBL plans to set up 16 Cultural Centres around the world. Visitors can expect interactive cultural exhibitions and liquor tasting spaces where they can learn more about the unique distillation and fermentation processes involved in making baijiu and Moutai Bulao through an immersive VR experience. MTBL also has an exclusive global membership programme where members get to enjoy fine dining experiences, a trip to Moutai town, MTBL global membership business networks and various other benefits at any of its cultural centres worldwide. In 2019, the first overseas MTBL Cultural Centre opened in Singapore.
For the first phase of the "Tasting Era", MTBL is targeting to deploy 300 units of its 4th generation of smart liquor machines in New York, New Jersey, California and Florida, by the end of this year. The brand will also be offering a special, limited-time treat for USA consumers by giving away 12,000 Moutai Bulao shots when the machines arrive in the last quarter of 2022, and the shots can be redeemed at participating F&B and lifestyle establishments via the Chang Chang app. More details will be announced at a later date.
The Chang Chang app can be downloaded from the Apple or Google Play store. For more information about MTBL, please visit www.mtblglobal.com.
About Moutai Bulao
Moutai Bulao is a 53° mixed liquor manufactured by Guizhou Moutai Winery (Group) Health Wine Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of state-owned Kweichow Moutai Group. It shares the same roots and origin as Kweichow Moutai and has been selected as the key strategic brand and product in Moutai Group since 2018. It is available in bottles of 125 ml, a packaging specially designed to encourage consumption in global markets. Moutai Bulao is distilled from fermented sorghum and rice, and is the first product in its category to include four distinct ingredients - longan, wolfberry, hawthorn, and Angelica dahurica. Derived from a thousand-year-old traditional brewing technique, the entire process of producing one batch of Moutai Bulao takes a minimum of three to five years, setting this as one of the most complicated brewing processes in the entire liquor industry. Moutai Bulao has been the Group's key strategic global product since 2018.
About MTBL Global Pte Ltd & MTBL Global USA Inc
MTBL Global Pte Ltd (MTBL) owns the exclusive global distributor rights (excluding Mainland China) to market and sell Moutai Bulao, one of the most valuable spirits brands in the world, in 125ml bottles. Unlike traditional beverage supply and distribution channels, MTBL leverages technology to innovate its distribution channels, relying on digital network infrastructure, large-scale data collection and analysis, and a network of smart liquor experience machines to enable better accessibility for consumers. As part of its outreach strategy, MTBL will progressively launch these machines in 39 different countries through partner stores, with this serving as MTBL's primary distribution channel. MTBL Global USA Inc is responsible for the sales and promotion of Moutai Bulao in the United States of America.
MTBL also holds exclusive rights to establish MTBL Cultural Centres globally. The centres serve as a platform for people to learn about the long-standing culture of Chinese cuisine and baijiu pairings, and to showcase the unique distillation and fermentation processes involved in making baijiu. Consumers who join MTBL's exclusive global membership programme will get to enjoy fine dining experiences, a trip to Moutai and various other benefits at its cultural centres worldwide.
About Ascent Bridge Limited
Founded in 1983 and subsequently listed on SGX Main Board on 11 February 2004, Ascent Bridge Limited (formerly known as AEI Corporation Limited) is engaged in the business of production, sale and distribution of food and beverages. The Company acquired MTBL Global Pte Ltd ("MTBL") and changed the name of the company to Ascent Bridge Limited with a new logo and Chinese name (Li Shì Shí) in March 2022. The Chinese name reflects the new direction and focus of the Group. The new name carries a new logo with the tagline, New Spirit, New Impetus. Li stands for our product, Shì stands for People and Shí stands for right timing. The name embodies the combination of the elements of right timing, right place and right people to build a successful Group.
In acquiring MTBL, the company has achieved a milestone in its diversification into the food and beverage business. MTBL owns the exclusive global distributor rights (excluding Mainland China) to market and sell Moutai Bulao 125ml liquor product, one of the most valuable spirits brands worldwide. Unlike traditional beverage supply and distribution channels, MTBL has innovated its distribution channels by leveraging IT concepts, digital network infrastructure, big data, and a network of smart vending machines. The network of smart vending machines will span over our partners' stores in geographic markets, serving as MTBL's primary distribution channel.
For more information, please visit www.ascentbridge.com
Ascent Bridge Limited
9 Temasek Boulevard, #28-05,
Suntec Tower Two, Singapore 038989
Tel: (65) 6536 6228 Fax: (65) 6557 2136
For business queries, please contact:
Ms. Kristine Chen
Tel: (001) 9296230338
Email: info.usa@mtblglobal.com
Ms Haze Shi
Tel: (65) 6536 6228
Email: haze.shi@ascentbridge.com.sg
For media queries, please contact:
mtbl@woodnoteconsulting.com
View original content:
SOURCE Ascent Bridge Limited
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/beloved-spirit-brand-moutai-bulao-takes-center-stage-with-innovative-tasting-experiences-consumers/
| 2022-07-28T13:32:09
|
en
| 0.939162
|
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The M&A Advisor recently announced that Blackford Capital's Andrew Hakim has been recognized as a recipient of the 13th Annual M&A Advisor Emerging Leaders Awards. The awards recognize professionals under the age of 40 from across the United States for their leadership in M&A, financing and restructuring. The winners were chosen from a competitive field for their accomplishments in business and community service by an independent panel.
Mr. Hakim, currently serving as a Vice President at Blackford Capital, a lower middle market Private Equity firm based in Grand Rapids, has been chosen from a pool of prominent nominees for his notable accomplishments in business and in service to the community. Andrew leads the firm's Portfolio Company Operations team and is responsible for key aspects of analyzing, acquiring, capitalizing, growing, and exiting the firm's equity investments.
Raised in West Michigan, Mr. Hakim earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Engineering from the University of Michigan. Following the award of his Master's Degree in 2013, he began his career in Chicago as a management consultant for Kearney, focusing on executive's most pressing problems across some of the largest and most prestigious organizations in the world. Ready to take his personal and professional life to the next level, Mr. Hakim returned to Michigan– where he decided he wanted to raise his family – and joined Blackford Capital as an Associate in 2018.
"I am honored to be acknowledged by The M&A Advisor as one of this year's Emerging Leaders," said Hakim. "I'm tremendously grateful to Martin Stein and the rest of the Blackford Capital leadership team for setting me up for success from day one. My growth in the industry is a testament to the opportunities I've been given during my time here. I strive to give the same level of guidance, empowerment and inspiration to other professionals as they progress their careers."
The M&A Advisor, renowned globally for its recognition and presentation of leading M&A, financing and turnaround professionals, created this recognition awards program to promote mentorship and professional development amongst the emerging leaders of corporate finance and dealmaking industries.
"Andrew has been an exceptional addition to the Blackford Capital team since he first walked through our doors in 2018," said Martin Stein, Blackford Capital founder and managing director. "He has an impressive business acumen and it's been a pleasure to watch him grow as a private equity professional; to see – firsthand – how his business savvy and impeccable character combine to achieve excellence in even the everyday activities."
For a complete list of the 2022 Emerging Leaders Award Winners Click Here.
Founded in 2010, Blackford Capital is a private equity investment firm headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Blackford acquires, manages, and builds founder and family-owned, lower middle-market companies, with a focus on the manufacturing, industrial and distribution industries. With a reputation for a relentless approach to value creation and a focus on operational excellence, Blackford was named the Private Equity Firm of the Year by M&A Advisor in 2021 and 2018. The firm has also received Deal of the Year honors from M&A Advisor in multiple categories, and its portfolio companies have also been included on the Inc. 5000. For more information, visit www.blackfordcapital.com.
Amy Romano, Senior Director
Lambert
aromano@lambert.com
480-577-9989
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Blackford Capital
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/blackford-capitals-andrew-hakim-announced-recipient-13th-annual-emerging-leaders-award/
| 2022-07-28T13:32:16
|
en
| 0.972151
|
CHICAGO, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Health Intelligence® (BHI®), a leading healthcare data and analytics firm, announced today that Bob Darin has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective July 22.
Darin has served as interim CEO since March 2022, leading the company's growth strategy, and accelerating BHI's work to further leverage the industry's most comprehensive and trusted data and analytic assets to efficiently improve outcomes, facilitate value-based care, and address health equity.
Darin brings more than 25 years of experience to BHI, including progressive leadership roles at some of the nation's largest healthcare companies. With his expertise in applying advanced healthcare analytics, he is working across the healthcare ecosystem to reduce costs and improve health outcomes.
"We are pleased to have Bob Darin join BHI as its next CEO," said Curtis Barnett, Chair of BHI's Board of Managers and CEO of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "Bob's leadership and business acumen are playing a pivotal role in steering BHI's business strategies and objectives to meet the evolving needs of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and other industry partners. He brings a wealth of unique skills, expertise, and insights to the healthcare industry. We are excited to have him lead the next chapter of BHI's journey and increase its value to healthcare stakeholders."
Prior to BHI, Darin honed extensive leadership experience across the payer, pharmacy, and life science markets both in the U.S. and internationally. He has deep expertise across analytic disciplines, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, clinical data exchange, and interoperability, as well as enterprise data strategy. He also held executive leadership roles across growth-stage healthcare and technology firms, including two Fortune 10 companies.
"I am honored to work with the BHI team to accelerate our impact as an industry leader in healthcare data analytics," Darin said. "We are continuing to invest in our team of experts to scale our market impact and analytic solutions and provide valuable data-driven insights that will improve healthcare across the nation."
Darin holds an honors Master of Business Administration degree in analytic finance from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business, and earned a magna cum laude degree in economics from Harvard College.
Blue Health Intelligence empowers health plans, providers, employers, and life science organizations to drive innovation and achieve measurable outcomes. With access to the industry's most comprehensive and trusted data and analytics, BHI helps healthcare organizations gain insights to inform strategic decisions, support value-based care, and advance health equity.
BHI is the trade name of Health Intelligence Company LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit www.bluehealthintelligence.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Blue Health Intelligence
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/blue-health-intelligence-appoints-bob-darin-ceo/
| 2022-07-28T13:32:22
|
en
| 0.958071
|
Blumira leverages award-winning support to help make security more accessible
ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blumira, a leading cybersecurity provider of automated threat detection and response technology, today announced that its customer satisfaction score (CSAT) reached 100 percent in Q2 of 2022. Blumira surveyed customers across industries after users engaged with Security Operations (SecOps), technical support, and Technical Account Management (TAM), and all teams received scores of 100 percent.
Blumira's high customer satisfaction rate demonstrates its ongoing commitment to providing customers with not only the tools and solutions they need to achieve cybersecurity but also access to a team of experts. These experts can answer questions about security findings surfaced in the product, share how to respond based on Blumira's playbook recommendations, and advise organizations about how to improve their overall security maturity.
"Blumira's mission is to make cybersecurity achievable to all organizations, and a critical part of that is offering ongoing, one-on-one support to our customers," said Jim Simpson, CEO of Blumira. "Many of our users are small teams that juggle both IT and security tasks for their entire company. Helping them address issues, understand the validity of threats, and strategize long-term cybersecurity approaches is important to achieving our overall mission. I'm proud of our SecOps, technical support and Technical Account Management teams for all the work they put into supporting our customers."
Customers recognize and appreciate Blumira's dedication to partnering with their customers to find solutions to security problems. "I take comfort in knowing that we can talk to a real person about the issues, who can help us understand the validity of the threats and the long-term approach that we should be taking," said Elph Morgan, IT Manager at Zingerman's.
Dan Kontak, IT Director at National Machinery, added, "We've always looked for external expertise to manage our security. Not just a company, but a partner. [Blumira's team] suggests ways to improve our security. I know that it's constantly being evaluated."
In addition to providing one-on-one support for customers. Blumira does all of the heavy lifting of many security tasks, including parsing, creating native third-party integrations, and testing and tuning detection rules to reduce noisy alerts in its platform. This is critical for organizations with smaller teams that have limited time and fewer resources.
Ethan Shutika, Director of IT and Security at Nittany Oil, said, "It's easy to use the portal, and Blumira's team is quick and helpful to add rules and help with detection. I like that I can get text notifications of higher risk findings. Being on a small team without the time to watch the application constantly, that can be helpful."
All three of Blumira's support teams are included in a flat subscription-based fee, per user, while other solutions charge more for onboarding, support, and ongoing maintenance.
Blumira's high CSAT score comes on the heels of the company receiving numerous industry accolades, including:
- 31 G2 Badges (Summer 2022), including "Easiest To Do Business With" and "Best Support" for the eighth consecutive time. Blumira scored high in customer satisfaction across the board. 96 percent of customers would recommend Blumira to others.
- CRN 2022 Emerging Vendors List recognition.
- Globee Cyber Security Global Excellence Awards for "Startup of the Year" and "Chief Technology Officer of the Year."
- SourceForge Top Performer Award, based on user reviews.
For more information about Blumira, please visit https://www.blumira.com.
About Blumira
Blumira is a leading cybersecurity provider of automated threat detection and response technology. Blumira's mission is to make security accessible to organizations of all sizes. Founded in 2018, Blumira's cloud security platform helps organizations with limited security resources to detect and respond to cybersecurity threats faster to stop ransomware and data breaches. The all-in-one solution is quick to deploy, easy to implement, and integrates broadly across cloud and on-premises technology to provide coverage for hybrid environments. Blumira was recognized by G2 as a Momentum leader, ranked as 'Best Return on Investment (ROI),' 'Fastest Implementation,' and 'Easiest to Use' in the G2 Summer 2022 Grid® Reports.
Media Contact:
Katherine Benfield
Lumina Communications for Blumira
Blumira@luminapr.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Blumira
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/blumiras-customer-satisfaction-scores-reach-100-percent-q2-2022/
| 2022-07-28T13:32:29
|
en
| 0.946756
|
OPELOUSAS, La., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: "CLST") (the "Company"), the parent company for Catalyst Bank (the "Bank") (www.catalystbank.com), reported financial results for the second quarter of 2022. For the quarter, the Company reported net income of $18,000, compared to a net loss of $131,000 for the first quarter of 2022. The quarter was highlighted by the rebranding of the Bank from St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings Bank to Catalyst Bank. Pre-tax costs associated with the rebranding of the Bank totaled $208,000 during the quarter. The quarter also included the receipt and recognition into income of a $171,000 Bank Enterprise Award ("BEA") Program grant from the Community Development Financial Institution ("CDFI") Fund. Professional fees associated with the grant totaled $26,000.
"We're thrilled to have completed our rebrand to Catalyst Bank," said Joe Zanco, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank. "Our name now reflects our mission: to be catalysts for economic growth in our communities. Congratulations to our team on executing our rebrand strategy so incredibly well."
"During the second half of the year, we'll be laser focused on developing and deepening customer relationships," continued Zanco. "Thanks to the investment of our shareholders, we have a tremendous level of capital to invest in growing our company."
Loans receivable totaled $133.6 million at June 30, 2022, up $1.6 million, or 1%, from March 31, 2022. The increase was primarily driven by new originations of residential mortgage loans and commercial and industrial loans, partially offset by a decrease in commercial real estate loans. Construction loans with outstanding balances of $1.2 million at March 31, 2022 were converted to permanent residential mortgage loans during the second quarter of 2022. At June 30, 2022, the total unpaid principal balance of PPP loans, included in commercial and industrial loans, totaled $22,000, down $819,000 from $841,000 at March 31, 2022.
The following table sets forth the composition of the Company's loan portfolio as of the dates indicated.
Non-performing assets ("NPAs") totaled $1.6 million at June 30, 2022, up $18,000, or 1%, compared to March 31, 2022, primarily due to a slight increase in non-performing loans. The ratio of NPAs to total assets was 0.57% at June 30, 2022, compared to 0.55% at March 31, 2022. Non-performing loans ("NPLs") totaled $1.3 million, or 0.96% of total loans, at June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022. At June 30, 2022, approximately 91% total NPLs were one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, compared to 89% at March 31, 2022.
The allowance for loan losses totaled $2.0 million, or 1.48% of total loans, at June 30, 2022, down $193,000 from $2.2 million, or 1.65% of total loans, at March 31, 2022. The decline in the allowance for loan losses primarily reflects the reversal of provisions made for loan losses during 2020 associated with our initial assessment COVID-19's impact on credit risk and a $77,000 decrease in reserves for loans individually evaluated for impairment. The Company recorded a reversal to the allowance for loan losses of $189,000 during the second quarter of 2022, compared to a reversal of $71,000 for the first quarter of 2022. Net loan charge-offs totaled $4,000 during the second quarter of 2022, compared to net loan charge-offs of $32,000 for the first quarter of 2022.
Total investment securities were $95.8 million at June 30, 2022, down $2.4 million, or 2%, from March 31, 2022. At June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, 86% of our total investment securities were classified as available-for-sale. Net unrealized losses on securities available-for-sale totaled $8.4 million at June 30, 2022, compared to $5.7 million at March 31, 2022. The increase in unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities related principally to increases in market interest rates for similar securities. For the second quarter of 2022, the average yield on the investment securities portfolio was 1.37%, up 9 basis points from the first quarter of 2022.
Total deposits were $178.7 million at June 30, 2022, down $4.3 million, or 2%, from March 31, 2022. The decrease in deposits was primarily due to declines in certificates of deposit and demand deposit accounts, partially offset by increases in NOW account balances. Total average deposits were $183.3 million for the second quarter of 2022, up $3.7 million, or 2%, from the prior quarter.
The following table sets forth the composition of the Bank's deposits as of the dates indicated.
Our net interest margin for the second quarter of 2022 was 2.71%, up 12 basis points compared to the prior quarter. The average yield on interest-earning assets increased by 11 basis points to 2.94% for the second quarter of 2022, while the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities declined 2 basis points to 0.39%, compared to the first quarter of 2022. Net interest income for the second quarter of 2022 was $1.8 million, up $59,000, or 3%, from the first quarter of 2022 primarily due to an increase in interest income from investment securities (up $23,000, or 7%) and other interest earning assets (up $39,000, or 205%). Rising market interest rates have increased the yields earned on our securities portfolio and our interest-bearing cash accounts. During the first quarter of 2022, the Company recognized $45,000 of interest income due to the full pay-off and recovery of a partially charged-off non-accrual loan.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the Company's total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resulting yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates, and the net interest margin. Taxable equivalent ("TE") yields have been calculated using a marginal tax rate of 21%. All average balances are based on daily balances.
Non-interest income for the second quarter of 2022 was $379,000, up $182,000, or 92%, from the first quarter of 2022. During the second quarter of 2022, the Company received and recognized into income a $171,000 BEA Program grant from the CDFI Fund. The BEA Program grants awards to depository institutions that have successfully increased their investments in economically distressed communities through certain qualified activities, including investments in CDFIs and providing loans, investments and financial services to businesses and residents located in distressed communities. In addition, income from bank-owned life insurance ("BOLI") increased by $77,000 to $98,000 for the second quarter of 2022 compared to the previous quarter largely due to an aggregate of $10.0 million in additional policies purchased in March and April of 2022.
The increases in non-interest income due to the BEA Program grant and BOLI were partially offset by the disposal of fixed assets totaling $77,000, net of accumulated depreciation, during the second quarter of 2022. Of the assets disposed, $55,000 was attributable to branch signage that was replaced due to our rebranding.
Non-interest expense for the second quarter of 2022 totaled $2.4 million, up $193,000, or 9%, compared to the first quarter of 2022. Total non-interest expense for the second quarter of 2022 included $153,000 of rebranding-related expenses, compared to $34,000 for the first quarter of 2022.
Salaries and employee benefits expense totaled $1.2 million for the second quarter of 2022, down $43,000, or 3%, from the first quarter of 2022 primarily due to a decrease in our employee count.
Data processing and communication expense totaled $242,000, up $34,000, or 16%, from the previous quarter primarily due to rebranding expenses related to project support provided by our core software vendor.
Professional fees totaled $175,000 for the second quarter of 2022, up $35,000, or 25%, from the first quarter of 2022. During the second quarter of 2022, the Company incurred professional fees of $26,000 for assistance with the BEA Program grant application.
Advertising and marketing expense totaled $109,000 for the second quarter of 2022, up $67,000, or 160%, from the first quarter of 2022. Advertising and marketing expense included rebranding costs of $87,000 in the second quarter of 2022 and $34,000 in the first quarter of 2022.
Other non-interest expense totaled $240,000 for the second quarter of 2022, up $58,000, or 32%, from the first quarter of 2022. In the second quarter of 2022, other non-interest expense included rebranding costs of $18,000.
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLST) is a Louisiana corporation and registered bank holding company for Catalyst Bank, its wholly-owned subsidiary, with $281.0 million in assets at June 30, 2022. Catalyst Bank, formerly St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings Bank, has been in operation in the Acadiana region of south-central Louisiana for 100 years. With a focus on fueling business and improving lives throughout the region, Catalyst Bank offers commercial and retail banking products through our six full-service branches located in Carencro, Eunice, Lafayette, Opelousas, and Port Barre. To learn more about Catalyst Bank, visit www.catalystbank.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words like "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate" and "intend" or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could" or "may." Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include changes in the interest rate environment, changes in general economic conditions, legislative and regulatory changes that adversely affect the business of Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. and Catalyst Bank, and changes in the securities markets. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in belief, expectations or events.
For more information:
Joe Zanco, President and CEO
(337) 948-3033
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Catalyst Bancorp, Inc.
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/catalyst-bancorp-inc-announces-2022-second-quarter-results/
| 2022-07-28T13:32:36
|
en
| 0.963757
|
A new study finds a majority of online pharmacies selling the chronic myeloid leukemia therapy imatinib are uncertified and could be operating unsafely.
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients seeking to purchase chemotherapy drugs online face a confusing array of websites, over half of which potentially operate unsafely or illegally, finds a new study in the July 2022 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. A survey of online pharmacies claiming to sell the oral chemotherapy drug imatinib found that only three of the 44 identified English-language sites that shipped within the United States were certified through the LegitScript online pharmacy monitoring service. A full 52% were classified as "rogue" pharmacies that might operate without a license, sell counterfeit or expired products, steal users' payment information, or reject important safety precautions like requiring a prescription for potentially hazardous medications.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors like imatinib have made chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) a manageable condition rather than a fatal one. Yet to work optimally, the drug must be taken for the rest of a patient's life and with high compliance. While a generic version of imatinib became available in 2016, high prices (averaging more than $700/month at brick-and-mortar pharmacies) have remained a barrier for many patients, who then may turn to online pharmacies in the hope of finding discounts. The authors recommend physicians be aware of the marketplace to which their patients may turn, and advise patients to use LegitScript, www.legitscript.com, to check URLs and identify certified online pharmacies.
"We were struck by just how easy it is to buy an oral chemotherapy medication online, as imatinib is not a benign drug," said study co-author Sachiko Ozawa, PhD, MHS, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy. "By simply searching Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo, we found 44 websites that sold and shipped imatinib in the U.S.; 13 of these websites sold imatinib without a prescription, and more than three-quarters did not offer a way for patients to speak with a pharmacist. This is a significant concern for patient safety."
Taking imatinib requires monitoring and frequent dosage adjustments. Even if an online pharmacy provides the medication as ordered, "patients bypassing provider interactions are likely to face much greater risks of nonadherence, discontinuation, treatment failures, and adverse events," Dr. Ozawa said.
In addition, rogue or unclassified pharmacies may not be providing patients with the real medication at all, and could even be stealing patients' medical or payment information. These sites are difficult to regulate, as they often originate abroad. The authors note that the online marketplace for drugs like imatinib is likely larger than represented in the study, as they only analyzed the first 10 pages of search engine results. "We also found it deceiving how well some illegitimate websites mimic legitimate sites," said Dr. Ozawa.
But how to address the reason patients would be using these under-regulated online pharmacies in the first place? Patients should be encouraged to speak with their pharmacist, financial counselor, or other members of their healthcare team if they can't afford their medications, said Benyam Muluneh, PharmD, BCOP, CPP, Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, who was also a study co-author. "Cancer drugs are very expensive; however, there are some resources such as third party foundation grants that may be able to help. If a medication is not affordable through regular channels, patients could also discuss alternative medication options with their providers rather than look for discounts online."
"The exorbitant price of oncology drugs is a major barrier to optimal therapy of many malignancies, including CML," commented Bernard Marini, PharmD, BCOP, Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Michigan Medicine, who treats patients with leukemias and other hematologic malignancies. Dr. Marini was not involved in the research. "As this eye-opening study found, the problem has become so bad that there is a major illegitimate online marketplace for generic oral oncology drugs. Healthcare providers need to be aware that many of these rogue and unapproved pharmacies do not even require a prescription or have access to pharmacist consultations, putting patients at high risk for adverse drug events. While patient-directed NCCN Guidelines for CML can be a great tool for reinforcing patient education, this study reminds us of the need to fully recognize the dangers of illegitimate online pharmacies and ensure our patients have appropriate financial support when prescribing high cost medications."
To read the entire study, visit JNCCN.org. Complimentary access to "Online Pharmacy Accessibility of Imatinib, An Oral Chemotherapy Medication" is available until October 10, 2022.
About JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
More than 25,000 oncologists and other cancer care professionals across the United States read JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. This peer-reviewed, indexed medical journal provides the latest information about innovation in translational medicine, and scientific studies related to oncology health services research, including quality care and value, bioethics, comparative and cost effectiveness, public policy, and interventional research on supportive care and survivorship. JNCCN features updates on the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®), review articles elaborating on guidelines recommendations, health services research, and case reports highlighting molecular insights in patient care. JNCCN is published by Harborside. Visit JNCCN.org. To inquire if you are eligible for a FREE subscription to JNCCN, visit NCCN.org/jnccn/subscribe. Follow JNCCN on Twitter @JNCCN.
About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) is a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education. NCCN is dedicated to improving and facilitating quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care so all patients can live better lives. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) provide transparent, evidence-based, expert consensus recommendations for cancer treatment, prevention, and supportive services; they are the recognized standard for clinical direction and policy in cancer management and the most thorough and frequently-updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients® provide expert cancer treatment information to inform and empower patients and caregivers, through support from the NCCN Foundation®. NCCN also advances continuing education, global initiatives, policy, and research collaboration and publication in oncology. Visit NCCN.org for more information and follow NCCN on Facebook @NCCNorg, Instagram @NCCNorg, and Twitter @NCCN.
Media Contact:
Rachel Darwin
267-622-6624
darwin@nccn.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE National Comprehensive Cancer Network
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/chemotherapy-drugs-rogue-online-pharmacies-could-endanger-leukemia-patients-suggests-research-jnccn/
| 2022-07-28T13:32:43
|
en
| 0.930301
|
Speakers include Chobani Founder & CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, Representative Michael McCaul, Representative Jason Crow, and leaders from the Tent Partnership for Refugees, Razom, and Save the Children
NEW BERLIN, N.Y., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As one of most significant humanitarian crises of our time continues to unfold, Chobani announced today that it will host the World Refugee Forum on Wednesday, August 10th to bring together leaders who are pushing for stronger government policies, as well as providing humanitarian support and employment pathways for refugees in the U.S. and abroad. The forum will take place as the world prepares to mark one year since the U.S. announced the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and six months into the Russian war on Ukraine. As such, discussions will focus on the dire situations for Afghans and Ukrainians alike, as well as the overall challenges confronting refugees around the globe.
"I have worked alongside my refugee brothers and sisters for many years, and they are a testament to the power of the human spirit," said Chobani Founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya. "I am grateful that so many people are now paying attention to the refugee crisis, and we cannot let this moment pass without change. It is critical that we make sure our words translate into action, and that we work together on concrete solutions."
Hosted by Chobani, advocates, policymakers, and humanitarian agencies will discuss the social, political, and economic challenges facing refugees today, and the larger implications such as the global food crisis. With this forum, Chobani intends to inspire companies to hire refugees and generate support for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide much-needed humanitarian relief.
Speakers so far include:
- Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder & CEO, Chobani; Founder, Tent Partnership for Refugees
- Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX)
- Representative Jason Crow (D-CO)
- Jay Collins, Vice Chairman, Citi; Tent Partnership for Refugees Advisory Council; Save the Children Trustee
- Dora Chomiak, President, Razom
This virtual event will be held on August 10 at 1:00 PM eastern standard time and is free and open to the public. To register and learn more about the World Refugee Forum, visit www.chobanirefugeeforum.com. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming days.
Chobani has a long history of hiring refugees, starting in the company's earliest days when Ulukaya heard refugees resettled in Utica, New York and hired them to work in the nearby plant. Today, Chobani employees are from numerous backgrounds and lived experiences, including people from Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Somalia, and Bhutan who escaped violent and difficult experiences in their home countries and resettled in places like upstate New York and Idaho. Chobani recently partnered with UNSTUCK™ to launch Vanilla Greek Yogurt Tropical Fruit on the Bottom, which is crafted with fruit sourced from suppliers committed to employing refugees.
Ulukaya has inspired countless people, companies, and organizations to follow his lead in hiring refugees and helping them to integrate into new communities. Ulukaya's work in support of refugees has taken him to Colombia, Jordan, Italy, and Poland. His personal foundation, the Tent Partnership for Refugees–a global business network of 250 major companies–works with companies to advance the economic integration of refugees, especially by hiring and training them.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Chobani has worked closely with non-profit partners such as Razom, Save the Children, and The Center for Refugees in Utica, New York to address the needs on the ground and to assist with preparations for Ukrainian refugees resettling in the U.S. Ulukaya also visited the Ukraine-Poland border with Tent and UNHCR in April.
Chobani is a food maker with a mission of making high-quality and nutritious food accessible to more people, while elevating our communities and making the world a healthier place. In short: making good food for all. In support of this mission, we are a values-driven, people-first, food-and-wellness-focused company, and have been since Hamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant to the U.S., founded the company in 2005. We produce yogurt, oatmilk, dairy- and plant-based creamers, ready-to-drink coffee and plant-based probiotic drinks. Chobani yogurt is America's No.1 yogurt brand, and it's made with only natural ingredients without artificial preservatives.
Chobani uses food as a force for good in the world – putting humanity first in everything we do. Our philanthropic efforts prioritize giving back to our communities and beyond: working to eradicate child hunger, supporting immigrants, refugees and underrepresented people, honoring veterans, and protecting the planet. We manufacture our products in New York, Idaho, and Australia. Chobani products are available throughout North America and distributed in Australia and other select markets. For more information, please visit www.chobani.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Chobani, Inc.
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/chobani-host-world-refugee-forum-an-urgent-discussion-addressing-challenges-confronting-36-million-refugees-around-world/
| 2022-07-28T13:32:49
|
en
| 0.946397
|
SANDUSKY, Ohio, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Civista Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:CIVB) ("Civista") announced its unaudited financial results for the three and six month periods ending June 30, 2022.
Second quarter and year-to-date 2022 highlights:
- Net income of $7.7 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $9.2 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2021.
- Net income of $16.2 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, compared to $19.9 million, or $1.27 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
- COVID–19 loan deferrals decreased to $2.7 million, or 0.13% of total loans at period end, compared to 21.3% at the June 30, 2020 high point.
- Paycheck Protection Program loans are down to $3.7 million.
- Based on the June 30, 2022 market close share price of $21.26, the $0.14 second quarter dividend is equivalent to an annualized yield of 2.63% and a dividend payout ratio of 26.42%.
- On July 1, 2022, we consummated the merger of Comunibanc Corp. with and into Civista and Henry County Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Comunibanc, with and into Civista Bank.
- On June 27, 2022 we opened a branch office in Gahanna, Ohio.
"We turned in another solid Civista quarter highlighted by loan growth. We closed the merger of Comunibanc Corp. and The Henry County Bank ("HCB") into Civista Bancshares, Inc. and Civista Bank effective July 1st and did incur some additional expenses related to the acquisition that negatively impacted our noninterest expense. This had an adverse impact to our earnings of approximately $0.02 per share for the quarter. The integration and conversion of HCB's systems remain on schedule to be concluded in late October. HCB's employees are working hard with our folks toward those goals. We welcome these new employees to the Civista family" said Dennis G. Shaffer, CEO and President of Civista.
Results of Operations:
For the three-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021
Net interest income increased $427 thousand, or 1.8%, for the second quarter of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021, due to an increase in interest income partially offset by an increase in interest expense. Accretion of PPP fees was $423 thousand during the second quarter 2022 compared to $2.8 million for the same period in 2021.
Net interest margin decreased 10 basis points to 3.43% for the second quarter of 2022, compared to 3.53% for the same period a year ago. The decrease in margin is primarily due to the reduction in PPP fees in 2022.
The decrease in interest income was due to a $2.9 million decrease in PPP interest and fees and a $200 thousand decrease in accretion income related to loan portfolios acquired through acquisitions. Average earning assets increased $90.2 million, partially offset by a 10 basis point decrease in the yield. The decrease in yield is primarily due to the reduction in PPP fees in 2022. During the three-month period, the Bank had average PPP Loans totaling $10.3 million compared to $207.5 million for the same period last year. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, these loans had an average yield of 17.52% including the amortization of PPP fees, which increased the margin by 9 basis points.
Interest expense increased $139 thousand, or 8.4%, for the second quarter of 2022, compared to the same period last year. The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased 1 basis point, while average interest-bearing liabilities increased $92.2 million. The increase in the rate is primarily due to the addition of the subordinated debt, partially offset by lower deposit costs. The increase in market rates for us, and the industry, have not yet translated to significant increases in deposit costs.
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021
Net interest income decreased $469 thousand, or 1.0%, compared to the same period in 2021.
Interest income decreased $494 thousand, or 1.0%, for the first six months of 2022. Although average earning assets decreased $50.1 million, interest income increased $1.5 million due to a shift in the asset mix away from cash toward investment securities. Average yields decreased 1 basis point which resulted in a $2.0 million decrease in interest income. During the six-month period, the Bank had average PPP Loans totaling $19.5 million compared to $228.1 million for the same period last year. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, these loans had an average yield of 17.58% including the amortization of PPP fees, which increased the margin by 9 basis points.
Interest expense decreased $25 thousand, or 0.7%, for the first six months of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021. Average rates decreased 2 basis points, resulting in a $799 thousand decrease in interest expense. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $101.0 million which led to an increase in interest expense of $774 thousand.
Net interest margin decreased 1 basis point to 3.40% for the first six months of 2022, compared to 3.41% for the same period a year ago.
Provision for loan losses was $400 thousand for the second quarter of 2022 while nothing was provided in the second quarter of 2021. Provision for loan losses was $700 thousand for the first six months of 2022 compared to $830 thousand for the first six months of 2021. The reserve ratio was 1.33% at both June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
For the second quarter of 2022, noninterest income totaled $5.6 million, a decrease of $3.4 million, or 37.6%, compared to the prior year's second quarter.
Service charges increased due to a $222 thousand increase in overdraft fees.
Net gain on sale of securities decreased due to the $1.8 million gain on the sale of Visa Class B shares in 2021.
Net gain on sale of loans decreased primarily because of a decrease in volume of loans sold, which was primarily driven by increased market rates. Proceeds from the sale of loans sold totaled $35.5 million and $69.2 million during the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Other income decreased as result of an increase in insurance loss reserves from Civista's reinsurance subsidiary.
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, noninterest income totaled $13.3 million, a decrease of $4.9 million, or 27.1%, compared to the same period in the prior year.
Service charges increased due to a $445 thousand increase overdraft fees and a $101 thousand increase in service charges.
Net gain on sale of securities decreased due to the $1.8 million gain on the sale of Visa Class B shares in 2021.
Net gain on sale of loans decreased primarily because of a decrease in volume of loans sold, which was primarily driven by increased market rates. Proceeds from the sale of loans sold totaled $73.7 million and $147.8 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Wealth management fees increased due to an increase in the average rate earned on the assets in 2022.
Other income decreased as result of an increase in insurance loss reserves from Civista's reinsurance subsidiary.
For the second quarter of 2022, noninterest expense totaled $20.4 million, a decrease of $1.9 million, or 8.5%, compared to the prior year's second quarter.
Compensation expense increased primarily due to annual salary increases, which occur every year in April, and commission expense. Salaries, Overtime and Temp fees increased $348.7 thousand, or 5.2%. Commissions increased $141.2 thousand, or 7.8%.
Taxes and assessments increased as Franchise tax expense increased due to an increase in equity capital, which is the basis of the Ohio Financial Institutions tax. This was partially offset by a decrease in FDIC assessments due to lower assessment multipliers charged to Civista.
Professional services primarily increased due to a $236 thousand increase in consulting fees and a $118 thousand increase in merger related legal and audit.
The quarter-over-quarter decrease in ATM/Interchange expense is primarily the result of a $94 thousand decrease in billings from MasterCard.
The increase in Software maintenance expense is due to both increases in software maintenance contracts as well as the implementation of the new digital banking platform.
The decrease in other operating expense is primarily due to a prepayment fee paid in the second quarter of 2021 related to the prepayment of an FHLB long-term advance.
The efficiency ratio was 67.0% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to 66.9% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The change in the efficiency ratio is primarily due to a decrease in noninterest interest income.
Civista's effective income tax rate for the second quarter 2022 was 15.6% compared to 13.6% in 2021.
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, noninterest expense totaled $40.6 million, a decrease of $815 thousand, or 2.0%, compared to the same period in the prior year.
The increase in compensation expense was due to increased payroll, 401k expenses, payroll taxes and commission and incentive-based costs. Payroll and payroll related expenses increased due to annual pay increases.
Contracted data processing fees increased due to merger related system deconversion fees of $234, offset by a decrease in computer processing fees.
The decrease in ATM/Interchange expense is the result of a decrease in billings from MasterCard 2022 and lower processing fees.
Professional services primarily increased due to a $428 thousand increase in merger related legal and audit and a $240 thousand increase in consulting fees.
The increase in software maintenance expense is due to both increases in software maintenance contracts as well as the implementation of the new digital banking platform.
The decrease in other expense is due to the 2021 prepayment penalty of $3.7 million related to the early payoff of an FHLB long-term advance. This was partially offset by a $393 thousand credit valuation adjustment to mortgage servicing rights.
The efficiency ratio was 66.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to 62.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The change in the efficiency ratio is primarily due to a decrease in noninterest interest income.
Civista's effective income tax rate for the first six months of 2022 was 15.5% compared to 15.6% in same period in 2021.
Balance Sheet
Total assets increased $26.2 million, or 0.9%, from December 31, 2021 to June 30, 2022, primarily due to an increase in the loan portfolio of $66.3 million, or 3.3%. This increase was partially offset by a $31.0 million, or 11.7%, decrease in cash and a $29.1 million, or 5.2%, decrease in the investment portfolio.
Loan balances increased $66.3 million, or 3.3% in the first half of 2022, including the PPP balance decline. Removing the effect of the PPP loans, the loan portfolio increased $105.8 million or 5.4%. Commercial Real Estate continued to grow due to consistent demand in both the Non-owner Occupied and Owner Occupied categories. Residential Real Estate has grown due to residential construction loans rolling into the portfolio as well as demand for Jumbo Loans and for our Community View CRA product. Commercial and Agriculture loans continue to grow as we successfully onboard new clients aided by our upgrade in both our Treasury Management suite of products and digital banking. Real Estate Construction continues to increase as the construction season is at its peak in the Midwest. Construction demand remains strong and construction availability continues to be at all-time highs.
Paycheck Protection Program
In total, we processed over 3,600 loans totaling $399.4 million of PPP loans. Of the total PPP loans we have originated, $395.7 million have been forgiven or have paid off. We recognized $424 thousand of PPP fees in income during the quarter and $1.6 million of PPP fees in income during the six months ended June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2022, $160 thousand of unearned PPP fees remain.
Deposits
Total deposits increased $38.8 million, or 1.6%, from December 31, 2021 to June 30, 2022.
The increase in noninterest-bearing demand of $53.6 million was primarily due to a $39.5 million increase in balances related to the tax refund processing program, which is a seasonal increase. Public fund demand accounts also increased $14.3 million. Interest-bearing demand deposits decreased due to a $29.7 million decrease in business demand accounts, partially offset by a $20.0 million increase in public fund demand accounts. The increase in savings and money market was primarily due to a $27.9 million increase in statement savings, a $16.0 million increase in personal money markets, and a $9.4 million increase in public fund money markets. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $19.0 million in brokered money market accounts and $19.2 million in business money market accounts. Time deposits, both under $100 thousand and over $100 thousand, have decreased.
FHLB advances totaled $75.0 million at June 30, 2022, unchanged from December 31, 2021.
Stock Repurchase Program
During the first six months of 2022, Civista repurchased 448,199 shares for $10.5 million at a weighted average price of $23.40 per share, including 392,847 shares repurchased under the previous authorization for $9.3 million. We have approximately $12.3 million remaining of the current $13.5 million repurchase authorization, which was approved in April 2022. In addition, Civista liquidated 5,403 shares held by employees, at $24.66 per share, to satisfy tax obligations stemming from vesting of restricted shares.
Shareholders' Equity
Total shareholders' equity decreased $53.2 million from December 31, 2021 to June 30, 2022, primarily due to a $55.1 million decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income(loss). The decrease in other comprehensive income(loss) does not impact our capital adequacy ratios. Shareholders' equity also decreased due to a $10.6 million repurchase of treasury shares. Retained earnings increased $12.0 million.
Asset Quality
Civista recorded net recoveries of $94 thousand for the six months of 2022 compared to net recoveries of $399 thousand for the same period of 2021. The allowance for loan losses to loans was 1.33% at June 30, 2022 and 1.33% at December 31, 2021.
Non-performing assets at June 30, 2022 were $4.8 million, a 10.8% decrease from December 31, 2021. The non-performing assets to assets ratio decreased to 0.16% from 0.18% at December 31, 2021. The allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans increased to 572.78% from 496.10% at December 31, 2021.
Conference Call and Webcast
Civista Bancshares, Inc. will also host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results for the second quarter of 2022 at 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 28, 2022. Interested parties can access the live webcast of the conference call through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, www.civb.com. Participants can also listen to the conference call by dialing 855-238-2712 and ask to be joined into the Civista Bancshares, Inc. second quarter 2022 earnings call. Please log in or dial in at least 10 minutes prior to the start time to ensure a connection.
An archive of the webcast will be available for one year on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website (www.civb.com).
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding the financial performance, business prospects, growth and operating strategies of Civista. For these statements, Civista claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release should be considered in conjunction with the other information available about Civista, including the information in the filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify such statements by using words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will" and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include risk factors relating to the banking industry and the other factors detailed from time to time in Civista' reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in "Item 1A Risk Factors" of Part I of Civista's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and any additional risks identified in the Company's subsequent Form 10-Q's. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Civista does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward-looking statement is made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.
Civista Bancshares, Inc. is a $3.0 billion financial holding company headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. Prior to the merger, Civista's banking subsidiary, Civista Bank, operated 36 locations in Northern, Central and Southwestern Ohio, Southeastern Indiana and Northern Kentucky. Upon completion of the merger, Civista will be an approximately $3.3 billion financial holding company, and Civista Bank will operate an additional seven locations in Northwestern Ohio. Additional information on Civista may be accessed at www.civb.com, but information at that website is not part of this press release nor is it part of any filing by Civista with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Civista's common shares are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "CIVB".
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Civista Bancshares, Inc.
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/civista-bancshares-inc-announces-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/
| 2022-07-28T13:32:55
|
en
| 0.959104
|
CMS Energy Announces Strong Second Quarter Results, Reaffirms 2022 Adjusted EPS Guidance
Published: Jul. 28, 2022 at 7:00 AM CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
JACKSON, Mich., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CMS Energy announced today reported earnings per share of $0.50 for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $0.61 per share for the same quarter in 2021. The company's adjusted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2022 were $0.53, compared to $0.55 per share for the same quarter in 2021. For the first six months of the year, the company reported $1.71 per share compared to $1.82 per share for the same timeframe in 2021. On an adjusted earnings per share basis year to date, the company reported $1.73 per share in 2022, compared to $1.64 per share in 2021.
CMS Energy reaffirmed its 2022 adjusted earnings guidance of $2.85 to $2.89* per share (*See below for important information about non-GAAP measures) and reaffirmed long-term adjusted EPS growth of 6 to 8 percent, with continued confidence toward the high end of the adjusted EPS growth range.
"Our company took a major step forward with the regulatory approvals of our natural gas rate case settlement and the Integrated Resource Plan, eliminating coal generation by 2025 and leading the clean energy transformation by adding more solar and battery storage, while increasing reliability," said Garrick Rochow, President and CEO of CMS Energy and Consumers Energy. "These approvals strengthen our financial outlook for investors while driving the decarbonatization of our electric and gas systems at affordable prices for our customers and the communities we serve."
CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based energy provider featuring Consumers Energy as its primary business. It also owns and operates independent power generation businesses.
CMS Energy will hold a webcast to discuss its 2022 second quarter results and provide a business and financial outlook on Thursday, July 28 at 9:30 a.m. (EDT). To participate in the webcast, go to CMS Energy's homepage (cmsenergy.com) and select "Events and Presentations."
Important information for investors about non-GAAP measures and other disclosures.
This news release contains non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP) measures, such as adjusted earnings. All references to net income refer to net income available to common stockholders and references to earnings per share are on a diluted basis. Adjustments could include items such as discontinued operations, asset sales, impairments, restructuring costs, changes in accounting principles, changes in federal tax policy, regulatory items from prior years, unrealized gains or losses from mark-to-market adjustments recognized in net income related to CMS Enterprises' interest expense, or other items. Management views adjusted earnings as a key measure of the company's present operating financial performance and uses adjusted earnings for external communications with analysts and investors. Internally, the company uses adjusted earnings to measure and assess performance. Because the company is not able to estimate the impact of specific line items, which have the potential to significantly impact, favorably or unfavorably, the company's reported earnings in future periods, the company is not providing reported earnings guidance nor is it providing a reconciliation for the comparable future period earnings. The company's adjusted earnings should be considered supplemental information to assist in understanding our business results, rather than as a substitute for the reported earnings.
This news release contains "forward-looking statements." The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause CMS Energy's and Consumers Energy's results to differ materially. All forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of the risk and other factors detailed from time to time in CMS Energy's and Consumers Energy's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Investors and others should note that CMS Energy routinely posts important information on its website and considers the Investor Relations section, www.cmsenergy.com/investor-relations, a channel of distribution.
For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at cmsenergy.com. To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.
The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/cms-energy-announces-strong-second-quarter-results-reaffirms-2022-adjusted-eps-guidance/
| 2022-07-28T13:33:02
|
en
| 0.939363
|
CALGARY, AB, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) today announced its second-quarter 2022 results, including revenues of $2.20 billion, reported operating ratio ("OR") of 60.6 percent, adjusted OR1 of 59.7 percent, reported diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $0.82 and core adjusted diluted EPS1 of $0.95.
"After a challenging first quarter of the year, I'm proud of the resiliency and discipline the CP team demonstrated to deliver these results," said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO. "They continue to display the grit and tenacity it takes to run a world-class North American railroad and deliver for our customers."
Second-quarter highlights
- Revenues increased by 7 percent to $2.20 billion from $2.05 billion last year
- Reported OR increased by 50 basis points to 60.6 percent from 60.1 percent last year
- Adjusted OR1 increased by 440 basis points to 59.7 percent from 55.3 percent last year
- Reported diluted EPS was $0.82, a 56 percent decrease from last year
- Core adjusted diluted EPS1, excluding significant items and Kansas City Southern ("KCS") purchase accounting, was $0.95, an 8 percent decrease from last year
"The strong demand environment for North American goods and commodities, coupled with our own unique growth initiatives and the promising upcoming Canadian grain crop, gives me confidence that we will continue to see momentum build into the back half of 2022 and beyond," said Creel.
CP is continuing to progress towards creating the first single-line rail network linking the U.S., Mexico and Canada by combining with KCS, subject to U.S. Surface Transportation Board approval.
"Our proposed combination with KCS will connect customers to new markets, enhance competition in the U.S. rail network and drive economic growth across North America," Creel said. "As we continue to progress toward this historic combination, our excitement about the opportunities ahead with the combined companies continues to grow."
Conference Call Details
CP will discuss its results with the financial community in a conference call beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. MT) on July 28, 2022.
Conference Call Access
Canada and U.S.: 866-831-8713
International: 203-518-9822
*Conference ID: CPQ222
Callers should dial in 10 minutes prior to the call.
Webcast
We encourage you to access the webcast and presentation material in the Investors section of CP's website at investor.cpr.ca.
A replay of the second-quarter conference call will be available by phone through to Aug. 4, 2022 at 800-839-6910 (Canada/U.S.) or 402-220-6058 (International).
Note on forward-looking information
This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements concerning expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions and statements about possible future events, conditions, and results of operations or performance. Forward-looking information may contain statements with words or headings such as "financial expectations", "key assumptions", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "will", "outlook", "should" or similar words suggesting future outcomes. This news release contains forward-looking information relating, but not limited to statements concerning, cost control efforts, the success of our business, changes to economic and industry conditions, the status of the CP-KCS transaction, including related regulatory approvals, and the opportunities arising there from, our operations, priorities and plans, anticipated financial and operational performance, business prospects and demand for our services and growth opportunities.
The forward-looking information that may be in this news release is based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, having regard to CP's experience and its perception of historical trends, and includes, but is not limited to, expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions relating to: changes in business strategies, North American and global economic growth; commodity demand growth; sustainable industrial and agricultural production; commodity prices and interest rates; performance of our assets and equipment; sufficiency of our budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out our business plan; geopolitical conditions, applicable laws, regulations and government policies; the availability and cost of labour, services and infrastructure; the satisfaction by third parties of their obligations to CP; and the anticipated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on CP businesses, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition. Although CP believes the expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking information presented herein are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Current conditions, economic and otherwise, render assumptions, although reasonable when made, subject to greater uncertainty.
Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking information. By its nature, CP's forward-looking information involves inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward looking information, including, but not limited to, the following factors: changes in business strategies and strategic opportunities; general Canadian, U.S., Mexican and global social, economic, political, credit and business conditions; risks associated with agricultural production such as weather conditions and insect populations; the availability and price of energy commodities; the effects of competition and pricing pressures, including competition from other rail carriers, trucking companies and maritime shippers in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico; North American and global economic growth; industry capacity; shifts in market demand; changes in commodity prices and commodity demand; uncertainty surrounding timing and volumes of commodities being shipped via CP; inflation; geopolitical instability; changes in laws, regulations and government policies, including regulation of rates; changes in taxes and tax rates; potential increases in maintenance and operating costs; changes in fuel prices; disruption in fuel supplies; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; compliance with environmental regulations; labour disputes; changes in labour costs and labour difficulties; risks and liabilities arising from derailments; transportation of dangerous goods; timing of completion of capital and maintenance projects; sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out business plans; services and infrastructure; the satisfaction by third parties of their obligations; currency and interest rate fluctuations; exchange rates; effects of changes in market conditions and discount rates on the financial position of pension plans and investments; trade restrictions or other changes to international trade arrangements; the effects of current and future multinational trade agreements on the level of trade among Canada, the U.S. and Mexico; climate change and the market and regulatory responses to climate change; anticipated in-service dates; success of hedging activities; operational performance and reliability; customer, regulatory and other stakeholder approvals and support; regulatory and legislative decisions and actions; the adverse impact of any termination or revocation by the Mexican government of Kansas City Southern de México, S.A. de C.V.'s Concession; public opinion; various events that could disrupt operations, including severe weather, such as droughts, floods, avalanches and earthquakes, and cybersecurity attacks, as well as security threats and governmental response to them, and technological changes; acts of terrorism, war or other acts of violence or crime or risk of such activities; insurance coverage limitations; material adverse changes in economic and industry conditions, including the availability of short and long-term financing; the pandemic created by the outbreak of COVID-19 and its variants and resulting effects on economic conditions, the demand environment for logistics requirements and energy prices, restrictions imposed by public health authorities or governments, fiscal and monetary policy responses by governments and financial institutions, and disruptions to global supply chains; the realization of anticipated benefits and synergies of the CP-KCS transaction and the timing thereof; the success of integration plans for KCS; the focus of management time and attention on the CP-KCS transaction and other disruptions arising from the transaction; estimated future dividends; financial strength and flexibility; debt and equity market conditions, including the ability to access capital markets on favourable terms or at all; cost of debt and equity capital; and the ability of the management of the Company to execute key priorities, including those in connection with the CP-KCS transaction. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. These and other factors are detailed from time to time in reports filed by CP with securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Reference should be made to "Item 1A - Risk Factors" and "Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking Statements" in CP's annual and interim reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q.
Any forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, CP undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information, or the foregoing assumptions and risks affecting such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to major ports on the west and east coasts. CP provides North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP. CP-IR
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS AT
(unaudited)
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(unaudited)
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2022
(unaudited)
1 Basis of presentation
These unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements ("Interim Consolidated Financial Statements") of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited ("CPRL") and its subsidiaries (collectively, "CP", or "the Company"), expressed in Canadian dollars, reflect management's estimates and assumptions that are necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"). They do not include all disclosures required under GAAP for annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the 2021 annual Consolidated Financial Statements and notes included in CP's 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The accounting policies used are consistent with the accounting policies used in preparing the 2021 annual Consolidated Financial Statements.
CP's operations can be affected by seasonal fluctuations such as changes in customer demand and weather-related issues. This seasonality could impact quarter-over-quarter comparisons.
In management's opinion, the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly such information. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the fiscal year.
2 Accounting changes
Implemented in 2022
Government Assistance
On January 1, 2022, the Company adopted the new Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2021-10, issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"), and all related amendments under FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 832, Government Assistance. The amendment is made to increase transparency by introducing specific disclosure requirements for entities who apply a grant or contribution model by analogy to account for transactions with a government. This update is applied to government assistance transactions within the scope of this amendment that are in the financial statements at the date of initial application and prospectively to new transactions entered into after initial application. See Note 9 for further discussion on government assistance.
All other accounting pronouncements that became effective during the period covered by the Interim Consolidated Financial Statements did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.
Future changes
Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities Acquired in a Business Combination
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. This amendment introduces the requirement for an acquirer to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, rather than at fair value. This amendment will be effective prospectively from January 1, 2023, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this amendment.
All other accounting pronouncements recently issued, but not effective until after June 30, 2022, have been assessed and are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.
3 Revenues
The following table disaggregates the Company's revenues from contracts with customers by major source:
Contract liabilities
Contract liabilities represent payments received for performance obligations not yet satisfied and relate to deferred revenue and are presented as components of "Accounts payable and accrued liabilities" and "Other long-term liabilities" on the Company's Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The following table summarizes the changes in contract liabilities:
4 Other expense
5 Income taxes
The effective tax rates including discrete items for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 were 24.21% and 19.59%, respectively, compared to 17.10% and 19.50%, respectively for the same periods of 2021.
For the three months ended June 30, 2022, the effective tax rate was 24.25%, excluding the discrete items of equity earnings of Kansas City Southern ("KCS"), acquisition-related costs incurred by CP of $19 million, and outside basis deferred tax expense of $49 million arising from the difference between the carrying amount of CP's investment in KCS for financial reporting and the underlying tax basis of this investment.
For the three months ended June 30, 2021, the effective tax rate was 24.60%, excluding the discrete items of the merger termination fee of $845 million (U.S. $700 million) received in connection with KCS's termination of the Original Merger Agreement, foreign exchange ("FX") gain of $52 million on debt and lease liabilities, and acquisition-related costs of $308 million.
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the effective tax rate was 24.25%, excluding the discrete items of equity earnings of KCS, acquisition-related costs incurred by CP of $39 million, and outside basis deferred tax expense of $17 million arising from the difference between the carrying amount of CP's investment in KCS for financial reporting and the underlying tax basis of this investment.
For the six months ended June 30, 2021, the effective tax rate was 24.60%, excluding the discrete items of the merger termination fee of $845 million (U.S. $700 million), FX gain of $85 million on debt and lease liabilities, and acquisition-related costs of $344 million.
6 Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share has been calculated using Net income for the period divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. The number of shares used in the earnings per share calculations are reconciled as follows:
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, there were 0.8 million and 0.4 million options, respectively, excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effects were not dilutive (three and six months ended June 30, 2021 - nil).
7 Changes in Accumulated other comprehensive loss ("AOCL") by component
Amounts in Pension and post-retirement defined benefit plans reclassified from AOCL are as follows:
8 Accounts receivable, net
9 Government assistance
By analogy to the grant model of accounting within International Accounting Standards ("IAS") 20, Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance, CP records government assistance from various levels of Canadian and U.S. governments and government agencies when the conditions of their receipt are complied with and there is reasonable assurance that the assistance will be received.
Government assistance related to properties have as a primary condition that CP should purchase, construct, or otherwise acquire property, plant and equipment. Under certain government assistance arrangements, there is a secondary condition which requires CP to repay a portion of the assistance if certain conditions related to the assets are not adhered to during a specified period. In these cases, it is CP's intention to comply with all conditions imposed by the terms of the government assistance. Government assistance received or receivable related to CP's property assets are deducted from the cost of the assets in the Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets within "Properties" and amortized over the same period as the related assets in "Depreciation and amortization" in the Interim Consolidated Statements of Income.
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company received $6 million and $19 million, respectively, of government assistance towards the purchase and construction of properties.
As of June 30, 2022, the total Properties balance of $21,502 million is net of $274 million of unamortized government assistance (December 31, 2021 - $259 million), primarily related to the enhancement of CP's track and roadway infrastructure. Amortization expense related to government assistance for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 was $2 million and $5 million, respectively.
10 Business acquisition
Kansas City Southern
The Company accounts for its investment in KCS using the equity method of accounting while the U.S. Surface Transportation Board ("STB") considers the Company's application to control KCS. The STB review of CP's proposed control of KCS while KCS is in the voting trust is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023. The investment in KCS of $43,203 million as at June 30, 2022 includes $208 million and $406 million of equity earnings of KCS for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, offset by a dividend received of $334 million on January 27, 2022. Included within the $208 million and $406 million of equity earnings of KCS recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 was amortization (net of tax), of the approximately $30 billion basis difference, representing the difference in value between the consideration paid to acquire KCS and the underlying carrying value of the net assets of KCS as at December 14, 2021, immediately prior to the acquisition by CP. The amortization (net of tax), recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 was $39 million and $79 million, respectively. The basis difference is related to depreciable property, plant and equipment, intangible assets with definite lives, and long-term debt, and is amortized over the related assets' remaining useful lives, and the remaining terms to maturity of the debt instruments.
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company incurred $19 million and $39 million, in acquisition-related costs, respectively, recorded within "Purchased services and other" in the Company's Interim Consolidated Statements of Income. Acquisition-related costs of $14 million and $27 million incurred by KCS during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 are included within "Equity earnings of Kansas City Southern" in the Company's Interim Consolidated Statements of Income.
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company incurred $308 million and $344 million in acquisition-related costs, respectively, of which $99 million and $132 million were recorded within "Purchased services and other" and $209 million and $212 million were recorded within "Other expense", respectively, including the amortization of financing fees associated with new credit facilities. Total financing fees paid for a bridge facility associated with the KCS acquisition during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 were $12 million and $45 million, respectively, presented under Cash used in financing activities in the Company's Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
On May 21, 2021, KCS terminated the Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into on March 21, 2021 (the "Original Merger Agreement") with CP to enter into a definitive agreement with Canadian National Railway. At the same time and in accordance with the terms of the Original Merger Agreement, KCS paid CP a termination fee of $845 million (U.S. $700 million). This amount is reported as "Merger termination fee" in the Company's Interim Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021. No similar items were received in the same period of 2022.
11 Investment in KCS
The KCS investment carrying cost of $43,203 million reported on the Company's Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets as at June 30, 2022 reflects the consideration paid to acquire KCS, the asset recorded upon recognition of a deferred tax liability computed on an outside basis (see Note 5), the subsequent recognition of equity earnings, the dividend received from KCS, and foreign currency translation based on the quarter-end exchange rate.
The following table presents summarized financial information for KCS, on its historical cost basis:
Statement of Income
12 Debt
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company repaid at maturity $125 million 5.100% 10-year Medium Term Notes, U.S. $250 million ($313 million) 4.500% 10-year Notes, and a U.S. $76 million ($97 million) 6.99% finance lease.
Credit facility
Effective March 14, 2022, the Company extended the maturity date of the U.S. $500 million unsecured non-revolving term credit facility (the "term facility") to September 15, 2022. As at June 30, 2022, the Company had borrowings of U.S. $400 million ($515 million) under this term facility (December 31, 2021 - U.S. $500 million) at an interest rate of 2.73% (December 31, 2021 - 1.38%).
Commercial paper program
The Company has a commercial paper program which enables it to issue commercial paper up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of U.S. $1.0 billion in the form of unsecured promissory notes. This commercial paper program is backed by the U.S. $1.3 billion revolving credit facility. As at June 30, 2022, the Company had total commercial paper borrowings of U.S. $540 million ($696 million), included in "Long-term debt maturing within one year" on the Company's Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets (December 31, 2021 - U.S. $265 million). The weighted-average interest rate on these borrowings was 2.00% (December 31, 2021 - 0.32%). The Company presents issuances and repayments of commercial paper, all of which have a maturity of less than 90 days, in the Company's Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows on a net basis.
13 Financial instruments
A. Fair values of financial instruments
The Company categorizes its financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy established by GAAP that prioritizes those inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value based on the degree to which they are observable. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; Level 2 inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly; and Level 3 inputs are not observable in the market.
The Company's short-term financial instruments may include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and short-term borrowings including commercial paper and term loans. The carrying values of short-term financial instruments approximate their fair values.
The carrying value of the Company's long-term debt and finance lease liabilities does not approximate their fair value. Their estimated fair value has been determined based on market information, where available, or by discounting future payments of principal and interest at estimated interest rates expected to be available to the Company at period end. All measurements are classified as Level 2. The Company's long-term debt and finance lease liabilities, including current maturities, with a carrying value of $18,858 million as at June 30, 2022 (December 31, 2021 - $19,151 million), had a fair value of $17,570 million (December 31, 2021 - $21,265 million).
B. Financial risk management
FX management
Net investment hedge
The effect of the Company's net investment hedge for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 was an unrealized FX loss of $216 million and $118 million, respectively (three and six months ended June 30, 2021 - unrealized FX gain of $86 million and $162 million, respectively) recognized in "Other comprehensive income (loss)".
14 Shareholders' equity
On January 27, 2021, the Company announced a normal course issuer bid ("NCIB"), commencing January 29, 2021, to purchase up to 16.7 million Common Shares in the open market for cancellation on or before January 28, 2022. Upon expiry of this NCIB, the Company had not purchased any Common Shares under this NCIB.
15 Pension and other benefits
In the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company made contributions to its defined benefit pension plans of $4 million and $7 million, respectively (three and six months ended June 30, 2021 - $7 million and $11 million, respectively).
Net periodic benefit costs for defined benefit pension plans and other benefits included the following components:
16 Stock-based compensation
As at June 30, 2022, the Company had several stock-based compensation plans including stock option plans, various cash-settled liability plans, and an employee share purchase plan. These plans resulted in an expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 of $2 million and $46 million, respectively (three and six months ended June 30, 2021 - expense of $25 million and $49 million, respectively).
Stock option plans
In the six months ended June 30, 2022, under CP's stock option plans, the Company issued 831,052 options at the weighted-average price of $90.91 per share, based on the closing price on the grant date. Pursuant to the employee plan, these options may be exercised upon vesting, which is between 12 months and 48 months after the grant date, and will expire after seven years.
Under the fair value method, the fair value of the stock options at grant date was approximately $16 million. The weighted-average fair value assumptions were approximately:
Performance share unit plans
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company issued 411,999 Performance Share Units ("PSUs") with a grant date fair value of approximately $36 million and 13,506 Performance Deferred Share Units ("PDSUs") with a grant date fair value, including the value of expected future matching units, of approximately $2 million. PSUs and PDSUs attract dividend equivalents in the form of additional units based on dividends paid on the Company's Common Shares, and vest approximately three years after the grant date, contingent upon CP's performance ("performance factor"). The fair value of these PSUs and PDSUs is measured periodically until settlement. Vested PSUs are settled in cash. Vested PDSUs are settled in cash pursuant to the Deferred Share Unit ("DSU") Plan and are eligible for a 25% match if the holder has not exceeded their share ownership requirements, and are paid out only when the holder ceases their employment with CP.
The performance period for PSUs and PDSUs issued in the six months ended June 30, 2022 is January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 and the performance factors are Free Cash Flow ("FCF"), Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA") Modifier, Total Shareholder Return ("TSR") compared to the S&P/TSX 60 Index, and TSR compared to S&P 500 Industrials Index.
The performance period for PSUs issued in 2019 was January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. The performance factors for 668,405 PSUs were Return on Invested Capital ("ROIC"), TSR compared to the S&P/TSX 60 Index, and TSR compared to Class I Railways. The resulting payout was 200% of the outstanding units multiplied by the Company's average share price calculated using the last 30 trading days preceding December 31, 2021. In the first quarter of 2022, payouts occurred on 631,457 total outstanding awards, including dividends reinvested, totalling $116 million.
Deferred share unit plan
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company granted 46,930 Deferred Share Units ("DSUs") with a grant date fair value of approximately $4 million. DSUs vest over various periods of up to 36 months and are only redeemable for a specified period after employment is terminated. The expense for DSUs is recognized over the vesting period for both the initial subscription price and the change in value between reporting periods.
17 Contingencies
In the normal course of its operations, the Company becomes involved in various legal actions, including claims relating to injuries and damage to property. The Company maintains provisions it considers to be adequate for such actions. While the final outcome with respect to actions outstanding or pending at June 30, 2022 cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of management that their resolution will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial position or results of operations. However, an unexpected adverse resolution of one or more of these legal actions could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial position, results of operations, or liquidity in a particular quarter or fiscal year.
Legal proceedings related to Lac-Mégantic rail accident
On July 6, 2013, a train carrying petroleum crude oil operated by Montréal Maine and Atlantic Railway ("MMAR") or a subsidiary, Montréal Maine & Atlantic Canada Co. ("MMAC" and collectively the "MMA Group"), derailed in Lac-Mégantic, Québec. The derailment occurred on a section of railway owned and operated by the MMA Group and while the MMA Group exclusively controlled the train.
Following the derailment, MMAC sought court protection in Canada under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and MMAR filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. Plans of arrangement were approved in both Canada and the U.S. (the "Plans"), providing for the distribution of approximately $440 million amongst those claiming derailment damages.
A number of legal proceedings, set out below, were commenced in Canada and the U.S. against CP and others:
(1) Québec's Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks ordered various parties, including CP, to remediate the derailment site (the "Cleanup Order") and served CP with a Notice of Claim for $95 million for those costs. CP appealed the Cleanup Order and contested the Notice of Claim with the Administrative Tribunal of Québec. These proceedings are stayed pending determination of the Attorney General of Québec ("AGQ") action (paragraph 2 below).
(2) The AGQ sued CP in the Québec Superior Court claiming $409 million in damages, which was amended and reduced to $315 million (the "AGQ Action"). The AGQ Action alleges that: (i) CP was responsible for the petroleum crude oil from its point of origin until its delivery to Irving Oil Ltd.; and (ii) CP is vicariously liable for the acts and omissions of the MMA Group.
(3) A class action in the Québec Superior Court on behalf of persons and entities residing in, owning or leasing property in, operating a business in, or physically present in Lac-Mégantic at the time of the derailment was certified against CP on May 8, 2015 (the "Class Action"). Other defendants including MMAC and Mr. Thomas Harding ("Harding") were added to the Class Action on January 25, 2017. On November 28, 2019, the plaintiffs' motion to discontinue their action against Harding was granted. The Class Action seeks unquantified damages, including for wrongful death, personal injury, property damage, and economic loss.
(4) Eight subrogated insurers sued CP in the Québec Superior Court claiming approximately $16 million in damages, which was amended and reduced to approximately $15 million (the "Promutuel Action"), and two additional subrogated insurers sued CP claiming approximately $3 million in damages (the "Royal Action"). Both actions contain similar allegations as the AGQ Action. The actions do not identify the subrogated parties. As such, the extent of any overlap between the damages claimed in these actions and under the Plans is unclear. The Royal Action is stayed pending determination of the consolidated proceedings described below.
On December 11, 2017, the AGQ Action, the Class Action and the Promutuel Action were consolidated. The joint liability trial of these consolidated claims commenced on September 21, 2021 with oral arguments ending on June 15, 2022. A decision is expected by December 15, 2022. A damages trial will follow if necessary.
(5) Forty-eight plaintiffs (all individual claims joined in one action) sued CP, MMAC, and Harding in the Québec Superior Court claiming approximately $5 million in damages for economic loss and pain and suffering, and asserting similar allegations as in the Class Action and the AGQ Action. The majority of the plaintiffs opted-out of the Class Action and all but two are also plaintiffs in litigation against CP, described in paragraph 7 below. This action is stayed pending determination of the consolidated claims described above.
(6) The MMAR U.S. bankruptcy estate representative commenced an action against CP in November 2014 in the Maine Bankruptcy Court claiming that CP failed to abide by certain regulations and seeking approximately U.S. $30 million in damages for MMAR's loss in business value according to a recent expert report filed by the bankruptcy estate. This action asserts that CP knew or ought to have known that the shipper misclassified the petroleum crude oil and therefore should have refused to transport it.
(7) The class and mass tort action commenced against CP in June 2015 in Texas (on behalf of Lac-Mégantic residents and wrongful death representatives) and the wrongful death and personal injury actions commenced against CP in June 2015 in Illinois and Maine, were all transferred and consolidated in Federal District Court in Maine (the "Maine Actions"). The Maine Actions allege that CP negligently misclassified and improperly packaged the petroleum crude oil. On CP's motion, the Maine Actions were dismissed. The plaintiffs appealed the dismissal decision to the United States First Circuit Court of Appeals, which dismissed the plaintiffs' appeal on June 2, 2021. The plaintiffs further petitioned the United States First Circuit Court of Appeals for a rehearing, which was denied on September 8, 2021. On January 24, 2022, the plaintiffs further appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court on two bankruptcy procedural grounds. On May 31, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition, thereby rejecting the plaintiffs' appeal.
(8) The trustee for the wrongful death trust commenced Carmack Amendment claims against CP in North Dakota Federal Court, seeking to recover approximately U.S. $6 million for damaged rail cars and lost crude and reimbursement for the settlement paid by the consignor and the consignee under the Plans (alleged to be U.S. $110 million and U.S. $60 million, respectively). The Court issued an Order on August 6, 2020 granting and denying in parts the parties' summary judgment motions which has been reviewed and confirmed following motions by the parties for clarification and reconsideration. This action is scheduled for trial on November 7 to 11, 2022.
At this stage of the proceedings, any potential responsibility and the quantum of potential losses cannot be determined. Nevertheless, CP denies liability and is vigorously defending these proceedings.
Environmental liabilities
Environmental remediation accruals, recorded on an undiscounted basis unless a reliable, determinable estimate as to an amount and timing of costs can be established, cover site-specific remediation programs.
The accruals for environmental remediation represent CP's best estimate of its probable future obligation and include both asserted and unasserted claims, without reduction for anticipated recoveries from third parties. Although the recorded accruals include CP's best estimate of all probable costs, CP's total environmental remediation costs cannot be predicted with certainty. Accruals for environmental remediation may change from time to time as new information about previously untested sites becomes known, and as environmental laws and regulations evolve and advances are made in environmental remediation technology. The accruals may also vary as the courts decide legal proceedings against outside parties responsible for contamination. These potential charges, which cannot be quantified at this time, may materially affect income in the particular period in which a charge is recognized. Costs related to existing, but as yet unknown, or future contamination will be accrued in the period in which they become probable and reasonably estimable.
The expense included in "Purchased services and other" in the Company's Interim Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 was $2 million and $4 million (three and six months ended June 30, 2021 - $2 million and $4 million, respectively). Provisions for environmental remediation costs are recorded in the Company's Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets in "Other long-term liabilities", except for the current portion which is recorded in "Accounts payable and accrued liabilities". The total amount provided as at June 30, 2022 was $81 million (December 31, 2021 - $79 million). Payments are expected to be made over 10 years through 2031.
Summary of Rail Data
Summary of Rail Data (Continued)
Summary of Rail Data (Continued)
Summary of Rail Data (Continued)
Non-GAAP Measures
The Company presents Non-GAAP measures to provide a basis for evaluating underlying earnings and liquidity trends in the Company's business that can be compared with the results of operations in prior periods. In addition, these Non-GAAP measures facilitate a multi-period assessment of long-term profitability, allowing management and other external users of the Company's consolidated financial information to compare profitability on a long-term basis, including assessing future profitability, with that of the Company's peers.
These Non-GAAP measures have no standardized meaning and are not defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The presentation of these Non-GAAP measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as superior to the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.
Non-GAAP Performance Measures
The Company uses adjusted earnings results including Adjusted income, Adjusted diluted earnings per share, Adjusted operating income and Adjusted operating ratio to evaluate the Company's operating performance and for planning and forecasting future business operations and future profitability. Core adjusted income and Core adjusted diluted earnings per share are presented to provide financial statement users with additional transparency by isolating for the impact of KCS purchase accounting. KCS purchase accounting represents the amortization of basis differences, being the difference in value between the consideration paid to acquire KCS and the underlying carrying value of the net assets of KCS immediately prior to its acquisition by the Company. All assets subject to KCS purchase accounting contribute to income generation and will continue to amortize over their estimated useful lives. These Non-GAAP measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding operating results because they exclude certain significant items that are not considered indicative of future financial trends either by nature or amount or provide improved comparability to past performance. As a result, these items are excluded for management assessment of operational performance, allocation of resources and preparation of annual budgets. These significant items may include, but are not limited to, restructuring and asset impairment charges, individually significant gains and losses from sales of assets, acquisition-related costs, the merger termination payment received, the foreign exchange ("FX") impact of translating the Company's debt and lease liabilities (including borrowings under the credit facility), discrete tax items, changes in the outside basis tax difference between the carrying amount of CP's equity investment in KCS and its tax basis of this investment, changes in income tax rates, changes to an uncertain tax item, and certain items outside the control of management. Acquisition-related costs include legal, consulting, financing fees, integration planning costs consisting of third-party services and system migration, fair value gain or loss on FX forward contracts and interest rate hedges, FX gain on U.S. dollar-denominated cash on hand from the issuances of long-term debt to fund the KCS acquisition, and transaction and integration costs incurred by KCS which were recognized within Equity earnings of Kansas City Southern in the Company's Interim Consolidated Statements of Income. These items may not be non-recurring. However, excluding these significant items from GAAP results allows for a consistent understanding of the Company's consolidated financial performance when performing a multi-period assessment including assessing the likelihood of future results. Accordingly, these Non-GAAP financial measures may provide insight to investors and other external users of the Company's consolidated financial information.
Significant items that impact reported earnings for the first six months of 2022, the twelve months of 2021, and the last six months of 2020 include:
2022:
- a net deferred tax expense of $17 million on changes in the outside basis difference of the equity investment in KCS that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 2 cents as follows:
- acquisition-related costs of $66 million in connection with the KCS acquisition ($59 million after current tax recovery of $7 million), including costs of $39 million recognized in Purchased services and other, and $27 million recognized in Equity earnings of KCS, that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 6 cents as follows:
2021:
- in the fourth quarter, a deferred tax recovery of $33 million on changes in the outside basis difference of the equity investment in KCS that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 5 cents;
- in the second quarter, the merger termination payment received of $845 million ($748 million after current taxes) in connection with KCS's termination of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Original Merger Agreement") effective May 21, 2021 that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by $1.11;
- during the course of the year, acquisition-related costs of $599 million in connection with the KCS acquisition ($500 million after current tax recovery of $107 million net of deferred tax expense of $8 million), including costs of $183 million recognized in Purchased services and other, $169 million recognized in Equity loss of KCS, and $247 million recognized in Other expense (income), that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 75 cents as follows:
- during the course of the year, a net non-cash gain of $7 million ($6 million after deferred tax) due to FX translation of debt and lease liabilities that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 1 cent as follows:
2020:
- in the fourth quarter, a deferred tax recovery of $29 million due to a change relating to a tax return filing election for the state of North Dakota that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 5 cents; and
- a net non-cash gain of $143 million ($128 million after deferred tax) due to FX translation of debt and lease liabilities that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 19 cents as follows:
Reconciliation of GAAP Performance Measures to Non-GAAP Performance Measures
The following tables reconcile the most directly comparable measures presented in accordance with GAAP to the Non-GAAP measures:
Adjusted income is calculated as Net income reported on a GAAP basis adjusted for significant items. Core adjusted income is calculated as Adjusted income less KCS purchase accounting.
Adjusted diluted earnings per share is calculated using Adjusted income, as defined above, divided by the weighted-average diluted number of Common Shares outstanding during the period as determined in accordance with GAAP. Core adjusted diluted earnings per share is calculated as Adjusted diluted earnings per share less KCS purchase accounting.
Adjusted operating income is calculated as Operating income reported on a GAAP basis less significant items.
Adjusted operating ratio excludes those significant items that are reported within operating income.
Adjusted Return on Invested Capital ("Adjusted ROIC")
Adjusted ROIC is calculated as Adjusted return divided by Adjusted average invested capital. Adjusted return is defined as Net income adjusted for interest expense, tax effected at the Company's adjusted annualized effective tax rate, and significant items in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, tax effected at the applicable tax rate. Adjusted average invested capital is defined as the sum of total Shareholders' equity, Long-term debt, and Long-term debt maturing within one year, as presented in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, each averaged between the beginning and ending balance over a trailing twelve month period, adjusted for the impact of significant items, tax effected at the applicable tax rate, on closing balances as part of this average. Adjusted ROIC excludes significant items reported in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, as these significant items are not considered indicative of future financial trends either by nature or amount, and excludes interest expense, net of tax, to incorporate returns on the Company's overall capitalization. Adjusted ROIC is a performance measure that measures how productively the Company uses its long-term capital investments, representing critical indicators of good operating and investment decisions made by management, and is an important performance criteria in determining certain elements of the Company's long-term incentive plan. Adjusted ROIC is reconciled below from Return on average shareholders' equity, the most comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Calculation of Return on average shareholders' equity
Reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted return
Reconciliation of Average shareholders' equity to Adjusted average invested capital
Calculation of Adjusted ROIC
Free Cash
Free cash is calculated as Cash provided by operating activities, less Cash used in investing activities, adjusted for changes in cash and cash equivalents balances resulting from FX fluctuations, the operating cash flow impacts of acquisition-related costs associated with the KCS transaction, and the merger termination payment received related to KCS's termination of the Original Merger Agreement. Free cash is a measure that management considers to be a valuable indicator of liquidity. Free cash is useful to investors and other external users of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements as it assists with the evaluation of the Company's ability to generate cash to satisfy debt obligations and discretionary activities such as dividends, share repurchase programs, and other strategic opportunities. The acquisition-related costs associated with the KCS acquisition are not indicative of operating trends and have been excluded from Free cash. Free cash should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, Cash provided by operating activities.
Reconciliation of Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash
Foreign Exchange Adjusted % Change
FX adjusted % change allows certain financial results to be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, thereby facilitating period-to-period comparisons in the analysis of trends in business performance. Financial result variances at constant currency are obtained by translating the comparable period of the prior year results denominated in U.S. dollars at the foreign exchange rates of the current period.
FX adjusted % changes in revenues are further used in calculating FX adjusted % change in freight revenue per carload and RTM. FX adjusted % changes in revenues are as follows:
FX adjusted % changes in operating expenses are as follows:
FX adjusted % change in operating income is as follows:
Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio and Pro-forma adjusted Net Debt to Pro-forma adjusted EBITDA Ratio
Adjusted net debt to Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") ratio is calculated as Adjusted net debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA. The Adjusted net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio is a key credit measure used to assess the Company's financial capacity. The ratio provides information on the Company's ability to service its debt and other long-term obligations from operations, excluding significant items. The Adjusted net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio is reconciled below from the Long-term debt to Net income ratio, the most comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2022, CP added disclosure of Pro-forma adjusted net debt to Pro-forma adjusted EBITDA ratio to better align with CP's debt covenant calculation, which incorporates the trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA of KCS as well as KCS's outstanding debt. CP is incorporating the trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA of KCS on a pro-forma basis, as CP is not entitled to earnings prior to the acquisition date of December 14, 2021. CP does not control KCS while it is in the voting trust during review of our merger application by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board ("STB"), though CP is the beneficial owner of KCS's outstanding shares and receives cash dividends from KCS. The adjustment to include the trailing twelve month EBITDA and KCS's outstanding debt provides users of the financial statements with better insight into CP's progress in achieving deleveraging commitments. KCS's disclosed U.S. dollar financial values for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2022 were adjusted to Canadian dollars reflecting the FX rate for the appropriate period presented. We have not presented 2021 Pro-forma adjusted net debt to Pro-forma adjusted EBITDA as CP was not the beneficial owner of KCS's shares as at June 30, 2021.
Calculation of Long-term Debt to Net Income Ratio
Reconciliation of Long-term Debt to Adjusted Net Debt and Pro-forma Adjusted Net Debt
Adjusted net debt is defined as Long-term debt, Long-term debt maturing within one year, and Short-term borrowing as reported on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets adjusted for pension plans deficit, operating lease liabilities recognized on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, and Cash and cash equivalents. Adjusted net debt is used as a measure of debt and long-term obligations as part of the calculation of Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA.
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBIT, Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBITDA and Pro-forma Adjusted EBITDA
Earnings before interest and tax ("EBIT") is calculated as Net income before Net interest expense and Income tax expense. Adjusted EBIT excludes significant items reported in both Operating income and Other expense. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as Adjusted EBIT plus operating lease expense and Depreciation and amortization, less Other components of net periodic benefit recovery. Adjusted EBITDA is used as a measure of liquidity derived from operations, excluding significant items, as part of the calculation of Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA.
Calculation of Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio and Pro-forma Adjusted Net Debt to Pro-forma Adjusted EBITDA Ratio
View original content:
SOURCE Canadian Pacific
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/cp-reports-strong-q2-results-momentum-accelerating-second-half-year/
| 2022-07-28T13:33:09
|
en
| 0.955068
|
Rychlewski's proven success with ONEsolution™ project delivery drives client satisfaction and repeat business; Ben Rucker named Market Team Leader
KANSAS CITY, Miss., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CRB, a leading provider of engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting solutions to the food and beverage industry, has promoted Tom Rychlewski as its first Vice President of the company's Food & Beverage operations. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Rychlewski joins five domestic and two international Regional Vice Presidents guiding CRB's operations across North America and Europe.
In his new role, Rychlewski will lead design, automation, and construction operations across CRB's Food & Beverage organization, advancing the company's brand as an integrated, global leader in the food & beverage market. He will report to Lance Nordbak, CRB's Chief Operating Officer of Regional Operations, and will partner with Food & Beverage Vice President Jason Robertson to drive the company's expanding project portfolio.
That portfolio continues to grow dramatically as clients increasingly turn to CRB's ONEsolution™ project delivery approach, which leverages a single project team to align with clients on cost and schedule without sacrificing quality. Clients choose the company's approach for their large capital expenditure projects because ONEsolution provides everything needed from initial planning and design through to construction and operational readiness. The approach has been successfully used to develop large-scale facilities across conventional food and beverage spaces as well as a growing number of alternative proteins manufacturing projects.
Before his promotion, Rychlewski served as Market Team Leader and helped grow the company's Food & Beverage (F&B) team from inception to an organization that now numbers more than 100 professionals who drive some of the most innovative solutions in the industry. Rychlewski's strong track record of client satisfaction and repeat business made his appointment an easy choice, noted Ryan Schroeder, CRB's President.
"Before this promotion, Tom was already a critical part of CRB's explosive growth in food & beverage manufacturing," said Schroeder. "He's a proven leader with a keen understanding of the challenges our clients face in bringing their products to market quickly, efficiently and profitably. As someone who's been a critical part of the CRB growth story, he's the right person to lead our dynamic project teams whose work makes an impact every day for our clients."
"I am both honored and excited to dig in alongside my colleagues and continue driving F&B on its already impressive trajectory," Rychlewski said. "We have a lot to accomplish, and we have all the right people in place to make it happen."
The company also announced that Ben Rucker, Director of Process Technology, has been named a new Market Team Leader based in St. Louis. Rucker will be responsible for resource development among Food & Beverage market teams, leading the team's execution strategies and advancing the ONEsolution offering.
Rucker provides clients with a deep understanding of process design and equipment, with expertise related to technical sales management and project management, turnkey process design, project estimating, overall vessel/tank design, and custom skidded systems.
CRB is a leading provider of sustainable engineering, architecture, construction, and consulting solutions to the food and beverage and life sciences industries. Led by its innovative ONEsolution™ service, CRB provides successful integrated project delivery for clients demanding high-quality solutions, on time and within budget. The company's nearly 1,800 employees provide world-class solutions that drive success and positive change for clients, people, and communities. CRB is a privately held company with a rich history of serving clients throughout the world, consistently striving for the highest standard of technical knowledge, creativity, and execution.
CONTACTS:
Clarity Quest:
877-887-7611
Bonnie Quintanilla,
bonnie@clarityqst.com or Phyllis Grabot, phyllis@clarityqst.com
CRB:
816-200-5234
Chris Clark
chris.clark@crbgroup.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE CRB
|
https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/28/crb-taps-tom-rychlewski-companys-first-vice-president-food-amp-beverage-operations/
| 2022-07-28T13:33:16
|
en
| 0.946755
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.