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Former president Donald Trump’s company charged the Secret Service as much as five times more than the government rate for agents to stay overnight at Trump hotels while protecting him and his family, according to expense records newly obtained by Congress.
“The exorbitant rates charged to the Secret Service and agents’ frequent stays at Trump-owned properties raise significant concerns about the former President’s self-dealing and may have resulted in a taxpayer-funded windfall for former President Trump’s struggling businesses,” Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) wrote to Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
The records contradict the repeated claim made by Eric Trump, the president’s son and the Trump Organization’s executive vice president, that the family’s company often gave the Secret Service agents the hotel rooms “at cost” or sometimes free, providing steep discounts for the security team to stay at Trump properties.
While the documents do not cover all Secret Service expenses at Trump properties during his presidency and reflect only a fraction of those expenses since he left office, it offers a more detailed financial accounting than previously known of what taxpayers paid for Trump’s frequent choice to stay at his properties.
Maloney, chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, obtained the records as part of her investigation into how Trump may have profited off his security agents’ duty to follow him wherever he traveled. She wrote a letter Monday to Cheatle demanding a complete accounting of what taxpayers have paid — and continue to pay — the Trump Organization.
“Given the long-standing concerns surrounding the former President’s conflicts of interest and efforts to profit off the presidency, the committee has a strong interest in obtaining a complete accounting of federal government spending at Trump properties,” Maloney wrote. “The Committee continues to examine potential legislation to prevent presidential self-dealing and profiteering, as well as to curb conflicts of interest by ensuring that future presidents are prevented from exercising undue influence on Secret Service spending. ”
In 2019, Eric Trump said the Trump Organization was saving the Secret Service agents — and taxpayers who paid the bill — huge sums.
“If my father travels, they stay at our properties free,” he said. “So everywhere that he goes, if he stays at one of his places, the government actually spends, meaning it saves a fortune because if they were to go to a hotel across the street, they’d be charging them $500 a night, whereas, you know we charge them, like $50.”
In 2020, Eric Trump reiterated that Trump Organization was giving these public servants — and ultimately taxpayers — discounted rates.
“We provide the rooms at cost and could make far more money renting them to members or guests,” he said.
Neither the Secret Service nor the Trump Organization immediately responded to messages from The Washington Post about the new congressional report.
But the reality was different, the records reveal. During Trump’s presidency, Secret Service supervisors frequently asked for special waivers to let the agency pay far more than the government-approved nightly rate for a hotel in D.C. — usually $195 to $240. Instead, they paid the higher costs the Trump Organization was charging.
In April 2017, when Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, were staying at the Trump International Hotel in D.C., the president’s company charged the Secret Service agents $1,160 — more than four times the government rate at the time — the records show.
In November 2017, when Donald Trump, Jr., stayed at the same hotel, the government was charged $1,185 a night for his security detail staying overnight at the hotel to protect him.
Maloney stressed that the Secret Service continues to pay the Trump Organization while protecting Trump since he left office, and she is concerned by reports of excessive fees the agency is charged for the former president’s travels. Her committee obtained records that stretch over his four-year presidency and continue from President Biden’s inauguration to September 2021.
Maloney noted in her letter to the Secret Service director that records turned over to her committee do not include the agency’s payments for a series of visits to Trump’s private club at Mar-a-Lago; some visits to his property at Bedminster, N.J.; and for stays at Trump properties outside the United States during frequent foreign travel by Trump and his family. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/10/17/trump-secret-service-hotel-rates-records/ | 2022-10-17 16:33:37 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/10/17/trump-secret-service-hotel-rates-records/ |
(NEXSTAR) — Last month, NASA’s $10 billion James Webb Telescope released its first batch of images that went deeper into the cosmos than humanity has ever seen. On Tuesday, NASA shared a new image Webb captured of “stellar gymnastics in the Cartwheel Galaxy.”
Webb, the world’s largest and most powerful space telescope, left Earth in December and reached its lookout point 1 million miles away in January. After a lengthy process of aligning mirrors, ensuring the infrared detectors were cold enough to operate, and calibrating other instruments, Webb began peering into the depths of space.
In Webb’s latest photo, seen below, NASA says we have “a new view of how the Cartwheel Galaxy has changed over billions of years.”
“Its appearance, much like that of the wheel of a wagon, is the result of an intense event – a high-speed collision between a large spiral galaxy and a smaller galaxy not visible in this image,” NASA explains.
This image — a composite from two of Webb’s instruments — shows the Cartwheel, right, alongside two smaller galaxies with a backdrop of even more galaxies.
Cartwheel’s inner core is comprised of “a tremendous amount of hot dust,” including some massive, but young, star clusters. The outer ring, NASA explains, has been expanding for 440 million years. As it grows, it hits surrounding gas, sparking new star formation. Cartwheel is in a transitory stage and is expected to keep transforming, according to NASA.
The Hubble Space Telescope, Webb’s predecessor, has looked at the Cartwheel before, but the amount of dust around it kept us from getting a sharper view.
Webb is equipped with a Near-Infrared Camera, which can see wavelengths of light that reveal even more stars, especially younger ones. The telescope also has a Mid-Infrared Instrument, allowing it to see areas in the Cartwheel Galaxy rich in hydrocarbons and other chemical compounds. This helped Webb spot the wagon wheel spokes seen in the galaxy above — regions Hubble could see but not as clearly.
If you can’t get enough of Webb’s images, have no fear — more images will be shared in the coming weeks. NASA says its telescope “has a packed schedule of science programs looking at all kinds of cosmic phenomena, like planets, stars, galaxies, black holes, and more.”
You can also find out what Webb is scheduled to look at. Each week, the Space Telescope Science Institute shares Webb’s schedule, which can be found here. Among Webb’s targets this week are Ganymede, a Jupiter moon and the largest in our solar system; Cassiopeia A, the remnant of a massive star that exploded hundreds of years ago; and Jupiter’s main ring.
A full gallery of Webb’s images can be seen here. Future images will also be posted in the gallery, NASA says.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/theres-a-new-photo-from-the-james-webb-telescope-heres-when-we-can-expect-more/ | 2022-08-02 22:52:22 | 1 | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/theres-a-new-photo-from-the-james-webb-telescope-heres-when-we-can-expect-more/ |
Firefighters rescue lost ram, re-home it at their station
GRAHAM, Wash. (KING) - While some firefighters rescue cats stuck in trees, firefighters in Graham, Washington, rescued a ram wandering the streets last week.
For now, they’re keeping it outside the fire department, alongside their pet goats.
“They’re so funny,” Graham Fire and Rescue’s Captain Andrew Kolabis said.
When he’s not putting out fires, Kolabis cares for the station’s two goats, Drip and Torch.
“We don’t have a station dog, so we have a station goat,” he said.
The goats keep the yards surrounding the station trimmed, and they’re popular with tour groups. The firefighters even made them their mascots.
So, last week Graham Fire and Rescue crews felt pretty comfortable rescuing a stray ram.
“Animal control said they could come get it in a few days but they said they’d probably end up putting it down,” Kolabis said. “So he was kind of at a loss for what to do. We’re already set up for animals like that, so it seemed like a pretty natural thing to just grab it, re-home it here and try to find its owner.”
It doesn’t have a name yet since the firefighters don’t want to get too attached if the owner shows up. He does have a couple of tags on him, but it’s not clear who he belongs to.
In the meantime, he’s getting along well with his new girlfriends and the rescue crew.
“Oh yeah, they’re definitely therapy goats,” Kolabis said.
For years, the station has treated the backyard as a place to escape the stress of the job.
“Laughter is the best medicine, I think,” Kolabis said. “So, it’s always fun to come out, if you’re feeling down or have a rough call, you can come out here, and I can just about guarantee within a few minutes of being out here, they’ll be head butting you or looking for treats in your pocket. You end up giggling no matter what’s going on. So that helps.”
Graham Fire and Rescue said they have plenty of space for their animals but wanted it to be made clear it is not a place they want people dropping off their stray animals.
Copyright 2022 KING via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wistv.com/2022/08/12/firefighters-rescue-lost-ram-re-home-it-their-station/ | 2022-08-12 14:42:27 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/2022/08/12/firefighters-rescue-lost-ram-re-home-it-their-station/ |
- Caravelle estimates partnership could generate $200 million in revenue within several years
- U.S. partner to fund construction of the mill
NEW YORK, March 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Caravelle International Group (Nasdaq:CACO), a global ocean technology company, today announced that the company has established a partnership with a U.S. corporation to manufacture wood products in Gabon, Africa for export to the United States and that the government of Gabon has granted the partnership use of 165 acres of land for the location of the lumber mill.
The mill will produce wood laminate flooring, plywood, and other wood products. The products will have a significant cost advantage over lumber products domestically produced in the United States because of cheaper lumber and labor in Gabon, but also because the African Growth and Opportunity Act will allow for the duty-free import of these products into the U.S.
The U.S. based partner will fund the construction of the mill in Gabon and already has established distribution in the U.S. to sell these products. Caravelle will ship the wood products to the United States. Caravelle will also dry the wood products in transit, using its patent-pending CO-Tech system that uses recycled engine heat for the drying process, resulting in significant cost savings and a 6-week reduction in lead times vs. traditional kiln drying at the mill.
The partners estimate that the venture will generate $200 million in annual revenue within several years. This is another example of how the Company is making its business less cyclical and more profitable.
"This is an exciting new venture for Caravelle and our U.S. based partner," said Dr. Guohua Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Caravelle. "We have had great experience working with Gabon in the past, having exported lumber from there to Asia. Expanding export into the United States is a logical next step that will be a big growth driver for our Company in the years ahead."
About Caravelle International Group
Caravelle is a global ocean technology company. Its business comprises of two sectors: the traditional business in international shipping, operated by the Topsheen Companies (Topsheen Shipping Group Corporation (Samoa) and its subsidiaries) and the new CO-Tech business under Singapore Garden Technology Pte. Ltd.. As the traditional business, Caravelle's international shipping business has generated all revenues. The CO-Tech business is a new development building upon the existing shipping business. It enables wood desiccation during the maritime shipping process, with full utilization of the shipping time, space, and the waste heat of exhaust gas from the shipping vessels. Caravelle's CO-Tech industry has no historical operations and has not generated revenue. Caravelle is headquartered in Singapore.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including the successful consummation of the Company's initial public offering, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
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SOURCE Caravelle International Group | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/02/caravelle-international-group-partners-with-us-firm-export-wood-products-gabon-africa-us/ | 2023-03-02 16:15:18 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/03/02/caravelle-international-group-partners-with-us-firm-export-wood-products-gabon-africa-us/ |
THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Greece filed an official complaint with Serbia on Monday after a cargo plane carrying mortar ammunition crashed while attempting an emergency landing in northern Greece.
“The Greek ambassador in Belgrade has been instructed to make a complaint to the Serbian (government) to stress the need for Greek authorities to be notified in advance about the nature of the cargo,” said a Greek government official who requested anonymity pending an official announcement.
Eight crew members on the An-12 cargo plane, operated by a Ukrainian company, were killed in the crash Saturday outside the northern Greek city of Kavala. The crash was followed by at least two hours of explosions.
Serbian officials said the plane had been carrying 11.5 tons of Serbian-made mortar ammunition to Bangladesh, and had been due to make a stopover in Amman, Jordan.
Mine clearance crews were working at the crash site for a second day, in a cordoned-off field around 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Kavala International Airport. The ammunition was scattered over a 500-meter radius and was expected to take several days to clear.
Fire Service spokesman Yiannis Artopios said no hazardous substances were detected following a crash site inspection by army specialists from a nuclear, chemical and biological defense division.
All the dead crew members were believed to be Ukrainian nationals, Artopios said. Their recovered remains were taken to the nearby city of Komotini to start the identification process.
The crash caused power outages in several villages near the crash site, with repair work held up by the ordnance removal, officials from the electricity regulator said.
Serbian Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said Sunday that the ammunition had been made by a private Serbian manufacturer, adding that the plane had also been due to make stops in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Ahmedabad, India, before reaching the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka. ___
Derek Gatopoulos reported from Athens. | https://www.koin.com/news/business/ap-business/greece-complains-to-serbia-over-mortar-cargo-plane-crash/ | 2022-07-19 02:10:40 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/news/business/ap-business/greece-complains-to-serbia-over-mortar-cargo-plane-crash/ |
Major Global Pizza Brand Promotes Key Leader to Top Marketing Spot
DETROIT, Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Little Caesars® announces today that Greg Hamilton will take on the role of chief marketing officer at the third largest pizza chain in the world, effective immediately.
Greg is being promoted from his role of senior vice president of marketing with Little Caesars. He has spent the last 20 years in marketing roles with progressive leadership responsibility and has nearly 15 years of experience in the quick-service restaurant industry. Greg helped to spearhead the digital transformation of the marketing function at Little Caesars and has played a key role in the brand's high-profile initiatives, including the chain's first Super Bowl commercial, its integration in The Batman movie and Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare™ II, and being named the Official Pizza Sponsor of the National Football League.
Little Caesars, home of the Hot-N-Ready® Pizza and Pizza Portal® pickup, is a Detroit-based global pizza company that focuses on bringing customers value, quality, and convenience. The chain aims to continue its digital marketing expansion and impactful partnerships under Greg's leadership.
"We have such tremendous talent at Little Caesars, and we're thrilled to be able to promote from within for this key role," said Dave Scrivano, president and CEO of Little Caesars. "Greg has been an innovative leader here for some time and we're confident he's going to propel our brand forward even more as our CMO."
Greg graduated from Cedarville University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts in marketing. Personally, he is an avid runner and enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two children hiking and camping. Greg and his family live in metro Detroit.
"I'm elated to take on this important role at such a storied company, with a group of people I already respect so highly," said Hamilton, "I look forward to continuing to work with the Little Caesars team and our incredible community of franchisees to keep driving brand growth even further."
Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, Little Caesars was founded by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1959 as a single, family-owned restaurant. Today, it is the third largest pizza chain in the world, with stores in each of the 50 U.S. states and 27 countries and territories.
Known for its HOT-N-READY® pizza and famed Crazy Bread®, Little Caesars uses quality ingredients, like fresh, never frozen, mozzarella and Muenster cheese and sauce made from fresh-packed, vine-ripened California crushed tomatoes. The brand is known for innovation and is home of the exclusive Pizza Portal®, a heated, self-service mobile order pickup station. Little Caesars is also the Official Pizza Sponsor of the National Football League.
An exceptionally high growth company with over 60 years of experience in the $145 billion worldwide pizza industry, Little Caesars is continually looking for franchisee candidates to join the team in markets around the world. In addition to providing the opportunity for entrepreneurial independence in a franchise system, Little Caesars offers strong brand awareness with one of the most recognized and appealing characters in the country, Little Caesar.
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SOURCE Little Caesars Pizza | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/10/28/little-caesars-names-greg-hamilton-new-chief-marketing-officer/ | 2022-10-28 15:52:01 | 0 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/10/28/little-caesars-names-greg-hamilton-new-chief-marketing-officer/ |
Letters to the Editor: If President Biden pardoned Trump, would the ‘Big Lie’ go away?
To the editor: Harry Litman believes in the need for society to repudiate the “Big Lie”, but his column mainly discusses criminal prosecution of former President Trump.
How would a trial help turn deniers towards the truth? The Big Liars would only dig in deeper with a larger stage.
I think President Biden should preemptively pardon Trump. A pardon is an olive branch that also presupposes Trump’s guilt. The Big Lie should be left alone to fall on the feebleness of its own legs.
We should let Biden, not Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland, shepherd the best interests of the country, and like it or not that might mean a pardon.
Robert Fox, Los Angeles
..
To the editor: Recall that 48 years ago, former President Richard Nixon was pardoned after the Watergate scandal, which denied the country closure for his crimes and their attempted coverup.
As a result, many still see Nixon as a great president. He thus became a role model for Trump and his henchman Roger Stone. It proved that some in our country are indeed “above the law.”
Nixon’s pardon left an open door for future scoundrels in high office to break the law and evade accountability. Perhaps, had Nixon been indicted and tried, it would have given pause to Trump and his advisors before they planned their insurrection.
Alfred Sils, Woodland Hills
..
To the editor: Litman says there is enough evidence to criminally prosecute Trump based on what appear to be the many crimes uncovered by the House Jan. 6 committee.
To be sure, Trump attempted a coup, inspired an insurrection and attempted to thwart the constitutional duties of Congress.
However, the “Big Lie” has created the “big divide” that is not going away anytime soon. A criminal prosecution of Trump would only inflame his base to more bad action. Having established the record, Congress can be certain of history’s judgment and hopefully of the electorate’s as well.
Meanwhile, a tax evasion trial in New York would be perfect.
Bill Robinson, San Clemente
..
To the editor: As bad as Jan. 6, 2021 was, even worse is the fact that about a third of the American people don’t care and might even embrace the coup.
Citizens of many other countries have blindly and passionately supported grossly immoral and despotic leaders, and now it’s happening to us. It is truly a time for prayer.
Linda Mele Johnson, Long Beach | https://www.latimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2022-06-20/if-president-biden-pardoned-trump-big-lie-go-away | 2022-06-20 10:37:07 | 0 | https://www.latimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2022-06-20/if-president-biden-pardoned-trump-big-lie-go-away |
BOSTON (AP) — Federal authorities on Thursday arrested a woman accused of calling in a fake bomb threat at Boston Children’s Hospital, where doctors and staffers have been facing harassment and threats of violence over its surgical program for transgender youths.
Catherine Leavy, 37, was arrested at her home in Westfield, Massachusetts, and authorities recovered the phone they believe she used to make the bomb threat on Aug. 30, Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Racheal Rollins told reporters. The threat resulted in a lockdown of the hospital, and no explosives were found.
Leavy is being held pending a detention hearing scheduled for Friday in Boston federal court, Rollins said. She is charged with one count of making a false telephonic bomb threat. It was not immediately clear on Thursday if she has an attorney to comment on her behalf.
Rollins did not comment directly on the alleged motive in Leavy’s case. But she condemned the barrage of attacks against Boston Children’s Hospital, which is home to the first pediatric and adolescent transgender health program in the United States.
“This alleged conduct is disturbing to stay the least,” Rollins said. “The people that work at Children’s Hospital and the parents that bring their loved ones to Children’s Hospital are under enough stress,” she said.
The hospital became the focus of far-right social media accounts, news outlets and bloggers last month after they found informational YouTube videos published by the hospital about surgical offerings for transgender patients. The hospital swiftly removed the videos.
Transition treatment is under attack in many states, with some labeling it a form of child abuse or barring Medicaid coverage. Critics argue that safety should be well established before subjecting youths to potentially irreversible treatments.
But many medical groups support allowing varying types of medical treatment for transgender youths, citing evidence that it can improve their well-being, although rigorous long-term research on benefits and risks is lacking.
The critics cited the videos and snippets of previous language on the hospital’s website to claim that Boston Children’s Hospital was improperly performing gender-affirming surgeries, such as hysterectomies, on minors and young children.
The response was swift and relentless, with a barrage of users demanding the hospital be shut down and calling the surgeries mutilation, barbarism and child abuse, while accusing its doctors of engaging in malpractice or illegal activity.
The hospital has updated language across its websites to emphasize that to qualify for most gender-affirming surgical procedures, patients must be at least 18 and meet certain criteria, including undergoing intensive medical and mental health evaluations and submitting letters of support.
Far-right social media accounts and news outlets have also targeted hospitals in Pittsburgh, Phoenix and other major cities for their gender-care programs. | https://cbs4indy.com/health/ap-health/ap-woman-charged-with-bomb-threat-against-childrens-hospital/ | 2022-09-15 23:09:10 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/health/ap-health/ap-woman-charged-with-bomb-threat-against-childrens-hospital/ |
Josh Bell Player Prop Bets: Guardians vs. Athletics - April 3
Published: Apr. 3, 2023 at 4:24 PM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
The Cleveland Guardians and Josh Bell, who went 0-for-3 last time out, take on James Kaprielian and the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Monday at 9:40 PM ET.
In his most recent game he had a hitless showing (0-for-3) against the Mariners.
Josh Bell Game Info & Props vs. the Athletics
- Game Day: Monday, April 3, 2023
- Game Time: 9:40 PM ET
- Stadium: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
- Live Stream: Watch this game on fuboTV!
- Athletics Starter: James Kaprielian
- TV Channel: NBCS-CA
- Hits Prop: Over/under 0.5 hits (Over odds: -200)
- Home Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 home runs (Over odds: +775)
- RBI Prop: Over/under 0.5 RBI (Over odds: +170)
- Runs Prop: Over/under 0.5 runs (Over odds: +145)
Looking to place a prop bet on Josh Bell? Check out what's available at BetMGM and sign up with this link!
Josh Bell At The Plate (2022)
- Bell hit .266 with 29 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs and 85 walks.
- Among the qualified batters in MLB action last year, he ranked 48th in batting average, 25th in on-base percentage, and 71st in slugging.
- Bell reached base via a hit in 103 of 166 games last season (62.0%), including multiple hits in 25.3% of those games (42 of them).
- He homered in 18 games a year ago (out of 166 opportunities, 10.8%), going deep in 2.6% of his plate appearances.
- In 53 of 166 games last season (31.9%), Bell picked up an RBI, and 17 of those games (10.2%) included more than one RBI. He had three or more RBIs in six contests.
- In 59 of 166 games last season (35.5%) he scored a run, and in 18 of those games (10.8%) he scored two or more runs.
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Josh Bell Home/Away Batting Splits (2022)
Athletics Pitching Rankings (2022)
- The Athletics pitching staff was 25th in the league last season with a collective 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
- The Athletics had a 4.53 team ERA that ranked 24th among all MLB pitching staffs.
- Athletics pitchers combined to surrender 195 total home runs at a rate of 1.2 per game (fourth-most in the league).
- Kaprielian starts for the first time this season for the Athletics.
- The 29-year-old righty started and threw six scoreless innings when he last appeared Sunday, Oct. 2 against the Seattle Mariners.
- Last season he compiled a 5-9 record, a 4.23 ERA and a 1.343 WHIP over his 26 games.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/04/03/josh-bell-mlb-player-prop-bets/ | 2023-04-03 22:08:22 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/sports/betting/2023/04/03/josh-bell-mlb-player-prop-bets/ |
States that will be most affected if Roe v. Wade is overturned
(Stacker) - One historic decision has been endlessly passed around states over the last year. Roe v. Wade expressly protects a pregnant person’s right to choose to have an abortion. It’s under review by a now supermajority conservative Supreme Court, but reports suggest it could be struck down at any moment, as more and more states bring their own abortion laws to the highest court in the land.
States have already employed many kinds of restrictions, including but not limited to: parental consent for young women seeking abortions, bans on telemedicine for medicated abortions, mandated counseling and ultrasounds before the procedure, and TRAP laws, which impose burdensome medical standards such as hospital-admitting privileges on abortion clinics.
Many states with either anti-choice governors or constituents against abortion are attacking Roe v. Wade by enacting laws they can’t enforce, in case the Supreme Court decides in 2022 to overturn the decision.
To find out which states would be most affected by this decision, Stacker consulted a July 2019 study published in reproductive health journal Contraception, updated in 2021 by Professor Caitlin Myers at Middlebury College. The study analyzed the impact of a post-Roe world by analyzing states’ current laws and political climate to identify states that would be at a high risk of outlawing abortion.
Eight states maintain so-called “trigger bans” that would immediately outlaw abortion if Roe v. Wade were overturned. Based on this and other information, any state that could quickly enact restrictions if Roe v. Wade was overturned is listed as “high-risk.” States could be classified as “high-risk” even if they have no laws currently on the books, but simply a political climate unamiable to abortion.
Then, using Census demographic data, the study calculated the number of women that would be affected by an increase in travel time to the nearest abortion clinic in a scenario where all high-risk states ban abortion.
The makeup of the surrounding states is enough to limit abortion access by an over 1,000% increase in distance. Keep reading to see which states will be most affected if Roe v. Wade is reversed.
#29. Nevada
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -0.2%
--- Affected population: 11,808 (2.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 11 miles (22.2% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 9
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 9 miles
Though abortion will likely remain legal in Nevada, people in need of services will have to travel a bit farther to get them, due to bordering states that would outlaw them. Nevada residents voted to keep abortion rights for pregnant women under 24 weeks into the gestational period in 1990, and that law could only be reversed by another direct vote of the people.
#28. Oregon
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -0.2%
--- Affected population: 7,245 (0.9% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 16 miles (6.7% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 15
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 15 miles
Oregon and Nevada share a border with California, a state with several abortion protections others do not have, including constitutional protection. Reproductive rights were recognized in California’s constitution in 1969, giving people in states like Oregon more options. Oregon passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act in 2017, which expanded abortion access by requiring private health insurance to cover abortions, and funding services for those who would otherwise be excluded from coverage, such as DACA recipients.
#27. Kansas
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -0.3%
--- Affected population: 20,488 (3.6% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 54 miles (1.9% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 4
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 53 miles
Kansas already has a few common restrictions on abortion, such as limits on public and private funding for the procedure. Though the state supreme court ruled in 2019 the right to an abortion is protected in the Kansas constitution, conservative lawmakers recently voted to to put a proposed anti-abortion amendment to the state constitution on the 2022 ballot. The majority of the states surrounding Kansas are far more restrictive.
#26. New Mexico
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -0.5%
--- Affected population: 40,320 (10.1% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 58 miles (1.8% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 5
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 57 miles
Women in New Mexico were once facing a long-dormant abortion ban that was deemed unconstitutional and unenforceable, but they now have access to legal procedures and public funding. In February 2021, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill that finally overturned that law, which would have triggered a statewide ban if Roe v. Wade were reversed.
#25. Virginia
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -0.9%
--- Affected population: 92,473 (5.5% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 25 miles (19.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 16
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 21 miles
Virginia is one of many states overturning previously restrictive abortion laws amid concerns for Roe v. Wade. As of 2020, Virginia health insurance carriers can cover abortion services, though they are not required to do so. Nearby in Maryland, those seeking abortions have protection outside of Roe v. Wade.
#24. Wyoming
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -1.1%
--- Affected population: 12,111 (11.2% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 138 miles (3.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 2
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 134 miles
People won’t find abortion protections in Wyoming’s state law or its constitution, and will barely find a clinic they can use. What they will find is a legislature that is advancing bills that restrict abortion access, including one that prevents women from using student health insurance for the procedure. If Roe v. Wade were outlawed, the legality of abortions could be at risk.
#23. Minnesota
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -1.6%
--- Affected population: 95,799 (8.9% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 40 miles (25.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 7
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 32 miles
The right to abortion has been protected in Minnesota since 1995, when the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that a woman’s right to privacy includes the right to terminate a pregnancy. However, Minnesota shares a border with two very restrictive states that may try to immediately restrict abortions if Roe v. Wade is gone.
#22. Missouri
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -3.2%
--- Affected population: 708,893 (60.2% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 74 miles (10.4% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 1
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 67 miles
Missouri is the first state on this list with a trigger ban. Though previous bans were declared unconstitutional, one recent ban would immediately go into effect if Roe v. Wade is reversed. In June 2021, a federal appeals court blocked Missouri from enforcing the bill that prohibits all abortions after eight weeks.
#21. Nebraska
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -8.4%
--- Affected population: 331,206 (88.6% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 69 miles (56.8% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 3
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 44 miles
It’s already a felony to get an abortion after 20 weeks in Nebraska. Though there’s no trigger ban, the state government enacted a law last year prohibiting dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortions, which are performed in 95% of second trimester abortions.
#20. South Dakota
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -12.9%
--- Affected population: 112,850 (69.6% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 189 miles (43.2% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 1
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 132 miles
South Dakota has had a trigger law waiting to become enforceable since 2005. It escalates the practice of abortion to a felony for physicians who provide it. Like its neighbor North Dakota, the state has just one facility, which would have to stop providing abortions in a no-Roe country.
#19. West Virginia
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -15.5%
--- Affected population: 184,170 (58.5% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 126 miles (129.1% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 2
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 55 miles
In 2018, 52% of West Virginia voters decided to amend the state’s constitution and ensure abortion is not protected if Roe v. Wade is overturned. West Virginia is surrounded by states with similar plans, apart from Maryland, so people will have to travel even farther to find services.
#18. North Dakota
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -20.4%
--- Affected population: 136,216 (91.9% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 323 miles (121.2% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 1
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 146 miles
North Dakota’s trigger ban allows few exceptions for abortion procedures. People who are victims of rape or incest can get them, and those whose lives are at risk are also included. The 2007 ban was followed by several other restrictions, including the dilation and evacuation ban that Nebraska also put forward.
#17. Indiana
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -24.1%
--- Affected population: 1,307,855 (99.8% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 129 miles (279.4% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 7
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 34 miles
As part of the block of states in the Midwest ready to ban abortions via bills or amendments, Indiana has tried to overturn any protections for the procedure that exist. Their proposed ban is strict: should Roe v. Wade be nullified, there would be no abortions allowed, not even in cases of rape or incest, and if performed, they would be classified as murder.
#16. Idaho
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -24.8%
--- Affected population: 224,181 (65.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 173 miles (355.3% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 4
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 38 miles
Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed an abortion ban in April 2021, along with a wave of other nearby states. It’s considered a “heartbeat bill,” one that requires doctors to decline abortions to mothers with a detectable fetal heartbeat, and would only go into effect if a federal appeals court upholds a similar heartbeat ban. A heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
#15. Mississippi
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -27.9%
--- Affected population: 584,299 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 250 miles (303.2% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 1
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 62 miles
Mississippi is one of eight states that has a pre-Roe abortion ban, and a loud voice in the fight to overturn the landmark Supreme Court case. The Supreme Court decided in May 2021 to review Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Whole Health, a case concerning Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban. Though the state had initially focused its argument on defending that specific ban, it recently made overturning Roe v. Wade part of its pending argument before the Supreme Court. The court will have a decision by June 2022.
#14. Arkansas
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -28.8%
--- Affected population: 578,319 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 314 miles (330.1% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 2
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 73 miles
Surrounded on all sides by abortion-restrictive states, Arkansas is in a precarious spot when it comes to protecting the right to abortion. Along with several states that introduced new bans in 2021, its legislature introduced an expansive abortion ban that was blocked by a federal judge in July 2021. Arkansas’ pre-Roe ban on abortion has not been reversed.
#13. Kentucky
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -30.4%
--- Affected population: 848,023 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 266 miles (315.6% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 2
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 64 miles
In former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s quest to become “the most pro-life governor in America,” he signed four anti-abortion bills during his term, two of which were blocked by federal judges. House Bill 148, Kentucky’s full ban on abortion, is unenforceable while Roe v. Wade is still intact. The state’s current governor, Democrat Andy Beshear, is pro-choice. Beshear has had difficulty stopping pro-life legislation from becoming law since the state House and Senate have a Republican supermajority.
#12. Oklahoma
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -32.2%
--- Affected population: 759,207 (98.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 191 miles (416.2% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 5
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 37 miles
Oklahoma’s trigger ban was enacted in 2021, though its existing abortion laws were already restrictive for young women and for clinics. Oklahoma, and many of its surrounding states, have TRAP laws, or what Planned Parenthood calls “medically unnecessary,” building requirements that a clinic must meet to provide abortions.
#11. North Carolina
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -32.3%
--- Affected population: 2,017,049 (98.1% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 169 miles (576.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 19
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 25 miles
The governor of North Carolina has vetoed multiple anti-abortion bills, one of which would have made it a crime to refuse treatment to “any infant born alive after an abortion.” (In his veto, Gov. Roy Cooper noted that “[this] practice simply does not exist.”) With an unconstitutional, pre-Roe abortion ban, and four border states without any legal protections, people in this state will be greatly affected by the conflict. North Carolina’s governor has demonstrated pro-choice stances, which may be helpful in the future.
#10. Alabama
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -32.5%
--- Affected population: 912,878 (96.2% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 224 miles (622.6% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 5
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 31 miles
The southern states feature pre-Roe and post-Roe bans, and if the decision is overturned, the number of clinics that are available to provide abortions will be severely limited in the area. Alabama was prosecuting misdemeanor abortion cases in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and it still hasn’t overturned the law that originally enforced that ban. In 2019, Alabama’s governor signed another law banning most types of abortions that would be enforceable should Roe fall.
#9. Ohio
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -33.2%
--- Affected population: 2,171,938 (98.2% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 181 miles (624.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 9
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 25 miles
Ohio’s “most restrictive abortion law in modern history” arrived with the wave of 2019 laws to undermine Roe v. Wade. A judge blocked Ohio’s recent “heartbeat” bill, which bans abortion at the detection of a fetal heartbeat, around six weeks into pregnancy, and which progressive lawmakers argued would put women’s lives at a high risk. Though the judge in this case said the law potentially conflicts with the constitution, it has a chance of taking effect in a post-Roe country.
#8. Louisiana
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -34.3%
--- Affected population: 922,449 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 294 miles (525.5% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 3
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 47 miles
The heartbeat bill streak made its way to Louisiana in May 2019, in the form of a trigger ban that would go into effect if Roe is reversed. Making it constitutional to ban abortions before people are aware they are pregnant would affect the entire South.
#7. Utah
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -35.7%
--- Affected population: 644,869 (91.8% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 272 miles (597.4% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 2
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 39 miles
Utah is in a peculiar place, politically and geographically. Pre-Roe, there were no express bans on abortion, but post-Roe, there were no express protections for it, either. It’s also too far from California for anyone to benefit from nearby clinics. In March 2020, a trigger ban was passed to prep for a Roe v. Wade recall. The state also passed an 18-week ban on abortions in 2019.
#6. Georgia
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -36%
--- Affected population: 2,035,985 (93.4% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 249 miles (789.3% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 14
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 28 miles
The center of the South’s legacy of abortion bans is Georgia. The Georgia legislature rode the anti-abortion legislation wave early with a sweeping abortion ban signed in 2019, set to take effect in 2020, but permanently blocked in the summer of that year. This version of the “heartbeat” bill solidified the state’s stance against Roe v. Wade.
#5. Texas
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -37.1%
--- Affected population: 6,018,754 (99.7% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 471 miles (1077.5% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 22
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 40 miles
Other states have trigger bans, but Texas added a unique proposition where citizens would be allowed to sue clinics that perform abortions. This is in addition to a ban on abortions around six weeks, which was signed into law May 2020.
#4. Tennessee
- Policies: Trigger ban, high-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -37.4%
--- Affected population: 1,333,861 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 294 miles (716.7% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 7
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 36 miles
Tennessee has several restrictions in place already. Gov. Bill Lee signed a heartbeat bill into law in 2020, which a federal judge temporarily blocked from taking effect shortly after it was passed. It is still making its way through the courts. In 2020, the state’s legislature put forth a bill that allows fathers to deny the pregnant mothers of their children an abortion, without the woman’s consent.
#3. South Carolina
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -38.6%
--- Affected population: 984,181 (100.0% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 267 miles (790.0% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 3
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 30 miles
South Carolina’s latest abortion law, which bans the procedure at the detection of a fetal heartbeat, hit snags in federal court back in March 2021 when it was indefinitely blocked. Not only is South Carolina surrounded geographically by states with similar problems, but it is also supported by 20 other states that want this abortion ban to succeed.
#2. Michigan
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -39.6%
--- Affected population: 1,876,586 (99.9% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 239 miles (1393.8% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 26
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 16 miles
Michigan’s court has decided the state’s pre-Roe ban of abortion procedures is only unconstitutional (as applied to physicians) thanks to Roe v. Wade, so the debate on that case’s constitutionality will directly affect it. Still, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is seen as pro-choice, and was once criticized by anti-abortion activists for calling abortion “life-sustaining.” Michigan’s attorney general has also said she would not prosecute doctors performing abortions or anyone seeking them.
#1. Arizona
- Policies: High-risk
- If abortion bans take effect in all high-risk states:
--- Predicted change in abortion rate: -40.3%
--- Affected population: 1,316,221 (94.1% of women aged 15-44)
--- New average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 247 miles (1352.9% increase)
- Present day:
--- Abortion facilities: 8
--- Average distance to nearest abortion clinic: 17 miles
In the renewed fight to restrict abortions, Arizona lawmakers are ready to challenge Roe v. Wade. One new Arizona law expressly rejects any federal decisions on abortion laws, which may not be constitutional. Since the ‘60s, the state has passed laws banning abortion that cannot be enforced until the Supreme Court’s landmark decision falls.
Copyright 2022 Stacker via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kait8.com/2022/05/04/states-that-will-be-most-affected-if-roe-v-wade-is-overturned/ | 2022-05-04 18:21:41 | 1 | https://www.kait8.com/2022/05/04/states-that-will-be-most-affected-if-roe-v-wade-is-overturned/ |
NEW YORK — NEW YORK — Assurant Inc. (AIZ) on Tuesday reported first-quarter profit of $113.6 million.
The insurer posted revenue of $2.64 billion in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $2.65 billion, also surpassing Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $2.6 billion.
Assurant shares have dropped slightly more than 3% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P’s 500 index has risen slightly more than 7%. In the final minutes of trading on Tuesday, shares hit $120.82, a decline of 33% in the last 12 months.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AIZ at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AIZ | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/02/earns-assurant/0e9b07f6-e92f-11ed-869e-986dd5713bc8_story.html | 2023-05-02 22:11:37 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/02/earns-assurant/0e9b07f6-e92f-11ed-869e-986dd5713bc8_story.html |
Ralph Izzo Transitions to Executive Chair of the PSEG Board of Directors
PSEG Committed to Vision of Powering a Future Where People Use Less Energy, and It's Cleaner, Safer and Delivered More Reliably Than Ever
NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PSEG announced that Ralph LaRossa has been named president and chief executive officer effective Sept. 1, 2022. As part of a planned leadership succession process, LaRossa also joins the boards of PSEG and PSE&G.
Ralph Izzo now serves as executive chair of the PSEG board effective Sept. 1, 2022 until his last day on Dec. 31, 2022. LaRossa will assume the additional responsibilities of chair of the PSEG board on Jan. 1, 2023; he will also join the executive committee of the PSEG board at that time.
"I am incredibly honored to step into this role after working so closely with Ralph Izzo for so many years," said Ralph LaRossa, PSEG president and CEO. "As CEO for 15 years, Ralph Izzo has had a significant impact on not only the performance and culture of PSEG, but also on the business and energy landscape across New Jersey and nationally."
"It has been a privilege to serve as CEO for the last 15 years, driving toward a sustainable energy future that is cleaner and more reliable than ever," said Ralph Izzo, PSEG executive chair. "For almost 20 years, Ralph LaRossa and I have worked side-by-side building out PSEG's vision. I am proud of the accomplishments our 12,500 strong workforce has made, and I look forward to what PSEG will accomplish in the years to come."
For over three decades, LaRossa held leadership roles overseeing all of the operating businesses of PSEG, including: Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G); PSEG Power; PSEG Long Island; and PSEG Services Corp. functions, including information technology and cyber and physical security.
His track record and in-depth knowledge of PSEG and the industry enable him to take the helm of the company at a pivotal time, as PSEG, New Jersey and our nation look to pursue significant energy and climate programs to help customers and communities thrive in a challenging environment.
With its Powering Progress vision, PSEG is ready to meet the challenges and expectations of a changing world, as LaRossa remarked: "Our vision is clear: to power a future where people use less energy, and it's cleaner, safer and delivered more reliably than ever. With the near-term threat of disruptive severe weather and the long-term risks of climate change, we've been incorporating sustainability, adaptation and decarbonization into our strategic decision making process."
"Combined with our relentless focus on the safety of our employees, customers and communities, a strengthened infrastructure, as well as a strong, diverse talent pipeline, PSEG is well positioned for the future," LaRossa continued.
For more on Ralph LaRossa, please visit his profile. You also can follow him on LinkedIn.
For more on Ralph Izzo's legacy, please visit our April 2022 announcement.
About PSEG
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) (NYSE: PEG) is a predominantly regulated infrastructure company focused on a clean energy future. Guided by its Powering Progress vision, PSEG aims to power a future where people use less energy, and it's cleaner, safer and delivered more reliably than ever. PSEG's commitment to ESG and sustainability is demonstrated in our net-zero 2030 climate vision, our pursuit of science-based emissions reductions targets and participation in the U.N. Race to Zero, as well as our inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and the list of America's most JUST Companies. PSEG's businesses include Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), PSEG Power and PSEG Long Island. (https://corporate.pseg.com).
Forward-Looking Statement
The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such statements are based on management's beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by us herein are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and available on our website: https://investor.pseg.com. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and we cannot assure you that the results or developments anticipated by management will be realized or even if realized, will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements in making any investment decision. Forward-looking statements made in this press release apply only as of the date hereof. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements from time to time, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even in light of new information or future events, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws.
Visit PSEG at:
www.pseg.com
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From time to time, PSEG and PSE&G release important information via postings on their corporate Investor Relations website at https://investor.pseg.com. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to visit the Investor Relations website to review new postings. You can sign up for automatic email alerts regarding new postings at the bottom of the webpage at https://investor.pseg.com.
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8 injured after flight hits 'severe turbulence' over Florida, officials say
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - An American Airlines plane bound for Nashville, Tennessee, with 56 people from Tampa, Florida, was diverted Wednesday to an Alabama airport after hitting severe turbulence, and at least eight minor injuries were reported, authorities said.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service responded at 3:15 p.m. to the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, fire Capt. Orlando Reynolds told news outlets. The plane hit unexpected turbulence over the Pensacola area of the Florida Panhandle and was diverted, officials said.
MORE NEWS: Teenage girl 'accidentally' shot by family member at Orlando condo complex, deputies say
Reynolds said 52 passengers were aboard the Embraer E175 plane along with two pilots and two flight attendants. Ten people were evaluated, and two flight attendants and six passengers were taken to an area hospital with minor injuries, the airline said in a statement. It did not elaborate on their conditions.
The airline said it was bringing in another aircraft for the other passengers to board later Wednesday and continue on to Tennessee. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/8-injured-after-flight-hits-severe-turbulence-over-florida-officials-say | 2022-07-21 12:20:53 | 1 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/8-injured-after-flight-hits-severe-turbulence-over-florida-officials-say |
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CHIHUAHUA, Mexico (AP) — Marcela Castro’s office in Chihuahua is more than 100 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, yet the distance doesn’t prevent her from assisting women in the United States in circumventing recently imposed bans on abortion.
From the headquarters of Marea Verde Chihuahua, an organization that has supported reproductive rights in northern Mexico since 2018, Castro and her colleagues provide virtual guidance, as well as shipments of abortion pills for women who want to terminate a pregnancy on their own.
This abortion model, in which no travel, clinics or prescriptions are needed, sparked interest in the U.S. — and a surge of requests for help — as the Supreme Court moved to eliminate the constitutional right to abortion last year. But the model was developed by Mexican activists through decades of facing abortion bans and restrictions in most of Mexico’s 32 states.
“We don’t offer medical attention because we are not doctors,” Castro said. “Part of our work, though, is to remove the stigma toward abortion. Although it is a medical procedure, it does not require hospital measures.”
To safely advise women on self-managed medical abortions, Castro and her colleagues were trained to become “acompañantes” -- capable of serving as a guide and partner, whether in person or from long distance. They have carefully studied national abortion guidelines and they know by heart some protocols established by the World Health Organization.
Since they do not charge for the help they provide, most “acompañantes” need jobs outside the organizations where they volunteer. Among them are lawyers, psychologists and other professionals. Over the years, they have created a nationwide network that has secured abortion access for Mexican and foreign women, whether or not abortion is legal where they live.
“We are ordinary women working for reproductive justice,” Castro said. “We seek what the State has denied us out of prohibition.”
Mexican women face a scenario that resembles the U.S., where more than a dozen states – including Texas -- have imposed sweeping abortion bans. Unless it’s justified under certain exceptions, abortion is considered a crime in two-thirds of Mexico’s states.
Chihuahua, where Castro lives, is ruled by a conservative governor and its penal code criminalizes most abortions.
Among all other Mexican border states where “acompañantes” support Mexican or American women, abortion is only legal in Baja California. Additionally, a 2021 ruling by Mexico’s Supreme Court held that those who get the procedure shouldn’t be punished in Coahuila, a state south of Texas.
More than 30 women collaborate with Castro in Marea Verde Chihuahua. They are part of what she calls a binational network, bringing together several Mexican collectives willing to facilitate self-managed abortions in the U.S.
Most women from the U.S. contact Marea Verde Chihuahua through social media or by someone’s referral. Most communicate in Spanish, though the acompañantes are able to assist English speakers as well.
After an initial contact, members of the team check their availability and an “acompañante” is assigned to each case. Further communications usually proceed via WhatsApp.
The accompaniment starts with some basic questions to determine the gestational age, how the pregnancy was confirmed, and the woman’s overall health. Once the information is evaluated, the “acompañante” proposes how to proceed.
In most cases, medication is advised and the “acompañante” is able to provide a combination of two abortion pills, misoprostol and mifepristone, both considered safe by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Although both medications require a prescription in the U.S., misoprostol can be acquired without a prescription in Mexican pharmacies — though some vendors refuse to sell pills to women. Mifepristone can be obtained through some abortion rights organizations.
The work of the “acompañantes” troubles anti-abortion activists in Mexico. One of them, Jahel Torres of a national group called Pasos por la Vida, suggested there were health risks because abortion pills were being distributed by non-medical personnel.
However, the WHO has depicted self-managed abortion as a safe option.
Castro and her colleagues usually send pills by mail and provide virtual follow-up until the abortion is completed. But depending on its personnel and resources, each Mexican abortion collective has its own logistics.
Aborto Seguro Chihuahua, which is part of the binational network, provides long-distance guidance to women in the U.S. but medication is not mailed from Mexico. Instead, the “acompañantes” collaborate with volunteers who transport the pills from Ciudad Juárez, in Chihuahua, to El Paso, Texas, where the packages are delivered either in person or through mailing services.
Laura Dorado works alongside 20 people in Aborto Seguro Chihuahua and says her team handles around 120 abortions per month. Some requests come from Mexico; others from Texas, Arizona and Colorado.
When she receives a message from a woman who is able to travel from the U.S. to Mexico, Dorado can offer some advice. “We have identified some pharmacies in which buying the pills is not a struggle or we suggest staying at a hotel and request the medication by delivery, to keep a low profile.”
Dorado said Aborto Seguro Chihuahua mostly receives mifepristone pills from Las Libres, an organization founded 20 years ago in the conservative state of Guanajuato, in central Mexico, where abortion is still banned.
Led by activist Veronica Cruz, Las Libres pioneered in training “acompañantes” to provide virtual guidance for self-managed medical abortions in Mexico and, since 2019, in the U.S. as well.
“In January 2022, we had an average of 10 cases every day. When Roe was overturned, in June, we had up to a hundred,” Cruz said.
She said the numbers kept rising until they reached 300 requests per day, all from the U.S. The workload was immense for her team of 10 people, so she created new networks to help.
“In one year we have created more than 20 networks. We are about 200 people helping only the United States,” Cruz said.
As with Marea Verde and Aborto Seguro in Chihuahua, Las Libres usually receives requests from Texas, Arizona and Colorado. Occasionally, women also reach out from Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Georgia, California, New Jersey and New York.
Though abortion is legal in some of those states, “acompañantes” believe many of these women are of Hispanic origin and either want to avoid going to an abortion clinic or can’t afford to pay up to $600 to get an abortion where they live.
According to Cruz, many of these women are wary of self-managed abortions, and fighting that stigma has become part of their work.
“Most people think pills aren’t safe, so changing all of that so quickly has been a challenge,” Cruz said.
John Seago, president of Texas Right to Life, said there has yet to be any intensive effort to prosecute people involved in supplying abortion pills to Texas residents.
“Texas simply does not have enough policy tools to efficiently stop these practices," Seago said. His organization is pushing for new legislation, he added “so that those breaking Texas law by aiding and abetting abortion digitally or physically will be held accountable.”
Nathan Cortez, a professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas specializing in health law, said he considered it inevitable that women in states with abortion bans would consider options outside the U.S.
“This demonstrates the limits of a state’s jurisdiction — the more onerous and unreasonable your state laws are, the more likely you are to push prohibited activities elsewhere.” Cortez said.
——
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.mrt.com/news/world/article/activists-network-in-mexico-helps-u-s-women-get-17874013.php | 2023-04-02 13:07:17 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/news/world/article/activists-network-in-mexico-helps-u-s-women-get-17874013.php |
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The local governor says Ukraine has "pushed back" Russian forces in the fight for the key Donbas city. Meanwhile, a top official has speculated that the war might last several more months. Follow DW for the latest.
This article was last updated at 13:35 UTC/GMT
The governor of Luhansk province said Russia had retreated in the industrial city of Sievierodonetsk — now one of only two settlements in the province that aren't under Russian control.
"Right now, our soldiers have pushed them back, [the Russians] are suffering huge casualties," Serhiy Haidai said in a live TV broadcast on Saturday.
He added: "Russians are blowing up bridges, so we could not bring in reinforcements to our boys in Sievierodonetsk."
Ukrainian news website Dialog.ua also reported that Igor Girkin, a pro-Russian veteran who had been active in the war in Donbas since 2014, confirmed details of the retreat on his Telegram channel.
Ukraine's official volunteer brigade, the International Legion of Defence, has paid tribute to four foreigners from Germany, France, the Netherlands and Australia who were killed in recent weeks.
"We lost our brothers in combat but their bravery, their memory and legacy will forever inspire us," it said in a statement on Saturday.
The deaths of the Frenchman and the Australian had been confirmed by their respective governments, while AFP reporters were present for the burial of the Dutch fighter in Kharkiv on May 21.
Earlier this week Russia claimed it had killed "hundreds" of foreign fighters on the Ukrainian side.
French President Emmanuel Macron has offered to mediate between Russia and Ukraine after Vladimir Putin "isolated himself" on the world stage.
"We must not humiliate Russia so that the day when the fighting stops we can build an exit ramp through diplomatic means," he said in an interview with regional newspapers that was published on Saturday.
France has supported Ukraine with money and weapons, but has also maintained a line of communication with the Russian president.
Macron added: "I think, and I told [Putin], that he is making a historic and fundamental mistake for his people, for himself and for history."
Russia's tactics have changed on the battlefield, according to Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak, adding that Russian losses had now decreased to around 100 to 200 casualties per day — a figure he said was "roughly comparable" with Ukrainian losses.
"In the first one-and-a-half to two months they fought with absolutely no understanding of what they were doing," he told Meduza, an independent Russian-language news outlet.
"They just moved their columns around the country, and our guys quickly and brutally destroyed them. This kind of war was simple enough."
"Unfortunately, it has ended," he said, adding that the fighting now was bogged down and the outcome is decided mostly by the numbers of soldiers and weapons.
He warned it was hard to judge when the war with Russia would end. At the same time, he indicated the fighting could last for another half a year.
"If you count by the stockpiled weapons, this could drag on for a period of two to six months," Podoliak said.
"But war is a non-linear process, influenced by dozens or even hundreds of factors," he added. "I wouldn't set specific deadlines."
The European Union is set introduce special regulations that will recognize Ukrainian driver's licenses, according to the German government.
Non-EU nationals in Germany can typically drive for six months using their existing driver's license, after which they must apply for a local certification.
"The EU Commission is planning a road transport agreement with Ukraine which, among other things, will provide for the temporary recognition of driving licences and certificates of competence for the transport of goods," the German government said in a response to a parliamentary question as seen by the DPA.
The move is aimed at helping Ukrainian refugees who fled to the EU after the Russian invasion. It will also help freight companies operating between Ukraine and the EU.
The UK Defence Ministry has accused Russia of launching unguided airstrikes over the Donbas region.
"The increased use of unguided munitions has led to the widespread destruction of built-up areas in the Donbas and has almost certainly caused substantial collateral damage and civilian casualties," the ministry said in a tweet on Saturday.
It added that Russia's stocks of precision guided missiles "are likely to have been significantly depleted" since the start of the war.
Russia has brought in reinforcements to further its efforts to take control of the city of Sievierodonetsk in Ukraine's Donbas region and is carrying out "assault operations" with artillery in the city, Ukraine's military said on Saturday.
According to Reuters news agency, the Ukrainian military said Russian forces had, however, retreated after failing to advance in the nearby town of Bakhmut.
On Friday, the governor of Luhansk province, Serhiy Haidai, told national television that Ukrainian troops had recaptured 20% of the territory in the factory city previously lost to Russian advances. He said Russian troops had previously held some 70% of the city.
He added that it was unlikely the city would be taken by Russian troops in the next two weeks despite the reinforcements being deployed by Moscow.
Haidai's claim of Ukrainian advances could not immediately be verified.
Moscow is now focusing its military efforts on the eastern Donbas region after failing to take the capital, Kyiv, at the start of the at the start of the invasion which was launched on February 24.
Germany not a suitable mediator in Ukraine war — SPD official
The leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) parliamentary group, Rolf Mützenich, said he does not consider Germany to be a suitable mediator between Kyiv and Moscow.
He instead suggested that countries that avoided condemning Russia in the United Nations General Assembly take on the role of mediator.
"Germany will hardly be able to mediate in this conflict," Mützenich said. "Because from Russia's point of view, we took too clear a position from the start."
In a video message from Kyiv marking 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed, "Victory will be ours."
Vadym Boichenko, the displaced mayor of the captured Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, accused Russia of holding the city's remaining 100,000 citizens hostage.
Ukrainian police opened criminal investigations into allegations of sexual violence against civilians, according to Deputy Interior Minister Kateryna Pavlichenko.
Protestant theologians and allied politicians drafted an open letter to leaders of the Protestant Church of Germany calling for the Russian Orthodox Church to be suspended from the World Council of Churches and for bilateral relations between the German and Russian Churches to be frozen.
The EU said that around 500 Ukrainian patients have so far been receiving urgent treatment by way of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey said that Turkish buyers are purchasing grain that Russia stole.
The chair of the African Union (AU), Macky Sall, said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow should take into account the impact the war was having on the African continent.
You can revisit our live updates from June 3 here.
sdi/sri (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters) | https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-says-russia-suffering-huge-casualties-in-sievierodonetsk-live-updates/a-62031616 | 2022-06-04 15:07:25 | 0 | https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-says-russia-suffering-huge-casualties-in-sievierodonetsk-live-updates/a-62031616 |
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The state Assembly appears to have squashed a new gaming compact between New York and the Seneca Nation over the authorization of a new Monroe County casino included in the deal.
Rochester Democrat Harry Bronson hopes for more transparency in the negotiations before moving forward.
"In order for this to move forward, the Legislature must know what's in the compact. My preference would be those items are statutorily expressed instead of doing a pre-authorization for the governor, not the governor, but her team to negotiate an amendment and an extender without any knowledge of what's in there," Bronson said.
However, the host of Let's Talk Native radio show John Kane believes the Seneca citizens would have done so otherwise.
"There was no way that this deal was going to pass through a referendum. You have to understand, the first one that wasn't fully understood, only passed by 101 votes back in 2001," Kane said.
The proposed deal reportedly included the Senecas sharing 9.75% of its slot machine revenue in year one and 19.5% for the remaining 19 years, in part in exchange for the added money a new facility would generate.
"One simple thing that the Senecas can do to double their gaming revenue without spending a dime is to get rid of revenue sharing altogether," Kane said.
Kane, a Mohawk who lives on Seneca territory, believes, Rochester casino aside, that's a non-starter for many Senecas.
"The vast majority of Senecas that I talk to want no revenue sharing deal, and of course, if you talk to leadership, they keep saying the same thing. 'Yeah, but we need to have that exclusivity.' You don't have an exclusivity," he said.
The outspoken radio host argues the 25% slot revenue sharing deal in the current compact is more like half because the Senecas are responsible for all of the overhead. Despite negotiated exclusivity zones, Kane said the state has competed anyway the last two decades with casinos, racinos, lotto and mobile gaming.
However, he argued any threats New York might license more full casinos in Western New York as bargaining leverage are essentially empty.
"They can't compete against the Seneca Nation who wouldn't be paying a dime to the state while the license holders not only have to pay a half a billion dollars for a license, then they've got to build a casino and then pay 30% of their net revenue to the state," Kane said.
Ultimately, he said it's federally illegal for the state to insist on revenue sharing and if it does so the Senecas could bypass the state and negotiate a compact directly with the U.S. Department of the Interior. | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/politics/2023/06/21/advocate-says-senecas-shouldn-t-share-any-revenue-in-new-compact | 2023-06-21 23:30:32 | 1 | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/politics/2023/06/21/advocate-says-senecas-shouldn-t-share-any-revenue-in-new-compact |
Company Earns Recognition in "Financial Consolidation, Close Management, and Reporting" Category
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Planful Inc., the pioneer of financial performance management cloud software, today announced that the company was named a winner in the Dresner Advisory Services 2022 Technology Innovation Awards program in the "Financial Consolidation, Close Management, and Reporting" category.
The annual Dresner Technology Innovation Awards recognize top-ranked vendors from Dresner's Wisdom of Crowds® thematic market studies. These studies are based on data collected from end users and provide a real-world perspective on various technical capabilities related to Dresner's annual research. Each report examines current deployment trends, user intentions, and industry capabilities.
Planful's platform streamlines business-wide planning, budgeting, consolidations, reporting, and analytics across finance, accounting, and business users. It provides customers a best-in-class single source of truth for their financial data to accelerate close, reduce risk, and report faster in a frictionless experience.
"We're honored to receive this innovation award from Dresner Advisory Services," said Grant Halloran, Chief Executive Officer, Planful. "It's especially gratifying to receive recognition that's based on the perspective of real-world users. Our focus on product innovation has enabled our customers to automate financial performance processes, reducing tons of friction across their businesses."
"With economic volatility comes the increased demand for technology that supports the office of the CFO," said Howard Dresner, Founder and Chief Research Officer at Dresner Advisory Services. "We congratulate Planful on receiving a 2022 Technology Innovation Award for its Financial Consolidation, Close Management, and Reporting offering. FCCR solutions are closely tied with enterprise performance management and should serve as a key part of an organization's overall performance management strategy."
PS Logistics, one of the largest flatbed trucking firms in the U.S., has transformed its financial processes with Planful. The company has reduced its monthly close from four weeks down to five to seven days, while year-end external auditing that used to consume up to eight weeks of time is now accomplished off-site in a week or less. "We could either hire a lot more bodies to manage the close faster, or we could invest in good software that would not only speed up our close, but let us pull in operational data and improve our reporting to be more proactive," said Dwight Lloyd, financial controller at PS Logistics.
The "Financial Consolidation, Close Management, and Reporting" category is based on analysis of financial consolidation systems that combine and aggregate financial data from multiple operating entities to produce an overall consolidated financial view of the customer group's operations. The report by Dresner Advisory Services leverages end-user data and provides a detailed look at the technical capabilities of each vendor, along with current deployment trends, user intentions, and industry capabilities.
To find out more about Planful or request a demo, please visit www.planful.com.
About Planful
Planful is the pioneer of financial performance management cloud software. The Planful platform, which helps businesses drive peak financial performance, is used around the globe to streamline business-wide planning, budgeting, consolidations, reporting, and analytics. Planful empowers finance, accounting, and business users to plan confidently, close faster, and report accurately. More than 1,300 customers, including 23andMe, Bose, Boston Red Sox, Five Guys, and Zappos, rely on Planful to accelerate cycle times, increase productivity, and improve accuracy. Planful is a private company backed by Vector Capital, a leading global private equity firm. Learn more at www.planful.com.
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SOURCE Planful | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2023/02/23/planful-wins-dresner-advisory-services-2022-technology-innovation-award/ | 2023-02-23 17:17:53 | 1 | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2023/02/23/planful-wins-dresner-advisory-services-2022-technology-innovation-award/ |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Grammy winners Tanya Tucker and Patty Loveless, along with hit country songwriter Bob McDill, will be the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Country Music Association announced the 2023 inductees on Monday in Nashville, Tennessee, with Tucker, the “Delta Dawn” singer, entering in the veteran era artist category, while Loveless, who beautifully blended bluegrass and country, joins as the modern era artist. The three will be formally inducted during a ceremony in the fall.
The bold husky-voiced Tucker is finally receiving her flowers from the Hall of Fame, an overdue honor after a career of 10 No. 1 hits, more than 40 songs in the top 10 and earning two Grammys for her 2019 comeback album “While I’m Livin’.”
For years, Tucker had also wondered when she’d finally get the honor.
“I figured I get it when I was dead or something,” she told The Associated Press on Monday. “And I kinda quit thinking about it, or wanting it.”
But Tucker had her heart set on getting in the Hall of Fame since she was just a kid. Tucker recalled seeing the names of her heroes at the Country Music Hall of Fame when she visited Nashville as a 9-year-old fresh-faced singer. Her dad took her to watch the singers at the Grand Ole Opry, encouraging her by asking her, “Wouldn’t you rather be up there doing it, instead of sitting here watching it?”
She’d have her first hit by the age of 13 when “Delta Dawn” came out in 1972, and gracing the cover of Rolling Stone magazine at the age of 15. And as her career bloomed with multiple hits through the 1970s and ’80s, she challenged the standards for women in country music, often being labeled a young rebel whose romances and addictions dominated tabloids.
She won CMA female vocalist of the year in 1991 and had hits with songs like “Down To My Last Teardrop,” “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane” and “Strong Enough to Bend.” Last year, a documentary was released about her and the making of the 2019 record, which she recorded with producers Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings.
Tucker, now 64, said she’s got another record coming this summer that she says will include tributes to those artists who helped and influenced her career. All of the recognition coming for her now feels like it was already foretold, Tucker said.
“It’s almost like my life has been written already,” Tucker said.
Country star Vince Gill helped announce the winners and talked about his long friendship with Loveless, who he said was like his little sister. The two often sang backup for each other on songs like, “My Kind of Woman, My Kind of Man,” “When I Call Your Name,” “Pocket Full of Gold” and “Go Rest High on That Mountain.”
A Kentucky native, Loveless had five No. 1 country singles, on songs like “Timber I’m Falling in Love,” “Blame It On Your Heart” and “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am.” She won CMA’s album of the year in 1995 for “When Fallen Angels Fly,” and female vocalist of the year in 1996.
She began leaning into her bluegrass and Appalachian roots in 2001 with the release of “Mountain Soul,” and its follow up “Mountain Soul II” earned her a Grammy award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2011.
She also earned two CMA Awards for best vocal event with country icon George Jones. Jones’ widow, Nancy Jones, was at the announcement on Monday to congratulate Loveless.
“I’m just shocked,” Loveless told The Associated Press. “I’m still trying to absorb it all, take it all in, ’cause it still feels somewhat like a dream. But my whole life has been dreams that have come true.”
Between the 1970s and his retirement in 2000, McDill had more than 30 songs reach the top of Billboard’s country charts and many that have become part of country music canon: “Gone Country” by Alan Jackson; “Don’t Close Your Eyes” by Keith Whitley; Alabama’s “Song of the South” and Don Williams’ “Good Ole Boys Like Me.”
The Country Music Hall of Fame inducts a songwriter every third year alongside the artist inductions.
“There are some legendary songwriters in this Hall of Fame that most people have probably never heard of,” said McDill after the announcement. “The voters look beyond the glitter and the spotlights sometimes and honor people like Boudleaux and Felice Bryant and Cindy Walker and some of those people that wrote standards that everybody can whistle and remember.”
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Online: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/ | https://www.cbs42.com/entertainment/ap-entertainment/tanya-tucker-patty-loveless-to-join-country-hall-of-fame/ | 2023-04-04 07:48:25 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/entertainment/ap-entertainment/tanya-tucker-patty-loveless-to-join-country-hall-of-fame/ |
Sea Tech Week® announces its full conference program of panel discussions and technical sessions. Registration for the 13th edition of the event in September is open for attendees.
NEW YORK and TORONTO , July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time since 2018, over 1,000 stakeholders across business, academia and governmental institutions from across the world will convene in person to shape the future of maritime.
This year's event focuses strongly on the environment, exploring smarter and greener solutions for maritime transport, energy and tech and will also celebrate women's work in marine science and technology. It will offer delegates many ways to exchange ideas, challenge each other's views and connect through:
- A trade fair, with exhibitors from across the world including a notable number from Europe, from public research teams to startups and large industrial groups
- BtoB meetings and networking events
- Most importantly: 30+ plenary sessions and 3 keynote panel discussions all touching on this year's central theme of green innovations – over 100 hours about the state of R&D and the future of maritime transport
Highlights : sustainable ports, energies & transports.
Towards The Definition Of Port Ecology And Ecological Port: questioning both the technical system, able to respond to environmental issues, and the capacity of the socio-system to initiate adaptation dynamics. Ports have a role to play in the shipping green revolution, and their metabolism needs an interdisciplinary approach.
This session is convened by Institut France-Québec Maritime (France-Canada)
Sustainable Polymer Materials For Marine Applications: reducing the environmental impact of floating vessels and their equipment with recyclable thermoplastic composites, compostable biosourced polymers and fibers – or even completely biodegradable materials (with more limited options).
Greener Maritime Transports: trends, innovative solutions and opportunities through bilateral French/Norwegian cooperation: decarbonation of the Norwegian Maritime industry, and greener propulsion solutions (hydrogen, ammonia, hybrid, sail, retrofit, etc - for ferries and cargos).
Opportunities Offered By Hydrogene In The Maritime World: maritime and port territorial loops for renewable hydrogen (with focus on the Hylias & Transrade projects), H2 production with MRE energy on port infrastructures for local needs and building Hydrogen-powered ships
New Fuels: Behavior In Aquatic Environments And Responses To Accidental Spills: behavior and risks of maritime transportation for new fuels (ammonia; Low Sulphur Fuel Oils (LSFO, VLSFO & ULSFO), hydrotated vegetable oil, liquefied natural gas; etc), whether used for ship propulsion or distribution plant supply.
Find the full programme: seatechweek.eu
To register to attend: seatechweek.eu
Full pass (5-day pass including lunches and coffee breaks): €350 plus VAT
@SeaTechWeek / Sea Tech Week® / #SeaTech2022
For more information, please contact:
Geoffroy Thaumin / geoffroy.thaumin@businessfrance.fr
Business France on behalf of Sea Tech Week®
About Sea Tech Week®
Sea Tech Week® is an international event dedicated to marine and maritime science and technology. It attracts over a thousand top international experts to Brest, France, every two years, representing a wide variety of ocean-related disciplines. Held every 2 years, Sea Tech Week® includes tech and science talks, a professional trade fair, BtoB meetings, company and laboratory tours and a gala evening.
This event provides the international community of scientists, companies, clusters, students and other stakeholders with the opportunity to share progress in research and innovation, to forge a professional network of contacts and to improve partnerships and cooperation.
Sea Tech Week® is organised by Technopôle Brest-Iroise through Campus mondial de la mer, France's leading community of experts in the ocean. This event is supported by Brest métropole, the Brittany Region, the EU (ERDF) and Crédit Mutuel Arkéa.
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SOURCE Business France; Technopole Brest Iroise | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/sea-tech-week-2022-waters-agenda/ | 2022-07-21 16:28:19 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/sea-tech-week-2022-waters-agenda/ |
American Airlines has settled a class-action lawsuit in which it was accused of charging passengers checked bag fees despite promising free checked bags for certain ticket classes.
Court documents show American has settled the lawsuit for at least $7.5 million and will refund improperly charged bag fees.
The airline was accused of breaching its contract after failing to provide free checked bags that were promised to travelers.
The fees, according to filings, were charged between 2013 and 2021 and put plaintiffs and the airline through two years of litigation.
Details of the settlement were revealed in a motion filed in a Texas federal court on Friday.
Court documents stated that "Rather than risk trial and appeal, which could lead to class members getting zero or less than-full compensation at an uncertain time later, the settlement gives every settlement class member a guaranteed opportunity now to get 100% compensation."
The airline will also pay administrative costs and attorney fees from the suit.
Passengers in the suit say American allegedly charged checked bag fees to some credit card holders and frequent or first-class flyers. | https://www.wptv.com/news/national/american-airlines-settles-lawsuit-for-at-least-7-5-m-after-unfair-bag-fee-claims | 2022-10-18 00:55:48 | 0 | https://www.wptv.com/news/national/american-airlines-settles-lawsuit-for-at-least-7-5-m-after-unfair-bag-fee-claims |
WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Thursday, July 14, 2022
_____
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
644 PM CDT Thu Jul 14 2022
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central Live
Oak and west central Bee Counties through 730 PM CDT...
At 643 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Karon, or 7 miles east of Three Rivers, moving southwest at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
George West, Three Rivers, Choke Canyon, Karon, Oakville, Simmons and
Ray Point.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 37 between mile markers 58 and 74.
US Highway 281 between mile markers 618 and 632.
US Highway 59 between mile markers 720 and 726.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 2845 9786 2824 9823 2847 9834 2853 9833
2860 9796
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 059DEG 22KT 2846 9805
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
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Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-CORPUS-CHRISTI-Warnings-Watches-and-17306245.php | 2022-07-15 01:13:12 | 0 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-CORPUS-CHRISTI-Warnings-Watches-and-17306245.php |
The Justice Department is racking up convictions in its investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, charging more than 800 people with crimes related to the deadly assault, securing three guilty pleas on the rare charge of seditious conspiracy and winning the cooperation of insiders from far-right groups.
But even as its investigation has heated up and fanned further out in recent months, the department has been hammered by lawmakers and political progressives who say it hasn't gone far enough.
Now, the congressional committee tasked with looking into the Jan. 6 riot is holding a series of public hearings on the insurrection this month, leaving many more to wonder about the progress of criminal prosecutions in what President Biden and many others call an attack on democracy.
"We will follow the facts wherever they lead," Attorney General Merrick Garland told graduates at Harvard University's commencement ceremony last month.
Of late, prosecutors have intensified efforts to investigate backers of political rallies in 2020 and early 2021, issued subpoenas to Stop the Steal figures and interviewed state legislators about an effort to disrupt certification of the 2020 presidential election results with fake slates of electors.
That is all happening, though, nearly a year and a half after violent rioters broke into the Capitol and stormed the halls with plans to kill then-Vice President Mike Pence and senior Democratic lawmakers.
"The pace can be frustrating," said former public corruption prosecutor Randall Eliason, "but there's every indication that Garland is doing exactly what he promised: starting at the bottom, working up the ladder and following it as high as it goes. It's the classic approach to a large case like this, but it does take some time."
Eliason pointed to the arrest of former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro last week on criminal contempt of Congress charges, only days after Navarro himself disclosed that he had received a subpoena from a grand jury in Washington, D.C.
"I think the Navarro subpoena is just the latest sign that's what is happening," said Eliason, who teaches at George Washington University's law school. "That and other developments are signs of a massive investigation proceeding about as we should expect."
What deserves constitutional protection and what crosses a legal line
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco outlined some of her thinking in a rare public interview this year at her alma mater, the University of Chicago.
"We look at and investigate the crimes in front of us, and then we work our way up," Monaco said. "It's very important to do that in a methodical way so that people don't think you are starting from an assumption. ... Letting the facts guide you, not letting your assumptions."
That approach "should give people confidence that we are investigating conduct and not people and not viewpoints," she said.
Monaco seemed to be referring to the First Amendment defense advanced by former President Donald Trump, his onetime lawyer Rudy Giuliani and others in response to civil lawsuits over the Jan. 6 violence.
The Justice Department's senior-most officials have said peaceful advocacy of a particular viewpoint or ideology deserves constitutional protection. But, they've argued, violent threats cross the legal line.
This week, a grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the far-right Proud Boys group, and four associates for seditious conspiracy — essentially, an attempt to overthrow the government by force. Eleven members of the Oath Keepers, including founder Stewart Rhodes, already face that rare sedition charge.
Pressure to go after people not at the Capitol that day, like Trump
But with only a few exceptions, federal prosecutors have yet to take public action against people not on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol during the riots. Left-leaning nonprofit groups are among those pushing the Justice Department to do and say more.
Legal analysts at the Project on Government Oversight urged department leaders to explain the scope of the department's investigation and identify whether any legal authorities bar the Justice Department from charging Trump with a possible crime.
"We cannot simply trust in the Justice Department's willingness to hold a former president accountable," they wrote.
Jeff Hauser, executive director of the Revolving Door Project, has warned the Justice Department that its failure to prosecute corrupt corporate executives and public officials already has led to a loss of confidence in institutions.
"The Justice Department is the only body capable of prosecuting those who raided the Capitol," Hauser said. "This is the most important chance in at least a generation to hold to account the powerful criminals who would undermine the government from within."
Three people with federal prosecution experience told NPR that in their view, the Justice Department has been proceeding fairly swiftly with its work on the Jan. 6 attack. But some former prosecutors such as Kristy Parker and Barbara McQuade have drafted and published their own analyses about Trump and his legal jeopardy.
"When the evidence of Trump's intentions and actions is viewed through the lens of the cases the Department and the Select Committee are building — including evidence of the ties between the foot soldiers who led the Jan. 6 riots and Trump's inner circle — and in the context of the cases the Department has already prosecuted against other Jan. 6 defendants, it looks formidable, not weak," Parker wrote in a recent post on the website Just Security.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-06-08/the-justice-department-has-gone-far-and-wide-in-its-jan-6-probe-some-want-more | 2022-06-08 16:32:05 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-06-08/the-justice-department-has-gone-far-and-wide-in-its-jan-6-probe-some-want-more |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A measure of inflation closely watched by the Federal Reserve slowed last month, another sign that a long surge in consumer prices seems to be easing.
Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that prices rose 5.5% in November from a year earlier, down from a revised 6.1% increase in October and the smallest gain since October 2021. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core inflation was up 4.7% over the previous year. That was also the smallest increase since October 2021.
On a month-to-month basis, prices rose 0.1% from October to November after rising 0.4% the previous month. Core prices rose 0.2%.
Inflation, which began surging a year and a half ago as the economy bounced back from 2020’s coronavirus recession, still remains well above the 2% year-over-year growth the Fed wants to see.
The central bank has raised its benchmark interest rate seven times since March in an attempt to bring consumer prices under control.
Higher prices and borrowing costs may be taking a toll on American consumers. Their spending rose just 0.1% from October to November and didn’t rise at all after adjusting for higher prices.
“We expect a deceleration in household spending as the Fed hikes rates further in 2023,” Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a research note.
Americans’ after-tax income, however, rose 0.3% in November even after accounting for inflation.
The Fed is believed to monitor the Commerce Department’s inflation gauge that was issued Friday, called the personal consumption expenditures price index, even more closely than it does the Labor Department’s better-known consumer price index. CPI rose 7.1% in November from 12 months earlier, down from June’s 9.1% year-over-year increase, which had been the biggest such jump in four decades.
The PCE index tends to show a lower inflation rate than CPI. In part, that is because rents, which have soared, carry double the weight in the CPI that they do in the PCE.
The PCE price index also seeks to account for changes in how people shop when inflation jumps. As a result, it can capture, for example, when consumers switch from pricey national brands to cheaper store brands. | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/business/ap-an-inflation-meaasure-watched-by-the-fed-eases-to-5-5/ | 2022-12-23 14:44:27 | 0 | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/news/business/ap-an-inflation-meaasure-watched-by-the-fed-eases-to-5-5/ |
Winterfest ‘lights up’ for the holidays
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — The Pigeon Forge Winterfest is planning to make this winter the brightest one yet.
This year the event will showcase the new Winterfest Wonders of Light walking Trail.
It will feature 20 new nature-inspired light displays, including a colorful 52-foot-long caterpillar, larger than life flowers, and Old Man Winter.
“With our 15 million lights, including Dollywood and Smoky Mountain Christmas, there is so much to see and do here in Pigeon Forge,” said Sue Carr, the Marketing Director for the City of Pigeon Forge.
The Winterfest Celebration is currently underway and will be open through February 19.
You can find more news from across the state here. | https://www.wbbjtv.com/2022/11/11/winterfest-lights-up-for-the-holidays/ | 2022-11-12 04:21:03 | 0 | https://www.wbbjtv.com/2022/11/11/winterfest-lights-up-for-the-holidays/ |
Sports ConnectionConnecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/nfl-playoff-scenarios-in-week-16/3153847/ | 2022-12-20 23:46:12 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/nfl-playoff-scenarios-in-week-16/3153847/ |
Pakistani ex-PM Imran Khan’s supporters rally, taunt police
By BABAR DOGAR and MUNIR AHMED
Associated Press
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Hundreds of supporters of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan are defying a ban on rallies in a commercial area of the city of Lahore, taunting police and asking to be arrested en masse. The protest is part of the ex-premier’s latest campaign seeking to “fill the jail cells” with detainees as a way to pressure the administration into holding early elections. The rally by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf opposition party got under way on Wednesday in Lahore but police made no move to detain Khan’s supporters. At that point, several barged into a police van parked nearby and demanded they be taken into custody. Police officers insisted they were not going to arrest them. | https://localnews8.com/news/2023/02/22/pakistani-ex-pm-imran-khans-supporters-rally-taunt-police/ | 2023-02-22 14:53:44 | 0 | https://localnews8.com/news/2023/02/22/pakistani-ex-pm-imran-khans-supporters-rally-taunt-police/ |
TONIGHT: Skies will remain clear overnight tonight as temperatures fall into the mid-40s.
TOMORROW: Monday will be another sunny and warm day, where temperatures warm into the mid-70s. Winds will be a bit breezy at times out of the west-northwest.
EXTENDED: Sunshine will continue through early next week as temperatures slowly start to warm. Highs will be back in the upper 70s by Wednesday. Showers and a few thunderstorms will be possible from Thursday afternoon through Friday. Scattered rain chances will likely linger into the upcoming weekend.
STAY INFORMED
Download the Arkansas Storm Team app
To make sure you are staying up-to-date with the forecast, download the Arkansas Storm Team app to get updates anywhere at any time.
To watch the latest video updates from the Arkansas Storm Team, you can check them out here.
The Arkansas Storm Team is a collaboration of two stations to bring you the largest weather team in the state when covering Arkansas weather. | https://www.fox16.com/weather/weather-forecasts/arkansas-storm-team-forecast-sunshine-to-start-the-workweek-2/ | 2023-04-30 22:25:56 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/weather/weather-forecasts/arkansas-storm-team-forecast-sunshine-to-start-the-workweek-2/ |
HERSHEY, Pa., Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) announced today that it will release its fourth-quarter sales and earnings results on Thursday, February 2, 2023, and hold a conference call with analysts at 8:30 a.m. ET on that date. The company will host the conference call via a live webcast on the Hershey corporate website. Please click here and navigate to "CALENDAR OF EVENTS" for webcast details.
If you are unable to click on the link above, please copy and paste the URL below into a web browser
https://www.thehersheycompany.com/content/corporate_SSF/en_us/investors/events-reports-releases/calendar-of-events.html
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SOURCE The Hershey Company | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/05/hershey-webcast-fourth-quarter-conference-call/ | 2023-01-05 14:41:50 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/05/hershey-webcast-fourth-quarter-conference-call/ |
LOS ANGELES — Leon Vitali, the “Barry Lyndon” actor who became one of Stanley Kubrick’s closest associates, has died. He was 74.
Vitali died Friday in Los Angeles, his family told The Associated Press Sunday.
Though Vitali was often described as Kubrick’s assistant, Tony Zierra’s 2017 documentary “Filmworker” shed light on Vitali’s enormous and largely unsung contributions to the work of one of cinema’s greatest figures from “The Shining” through “Eyes Wide Shut.” He did everything from casting and coaching actors to overseeing restorations. Vitali even once set up a video monitor so that Kubrick could keep an eye on his dying cat.
Matthew Modine, who starred in Kubrick's “Full Metal Jacket,” tweeted his condolences Sunday.
“There are people we meet who have a profound impact upon our lives. Leon Vitali was one such person in mine,” Modine wrote. “An artist in every aspect of his life. A loving father & friend to so many. A kind, generous & forgiving nature. He exemplified & personified grace.”
Filmmaker Lee Unkrich also tweeted that he was, "Completely heartbroken to hear about the passing of Leon Vitali. He helped me (asterisk)enormously(asterisk) with my Shining book and I’m gutted that he won’t see it. He was a sweet, kind, humble, generous man and a vital part of Stanley Kubrick’s team.”
Before meeting Kubrick, Vitali was a rising actor in England, appearing in several British television shows including “Softly, Softly,” “Follyfoot,” “Z Cars” and “Notorious Woman.” Then in 1974 he got his biggest break yet, when he was cast in “Barry Lyndon” as Lord Bullingdon, the stepson of Ryan O’Neal’s title character.
Vitali was so fascinated by Kubrick and his processes that he made an unusual decision: He gave up on acting and devoted himself entirely to the famously demanding director for over two decades. His next Kubrick credit was as “personal assistant to the director” on “The Shining,” though that’s only part of the story — Vitali famously helped cast 4-year-old Danny Lloyd to play Danny Torrance and Louise and Lisa Burns as the creepy Grady twins (citing Diane Arbus as inspiration).
“I made one truly, truly radical change in my life and that was when I said, ‘I’m more interested in that’ than I was in the acting,” Vitali told the Associated Press in 2017. “That’s the biggest conscious decision I’ve ever made. There were some sacrifices, but there were gains too.”
After Kubrick’s death in 1999, Vitali oversaw restorations for many of Kubrick’s films. He received a Cinema Audio Society award for his work. He later worked with director Todd Field on his films “Little Children” and “In the Bedroom.”
Vitali died surrounded by loved ones including his three children, Masha, Max and Vera.
“Leon was a special and lovely man driven by his curiosity, who spread love and warmth wherever he went,” his children said in a statement provided by Masha Vitali. “He will be remembered with love and be hugely missed by the many people he touched.”
Before making the documentary, Zierra said that he and many Kubrick-obsessed fans knew Vitali for his performances in “Barry Lyndon” and “Eyes Wide Shut,” in which he played Red Cloak, and as a key member of Kubrick’s inner circle. But when they finally met Vitali to make the film, they were struck by “his kindness, humility and the fascinating scope of his story.”
Zierra is working on a director’s cut of “Filmworker” that will include new footage that he and Vitali wanted in the film, but couldn’t get done in time for its Cannes debut in 2017. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/leon-vitali-stanley-kubrick-right-hand-man-dies/507-b9fc40ce-4487-45ce-b010-584d08bf3119 | 2022-08-22 15:35:25 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/leon-vitali-stanley-kubrick-right-hand-man-dies/507-b9fc40ce-4487-45ce-b010-584d08bf3119 |
NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of DraftKings Inc. ("c" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: DKNG). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether DraftKings and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On November 21, 2022, sports betting website The Action Network published an article reporting that DraftKings user accounts had been hacked and that funds in the users' accounts had been cashed out. DraftKings' co-founder Paul Liberman subsequently acknowledged the hacks, stating that roughly $300,000 in customer funds had been affected.
On this news, DraftKings' stock price fell $0.76 per share, or 5.05%, to close at $14.29 per share on November 21, 2022.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/12/13/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-draftkings-inc-dkng/ | 2022-12-13 06:04:44 | 0 | https://www.kold.com/prnewswire/2022/12/13/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-draftkings-inc-dkng/ |
When I enter the Manhattan studio where I'm scheduled to meet Veeze, he's working, looking over his producer Tye Beats' shoulder as he chops up a sample of "EARFQUAKE" by Tyler, The Creator. Tye deftly stitches the neck-breaking drums that have become the trademark of Michigan rap to the pattern. Swiveling in an office chair, Veeze seems exhausted, maybe slightly annoyed by the presence of another journalist deep in a rare press run. (He hates doing interviews.) Right here, facing a rack of screens and speakers, is the mode in which the Detroit rapper seems most comfortable — a studio rat through-and-through; studious, skilled and focused.
But when Veeze refocuses his attention toward me, his ridiculous personality immediately jumps out. He cracks jokes constantly — about his idol-turned-mentor Future, about struggling to censor himself in a Pistons halftime performance, about his vision for his own Jimmy Fallon-esque late-night show, about rappers in the Far East biting the Michigan sound. He practically fanboys talking about a random studio session with one of his favorite artists, Playboi Carti, who praised his music and played him the scrapped deluxe edition of Whole Lotta Red.
Somehow Veeze is one of the best rappers and one of us, a frank, relatable and often hilarious presence online, whether or not it's intentional. Even with his music, he'll scream along to a snippet he's premiering on IG Live as though he can't believe he came up with it. This balance between the cool and the personable, effortless bars and Twitter memes, has vaulted Veeze into the vanguard of Michigan's rap scene. Like every great before him, he's developed a style that is utterly his own. Rapping in a deceptively versatile mutter-croak, Veeze ekes out dense, snake-like verses that are as captionable and clever as they are transparent about his vices: "The drank be calling me the most when I feel like quitting." (I've seen some first-listeners struggle to get into Veeze; I'll just say that when you get it, you get it.)
Sometimes he'll bring his voice a hair's breadth from your ears like he's doing ASMR. On the sinister 2022 single, "Close Friends," his murmurs froth as they're sent through sludgy Auto-Tune. You can do the dot-connecting — the stoicism of Detroit peer Babyface Ray, the slurred stylings of Future and Gucci and Young Nudy, the baby voice of Carti, the whimsy of Chief Keef — but it's almost a disservice to the expansive world that Veeze has constructed with his voice.
As one of a few artists in the insular Michigan scene that has entered the wider rap ecosystem, Veeze seemed poised to take the proverbial next step. Speaking to him, it's obvious he's ready. He's studied rappers past and present on a technical level, as well as how they've navigated the shifting tides of culture and cool. He brings up his collaborator, Chicago rapper LUCKI, as a example of someone who he noticed recently became the "cool" thing to rep, despite putting in work for over a decade.
For years, Veeze's lore was missing a crucial component: an album. Since his urgent 2020 hit, "Law N Order," (which, of course, samples the theme from the long-running cop procedural) the rapper has teased his debut, GANGER (a word he coined to describe himself and his partners), with a string of increasingly knotty and thrilling singles, features and leaks. Between Veeze's rising star and constant revisions and pushbacks, the album took on a mythic quality. Veeze says the reception to "Close Friends" (particularly from his friend Lil Baby, who "just listened to the s*** every day") motivated him to go full album mode.
GANGER somehow lives up to the hype — a mean, muggy sampler that pulls off the rare feat of being an Intro To Veeze and appealing to long-term fans. But when I spoke to him on that chilly March evening, he was still working on the project, shifty about its tracklist, details and release date, probably because he didn't have all the answers himself yet. We talked about leak culture, the far-reaching sound of Michigan, his idea of taste and whether or not Future actually means his tweets.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Mano Sundaresan: When you first started rapping, who were you trying to channel?
Veeze: Really just underground s*** and mixtape s***, like Gucci [Mane] and Sosa [Chief Keef]. Kodak Black, too. Still to this day, he's one of my favorite n****s. Sometimes when I get writer's block, I say, "What would Kodak say?" And I wouldn't do that to anybody [else].
Was there anybody in Detroit that you were looking up to?
Everybody in Detroit used to be doing their thing, with, like, the Doughboyz and Team Eastside, Peezy and Babyface and Vezzo. It was a thing that, like, if you don't listen to them, it's just like ... what you doing? They was just so hot. All of them. The whole little culture of the rise of Detroit.
Can you talk about how you started actually rapping?
Just meeting Ray through mutual friends and knowing each other through the streets and s***. And then he heard a few of my songs and told me to take it a little more serious. Started going to the studio way more, being around the songs getting made. When I made "Rusty" and "Wilt," he was just like, "Man this s*** gotta go out, bro. It need to get put out."
Do you feel like there's a certain type of intangible that people can never really replicate about your sound? 'Cause I feel like a lot of people are doing the sound, but they just don't sound like you or Ray.
You ain't s*** till you get copied, bro. You ain't shit till you get — what they call — sampled.
The way you rap on "Law N Order" and just the way you rap in general, it feels so dense yet laid-back at once.
I just be punching in, thinking of the bars. It's just, like, free. It ain't really nothing deep about it.
Do you ever come up with a punch line and you save it for later, or is it all on the spot?
Nah, I don't write down anything.
With the hype around GANGER, you're like Carti before the mixtape. Everybody's waiting for this.
I don't think I ever told nobody this, but one of my producer homies named D. Hill — he passed away — he was working with Carti. This was a couple months before he passed away and s***. He a diamond producer though, rest in peace my n****, man, he produced, "working on the weekend like usual" ["Life is Good" by Future and Drake], he made that beat so I just want to say rest in peace my n****. He took me to meet Carti and s***. It was just crazy because I'm a huge Carti fan. And [Carti] like, "You wanna listen to the Red deluxe?" I'm like, "Hell yeah!" [laughs] I'm just in my own world, I'm just smoking, like damn! [Carti] never dropped it. But he played like six songs.
Then he was like, "Play me some of your s***!" I had just got done shooting the video to "A and W" and s***, so I played him a few songs, and I played him "A and W." And he like, "Man that s*** hard as f*** right there!" He made me wanna put out "A and W" faster, like, damn Carti just said that b**** sweet! I played a couple songs, but he was like, "That one hard as f***." But my partner D. Hill made the beat to "A and W" too.
I feel like out of probably any rapper besides Carti right now, I've never seen fans more rabid for unreleased music than they are with yours.
It's more so songs that I've listened to on [Instagram] Live, but it is crazy though, 'cause I don't know nobody other than Carti like that either. And it's like, all songs that's leaked, we know they leaked. It ain't no song on YouTube that I don't know that's leaked. I know if I played it on Live. I know if I sent it to a friend who played it on Live. Any song that's leaked, I know. Every leak is accounted for. And I know which ones shouldn't be out. There's nothing on YouTube that I can say, "This shouldn't be out."
There's one song on this early version of the album I heard called ["Weekend"] — the beat almost reminds me of some old Wiz.
I did that song recently. It was from a thing I got tagged in, look. [Plays a beat off Instagram]. I did that b**** the same night he sent it.
Do you envision stepping back from rapping and doing other stuff?
I wanna be an actor. I want to be like Jamie Foxx or muf***in' Adam Sandler. I want to get so famous I could work on Jimmy Fallon. Like, it'd be Late Night with Veeze, and I'm in the suit when I get older.
Who would you be booking for guests?
I'd put muf***in' Jeff Bezos on there. People that I would want to sit down and talk to.
What would you wanna talk to Jeff Bezos about?
I would love to say sarcastic s*** to some of the richest people in the world. I feel like somebody like Kendrick Lamar who may seem kind of serious, I would wanna sit him down and see him joke.
Michigan rap is some of the funniest music, I feel. Some of the dudes in your scene could be comedians if they wanted to. I mean, you could. Rio [Da Yung OG] definitely could.
I believe it. Rio really funny. He really have you laughin' like a muf***er. Swear to God. All my n****s, though. Ray have a n**** crying, for real. Even my famous partners, who people don't get to see how funny they is all the time, that s*** be crazy, bruh. It's just so much that people can't say and they gotta get stuff off their mind ... it become the funniest s***. [Laughs]
Wait, are you talking about Future?
He in the Top 3. Swear to God. Like I'd put Future on Jimmy Fallon. Future funny as hell. My times I've been with him, he dumb as me! Like, how you see him with the memes or something, he really do that s***! He do that s*** every three seconds, I swear to God. I see why they just make a meme out of all his s***, dog. He's really funny like that.
There's so many things that he tweet [where] he just don't add the laugh emoji but he really trying to be funny. People take it crazy, no cap. I want people to know that, he don't be putting "lol" or nothing but he be laughing. He be joking y'all.
Well now I'm just gonna laugh at all Future tweets.
You got to. It's all LOL, gang. Just put it in yourself and you gon' know.
What has Future taught you?
One day we was in the studio — me and Ray was doing songs and s***. Future was just in there with us and s***. And we were just making songs, change the beat, making songs, change the beat. And Future was like, "Y'all don't go to the studio every day, do y'all?" And me and Ray look up like, "Damn, we don't." And he like, "I know y'all don't 'cause I do." Future probably make 10 to 20 songs a day, and he rich as hell. He gon' rap sun-up to sundown, he rich as hell. So [if] we want to be on his level, we got to step it up.
What do you think it takes to grow a fanbase like yours?
It gotta become a cool thing. Some of the homage just come from [listening to you] being a cool thing to do. For instance, if my famous partners post me, it could be somebody who a fan of them who really didn't used to listen to me. But they see bro post me, they're like, "Oh, hold on, listening to Veeze is the cool thing to do," and hop on the train of that.
Do you think there's something about this type of scene that you guys have cultivated that other regions can learn from?
There's some rappers who [are] just not that talented but they just know how to be famous. But if the fans and the people feel like it's undeniable, that's just what it is. When listening to you become the cool thing to do, ain't nothing else nobody could do.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-10/veeze-is-just-like-us-except-hes-one-of-the-best-rappers-alive | 2023-07-17 20:58:18 | 0 | https://www.nepm.org/2023-07-10/veeze-is-just-like-us-except-hes-one-of-the-best-rappers-alive |
PHOENIX — It’s been four weeks since the Washington Commanders fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner, and the team has yet to name his replacement. But a decision will probably be made next week, with Coach Ron Rivera hoping to interview one more candidate: Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
The switch to a new play-caller is one of the many pending changes in the Commanders’ future, which could include new ownership, another new quarterback and scheme changes.
Wednesday in Phoenix, where Rivera was named the NFL’s Salute to Service award winner, he spoke on an array of topics about the team’s hopes for the offseason and beyond.
Offensive coordinator
Rivera has interviewed six candidates for offensive coordinator — Pat Shurmur, Ken Zampese, Charles London, Thomas Brown, Eric Studesville and Anthony Lynn — and hopes to talk to Bieniemy after Super Bowl LVII. The longtime Chiefs coordinator has interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts’ for their head-coaching vacancy and is reported to be a candidate for the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator opening.
Washington’s candidacy comes with caveats; a potential ownership change has raised questions about the security of the job.
“The question has come up,” Rivera said. “Because for them, for a lot of them, it’s … ‘I have two years left on my contract, are they going to give you that two years?’ You know, that’s what everybody has asked. And I said, ‘Look, all I know is I’ve been told it’s business as usual.’ I mean, I get updates. I talk to ownership to let them know where I am. They’ve been nothing but supportive.”
Rivera’s priority is to find a new play-caller who can get the ball to the Commanders’ various playmakers, including wideouts Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, create explosive plays off play-action and use the run game to create chunk plays.
“Something that was really shown in the Dallas game was Jahan Dotson caught two quick slants that turned into almost 50 yards of offense, just on two plays,” Rivera said. “And it’s one of those things, you go, that’s what you like.”
As someone who sat through eight interviews before landing his first head-coaching job in the NFL, Rivera has the experience and desire to afford another up-and-comer his opportunity. When asked about Bieniemy’s struggle to get a head-coaching offer, Rivera voiced his support and dismay that he’s yet to land an opportunity.
“I’m tremendously surprised,” Rivera said. “To listen to people’s reasoning, saying it’s because he’s under Andy [Reid]’s shadow, I think is unfair. I mean, you have to be willing to give the guy the opportunity more than anything. … I don’t think Eric deserved to have to go through that. But what it is, from what you’re hearing on the grapevine, is he’s looking for an opportunity to work with a defensive coach. So I want to see about that opportunity.”
Young’s contract
The Commanders will have to make a decision on Chase Young’s near future in the coming weeks. The team has until May 1 to pick up his fifth-year contract option, for 2024, which will be worth $17.452 million and guaranteed if and when it’s exercised.
Young received a four-year, fully guaranteed $35.4 million contract when he was drafted second in 2020. After he earned defensive rookie of the year honors and a Pro Bowl selection in his first season, an extensive knee injury sidelined him for 22 games over the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
“You get an opportunity to sit down, look at his tape with our scouts, talk about the way he played,” Rivera said. “What do we see in terms of development and growth? We’re going to sit down with the doctors, with the trainers. Where is he?”
Rivera said the decision about Young’s fifth year will not affect the decision the team must make about Daron Payne, who will be a free agent in March. But Payne’s path could influence the team’s thinking with Young.
Washington picked up Payne’s fifth-year option two years ago, and he played his best this season, in a contract year. Not exercising Young’s fifth year, Rivera said, could be a motivator.
“If you look at what Daron did, why wouldn’t you think of it that way?” Rivera said. “Believe me, that would be my approach, especially looking at what Daron did and the situation he put himself in. … It cost us [with Daron]. But it cost us in a good way, because the young man played, he did things the right way.”
Keeping Payne
Rivera said he’s “optimistic” about keeping Payne but offered few specifics about the team’s plans to try to retain him.
Payne is set to be a free agent in March unless the Commanders first re-sign him to a longer-term contract or use a franchise or transition tag on him.
A new contract could carry an average annual value of $19 million, if not more. A franchise tag, essentially a one-year deal that would allow the team to match another offer sheet Payne might sign and receive draft compensation if he walks, would be around the same amount ($18.937 million). A transition tag, which would give the Commanders only the right of match if Payne signs another offer sheet and no draft compensation, is worth less ($16.068 million).
Quarterback strategy
Rivera has said Sam Howell is the likely starter, but will have to earn the job. The coach’s goal, still, is to get a veteran in the room, and he’s on record saying he would like to keep Taylor Heinicke, a pending free agent.
But taking on a high-priced veteran, either in free agency or via a trade, may be too costly for the Commanders.
“We’re formidable, and we didn’t have a completely healthy quarterback all year,” Rivera said. “We’ve got a stout running game. We’ve got playmakers in position, and we had a young man who showed us that he can spread the ball out and get it out quickly. What’s the risk of spending money on somebody and then all of a sudden it not working out, again? Now, are we going to give up on trying to find the right veteran? Absolutely not. If we find the right veteran to come in and add that competition to that group of guys in that room, I think we’re going to see growth.” | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/02/08/ron-rivera-commanders-offseason/ | 2023-02-08 23:14:25 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/02/08/ron-rivera-commanders-offseason/ |
WASHINGTON, April 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Shawn Joseph, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and Co-Director of the Urban Superintendent Academy at Howard University, published an article titled, "Swimming Against the Current: Resistance to a Black Superintendent's Fight to Lead With Equity in an Urban School District" in the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership.
Dr. Joseph shared, "The true stories of Black superintendents must be told. In this case, I utilized journal entries and newspaper clippings of a Black superintendent to tell his story as an instructive tool for future aspiring superintendents. Specifically, in this case study, I describe how prejudice and racism played a factor in this school leader's ability to improve outcomes for children." The article chronicles three incidents in a Black superintendent's tenure that were evidence of prejudice or racism, and the case provides readers with research and insight into the challenges Black superintendents face in their roles leading for equity.
This research is significant because there is currently limited research on Black superintendents. While 14% of the US public school population is Black, only 3-4% of superintendents are Black. In addition, the average tenure of a Black superintendent is shorter than the average tenure of a White superintendent. Dr. Joseph states, "If the fish keep dying, one must stop questioning if the fish is just unhealthy. Instead, we must look at the water in which the fish swims, and we must work to cure the water. It is my hope that this case study, which documents, calls out, and critically analyzes the experience of a Black superintendent, is a first step to publicly acknowledging the problem so we can begin to identify remedies to purify the water/environments in which Black superintendents lead".
Download the full article here.
To go to Dr. Joseph and Associates LLC's website, you can click here.
To learn more about Dr. Joseph's work at Howard University, you can click here.
About Joseph and Associates LLC:
Joseph and Associates LLC is an educational consulting firm with a mission to support school districts and school leaders with school leadership development, governance, and diversity training. Founded in 2019 by Dr. Shawn Joseph, Joseph and Associates supports school districts and school leaders around the United States.
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SOURCE Joseph and Associates LLC | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2023/04/24/dr-shawn-joseph-publishes-case-study-documenting-black-superintendents-fight-lead-with-equity-urban-school-district/ | 2023-04-24 12:43:30 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2023/04/24/dr-shawn-joseph-publishes-case-study-documenting-black-superintendents-fight-lead-with-equity-urban-school-district/ |
Michigan power line work continues, California gets breather
(AP) - Some Michigan residents faced a fourth straight day in the dark Sunday as crews continued working to restore power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses in the Detroit metropolitan area following last week’s ice storm.
California, meanwhile, was getting a brief break Sunday from a powerful storm that on Saturday left Southern California rivers swollen to dangerous levels and brought snow to low-lying areas around Los Angeles.
The sun came out Sunday in Southern California, where mountains north and east of Los Angeles were blanketed in white after snowfall at elevations as low as 1,000 feet (305 meters). Closer to sea level, days of downpours swelled rivers to dangerous levels and flooded roadways.
In hard-hit southeastern Michigan, still reeling from last week’s ice storm and high winds, the state’s two main utilities — DTE Energy and Consumers Energy — reported more than 210,000 homes and businesses without power as of noon Sunday. Most of those, about 173,000, were DTE customers, with Consumers Energy reporting about 37,000 of its customers without power.
Both utilities said they still hope to have the lights back on by Sunday night for a majority of their affected customers.
DTE Energy spokeswoman Cindy Hecht said some of the utilities’ customers have been without power since Wednesday, but she did not know how many homes and businesses were in that predicament.
She said the power restoration efforts have proved time-consuming because of the large number of power lines that were damaged, including individual lines that link single homes to the grid.
Wednesday’s ice storm coated lines and trees with a half an inch (1.27 centimeters) of ice or more and it was followed Thursday by high winds that put about 600,000 DTE customers in the dark at the storm’s peak. Hecht said that was the second-largest number of outages DTE has ever experienced, after a March 2017 wind storm that cut power to about 800,000 of its customers.
“The icing event we had this week is equivalent to a hurricane for coastal utilities. It was the amount of ice and high winds — the winds and the amount of ice accumulation on lines and branches,” she said.
Hecht said the utility’s meteorologists have been tracking another storm system that will move into Michigan on Monday, and the utility is “prepared to respond.”
“At this point, we are expecting the system to bring the potential for wintry mix and freezing rain tomorrow and wind gusts up to 45 mph on Tuesday,” she said in a statement.
California was getting only a brief break from winter weather, with rain and snow falling again Sunday in the northern part of the state as the first of two more storms started to move in. Blizzard warnings go into effect at 4 a.m. Monday and will last until Wednesday for much of the Sierra Nevada, where crews were still clearing mountain roads after last week’s icy storm.
“Extremely dangerous and near to impossible mountain travel is expected due to heavy snow and strong wind,” the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office warned on Twitter.
After days of fierce winds, toppled trees and downed wires, more than 67,000 California utility customers remained without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us.
Days of downpours have dumped almost 11 inches (28 centimeters) of rain in the Woodland Hills area of LA’s San Fernando Valley, while nearly 7 inches (18 centimeters) were reported in Beverly Hills.
Rare blizzard warnings for the mountains and widespread flood watches ended late Saturday. But Interstate 5, the West Coast’s major north-south highway, was closed off and on due to heavy snow and ice in Tejon Pass through the mountains north of Los Angeles.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kttc.com/2023/02/26/michigan-power-line-work-continues-california-gets-breather/ | 2023-02-26 19:01:27 | 1 | https://www.kttc.com/2023/02/26/michigan-power-line-work-continues-california-gets-breather/ |
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese regulators began a final inspection on Wednesday before treated radioactive wastewater is released from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean.
The inspection began a day after plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings installed the last piece of equipment needed for the release — the outlet of the undersea tunnel dug to discharge the wastewater 1 kilometer (a thousand yards) offshore.
TEPCO said the Nuclear Regulation Authority inspectors will examine the equipment related to the treated water discharge and its safety systems during three days of inspections through Friday. The permit for releasing the water could be issued about a week later, and TEPCO could start discharging the water soon after, though an exact date has not been decided.
The plan has faced fierce protests from local fishing groups concerned about safety and reputational damage. The government and TEPCO promised in 2015 not to release the water without consent from the fishing groups, but many in the fishing community say the plan was pushed regardless. Neighboring South Korea, China and some Pacific Island nations have also raised safety concerns.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged Japan on Wednesday to “stop forcibly promoting the ocean discharge plan, earnestly dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a science-based, safe and transparent manner, and accept strict international supervision.”
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters Wednesday that the government “abides by its policy of not carrying out a release without the understanding” of fishing groups in Fukushima. He said the government will continue to communicate closely with them and others involved, while ensuring safety and addressing the issue of reputational damage. Fishing groups fear the wastewater release will cause consumers to stop buying seafood from the area.
At an annual shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday, TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa said his company will proceed firmly with the wastewater release plan under the government’s policy. He said TEPCO will promote the distribution of fisheries products and make further efforts to gain understanding of the plan.
Government and utility officials say the wastewater, currently stored in about 1,000 tanks at the plant, must be removed to prevent any accidental leaks and to make room for the plant’s decommissioning. They say the treated but still slightly radioactive water will be diluted to levels safer than international standards and will be released gradually into the ocean over decades, making it harmless to people and marine life.
Some scientists say the impact of long-term, low-dose exposure to radionuclides is unknown and the release should be delayed. Others say the release plan is safe but call for more transparency, including allowing outside scientists to join in sampling and monitoring the release.
Japan has sought support from the International Atomic Energy Agency to gain credibility and ensure that safety measures meet international standards. IAEA has dispatched several missions to Japan since early 2022, and its final evaluation report is expected soon, though the organization has no power to stop the plan. IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi is expected to visit Japan in early July to meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and visit the plant.
A massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant’s cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and their cooling water to be contaminated and leak continuously. The water is collected, treated and stored in the tanks, which will reach their capacity in early 2024. | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/regulators-begin-final-safety-inspection-before-treated-fukushima-wastewater-is-released-into-sea/ | 2023-06-29 02:06:52 | 1 | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/regulators-begin-final-safety-inspection-before-treated-fukushima-wastewater-is-released-into-sea/ |
The Texans signed a number of rookies on Friday, including their final four draft picks from last month.
The team announced the signings of fifth-round linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, sixth-round center Jarrett Patterson, sixth-round wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson, and seventh-round safety Brandon Hill.
Houston drafted nine players overall this year, including first-rounders C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson.
In addition to the draft picks, the Texans signed nine undrafted rookies. They are Wisconsin offensive lineman Tyler Beach, Western Michigan tackle Dylan Deatherage, Memphis punter Joe Doyle, LSU defensive end Ali Gaye, Duke safety Darius Joiner, San Diego State wide receiver Jesse Matthews, Arizona State running back Xazavian Valladay, Pitt wide receiver Jared Wayne, and Auburn tackle Kilian Zierer. | https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/texans-sign-four-draft-picks-nine-undrafted-free-agents | 2023-07-01 10:46:07 | 0 | https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/texans-sign-four-draft-picks-nine-undrafted-free-agents |
Electrically driven, alternative-fuels-capable pump supports vehicle electrification
DETROIT, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanadyne, a leading global fuel and air management systems supplier, has developed an electrically driven gasoline direct injection (GDI) fuel pump as part of its approach to fuel delivery system technology based on electrification. Called the "E-Pump Module," it is powered by 24- and 48-volt vehicle architectures and is decoupled from the internal combustion engine drivetrain. This enables the fuel flow and pressure to be electrically controlled to optimize and reduce fuel consumption, as the pump speed is now independent of engine revolutions per minute.
"Moving to an electrically powered GDI pump breaks from the standard design of connecting it to the engine for operation," said Stanadyne Chief Technology Officer Dr. Brad Stroia. "This is an important innovation for hybrid vehicles. Pump operation can be reduced, or even suspended entirely, when the engine has low fuel delivery demand to improve overall vehicle efficiency."
The E-Pump's compact, modular, and scalable design uses a Stanadyne proprietary controller and software. It is scalable for 250- to 500-bar fuel systems and suitable for a wide range of engine applications. The pump is compatible with E10 to E85 and M15 fuels with a top-end fueling capacity of 1000 cc per revolution (up to 100 liters per hour).
When tested on a demonstration vehicle and compared to base 200-250 bar GDI system technology on a 2.0 liter turbo engine:
- Emissions were reduced by an approximately 10 percent.
- Mechanical noise emission was reduced by approximately 9 dB(A).
- Start time was improved by approximately 0.7 seconds.
- A system pressures of up to 400 bar were achieved.
"Stanadyne's new E-Pump enables vehicle electrification by offering lower power absorption, a quieter noise signature, and features such as start-stop and on-demand fueling, providing higher system efficiency by decoupling vehicle accessories from the engine," said Stroia. "Its lower fuel consumption provides environmentally friendly emissions benefits that help reduce pollution."
Stanadyne's Electrified Gas Direct Injection Fuel Pump is the first in a line of electrified products being developed by Stanadyne to enable clean propulsion for electrified applications. It is making its industry debut at the North American International Auto Show (aka Detroit Auto Show) and will be on display at the company's Automobili-D vehicle pod during Industry Days being held September 14-15, 2022.
Stanadyne designs, manufactures, and remanufactures fuel delivery systems and components for gasoline and diesel engines, as well as low-carbon alternative fuels. Founded in 1873, the company specializes in pioneering technology for engines that move our world and remanufactured components that help keep them operating efficiently. The company provides customers with customized design, engineering, and manufacturing solutions from its United States, China, Italy, India, and United Arab Emirates locations in partnership with its global aftermarket service dealers and distributor network. For more information, visit stanadyne.com.
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SOURCE Stanadyne LLC | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/stanadyne-electrified-gdi-fuel-pump-module-makes-industry-debut/ | 2022-09-12 18:23:44 | 1 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/stanadyne-electrified-gdi-fuel-pump-module-makes-industry-debut/ |
SANDY, Utah (AP) —
Jefferson Savarino scored early and Real Salt Lake went on to secure a spot in the MLS playoffs with a 3-1 victory over the Portland Timbers on Sunday.
Rubio Mendez and Bode Hidalgo also scored for Salt Lake (12-11-11), which had not won a match since Aug. 31. RSL had just three victories in its last 16 games.
The Timbers (11-10-13), rocked by scandal in the past week, needed a victory or draw over Salt Lake to make the playoffs. With the loss, Portland was eliminated.
The Timbers share ownership with the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League. Earlier this week, an investigation was released that detailed misconduct in the NWSL.
The investigation looked at sexual coercion and harassment allegations leveled at a former Thorns coach. In the fallout, the club fired a pair of executives on Wednesday.
Savarino scored in the 19th minute and Mendez added another in the 49th. RSL, which dominated the match, got one more goal from Hidalgo in the 86th.
Dairon Asprilla’s goal in the 87th for the Timbers avoided a shutout. Portland was without midfielder Diego Chara, who had a stomach ailment.
Last season, Salt Lake earned the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and advanced to the conference finals, finally losing to Portland.
The Timbers went to the MLS Cup championship game but fell to NYCFC for the title.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/rsl-secures-playoff-spot-with-3-1-win-over-the-timbers/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2022-10-10 00:59:33 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/rsl-secures-playoff-spot-with-3-1-win-over-the-timbers/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is allowing thousands of Ukrainians who fled their homeland when Russia invaded a year ago to stay in the United States longer, the administration said Monday. The decision provides relief to Ukrainians whose one-year authorization to remain in the U.S. was set to expire soon.
Ukrainians who came in under the Uniting for Ukraine program generally got two years of humanitarian “parole” in the U.S. whereas those who arrived before them generally got permission to stay only for one year.
Thousands of Ukrainians came to America last year fleeing the war.
The U.S. government used a program called humanitarian parole to admit them into the country. Humanitarian parole is a way to allow people from other countries to enter the United States on an emergency basis due to an urgent humanitarian situation. But it is usually for a finite amount of time, like a year or two years, and must be renewed for people to stay longer. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/13/ukraine-refugee-russia-war-biden-humanitarian-parole/eafe7c4c-c1ce-11ed-82a7-6a87555c1878_story.html | 2023-03-13 19:05:21 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/13/ukraine-refugee-russia-war-biden-humanitarian-parole/eafe7c4c-c1ce-11ed-82a7-6a87555c1878_story.html |
Maryland prisons are ‘dangerously’ understaffed, union says
By LEA SKENE
Associated Press
BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland correctional officers say a severe staffing shortage is creating dangerous conditions for both prisoners and guards in state-run facilities. A report released Thursday by the union representing the officers in Maryland’s 19 state-run corrections facilities calls on the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to hire over 3,400 more correctional officers, saying the agency is operating “at an all-time low.” Union leaders say they’re hopeful Maryland’s newly elected Gov. Wes Moore will take steps to address the problem. The report was produced under a Maryland law passed in 2017 that requires a staffing analysis of state-run correctional facilities every two years. | https://localnews8.com/news/2023/04/20/maryland-prisons-are-dangerously-understaffed-union-says/ | 2023-04-20 23:09:04 | 0 | https://localnews8.com/news/2023/04/20/maryland-prisons-are-dangerously-understaffed-union-says/ |
Russia to drop out of International Space Station after 2024
Related video above: Boeing’s Starliner makes first successful unmanned mission to the ISS and back
Russia will pull out of the International Space Station after 2024 and focus on building its own orbiting outpost, the country's new space chief said Tuesday amid high tensions between Moscow and the West over the fighting in Ukraine.
The announcement, while not unexpected, throws into question the future of the 24-year-old space station, with experts saying it would be extremely difficult — a "nightmare," by one reckoning — to keep it running without the Russians. NASA and its partners had hoped to continue operating it until 2030.
"The decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made," Yuri Borisov, appointed this month to lead the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, said during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. He added: "I think that by that time we will start forming a Russian orbiting station."
The space station has long been a symbol of post-Cold War international teamwork in the name of science but is now one of the last areas of cooperation between the U.S. and the Kremlin.
NASA had no immediate comment.
Borisov's statement reaffirmed previous declarations by Russian space officials about Moscow's intention to leave the space station after 2024 when the current international arrangements for its operation end.
Russian officials have long talked about their desire to launch the country's own space station and have complained that the wear and tear on the aging International Space Station is compromising safety and could make it difficult to extend its lifespan.
Cost may also be a factor: With Elon Musk's SpaceX company now flying NASA astronauts to and from the space station, the Russian Space Agency lost a major source of income. For years, NASA had been paying tens of millions of dollars per seat for rides to and from the station aboard Russian Soyuz rockets.
Video above: SpaceX Dragon successfully docks at ISS
The Russian announcement is certain to stir speculation that it is part of Moscow's maneuvering to win relief from Western sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine. Borisov's predecessor, Dmitry Rogozin, said last month that Moscow could take part in negotiations about a possible extension of the station's operations only if the U.S. lifts its sanctions against Russian space industries.
The space station is jointly run by Russia, the U.S., Europe, Japan and Canada. The first piece was put in orbit in 1998, and the outpost has been continuously inhabited for nearly 22 years. It is used to conduct scientific research in zero gravity and test out technology for future journeys to the moon and Mars.
It typically has a crew of seven, who spend months at a time aboard the station as it orbits about 260 miles above Earth. Three Russians, three Americans and one Italian are now on board.
The $100 billion-plus complex, which is about as long as a football field, consists of two main sections, one run by Russia, the other by the U.S. and the other countries. It was not immediately clear what will have to be done to the Russian side of the complex to continue safely operating the space station once Moscow pulls out.
Former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent 340 continuous days aboard the International Space Station in 2015 and 2016, said that the Russian statement "could be just more bluster," noting that "after 2024" is vague and open-ended.
"I believe Russia will stay as long as they can afford to as without ISS they have no human spaceflight program," he said. "Cooperation with the West also shows some amount of legitimacy to other, nonaligned nations and to their own people, which Putin needs as the war in Ukraine has damaged his credibility."
Former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield tweeted in reaction to the announcement: "Remember that Russia's best game is chess."
Kelly said the design of the station would make it difficult but not impossible for the remaining nations to operate it if Russia were to withdraw.
Jordan Bimm, a historian of science, technology and medicine at the University of Chicago, said the Russian statement "does not bode well for the future of the ISS," adding that "it creates a constellation of uncertainties about maintaining the station which don't have easy answers."
"What will `leaving' look like?" he questioned. "Will the last cosmonauts simply undock a Soyuz and return to Earth, leaving the Russian-built modules attached? Will they render them inoperable before leaving? Will NASA and its international partners have to negotiate to buy them out and continue using them? Can these modules even be maintained without Russian know-how?"
Bimm said that theoretically, it is possible to keep the station running after the Russians bail out, but "practically it could be a nightmare depending on how hard Russia wanted to make it for NASA and its remaining partners."
If the Russian components of the station were detached or inoperable, the most immediate problem would be how to boost the complex periodically to maintain its orbit, he said. Russian spacecraft that arrive at the station with cargo and crew members are used to help align the station and raise its orbit.
Scott Pace, director of George Washington University's space policy institute, said other considerations include replacing the ground communications that Moscow provides.
He said, too, that "it remains to be seen whether the Russians will, in fact, be able to launch and maintain their own. independent station."
Russia has made no visible effort so far to develop its own space station, and the task appears increasingly daunting now amid the crisis in Ukraine and the Western sanctions that have limited Russia's access to Western technology.
Well before the development of the International Space Station, the Soviets — and then the Russians — had a number of their own space stations, including Mir. The U.S. likewise had Skylab.
John Logsdon, founder and former director of the George Washington University institute, said NASA has had plenty of time to prepare for a Russian withdrawal, given the threats coming out of Moscow, and would be derelict in its duty if it hadn't been thinking about this for several years.
"One alternative is to declare victory with the station and use this as an excuse to deorbit it and put the money into exploration," he said, adding: "Its political value clearly has declined over time." | https://www.kcra.com/article/russia-to-drop-out-of-international-space-station-after-2024/40720898 | 2022-07-26 18:21:54 | 1 | https://www.kcra.com/article/russia-to-drop-out-of-international-space-station-after-2024/40720898 |
Valley View Bridge down to 1 lane due to accident Tuesday morning
Published: Apr. 25, 2023 at 6:03 AM EDT|Updated: 39 minutes ago
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (WOIO) - Independence police responded to a one car accident on Valley View Bridge early Tuesday.
Independence Police Department will be issuing a statement on the accident Tuesday, according to police.
Police could not confirm any information regarding the crash.
Traffic was down to one lane on the Valley View Bridge heading west.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2023 WOIO. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/04/25/valley-view-bridge-down-1-lane-due-accident-tuesday-morning/ | 2023-04-25 10:43:41 | 1 | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/04/25/valley-view-bridge-down-1-lane-due-accident-tuesday-morning/ |
Updated July 29, 2023 at 2:07 PM ET
Trader Joe's has recalled its frozen falafel for potentially having rocks in it, after it recalled two of its cookie products for the same reason recently.
The company's supplier informed them of the concern, and Trader Joe's said in a statement Friday that "all potentially affected product has been removed from sale and destroyed."
Customers who purchased the product should discard it or return it to a Trader Joe's location for a full refund, the company said.
The falafel, which is fully cooked and frozen, has the SKU number 93935 and is sold in Washington, D.C., and 34 states.
Last Friday, Trader Joe's said rocks could also possibly be found in its Almond Windmill Cookies and Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies.
In a separate recall, the grocery chain said its Trader Joe's Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup (SKU# 68470) with use-by dates of July 18-Sept. 15, 2023 may contain insects. "No known adverse health effects have been reported to date, and all potentially affected product has been removed from sale and destroyed," the company said.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-28/trader-joes-recalls-its-frozen-falafel-for-possibly-having-rocks-in-it | 2023-07-29 18:51:04 | 0 | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-28/trader-joes-recalls-its-frozen-falafel-for-possibly-having-rocks-in-it |
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Keno" game were:
03-08-10-11-15-16-20-35-38-39-46-47-48-52-53-61-62-70-71-75-78-80
(three, eight, ten, eleven, fifteen, sixteen, twenty, thirty-five, thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight, fifty-two, fifty-three, sixty-one, sixty-two, seventy, seventy-one, seventy-five, seventy-eight, eighty) | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Keno-game-17353024.php | 2022-08-05 00:57:07 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Keno-game-17353024.php |
DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zoomlion"; 1157.HK) won the global bid for tower cranes for constructing the Lusail Stadium, the venue of this month's feast of football. Its eight TC8039-25 tower cranes were used for its construction, from 2018 to 2021. Now, the stadium is hosting 10 games in the tournament, including the final on December 18.
The newly constructed Lusail Stadium has set six world records including being the largest single building with a double cable-net roof. Its main structure is a steel beam combined with concrete that used 100,000 tons of steel in total, and the multilayer structure has an area of 45,000 square meters, the largest in the world. Eight units of TC8039-25 tower cranes covered the entire project and completed the majority of the hoisting and installation tasks.
"Zoomlion is proud to have participated in the construction of the centerpiece stadium in Qatar, where we look forward to witnessing the best team being crowned world champions soon," said Ren Jie, regional manager of Zoomlion Construction Hoisting Machinery Company in the Middle East and Africa.
With advantages in technology, R&D and performance, Zoomlion's TC8039-25 tower crane stood out from the fierce competition.
The tower crane needed to exceed 86.7 meters in unsupported height due to the stadium's high height and irregular outer exterior. Multiple tower cranes also needed to coordinate as a group to complete high-altitude docking assembly tasks above 70 meters.
"With the anti-collision feature, full frequency control and an unsupported height of 87 meters, the tower cranes ensured safe and efficient operation. Zoomlion provided all-around service from tower crane planning to assembly and disassembly," said Zhou Yan, Zoomlion's chief tower crane service engineer in the Middle East region.
The excellent hoisting capabilities and stable micro-motion with fretting mode controlled at millimeter level provided effective support for installing the steel structures at high altitude. The equipment also maintained a high level of stability despite the harsh construction conditions which saw temperatures in the summer exceed 50 degrees Celsius.
"For the Lusail Stadium project, the accumulated effective working time of each tower crane exceeded 15,000 hours, and their stable and reliable performance provided strong support to guarantee the overall progress of the project," added Ren.
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SOURCE Zoomlion | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/11/25/zoomlion-tower-cranes-construct-lusail-stadium-venue-worlds-biggest-football-tournament-qatar/ | 2022-11-25 08:56:39 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/11/25/zoomlion-tower-cranes-construct-lusail-stadium-venue-worlds-biggest-football-tournament-qatar/ |
Updated September 9, 2022 at 12:00 PM ET
Friday, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers, acting under an order from the Michigan Supreme Court, put a question before voters this November on whether to protect abortion rights in the state constitution.
Last week, the question was sent to the state Supreme Court after Republican canvassers argued the amendment's spacing and formatting would confuse voters. The group behind the amendment, Reproductive Freedom for All, appealed the decision to the state's highest court. Thursday, the court decided to move it along.
"Ultimately, the system works. It may be put under great stress at times, but it works," said Republican Michigan Board of State Canvassers Tony Daunt, who followed through on a promise to vote to certify if that's what the Michigan Supreme Court ordered. Daunt took issue with criticism leveled against the two GOP members for voting not to move the amendment forward. He said the issue of the petition forms had never been addressed before and the court decision set a precedent that future boards would now have to follow.
"It is really important for us to recognize that this is a victory for the people of Michigan who signed in such record numbers," said Democratic board member Mary Ellen Gurewitz.
Petitioners collected about 750,000 signatures, far more than the 425,000 signatures required.
It's been a contentious week for abortion in Michigan — one of the only states in the region where abortion remains legal. Wednesday, a judge ordered to bar enforcement of a 1931 law that criminalizes the procedure.
Michigan joins other states such as California and Vermont where voters will see similar state constitutional abortion rights amendments on their ballots this November.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.apr.org/science-health/politics-government/2022-09-08/after-months-its-decided-michiganders-will-vote-on-abortion-rights-in-november | 2022-09-09 17:13:35 | 1 | https://www.apr.org/science-health/politics-government/2022-09-08/after-months-its-decided-michiganders-will-vote-on-abortion-rights-in-november |
The Chicago Bears take a 2-2 record to Minnesota for Sunday’s NFC North battle with the Vikings. The Tribune’s Brad Biggs answers questions about the conservative offense, the porous run defense, the still-developing offensive line and more in his weekly Bears mailbag.
Luke Getsy has severely underwhelmed so far as offensive coordinator. Is this level of conservative play-calling what we’re in for during his tenure or are we going to see an evolution of a playbook that eventually leads to more explosive plays? — @hockeyfrank26
There was a handful of questions about that this week, and it was a fair question after the first three games. It was Air Getsy on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, and anyone suggesting the Bears were too conservative against the New York Giants probably wasn’t tracking the play distribution.
Quarterback Justin Fields attempted 22 passes, ran the ball seven times and was sacked six times. One of the seven rushing attempts might have come on a run-pass option, although it was designated as a “scramble” in the game book. Let’s call it a designed run play off an RPO. In that case, there were 34 called passing plays and 26 runs (19 handoffs to Khalil Herbert, six to Trestan Ebner and the Fields RPO run). The way the offensive line has been run blocking, that seems like a fairly aggressive game plan.
The issue is the Bears are not executing offensively. The passing game has struggled when Fields has been pressured and when he has had time. He has been very inconsistent operating in the pocket, and until that improves, it will be bumpy. You’re correct that this offense has had a critical lack of explosive plays. But it wasn’t because the Bears were hesitant to use pass plays on the call sheet.
It’s tough for Getsy to expand the playbook, too, when the Bears are struggling to sustain drives. Fields is completing less than 51% of his passes, and I’m not sure the “Let Justin cook” crowd would be real pleased with the results if the Bears started chucking it a lot more. They need to devise game plans that put them in the best position to compete and then execute them. Against the Giants, that led to throwing the ball and the Bears had a couple of nice plays and probably more missed opportunities.
Much has been said about the defense being in need of more playmakers and quality depth. That aside, the most immediate fixes may be in the schemes and individual matchups set up by the defensive coordinator. The Packers and the Giants beat them both physically and with well-designed and executed plays. Now that there are four weeks of film for opponents to study, do you think opposing offensive coordinators have found the weak spots and are exploiting them schematically? Or is it a matter of their guys beating our guys or our linebackers not setting up the alignments correctly, or all of the above? — Chris R., Midlothian
When a defense is being consistently trampled — and that is where the Bears are, allowing a league-high 183.3 rushing yards per game — it is everything. It’s scheme, personnel and execution. The scheme makes the Bears susceptible to the run as they ask the defensive linemen to penetrate first. But the Bears made adjustments against the Giants and were not just sitting in a Tampa-2 shell against an offense that wasn’t going to throw much.
The Bears need to overhaul their personnel on the defensive line, and that’s a point I tried to make after the game. You can’t look at this roster and say the Bears just need to fix the offensive line and get better wide receivers for the quarterback. They need to improve their front seven and get some difference makers. They will have a tough time defending the run all season, and when they encounter teams with good running backs and good passing games, they will be in conflict.
Look at the Minnesota Vikings this week. They have Dalvin Cook in the backfield and arguably the best wide receiver in the league in Justin Jefferson. The defense needs to be better at the point of attack and the linebackers need to play with better eye discipline so they’re not gashed on quarterback bootlegs.
What makes the “play action” part of a play-action passing game so difficult for some QBs? Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones (at least on Sunday) did a great job with a fake handoff to freeze the linebackers. Others are awful. Justin Fields’ fake handoff typically is nowhere near the running back and therefore has little to no impact on the D. Thoughts? — Jim A., Plymouth, Minn.
For play action to work at its best, the running game and passing game have to match each other. The beginning of the play needs to look like a run in terms of formation, alignment, down and distance. Play-action passing becomes particularly effective when an offense can break its tendencies. In other words, it gets aggressive throwing the ball on downs that it typically runs. It flips the script and takes a shot when the defense has data and information that suggest a run is coming.
The best play-action throwers, and Rodgers is certainly one of those, are able to anticipate and see windows and throw with location — not accuracy. Accuracy is when you are talking about the pass being completed. Location is ball placement. That’s when a quarterback hits a receiver in stride and a 12-yard dig route can turn into a 25-yard gain because the receiver is immediately in position to get upfield. When Rodgers hits his back foot, the ball is coming out. Timing and rhythm are there.
Jones isn’t a polished play-action thrower, but he’s good with sleight of hand and hiding the ball, and with Saquon Barkley in the backfield, he grabs the eyes of defenders. Linebackers are taking two steps downhill and now they have to backtrack when the quarterback keeps the ball. The problem the Bears had is their edge or force defenders did not play with good eye discipline, and that left them vulnerable to Jones escaping on the edge and really gashing them.
The Bears don’t have great timing and rhythm in their play-action game, and when Fields throws it, too often he’s late in letting the ball rip.
Justin Fields must feel like instead of being drafted in the NFL, he transferred to a Division II school. Is there any offense in the NFL with less proven, less high-profile offensive players than the Bears? Whether you look at O-line (with Cody Whitehair injured), WR, TE or RB, the Bears have to be near the bottom in aggregate starting salary by position group. Fields needs to make lemonade out of lemons in this offense. — Bob B., Chicago
Did you get a good luck at the Giants depth chart on offense Sunday? With the injuries they have at wide receiver, I would take the Bears group. That isn’t saying a whole lot, but you’re not exactly breaking new ground here. The Bears need a lot of new personnel on offense. We knew that when training camp opened, we saw it in the preseason and it’s even more glaring now during the regular season.
It’s well-documented that Justin Fields hangs on to the ball too long. Is this a symptom of the limited offensive skill players and their inability to get open (we don’t get the downfield view on TV) or his ineffectiveness with reads and progressions? — John P.
It’s a function of a lot of things. Fields is still inexperienced with only 14 career starts. The Bears have talent issues at wide receiver and on the offensive line. In a timing-based system — and all passing offenses require excellent timing — it can be problematic when the ball doesn’t come out with rhythm.
Sometimes, though, when Fields holds the ball too long, it leads to big plays. Those are the off-schedule plays that can turn into huge gains. We’ve seen more of those turn into runs, but there was the long touchdown pass to Dante Pettis against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 that was the result of a broken play.
I think we will start to see more explosive plays in the passing game that are a result of Fields holding on to the ball and waiting for something to come open downfield. He needs to keep his eyes up and climb the pocket better. When that happens, the Bears should see improved results.
I like the realistic route Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus have taken in inheriting the Ryan Pace roster and financial situation. That said, I struggle to understand how they could’ve taken such an inactive approach to improving the wide receiver position in Year 1. I get that Justin Fields isn’t their guy in that they didn’t draft him. But if you’re kicking the tires on his rookie deal, don’t you get a few people around him who can make plays to see what you’ve walked into? They let Allen Robinson go, fine. But Byron Pringle is just a guy and Velus Jones Jr. was a stretch. Darnell Mooney isn’t a true game-changer. Why wouldn’t the Bears have at least tried to bring in a guy like Christian Kirk or JuJu Smith-Schuster to help Fields develop? It seems like with a few weapons this team could be playoff-caliber. — Jeff G., Palmetto Bay, Fla.
Fair question. The first thing I would say is the list of available free-agent wide receivers back in March wasn’t great. Robinson, who clearly wanted to head elsewhere, was one of the top options. Kirk, whom you referenced, signed a huge deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars that was roundly criticized. Just as you submit that Mooney isn’t a game-changer, I don’t think Kirk is either, and $72 million over four years is a huge payday. Kirk has been productive for the Jaguars with 20 receptions for 327 yards and three touchdowns, so maybe that contract doesn’t look quite as bad as some thought at the time.
I would put Smith-Schuster in a similar category as Pringle. I’m not sure they are very different, and Smith-Schuster has been banged up a little in recent years. He’s definitely not a difference-maker. Chris Godwin was destined to re-sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Los Angeles Chargers moved to re-sign Mike Williams. The Dallas Cowboys re-signed Michael Gallup, who was injured, and after that you were looking at guys like D.J. Chark. The big wide receiver moves of the offseason were made in the trade market, and I can understand Poles wanting to have his top draft picks in 2023.
You raise a valid point and it’s a fair criticism of the team’s approach to this season, but you have to consider the reality that there simply wasn’t a big supply of receivers in free agency and definitely not guys I would look at and say, “You sign him and you’re getting a legitimate No. 1.” The Bears have to completely remake this position in the offseason, and it will be interesting to see what moves they make.
What is your opinion on the handling of Teven Jenkins this season? He has appeared to be the best lineman, but this coaching staff seems to treat him more as a stopgap rather than a long-term piece. I’d like to hear your thoughts. — @danheinz3
We are four games into a rebuilding season with a new coaching staff and front office, and while I know people want immediate answers, it’s unusual when you get those in evaluating football players. Jenkins has looked good and has got a chance to get significantly better. I was skeptical if the move to right guard would work, especially considering the time he missed during training camp. I was wrong.
It’s still a new position for Jenkins, and the coaches are setting a standard for practice and games. Matt Eberflus told us Lucas Patrick was moved into the starting role because Jenkins had a poor Wednesday practice, but they didn’t push him to the side. He continued to rotate in every two series with Patrick. Let’s see how last year’s second-round draft pick performs over an entire season. Then we will have a much better idea if he’s part of the future on the line or just a guy who is in there until an upgrade can be acquired.
What wide receiver do you think the Bears will aggressively pursue before the trade deadline? — @chi_773ale
Do you really think a wide receiver who can be a difference-maker for the Bears beyond the second half of this season would be available in a trade? Unless the Bears are in the race for a playoff spot near the end of October, what would be the point of being an aggressive buyer in the trade market? To what end? The Bears would have to spend 2023 draft picks to make a move, and then I would be answering mailbag questions from January through March about why they used draft capital on a position at which they might be better off drafting talent. This is not the season to be an aggressive buyer when it comes to trades. I could see the Bears being an aggressive seller, but I’m not sure who they have to deal. It’s something to keep an eye on the next few weeks.
When will they figure out the O-line? They can’t keep rotating guys in and out, playing different positions. Set the best players in their spots and let’s go. — @jht728
The offensive line had an especially rough game against a Giants defense that can be unpredictable with unscouted looks and different pressures, something defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is known for. I thought the offensive line, relative to how it played last season and the skepticism about the unit during training camp and the preseason, was OK through the first three games. Did the line play great? No. Was it terrible? No. It was improved over last season and better than I expected. Any critique of the offensive line has to point out the team is third in the league in rushing, averaging 177.3 yards per game, and fourth with 5.2 yards per carry.
Just like the Bears are evaluating quarterback Justin Fields to determine how he figures into their future, they are going through the same process with the offensive line. Sure, they would love to feel great about five starters right now, or even four, but you have to understand where they are coming from in installing a new offense. I believe line coach Chris Morgan has done a pretty good job to this point, and there’s reason to believe this unit can get better as the season unfolds.
Will there be more rocky weeks the rest of the way? Probably. It’s unrealistic to think the Bears won’t have issues against some of the top front sevens. Fields was sacked 10 times through the first three games, more than the Bears would like but not an alarming total. Go back and watch those plays, and there was a chance for him to avoid the sack on at least four of them and to do so with a check-down completion on a couple.
The broken right thumb Lucas Patrick suffered at the start of training camp forced the Bears to adjust. That happens. He has rotated with Teven Jenkins at right guard, and with Cody Whitehair likely out for at least a few weeks — Whitehair could land on injured reserve this week — the rotation is done for the time being. I think you will see Patrick at left guard and Jenkins at right guard Sunday in Minnesota. Center Sam Mustipher had a rough game against the Giants. Based on how he played the first three weeks, he should bounce back against the Vikings.
Other than PR/KR, how much do you think Velus Jones Jr. will play next week? — @topofthemorrow
We’ll have to see. Jones didn’t play on offense against the Giants. I imagine he could get a little time against the Vikings, and the Bears would be wise to seek ways to get him the ball in space. I don’t think we will see him play a ton of snaps, though. He has missed a lot of practice time since mid-August with his hamstring injury. But finding packages to use him should be a priority.
The pass rush has been lackluster or nonexistent throughout four games. What’s the problem? Miss Khalil Mack? — @just_acy
The problem is pretty evident. The Bears are not stopping the run. When you don’t defend the run well — the Bears rank last in the NFL — you don’t earn the opportunity to rush the passer. You can complain about the pass rush in the loss to the Giants, but how many legitimate chances were there to get after Daniel Jones or Tyrod Taylor? Five? Six?
The Bears actually rank 13th in the league in sacks per pass attempt at 6.93%. So it’s not nearly as bad as you think. It’s just that they hardly are getting any chances to pin their ears back and get after the quarterback — and they won’t until they do a better job of stopping the run and forcing opponents into second- or third-and-long situations. Of course the Bears would be better with Mack, but this isn’t a woulda, coulda, shoulda world.
I get that it was the preseason, but I don’t even see any whiffs of the type of offense we saw in the first half against Cleveland. Where did that game plan go? Were things really that different in the preseason game to throw all that out the window once the games counted? — @mosconml
You also didn’t see any of the Browns’ best defensive players on the field in that first half. Justin Fields and the Bears offense might look like that if teams would sit five of their best defensive players like the Browns did in that game. It was basically a first-team offense against a second-team defense.
If the over/under is 130 on Dalvin Cook’s running yards this week, are you thinking over or under? — @mike__chicago
That’s a really high figure, even against a porous run defense. The Bears have done a nice job against Cook in seven career games. That was under a different scheme with some different personnel. Cook has 130 carries for 480 yards (3.7 per attempt) with two touchdowns against the Bears. He did run for 132 yards on 24 carries on Dec. 20, 2020, at U.S. Bank Stadium, a game the Bears won 33-27.
Cook has not gone over 100 rushing yards this season and has topped 130 only once in his last 13 starts with a 205-yard effort in a Week 14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. The challenge is keeping Cook from running loose while also not allowing wide receiver Justin Jefferson to beat them over the top. Cook will get his yards, but the Bears need to eliminate explosive runs. I’d go under just because that’s a pretty big number.
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(WXIN) — It sounds too good to be true, but a startup company wants to give you a free television.
Is there a catch?
Of course, there is. The television is ad-supported. The bet is that the ads will subsidize a sustainable business.
Telly is the brainchild of Ilya Pozin, the co-founder of Pluto TV, a free ad-supported streaming television service.
Telly plans to give away free 55-inch TVs as part of a unique dual-screen setup with an integrated soundbar. The 4K HDR main set includes HDMI and USB inputs, along with a tuner for over-the-air channels. The “smart screen” at the bottom can display ads, news, sports scores, weather, stocks and more.
The first 500,000 sets will ship to customers this summer. The signup for those interested includes a survey asking you about your interests, income level, housing situation, shopping habits and more.
The TV includes microphones for voice commands and an HD camera that allows for video calls and the like. The camera has a physical shutter users can open and close. Any images or recordings from the camera are not stored on Telly servers, the company said.
The TV ships with an Android streaming stick, although customers can use any other device, such as a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick or Apple TV, among other options.
“Telly is a revolutionary step forward for both consumers and advertisers. For too long, consumers have not been an equal part of the advertising value exchange,” Pozin said. “Companies are making billions of dollars from ads served on televisions, yet consumers have historically had to pay for both the TV and the content they watch. All of that changes today. When I co-founded Pluto TV, we created an entirely new model that offered amazing TV content to viewers for free. Now, with Telly, we are providing the actual television for free as well.”
The company said the TV will include video games (from “arcade classics to immersive multiplayer experiences”), music and fitness services. If sold at retail, it would cost more than $1,000, Pozin told the Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.
Telly was started in May 2021 and is backed by leaders from Apple, Google, Amazon, Netflix, Vizio, Samsung, Roku, Comcast, Pluto TV, Sony, DIRECTV and Nielsen, the company said. Telly spent two years developing the dual-screen smart display.
Pozin insisted customers shouldn’t be “fooled by the free price” and boasted that Telly is offering the “most advanced television ever developed.”
“Now, all smart TVs come with ads. But you still pay for the TV. All of that changes today,” according to the company’s website. “During the signup process we ask questions about you and your household to optimize your ad experience. Brands in turn, pay for the non-intrusive ad on the Smart Screen. That’s how you get Telly free. Plain and simple. It’s time you got cut in on the deal.”
Customers should be aware of the company’s terms of service agreement and privacy policy.
For example, you must use Telly as your primary TV and keep it connected to Wi-Fi and the internet at all times. You’re not allowed to use any software on your home internet that would block advertising capability.
Also, if you get a Telly TV and decide you no longer want to use it, you’re required to “return all products and services” to the company. You are not allowed to resell the TV.
The “free TV” comes at the price of customer information. Telly said it’s being upfront about the kind of data collected and how it plans to use it.
Since the television is ad-supported, the company will collect information for the purpose of “providing, customizing and improving the services.” The information provided to third parties will be anonymous, the company said.
The company will sell that data to ad networks, data brokers, marketing providers, media/marketing researchers and other parties, according to the privacy policy.
The dual screen allows advertisers to specifically target ads based on a person’s interests.
“You have the right to opt-out of the sale of your Personal Data, but unfortunately, that means you will no longer be able to use Services,” the company noted in its privacy policy. | https://www.kark.com/news/national-news/new-company-giving-away-free-tvs-heres-how-to-get-one/ | 2023-05-15 19:16:56 | 1 | https://www.kark.com/news/national-news/new-company-giving-away-free-tvs-heres-how-to-get-one/ |
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia called a Security Council meeting Tuesday on last September’s explosions at the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines from Russia to Western Europe after circulating a resolution calling for a U.N. investigation of the sabotage.
Ahead of the meeting, the ambassadors of Denmark, Sweden and Germany sent a letter to council members saying their investigations have established the pipelines were extensively damaged “by powerful explosions due to sabotage.”
The letter, circulated Tuesday morning, said further investigations are being conducted in all three countries and that it’s unclear when they’ll finish. It says Russian authorities have been informed about the ongoing investigations.
Security Council experts held closed consultations Monday on the Russian draft resolution and council diplomats said there was opposition to it. No vote was expected at Tuesday’s meeting, council diplomats said.
Some council diplomats view the resolution as a “spoiler” attempt to take the spotlight off U.N. meetings and adoption of a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demanding the withdrawal of all its forces on Thursday, the eve of the first anniversary of President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Nord Stream 1 carried Russian gas to Germany until Moscow cut off supplies at the end of August 2022. Nord Stream 2 never entered service as Germany suspended its certification process shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines took place on Sept. 26.
Russia has alleged that the U.S. was behind the attack, and the country’s resolution says the sabotage “occurred after the repeated threats to the Nord Stream by the leadership of the United States.”
The U.S. denies the allegation. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price last week called it “pure disinformation” that the U.S. was involved in targeting Nord Stream.
In their letter to the council, Denmark, Sweden and Germany reiterated that acts of sabotage against the pipelines were “unacceptable, endanger international security and give cause for our deep concern.”
Concerns about the indirect effects on greenhouse gas emmissions are ”substantial and worrisome,” the letter said.
The Russian draft resolution, circulated to Security Council members and obtained by The Associated Press, expresses serious concern at the “devastating consequences to the environment” from the acts of sabotage which also “pose a threat to international peace and security.”
It asks U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to urgently establish an independent international investigation of the sabotage to identify “its perpetrators, sponsors, organizers and accomplices.” It says pipeline operator Russia and other interested parties have been barred from national investigations into the matter. | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-russia-calls-un-meeting-on-nord-stream-pipelines-sabotage/ | 2023-02-22 00:22:04 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-russia-calls-un-meeting-on-nord-stream-pipelines-sabotage/ |
As Charlie Baker takes over as NCAA president, he brings a different way of thinking about one of the most important and polarizing issues in college athletics: regulating how student-athletes monetize their fame.
To Baker, athletes such as quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada and Miami basketball players Hanna and Haley Cavinder are consumers who need help in a burgeoning name, image and likeness market. That market currently lacks transparency and uniformity, and the athletes would benefit from legal protections to ward off unqualified, unaccountable and even unscrupulous actors.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Baker paraphrased a quote he read recently from an athletic director: “The only thing that’s true about NIL is everybody’s lying and whatever you hear about it, basically, don’t believe it.”
“And I think that creates enormous challenges for student-athletes and for families,” Baker said.
Baker, the former governor of Massachusetts, was hired in December and starts the job officially Wednesday. Getting a handle on NIL compensation is at the top of his to-do list, as it has roiled the NCAA’s vast membership of 1,100 schools like few other issues. Like his predecessor, Mark Emmert, Baker says the NCAA needs help from Congress in the form of a federal law to govern NIL.
There had been plenty of talk and some posturing by politicians in Washington about the state of college sports before the NCAA lifted its ban on third parties paying athletes for NIL endorsements on July 1, 2021.
Since then, there has been no significant movement on a federal bill. Meanwhile, more than 30 states have passed NIL laws, creating a patchwork of rules and regulations for schools that are competing and recruiting against one another.
“I hope Charlie Baker brings a fresh approach to the NCAA and advises that instead of lobbying Congress, the NCAA and its member colleges should work directly with the athletes to ensure they are fairly compensated and get the health, safety and academic protections they deserve,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who has been one of the most vocal and active lawmakers in Washington pushing college sports reform. “The NCAA doesn’t need permission from the federal government to do the right thing.”
The NCAA enacted an interim NIL policy that leaned into general rules against pay-for-play and recruiting inducements but lacked detail. With schools allowed only minimal involvement in their athletes’ deals, the NCAA’s inaction created a void that has been filled by boosters, lawyers and fledgling agents.
Rashada, the blue-chip quarterback from California, had a potential multimillion-dollar deal with a NIL collective run by Florida boosters fall through that led to him being released from a letter of intent by the school. He is now going to play at Arizona State.
The first school the NCAA has punished for NIL-related violations is Miami, which received a year of probation because coach Katie Meier inadvertently helped arrange impermissible contact between booster John Ruiz and the Cavinder twins. Haley and Hanna Cavinder, top players as well as social media stars, transferred to Miami from Fresno State after last season.
Baker said 19 months of NIL in its current state has helped reveal the pitfalls.
“I think for the NCAA, until you actually had NIL, it would be hard to know what it was going to look like,” Baker said. “Now we have it and the question becomes, should there be an attempt to make this more visible, more transparent, more — the word I guess I’m really looking for is easier for kids, student-athletes, families to understand what’s real and what’s not.”
Dan Lust, a sports law attorney and professor at New York Law School, said Baker’s framing of NIL regulation as consumer protection for the athletes is a new approach.
“I’d say it’s a unique spin to what otherwise was a stale amateurism argument that they needed to protect the student-athletes to enable them to pursue an education,” Lust said. “But now they’ve seemingly pivoted that argument to say we need to protect the student-athletes in order to allow them to earn compensation, absent predatory agents and boosters that might otherwise get them in trouble.”
Baker laid out priorities for his first 100 days in office, including meeting with every conference commissioner at all three divisions of NCAA athletics. The NCAA’s member schools have some 500,000 athletes competing in nearly 100 conferences.
He said he also plans to bring in an outside firm to conduct a “state of the business” review for the association to assess its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
The courts have presented a serious threat to the NCAA for years, and that only increased after the 2021 unanimous Supreme Court ruling in an antitrust case against the association. Two active cases, including one in Pennsylvania, could pave the way for college athletes to be considered employees of their schools.
Baker said the fundamental challenge college sports faces is creating a system that allows what he called “revenue-positive” sports programs — big money-makers such as major college football and basketball — to operate differently from the rest of the enterprise.
“At the same time, recognize and understand that for the vast majority of the schools and the kids there’s an investment here being made by their schools, and by their supporters in these programs,” Baker said. “And they’re doing it because they think it’s an important part of the student-development process, and I just don’t want that to get lost.”
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This story has been corrected to show that sports law attorney Dan Lust is a professor at New York Law School, not New York University Law School.
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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/ap-new-ncaa-president-says-nil-rules-could-protect-athletes/ | 2023-03-01 23:10:55 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/ap-new-ncaa-president-says-nil-rules-could-protect-athletes/ |
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — More than $100 million in grants have been announced by the federal government as part of a major effort to close the digital divide in parts of rural Alaska.
The projects will improve upon an existing system of internet service that is a series of microwave transmitters with limited data transmission and vulnerability to bad weather, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
The grants include $73 million for a partnership between the Alaska Native village corporation for Bethel, Bethel Native Corporation, and telecommunications company GCI. That partnership, announced Monday, is aimed at delivering fiber cable to 10 villages and more than 10,000 people. The project has been dubbed the Airraq Network, with Airraq translating to “string that tells the story," according to a press release.
The project includes $42 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to build a fiber network to the regional hub community of Bethel and villages of Eek, Oscarville, Napaskiak and Platinum, according to the statement. A $31 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service program will bring fiber service to the villages of Atmautluak, Kasigluk, Nunapitchuk, Quinhagak and Tuntutuliak.
The statement said the project would bring “2 gigabit internet speeds and affordable plans to more than 10,000 Alaskans.”
Separately, another telecommunications company, Alaska Communications and Calista Corp., the Alaska Native regional corporation for much of southwest Alaska, will receive a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to bring high-speed fiber internet to more than 2,300 Alaskans in seven other villages in the Bethel region, the organizations announced recently. Those communities are Lower Kalskag, Upper Kalskag, Tuluksak, Akiak, Akiachak, Kwethluk and Napakiak.
Calista Corp. and Alaska Communications applied for about $52 million but a specific funding award had not been announced by the federal government as of Monday, said Thom Leonard, a Calista spokesperson.
Funding from last year's federal infrastructure bill and other sources has been lauded by political leaders and officials with Alaska Native organizations and telecommunications companies as providing a unique opportunity to improve telecommunications in many parts of the state.
Earlier this year, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced a $50 million grant to provide fiber-optic cable to about 20 villages in Alaska's Interior as part of a collaboration between Doyon Inc., an Alaska Native corporation, and Alaska Communications. | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Millions-in-federal-grants-awarded-for-rural-17501983.php | 2022-10-11 18:18:22 | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Millions-in-federal-grants-awarded-for-rural-17501983.php |
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog was meeting with officials in Iran on Saturday, days after it was revealed that the country had enriched particles of uranium to near weapons-grade, raising new alarm over its long-disputed nuclear program.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, declined to comment on his discussions during a press conference with the head of Iran’s nuclear program, saying the delegation’s work was still ongoing.
“It’s an atmosphere of work, of honesty and cooperation,” Grossi said. He later met with Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and was expected to speak with reporters upon his return to Vienna.
Earlier this week, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency reported that uranium particles enriched up to 83.7% — just short of weapons-grade — were found in Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear site.
The confidential quarterly report by the IAEA, which was distributed to member states on Tuesday, came as tensions were already high amid months of anti-government protests in Iran and Western anger at its export of attack drones to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine.
The IAEA report says that inspectors in January found that two cascades of IR-6 centrifuges at Iran’s Fordo facility had been configured in a way “substantially different” to what had been previously declared. The IAEA took samples the following day, which showed particles with up to 83.7% purity, the report said.
The IAEA report only spoke about “particles,” suggesting that Iran isn’t building a stockpile of uranium enriched above 60% — the level it has been enriching at for some time. However, the agency also said in its report that it would “further increase the frequency and intensity of agency verification activities” at Fordo after the discovery.
Iran has sought to portray any detection of highly enriched uranium particles as a momentary side effect of trying to reach a finished product of 60% purity. However, experts say such a great variance in the purity even at the atomic level would appear suspicious to inspectors.
The chief of Iran’s nuclear program, Mohammad Eslami, acknowledged the findings of the IAEA report at the press conference with Grossi but said it did not amount to 84% enrichment. He said the “ambiguity” of the findings had been resolved.
Nonproliferation experts say Tehran has no civilian use for uranium enriched to even 60%. A stockpile of material enriched to 90%, the level needed for weapons, could be quickly used to produce an atomic bomb if Iran chooses.
Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers limited Tehran’s uranium stockpile and capped enrichment at 3.67% — enough to fuel a nuclear power plant.
The U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018, reimposing crushing sanctions on Iran, which then began openly breaching the deal’s restrictions. Efforts by the Biden administration, European countries and Iran to negotiate a return to the deal reached an impasse last summer.
Iran long has denied ever seeking nuclear weapons and maintains its program is peaceful, but is widely believed to have had a nuclear weapons program until 2003.
Grossi’s last visit to Iran was in March 2022. | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/ap-international/un-nuclear-head-meets-with-iranians-amid-enrichment-concerns/ | 2023-03-04 15:48:18 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/ap-international/un-nuclear-head-meets-with-iranians-amid-enrichment-concerns/ |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher has insisted throughout the NCAA Tournament that if his team plays to its strengths, it doesn’t matter what the opposition does.
The Aztecs certainly played the way they wanted to against the top overall seed in March Madness.
Darrion Trammell and San Diego State used a dominant defensive performance to knock Alabama out of the tournament, bottling up All-America freshman Brandon Miller in a 71-64 victory in the Sweet 16.
Trammell scored 21 points while Miller, whose outstanding season was marred by off-the-court complications, was held to nine points on 3-of-19 shooting and had six turnovers.
The fifth-seeded Aztecs (30-6) will face sixth-seeded Creighton on Sunday in the South Region final. Each program is seeking its first Final Four appearance.
Roughly 30 minutes after Alabama fell, the tournament’s final remaining No. 1 seed, Houston, lost 89-75 to Miami, leaving March Madness without a single top seed among its final eight teams for the first time since seeding began in 1979. The other top seeds, Purdue and Kansas, lost during the tournament’s opening weekend.
“It’s just parity,” Dutcher said. “That’s what it is. There’s not a lot of difference between the best team in the country and the worst team in the country. You’re seeing that on this stage.”
San Diego State trailed 48-39 midway through the second half before going on a 12-0 run and controlling the game from there. The Aztecs finished with eight blocked shots — five by Nathan Mensah — and forced 14 turnovers.
Trammell scored the first eight points of SDSU’s big run. He made a 3-pointer, stole the ball from Miller and converted a layup, and then buried another 3.
“We’re going to go on our run,” Trammell said, “and I just took the opportunities they gave me. I took my shot, and I just made a play on defense. From there, our team was in it. That’s when the momentum changed.”
So did the Crimson Tide’s season.
The March Madness run of Alabama (31-6) was clouded by its response to the Jan. 15 fatal shooting of a 23-year-old woman in Tuscaloosa, which led to capital murder charges against a then-Crimson Tide player, Darius Miles.
Miller was at the scene of the shooting and has not been charged, but police have said in court documents that Miles texted Miller to bring him his gun. Authorities have said Miller is a cooperating witness, and he did not miss any playing time. Miller received armed security protection during the tournament.
Mark Sears had 16 points and Jahvon Quinerly and Charles Bediako scored 10 each for Alabama, which shot 32% overall and a miserable 3 of 27 (11.1%) from 3-point range. The Crimson Tide fell short of the second Elite Eight berth in school history.
“We came to this game prepared as much as we could possibly,” Miller said. “I think our shot-making could have been better. Our shot choices could have been better, but it’s just that San Diego’s a good group of guys. They’re vets, so they have a lot of experience. I feel like they came out and played hard.”
San Diego State’s players knew they had to impose their will on Alabama’s deep and gifted roster.
“Alabama’s a great team. They have a lot of talented players and individuals,” Trammell said. “We knew it was going to be hard. It was a dogfight. Very physical.”
Sears’ layup got Alabama within 66-64 with 46 seconds remaining, but Matt Bradley made two free throws and Micah Parrish followed by making three of four attempts, including two with 17 seconds left.
After the final buzzer sounded, Aztecs players and coaches rushed the court and hugged each other in a joyous celebration.
Jaedon LeDee finished with 12 points for the Aztecs.
San Diego State shot just 38% overall and was outrebounded 52-48, but made clutch shots to rally when Alabama seemed in control behind a faster pace after halftime. A technical foul on Dutcher also seemed to spark his seasoned team, which maintained its physical play and thwarted every attempt by the Tide to rally.
BLOCK PARTY
Mensah and Johnson had emphatic rejections with San Diego State ahead 53-50.
Both blocks came on layup attempts by Quinerly. Mensah swatted the first and Johnson rejected a subsequent attempt seconds later. Trammell followed with a step-back jumper for a five-point cushion.
BIG PICTURE
San Diego State: The Aztecs never seemed fazed by Alabama or Miller. More impressive was their resilience when the game seemed to be slipping away.
Alabama: Other than the second-half run that put them ahead briefly, the Crimson Tide seemed out of sorts in multiple ways. The team’s reliance on 3-pointers showed its desperation.
___
AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/san-diego-state-ousts-no-1-overall-seed-alabama-from-ncaas/ | 2023-03-26 00:18:51 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/san-diego-state-ousts-no-1-overall-seed-alabama-from-ncaas/ |
PlayStation's State of Play finished up with an epic Final Fantasy XVI trailer on Thursday, revealing that the Square Enix game hits PS5 in summer 2023. It also gave us our first look at the RPG's gameplay, the combat system and its summonable Eikons.
Final Fantasy XVI is set in the world of Valisthea, and you play as the sword-wielding Clive Rosfield. The game was revealed during the original PS5 showcase in 2020, as one of the major exclusives for Sony's next-gen console. Last December, Square Enix acknowledged that the game had been delayed by COVID-19.
It'll be the first mainline entry in the series since 2016's Final Fantasy XV, but fans haven't exactly been starved for adventures -- Final Fantasy XV got downloadable content until 2019, the incredible Final Fantasy VII Remake came out in 2020 and MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV has received multiple expansions.
The series turns 35 this year, and Square Enix created an anniversary website and started up a music-centric YouTube channel (which already has thousands of tracks) to mark the occasion. It recently got two spinoffs -- kart racer Chocobo GP and action-RPG Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. | https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/final-fantasy-xvi-trailer-reveals-summer-2023-release-date-on-ps5/ | 2022-06-02 23:02:16 | 0 | https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/final-fantasy-xvi-trailer-reveals-summer-2023-release-date-on-ps5/ |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — In the wake of a deadly school shooting last month, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee awarded final passage Tuesday to a proposal that would further protect gun and ammunition dealers, manufacturers and sellers against lawsuits.
The Senate’s 19-9 vote sends the bill to Republican Gov. Bill Lee, despite pushback from Democratic lawmakers saying their GOP counterparts are trying to shield gun companies just weeks after the Nashville school shooting that killed six people, including three 9-year-olds.
The final vote came as Lee’s administration was still trying to drum up enough support among lawmakers in his party to pass legislation to keep firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others. The fate of that kind of measure remains uncertain.
Lawmakers are hurrying to finish a legislative session as soon as this week while receiving national scrutiny over the expulsion of two young Black lawmakers — who are now reinstated — over a House floor gun control protest. Students, parents and others have also applied pressure for weeks to pass gun safety measures.
Democratic Sen. London Lamar, a Memphis lawmaker, said it’s “disrespectful timing” to push through protections for gun companies while people continue to march at the Capitol for gun control changes. The civil liabilities bill passed just ahead of a protest in which people formed a human chain through Nashville to the Capitol in support of gun control measures.
“I am challenging you not to pass this bill because we need to do more to protect citizens from gun violence than the people making the guns that people can use to kill more people,” Lamar had said.
In the demonstration, scores of people gathered in the late afternoon along a three-mile route from the children’s hospital at Vanderbilt University, where victims of the school shooting were taken, to the state Capitol, some with arms outstretched and hands clasped, and others linked arm in arm. The demonstration stretched from sidewalks near campus to a plaza outside the Capitol where many held signs with messages such as, “I’m A Voice for Gun Safety.”
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Joey Hensley from Hohenwald, said his legislation doesn’t prevent any other proposal from passing. The bill passed the House ahead of the March 27 shooting at The Covenant School.
“This is just to try to help businesses in this state that have chosen to come here, to give them a little civil liability,” Hensley said.
The Tennessee bill spells out a half-dozen situations in which gun and ammo companies could be held civilly liable in Tennessee state courts, exempting others.
Three Republicans voted against the legislation, including Sen. Art Swann of Maryville, who said “gun-makers have encouraged the environment we’ve got right now.”
“They’re accountable for it, and we need to hold them to it,” Swann said.
The firearm industry remains largely shielded from liability under federal law. Seventeen states do not have special immunity for the gun industry, and Tennessee is already not among them, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control advocacy group.
Last year, Remington, the company that made the rifle used in the the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Connecticut, settled with the families of those killed in the shooting for $73 million. The families had accused the company of targeting younger, at-risk males in advertising and product placement in violent video games.
And in February, families of those killed and injured in a 2018 Texas high school shooting settled a lawsuit they filed against a Tennessee-based online retailer, Lucky Gunner, that was accused of illegally selling ammunition to the student who authorities say fatally shot 10 people. The owner of the company, Jordan Mollenhour, sits on the Tennessee State Board of Education. The company was accused of failing to verify Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ age — he was 17, at the time — when he bought more than 100 rounds of ammunition on two occasions before the May 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School.
“There are people that we should be going out of way to protect this week,” Sen. Jeff Yarbro of Nashville said. “And we’ve been receiving emails and calls, people are holding up signs, telling us to go out of our way to help those people. Not one of those signs says to protect the gun manufacturers.” | https://www.cenlanow.com/news/ap-top-headlines/tennessee-moves-to-shield-gun-firms-after-school-shooting/ | 2023-04-19 19:05:04 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/news/ap-top-headlines/tennessee-moves-to-shield-gun-firms-after-school-shooting/ |
New York -- Meet Justin Colon, a student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan whose alter ego, "The Justonian," is a TikToker whose videos on topics from fossils to physics have gone viral.
"Everybody has a stake in science, so I feel like everybody should at least have the option of learning it and having fun with it," he says. "Because science is fun! And I feel like not enough people remember that."
After months of social media success, the self-proclaimed "proud science nerd" recently got the email of a lifetime: an invitation from NASA for a front row seat to history at the launch of the Artemis 1 rocket.
The mission is described as an important first step toward NASA's eventual goal of putting astronauts, including the first female and the first American of color, back on the moon.
"Seeing the actual launch, which I feel like is a once in a lifetime thing... it's so historic," Colon said. "To say that I'm there and to be able to film it with NASA's permission to be there, that is mind-boggling to me."
Back here on Earth, Colon's physics professor, Daniel Yaverbaum, says the sky's the limit for this young scientist.
"His rocket, so to speak, launched way before I knew him," Yaverbaum said.
Colon, a native New Yorker, is a senior at John Jay.
He's studying forensic science and has a knack for teaching topics that seem intimidating to most.
He uses TikTok as a means of reaching those who otherwise wouldn't gravitate toward this area of study.
"Whether it's even just physics homework or reading comic books or writing comic books, he is so authentically internally joyful about what he's studying," said Professor Yaverbaum. "Then that's what comes across, and that's why he's bursting to share with everybody. And that's what I think you can't teach or fake."
And teaching is exactly what Colon wants to do, using his talent to create an atmosphere of inclusivity that inspires the next generation of great scientists.
"If I can give them that little spark of passion that could ignite some brand new love for them, that sounds perfect," he said. "That's a dream job." | https://abc7ny.com/tiktok-nasa-justin-colon-the-justonian/12191237/ | 2022-09-07 16:45:33 | 1 | https://abc7ny.com/tiktok-nasa-justin-colon-the-justonian/12191237/ |
Public-Private Partnership Supporting Diagnostic Testing in Vulnerable Communities has Provided $2.6 Million to U.S. Clinics Since 2017 to Help Improve Patient Outcomes and Health Equity
FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, in conjunction with Heart to Heart International (HHI), the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) and Henry Schein Cares, today announced that six U.S. free and charitable clinics will be awarded product-based grants worth a total of $360,000 to support point-of-care diagnostic testing in communities with underserved and at-risk patient populations.
The BD Point-of-Care, Enhancing Clinical Effectiveness (PoCECE) initiative will provide the clinics with laboratory equipment to evaluate patients and receive diagnostic test results while still onsite. The initiative focuses on diagnosing the most common health issues faced by vulnerable patients in underserved populations, including high cholesterol, diabetes, urinary tract infections, kidney disease, blood clotting disorders, liver disease, strep A, HIV, hepatitis C, flu A & B, RSV and pregnancy tests.
Recipients of the 2022 PoCECE grant are:
- Agape Medical Clinic, Inc. - Weatherford, Oklahoma
- Esperanza Center - Associated Catholic Charities, Inc. - Baltimore, Maryland
- La Clinica Gratis of Community Initiatives, Inc - Greenwood, South Carolina
- Viola Startzman Clinic - Wooster, Ohio
- Premier Mobile Health Services - Fort Meyers, Florida
- The Free Clinics - Hendersonville, North Carolina
The grants include a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA)-waived point-of-care test system consisting of instruments and tests, as well as clinician training and technical support provided by BD employee volunteers to help ensure proper setup and use of equipment.
The PoCECE initiative launched in 2017 and has supported 27 U.S. clinics in 20 states with product and cash donations totaling $2.6 million. With this year's grant, more than 16,500 patient visits are expected to be positively impacted through enhanced diagnostic capabilities.
"This program and partnership with BD, NAFC and Henry Schein fit wholly within Heart to Heart International's mission to improve health access for people in need across the United States," says Kim Carroll, HHI CEO. "By utilizing this laboratory technology, clinics can deliver timely lab results and are ultimately able to positively impact the diagnoses and health care for thousands of people in underserved communities throughout the country."
Ellen Rafferty, senior manager of Social Investing at BD said, "The recipients of this year's grant are actively working to advance the health of their communities – most notably for those patients facing health and social challenges that may not otherwise have reliable access to health care services. This partnership with HHI, NAFC and Henry Schein helps further BD's commitment to advancing access to quality, equitable health care, and continues to be an essential means of providing funding and resources to these hard-working clinics."
Nicole Lamoureux, NAFC president and CEO added, "The NAFC is grateful that through the continuation of this important program and support from BD, HHI and Henry Schein more free and charitable clinics will be able to increase access to care as they continue addressing health disparities facing their communities. About 2 million medically underserved people receive health care at the 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics throughout the country, and a large percentage of those patients are dealing with chronic diseases that require laboratory testing for diagnosis and monitoring. This program allows grantees to address social determinants of health that are barriers to care for their patients by enhancing their onsite capabilities and, in turn, improving health outcomes."
"Integrated models of care, especially within and among primary care providers, is key to a better future of health care," said David Kochman, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Henry Schein. "We believe simple, inexpensive, and broad testing with timely results are a key asset to delivering on this promise. With deep knowledge of the diagnostics space, we understand the value that point of care lab equipment delivers to meet the needs of patients in our country, and we are pleased to join with BD, HHI, and NAFC to support participating clinics."
The BD Point-of-Care, Enhancing Clinical Effectiveness initiative is funded by BD and implemented by HHI in conjunction with the NAFC and Henry Schein. For more information about the 2022 winners of BD Point-of-Care, Enhancing Clinical Effectiveness grant, visit Heart to Heart International.
BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. The company supports the heroes on the frontlines of health care by developing innovative technology, services and solutions that help advance both clinical therapy for patients and clinical process for health care providers. BD and its 75,000 employees have a passion and commitment to help enhance the safety and efficiency of clinicians' care delivery process, enable laboratory scientists to accurately detect disease and advance researchers' capabilities to develop the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics. BD has a presence in virtually every country and partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. By working in close collaboration with customers, BD can help enhance outcomes, lower costs, increase efficiencies, improve safety and expand access to health care. For more information on BD, please visit bd.com or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/bd1/ and Twitter @BDandCo.
Heart to Heart International is a global health organization. Since its founding in 1992, HHI has delivered medical aid and supplies worth $2 billion to more than 131 countries, including the United States. HHI responds to crises and natural disasters both domestically and internationally by supplying medical relief and mobilizing volunteers. HHI broadens access to healthcare with medical education opportunities and laboratory standards training in the U.S. and in Haiti and also works with U.S. safety-net clinics to increase their capacity by providing medical equipment, supplies and volunteers that are vital to operations. The organization is a Charity Navigator 4-Star charity, a BBB Accredited charity, and is on the "Philanthropy 400". HHI is a founding member of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD) and is a member of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). For more information on programs and ways to get involved, visit hearttoheart.org & find HHI on Facebook.
National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c (3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality health care and strives to be a national voice promoting quality health care for all. For more information about the NAFC, please visit www.nafcclinics.org.
Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC) is a solutions company for health care professionals powered by a network of people and technology. With more than 22,000 Team Schein Members worldwide, the Company's network of trusted advisors provides more than 1 million customers globally with more than 300 valued solutions that help improve operational success and clinical outcomes. Our Business, Clinical, Technology, and Supply Chain solutions help office-based dental and medical practitioners work more efficiently so they can provide quality care more effectively. These solutions also support dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, as well as other alternate care sites.
Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 120,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 180,000 additional products available as special-order items.
A FORTUNE 500 Company and a member of the S&P 500® index, Henry Schein is headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and has operations or affiliates in 32 countries and territories. The Company's sales reached $12.4 billion in 2021, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 12.5 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995.
For more information, visit Henry Schein at www.henryschein.com, Facebook.com/HenrySchein, Instagram.com/HenrySchein, and Twitter.com/HenrySchein.
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SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/bd-heart-heart-international-nafc-henry-schein-cares-award-critical-lab-equipment-six-us-free-charitable-clinics/ | 2022-09-29 12:33:02 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/bd-heart-heart-international-nafc-henry-schein-cares-award-critical-lab-equipment-six-us-free-charitable-clinics/ |
Turkey is holding a historic election on Sunday. After almost 20 years in power, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could be voted out. Here's what you need to know ahead of what may be a turning point for Turkish democracy.
All polls currently put Kilicdaroglu in the lead. According to the three most recent surveys, Kilicdaroglu would get about 49% of all votes, while Erdogan would get about 45%. The ultranationalist politician Sinan Ogan, who entered the race as an outsider, would receive between 2% and 5% of the votes.
However, these surveys were conducted before a fourth candidate, Muharrem Ince, dropped out of the race earlier this week. His withdrawal could have a decisive effect on the election outcome. Most of Ince's votes are expected to go to his former party comrade Kilicdaroglu, and polls have indicated that Ince would have received about 2% of the votes.
If none of the candidates are able to collect at least 50% of the votes in the first election, Turkey's future president will be determined in a runoff vote on May 28.
Concerns over misinformation, ballot rigging
According to official data, some 64 million people are eligible to vote in Turkey's upcoming election. Around 3.5 million of them live abroad. In Germany alone, there are 1.5 million eligible voters, of whom about 732,000 already exercised that right.
Turkish authorities have stated that, in addition, some 167,000 people with Syrian roots and another 66,000 expats living in Turkey are also eligible to cast a vote. With the exception of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), all parties have entered the race promising to push refugees out of the country as soon as possible.
Last week, Kilicdaroglu called on his supporters to not celebrate in the streets should he win the election, for fear of possible clashes with violent supporters of the current government. The opposition has also warned voters about misinformation deliberately being issued by government circles. Throughout his campaign, Erdogan had repeatedly accused the opposition of "godlessness," "supporting terrorism" or of being "steered by terrorists." In past days, fake brochures — purportedly issued by the opposition and supporting these allegations — have been found on Turkey's streets.
Recently, Suleyman Soylu, the Turkish interior minister and member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), had floated the idea of using a system parallel to the election authority's own to tally votes, a process which could potentially contribute to manipulation. The opposition has alerted the public to these plans, which have also been rejected by Turkey's election authorities.
Halting the democratic backslide
Above all, this election is about the future of the country's political system. The opposition's key campaign promise is to reverse Erdogan's yearlong efforts to consolidate a presidential system, and instead return to a parliamentary system.
According to its constitution, Turkey has been a parliamentary democracy since its founding in 1923. But it has been Erdogan's wish to reshape this structure. In 2018, he introduced a new presidential system that abolished the office of prime minister and made the president the head of government.
In the new system, the president is elected directly by the people every five years, and is granted sweeping powers. For example, the president can appoint and dismiss ministers at his or her own discretion, and is also head of the cabinet. The president can issue presidential decrees and has free rein to appoint certain roles in the judiciary, financial and educational sectors. Key officers in the secret services or in the powerful religious affairs directorate also answer to the president.
What kind of Turkey do young people want?
The introduction of the new presidential system also abolished many checks and balances, and therefore impartiality. This is why Erdogan was able to retain his chairmanship of the socially conservative AKP.
Does Turkey's parliament have any power?
Even though the introduction of the new presidential system in 2018 saw the number of parliamentarians rise from 550 to 600 lawmakers, Erdogan has still managed to consign the parliament to insignificance. Parliament still holds power to deliberate and pass legislation, but the ruling AKP has used its majority to block opposition proposals while pushing through its own agenda.
The AKP's majority has also enabled it to dismiss demands by the opposition to create investigative committees in the wake of natural disasters, like the devastating earthquakes in March that killed tens of thousands, or corruption cases. In most cases, the government never even responded to the opposition's requests.
What alliances have formed?
Three electoral alliances will play a key role in the upcoming election: the People's Alliance headed by Erdogan, the Nation Alliance of the six-party opposition bloc and the left wing Labor and Freedom Alliance led by the HDP.
Aside from Erdogan's AKP, the People's Alliance also includes the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Great Unity Party (BBP), both of which are considered ultranationalist. Recently, the New Welfare Party (YRP), with its nationalist, religious outlook, also joined his alliance. Erdogan's alliance is further supported by the pro-Kurdish Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR), an Islamist party that is mainly active in Kurdish-populated parts of the country.
The major alliance challenging Erdogan consists of six very different parties supporting Kilicdaroglu. As a presidential candidate, he enjoys wide respect among those critical of the current government. Even the Labor and Freedom Alliance favors Kilicdaroglu, though they have not joined the alliance backing him.
The driving force behind the Labor and Freedom Alliance is the HDP, which has been under immense pressure since it became the third largest party in parliament.
Thousands of its members are currently imprisoned on terrorism charges, the party's bank accounts have been frozen and there is a case going through higher courts asking that the party itself be banned altogether. Nearly all HDP mayors who have previously been elected have been deposed, and former party leader Selahattin Demirtas has been kept in a maximum security prison for the past seven years.
But this has not stopped Demirtas from leading a successful campaign against Erdogan and his government, calling on Kurdish voters to cast their ballot in favor of Kilicdaroglu. | https://www.dw.com/en/turkeys-historic-vote-the-end-for-erdogan/a-65607524?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-rdf | 2023-05-14 06:26:26 | 0 | https://www.dw.com/en/turkeys-historic-vote-the-end-for-erdogan/a-65607524?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-rdf |
BEIJING (AP) — The United States on Friday blacklisted six Chinese entities it said were linked to Beijing's aerospace programs as part of its retaliation over an alleged Chinese spy balloon that traversed U.S. airspace.
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The economic restrictions followed the Biden administration's pledge to consider broader efforts to address Chinese surveillance activities and will make it more difficult for the five companies and one research institute to obtain American technology exports.
The move is likely to further escalate the diplomatic row between the U.S. and China sparked by the balloon, which was shot down last weekend off the Carolina coast. The U.S. said the balloon was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals, but Beijing insists it was a weather craft that had blown off course.
The incident prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken to abruptly cancel a high-stakes trip to Beijing aimed at easing tensions.
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The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security said the six entities were being targeted for “their support to China's military modernization efforts, specifically the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) aerospace programs including airships and balloons.”
“The PLA is utilizing High Altitude Balloons (HAB) for intelligence and reconnaissance activities,” it said.
Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said on Twitter his department “will not hesitate to continue to use" such restrictions and other regulatory and enforcement tools "to protect U.S. national security and sovereignty.”
The six entities are Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology Co., China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute, Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology Co., Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co., Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology Co., and Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group Co.
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The research institute did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The other five entities could not be reached.
On Friday, a U.S. military fighter jet shot down an unknown object flying off the remote northern coast of Alaska on orders from President Joe Biden. The object was downed because it reportedly posed a threat to the safety of civilian flights, instead of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance.
But the twin incidents in such close succession reflect heightened concerns over China’s surveillance program and public pressure on Biden to take a tough stand against it. | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/politics/article/us-blacklists-6-chinese-entities-over-balloon-17778070.php | 2023-02-11 05:06:31 | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/politics/article/us-blacklists-6-chinese-entities-over-balloon-17778070.php |
NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues its investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Credit Acceptance Corporation (NASDAQ: CACC) resulting from allegations that Credit Acceptance may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Credit Acceptance securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=10839 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On January 4, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the New York State Attorney General's Office announced the filing of a complaint against Credit Acceptance. The lawsuit alleged that Credit Acceptance, a subprime auto lender, hid the true costs of its borrowings, used aggressive debt-collection tactics, and violated New York usury laws on interest-rate limits and other investor-protection laws.
On this news, the price of Credit Acceptance's shares fell $52.69, or over 11%, to close at $403.49 per share on January 4, 2023, damaging investors.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/23/cacc-loss-alert-rosen-leading-investor-rights-law-firm-encourages-credit-acceptance-corporation-investors-inquire-about-securities-class-action-investigation-cacc/ | 2023-01-23 23:14:00 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/01/23/cacc-loss-alert-rosen-leading-investor-rights-law-firm-encourages-credit-acceptance-corporation-investors-inquire-about-securities-class-action-investigation-cacc/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is promising “strong executive action” to combat climate change, despite dual setbacks in recent weeks that have restricted his ability to regulate carbon emissions and boost clean energy such as wind and solar power.
The Supreme Court last month limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Then late Thursday, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he wants to delay sweeping environmental legislation that Democrats have pushed as central to achieving Biden’s ambitious climate goals.
Biden, who has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, compared with 2005 levels, said Friday that “action on climate change and clean energy remains more urgent than ever.”
If the Senate will not act to address climate change and boost clean energy, “I will take strong executive action to meet this moment,” Biden said in a statement from Saudi Arabia, where he met Friday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Biden did not specify what actions he will take on climate, but said they will create jobs, improve energy security, bolster domestic manufacturing and protect consumers from oil and gas price increases. “I will not back down,” he promised.
Some advocates urged Biden to use the moment to declare a national climate emergency and reinstate a ban on crude oil exports, among other steps.
Declaring a climate emergency would allow Biden to redirect spending to accelerate renewable energy such as wind and solar and speed the nation’s transition away from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.
Climate advocates, including some of Manchin’s Democratic colleagues in the Senate, said Manchin’s announcement that he cannot back the climate provisions in the Senate bill — at least for now — frees Biden of the obligation to cater to a powerful, coal-state senator eager to protect his energy-producing home state. Manchin’s vote is decisive in the evenly divided Senate, where Republicans unanimously oppose climate action.
“Free at last. Let’s roll. Do it all and start it now,” tweeted Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. who has long pushed stronger action on climate. “With legislative climate options now closed, it’s now time for executive Beast Mode,” Whitehouse wrote.
Whitehouse suggested a series of actions Biden could take, including “a robust social cost of carbon rule″ that would force energy producers to account for greenhouse gas emissions as a cost of doing business. The senator also urged Biden to require major polluters to use technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions and impose stronger pollution controls on cars, light trucks and heavy-duty vehicles.
Advocates also urged Biden to reject all onshore and offshore drilling on federal lands and in federal waters — a step he promised during the 2020 campaign but has not enacted — and restrict approval of natural gas pipelines and other fossil fuel projects.
“For too long, we’ve been waiting on a single legislative package to save us and a single legislator to determine our fate,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. “Now that it’s clear legislation to address our climate crisis is dead, President Biden needs to put us on an emergency footing to address this disaster.”
Citing Biden’s campaign promise to end new drilling on federal lands and waters, Merkley said, “Now is the time to show the American people he’s serious by saying ‘no’ to expanding our addiction to fossil fuels.”
Even before Manchin’s apparent rejection of the climate measures, Democrats had slimmed their down their plan from about $555 billion in climate spending to just over $300 billion in a bid to secure his support. Proposed tax credits for wind, solar and nuclear energy, along with still-unproven carbon-capture technology, could reduce emissions by up to 40% by 2030, advocates said.
Manchin had already forced Democrats to drop two tax provisions he opposes: direct payments of clean energy credits and tax credits for drivers who purchase electric vehicles. Manchin forced other concessions last year, including killing a proposal that would have paid utilities that increase clean energy while penalizing those that do not.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he still hopes to salvage the clean energy tax provisions and said failure “really is not an option here.”
Manchin’s request to postpone action on the climate measure follows a June 30 ruling by the Supreme Court, which said in a 6-3 vote that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
The ruling by the court’s conservative majority likely complicates the Biden administration’s plan to manage power plant pollution, but does not eliminate its authority to regulate greenhouse gases. EPA Administrator Michael Regan has said the agency is moving forward with proposed rules for power plants in the coming months.
Ann Clancy, associate climate policy director for Indivisible, a progressive advocacy group, said it was time for Biden to “stop waiting for corporate-backed Democrats and their bad faith negotiations and deliver real wins for the American people on climate.”
“We don’t have any more time to waste,” Clancy said.
Manchin, in a radio interview Friday, said climate activists want an immediate end to U.S. use of oil, coal and gas. “That’s crazy,” he told West Virginia talk show host Hoppy Kercheval. “I’m not throwing caution to the wind. I think we need an energy policy that works for our country.” | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/biden-vowing-strong-climate-action-despite-dual-setbacks/ | 2022-07-16 15:35:54 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/national/biden-vowing-strong-climate-action-despite-dual-setbacks/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. could face an unprecedented default on its obligations as soon as early June if Congress does not act to lift the debt limit, a Washington think tank said Wednesday.
The Bipartisan Policy Center, which forecasts the approximate “X-date” when the government will no longer be able to meet its financial obligations on time, said the U.S. will reach its statutory debt limit as soon as the summer or early fall of 2023. That inches up from the center’s previous prediction in June 2022 that the “extraordinary measures” that U.S. Treasury uses to pay the government’s bills would not be exhausted before the third quarter of 2023.
Previewing the data for reporters on a morning call, Shai Akabas, the center’s director of economic policy, said the new projections reflect “considerable uncertainty in our nation’s current economic outlook.”
“Policymakers have an opportunity now to inject certainty into the U.S. and global economy by beginning, in earnest, bipartisan negotiations around our nation’s fiscal health and taking action to uphold the full faith and credit of the United States well before the X-Date,” he said.
Akabas said the December 2022 big spending bill, an extended pause on student loan repayments and high interest rates resulting in higher costs to service U.S. debt have contributed to moving up the X-date.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen notified Congress in January that her agency was resorting to “extraordinary measures” to avoid default, and that “it is unlikely that cash and extraordinary measures will be exhausted before early June.”
Yellen said her actions will buy time until Congress can pass legislation that will either raise the nation’s $31.4 trillion borrowing authority or suspend the limit for a period of time. But she said it’s “critical that Congress act in a timely manner.”
President Joe Biden and new Republican House speaker Kevin McCarthy met once earlier this month to talk about the debt limit, but expectations are low for quick progress as GOP lawmakers push for steep spending cuts in exchange for a debt ceiling deal.
Biden has since used his bully pulpit to accuse Republicans of plans to cut Medicare and Social Security programs. McCarthy, however, has said those cuts are not in the picture, as has Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell.
Treasury first used extraordinary measures in 1985 and has used them at least 16 times since, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a fiscal watchdog.
Some economists have said in the midst of debt limit negotiations, Treasury could prioritize certain payments to bondholders in order to buy time for policymakers to resolve the issue.
Biden administration officials have said they will not prioritize payments to bondholders if the country passes the “X-date” without an agreement. Yellen has said debt payment prioritization is default by another name.
“Failure on the part of the United States to meet any obligation, whether its debt holders, to members of our military or to Social Security recipients, is effectively a default,” she told reporters in Dakar, Senegal in January. | https://www.yourbasin.com/business/ap-new-estimate-u-s-could-face-default-on-debt-by-early-june/ | 2023-02-22 20:59:32 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/business/ap-new-estimate-u-s-could-face-default-on-debt-by-early-june/ |
MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) — Reducing waste while boosting recycling and reuse, known as the ‘circular economy,’ will be vital for halting the loss of nature by meeting growing demand with fewer resources and will make communities more resilient to climate change by encouraging more sustainable practices on the African continent, organizers of the World Circular Economy Forum said Wednesday.
The conference, which brings together climate and economic experts as well businesses and think tanks, is being held in the Rwandan capital Kigali — the first ever in the global south.
“It is much easier to adapt now than the costs that we will incur if we wait,” said Wanjira Maathai of the World Resources Institute at the forum. As climate change makes weather more extreme, the costs incurred from the damages are increasing. “It is time we look at it (circular economy) as a driver of Africa’s development.”
The three-day forum, which ends Thursday, encourages a shift to an economic model that promotes less material consumption and promotes what’s known as regenerative agriculture practices like rotating crops or using fewer chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The talks will also push nature-based solutions to boost natural resources such as rewilding. Many on the continent are already exploring how to use waste in new ways.
At the opening ceremony Tuesday, Rwandan environment minister Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya said the continent should galvanize local knowledge from its youth, innovators and entrepreneurs to fast track the continent’s development progress “without repeating the same mistakes made by the industrialized nations.”
The challenge for developing nations is to improve standards of living without using fossil fuels like nations in the global north, climate experts say. Many on the continent have already looked to reducing waste and boosting recycling as a way to improve living standards.
Mtamu Kililo, a Kenyan architect and member of the African Circular Economy Network, says he uses new construction materials made out of agriculture waste, such as bagasse, or sugar cane waste, coconuts and rice husks for high-quality soundproofing and insulation.
“Altering perceptions is the major challenge we are facing. But we are making headway as people are beginning to see the qualities of our product and are also keen to reduce waste,” Kililo said.
Other businesses use the same model for agriculture, textiles and plastic, but greater investment and a more concerted effort by governments to shift to this kind of economy is needed for these ideas to scale up, many at the forum said.
Investing in the circular economy “is actual investment in climate action and environmental conservation,” Jyrki Katainen, who’s president of the Finnish innovation fund Sitra, told The Associated Press.
Finding new uses for waste “will boost both governments and businesses responses to the major challenges of our time which are sustainable economic development, climate change and environmental conservation,” said the U.N. Environment Programme’s Adriana Zacarias Farah.
___
Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-africa-forum-hails-circular-economy-solutions-for-climate/ | 2022-12-08 02:29:21 | 1 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-africa-forum-hails-circular-economy-solutions-for-climate/ |
Three exemplary musicians born and raised in Detroit — drummer Louis Hayes, saxophonist Kenny Garrett and violinist Regina Carter — will soon be recognized as NEA Jazz Masters. According to an announcement this morning by the National Endowment for the Arts, they are among the 2023 class of inductees, along with producer and author Sue Mingus.
The NEA Jazz Masters fellowship, often described as the nation's highest honor for jazz, brings with it a $25,000 award and a prestigious title. According to longstanding custom, the new class will be honored in a gala NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert, to be held on April 1, 2023. The concert, presented in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, will be free to attend with a reservation, and webcast live at NPR.org and arts.gov.
Detroit has produced its share of previous NEA Jazz Masters, but never in a sweep like this. "It represents the profound legacy and lineage of jazz from Detroit," critic Mark Stryker tells NPR Music, "and the influence that this city has had on this music over the last 75 years." Stryker's 2019 book, Jazz From Detroit, includes chapters devoted to each of the three new musician honorees.
As for Sue Mingus, recipient of the 2023 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy, she originally hails from Milwaukee, though she's a quintessential New Yorker. Known for her tireless efforts on behalf of Charles Mingus — her late husband, the brilliant bassist and composer whose centennial was commemorated this year — Sue drove the creation of both the Charles Mingus Collection at the Library of Congress and a Mingus High School Festival and Competition. She has kept several legacy bands in circulation; one of them, the Mingus Big Band, won her a Grammy as producer in 2011.
Hayes, at 85, hails from a generation that refined the sound of modern jazz in the postwar era, with an agile cymbal beat that propelled albums by Horace Silver, Cannonball Adderley, Yusef Lateef and many others. Writing about Hayes' brisk emergence on the scene in the '50s, Stryker observes that "he brought remarkable control to fast tempos, and he mastered the art of 'tippin'' — swinging with fierce intensity but soft-shoe elegance." Since making his self-titled debut in 1960, Hayes has also made his mark as a bandleader. In 2017, when he was celebrating the release of Serenade For Horace, Jazz Night in America caught up with Hayes for a crackling set at Dizzy's Club in New York.
Carter is 55, on the younger end of the spectrum for an NEA Jazz Master, but her achievements speak multitudes. A past recipient of both a MacArthur Fellowship and a Doris Duke Artist Award, she is the most celebrated jazz violinist of her generation, known for a warm, lustrous sound and a springy way with rhythm. Her albums — which variously nod toward Ella Fitzgerald, Paganini, Motown soul and West African kora music — chart a curious mind and a drive to collaborate. Along with bassist and fellow Detroiter Bob Hurst, she played an NPR Night Owl session in 2019. The following year, Jazz Night featured her and her husband, drummer Alvester Garnett, in the pandemic-era series Alone Together, recorded at their home in New Jersey.
Garrett, 61, has been a vital force in jazz since his teens, in a succession of hard-bop bands that spotlighted his combustible energies. He joined Miles Davis' band in the late '80s, veering into a fusion mode on some of the world's biggest stages. By then he had already made his own debut album, Introducing Kenny Garrett, which announced his dynamic presence; his most recent, Sounds from the Ancestors, was listed among NPR Music's 50 Best Albums of 2021. As the title implies, it's a statement about dialoguing with the lineage. "As you get older you start to reflect on the past," Garrett says in Jazz From Detroit. "You also reflect on the future, but you do it with a clearer understanding of what happened before you."
Copyright 2022 WBGO. To see more, visit WBGO. | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-07-14/regina-carter-kenny-garrett-and-louis-hayes-named-2023-nea-jazz-masters | 2022-07-14 18:00:36 | 0 | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-07-14/regina-carter-kenny-garrett-and-louis-hayes-named-2023-nea-jazz-masters |
TrueCar Releases Analysis of November Industry Sales
Published: Nov. 30, 2022 at 9:00 AM EST|Updated: 1 hour ago
OEMs' first response to increasing inventories is to pull the fleet lever
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TrueCar, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRUE), the easiest, most efficient and transparent online destination for buying and selling new and used vehicles, expects total new vehicle industry sales to reach 1,136,329 units in November 2022, up 7% from a year ago and about on par with October 2022, when adjusted for the same number of selling days. This month's seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total light vehicle industry sales is an estimated 14 million, up 9% from November 2021. Excluding fleet sales, TrueCar expects U.S. retail deliveries of new cars and light trucks to be 954,799 units, about even from a year ago and down about 3% from October 2022.
"Inventories are on pace for a fourth consecutive month of double-digit increases. Consumers, however, continue to face affordability challenges and high monthly payments, keeping many on the sidelines," said Zack Krelle, Industry Analyst at TrueCar. "To maintain sales momentum, manufacturers appear to be shifting some of the new supply to non-retail sales."
November fleet sales are up 68% year-over-year, and up 21% over October.
"A TrueCar survey showed that 77% of shoppers are brand agnostic, open to finding whichever make meets their needs. Because incentives and price reductions have not yet materialized, there's a larger potential for brand conquesting," said Justin Colon, Vice President of OEM Solutions at TrueCar. "There is potential for a growth-minded OEM to lean into this opportunity."
Additional November Industry Insights (from TrueCar):
Total sales for November 2022 are expected to be up 7% from a year ago and about even with October 2022 when adjusted for the same number of selling days.
Fleet sales for November 2022 are expected to be up 68% from a year ago and up 21% from October 2022 when adjusted for the same number of selling days.
Average transaction price for new vehicles is projected to be up 3% from a year ago and down 1% from October 2022.
Total SAAR is expected to be up 9% from a year ago at 14 million units.
Used vehicle sales for November 2022 are expected to reach almost 3 million, down 13% from a year ago and even with October 2022.
The average interest rate on new vehicles is 6.6% compared to October 2022 at 6.3% and the average interest rate on used vehicles is 9.8%.
The average loan term on a new vehicle for November 2022 is about 70 months and the average loan term on a used vehicle is about 71 months.
(Note: This industry insight is based solely on TrueCar, Inc.'s analysis of domestic industry sales trends and conditions and is not a projection of TrueCar, Inc.'s operations.)
About TrueCar TrueCar is a leading automotive digital marketplace that lets auto buyers and sellers connect to our nationwide network of Certified Dealers. With access to an expansive inventory provided by our Certified Dealers, we are building the industry's most personalized and efficient auto shopping experience as we seek to bring more of the process online. Consumers who visit our marketplace will find a suite of vehicle discovery tools, price ratings and market context on new, used and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. When they are ready, shoppers in TrueCar's marketplace can connect with a Certified Dealer in our network, who shares our belief that truth, transparency and fairness are the foundation of a great auto shopping experience. As part of our marketplace, TrueCar powers auto-buying programs for over 250 leading brands, including AARP, Sam's Club, Navy Federal Credit Union and American Express.
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.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/30/truecar-releases-analysis-november-industry-sales/ | 2022-11-30 15:24:32 | 0 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/30/truecar-releases-analysis-november-industry-sales/ |
ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO Jonas Prising becomes Commissioner and Co-Chair for WBCSD's Business Commission to Tackle Inequality (BCTI)
GENEVA, Sept. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WBCSD today announces today that ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) has joined over 200 forward-thinking companies as the newest member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). In joining WBCSD, ManpowerGroup will collaborate with other purpose-led organizations to accelerate climate action and achieve fast progress around the S in ESG – supporting companies in building diverse talent at scale and providing meaningful, sustainable work for all.
To mark ManpowerGroup's partnership with WBCSD Ruth Harper, Chief Marketing, Communications, and Sustainability Officer, joined a panel discussion at its annual conference held in New York during the UN General Assembly. Harper provided practical solutions on the topic of Building Bridges: The Business Case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Belonging.
"We passionately believe that partnerships are critical to making the progress the world needs to see on shared ESG priorities," Harper said. "Together with our partners at WBCSD we look forward to accelerating Net Positive employment – creating metrics to ensure that people are better off while they are with us or even if they leave us, than they were when they first met us. Together we can broaden diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, increasing people's individual employability, and providing them with greater control of their prosperity and earning potential."
Dominic Waughray, WBCSD Senior Advisor to the CEO said: "We are delighted to welcome ManpowerGroup to WBCSD. Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace is key in building a meaningful and sustainable working life where everyone can thrive, feel trusted and respected. ManpowerGroup will bring their deep expertise of the world's workforce and collaborate with like-minded companies to create positive change.
About ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity – as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2022 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 13th year – all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.
About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
WBCSD is the premier global, CEO-led community of over 200 of the world's leading sustainable businesses working collectively to accelerate the system transformations needed for a net zero, nature positive, and more equitable future.
We do this by engaging executives and sustainability leaders from business and elsewhere to share practical insights on the obstacles and opportunities we currently face in tackling the integrated climate, nature and inequality sustainability challenge; by co-developing "how-to" CEO-guides from these insights; by providing science-based target guidance including standards and protocols; and by developing tools and platforms to help leading businesses in sustainability drive integrated actions to tackle climate, nature and inequality challenges across sectors and geographical regions.
Our member companies come from all business sectors and all major economies, representing a combined revenue of more than USD $8.5 trillion and 19 million employees. Our global network of almost 70 national business councils gives our members unparalleled reach across the globe. Since 1995, WBCSD has been uniquely positioned to work with member companies along and across value chains to deliver impactful business solutions to the most challenging sustainability issues.
Together, we are the leading voice of business for sustainability, united by our vision of a world in which 9+ billion people are living well, within planetary boundaries, by mid-century.
www.wbcsd.org
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SOURCE ManpowerGroup | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/09/26/manpowergroup-joins-world-business-council-sustainable-development-wbcsd-accelerate-collective-impact-esg/ | 2022-09-26 17:20:40 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/09/26/manpowergroup-joins-world-business-council-sustainable-development-wbcsd-accelerate-collective-impact-esg/ |
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday evening's drawing of the Washington Lottery's "Hit 5" game were:
03-04-08-09-11
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(three, four, eight, nine, eleven)
Estimated jackpot: $115,000
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Tuesday evening's drawing of the Washington Lottery's "Hit 5" game were:
03-04-08-09-11
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Article continues below this ad
(three, four, eight, nine, eleven)
Estimated jackpot: $115,000
By The Associated Press | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Hit-5-game-17619968.php | 2022-11-30 05:51:33 | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Hit-5-game-17619968.php |
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are rising on Wall Street, while bond markets around the world feel pain Tuesday after a surprise move from Japan’s central bank cranked up the pressure on an already slowing global economy.
The S&P 500 was 0.5% higher and on pace to break a four-day losing streak after flipping between small losses and gains in morning trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 216 points, or 0.7%, at 32,971, as of 1:45 p.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.3% higher after erasing an earlier drop of 0.9%.
The biggest action was in the bond market, where yields pushed higher after one of the world’s last bastions of super-low and economy-aiding interest rates made moves that could allow rates to climb more than otherwise.
The Bank of Japan said Tuesday it still wants the yield on 10-year Japanese government bonds to remain at roughly zero, but it also said it would allow the yield to move up to 0.50% instead of the 0.25% cap it had held previously. What made Tokyo’s unexpected move a particular jolt was how much resistance it’s shown so far in joining the global campaign to hike rates in order to undercut high inflation.
“BoJ’s surprise move allowed it to take a small step away from the extreme dovish side of the monetary policy spectrum, where it had stood alone all year among major central banks,” wrote Jennifer Lee of BMO Economics in a note to clients. “It is not joining the rate-hikers out there, but it is now a tad closer.”
Higher yields make borrowing more expensive, which slows the economy while also pushing down on prices for stocks and other investments. Other central banks around the world, particularly in the United States and Europe, have been raising rates at such an explosive clip that a growing number of economists and investors see a recession hitting in 2023. Both the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank have pledged to keep raising rates into next year to be sure the job is done on getting inflation under control.
Aftershocks from the Bank of Japan’s move on Tuesday rippled through bond and currency markets around the world.
In the U.S., the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 3.69% from 3.59% late Monday. That yield helps set rates for mortgages and other economy-setting loans, which has already meant particular pain for the U.S. housing market.
A report on Tuesday showed U.S. homebuilders broke ground on fewer homes for a third straight month in November. The number of building permits, meanwhile, fell to its lowest level since June 2020 when the pandemic froze the economy.
The two-year U.S. Treasury yield, which tends to more closely track expectations for action from the Federal Reserve, was more reserved. It gave up earlier gains and slipped to 4.25% from 4.26% late Monday.
In the foreign exchange market, Tokyo’s surprise move sent the value of the Japanese yen climbing against the U.S. dollar, which gave back some of its huge gains over the past year. One dollar now buys 131.50 yen, down 4% from a day earlier.
The Nikkei 225 index of Japanese stocks also fell 2.5%.
Stocks worldwide have been under pressure the entire year on worries about high inflation, higher interest rates and a weakening economy.
“Markets continue to play the back-and-forth between inflation and concerns about Fed policy and growth,” said Zachary Hill, head of portfolio management at Horizon Investments.
Investors have been trying to push markets higher every time it seems that inflation is easing and every time they “run into the simple fact that the Fed needs to tighten financial conditions to slow down the economy,” Hill said.
In Shanghai, stocks lost 1.1% after the World Bank cut its forecast for China’s economic growth this year to 2.7% from its June outlook of 4.3%. The bank cited repeated shutdowns of major cities to fight COVID-19 outbreaks. China now is relaxing some of its anti-COVID restrictions, but worries are rising that resulting breakouts of the virus could mean their own hits to the world’s second-largest economy.
European markets were mixed.
On Wall Street, stocks of energy-related companies were leading while oil prices remained stable. Halliburton gained 3.7%, and Schlumberger rose 4.3%.
Banks and technology stocks were among the gainers. JPMorgan Chase rose 1.4% and Adobe climbed 3.2%.
One of the other big worries on Wall Street is that a slowing economy and still-high inflation will mean much weaker profits for U.S. companies, further dragging on their stock prices. FedEx and Nike will report their results after trading closes for the day. —-
AP Business Writers Joe McDonald and Matt Ott contributed. Veiga reported from Los Angeles. | https://cbs4indy.com/business/ap-business/ap-asian-markets-follow-wall-st-lower-amid-gloomy-outlook/ | 2022-12-20 19:45:00 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/business/ap-business/ap-asian-markets-follow-wall-st-lower-amid-gloomy-outlook/ |
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is pursuing the top spot on the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, his spokesman said Thursday, now that Democrats are poised to maintain control of the Senate.
As leader of the committee with jurisdiction over much of federal health policy, Sanders will have a platform to champion his progressive causes, including his “Medicare for All” proposal.
“As chairman of the committee, he will focus on universal health care, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, increasing access to higher education, and protecting workers’ rights on the job,” Sanders spokesman Mike Casca said.
While progressive policies won’t get traction in the GOP-controlled House, Sanders will still be able to call hearings and cause headaches for health industry executives.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the current HELP chairwoman, has said she will be seeking the gavel of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Earlier on Thursday, Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) said that he will take over as the top Republican on the chamber’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee next year, setting up Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to be the ranking member of HELP.
As a member of the Senate Health Committee, Paul clashed regularly with Anthony Fauci, the chief medical adviser to the president who became the face of the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Cassidy is more bipartisan-minded than Paul, it remains to be seen how closely he would be able to work with a strong progressive such as Sanders. | https://www.localsyr.com/hill-politics/sanders-to-seek-gavel-of-senate-health-committee/ | 2022-11-17 22:40:06 | 0 | https://www.localsyr.com/hill-politics/sanders-to-seek-gavel-of-senate-health-committee/ |
PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TALON, a pioneer and industry leader in providing groundbreaking healthcare technology solutions, has announced a new partnership with third-party administrator Fox/Everett, a division of HUB International.
With a proven, seven-decade track record of offering innovative insurance solutions and unsurpassed service to clients and members spanning a wide range of industries, Fox/Everett has chosen to implement TALON's turn-key solution in support of the Transparency in Coverage Rule and No Surprises Act.
"After a thorough analysis of all solutions, we have chosen TALON as the' Best in Class" provider, to meet the federal mandate and provide a state-of-the-art Price Transparency Platform, helping our client's members lower their overall cost of healthcare," said Grant Brabham, Senior Vice-President HUB & Director of Fox/Everett.
TALON Co-Founder, President, and CEO Mark Galvin says that Fox/Everett had a very specific set of needs that TALON was able to meet—quickly and seamlessly.
"Fox/Everett recognized the need to provide their diverse dossier of clients with a comprehensive, scalable, easy-to-implement solution that not only ensures full compliance with current AND forthcoming transparency mandates, avoiding budget-busting financial penalties that are being enforced TODAY, but also empowers and incentivizes plan members to make smart, economical decisions about their own care. TALON provides that, and much more, in one streamlined solution," said Galvin.
About TALON
TALON's mission is to educate, empower, and incentivize the American healthcare consumer to meaningfully reduce costs and create a healthier ecosystem. We've built the ultimate suite of software services designed to fulfill the requirements of the Transparency in Coverage Rule and No Surprises Act. Simply put, TALON protects healthcare stakeholders from overpaying for care while enabling seamless integration into the Payer's existing architecture, all without disruption or distraction. Our tools create free-market dynamics, starting with our ability to ensure full compliance with all mandates and extending through our consumer-driven MyMedicalShopper platform. Learn more at talonhealthtech.com.
About Fox/Everett
Fox/Everett, a Division of Hub International, is a single source for any business' or individual's insurance needs, with the ability to provide the full spectrum of insurance products and services from business insurance, third party claims administration, employee benefits, personal insurance, financial services, and retirement plan administration and consulting. Learn more at http://hubinternational.com/.
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SOURCE MMS Analytics Inc. d/b/a TALON | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/talon-welcomes-foxeverett/ | 2022-08-03 20:59:13 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/08/03/talon-welcomes-foxeverett/ |
BISMARCK, N.D. (KXNET)–Saturday’s rain put a damper on thousands of people who were in Bismarck to swing a bat this weekend.
Rather than playing a full day of softball, crew chiefs with the McQuade Softball Tournament pulled the plug on Saturday morning just after the first two rounds got started as the rain simply didn’t let up. Instead, team representatives were told to show up at the Elks Club on Saturday afternoon to draw cards.
During this session, the high card won each drawing, and the men and women from all 14 divisions found out if they’d be in the tournament for the final round of bracket play on Sunday. This isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred, either: the same situation happened ten years ago, when teams ended up having to draw for winners during the rainy weekend.
“We have people who traveled from out of state who probably lost out in the card draw today,” says Tournament Co-Director Mike Wolf, “and they’re not even going to get to play one game in this tournament, We really feel bad for that — but at the same time, we can control a lot of things, but there’s one thing we can’t control, and that’s the weather.”
Wolf says if the rain lets up overnight, grounds crews will be out early Sunday morning to begin drying out the diamonds in hopes of getting them ready for players before the championship rounds. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/top-stories/softball-players-shuffle-the-deck-after-rainy-saturday-at-mcquade-tournament/ | 2023-06-25 04:06:15 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/top-stories/softball-players-shuffle-the-deck-after-rainy-saturday-at-mcquade-tournament/ |
Washington aims to bounce back from a demoralizing setback when it faces Fresno State on Wednesday night in the Wooden Legacy at Anaheim, Calif.
The Huskies (3-1) scored the game’s first eight points but later trailed by 12 in the second half before succumbing 73-64 to visiting Cal Baptist on Thursday.
“We don’t want to get behind like that,” Washington coach Mike Hopkins said. “We had our chances but just couldn’t get over the hump.”
The winner of the game between the Huskies and Fresno State (1-3) will meet either Vanderbilt or Saint Mary’s in Thursday night’s title game. The losers will battle in the consolation game.
The Huskies had Keion Brooks Jr. back on the floor versus Cal Baptist after a two-game absence due to a leg injury. The Kentucky transfer scored 20 points in his Washington debut in the season-opening win over Weber State, but had 11 on 4-of-12 shooting against Cal Baptist.
“He forced it a little bit but he played his heart out,” Hopkins said.
Brooks’ 15.5 point per game scoring average is second on the squad behind freshman Keyon Menifield, who is averaging 15.8. Menifield had eight points on 4-of-14 shooting against the Lancers after averaging 23.5 points over the previous two games.
Fresno State has lost three straight contests, including Saturday’s 61-52 road loss against North Texas.
Jordan Campbell scored 14 points to pace the Bulldogs. Jemarl Baker Jr. added 12 and Isaih Moore contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.
Moore, a transfer from Southern Miss, leads Fresno State with averages of 12.8 points and 6.8 rebounds. Moore also played for College of Charleston and St. John’s during his college career.
“He’s a smart young man, very talented,” Bulldogs coach Justin Hutson said. “I love how he’s becoming a leader.”
Fresno State recently received a blow when it learned that four-star freshman guard JoJo Hunter will miss the entire season due to a thumb injury.
The Bulldogs lead the series 3-2 and have won the last three matchups. However, the schools haven’t played since Fresno State recorded a 67-65 home win on Dec. 7, 1993.
–Field Level Media | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/sports/ncaa/washington-moves-on-to-fresno-state-after-shocker/ | 2022-11-23 20:12:54 | 1 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/sports/ncaa/washington-moves-on-to-fresno-state-after-shocker/ |
CHICAGO, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) ("CARS" or the "Company"), the leading automotive marketplace platform that provides a robust set of digital solutions, today announced that it expects to report its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022, on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. The Company will host a conference call with a live webcast at 8:00 a.m. CT/9:00 a.m. ET on the same day to discuss the results.
The conference call will be hosted by Chief Executive Officer, Alex Vetter and Interim Chief Financial Officer, Jandy Tomy.
Those interested are invited to listen to the live webcast online at investor.cars.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly afterwards at investor.cars.com.
ABOUT CARS.COM INC.
CARS is the leading automotive marketplace platform that provides a robust set of digital solutions to connect car shoppers with sellers. Launched in 1998 with the flagship marketplace Cars.com and headquartered in Chicago, the Company empowers shoppers with the data, resources and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions and seamlessly connect with automotive retailers. In a rapidly changing market, CARS enables dealerships and OEMs with innovative technical solutions and data-driven intelligence to better reach and influence ready-to-buy shoppers, increase inventory turn and gain market share.
In addition to Cars.com, CARS brands include Dealer Inspire, a technology provider building solutions that future-proof dealerships with more efficient operations and connected digital experiences; FUEL, which gives dealers and OEMs the opportunity to harness the untapped power of digital video by leveraging Cars.com's pure audience of in-market car shoppers, DealerRater, a leading car dealer review and reputation management platform, automotive fintech platform CreditIQ, and Accu-Trade, a leading provider of vehicle acquisition technology and valuation data.
The full suite of CARS properties includes Cars.com™, Dealer Inspire®, FUEL™, DealerRater®, CreditIQ™, Accu-Trade™, Auto.com™, PickupTrucks.com™ and NewCars.com®. For more information, visit www.Cars.com.
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SOURCE Cars.com Inc. | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/cars-announce-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-07-20 12:43:22 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/cars-announce-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ |
It’s another cool start to the day with temperatures in the low to mid 50s early Tuesday morning. A jacket is recommended for kids heading to the bus stop. A closed low is still sitting nearby, pushing clouds and cooler air our way. However, we are looking at a warmup getting in the works. Temperatures only hit 67° in Indianapolis Monday afternoon. That’s the coolest we’ve been since late May. Today, we’ll be noticeably warmer with high temperatures in the low to mid 70s. A few spotty showers can’t be completely ruled out but most stay dry today.
The evening is looking fantastic. The low will be pulling away to the east, the skies will be clearing and overall, it will be rather comfortable. The Indians are back at Victory Field tonight taking on the Toledo Mud Hens. The temperatures will be in the low 70s to start the game and into the upper 60s by the time it’s over.
Mostly clear skies this evening will allow heat to escape from the surface more quickly when the sun goes down. Wednesday morning will start of cool but abundant sunshine through the day will send temperatures to near 80°. We keep the sunshine around the rest of the week and into early next week. Our temperatures continue to warm daily and by next Monday, highs at 90° are very possible. So, if you don’t like the fall-feel, just wait. Summer isn’t done.
. | https://cbs4indy.com/news/going-from-a-fall-feel-back-to-summer/ | 2022-09-13 12:36:24 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/going-from-a-fall-feel-back-to-summer/ |
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) — Thousands of professors, part-time lecturers and graduate student workers at New Jersey’s flagship university went on strike Monday — the first such job action in the school’s 257-year history.
Classes were still being held at Rutgers as picket lines were set up at the school’s campuses in New Brunswick/Piscataway, Newark and Camden, though students said some had been canceled due to the strike. Union officials decided Sunday night to go on strike, citing a stalemate in contract talks that have been ongoing since July. Faculty members voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike last month.
Three unions, which represent about 9,000 Rutgers staff members, were involved in the strike: the Rutgers AAUP-AFT, which represents full-time faculty, graduate workers, postdoctoral associates and some counselors; the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, which represents part-time lecturers; and the AAUP-BHSNJ, which includes faculty in the biomedical and health sciences at Rutgers’ medical, dental, nursing and public health schools.
Union leaders said faculty members at the medical and other health sciences schools would continue performing essential research and patient care, but would curtail duties that don’t impact patient health and safety.
Officials also said negotiations would continue Monday. The two sides were scheduled to meet at Democratic Gov. Gov. Phil Murphy’s office at the Statehouse around noon.
Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway said Sunday that he believed the two sides were close to an agreement. Union officials, though, said an agreement didn’t appear near.
“To say that this is deeply disappointing would be an understatement,” Holloway said.
Union leaders say they are demanding salary increases, better job security for adjunct faculty and guaranteed funding for graduate students, among other requests.
Holloway has said the university has offered to increase salaries for full-time faculty members, teaching assistants and graduate assistants by 12% by 2025. The university offered an additional 3% lump-sum payment to all the faculty unions that would be paid over the first two years of the new contract. | https://www.koin.com/news/national/thousands-of-rutgers-faculty-go-on-unprecedented-strike/ | 2023-04-11 07:42:16 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/news/national/thousands-of-rutgers-faculty-go-on-unprecedented-strike/ |
Data show a combination of teclistamab (BCMAxCD3 bispecific antibody) plus DARZALEX FASPRO® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) improved clinical efficacy in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
VIENNA, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced updated efficacy and safety results from the teclistamab cohort of the Phase 1b TriMM-2 study (NCT04108195). Teclistamab, an investigational, off-the-shelf, T-cell redirecting bispecific antibody targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is being studied in combination with DARZALEX FASPRO® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received three or more prior lines of therapy.1 Patients in the study, including a high proportion with prior anti-CD38 exposure, achieved encouraging overall response rates (ORR) with this combination treatment.1 These data will be presented at the 2022 European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Congress as an oral presentation on Sunday, June 12 (Abstract S188).1
At a median follow-up of 8.6 months (range, 0.3-19.6), 76.5 percent (39/51) of response-evaluable patients enrolled in the study achieved a response, including 36 patients (70.6 percent) who achieved a very good partial response (VGPR) or better.1 In patients with prior anti-CD38 exposure, an ORR of 73.7 percent was achieved.1 The median time to first confirmed response was one month, and responses remained durable and deepened over time.1 At the analysis cutoff, 66.7 percent of patients who achieved a response (26/39) were alive and continuing on therapy.1
"Responders to the combination of teclistamab plus subcutaneous daratumumab included patients with prior exposure to BCMA or anti-CD38 targeted agents, which is encouraging," said Paula Rodríguez-Otero†, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Hematology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain and principal study investigator. "These data also suggest this steroid-sparing regimen may lead to a clinically efficacious regimen in highly refractory patients."
The open-label, multicenter, multicohort Phase 1b TriMM-2 study is investigating the safety and efficacy of teclistamab in combination with DARZALEX FASPRO® for patients with RRMM. Enrolled patients received a median of five prior lines of therapy, 58.5 percent were triple-class refractory, 30.8 percent were penta-drug refractory, and 63.1 percent were refractory to anti-CD38 treatment.1 Eighty percent of patients were refractory to their last line of therapy.1
As of April 6, 2022, 65 patients received daratumumab 1800mg at the approved schedule plus teclistamab 1.5mg/kg weekly (QW) or 3mg/kg every other week (Q2W) subcutaneously.1 Pre-medications, including steroids, were limited to the two step-up doses and the first full dose of teclistamab.1 Treatment with the combination regimen were tolerable and no unexpected or overlapping toxicities were observed.1 The most common adverse events were cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (67.7 percent, all Grade 1 or 2); neutropenia (49.2 percent, 41.5 percent Grade 3 or 4); and anemia (41.5 percent, 27.7 percent Grade 3 or 4).1 One patient (2 percent) had Grade 1 immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) which fully resolved.1 Infections were experienced by 67.7 percent of patients (27.7 percent Grade 3 or 4).1 Four patients died from adverse events, all unrelated to teclistamab or daratumumab treatment.1
"These data suggest the potential of a fully immune-based regimen for patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma," said Yusri Elsayed, M.D., M.HSc., Ph.D., Vice President, Disease Area Leader, Hematologic Malignancies, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "We are committed to the ongoing development of this combination and other treatments for patients who remain in need of new options."
Pharmacodynamic analyses demonstrate that the combination upregulates CD38+/CD8+ T-cells and proinflammatory cytokines, suggesting the potential for synergistic activity.3 Additional studies are needed to fully understand the potential clinical benefit of this biological activity.
The efficacy and pharmacodynamic profile of teclistamab in combination with DARZALEX FASPRO® in patients refractory to anti-CD38 therapy suggest that higher response rates may be observed in patients with anti-CD38 naïve or sensitive disease who are enrolling in the MajesTEC-3 study (NCT05083169).1 The ongoing Phase 3 MajesTEC-3 study compares the efficacy of the teclistamab-daratumumab combination with daratumumab subcutaneously (SC) in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (DPd) or daratumumab SC in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (DVd).2 Patients in the trial must have received one to three prior lines of therapy including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and lenalidomide; patients who have received only one prior line of therapy must be refractory to lenalidomide.2 Patients who have progressed on or within 60 days of the last dose of lenalidomide given as maintenance therapy are also included.2
About Teclistamab
Teclistamab is an investigational, fully humanized, T-cell redirecting, IgG4 bispecific antibody targeting both BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) and CD3, the T-cell receptor. BCMA is expressed at high levels on multiple myeloma cells.3,4,5,6,7 Teclistamab redirects CD3-positive T-cells to BCMA-expressing myeloma cells to induce killing of tumor cells.6
Teclistamab is currently being evaluated in several monotherapy and combination studies. In 2020, the European Commission and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) both granted teclistamab Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of multiple myeloma. In January 2021 and June 2021, teclistamab received a PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) by the U.S. FDA, respectively. PRIME offers enhanced interaction and early dialogue to optimize drug development plans and speed up evaluation of cutting-edge, scientific advances that target a high unmet medical need.8 The U.S. FDA grants BTD to expedite the development and regulatory review of an investigational medicine that is intended to treat a serious or life-threatening condition based on preliminary clinical evidence that demonstrates the drug may have substantial improvement in at least one clinically significant endpoint over available therapy.9 In December 2021, Janssen submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA seeking approval of teclistamab for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma; a marketing authorization application (MAA) was submitted to the EMA for teclistamab approval in January 2022.
About DARZALEX FASPRO®
In August 2012, Janssen Biotech, Inc. and Genmab A/S entered into a worldwide agreement, which granted Janssen an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize daratumumab. DARZALEX FASPRO® is the only CD38-directed antibody approved to be given subcutaneously to treat patients with multiple myeloma and now light chain (AL) amyloidosis. DARZALEX FASPRO® is co-formulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20), Halozyme's ENHANZE® drug delivery technology.
DARZALEX FASPRO® is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma:
- in combination with bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant
- in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant and in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy
- in combination with bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone in newly diagnosed patients who are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant
- in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior line of therapy including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor
- in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients who have received at least one prior therapy
- in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior lines of therapy
- as monotherapy in patients who have received at least three prior lines of therapy including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory agent or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent
DARZALEX FASPRO® in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s).
Limitations of Use
DARZALEX FASPRO® is not indicated and is not recommended for the treatment of patients with AL amyloidosis who have NYHA Class IIIB or Class IV cardiac disease or Mayo Stage IIIB outside of controlled clinical trials.
Full prescribing information for DARZALEX FASPRO® is available here.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
DARZALEX FASPRO® is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity to daratumumab, hyaluronidase, or any of the components of the formulation.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Hypersensitivity and Other Administration Reactions
Both systemic administration-related reactions, including severe or life-threatening reactions, and local injection-site reactions can occur with DARZALEX FASPRO®. Fatal reactions have been reported with daratumumab-containing products, including DARZALEX FASPRO®.
Systemic Reactions
In a pooled safety population of 898 patients with multiple myeloma (N=705) or light chain (AL) amyloidosis (N=193) who received DARZALEX FASPRO® as monotherapy or in combination, 9% of patients experienced a systemic administration-related reaction (Grade 2: 3.2%, Grade 3: 1%). Systemic administration-related reactions occurred in 8% of patients with the first injection, 0.3% with the second injection, and cumulatively 1% with subsequent injections. The median time to onset was 3.2 hours (range: 4 minutes to 3.5 days). Of the 140 systemic administration-related reactions that occurred in 77 patients, 121 (86%) occurred on the day of DARZALEX FASPRO® administration. Delayed systemic administration-related reactions have occurred in 1% of the patients.
Severe reactions included hypoxia, dyspnea, hypertension, tachycardia, and ocular adverse reactions, including choroidal effusion, acute myopia, and acute angle closure glaucoma. Other signs and symptoms of systemic administration-related reactions may include respiratory symptoms, such as bronchospasm, nasal congestion, cough, throat irritation, allergic rhinitis, and wheezing, as well as anaphylactic reaction, pyrexia, chest pain, pruritus, chills, vomiting, nausea, hypotension, and blurred vision.
Pre-medicate patients with histamine-1 receptor antagonist, acetaminophen, and corticosteroids. Monitor patients for systemic administration-related reactions, especially following the first and second injections. For anaphylactic reaction or life-threatening (Grade 4) administration-related reactions, immediately and permanently discontinue DARZALEX FASPRO®. Consider administering corticosteroids and other medications after the administration of DARZALEX FASPRO® depending on dosing regimen and medical history to minimize the risk of delayed (defined as occurring the day after administration) systemic administration-related reactions.
Ocular adverse reactions, including acute myopia and narrowing of the anterior chamber angle due to ciliochoroidal effusions with potential for increased intraocular pressure or glaucoma, have occurred with daratumumab-containing products. If ocular symptoms occur, interrupt DARZALEX FASPRO® and seek immediate ophthalmologic evaluation prior to restarting DARZALEX FASPRO®.
Local Reactions
In this pooled safety population, injection-site reactions occurred in 8% of patients, including Grade 2 reactions in 0.7%. The most frequent (>1%) injection-site reaction was injection-site erythema. These local reactions occurred a median of 5 minutes (range: 0 minutes to 6.5 days) after starting administration of DARZALEX FASPRO®. Monitor for local reactions and consider symptomatic management.
Cardiac Toxicity in Patients With AL Amyloidosis
Serious or fatal cardiac adverse reactions occurred in patients with AL amyloidosis who received DARZALEX FASPRO® in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone. Serious cardiac disorders occurred in 16% of patients, and fatal cardiac disorders occurred in 10% of patients. Patients with NYHA Class IIIA or Mayo Stage IIIA disease may be at greater risk. Patients with NYHA Class IIIB or IV disease were not studied. Monitor patients with cardiac involvement of AL amyloidosis more frequently for cardiac adverse reactions and administer supportive care as appropriate.
Neutropenia
Daratumumab may increase neutropenia induced by background therapy. Monitor complete blood cell counts periodically during treatment according to manufacturer's prescribing information for background therapies. Monitor patients with neutropenia for signs of infection. Consider withholding DARZALEX FASPRO® until recovery of neutrophils. In lower body weight patients receiving DARZALEX FASPRO®, higher rates of Grade 3-4 neutropenia were observed.
Thrombocytopenia
Daratumumab may increase thrombocytopenia induced by background therapy. Monitor complete blood cell counts periodically during treatment according to manufacturer's prescribing information for background therapies. Consider withholding DARZALEX FASPRO® until recovery of platelets.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
Based on the mechanism of action, DARZALEX FASPRO® can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. DARZALEX FASPRO® may cause depletion of fetal immune cells and decreased bone density. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females with reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with DARZALEX FASPRO® and for 3 months after the last dose.
The combination of DARZALEX FASPRO® with lenalidomide, thalidomide, or pomalidomide is contraindicated in pregnant women because lenalidomide, thalidomide, and pomalidomide may cause birth defects and death of the unborn child. Refer to the lenalidomide, thalidomide, or pomalidomide prescribing information on use during pregnancy.
Interference With Serological Testing
Daratumumab binds to CD38 on red blood cells (RBCs) and results in a positive indirect antiglobulin test (indirect Coombs test). Daratumumab-mediated positive indirect antiglobulin test may persist for up to 6 months after the last daratumumab administration. Daratumumab bound to RBCs masks detection of antibodies to minor antigens in the patient's serum. The determination of a patient's ABO and Rh blood type are not impacted.
Notify blood transfusion centers of this interference with serological testing and inform blood banks that a patient has received DARZALEX FASPRO®. Type and screen patients prior to starting DARZALEX FASPRO®.
Interference With Determination of Complete Response
Daratumumab is a human immunoglobulin G (IgG) kappa monoclonal antibody that can be detected on both the serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and immunofixation (IFE) assays used for the clinical monitoring of endogenous M-protein. This interference can impact the determination of complete response and of disease progression in some DARZALEX FASPRO®-treated patients with IgG kappa myeloma protein.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
In multiple myeloma, the most common adverse reaction (≥20%) with DARZALEX FASPRO® monotherapy is upper respiratory tract infection. The most common adverse reactions with combination therapy (≥20% for any combination) include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, dyspnea, insomnia, headache, pyrexia, cough, muscle spasms, back pain, vomiting, hypertension, upper respiratory tract infection, peripheral sensory neuropathy, constipation, pneumonia, and peripheral edema.
The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients with AL amyloidosis are upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, peripheral edema, constipation, fatigue, peripheral sensory neuropathy, nausea, insomnia, dyspnea, and cough.
The most common hematology laboratory abnormalities (≥40%) with DARZALEX FASPRO® are decreased leukocytes, decreased lymphocytes, decreased neutrophils, decreased platelets, and decreased hemoglobin.
About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that affects some white blood cells called plasma cells, which are found in the bone marrow.10 When damaged, these plasma cells rapidly spread and replace normal cells in the bone marrow with tumors. In 2020, an estimated 176,000 people worldwide were diagnosed with multiple myeloma.11 In 2022, it is estimated that more than 34,000 people will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and more than 12,000 people will die from the disease in the U.S.12 While some people diagnosed with multiple myeloma initially have no symptoms, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms that can include bone fracture or pain, low red blood cell counts, tiredness, high calcium levels, kidney problems or infections.13
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular, Metabolism, & Retina; Immunology; Infectious Diseases & Vaccines; Neuroscience; Oncology; and Pulmonary Hypertension.
Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at @JanssenGlobal. Janssen Research & Development, LLC is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
†Dr. Paula Rodríguez-Otero has served as a paid consultant to Janssen; she has not been paid for any media work.
*Kyprolis is a registered trademark of Amgen Inc.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of teclistamab and DARZALEX FASPRO®. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Research & Development, LLC or any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson & Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.
1 Rodriguez-Otero, P. Teclistamab in Combination with Daratumumab, a Novel, Immunotherapy-Based Approach for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Updated Phase 1b Results. European Hematology Association 2022 Annual Congress. June 2022.
2 A Study of Teclistamab in Combination With Daratumumab Subcutaneously (SC) (Tec-Dara) Versus Daratumumab SC, Pomalidomide, and Dexamethasone (DPd) or Daratumumab SC, Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone (DVd) in Participants With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (MajesTEC-3). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05083169. Accessed June 2022.
3 Labrijn AF et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2013;110:5145.
4 Frerichs KA et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2020; doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-2299.
5 Cancer Research Institute. "Adoptive Cell Therapy: TIL, TCR, CAR T, AND NK CELL THERAPIES." Available at: https://www.cancerresearch.org/immunotherapy/treatment-types/adoptive-cell-therapy.
6 Cho SF et al. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018; 9: 1821.
7 Benonisson H et al. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. 2019 (18) (2) 312-322.
8 European Medicines Agency. PRIME Factsheet. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/research-development/prime-priority-medicines. Accessed December 2021.
9 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions." Available at:
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM358301.pdf. Accessed June 2022.
10 Rajkumar SV. Multiple myeloma: 2020 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification and management. Am J Hematol.2020;95(5):548-5672020;95(5):548-567. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32212178
11 Cancer.Net. "Multiple Myeloma: Statistics." Available at:https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/multiple-myeloma/statistics#:~:text=Worldwide%2C%20an%20estimated%20176%2C404%20people,worldwide%20died%20from%20multiple%20myeloma. Accessed June 3, 2022.
12 American Cancer Society. "Key Statistics About Multiple Myeloma." Available at:https://cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org/?_ga=2.84250769.967379196.1642100198-1705811479.1642100198#!/. Accessed June 2022.
13 American Cancer Society. "What Is Multiple Myeloma?" Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma/about/what-is-multiple-myeloma.html. Accessed June 2022.
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SOURCE The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/janssen-presents-updated-data-eha-teclistamab-patients-with-relapsed-or-refractory-multiple-myeloma/ | 2022-06-10 12:42:08 | 0 | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/janssen-presents-updated-data-eha-teclistamab-patients-with-relapsed-or-refractory-multiple-myeloma/ |
Mara Garcia
Chief Financial Officer
Phonexa
Mara Garcia is the chief financial officer of Phonexa, the all-in-one marketing solution for calls, leads, clicks, email, SMS, accounting and more. As Phonexa continues to reach new heights and achievements, it is versatile leaders like Garcia who are paving the way. As CFO, she is in charge of spearheading Phonexa’s financial growth and future expansion while leading the company’s tax, accounting and finance teams. Garcia has a background in public accounting, auditing and consulting, and has the ability to translate complex issues into something anybody can understand, which helps with business decision making. | https://www.latimes.com/b2b/inspirationalwomen/mara-garcia | 2022-11-18 18:52:44 | 0 | https://www.latimes.com/b2b/inspirationalwomen/mara-garcia |
Which Korean sheet mask is best?
Korean-style sheet masks initially saw their popularity boom in the U.S. with the K-beauty boom, and they easily took hold due to their quality and ease of use. Though many Western brands have since hopped into the sheet mask game, Korean brands still manufacture some of the best.
A top Korean sheet mask is the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Facial Barrier Mask, a clinically tested, high-quality mask that uses ingredients including 5-cera complex and peptides to help achieve smooth, soft skin.
What to know before you buy a Korean sheet mask
Sheet masks
Sheet masks are serum-soaked pieces of cloth or paper with holes punched in them for the eyes, nose and mouth. They come in all varieties and stand out for their convenience. There’s no messy washing when it comes to sheet masks, and the masks can be disposed of when they’re finished.
Origination
Quality sheet masks are made by Korean and Korean-American brands and originated in South Korea and Japan. In recent years, sheet masks have been trending in America, especially among beauty lovers who like to try new products that are made to improve the skin.
Serums and bulk masks
Many masks are available to be purchased in bulk, particularly those that come in a variety of styles or with different active ingredients. Many, particularly those from well-known brands, are also available to be purchased as full-sized serums.
What to look for in a quality Korean sheet mask
Material
Korean sheet masks are typically made of either paper, fabric or gel. It’s usually a thin, soft and absorbent material that retains moisture long enough once it’s on the face to do its job. Most of these are biodegradable materials, which are often cellulose-based. Gel-style sheet masks are similar, though rather than being a piece of material soaked in serum, gel masks are made of the serum. These are often drier in texture, but they still get the job done.
Skin
Many sheet masks are aimed directly at dry skin, as the format lends itself to hydration. Serums are highly effective at treating dry skin and the fact that they’re not meant to be washed off means they have plenty of time to absorb. Sheet masks are available for all concerns and skin types, though.
Usage
Another benefit of sheet masks is ease-of-use. All you have to do is remove the mask from the packaging, unfold it and spread it over your face. While the time of use varies by product, 15-20 minutes is standard. After the required amount of time, you can remove the mask and toss it in the trash. While you can blot excess moisture from the face, most masks don’t require additional cleansing after use.
How much you can expect to spend on a Korean sheet mask
Due to the huge number of sheet masks out there, the price can vary immensely, from as low as 50 cents per mask for lower-end or bulk masks to as high as $25 or more per mask for extremely high-end masks with rare ingredients.
Korean sheet mask FAQ
Where can you purchase Korean sheet masks?
A. Mainstream beauty chains, including Ulta Beauty and Sephora, carry a large selection of K-beauty products. If you’re looking for a specific brand or product, some can only be found at specialty Asian beauty stores or from online-only retailers such as Amazon. Be wary when purchasing beauty products from Amazon as they’re not always carefully vetted and fakes abound. The safest option is to buy from a specialty beauty store or from the list of products vetted by BestReviews.
How can you find the ingredients of a mask?
A. It can be difficult to discern the exact ingredients of masks, especially when they’re purchased in bulk or the packaging is in a language you can’t read. Most masks have the ingredients listed on the label. If they aren’t, or if they’re difficult to read, the ingredients in a given mask can usually be found online. Doing research online before purchasing a mask can be useful for understanding the specific ingredients in each mask.
Are Korean sheet masks eco-friendly?
A. Sheet masks are a disposable product, so they’re not as eco-friendly as other types of face masks. Many sheet masks are made of biodegradable ingredients such as paper, fabric or gel, but the packaging almost never is. Because the masks are soaked in a serum, they must remain moist and are usually packaged in foil or plastic.
What’s the best Korean sheet mask to buy?
Top Korean sheet mask
Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Facial Barrier Mask
What you need to know: Dr. Jart+ is known for its quality ingredients, and this highly moisturizing, healing mask is no exception. It uses peptides and ectoin for an ultrahydrating experience.
What you’ll love: In clinical studies, 100% of users reported a decrease in skin dryness after two weeks of use. It’s free of many common skin-damaging ingredients, and the mask is biodegradable.
What you should consider: Some consumers didn’t see the dramatic results they were expecting.
Where to buy: Sold by Sephora and Amazon
Top Korean sheet mask for the money
Entel Premium Korean Essence Sheet Masks
What you need to know: You’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal than this bulk set of 100 masks in 10 varieties.
What you’ll love: Reviewers love how the masks fit and the number of options available, from aloe to black pearl to pine mushroom.
What you should consider: Some varieties may not work for all skin types, and the labeling on the packages is predominantly in Korean.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Celavi Essense Facial Sheet Mask, 12-Pack
What you need to know: Consider this pack of sheet masks if you like the idea of options to suit a wide range of skin care needs.
What you’ll love: This pack of 12 includes a variety of masks for different uses, including refreshing, detoxifying and skin brightening. They are infused with skin-pampering ingredients such as aloe vera, charcoal, honey, seaweed and more. The cruelty-free masks are also free of sulfates, parabens and oil.
What you should consider: These masks are somewhat messy to apply, as they are very wet.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Arabella Matthews writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/skin-treatments-br/best-korean-sheet-mask/ | 2023-02-17 01:43:57 | 1 | https://www.texomashomepage.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/skin-treatments-br/best-korean-sheet-mask/ |
(NEXSTAR) – La Nina, the potent weather event linked to more drought and wildfires in the western United States and more Atlantic hurricanes, doesn’t appear to be leaving us any time soon.
In fact, there is now an increasingly likely chance that the current La Nina pattern could stick around for a third fall and winter season – a rare “triple dip” phenomenon that’s only happened twice since 1950, according to Emily Becker, a climate prediction expert and author of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) ENSO blog.
In a June 9 update, Becker says the models now show a 59% chance of La Nina by early winter.
La Nina is a natural and cyclical cooling of parts of the equatorial Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide, as opposed to El Nino’s warming. Often leading to more Atlantic hurricanes, less rain and more wildfires in the West and agricultural losses in the middle of the country, studies have shown La Nina is more expensive to the United States than the El Nino. Together El Nino, La Nina and the neutral condition are called ENSO, which stands for El Nino Southern Oscillation, and they have one of the largest natural effects on climate, at times augmenting and other times dampening the big effects of human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas, scientists said.
“They really have a very, very strong” effect, research scientist Azhar Ehsan, who heads Columbia University’s El Nino/La Nina forecasting, told the Associated Press in late May. “So a third consecutive La Nina is not at all a welcome thing.”
He said the dangerous spring heat in India and Pakistan was connected to La Nina.
The current La Nina formed in the late summer of 2020 when the Atlantic set a record for the number of named storms. It strengthened in the winter when the West’s drought worsened and in the early summer of 2021 it weakened enough that NOAA said conditions were neutral. But that pause only lasted a few months and by early fall 2021 La Nina was back, making it a double dip.
Normally second years of La Nina tend to be weaker, but in April this La Nina surprised meteorologists by setting a record for intensity in April, which is based on sea surface temperatures, Ehsan said.
Becker wrote that, instead of subsiding during the spring, May of 2022 was the “second-strongest La Nina month on record” with the easily the coolest water temperatures on record since 1950 when it comes to two-year La Nina events.
How might this affect me?
Should La Nina stick around for a third winter season it would mean a higher chance of prolonged drought in the western half of the country, as well as a greater number – and more powerful – storms during hurricane season.
NOAA models show a 60% chance that the Atlantic hurricane season will be above average, with the opposite effect in the Eastern Pacific, where storms will be less likely.
Becker explains that La Nina lessens “shear,” the change between lower and higher level winds which can tear apart a hurricane. Less shear allows hurricanes to grow stronger more easily.
For people living in areas prone to hurricanes, NOAA has created a preparation guide.
In the West and the Plains, a lack of rainfall from La Nina could drive up wildfire risk and worsen water deficits in states that are already under historic drought conditions.
For states that rely on the fall and winter to replenish the snow pack and reservoirs, a lack of rainfall this winter caused by La Nina could be devastating.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/rare-triple-dip-la-nina-appears-more-likely-what-that-could-mean-for-you/ | 2022-06-18 15:36:58 | 1 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/national-news/rare-triple-dip-la-nina-appears-more-likely-what-that-could-mean-for-you/ |
TUCSON, Arizona — It's a Saturday at Udall Park, and the pickleball is about to get intense.
"Watching kids get competitive is hilarious," said Tyler Roop, a junior at Salpointe High School.
By kids, Roop means those under the age of nineteen years old, which is the age limit of the tournament he's organized.
"There are some superstars coming out," said Roop. "It's not just old people anymore."
Pickleball might getting older, but it's competitors aren't. At this event, Tanque Verde High School student Payson Lee came out victorious. As for Roop, he doesn't just organize pickleball tournaments, he plays in them, and is even sponsored.
"I want to fill courts," said Roop. "I want kids coming out and playing, and not doing bad stuff. Everybody is happy. People walk out with medals. It's a good time." | https://www.kgun9.com/sports/local-sports/local-competitive-pickleball-player-hosts-tournaments-to-grow-the-sport | 2023-04-05 07:03:27 | 0 | https://www.kgun9.com/sports/local-sports/local-competitive-pickleball-player-hosts-tournaments-to-grow-the-sport |
ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:
We're going to hear more now about the group behind the deadly attack on a shopping mall in Kenya this weekend. The militant group al-Shabab emerged as a dangerous terrorist organization seven years ago in Somalia. But it has suffered major setbacks there in the past few years. And now, with a single devastating attack across the border in Nairobi, the group is trying to demonstrate that it's still relevant. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports.
CARRIE JOHNSON, BYLINE: Leaders of al-Shabab have been signaling for a while that their ambitions extended beyond Somali borders. The group's been targeting countries that sent troops into Somalia to support the government there. In 2010, al-Shabab attacked crowds in Uganda watching the World Cup. And it's objected for years to Kenyan boots on the ground in Somalia. Now with a deadly attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, al-Shabab's militant factions again seized the stage.
ALI SOUFAN: Now what we see is the radical faction or the violent jihadi faction that's affiliated itself in al-Qaida, we see it on the rise.
JOHNSON: Ali Soufan is a former FBI special agent who now runs a security consulting group. Soufan points out that al-Shabab pledged allegiance to al-Qaida last year. And, like that group, it aims to inflict physical as well as psychological damage.
SOUFAN: The moment they attacked the three entrances of the mall and they started to shoot people, they were attacking also Twitter and launching messages about their operations.
JOHNSON: Soufan says those Twitter messages, combined with footage of the smoldering mall and the terrified people running from the building, give al-Shabab a couple of advantages. First, it means the group can use the attack to raise money from supporters in and outside Somalia. And, second, it could give al-Shabab a fresh boost to recruit foreign fighters to join its cause.
The FBI says dozens of U.S. citizens of Somali descent have already joined the fray over the past six years, so have people from other Western nations. But the White House says it has no confirmation Americans took part in the Nairobi rampage.
Juan Zarate, a deputy national security adviser under President George W. Bush, says that's been a persistent concern.
JUAN ZARATE: For a long time, U.S. officials have been worried along with British officials and others that Westerners were being drawn to the allure of the fight in Somalia, were being recruited and trained by al-Shabab and had the potential to launch outward outside of Somalia.
JOHNSON: Just as al-Qaida affiliates learned from a methodical siege on hotels and other public places in Mumbai back in 2008, Zarate says other radical groups will take lessons from Nairobi.
ZARATE: And we're just going to have to deal with the realities that it's al-Qaida's tentacles in places like Somalia, North Africa, Yemen that are starting to present the greatest regional and perhaps homeland threats to United States.
JOHNSON: Now the challenge once again is what to do about it. John Campbell, a 30-year veteran at the Foreign Service who now studies Africa policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, says the Western approach to that problem is complicated.
JOHN CAMPBELL: The point is that the ability of outsiders to actually impact on what goes on in Africa is extremely limited. It's mostly at the margins, and it's going to vary considerably from one place to another.
JOHNSON: For instance, foreign aid and military support to governments plagued by corruption could backfire, Campbell says, and turn popular support toward the militants.
Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.wqcs.org/2013-09-23/al-shabab-once-thought-weakened-is-still-a-threat | 2023-04-04 01:18:33 | 1 | https://www.wqcs.org/2013-09-23/al-shabab-once-thought-weakened-is-still-a-threat |
FOX has renewed 'The Simpsons' through 2025 Published January 27, 2023 at 7:27 AM EST Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 0:29 The show debuted in 1989, and there have been 36 seasons and 1,800 episodes. This season, stars such as Billie Eillish and Natasha Lyonne made guest appearances. Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.wbaa.org/2023-01-27/fox-has-renewed-the-simpsons-through-2025 | 2023-01-27 13:40:52 | 1 | https://www.wbaa.org/2023-01-27/fox-has-renewed-the-simpsons-through-2025 |
MIAMI (AP) — John Buggs III scored 18 points and Japhet Medor secured the victory with a free throw with 17 seconds left as UTSA defeated Florida International 95-91 on Saturday night.
Buggs shot 6 for 14, including 4 for 9 from beyond the arc for the Roadrunners (9-21, 3-16 Conference USA). Jacob Germany scored 16 points while shooting 5 of 11 from the field and 6 for 6 from the line, and added 18 rebounds. Isaiah Addo-Ankrah shot 4 for 5 (3 for 4 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free throw line to finish with 15 points.
John Williams Jr. led the Panthers (13-16, 7-11) in scoring, finishing with 18 points. Petar Krivokapic added 17 points and two steals for Florida International. In addition, Jayden Brewer had 15 points.
Christian Tucker scored 11 points in the first half and UTSA went into the break trailing 56-42. Medor scored 11 points in the second half for UTSA, including their game-winning shot in the final minute.
NEXT UP
Both teams next play Thursday. UTSA hosts Charlotte and Florida International visits Louisiana Tech.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/article/buggs-and-utsa-take-down-florida-international-17806280.php | 2023-02-26 03:08:03 | 0 | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sports/article/buggs-and-utsa-take-down-florida-international-17806280.php |
WAYNE, Pa. (AP) — WAYNE, Pa. (AP) — Trinseo PLC (TSE) on Wednesday reported a loss of $365.3 million in its fourth quarter.
On a per-share basis, the Wayne, Pennsylvania-based company said it had a loss of $10.44. Losses, adjusted for non-recurring costs and to account for discontinued operations, came to $1.72 per share.
The results did not meet Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of $1.61 per share.
The plastics and latex maker posted revenue of $975.2 million in the period.
For the year, the company reported a loss of $430.9 million, or $11.99 per share. Revenue was reported as $4.97 billion.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on TSE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/TSE | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/trinseo-q4-earnings-snapshot-17772637.php | 2023-02-08 23:07:28 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/trinseo-q4-earnings-snapshot-17772637.php |
Officials: 16-year-old who collapsed after flag football game died of natural causes
LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) - A 16-year-old who died after a flag football game in Las Vegas died from natural causes, according to officials.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office said Ashari Hughes died from an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from left coronary sinus of valsalva. Her manner of death was described as natural.
On Jan. 5, Hughes was playing flag football for Desert Oasis High School when she collapsed and was taken to a hospital.
Hughes died shortly after.
The 16-year-old’s parents said she was having heart problems, but hadn’t received an official diagnosis before her death.
The National Library of Medicine describes Hughes’ cause of death as a “rare congenital abnormality” that represents less than 3% of coronary anomalies.
According to KVVU, a journal published in 2016 said patients with the abnormality can have symptoms which include myocardial ischemia, a condition also known as reduced blood flow, arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac death (SCD).
The journal said the condition can be diagnosed with an angiography and surgery is typically recommended to treat the condition.
Two vigils are planned in honor of Hughes.
Copyright 2023 KVVU via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/01/10/officials-16-year-old-who-collapsed-after-flag-football-game-died-natural-causes/ | 2023-01-10 20:41:56 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/01/10/officials-16-year-old-who-collapsed-after-flag-football-game-died-natural-causes/ |
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said it has submitted to state prosecutors the findings of its voter fraud probe into Mark Meadows, a former White House chief of staff to President Donald Trump, who was simultaneously registered to vote in North Carolina and two other states earlier this year.
The State Bureau of Investigation announced Tuesday that it has turned over the case file detailing its investigation into Meadows’ North Carolina voter registration and listed residence to Attorney General Josh Stein’s office. Prosecutors with the attorney general’s office will determine whether criminal charges are appropriate, the bureau said in a statement.
Meadows, a former Republican North Carolina congressman, was removed from the state's voter rolls in April after Stein’s office asked the bureau to examine his voter registration records. He had listed a mobile home Scaly Mountain, North Carolina, that he never owned as his physical address weeks before casting an absentee by-mail ballot in the state for the 2020 presidential election. Trump won the Southern swing state that year by just over 1 percentage point.
A representative for Meadows did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Public records indicate Meadows registered to vote in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2021, a year after he registered in North Carolina and just weeks before Virginia’s pivotal gubernatorial election in which Gov. Glenn Youngkin became the first Republican to win statewide office in a dozen years.
An outspoken proponent of Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, Meadows also registered to vote in South Carolina in March 2022 after he and his wife purchased a $1.6 million home on Lake Keowee, according to records for the address listed on their South Carolina voter registration forms.
The Trump ally began arousing public suspicion of widespread voter fraud leading up to the 2020 general election as the polls showed Trump trailing President Joe Biden. He repeated those unfounded claims throughout the election cycle and in the aftermath of the race as Trump insisted the election was rife with fraud.
Election officials from both parties, as well as judges and Trump’s own attorney general, concluded there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, noting only a few isolated incidents of intentional or unintentional voting violations common in every election.
Stein’s office, which received the final case file from state investigators in November, declined to comment on its progress.
___
Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/n-carolina-ag-to-weigh-charges-in-meadows-voter-fraud-case/2022/12/13/db494c58-7b1c-11ed-bb97-f47d47466b9a_story.html | 2022-12-13 20:59:09 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/n-carolina-ag-to-weigh-charges-in-meadows-voter-fraud-case/2022/12/13/db494c58-7b1c-11ed-bb97-f47d47466b9a_story.html |
Christian Appalachian Project announces 2022 Champions of Appalachia
(WYMT) - The Christian Appalachian Project has announced its Champions of Appalachia award recipients for 2022.
The foundation named Big Sandy Community and Technical College’s Thomas Vierheller, Ph.D., as well as Southland Christian Church as this year’s recipients.
The Champions of Appalachia award recognizes people and organizations that have a long-term positive impact on the lives of people in the region.
“We are proud to honor this year’s Champions of Appalachia and highlight their dedication in serving the region,” said CAP President and CEO Guy Adams. “Their tireless efforts have shown the impact that can be made when we have the opportunity to come together for one cause, and that is transforming the lives of people in Appalachia.”
Vierheller has taught biology at BSCTC for more than 30 years and was involved in the establishment of the East Kentucky Science Center. He was also instrumental in establishing an educational walking trail and a community garden in the area.
“I want to emphasize that whether it is the garden, the outreach programs, the science center, even my role teaching biology at the college and beyond, all of them have been made possible by partnerships,” Vierheller said. “While I am being recognized with this award, these efforts were about different groups coming together for the same purpose.”
Southland Christian Church has had volunteers provide more than 7,000 hours of service in the CAP’s programs since April 2021, especially during the spring 2021 and summer 2022 floods.
“We are appreciative of this award, but we are more appreciative for Christian Appalachian Project,” said Mark Perraut, missions pastor for the church. “We are grateful for all they do and the opportunities that they’ve given us to come alongside and help.”
The award is underwritten by NetGain Technologies, LLC.
Copyright 2022 WYMT. All rights reserved. | https://www.wymt.com/2022/10/14/christian-appalachian-project-announces-2022-champions-appalachia/ | 2022-10-14 01:32:48 | 0 | https://www.wymt.com/2022/10/14/christian-appalachian-project-announces-2022-champions-appalachia/ |
HOUSTON, May 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stellus Capital Investment Corporation (NYSE: SCM) ("Stellus" or "the Company") today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2022.
Robert T. Ladd, Chief Executive Officer of Stellus, stated, "I am pleased to report solid results in the first quarter in which we grew our investment portfolio, maintained net asset value, covered the dividend, and generated $3.4 million of realized gains. In particular, core and GAAP net investment income covered our first quarter regular dividend of $0.28 per share. In April, in addition to our regular dividend of $0.28 per quarter in the aggregate, our Board of Directors declared an additional aggregate dividend of $0.06 for the second quarter. These dividends total $0.34 per share in the aggregate for the second quarter and are payable in increments of $0.1133 for each of May, June and July. Our portfolio at fair value increased by $65 million, ending the quarter at $838 million."
Results of Operations
Investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 totaled $15.5 million and $14.0 million, respectively, most of which was interest income from portfolio investments.
Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, totaled $10.0 million and $8.9 million, respectively. For the same respective periods, base management fees totaled $3.5 million and $3.0 million, there were no income incentive fees for both periods, capital gains incentive fees (reversal) totaled ($0.0) million and $0.1 million, fees and expenses related to our borrowings totaled $4.9 million and $4.3 million (including interest and amortization of deferred financing costs), administrative expenses totaled $0.5 million for both periods, income tax totaled $0.3 million and $0.2 million and other expenses totaled $0.8 million for both periods.
Net investment income was $5.5 million and $5.1 million, or $0.28 and $0.26 per common share based on weighted average common shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 of 19,517,761 and 19,486,003, respectively.
The capital gains incentive fee reversal of ($0.0) million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was accrued for GAAP purposes due to the decrease in net realized and unrealized gains over the quarter. Such fees, as calculated and accrued, would not necessarily be payable under the investment advisory agreement, and may never be paid based upon the computation of incentive fees in subsequent periods. The income tax expense accrual of $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was accrued based on estimates of undistributed taxable income, which was generated largely from capital gains. Core net investment income, which is a non-U.S GAAP measure that excludes these accruals, for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $5.8 million, or $0.29 per share; and for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $5.4 million, or $0.28 per share.
The Company's investment portfolio had a net change in unrealized (depreciation) appreciation for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, of ($3.7) million and $0.1 million, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had realized gains of $3.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations totaled $5.2 million and $4.9 million, or $0.27 and $0.25 per common share, based on weighted average common shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 of 19,517,761 and 19,486,003, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2022, our amended and restated senior secured revolving credit agreement with certain bank lenders and Zions Bancorporation, N.A. dba Amegy Bank, as administrative agent (as amended from time to time, the "Credit Facility") provided for borrowings in an aggregate amount of up to $250.0 million on a committed basis. As of March 31, 2022 and 2021, our credit facility had an accordion feature which allowed for potential future expansion of the facility size to $280.0 million. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had $205.5 million and $177.3 million in outstanding borrowings under the credit facility, respectively.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, our operating activities used cash of $62.9 million primarily in connection with purchases and origination of portfolio investments, which was slightly offset by repayments of our investments. For the same period, our financing activities provided cash of $43.4 million, primarily from proceeds from SBA-guaranteed debentures and net borrowings on our Credit Facility.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, our operating activities used cash of $57.1 million, primarily in connection with the purchase and origination of new portfolio investments, which was slightly offset by repayments of our investments. For the same period, our financing activities provided cash of $69.0 million, due to the issuance of our 4.875% fixed-rate notes due 2026 offset by the repayment of our 5.75% fixed-rate notes due 2022 and net repayments on our Credit Facility.
Distributions
During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, we declared aggregate distributions of $0.28 per share and $0.25 per share ($5.5 million and $4.9 million, respectively) for each quarter. Tax characteristics of all distributions will be reported to stockholders on Form 1099-DIV after the end of the calendar year. None of these dividends are expected to include a return of capital.
Recent Portfolio Activity
On January 5, 2022, we invested $0.1 million in the equity of Tower Arch Infolinks Media, LP, an existing portfolio company. On March 31, 2022, we invested an additional $0.1 million in the equity of the company.
On February 1, 2022, we invested $6.2 million in the first lien term loan and committed $0.1 million in the unfunded revolver of BLP Buyer, Inc., a distributor of lifting solutions. Additionally, we invested $0.8 million in the equity of the company.
On February 7, 2022, we invested $5.4 million in the first lien term loan and committed $0.1 million in the unfunded revolver and $0.1 million in the unfunded delayed draw term loan of Service Minds Company, LLC, a provider of residential electrical services.
On February 10, 2022, we invested $1.0 million in the first lien term loan of NuSource Financial, LLC, an existing portfolio company.
On February 15, 2022, we invested £10.0 million pounds sterling ($13.5 million dollars) in the first lien term loan and committed $0.1 million in the unfunded delayed draw term loan and $0.1 million in the unfunded revolver of a provider of Oracle-focused IT services. Additionally, we invested $0.8 million in the equity of the company.
On February 24, 2022, we invested $13.5 million in the first lien term loan and committed $0.1 million in the unfunded revolver of BDS Solutions Intermediateco, LLC, a leading provider of outsourced marketing services.
On March 1, 2022, we received $3.9 million in full realization on the equity of Mobile Acquisition Holdings, LP, resulting in a $3.4 million realized gain.
On March 16, 2022, we invested $9.1 million in the first lien term loan and committed $0.1 million in the unfunded revolver and $0.1 million in the unfunded delayed draw term loan of Exigo, LLC, a software platform for direct selling organizations. Additionally, we invested $0.4 million in the equity of the company.
On March 22, 2022, we invested $5.0 million in the second lien term loan of TFH Reliability, LLC, an existing portfolio company.
On March 22, 2022, we invested $12.0 million in the first lien term loan and committed $0.1 million in the unfunded revolver and $0.1 million in the unfunded delayed draw term loan of Axis Portable Air, LLC, an air conditioning, heating, and air quality equipment rental company. Additionally, we invested $0.4 million in the preferred equity of the company.
On March 31, 2022, we invested $7.5 million in the first lien term loan of Credit Connection, LLC, an existing portfolio company.
On March 31, 2022, we invested $0.1 million in the convertible term loan of Venbrook Holdings, LLC, an existing portfolio company.
Events Subsequent to March 31, 2022
On April 1, 2022, we invested $0.1 million in the first lien term loan and committed $0.1 million in the revolver of Cancos Tile & Stone LLC, a regional distributor, seller, and custom fabricator of high-end ceramic and stone tile products and accessories. Additionally, we invested $0.1 million in the equity of the company.
On April 1, 2022, we invested $0.1 million in the first lien term loan and committed $0.1 million in the revolver of Tilley Chemical Company, Inc., a distributor of specialty chemicals, oils, and lubricants into the food & beverage, lubricants, flavor and fragrances, personal care, and other chemicals end-markets.
On April 4, 2022, we invested $11.3 million in the first lien term loan and committed $0.1 million in the revolver of Microbe Formulas LLC, a provider of dietary supplements and other natural solutions for detox and gut health.
On April 7, 2022, we received $1.3 million in full realization on the equity of Energy Labs Holding Corp., resulting in a $0.7 million realized gain.
On April 15, 2022, we invested $6.6 million in the first lien term loan of Anne Lewis Strategies, LLC, an existing portfolio company.
On April 15, 2022, we invested $0.1 million in the equity of Pure TopCo, LLC, an existing portfolio company.
On April 25, 2022 we received full repayment on the first lien term loan of SQAD, LLC for total proceeds of $14.1 million. We also received $2.4 million in full realization on the equity of the company, resulting in a $2.1 million realized gain.
On April 29, 2022, we invested $10.0 million in the first lien term loan and committed $0.1 million in the revolver and $0.1 million in the delayed draw term loan of Florachem Holdings, LLC, a distiller and supplier of natural citrus, pine, and specialty inputs. Additionally, we invested $0.4 million in the equity of the company.
Credit Facility
The outstanding balance under the credit facility as of May 11, 2022 was $204.1 million.
SBA-guaranteed Debentures
The total balance of SBA-guaranteed debentures outstanding as of May 11, 2022 was $290.0 million.
ATM Program
Since March 31, 2022, the Company issued 13,416 shares under the ATM Program, for gross proceeds of $0.2 million and underwriting and other expenses of less than $0.1 million. The average per share offering price of shares issued in the ATM Program subsequent to March 31, 2022 was $14.01. The Advisor agreed to reimburse the Company for underwriting fees and expenses to the extent the issuance of shares would be dilutive in nature. As such, the Advisor reimbursed the Company less than $0.1 which resulted in net proceeds of $0.2 million, or $14.61 per share.
Distributions Declared
On April 19, 2022, our board of directors declared a regular monthly distribution for each of April 2022, May 2022 and June 2022 as follows:
On April 19, 2022, our board of directors declared a supplemental monthly distribution for each of April 2022, May 2022 and June 2022 as follows:
Conference Call Information
Stellus Capital Investment Corporation will host a conference call to discuss these results on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 10:00 AM, Central Daylight Time. The conference call will be led by Robert T. Ladd, chief executive officer, and W. Todd Huskinson, chief financial officer, chief compliance officer, treasurer, and secretary.
For those wishing to participate by telephone, please dial (888) 220-8451 (domestic). Use passcode 2120806. Starting approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call, a replay will be available through Friday, May 20, 2022 by dialing (888) 203-1112 and entering passcode 2120806. The replay will also be available on the company's website.
For those wishing to participate via Live Webcast, connect via the Public Company (SCIC) section of our website at www.stelluscapital.com, under the Events tab. A replay of the conference will be available on our website for approximately 90 days.
About Stellus Capital Investment Corporation
The Company is an externally-managed, closed-end, non-diversified investment management company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company's investment objective is to maximize the total return to its stockholders in the form of current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in private middle-market companies (typically those with $5.0 million to $50.0 million of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)) through first lien (including unitranche) loans, second lien loans and unsecured debt financing, with corresponding equity co-investments. The Company's investment activities are managed by its investment adviser, Stellus Capital Management. To learn more about Stellus Capital Investment Corporation, visit www.stelluscapital.com under the "Public (SCIC)" tab.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included herein may contain "forward-looking statements" which relate to future performance or financial condition. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including statements about COVID-19 and its impacts, may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the final prospectus that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.
Contacts
Stellus Capital Investment Corporation
W. Todd Huskinson, Chief Financial Officer
(713) 292-5414
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Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) is passing on a run for Senate in the Wolverine State, opting to remain in the House.
“After much consideration, I have decided that I can best serve Michigan and our nation as a member of the U.S. House. Because, bluntly, I love my job. I love my district. And most importantly, I love my constituents,” Dingell wrote on Twitter Tuesday.
“I have heard from so many who encouraged me to run for this open Senate seat. I am truly grateful for the support & encouragement I have received over the past few months. Knowing that I have your confidence is inspiring and truly means the world to me,” she added in a subsequent tweet.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) announced in early January that she would not seek reelection in 2024, opening up a seat in Michigan. The news was a blow to Democrats’ goal of holding onto their majority in next year’s election amid a difficult map.
Democrats have a slight 51-49 edge in the upper chamber.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) jumped into the race to succeed Stabenow in February, arguing in a tweet that there is a need for a “new generation of leaders that thinks differently, works harder, and never forgets that we are *public servants*.”
Her campaign raised $3 million in the first fundraising quarter of this year, according to The Detroit News. In just the first day of her campaign, Slotkin raked in $1 million.
Slotkin is the only Democrat in the race. Nikki Snyder, a GOP member of Michigan’s Board of Education, is also in the race.
Dingell has represented Michigan in the House since 2015. She succeeded her late husband, former Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), after he announced his retirement from Congress. Her district includes Ann Arbor.
The congresswoman launched the Heartland Caucus in January, which is focused on emphasizing the contributions from and electoral importance of the midwest. She underscored her dedication to the geographical location in an email to supporters on Tuesday.
“We all know that the road to winning back the House of Representatives and holding the White House runs through the heartland. As Chair of the Heartland Caucus, I am committed to proactively bringing representation from the heartland into discussions, committees, and solutions so we can deliver on the real, everyday problems Americans are facing,” Dingell wrote.
“I look forward to continuing my work to represent Michigan’s 6th District in the U.S. House and delivering solutions that help protect seniors, support working families, bring our supply chains home, boost manufacturing, fight for labor unions, and build back our economy even stronger than before,” she added. “We need to finally combat climate change, end the gun violence epidemic plaguing this country, and make good on the promise of Medicare for All.” | https://cw33.com/hill-politics/rep-dingell-passes-on-senate-run-in-michigan/ | 2023-04-11 22:59:45 | 1 | https://cw33.com/hill-politics/rep-dingell-passes-on-senate-run-in-michigan/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Christian Siriano lined his New York Fashion Week runway Thursday with thousands of multicolored flowers and put wide-brimmed hats worthy of muse Audrey Hepburn on some of his models to top off a big week.
First, there was the custom burgundy power suit he made Vice President Kamala Harris for Tuesday’s State of the Union. He nailed it in one trip to Washington, D.C., in one fitting.
“And we had the Grammys and fashion week,” Siriano told The Associated Press in a backstage interview. “We had no time and I was like, well, we hope it works. It’s just such an honor. We wanted to make her look really beautiful and powerful.”
Then there was his update of Alicia Silverstone’s iconic “Clueless” yellow plaid skirt set for her Rakuten Super Bowl commercial airing Sunday. He even scored a cameo as a student in Cher Horowitz’s debate class.
Siriano and Silverstone are long-time pals and she sits often on his front rows. She was away filming this time around. Lindsay Lohan, with brother Dakota and one of her sisters walking in the show, attended with Quinta Brunson and Julia Stiles.
“Growing up, literally any young fashion designer is obsessed with ‘Clueless.’ I mean, Cher is your muse. It felt really full circle,” he said of his Super Bowl moment.
Siriano had another muse on his mind for his latest collection: Hepburn. To be precise, Hepburn in a rose garden at midnight. He was inspired by a 1990s TV documentary series she did with Michael York, “Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn.”
The series had Hepburn visiting spectacular gardens in England, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the U.S. and elsewhere.
Siriano honored the series with Japanese-influenced hats in purple check and large 3D floral embellishments in looks of fuchsia, or as he described it, “orchid purple.” He incorporated roses into a swirly black-and-white print and offered up sunny yellow in solids and color blocked looks.
And there were youthful, girly little black dresses, more matronly, roomy dresses and other looks, and a standout barely there evening dress in body-hugging, delicate tulle.
Siriano took his flower mission seriously, sending out one model in one of his big hats adorned with huge blossoms, with more huge blossoms on the top of a matching fuchsia pantsuit.
Wearable? It would take courage. A beautifully cut, long tuxedo coat with pants, all in the same pinky purple hue, might be easier.
All thanks to Hepburn’s first and only television series.
“It was incredible and fabulous,” Siriano said of the show, “and just very inspiring.”
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Find Leanne Italie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/litalie
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For more coverage of fashion and the shows at New York Fashion Week, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/fashion | https://who13.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-ny-fashion-week-siriano-channels-audrey-hepburn-in-a-garden/ | 2023-02-10 22:14:14 | 0 | https://who13.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-ny-fashion-week-siriano-channels-audrey-hepburn-in-a-garden/ |
TOKYO, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantum computing experts driving quantum advantage and commercialization to meet in Japan
Building on the legacy of past Q2B events that built leadership in and broadened the vision of the quantum community, QunaSys, a global leader in the development of innovative quantum algorithms in chemistry, will co-host the first-ever Q2B22 Tokyo Practical Quantum Computing with QC Ware, a leading quantum software and services company.
The event, held exclusively in-person at the Westin Tokyo July 13-14, will offer participants a chance to gain actionable intelligence from experts, review presentations, forecasts, news and product announcements, engage with thought leaders and explore partnerships with industry, government and academia. Participants will also be able to analyze business opportunities, build skills and assess real-world challenges in the quantum space.
Q2B22 Tokyo is positioned to attract top academics, industry end users, government representatives and quantum computing vendors from around the world.
Keita Kanno, research manager at QunaSys, will present on ecosystem creation and collaboration to jointly advance research in quantum computing and share the results of QPARC Japan's largest consortium for use case applicability in chemistry.
Yūya Nakagawa, lead research scientist at QunaSys, will present on algorithm developments for quantum chemistry calculations of molecules and materials using near-term quantum devices and early fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Kosuke Mitarai, assistant professor at Osaka University-Graduate School of Engineering Science and CSO and co-founder of QunaSys, together with Tennin Yan will also present during the conference.
Matt Johnson, CEO of QC Ware is scheduled to speak on day one of the conference and Tennin Yan, CEO of QunaSys will give the remarks for the opening of day two.
Other luminaries scheduled to present include Will Jasprizza, director of business development for Japan, QC Ware; Mitsunobu Koshiba, Honorary Chairman of JSR Corporation; Aparna Prabhakar, vice president of IBM; William Hurley, CEO of Strangeworks; Tim Costa, director, HPC & Quantum Computing Product, NVIDIA; Jiyoung Choi, COO Valuenex Inc.; Nir Minerbi, CEO & co-founder of Classiq, Dragana Kostic vice president and Elvira Shishenina, quantum computing lead, both of BMW Group.
Here is a complete current agenda for the event.
According to the organizers, bringing Q2B to Japan is a great opportunity because the country is a growing global leader in quantum research and quantum technology.
Click on the following links to learn more about Q2B22 Tokyo or to register.
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MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half has promoted George Denlinger to operational president, overseeing U.S. operations for technology, marketing and legal talent solutions. In this role, he will also lead the company's national technology accounts, managed technology solutions and managed creative solutions.
A 24-year veteran of Robert Half, Denlinger has held many leadership roles, including regional vice president for technology and creative talent solutions, district president for the legal practice group and, most recently, operational president for professional talent solutions in the Central United States.
"With the demand for specialized talent on the rise, we will continue to find innovative solutions to meet the needs of our customers in the technology, marketing and legal space," said Paul F. Gentzkow, president and CEO of talent solutions at Robert Half. "George has the knowledge, tenure and passion we need to lead this critical business unit and take it to new heights."
In addition to his work at Robert Half, Denlinger is involved in several nonprofit organizations, including Food Bank of the Rockies, Ronald McDonald House, Project Angel Heart and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. A champion for diversity, equity and inclusion, Denlinger is also an executive sponsor of Robert Half's Somos Familia Employee Network Group and leads the company's partnership with ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America).
About Robert Half
Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm that connects people with meaningful work and provides clients with the talent and subject matter expertise they need to confidently compete and grow. Visit roberthalf.com and download the company's award-winning mobile app.
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FRISCO, Texas — FC Dallas announced Tuesday that the club was exercising a permanent transfer on goalkeeper Maarten Paes, who was on a short-term loan from Eredivisie’s FC Utrecht.
Paes has started in 14 MLS matches this season for FC Dallas, logging 28 saves and a 6-3-5 record while in goal. He has recorded four shutouts this season and boasts a 1.00 goals against average (GAA), which ranks third in the league among starting goalkeepers.
FC Dallas is ranked fourth in the Western Conference standings with 26 points. The club is 4-3-3 in their last 10 matches, including a 2-2 draw in their latest match in Austin.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper has also been called up to the Netherlands youth national teams. Paes was a member of the Netherlands U-19 national teams that participated in the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship but did not make any appearances. He last appeared in a UEFA European U-21 Championship Qualifier against Belarus U-21 on Nov. 15, 2020.
With the move, Paes stays on FC Dallas and his contract runs through December 2025 with club options for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/soccer/fc-dallas-maarten-paes-permanent-transfer/287-4dd17a1e-67a5-4f65-a82c-15e444550f64 | 2022-06-28 17:40:18 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/soccer/fc-dallas-maarten-paes-permanent-transfer/287-4dd17a1e-67a5-4f65-a82c-15e444550f64 |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The lengthy process of putting the retired space shuttle Endeavour on display in the vertical launch position will begin this month in Los Angeles.
The California Science Center announced Thursday that the six-month process will get underway July 20 at the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center currently under construction in Exposition Park.
The initial step, dubbed “Go for Stack,” will be installation of the bottom portion of the solid rocket boosters known as aft skirts upon which will be stacked the booster segments, the external tank and then Endeavour.
The 20-story tall display will show the shuttle as it would appear waiting on a launch pad.
Endeavour was built as a replacement for the destroyed shuttle Challenger and flew 25 missions between 1992 and 2011.
When NASA’s shuttles were retired, Endeavour was flown to California atop NASA’s special Boeing 747 shuttle carrier in 2012, drawing crowds as it flew over locations in the state associated with the space program.
After landing at Los Angeles International Airport, the shuttle was placed on a special trailer and then created a sensation as it was inched through tight city streets to the California Science Center over several days.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Air and Space Center was held last year on the 11th anniversary of Endeavour’s final return from space.
The center said in a statement that stacking the components of the shuttle system is a complex process that has never been undertaken outside a NASA facility.
Dec. 31 will be the last chance to see Endeavour as it has been displayed horizontally in the landing position for years since arrival at the center.
The shuttle will be moved across Exposition Park and lifted by a crane to be intricately mated to the external tank. Construction of the Air and Space Center will be completed around the full shuttle stack.
The center’s foundation has raised $320 million of the $400 million goal for the project.
Exposition Park is between the University of Southern California and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. | https://wgntv.com/science/ap-science/ap-california-science-center-to-start-complex-process-to-display-space-shuttle-endeavour-vertically/ | 2023-07-07 12:49:46 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/science/ap-science/ap-california-science-center-to-start-complex-process-to-display-space-shuttle-endeavour-vertically/ |
11-year-old boy faces stolen vehicle charges, Peoria police say
PEORIA − An 11-year-old was arrested in connection with a stolen motor vehicle.
According to Peoria police, the vehicle was taken in the 1900 block of North Indiana Avenue at about 8:14 a.m. Tuesday.
A short time later, officers located and attempted to stop the vehicle, but it did not stop. The stolen vehicle was later found unoccupied in an alley in the 2200 block of West Marquette Street. That's about 5 miles away from where the theft was reported.
More:Elderly Peoria man carjacked at hospital parking lot less than an hour after his wife died
Officers later found the boy and took him to the police station for questioning. There, he was arrested on counts of motor vehicle theft and several other traffic-related offenses. The boy was released to the custody of his mother.
Jamarion Lee homicide:How Peoria police used cellphone records and video to charge homicide suspect suspected in other crimes | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/crime/2023/01/10/peoria-boy-stole-a-vehicle-police-say/69796523007/ | 2023-01-11 01:02:26 | 0 | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/crime/2023/01/10/peoria-boy-stole-a-vehicle-police-say/69796523007/ |
PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Griner caught a flight to Washington, D.C., to attend the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, landed back at Phoenix around 4 a.m. and was up five hours later for the start of training camp.
After going through her first workout with the Phoenix Mercury, she hopped on a plane to New York to attend the Met Gala, schmoozing with Usher, Patrick Mahomes and Dwyane Wade before returning to the desert. Griner didn’t get back until after 1 a.m. and was back on the court with the Mercury later that morning.
Whew!
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Griner said Wednesday at the Mercury’s media day. “I have a lot of respect for the stars that do that. It’s not me. I don’t how they do it. It was amazing, two big honors to be able to go and be there, but I’m taking a big nap today.”
Griner mostly kept a low profile since a nearly 10-month detainment in Russia on drug-related charges ended with a prisoner swap in December. Now that the WNBA season is just around the corner, the Mercury star has been front and center on the court and off it.
Griner’s return to the Mercury rekindles hope the franchise can make another run to the WNBA Finals. The extra exposure from being detained in Russia for having vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage has given Griner a platform to advocate for other Americans being detained abroad.
“It’s cool because now I’m able to reach even more people and bring them into the WNBA, but then also keep them aware of other people that are still left behind right now and trying to get home,” Griner said. “Just using that bigger outlet to continue to support others that don’t have the spotlight or the media coverage that they should be able to get.”
Griner has been an LGBTQ+ activist since publicly coming out in 2013 and became the first openly gay athlete to be sponsored by Nike. She made an appearance last month at a women’s empowerment luncheon held during the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network event and last week said she will use her elevated platform to continue fighting for LGBTQ+ rights during her first news conference since being released.
“That definitely is high on the list of things that I will be fighting for and speaking up against,” she said. “Everyone deserves the right to play, everyone deserves the right to come here to sit in these seats and feel safe and not feel like there’s a threat or they can’t be who they are. I think it’s a crime to separate someone for any reason.”
Following her detainment in Russia, Griner has taken an active role in trying to help bring home other Americans detained in foreign countries.
Griner announced last week she is working with Bring Our Families Home, a campaign formed in 2022 by the family members of American hostages and wrongful detainees held overseas. She said her team has been in contact with the family of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being detained in Russia on espionage charges.
“I would say to everyone that is being wrongly detained across the world: Stay strong. Keep fighting. Don’t give up. Just keep waking up,” she said. “Find a little routine and stick to that routine. Just keep pushing, because we’re not going to stop. We’re not going to stop fighting. We’re not going to stop bringing awareness to everyone that’s left behind right now.”
Griner took small steps after her release, reacclimating herself to life at home while rebuilding her body so it will be ready to play basketball again.
The activity has ramped up on and off the court as the season has drawn nearer, but little else has changed about Griner.
She still is one of the best basketball players in the world, still an active advocate for those who need it, still an ebullient force to those who enter her orbit.
“She looks the same and even when she got back, the first time I saw her it was like, it’s still BG,” Mercury forward Sophie Cunningham said. “I’m like, why do you still have this vibe about you? I love it, but are you OK? But no, I am super proud of where she’s at. I’m proud of where she’s at mentally, emotionally, and physically.”
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/griner-back-to-work-on-and-off-court-after-whirlwind-trips/ | 2023-05-04 11:51:51 | 0 | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/griner-back-to-work-on-and-off-court-after-whirlwind-trips/ |
The Justice Department has begun to examine an agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabian backers of LIV Golf to determine whether it violates federal antitrust statutes, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.
The inquiry is in its early stages, and it isn’t clear yet whether the Justice Department would take any enforcement action, the person said. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the inquiry and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the Justice Department’s involvement.
“We are confident that once all stakeholders learn more about how the PGA Tour will lead this new venture, they will understand how it benefits our players, fans and sport while protecting the American institution of golf,” the PGA Tour said in a statement.
The PGA Tour, European tour and Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund came together in a partnership that was negotiated so privately over two months that none of the players were aware.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan had been critical of LIV Golf since the rival circuit began poaching some of golf’s biggest names with signing bonuses of $100 million or more, money provided by the Public Investment Fund.
The PGA Tour suspended players who defected to LIV, such as Phil Mickelson, leading to 11 players and eventually LIV to file an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour last August. The PGA Tour then filed a countersuit, and the case was not expected to go trial until at least 2024.
Part of the agreement is to drop all litigation. One motivation for the PGA Tour joining with the Saudis was the financial drain from legal fees on lawsuits that were nowhere near close to being resolved.
The Justice Department already was looking into antitrust issues since last summer.
Monahan has described the agreement announced June 6 as a “framework” with plenty of details still to be determined.
The agreement was for the PGA Tour, European tour and the PIF to pool commercial business and rights into a separate, for-profit company. The PGA Tour would continue to operate with its tax-exempt 501-c-6 status.
In a letter to various lawmakers sent last week, Monahan said he would be CEO of the new commercial entity, which he described as a subsidiary of the PGA Tour.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of PIF, would be chairman. Al-Rumayyan, Monahan and two PGA Tour board members who brokered the deal — New York attorney Ed Herlihy and investment banker Jimmy Dunne III — would form the executive committee.
“The PGA Tour will at all times hold the majority of the Board seats and be in control of this new entity, regardless of the size of PIF’s investment,” Monahan said in the letter. “The PIF will be a minority investor in the new commercial entity, while the PGA Tour will be the majority equity investor. At its core, the PIF is investing in the PGA Tour as it has invested in other U.S.-based companies.”
On Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked the Justice Department’s antitrust division to scrutinize the agreement.
“Significantly, the deal appears to have a substantial adverse impact on competition, violating several provisions of U.S. antitrust law, regardless of whether the deal is structured as a merger or some sort of joint venture,” the senators wrote.
___
Balsamo reported from Washington, Ferguson from Los Angeles.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wowktv.com/sports/justice-department-looking-into-pga-tour-deal-with-livs-saudi-backers-ap-source-says/ | 2023-06-16 19:22:36 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/sports/justice-department-looking-into-pga-tour-deal-with-livs-saudi-backers-ap-source-says/ |
National and State-by-State Data: artbahighwaydashboard.org
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Maryland leveraged $627.5 million in federal highway and bridge formula funds in FY 2022 to help jumpstart 454 new improvement projects in communities across the state during the first year of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), a review of U.S. Treasury Department data through September 30 shows.
"A key takeaway from the Treasury data is that the bipartisan infrastructure law is working in year-one as intended, with state transportation departments disbursing funds and projects breaking ground," said American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Chief Economist Dr. Alison Premo Black, who prepared the report.
"The economic and quality of life benefits of the infrastructure law will become even more apparent as funding continues in coming years," adds ARTBA Chair Paula Hammond, a WSP USA senior vice president. "The beneficiaries of these long-term investments will be the American traveling public in their communities."
President Joe Biden signed the IIJA into law Nov. 15, 2021. Nearly 90 percent of IIJA's highway funds are dispersed by existing formula to states, with the remainder distributed through discretionary grant awards and other allocated programs.
Nationally, over 29,000 IIJA projects were launched through the end of September. The five largest projects supported by formula funds in Maryland are:
- I-695 Baltimore Beltway from I-70 to Md 43 Transportation Systems Management and Operations - $39.0 million
- Statewide Plannng and Research Program for FY 2022 - $25.9 million
- Construction 4-Lane Divided Highway on MD-32 from Linden Church Road to I-70 - $12.5 million
- Central Avenue Streetscape and Harbor Point Connector Bridge - $12.0 million
- Safety and Resurface at Various Locations in Howard County - $11.0 million
To access national and state project data, visit: artbahighwaydashboard.org.
Established in 1902, the Washington, D.C.-based ARTBA advocates for infrastructure investment and policy that meet the nation's need for safe and efficient travel.
View original content:
SOURCE American Road & Transportation Builders Association | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/11/18/maryland-started-454-transportation-projects-year-one-infrastructure-law-new-report-shows/ | 2022-11-18 17:37:23 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/11/18/maryland-started-454-transportation-projects-year-one-infrastructure-law-new-report-shows/ |
Former President Trump on Monday sought to discourage Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) from officially getting into the 2024 presidential race, claiming it would ultimately divide the GOP and hurt DeSantis’s career.
“Ron DeSantis is a young man who is not doing well against me in the polls, to put it mildly,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I believe that if he decides to run for President, which will only hurt and somewhat divide the Republican Party, he will lose the cherished and massive MAGA vote, and never be able to successfully run for office again.”
“If he remains Governor, which is what Florida voters assumed, it would be a whole different story….JUST SAYIN’ – But who knows?” Trump added.
DeSantis has not yet announced whether he is running for president in 2024, but he is widely expected to get into the race in the coming months. He has been quietly assembling staff, and an outside pro-DeSantis group has also recently hired several staffers who previously worked with former President Trump in his administration or campaign.
DeSantis has also started traveling to early voting states in the GOP primary calendar, such as Iowa and South Carolina.
The governor is widely viewed as Trump’s most formidable potential challenger based on polling data. Some polls in individual states have shown DeSantis leading Trump, including in Florida, Georgia and Iowa.
But national polls have shown Trump with a healthy lead over DeSantis and other potential challengers for the 2024 GOP nomination. A Fox News poll released last week found Trump with 54 percent support among GOP primary voters, with DeSantis the next closest candidate at 24 percent.
Trump and an aligned super PAC, MAGA Inc., have ramped up attacks on DeSantis in recent weeks, highlighting his past comments on Social Security and Medicare in particular.
Trump last week was charged in Manhattan criminal court with 34 felony counts over his involvement in a scheme to pay hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the weeks before the 2016 election to keep quiet an alleged affair.
DeSantis has criticized the prosecution as politically motivated, but last month he took a swipe at Trump over the situation, saying he had not paid hush money to a porn star so could not weigh in at length on the matter. | https://cbs4indy.com/hill-politics/trump-discourages-desantis-says-candidacy-would-only-hurt-republican-party/ | 2023-04-10 19:13:27 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/hill-politics/trump-discourages-desantis-says-candidacy-would-only-hurt-republican-party/ |
MINNEAPOLIS — Jorge Polanco hit a three-run homer, one of three for the Minnesota Twins against Lance Lynn, in a five-run third inning and Minnesota held on for a 6-3 winover the White Sox on Saturday.
First-time All-Star Luis Arraez led off the bottom of the first with a homer and Carlos Correa added a two-run shot in the third for the Twins, who had lost six of eight and saw their division lead slip to 2.5 games starting the day.
Minnesota maintained its edge over Cleveland in the American League Central and went four games ahead of Chicago.
“When you’re in first place and you’ve been playing great pretty much all year long and you go through a rough stretch, there’s not much to be said," Correa said. “You know what it takes to get back to that.”
Dylan Bundy (6-4) allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings for Minnesota. In three starts against the White Sox this season, Bundy is 2-0 with four runs allowed in 15 1/3 innings. Jhoan Duran pitched two scoreless innings for his sixth save.
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“I think the just the culture we’ve established,” Bundy said of bouncing back from losses. “It started in spring and then carried up here to Minnesota, and the guys we have in that clubhouse. They don’t push the panic button. Losses are going to happen. Even the best team loses. It’s not something to worry about. You’ve just got to come ready to play the next day.”
Lynn (1-3) struggled again. He gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings. The former Twin has allowed 19 runs over his last three starts, which started with a five-inning, five-run performance against Minnesota in Chicago on July 6.
The right-hander has a 7.50 ERA in seven starts since he was activated off the injured list. He missed the start of the season after tearing a tendon in his right knee in spring training.
“There are some hits that are frustrating, infield hits or cap jobs or stuff like that and that’s part of the gig, especially when you’re going bad, seems like everything is a hit,” Lynn said. “And then I compounded that with the home run ball. That’s what you can’t do. You can’t worry about caps and jam shots and stuff like that. You have to keep pitching. I put us in a hole early and we weren’t able to come back.”
The White Sox had won four games in a row.
After the Twins built a 6-0 advantage against Lynn, Chicago got an RBI groundout from José Abreu in the fourth and Andrew Vaughn supplied a two-run single in the sixth.
“We’re playing it to the end; it’s clear we’re playing it to the end and we’ve got some results,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “The result tomorrow and getting a win tomorrow, winning a series there’s some tangible there. But we’ll go after it tomorrow.”
Not to be worn again
The Twins retired Jim Kaat's No. 36 in a pregame ceremony. Kaat will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next weekend along with former teammate Tony Oliva, whose No. 6 was already retired by the team.
Kaat spent 15 of his 25 seasons with the franchise — he also spent time with the White Sox — and had 189 of his 283 career wins with Minnesota. He's the club's all-time leader in wins and is second in career strikeouts (1,824). He's the ninth person in team history to have his number retired along with Oliva, Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett, manager Tom Kelly and Joe Mauer.
Trainer's room
White Sox: Luis Robert was out of the lineup after leaving Friday's game with lightheadedness. Manager Tony La Russa didn't have an update on Robert's status before the game. … Eloy Jiménez missed his third straight game with right leg tightness but La Russa felt Jiménez could potentially pinch-hit in the game.
Twins: New scans on Ryan Jeffers' right thumb showed a fracture and Jeffers will have surgery and miss six to eight weeks. Jeffers was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game after playing through the injury for multiple weeks.
Up next
RHP Dylan Cease (8-4, 2.30 ERA) will start Sunday for Chicago in the last game before the All-Star Break. Cease has allowed just three earned runs over his last nine starts and leads all starters with 13.09 strikeouts per nine innings, but he hasn't been named to the All-Star game. Minnesota is expected to activate and start RHP Chris Archer (2-3, 3.08). Archer has been out since July 2 left hip tightness. | https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/jorge-polanco-3-twins-homers-sink-lance-lynn-white-sox-in-6-3-win/article_0597c32c-3caa-51ac-8051-8b121a2f2539.html | 2022-07-17 02:21:54 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/jorge-polanco-3-twins-homers-sink-lance-lynn-white-sox-in-6-3-win/article_0597c32c-3caa-51ac-8051-8b121a2f2539.html |
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