text string | url string | crawl_date string | label int64 | id string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Astros push winning streak to 11, roll past Nationals 6-1
By PATRICK STEVENS
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jose Altuve drilled a home run on the first pitch of the game, Yordan Alvarez and Yuli Gurriel also homered, and the Houston Astros extended their winning streak to 11 games with a 6-1 rout of the Washington Nationals. Houston manager Dusty Baker, who led Washington to consecutive NL East titles in 2016 and 2017, won in his first game back at Nationals Park since his firing after two seasons. Framber Valdez (2-2) allowed one run over 7 2/3 innings to earn his first victory since April 7. Washington has lost seven of its last nine and is 4-14 at home. Its 11-23 record after 34 games is its worst since it was 9-25 in 2007. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/13/astros-push-winning-streak-to-11-roll-past-nationals-6-1/ | 2022-05-14 02:53:28 | 0 | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/13/astros-push-winning-streak-to-11-roll-past-nationals-6-1/ |
COHASSET, Mass. (AP) — A former employee of a Massachusetts town is facing charges of allegedly setting up a secret cryptocurrency mining operation in a remote crawl space at a school, police said.
Nadeam Nahas, 39, was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on charges of fraudulent use of electricity and vandalizing a school, but he did not show up and a judge issued a default warrant after rejecting a defense motion to reschedule, a spokesperson for the Norfolk district attorney’s office said.
A listed number for Nahas was not accepting messages on Thursday.
Police responded to Cohasset Middle/High School in December 2021 after the town’s facilities director found electrical wires, temporary duct work, and numerous computers that seemed out of place while conducting a routine inspection of the school, Chief William Quigley of the Cohasset Police Department said in a statement Wednesday.
He contacted the town’s IT director, who determined that it was a cryptocurrency mining operation unlawfully hooked up to the school’s electrical system, Quigley said.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Department of Homeland Security assisted with safely removing and examining the equipment.
Crypto mining, the process of validating cryptocurrency transactions and creating new cryptocurrency, consumes vast amounts of electricity.
Nahas, the town’s assistant facilities director, was identified as a suspect after a three-month investigation. After a show-cause hearing, a criminal complaint was issued. Nahas subsequently resigned from his job with the town in early 2022, police said. | https://www.koin.com/news/weird/ap-police-crypto-mining-operation-found-in-school-crawl-space/ | 2023-02-24 17:14:21 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/news/weird/ap-police-crypto-mining-operation-found-in-school-crawl-space/ |
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — ClearOne Inc. (CLRO) on Tuesday reported a loss of $832,000 in its first quarter.
The Salt Lake City-based company said it had a loss of 3 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 9 cents per share.
The provider of videoconferencing products posted revenue of $4.2 million in the period.
_____
This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CLRO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CLRO | https://www.ourmidland.com/business/article/clearone-q1-earnings-snapshot-18103924.php | 2023-05-17 11:26:05 | 1 | https://www.ourmidland.com/business/article/clearone-q1-earnings-snapshot-18103924.php |
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Today, Republican state lawmakers in Oregon walked off the job for the 10th workday in a row. They're doing it to block a Democrat-led bill that would in part protect and expand access to reproductive and gender affirming health care. Oregon is one of the few states that requires a two-thirds quorum to conduct legislative business, and several Republicans have now hit their limit for absences, triggering a new state law that would bar them from running for reelection. Oregon Public Broadcasting's politics reporter Dirk VanderHart is following the story. Hi, Dirk.
DIRK VANDERHART, BYLINE: Hey, Ari.
SHAPIRO: First, tell us about the health care bill that triggered this walkout. What makes it so contentious?
VANDERHART: Yeah, I mean, this is a pretty wide-ranging bill, and actually many pieces are relatively noncontroversial. But the GOP says two specific pieces are too extreme. One part would make clear that children of any age don't have to obtain parental permissions to receive an abortion in Oregon. That's something Republicans have taken strenuous exception to. Another piece creates new protections for people who identify as a different gender than they were assigned at birth. That includes expanding what kinds of procedures those folks get that can be covered by insurance. Under the bill, insurance would have to pay for things like facial feminization surgery, hair electrolysis and some other things.
SHAPIRO: And with today's walkout, some Republicans have reached their limit on unexcused absences. So what are the consequences for that?
VANDERHART: So Oregon has actually seen a number of these walkouts in recent years. They've become far more normal since 2019 when Democrats expanded their majorities. And to head that off, Democratic groups and labor unions pushed a ballot measure last year that says any legislation - legislator with 10 or more unexcused absences is unable to run for reelection, as you said, when their current term is up. Today, three state senators showed the new law was perhaps not the deterrent Democrats had hoped. They've basically said they are willing to end their political careers to oppose this bill.
SHAPIRO: Lawmakers in a handful of states have used this walkout tactic. It's a tool for lawmakers in the minority. In this case, is it backfiring?
VANDERHART: You know, it might be, though we should note that Republicans have begun a new political action committee specifically to raise money off the walkout. So they think it's a political winner there in that sense. And generally, I think just a lot of confusion exists here in Salem. This is brand new. There are a lot of disagreements about how this process will work or even if it's legal. Those are almost certain to be tested in the months to come. But what is definitely clear is that this law is not some magic fix to the ongoing dynamic in Oregon, where Republicans are continuously walking away to block bills they oppose. And we should note this has been bipartisan over the years. Democrats walked out in 2001 when they were in the minority to block new political maps drawn by Republicans.
SHAPIRO: And even if they are barred from reelection, can they just keep walking out until the next election? I mean, where does this go from here?
VANDERHART: That is the question on everyone's mind. You know, as you said, we saw three Republicans hit the 10-absence mark today. Tomorrow, at least one more senator hits that milestone, and more and more are going to join them if this standoff continues. So the burning question is, if enough Republicans hit 10 absences and therefore can't run for reelection, whether we might be at this point of no return where it becomes impossible to get the GOP back to Salem. We don't know the answer to that. What I can say is that as of now, talks between the parties seem to have broken down.
SHAPIRO: And is this only about the health care law or is other legislation in the state of Oregon also falling victim to these walkouts?
VANDERHART: Yeah, you know, any senator you talk to - Republican senator - will give a different reason for why they're walking out. There's gun legislation. There's bills on rent control. And what you're hinting at is correct. There are many, many bills, including a state budget that must be passed, that are held up in all this. This legislative session has something like 40 days left. And so we are really waiting to see if those 40 days are productive or if this thing just sort of falls apart right now.
SHAPIRO: That is Oregon Public Broadcasting's Dirk VanderHart in Salem. Thanks for your reporting.
VANDERHART: My pleasure.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | https://www.wlrn.org/national-politics/national-politics/2023-05-15/oregon-republicans-walkouts-trigger-a-new-state-law-on-reelection | 2023-05-16 15:36:01 | 1 | https://www.wlrn.org/national-politics/national-politics/2023-05-15/oregon-republicans-walkouts-trigger-a-new-state-law-on-reelection |
CALIFORNIA, USA — Jerold Phelps Community Hospital in Garberville, California is one of the smallest in the country. Its mere nine acute-care beds serve a community of about 10,000 people in southern Humboldt County. The next closest emergency room is about an hour’s drive north.
Despite its small size, the hospital is facing a hefty price tag to meet the 2030 retrofit deadline required under the state’s seismic safety standards — about $50 million for a new single story hospital that would replace its 1960s building.
Although it’s been decades since California implemented its strict seismic safety requirements, paying for those upgrades continues to be a tough task, especially for smaller facilities with limited resources and funding, according to hospital officials across the state. Like Jerold Phelps Community Hospital, two-thirds of California hospitals have yet to meet the looming state seismic deadline that requires hospital buildings to be updated to ensure they can keep operating after an earthquake.
The 6.4 magnitude quake that struck the Humboldt area on Dec. 20 was a stark reminder of California’s vulnerability to seismic activity. Hospitals in the county reported minimal damage and no threat to patients. Two hospitals, in Eureka and Fortuna, lost power and needed generators, according to the California Office of Emergency Services.
Hospital administrators acknowledge their buildings need to remain safe and available for emergency services following a quake, but they say they need more time to complete their upgrades and construction projects, especially as many are still reeling from the financial strains of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials at smaller hospitals say that in addition to time, they need funding. They also want more flexibility. The Legislature, they say, should revisit the rules and grant them more leeway for buildings that provide non-emergency services.
“Everyone wants to make our hospitals safe — that’s not the issue. It’s just a tremendous amount of capital that is being poured into this,” said Debi Stebbins, executive director at the City of Alameda Health Care District, which oversees Alameda Hospital.
The seismic safety standards debate is a familiar one in Sacramento, and one that hospital administrators expect will come up again during this new legislative term. Officials at the California Hospital Association said their immediate goal is to educate the large new class of lawmakers about the state’s seismic safety laws and the challenges hospitals face.
Labor groups, however, have strongly opposed hospitals’ ongoing requests for deadline extensions and amendments. They argue that hospitals have had plenty of time — about 30 years — to bring their buildings up to the required standards.
“They have had many, many, many years to do this, and to now say they need an extension is just not appropriate,” said Cathy Kennedy, president of the California Nurses Association. “I think they can do it.”
A brief history
In the early hours of Jan. 17, 1994, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake centered in Northridge shook Southern California. The earthquake killed at least 57 people and injured thousands. It resulted in about $20 billion in damages and about $40 billion in economic loss, making it the most costly earthquake in U.S. history, according to the California Department of Conservation.
Twelve hospital buildings sustained severe structural damage and had to be evacuated. Weeks after the Northridge earthquake, California lawmakers passed a law that fortified the state’s existing seismic safety standards for hospitals.
The law requires hospitals to either upgrade their existing buildings or replace them to ensure safety. Buildings that don’t meet the earthquake standards have to cease operating.
The first set of requirements (with an original deadline of 2008 but eventually pushed back 12 years, to 2020) mandated that hospital buildings be structurally fit enough to remain standing after an earthquake. Most hospitals have met this deadline, but 23 facilities out of 414 have at least one building that has yet to comply, according to data tracked by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. The state gave those hospitals a couple of more years, until 2025 in some cases, to come into compliance.
The second deadline, set for 2030 and the one being debated, requires hospital buildings to also remain fully functional and be able to provide services following a quake. Currently, about 62% of hospitals have at least one building that has yet to meet the 2030 structural standards.
Hospitals are also required to make “non-structural” improvements by 2030 so that their systems, including water supply and equipment, can support at least 72 hours of operation after an earthquake. And while 2030 may seem a long way out, several hospital executives said that if hospitals have not yet started their upgrade plans, they may struggle to meet that deadline.
“We want to make sure they (lawmakers) understand that hospitals’ buildings are safe given the first seismic deadline, but that this next deadline could have very dire consequences for their communities,” like the closure of hospitals, said Kiyomi Burchill, group vice president of policy at the California Hospital Association.
Engineers say that meeting the 2020 safety requirement so that hospitals won’t collapse was a big achievement, but not sufficient. Buildings also need to function.
“If you have a hospital that serves a population that may not have a lot of mobility, say a disadvantaged population, and that hospital can’t work after an earthquake when you might have a lot of injuries, that is a big problem,” said Jonathan Stewart, professor of civil and environmental engineering at UCLA.
Because needs and resources can differ by hospital, Stewart said it makes sense to review extension requests on a case-by-case basis. “I think we have to respect the appeal made by (hospital) administrators and where reasonable grant an extension, but maybe not in all cases because there could be cases where hospitals reasonably could do it and they’re just not prioritizing it.”
Devon Lumbard, an engineer with the Structural Engineers Association of California, said that any potential extensions for hospitals should come with a clear way to measure incremental progress.
“The key issue is if it’s an ask that doesn’t have a clear process for how it will demonstrate continued compliance and ultimately achieve the goal, that’s concerning,” he said. “If we just move the goal post, that’s not good, or take the goal post away and reduce requirements, that’s a concern.”
Price tag: Billions
Seismic upgrades and construction are estimated to cost hospitals across the state from $34 billion to $143 billion, according to a 2019 study the think tank RAND Corporation did for the California Hospital Association. The lower price is the cost to retrofit buildings, the high one is for building new. Although some experts say the state is due for a more updated cost assessment.
The RAND study found that the cost of upgrades would put 40% of California’s hospitals in “severe financial distress,” with community and public hospitals taking the biggest hit.
“And so that’s why it hasn’t been done. That’s why everybody’s asking for extensions, because it’s just an insurmountable amount of money,” said Matt Rees, CEO of Southern Humboldt Health, which oversees Jerold Phelps Community Hospital.
Labor unions and others opposing extensions will often point to systems like Kaiser Permanente, which raked in $8.1 billion in profits in 2021, a record for the health care giant. But not all hospitals have that kind of money, Stebbins said.
For example, public hospitals typically rely on bonds or loans to fund construction projects. Campaigning for a bond measure is expensive and a tough sell to voters. “In this economic time I would hate to be floating a bond measure to the electorate,” Stebbins said.
California soon will provide at least some aid to small and rural hospitals for these projects through grants funded by the state’s e-cigarette tax. The first round of funding is expected to be made available by April of this year. Although it is unclear how much each hospital would get.
Hospital executives also say there is irony in having to spend billions on these projects while at the same time being asked by the state to control costs.
“Our focus should be on improving health outcomes, keeping health services affordable, and investing in developing the delivery system of the future, not on expensive operational mandates that will further drive up the cost of care for patients,” Shelly Schlenker, executive vice president for Dignity Health, said in an email statement.
Dignity Health, which operates 31 hospitals in the state, so far has spent about $2 billion in upgrades, Schlenker said. As of now, Dignity Health expects its hospitals will be compliant with the state requirements by 2030, she said.
In the past, hospital groups have in large part been successful in securing extensions. But hospital lobbyists say time alone doesn’t solve the problem. Ideally, an extension would come with some creative financing solutions, said Sarah Bridge, a lobbyist for the Association of California Healthcare Districts.
In the midst of last year’s budget surplus projections, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, a Coachella Democrat, sought to secure $1 billion in the state budget to help California’s 32 district hospitals with their seismic projects, but those efforts ultimately went nowhere. District hospitals are public hospitals governed by an elected board and largely located in underserved areas.
“I think the problem with just giving an extension, which would be welcomed, is we run up against the same problem at the end of it. We still can’t fund the project,” Bridge said. Still, “at the very least an extension would buy us more time, and allow us to get contractors to our areas to build these projects.” Hospitals in the state all have the same deadline and are all vying for the same contractor workforce, she said.
In search of its own solution, Alameda Hospital, which serves the city of Alameda, a Bay Area island community of about 80,000 people, sought its own two-year extension during the last legislative session. The bill made it out of the Legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
In his veto message, Newsom said any consideration of a deadline extension must occur in a comprehensive manner and include all types of facilities — which some hospital officials took as an indicator that his administration is open to a statewide extension.
When asked if the governor was open to pushing back the 2030 deadline, his office only said that it would carefully review any new legislation.
Last summer, the California Hospital Association also sought the support of a powerful health worker labor group, SEIU-UHW, in a last-minute deal that would have delayed the seismic deadline seven years in exchange for boosting the minimum wage for hospital workers. But those negotiations quickly fizzled.
What’s taken so long?
One reason Jerold Phelps Community Hospital in Humboldt County couldn’t start planning its seismic safety projects sooner is because it has spent the last couple of decades working its way out of a financial crisis, Rees said.
In 2000, the hospital filed for bankruptcy. And in order to qualify for a loan to fund its construction project, the hospital first needed to be in good financial standing. For the past three years, the hospital has been busy raising $4 million for the downpayment for a federal loan.
The financial plight of small hospitals is well documented. Just last week Madera Community Hospital closed its doors due to financial constraints.
The hospital, in the Central Valley city of Madera, was set to be sold to Trinity Health Corporation, but that deal fell through. That means residents of that community will have to travel about 40 minutes to the next closest emergency room. Trinity Health did not respond to requests for comment on why it backed out of the purchase.
The Office of the Attorney General, which has to approve certain healthcare acquisitions, said in a written statement that Trinity Health refused to meet basic conditions, such as agreeing to keep services affordable. Among the requirements set by the Attorney General: that the corporation invest $45 million in medical records upgrades and seismic retrofitting.
Kennedy, with the nurses union, said she agrees that smaller and rural hospitals absolutely need assistance, but the solution is not to continue delaying deadlines.
“As a nurse I know that it’s those small rural hospitals that need to stay up and running more than ever (after an earthquake),” she said. “That’s what the Legislature and Gov. Newsom need to look at. Not just kick the can down the road, but do something about it, and they’ve had a lot of time to really think about this.”
How soon hospitals get to these projects is also about right timing, said Julia Drefke, government relations director with Adventist Health, which operates 20 hospitals in California, about 80% of them in rural parts of the state. It is typical for Adventist hospitals to plan projects seven to 10 years out, she said,
“You want to plan in advance for your building, but can’t plan too far in advance,” because health care trends and needs of communities can change over time as they saw with COVID-19, she explained.
“Now we’re seven years out (from the deadline) so now we can ask ‘What does that look like?’” she said.
Glenn Melnick, a health economist at the University of Southern California, said progress could be slow because there isn’t much financial incentive for them to move quickly on these projects. And “If nobody is moving quickly, it kind of builds the case for another extension,” he said.
Add to that the current high interest rates on loans and the financial shock of COVID, he said. “The stars are aligning in a negative way for hospitals that haven’t already done this.” | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/why-hospitals-are-struggling-to-meet-earthquake-safety-deadline-calmatters/103-6c2acee1-3c80-40f4-b1f1-28b8be11983f | 2023-01-09 22:24:07 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/calmatters/why-hospitals-are-struggling-to-meet-earthquake-safety-deadline-calmatters/103-6c2acee1-3c80-40f4-b1f1-28b8be11983f |
The day before the vote dawns, and President Jair Bolsonaro and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are making one last push to get the vote out in Brazil.
Copyright 2022 NPR
The day before the vote dawns, and President Jair Bolsonaro and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are making one last push to get the vote out in Brazil.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-10-01/candidates-in-brazils-presidential-race-take-their-final-laps | 2022-10-01 21:38:17 | 0 | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-10-01/candidates-in-brazils-presidential-race-take-their-final-laps |
On Sunday, Washington felt and beheld a day of warmth, haze and protracted sunshine. The sunshine seemed essentially incompatible with rain, and once again, we stayed dry.
Air quality was not the best, and haze cut visibility. It gave the sky a milky look that recalled many a humid day from summers past.
But Sunday seemed almost without humidity. The high temperature of 88 degrees, two above average for the date, and warmest since the 91 on June 11, seemed tolerable.
And the heat index, often a measure of summer misery, stayed beneath the true temperature. At times when the thermometer read 87, the heat index was only 84. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/06/18/weather-warm-long-hazy-dry/ | 2023-06-19 02:22:05 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/06/18/weather-warm-long-hazy-dry/ |
Coming into the 2022 National Football League season, you would have been hard pressed to find anyone that would have believed the NFC East as going to be the best division in football.
But the numbers do not lie: only one division had all four teams finish the year at .500 or better, and also send three teams to the playoffs.
How did that happen? Philadelphia won the division going away, won the NFC, and also could have (and probably should have) had the NFL MVP and won the Super Bowl. But Dallas won 12 games, the Giants made the playoffs then won a playoff game, and even Washington finished 8-8-1 and just missed out on a playoff berth.
Will the Eagles get back to the Super Bowl and go one step further in 2023? Well, they have to break the two decade curse that has struck all NFC East division winners: the last time a team repeated as NFC East champion was the 2003 and 2004 Eagles, who won four-straight dating back to 2001.
As good as Philadelphia was last season, it only comes into 2023 as a tepid favorite over Dallas to win the NFC East, despite adding to its already strong defense in the draft. Sports books think it will be a two-horse race once again, with the Giants falling back down the pecking order.
“I think when you look at some of the odds for the NFC East, there is one that pops out right away,” a Vegas Insider spokesperson said. “The win totals: Philadelphia (11.5) and Dallas (10.5) are both pretty close, but the Giants are way down at 7.5 right now.
“I think with the NFC West and AFC East schedules for the teams, Philly is the team that is best placed to go over its total. Jalen Hurts is very good, the offense is scary, and the defense is loaded. I am not sure about Dallas, and people still want to know if the 2022 Giants were a bit of a mirage. We will see soon.”
NFC East Division Opening Odds
Odds based on a 17-game regular season schedule
Philadelphia Eagles +100
Dallas Cowboys +175
New York Giants +600
Washington Commanders +1000
NFC East Win Totals Odds
Philadelphia Eagles 11.5
Dallas Cowboys 10.5
New York Giants 7.5
Washington Commanders 6.5
NFC East Playoff Prop Odds
Listed below are the Opening Odds for the 2023 Playoff Prop (Yes-No) betting market for the four teams in the NFC East.
Odds based on “Yes” Wagers - Team will make playoffs
Philadelphia Eagles -400
Dallas Cowboys -210
New York Giants +140
Washington Commanders +295
SB LVIII Odds
Philadelphia Eagles +800
Dallas Cowboys +1400
New York Giants +4500
Washington Commanders +6500
Odds to win NFC
Philadelphia Eagles +300
Dallas Cowboys +650
New York Giants +2000
Washington Commanders +3500
NFC East Betting History
Year-Winner-Record (Odds to Win)
2022: Philadelphia Eagles 14-3-0 (+130)
2021: Dallas Cowboys 12-5-0 (+135)
2020: Washington Football Team 7-9-0 (+2200)
2019: Philadelphia Eagles 9-7-0 (-160)
2018: Dallas Cowboys 10-6-0 (+350)
2017: Philadelphia Eagles 13-3-0 (+250)
2016: Dallas Cowboys 13-3-0 (+200)
2015: Washington Redskins 9-7-0 (+3500)
2014: Dallas Cowboys 12-4-0 (+500)
2013: Philadelphia Eagles 10-6-0 (+350)
2012: Washington Redskins 10-6-0 (+1000)
2011: New York Giants 9-7-0 (+300)
2010: Philadelphia Eagles 10-6-0 (+275)
2009: Dallas Cowboys 11-5-0 (+175)
2008: New York Giants 12-4-0 (+325)
2007: Dallas Cowboys 13-3-0 (+180)
2006: Philadelphia Eagles 10-6-0 (+275)
2005: New York Giants 11-5-0 (+700)
2004: Philadelphia Eagles 13-3-0 (-185)
2003: Philadelphia Eagles 12-4-0 (-180)
2002: Philadelphia Eagles 12-4-0 (-180)
2001: Philadelphia Eagles 11-5-0
2000: New York Giants 12-4-0
1999: Washington Redskins 10-6-0
1998: Dallas Cowboys 10-6-0
1997: New York Giants 10-5-1
1996: Dallas Cowboys 10-6-0
1995: Dallas Cowboys 12-4-0
1994: Dallas Cowboys 12-4-0
1993: Dallas Cowboys 12-4-0
1992: Dallas Cowboys 13-3-0
1991: Washington Redskins 14-2-0
1990: New York Giants 13-3-0
1989: New York Giants 12-4-0
1988: Philadelphia Eagles 10-6-0
1987: Washington Redskins 11-4-0
1986: New York Giants 14-2-0
1985: Dallas Cowboys 10-6-0
1984: Washington Redskins 11-5-0
1983: Washington Redskins 14-2-0 | https://www.nj.com/camden/2023/06/defending-nfc-champion-eagles-looking-to-break-nfc-east-division-curse.html | 2023-06-18 23:39:28 | 1 | https://www.nj.com/camden/2023/06/defending-nfc-champion-eagles-looking-to-break-nfc-east-division-curse.html |
GERMANTOWN, Tenn., June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., or MAA (NYSE: MAA), today announced a full quarterly dividend of $1.0625 per outstanding share of its 8.50% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on June 30, 2023, to shareholders of record on June 15, 2023.
About MAA
MAA is a self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT) and member of the S&P 500. MAA owns or has ownership interest in apartment communities primarily throughout the Southeast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. focused on delivering strong, full-cycle investment performance. For further details, please refer to the "For Investors" page at www.maac.com or contact Investor Relations at investor.relations@maac.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain matters in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended with respect to our expectations for future periods. Such statements include statements made about the payment of preferred dividends. The ability to meet the payment of preferred dividends in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements could differ materially from the projection due to a number of factors, including a downturn in general economic conditions or the capital markets, changes in interest rates and other items that are difficult to control such as increases in real estate taxes in many of our markets, as well as the other general risks inherent in the apartment and real estate businesses. Reference is hereby made to the filings of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, reports on Form 8-K, and its annual report on Form 10-K, particularly including the risk factors contained in the latter filing.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE MAA | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/06/01/maa-announces-regular-quarterly-preferred-dividend/ | 2023-06-01 23:37:25 | 1 | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/06/01/maa-announces-regular-quarterly-preferred-dividend/ |
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry will play with an oil-derrick logo on his helmet during the 2023 season when the NFL team turns back the clock to another era in the franchise’s history with its throwback uniforms.
The Titans unveiled the uniforms on Sunday night, which reflect the Luv Ya Blue years of the Houston Oilers.
· FORMER ALABAMA RUNNING BACK IN LINE FOR BIGGER ROLE WITH BROWNS
· IS IT A NEW ERA FOR WASHINGTON FOOTBALL? DARON PAYNE: ‘I HOPE SO’
· ALABAMA PRO BOWLER TALKS UP YOUNG AUBURN LINEBACKER FOR JETS
Henry, a former Alabama All-American and current Tennessee Pro Bowler, was one of the contemporary players who modeled the throwback uniforms. The Titans plan to wear the uniforms in two home games during the 2023 NFL season, but the team has not identified which two games.
The uniforms will have one modern addition: “Luv Ya Blue” will appear on the back neckline of the jerseys.
“It allows us to honor as many players as we can, because it covers so much time,” said Surf Melendez, the vice president and executive creative director for the Titans, on the team’s website. “It also represented our transition to Tennessee, because we wore these uniforms in Tennessee as well. …
“This was an original AFL team, so there’s a rich tradition there, and now people are going to see this, and they are going to be reminded of this rich history.”
The current Tennessee franchise started as the Houston Oilers in the American Football League in 1960. The Luv Ya Blue uniforms were worn by the team from 1975 through 1998.
The final two of those seasons were played as the Tennessee Oilers – in Memphis in 1997 and in Nashville in 1998 – before the franchise changed its nickname to the Titans, a switch that came with a new look for the uniform.
Former Vigor High School standout Robert Brazile played his entire NFL career in the Luv Ya Blue uniforms, breaking in as the sixth selection in the 1975 draft and starting all 147 of his games over the next 10 seasons with Houston on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
RELATED: ALABAMA ROOTS: TOP 10 IN PRO BOWL INVITATIONS
The Titans said Brazile was among the former players who had been given a look at the uniforms before their public unveiling.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1. | https://www.al.com/sports/2023/07/oil-derrick-henry-coming-for-tennessee-titans-in-2023.html | 2023-07-24 03:26:35 | 1 | https://www.al.com/sports/2023/07/oil-derrick-henry-coming-for-tennessee-titans-in-2023.html |
Severe weather outbreak, including possible derecho, threatens over 30 million in Southeast on Wednesday
The intense storms will likely come in multiple rounds through Wednesday night and could pack wind gusts of over 80 mph, hail larger than 3 inches in diameter and even a couple of EF-2 or stronger tornadoes. If the swath of wind damage spans at least 400 miles, the severe weather outbreak will meet the criteria for a derecho.
A rare June severe weather outbreak is expected Wednesday across the Southeast, where destructive winds, damaging hail and strong tornadoes are all possible. The severe storms could even meet the criteria for a widespread damaging-wind event known as a derecho.
Wednesday's severe weather threat comes after massive hail fell Tuesday across parts of Texas – estimated as large as 5.5 inches in Shamrock – while a tornado was spotted in Colorado. Large hail also fell across Texas and Colorado on Monday, some as large as 4 inches in diameter. One of the hardest-hit areas was Pampa, Texas, where baseball-sized hail fell.
Severe weather outbreak expected in Southeast on Wednesday
An outbreak of severe thunderstorms is expected across the Southeast on Wednesday, a rarity for June in this region of the U.S. The risk of severe weather covers more than 30 million people in northeastern Texas, eastern Oklahoma, central and southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, northern Florida and southern South Carolina.
The threat has been increased to a level 4 on NOAA's Storm Prediction Center's (SPC) 5-point severe thunderstorm risk category scale for northeastern Louisiana, central and southern Mississippi and Alabama and southwestern Georgia – shaded in magenta on the map below. This includes the cities of Jackson in Mississippi, Dothan and Montgomery in Alabama and Albany and Columbus in Georgia.
According to SPC records, this is the first time since 2014 that a level 4 risk has been issued in parts of this region during the month of June.
The intense storms will likely come in multiple rounds through Wednesday night and could pack wind gusts of over 80 mph, hail larger than 3 inches in diameter and even a couple of EF-2 or stronger tornadoes. Severe storms will likely be scattered through the afternoon, with the most widespread severe thunderstorms expected from Wednesday evening into early Thursday morning.
If the swath of wind damage spans at least 400 miles, the severe weather outbreak will meet the criteria for a derecho.
Severe storms are already underway
Severe storms are ongoing Wednesday morning, prompting Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm Watches for multiple areas in the South.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WATCHES AND WARNINGS?
(FOX Weather)
The radar animation below shows where showers and storms have been tracking over the past three hours, along with any active Severe Thunderstorm, Tornado and Flash Flood Warnings.
TRACK THE STORMS USING THE FOX WEATHER APP'S 3D RADAR
(FOX Weather)
Severe storms possible in Southeast, Plains on Thursday
Both the Southeast and the Plains will face the threat of severe thunderstorms on Thursday and Thursday night, though the storms are not expected to be as intense as Wednesday.
In the Southeast, the greatest risk stretches from southeastern Mississippi into southern Alabama, southwestern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. In the Plains, portions of western and southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma have the greatest risk of severe storms.
Very large hail and damaging wind gusts are the main threats, but an isolated tornado is also possible.
WE'VE ENTERED AMERICA'S MOST ACTIVE TIME OF YEAR FOR DAMAGING WINDS FROM SEVERE STORMS
More severe storms could develop Friday from Plains to Southeast
Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible Friday and Friday night in a corridor stretching from the central Plains through the lower Mississippi Valley and parts of the Southeast.
A more organized cluster of severe weather could threaten portions of northeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, northern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee.
Large hail and damaging wind gusts will likely be the main threats with Friday's storms, though an isolated tornado can't be ruled out.
BUZZWORDS YOU COULD HEAR DURING SEVERE WEATHER
Severe weather threat continues this weekend
Additional rounds of severe weather are likely this weekend as a jet stream disturbance slides east across the Plains and mid-South.
Late Saturday and into Saturday night, severe storms are expected across southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. That includes the potential for supercells capable of producing large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
HERE'S WHERE TORNADOES ARE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR IN EACH MONTH
A more organized severe weather threat is possible Sunday and Sunday night across parts of the Ozark Plateau and mid-South.
Large hail and damaging wind gusts will likely be the primary threats, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. | https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/severe-weather-outbreak-derecho-southeast-wednesday | 2023-06-14 15:40:42 | 1 | https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/severe-weather-outbreak-derecho-southeast-wednesday |
ST. LOUIS, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Benson Hill, Inc. (NYSE: BHIL, the "Company" or "Benson Hill"), a food tech company unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants, today announced that Company management will attend two upcoming investor conferences. These events will not be webcast by Benson Hill.
- Chief Financial Officer Dean P. Freeman and Executive Vice President, International Andres Martin will participate in the Roth London Conference June 21-23 and will hold individual meetings with investors.
- Chief Executive Officer Matt Crisp will attend the Barclays Symposium on Sustainable Technologies in Food and Agriculture Conference in New York City on June 22. Crisp will participate in a panel discussion about how technology applications provide benefits to farmers and consumers.
Roth's 8th Annual London Conference will be held at the InterContinental London Hotel. The invitation-only event will give investors the opportunity to meet with approximately 75 private and public companies in a variety of sectors, including ag tech, energy, sustainability, and technology. Institutional investors will interact with executive management through one-on-one and group meetings, as well as social events throughout the conference.
The inaugural Barclays Symposium on Sustainable Technologies in Food and Agriculture will take place at Convene Times Square in New York City on June 22.
For more details or to register, interested investors can contact Roth Capital Partners and Barclays.
Benson Hill moves food forward with the CropOS® platform, a cutting-edge food innovation engine that combines data science and machine learning with biology and genetics. Benson Hill empowers innovators to unlock nature's genetic diversity from plant to plate, with the purpose of creating nutritious, great-tasting food and ingredient options that are both widely accessible and sustainable. More information can be found at bensonhill.com or on Twitter at @bensonhillinc.
Investor Contact
Benson Hill
Ruben Mella
314-714-6313
rmella@bensonhill.com
Media Contact
Benson Hill
Christi Dixon
636-359-0797
cdixon@bensonhill.com
Media Kit
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Benson Hill | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/benson-hill-management-participate-upcoming-investor-events/ | 2022-06-07 18:25:35 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/benson-hill-management-participate-upcoming-investor-events/ |
Another Chilly Day
Much Nicer by the Weekend
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) -- After a very cold start to our morning, we’re going to end up with another chilly day, very similar to what we had yesterday. Despite plenty of sunshine, highs will be stuck in the 40s around the region. We may see a few upper 30s in the northeast and there might be a couple of low 50s out west. The wind should be lighter across the region today.
Tonight, it won’t be as cold, but still pretty cold with lows falling back into the teens and 20s around the region. It looks like we should start to warm up on Wednesday with highs in the 50s and 60s around the region. We’ll see some more cloud cover around for Thursday with highs in the 60s for everyone. By Friday, there will be plenty of sunshine and high temperatures will be in the 60s and 70s.
Saturday is looking like a fantastic day with plenty of sunshine and highs in the 70s! Sunday is looking nice, too. We’ll be in the 60s and 70s around the region, but we’ll bring in a slight chance of showers, especially out west. There’s another slight chance of rain next Monday, but we’ll be cooling back down into the 50s for highs.
Copyright 2022 KSFY. All rights reserved. | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2022/10/18/another-chilly-day/ | 2022-10-18 09:23:22 | 0 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2022/10/18/another-chilly-day/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The City of Angels, a metropolis of freeways and traffic, has a newly discovered species named in its honor: The Los Angeles Thread Millipede.
The tiny arthropod was found just underground by naturalists at a Southern California hiking area — near a freeway, a Starbucks and an Oakley sunglasses store.
About the length of a paperclip but skinny as pencil lead, it’s translucent and sinuous like a jellyfish tentacle. The creature burrows four inches below ground, secretes unusual chemicals and is blind, relying on hornlike antennas protruding from its head to find its way.
Under a microscope, the millipede with its 486 legs and helmet-like head resembles a creature in a Hollywood monster film.
“It’s amazing to think these millipedes are crawling in the inner cracks and crevices between little pieces of rock below our feet in Los Angeles,” said entomologist Paul Marek of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He was part of the research team that included scientists from West Virginia University, and the University of California, Berkeley.
Their findings on the species, whose scientific name is Illacme socal, were published June 21 in the journal ZooKeys. The species’ vernacular name is Los Angeles Thread Millipede.
“It goes to show that there’s this undiscovered planet underground,” Marek added.
It joins other millipedes found in the state, including one that until recently held the crown for the most legs of any creature ever recorded — a whopping 750 limbs. It is aptly named Illacme plenipes, Latin for “in highest fulfillment of feet.” Discovered in 1926 in a small area in Northern California, it was believed to be the leggiest creature on earth until 2021 when a millipede with 1,306 legs was found in Australia.
Millipedes feed on dead organic material and without them people would be “up to our necks” in it, Marek said.
“By knowing something about the species that fulfill these really important ecological roles, we can protect them and then the environment that protects us as well,” Marek said.
iNaturalist, a citizen naturalist app, led Marek to the discovery. Naturalists Cedric Lee and James Bailey posted the critter they found when when they were out collecting slugs at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in nearby Orange County four years ago. The team used DNA sequencing and analysis to prove it was indeed a new species.
Lee, a doctoral student at UC Berkeley, has discovered and documented thirty centipedes species in California. He said microorganisms have been often neglected in the search for new species, but thanks to modern tools available to anyone, citizen science can be a bridge between between the natural world and the lab.
“We don’t know what’s completely out there,” Lee said. “There’s literally undescribed species right under our feet.”
Scientists estimate 10 million animal species live on Earth, but only one million have been discovered.
“What we don’t know is far more than what we know in terms of insect species and small creatures around the world,” said Brian Brown, curator of entomology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
After having led a four-year research project called BioSCAN, which planted insect traps throughout backyards in the city, Brown estimates 20,000 species of insects inhabit Los Angeles alone, both discovered and undiscovered.
But he worries about threats to native species such as climate change and invasive species.
“It really is going to take a lot more work and effort to try and save, try and document the species before they all go extinct,” he said.
Daniel Gluesenkamp, president of the California Institute for Biodiversity, who was not involved in the research, points to the Los Angeles Thread Millipede as the perfect example of an unexplored frontier.
“We need to be investing in local parks, we need to be saving any little patch of wild land, even if it’s surrounded by housing and parking lots,” Gluesenkamp said. “We need to know what’s there so that we can protect it and use it as a solution in the tremendously challenging times ahead.”
___
This story has been updated to correct that a millipede found in California with 750 limbs is one of the world’s leggiest, not the leggiest. | https://fox59.com/strange/ap-strange-news/ap-a-new-millipede-species-is-crawling-under-la-its-blind-glassy-and-has-486-legs/ | 2023-07-27 02:51:59 | 0 | https://fox59.com/strange/ap-strange-news/ap-a-new-millipede-species-is-crawling-under-la-its-blind-glassy-and-has-486-legs/ |
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestorsObserver issues critical PriceWatch Alerts for WOLF, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN, and COIN.
Click a link below then choose between in-depth options trade idea report or a stock score report.
Options Report – Ideal trade ideas on up to seven different options trading strategies. The report shows all vital aspects of each option trade idea for each stock.
Stock Report - Measures a stock's suitability for investment with a proprietary scoring system combining short and long-term technical factors with Wall Street's opinion including a 12-month price forecast.
- WOLF: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=WOLF&prnumber=081820224
- AAPL: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=AAPL&prnumber=081820224
- NVDA: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=NVDA&prnumber=081820224
- AMZN: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=AMZN&prnumber=081820224
- COIN: https://www.investorsobserver.com/lp/pr-options-lp-2/?symbol=COIN&prnumber=081820224
(Note: You may have to copy this link into your browser then press the [ENTER] key.)
InvestorsObserver provides patented technology to some of the biggest names on Wall Street and creates world-class investing tools for the self-directed investor on Main Street. We have a wide range of tools to help investors make smarter decisions when investing in stocks or options.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE InvestorsObserver | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/thinking-about-trading-options-or-stock-wolfspeed-apple-nvidia-amazon-or-coinbase-global/ | 2022-08-18 14:51:02 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/thinking-about-trading-options-or-stock-wolfspeed-apple-nvidia-amazon-or-coinbase-global/ |
Bryce Young goes first overall in the NFL Draft
Published: Apr. 27, 2023 at 7:20 PM CDT|Updated: 24 minutes ago
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Alabama Quarterback Bryce Young has been selected #1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
Young was a standout QB while in Tuscaloosa leading the Crimson Tide to a CFP National Championship title in 2020.
Live updates of the draft will be updated here.
Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.
Copyright 2023 WBRC. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/04/28/bryce-young-goes-first-overall-nfl-draft/ | 2023-04-28 00:44:18 | 1 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/04/28/bryce-young-goes-first-overall-nfl-draft/ |
___
- What's that going to be ... near Midland Country Club?
- Midland ISD board praises Ramsey during review process
- Doreen: No upside with airing our dirty laundry outside Midland
- TxDPS: WTX fugitive added to Texas Most Wanted List
- Midland man charged with indecency with a child charge
- What’s Up with Midland?
- Worst US school systems: How does Texas compare to other states?
- What’s in a name? Mulberry Café
Most Popular
More from MRT
- USA Diving official: “Moss Farms is an incredible place. They’re solely focused on diving at...
- More than 2,100 customers without power in northwest Midland.
- The RockHounds had two big innings to beat San Antonio to open a six-game series at Momentum Bank...
- Board president: “We have confidence that we have the great leader we have been looking for"
- A Midland man was arrested Sunday after allegedly trying to rob a person at gunpoint, according...
- EllisReese Niday won her second national title in as many days during Tuesday’s competition of...
- Nino has a presence on social media – including thousands of followers on Twitter and 269,000...
- Chris Cunningham has not been disappointed with what he’s seen in the few weeks he’s been at...
- A Midland man was arrested Friday on an indecency with a child charge, according to court...
- As part of a project called "Healing Uvalde," 21 artists have made their way to the small Texas... | https://www.mrt.com/sports/article/Atlanta-Team-Stax-17331513.php | 2022-07-27 08:37:31 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/sports/article/Atlanta-Team-Stax-17331513.php |
ORLANDO, Fla. – The News 6 Pinpoint Weather Team stuck around after the annual News 6 hurricane special on June 1 for our After Hours livestream, answering questions from Insiders.
News 6 Insider Guide Crystal Moyer led the conversation as News 6 meteorologists, including chief meteorologist Tom Sorrells, shared stories of storms past, doled out bits of information you might not know and just had a good time with each other!
We also introduced to you Michelle Morgan, the newest member of the News 6 weather team.
If you submitted a question to our team, thank you. Many of them were answered Thursday night.
Watch the full video at the top of this story. | https://www.clickorlando.com/insider/2023/06/02/after-hours-news-6-meteorologists-answer-insider-questions-share-stories-and-advice/ | 2023-06-02 16:25:37 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/insider/2023/06/02/after-hours-news-6-meteorologists-answer-insider-questions-share-stories-and-advice/ |
(Motor Authority) – Many classic cars rarely turn a wheel, but that’s not the case with this 1930 Lancia Dilambda. Owner Filippo Sole drove this Italian convertible across America, and recently appeared on an episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage” to talk about his experience.
That experience didn’t end well, as the Lancia was hit by a distracted driver in Los Angeles just before filming. Damage to the bodywork and exhaust system was repaired just in time, however. Sole got the car back the day this episode was filmed.
Lancia would later pioneer the V-6 engine with the Aurelia, but when the Dilambda was designed, founder Vincenzo Lancia chose a narrow-angle 4.0-liter V-8, which he felt would make the car more attractive in the U.S. market. Lancia had a tough time competing against domestic luxury brands like Cadillac and Duesenberg, but about 3,000 Dilambdas were built during a production run that extended from 1928 into the early 1930s.
Driving the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual transmission, the V-8 could propel the Dilambda to about 90 mph. That may not sound impressive today, but it definitely was in 1930. It was also probably as fast as you’d want to go with the Dilambda’s cable-actuauted brakes.
This convertible has unique bodywork from British coachbuilder Carlton. The company bodied multiple Dilambdas, but each had a different design, Sole explains in the video. This car was originally purchased by a British aristocrat and remained in the U.K. until at least 1939, when it was damaged, Sole said. The trail runs cold until 1970, when the car was rebuilt in a non-original manner. Sole later purchased the Lancia and restored it to its factory appearance—complete with a dashboard finished in an unusual ivory and silver combination.
Sole then set out to drive the Dilambda from New York to Los Angeles. Cold temperatures and mechanical issues made the first leg of the trip unpleasant, but things got better, Sole said, especially once he reached the warmer desert climate around Albuquerque, New Mexico. He plans to make these trips an annual event, with a different car and route each year. His ultimate goal is to design a car himself.
Lancia today is part of Stellantis, and after many years of neglect, the automotive conglomerate plans to restore the brand with three new models to be launched between 2024 and 2028. Like most of Stellantis’ brands, Lancia aims to go all-electric, planning to phase out gasoline and diesel models by 2028.
Related Articles
- Everrati offers EV conversion for original Defender and Range Rover
- 1993 Chrysler 300 prototype surfaces, $35,000 puts it in your garage
- Jay Leno checks out off-road legend Rod Hall’s Ford Bronco
- 2025 Porsche 718 Boxster EV spy shots
- Jay Leno checks out rare 1991 Oldsmobile Quad 442 W-41
Don’t expect Stellantis to bring Lancia to the U.S. The brand is currently focused on the European market. | https://www.kxnet.com/automotive/rare-1930-lancia-dilambda-cruises-into-jay-lenos-garage/ | 2022-12-27 23:09:22 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/automotive/rare-1930-lancia-dilambda-cruises-into-jay-lenos-garage/ |
Roger Carstens, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, is the top U.S. official negotiating for the release of Evan Gershkovich. We sat down with him at the U.S. State Department just after a Moscow court held a secretive hearing for the Wall Street Journal reporter.
SCRIPPS NEWS' SASHA INGBER: What did embassy personnel who attended that hearing have to say about Evan's condition?
SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR HOSTAGE AFFAIRS ROGER CARSTENS:You know, overall, that I wouldn't want to go into too much detail just due to privacy concerns. But they did say that Evan looked strong and he looked resilient. What I can tell you is that we understand he did smile, but you're looking from a distance. Our sense is that he's remained very strong while in prison.
Russia has denied U.S. requests for consular access to Gershkovich twice, but the team will try again in a few days. And Carstens says that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges, calls him often, is aware of Gershkovich's arrest — and has asked him about Gershkovich's case.
"Paul has been tracking, he is allowed to watch a little bit of TV and get news from his parents," Carstens said. "This is something that Paul's concerned about, not just because he's in the same boat, but as a human being."
INGBER: Can the Biden administration afford to get out one person at a time now, or do Paul and Evan need to be released together?
CARSTENS: Well, you can imagine we're trying to get Paul and Evan released together. That's going to be what we're striving for. That's what the president, I'm sure, wants, the Secretary of State wants. So we're going to go into battle with the Russians here and have this negotiation and see what we can get done.
Gershkovich's arrest at the hands of Russia's domestic security service, the FSB, and the ensuing case have been shrouded in mystery, with Russian media reporting that material has been stamped "secret."
INGBER: Are you aware of the FSB's purported evidence that Evan was spying? There are so few details that we know about this case.
CARSTENS: You know, I think you pointed out there are so few details that we know about this case. It's concerning and disturbing. We would like to get some more information, frankly. But right now, I just don't think there is going to be information. To our mind, Evan is a journalist and he's innocent.
INGBER: Does not having details of this case make it harder to negotiate?
CARSTENS: Yes and no. I mean, every time you can bring in information to a case, it might alter your approach or give you a maybe a foot up on trying to deal with the other side. But at the end of the day, my job is to take the cards where they lay and play the hand that I've been given.
SEE MORE: Russia extends detention of US journalist Gershkovich by 3 months
To protect U.S. efforts, Carstens wouldn't discuss the details of negotiations or possible demands by the Russians — including trading wrongfully detained Americans with Russian spies who have been arrested for operating without diplomatic cover.
INGBER: We've seen an alarming number of Russian so-called illegals be identified and be arrested. Is that on the table?
CARSTENS: It's probably better I don't get into any specifics of what we are trying to do or what might be on the table.
INGBER: Can you just tell me if it's something that would be ruled out?
CARSTENS: We're open to a lot of things. I mean, you've seen some of the other people that have come home in the last two years. The president's made some pretty tough decisions in order to bring those Americans home.
With Gershkovich yet to stand trial, Carstens cautions that the process could take a while.
"If they are going to put him through a trial process, who knows how long that could go? It could go 12 months, 13 months, 14 months," Carstens said. "But it's our hope that we don't have to go that far."
SEE MORE: Putin may want to swap an 'illegal' Russian spy for Evan Gershkovich
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.abc15.com/top-hostage-negotiator-on-americans-wrongfully-held-by-moscow | 2023-05-26 03:00:18 | 1 | https://www.abc15.com/top-hostage-negotiator-on-americans-wrongfully-held-by-moscow |
MIAMI (AP) — Marcus Smart is hoping to play. Al Horford is trying to return. And Derrick White headed home early, for a very good reason.
The Boston Celtics were hoping to have at least one of their missing starters back for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night. Smart’s mid-foot sprain has improved to the point where the Celtics are expecting he can play in the series’ second game against the Miami Heat.
Horford, as of Thursday afternoon, remained in the NBA’s health and safety protocols and the Celtics were bracing for him to miss a second consecutive game. But there was good news from a Boston perspective — Thursday afternoon, Horford’s status was upgraded from doubtful to questionable, adding more hope that he could play in Game 2.
“We’re unsure about his status until some testing results come back,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said about an hour before Horford’s chances to play were upgraded.
And White, who started and played 29 minutes in Boston’s 118-107 loss in Game 1 to Miami on Tuesday, will not play in Game 2. He left Miami early because of the looming birth of a child.
“You don’t want to say it’s a tough situation. We knew he was expecting a baby soon,” Udoka said. “Things happen in life and we always support our guys.”
Smart is the league’s reigning defensive player of the year. The foot injury happened in Game 7 of the East semifinals against Milwaukee on Sunday. He tried to get ready in time to play Game 1 on Tuesday, to no avail.
“He looked good,” Celtics guard Grant Williams said after the team’s Thursday morning shootaround practice.
Horford is in the protocols for the third time this season. He missed the Celtics’ regular-season opener, then missed five more games in December, and was ruled out of Game 1 just a couple hours before tipoff.
“We weren’t prepared to be playing without Al,” Celtics center Daniel Theis said.
Also Thursday, the Celtics had their coach back. Udoka missed a scheduled media session Wednesday with what the team described as a non-COVID illness but said he was good on Thursday.
Miami will be without Kyle Lowry for the eighth time in its last 10 playoff games while he continues recovering from a hamstring strain. The Heat listed backcourt starters Gabe Vincent — Lowry’s replacement — and Max Strus as questionable for Game 2 with hamstring issues of their own, but both were planning to play.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/celtics-white-to-miss-game-2-heads-home-for-childs-birth/ | 2022-05-19 17:33:01 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/sports/celtics-white-to-miss-game-2-heads-home-for-childs-birth/ |
CAUGHT ON VIDEO: Someone slashes residents tires
By Denise Pridgen
Click here for updates on this story
SWANNANOA, North Carolina (WLOS) — Some Swannanoa residents are out thousands of dollars after what appears to be a tire-slashing spree, one resident said.
And the person who did it was caught on a security camera.
Jessie Bryant’s security footage shows a person walking next to his truck and then slashing the tires Wednesday on Wilson Avenue.
Bryant said five of his neighbors also woke up to the same damage.
“We’re in a hard time right now. Why would anybody do that to somebody?” Bryant asked. “Everyone is having a difficult enough time and just barely making ends meet, and you’re going to do that to someone.”
Bryant said it’s going to cost him about $800 to get new tires. He has filed a report with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | https://kion546.com/cnn-regional/2022/09/14/caught-on-video-someone-slashes-residents-tires/ | 2022-09-14 17:30:32 | 0 | https://kion546.com/cnn-regional/2022/09/14/caught-on-video-someone-slashes-residents-tires/ |
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Mary Ziegler, professor of law at UC Davis, to discuss the impact of the trigger laws banning abortion in Tennessee, Idaho, Texas and North Dakota.
Copyright 2022 NPR
NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Mary Ziegler, professor of law at UC Davis, to discuss the impact of the trigger laws banning abortion in Tennessee, Idaho, Texas and North Dakota.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.mainepublic.org/2022-08-25/trigger-laws-in-now-14-states-place-further-restrictions-and-punishments-on-abortion | 2022-08-25 21:14:55 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/2022-08-25/trigger-laws-in-now-14-states-place-further-restrictions-and-punishments-on-abortion |
MEDFORD, Ore. – Rogue Community Health is opening its second dental clinic in Medford.
This clinic will offer affordable, high-quality care for patients regardless of their ability to pay or health insurance.
It opened today at 922 East Main Street alongside other Rogue Community Health facilities.
The grand opening celebration for the clinic is planned for January 25th.
It is being planned in partnership with the Chamber of Medford and Jackson County. | https://kobi5.com/news/us-and-world-news/rogue-community-health-opens-its-second-dental-clinic-in-medford-201387/ | 2022-12-28 02:34:03 | 0 | https://kobi5.com/news/us-and-world-news/rogue-community-health-opens-its-second-dental-clinic-in-medford-201387/ |
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis met Saturday with thousands of refugees and charity groups hosting them in Italy as he sought to promote legal migration routes to Europe as an alternative to smuggling operations that he said have turned the Mediterranean Sea into a “cemetery.”
Francis said “humanitarian corridors,” which have operated in Italy since 2016, saved lives and helped newly arrived asylum-seekers get acclimated while church groups provided housing, education and work opportunities.
“Humanitarian corridors not only aim to bring refugees to Italy and other European countries, rescuing them from situations of uncertainty, danger and endless waiting; they also work toward integration,” he said.
The Sant’Egidio Catholic charity, the Federation of Evangelical Churches and the Waldensian Church spearheaded the ecumenical humanitarian transfer initiative in Italy, which has brought more than 6,000 people to Europe, Francis was told.
Under the program, aid workers identify asylum candidates in refugee camps and process initial paperwork to bring them into Italy on humanitarian grounds. Once they arrive, they are then provided with assistance to settle and apply for asylum.
Families from Syria, Afghanistan, Rwanda and Ukraine were in the Vatican auditorium to meet with the pope.
“It was important for me to come here to show the world that humanitarian corridors are one of the most beautiful things this world has to offer for people who deserve” safety and dignity, Oliver Chris I. Kabalisa, a 22-year-old from Rwanda, said. “Because as a refugee, we do not leave our country because we want to, but because we are constrained, we are forced to.”
Afghan refugee Nazani Shakvulla said women in her country were suffering, banned from education, work and travel, and need help from the Vatican and charity groups “to support the humanitarian corridors and find a way to evacuate or find a way that girls in Afghanistan get education.”
___
Follow AP’s coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/ap-top-headlines/pope-promotes-humanitarian-corridors-for-migrants/ | 2023-03-19 13:45:50 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/ap-top-headlines/pope-promotes-humanitarian-corridors-for-migrants/ |
Worldwide Stages Announces Grand Opening of its massive 320,000 Square Foot, 38 Acre Complex for Music, Film, and Broadcast Production Minutes from Nashville (Music City USA), Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldwide Stages LLC (WWS) unveils its massive entertainment complex – located just South of Nashville (Music City, USA), Tennessee, in nearby Spring Hill. WWS has already provided state-of-the-art facilities to multiple facets of the entertainment industry including tour rehearsal facilities for musical stars, production facilities for diverse content creators to produce live-streaming events, music videos, commercials, episodic television series, and feature films.
"It feels like opening 'Disneyland', but for entertainment production professionals and A-list stars," said Kelly Frey, CEO and President of WWS. "The first word we hear from artists and production companies visiting our facility is 'Wow.' We wanted to create not just a functional production environment but also a safe-haven for A-list entertainers. We even designed a Speakeasy around a vintage 1920's era solid wood bar that our guests can use for meetings, events, or relaxation onsite," added Mr. Frey. "Forget about the warehouses and industrial soundstages of the past. WWS is much more like a five-star hotel venue that happens to have the soundstages and ancillary production space A-list performers and international production companies need to produce their entertainment content securely and in comfort."
WWS acquired the former world headquarters of Saturn and invested millions of dollars into a complete renovation. The result is a beautiful, unique entertainment production complex with production services and amenities customized to provide a high-end experience for each client.
The luxury entertainment campus provides:
- Thousands of square feet of luxurious production facilities, green rooms, and professionally decorated artist suites
- A variety of stages ranging in scale for music tour rehearsals, TV, and film production - designed to provide an exceptional experience
- Beautifully decorated gathering spaces that exude luxury and exclusivity; including opulent atriums designed to impress and inspire. Perfect for entertainment professionals and industry events
- Private 70-seat theater with state-of-the-art audio equipment that is ideal for screening dailies or creating intimate performances
- Acres of private parking for personnel and production equipment with easy access to major Interstate highways
- Onsite medic and security personnel supported by state-of-the-art technology (including campus-wide facial recognition cameras and software-driven access)
"Tennessee is home to a thriving entertainment industry, and we support companies such as WWS that invest in growing our state's footprint in entertainment," said Stuart McWhorter, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
"The opening of WWS signals Tennessee's trending growth and competitiveness in the entertainment sector on both a local and national level," said Bob Raines, Executive Director for the Tennessee Entertainment Commission. "WWS will not only leverage Tennessee's internationally renowned music industry, but also service the influx of television and motion picture professionals interested in producing the next generation of entertainment content."
"Spring Hill is excited to welcome WWS and it's CEO, Kelly Frey, into our community," said Jim Hagaman, Mayor of Spring Hill. "This investment from WWS will create an impact far beyond job creation and economic growth."
WWS is already planning expansion, adding additional soundstages onsite in Spring Hill in response to industry demand while investigating expansion to other entertainment-centric cities in need of the luxury-branded facilities curated by WWS.
Media Contact:
Aaron Crisler, Director of Media Relations
Worldwide Stages
+1-615-314-5900
press@worldwidestages.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Worldwide Stages | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/luxury-entertainment-production-campus-opens-middle-tennessee/ | 2023-01-31 16:47:34 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/luxury-entertainment-production-campus-opens-middle-tennessee/ |
Which gel eye mask is best?
Part therapeutic device and part beauty tool, gel eye masks can relieve a nagging headache or simply help you unwind. These squishable, flexible masks are filled with liquid or soft beads, able to be frozen, chilled, or even microwaved. Once they reach your preferred temperature, apply the mask to your face and let it work its magic.
While gel eye masks don’t cure any conditions, they’re remarkably effective for soothing and relaxation. The best one, the Fomi Hot and Cold Therapy Gel Bead Eye Mask, is made from nontoxic materials and covers three-quarters of your face for maximum relief.
What to know before you buy a gel eye mask
Coverage area
Most gel eye masks cover just over an inch above or below your eyes and extend to cover part of your temples. Many people use them to treat puffy eyes or as a staple of their skin care routine.
There are also oversized gel eye masks whose coverage areas extend from beyond the T-zone right down to the cheeks. These are often used by those who suffer from migraines or sinus headaches. Depending on their design, they can be flipped and worn on the neck or behind the head.
Cold therapy vs. warm therapy
Gel eye masks used for cold therapy are placed in the freezer between uses. If they feel too chilly for immediate wear, you may need to leave them on the counter for a couple minutes before placing them on your face.
Some gel eye masks can also be heated in the microwave for warm therapy. They’re ideal for soothing soreness, especially discomfort related to tension or sinus headaches, as the warm compress helps boost blood flow.
What to look for in a quality gel eye mask
Liquid vs. soft bead fillings
Gel eye masks fall into two main categories: liquid or bead filled. While both are flexible and pliable, masks with beads are better at contouring to your face. This means you have more contact areas between the mask and your face, which maximizes your overall therapeutic experience.
Light blocking vs. eye holes
If you intend to wear your gel eye mask while engaging in other activities around the house, choose one with eye holes. On the other hand, if you prefer to snooze while wearing your mask, pick a light-blocking mask without eye holes.
Straps
Straps keep gel eye masks in place and are adjustable to provide a comfortable, customized fit. They can be elastic, hook and loop or have a slide buckle.
While straps seem like a simple feature, they tell of the mask’s overall quality. Poorly made masks have flimsy straps that break easily, while better ones are made from durable materials or feature reinforced stitching.
Premium comfort features
If you’re looking for an extra boost for soothing or relaxation, consider spending a little more on gel eye masks with premium comfort features. Some have removable aromatherapy inserts and others have soft fabric linings or padded straps.
How much you can expect to spend on a gel eye mask
For less than $10, you can get liquid gel eye masks with minimal coverage. Those with a larger coverage area and additional comfort features such as linings cost $10-$20. For a spa-quality gel eye mask, which may come with aromatherapy, you’ll spend closer to $30.
Gel eye masks FAQ
Can you sleep with a gel eye mask on?
A. You could, and it’s not unusual to nod off while wearing one. Medical experts, however, say it’s best to limit wear to no longer than 20 minutes at a time. To make sure you’re always wearing your mask safely, set a timer during your relaxation session.
How do you clean a gel eye mask?
A. Wipe it down with water and gentle soap, and let it dry fully before freezing it again. If your mask is lined with fabric, you may need to spot-treat it with gentle detergent if it’s stained from makeup or dirt.
What’s the best gel eye mask to buy?
Top gel eye mask
Fomi Hot and Cold Therapy Gel Bead Eye Mask
What you need to know: You can use it for headaches, eye puffiness or simply relaxation.
What you’ll love: The oversized design has a cloth side for maximum comfort and can be used warm or cold.
What you should consider: You should follow microwave directions carefully to prevent leakage.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top gel eye mask for the money
L’autre Peau Freeze Therapeutics Gel Bead Spa Eye Mask
What you need to know: The flexible design covers the temples.
What you’ll love: This budget-friendly option has easy-to-adjust straps and comes with two masks.
What you should consider: The eye holes could be cut a bit better.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Bausch and Lomb Thera Pearl Eye Mask
What you need to know: It’s on the smaller side, so it’s best for those who need modest coverage and relief.
What you’ll love: It provides maximum surface area for relief, because it has eye holes. It’s approved by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to be carried on airplanes.
What you should consider: The strap can be challenging to wear.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Sian Babish 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.wjhl.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/massage-relaxation-br/best-gel-eye-mask/ | 2023-01-08 10:44:44 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/massage-relaxation-br/best-gel-eye-mask/ |
Providing shade from the sun and shelter from the rain, grill gazebos make it possible to grill in nearly any conditions. If you love to cook outdoors but you find yourself limited by the weather, this type of gazebo could be a game-changer.
They aren’t just great for covering grills, either. You can use them for any outdoor cooking appliances, from pizza ovens to camping stoves. However you like to cook outside, a grill gazebo has you covered.
Shop this article: Master Canopy Grill Gazebo, Cooshade Double-Tiered Grill Gazebo and CoastShade Grill Gazebo
What are grill gazebos?
Grill gazebos are smaller versions of standard gazebos. They’re appropriately sized for a large grill and a couple of cooks. Most have extra features that make prepping, grilling and serving food easier, such as shelves and spots to hang utensils.
What to look for in a grill gazebo
Size
These gazebos are big enough to accommodate even extra-large grills without taking up more space than necessary. The most common size is 8 feet by 5 feet, which fits large grills with some space on each side to move around or for a trestle table to hold food and other essentials. Plus, it’s deep enough to cook comfortably without being exposed to the elements. However, you can also find slightly larger versions if you feel like you need extra room.
Roof vent
It can get hot grilling under a gazebo, so it’s important to have a roof vent to let fresh air in and hot air out as it rises to the roof. However, these vents should be designed so they let air out without letting water in, as you still want protection from the rain.
Open sides
Gazebos for grilling under must have at least three open sides. Not only does this keep them from getting too hot inside, but it’s also important to grill in a ventilated area for safety, particularly if you use a charcoal grill. While burning and smoldering, charcoal gives off noxious gases, of which carbon monoxide is the most notable. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal, which is why grill gazebos need open sides — and why you should never grill indoors.
Shelves
Many gazebos for grilling have built-in shelves or worktops. These give you space to prepare food or to keep ingredients that are waiting to go on the grill. You can even use the shelf on one side for food waiting to be grilled and the one on the other side for food that’s already been cooked. Not all are equally deep or sturdy, so if good worktops are important to you, take a close look at them before buying.
Utensil hooks
Built-in hooks for utensils let you keep all your grill tools within easy reach. Rather than scrabbling around to work out where you put your tongs, you’ll know exactly where to find them. It also helps keep you from accidentally putting tools down on a dirty or contaminated surface.
Awning
Some grill gazebos have an awning on the front or side. This provides extra shade, which can be handy when the sun is coming from an awkward angle or when people want to gather around to chat with the cook.
Best grill gazebos under $180
Measuring 8 feet by 5 feet, this average-size gazebo is spacious without being too large. It has shelves on each side, utensil hooks, a built-in bottle opener and LED lights for grilling after dark, making it a highly practical space for preparing food.
Sold by Amazon
Cooshade Double-Tiered Grill Gazebo
The tiered roof design and open sides provide all the ventilation you need to stay as cool as possible while you grill. The battery-powered LED lights, two shelves, hooks for grill tools and bottle opener are all welcome additions.
Sold by Amazon
You have several versions of this gazebo to choose from: one with an arced roof and one with a straight-sided roof, both of which come in 8-foot by 5-foot and 9-foot by 6-foot options. All feature shelves, utensil hooks and a bottle opener.
Sold by Amazon
With two sturdy shelves, utensil hooks, a bottle opener and an LED light, this is a functional choice for grilling. The two-tier roof offers plenty of ventilation, while the frame is made from a durable yet lightweight powder-coated aluminum.
Sold by Amazon
Best grill gazebos over $180
While its simple curved roof isn’t ventilated, it’s open at the sides so it doesn’t trap heat as easily. The two large, durable shelves and the hooks for grill tools make it a handy space to cook in.
Sold by Amazon
Charmeleon Double-Tiered Grill Gazebo
This smartly designed and well-ventilated gazebo features a fold-out awning to provide extra shade. The shelves and utensil hooks are functional additions, while the central hook in the roof is great for hanging a light from.
Sold by Amazon
ABC Canopy Grill Gazebo Shelter
Made from a strong powder-coated steel alloy, this gazebo is durable and rust-resistant. It has all the practical features you’d hope for, including shelves, utensil hooks, a bottle opener and LED lights.
Sold by Amazon
The main part of the gazebo measures 8 feet by 5 feet, but with the addition of the side awning, it extends to 11 feet by 5 feet. It has handy shelves and utensil hooks.
Sold by Amazon
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wdtn.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/backyard-br/which-grill-gazebo-is-best-for-your-patio/ | 2023-06-11 22:50:58 | 0 | https://www.wdtn.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/backyard-br/which-grill-gazebo-is-best-for-your-patio/ |
KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — Exclusive drone footage of the collapsed Ukrainian dam and surrounding villages under Russian occupation shows the ruined structure falling into the flooded river and hundreds of submerged homes, greenhouses and even a church — and no sign of life.
An Associated Press team flew a drone over the devastation on Wednesday, a day after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River. The buildings that remain visible above the rushing waters did not show damage typical of a bomb dropped from above, such as scorch marks or shrapnel scars.
Russia accused Ukraine of bombarding the structure, which was under Moscow’s control, while Ukraine alleged that Russia blew it up from within.
The collapse of the dam in an area that Moscow has controlled for over a year and the emptying of its reservoir has irrevocably changed the landscape downstream, and shifted the dynamic of the 15-month-old war.
In the images captured by the AP, most of the dam was submerged by the rushing water. Two nearby villages under occupation, Dnipryany and Korsunka, were also underwater up to the rooftops of homes and a bright blue church.
The rounded shape of dozens of greenhouses was visible over the waterline. The images were devoid of people, but AP journalists could hear the screaming howls of dogs trapped by the flooding.
The nearby town of Nova Kakhovka, also under occupation, was less touched by the flooding but equally devoid of people and animals. Its Ferris wheel was stopped and water lapped up a main street.
Ukraine has warned since last October that the hydroelectric dam was mined by Russian forces, and accused them of touching off an explosion that has turned the downstream areas into a waterlogged wasteland. Russia said Ukraine hit the dam with a missile. Experts have said the structure was in disrepair, which could also have led to its collapse.
There were no signs typical of a missile attack in the few remaining buildings.
The Dnieper River forms part of the front line in the war, and many people had already fled the area because of the fighting. Ukraine holds the western bank, while Russia controls the low-lying eastern side, which is more vulnerable to flooding.
Anna Lodygina, a Nova Kakhovka resident who fled last autumn, said the flooding has paralyzed the occupied town, with markets closed, and limited electricity and mobile reception. The Russian soldiers occupying her family home, just 500 meters (yards) from the river, fled after the dam collapsed and neighbors have told her water now reaches the upper floor of the two-story building.
Friends and neighbors told her the Russians pulled out themselves, but extended no help to residents, so people took matters into their own hands, finding shelter a neighborhood farther from the river.
According to Lodygina, the historic part of the city is submerged. “Its state now is unknown,” she said.
On the Ukrainian-controlled side, a Red Cross worker fielded calls from people begging for rescue from the other bank but could do little for them.
“Our telephone is burning up from calls and our phone number is not well known. Just yesterday we got at least 30 calls from occupied territories,” said Mykola Tarenenko, chief of the Kherson Red Cross quick response team. “People are asking us to evacuate them because no evacuation was organized.” | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/ap-exclusive-drone-footage-of-collapsed-dam-shows-ruined-structure-devastation-and-no-sign-of-life/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_world | 2023-06-08 15:29:19 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/ap-exclusive-drone-footage-of-collapsed-dam-shows-ruined-structure-devastation-and-no-sign-of-life/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_world |
CHICAGO (AP) — It has been more than three years since Major League Baseball issued its report on an electronic sign-stealing scheme by the Houston Astros.
Keynan Middleton definitely remembers.
The reliever struck out Carlos Correa on a 96.2 mph fastball on Wednesday night, closing out a 6-4 victory for the Chicago White Sox against the Minnesota Twins.
Following his first save since 2021, Middleton talked about how much he relished that last swing by Correa, who played for the Astros at the time of the scandal.
“I knew I was going to face Correa, and I don’t like him. So it was kind of cool,” he said. “I like that. I enjoyed that a lot. … I mean, he’s a cheater.”
Middleton played in the AL West for his first five years in the majors, competing against Correa and the Astros.
Houston was disciplined by Major League Baseball after it found the team used electronics to steal signs during its run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season.
MLB’s investigation determined Houston used a video feed from a center-field camera to see and decode the opposing catcher’s signs during home games. Players banged on a trash can to signal to batters what was coming, believing it would improve their odds of getting a hit.
Then-manager A.J. Hinch was suspended and fired in the fallout, but no players were punished after Commissioner Rob Manfred granted them immunity as part of the league’s investigation.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.koin.com/sports/ap-sports/middleton-calls-correa-a-cheater-after-fanning-shortstop/ | 2023-05-05 03:16:13 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/sports/ap-sports/middleton-calls-correa-a-cheater-after-fanning-shortstop/ |
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — Crews were at an office building in the Annandale area Friday afternoon after a car crashed into space occupied by a language school.
The vehicle ended up in part of Evergreen Academy. The school, which teaches English as a second language, has space in the building, located at 7700 Little River Turnpike.
Portions of the brick facade were knocked out, and no windows were in place as crews worked around the damage. Furniture was strewn around in the space.
The school’s website said Evergreen Academy started offering ESL courses in 2007. It offered a single program at the time, but now offers courses throughout the day in 11 classrooms, including two computer labs. | https://www.wric.com/news/northern-virginia/car-crashes-into-language-school-building-space-in-fairfax-county/ | 2023-04-01 02:46:31 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/northern-virginia/car-crashes-into-language-school-building-space-in-fairfax-county/ |
Deputy with decades of service lost cancer battle
Published: Sep. 4, 2022 at 11:19 PM CDT|Updated: 14 minutes ago
RANDOLPH COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) - A deputy that served the Randolph County community for decades lost his battle with cancer Sunday.
Randolph County Police Chief Kevin Bell shared the death of Randolph County Deputy Wilburn Dean Kimble Jr., known as Willie, on Sept. 4.
Kimble served the community for over 30 years, even coming back from retirement to continue his service despite his battle with cancer.
“Hands down one of the bravest and most dedicated law officers I’ve ever met,” said Bell. “Today we have lost a true American hero after his long hard-fought battle with cancer.”
An obituary for Kimble says funeral services will be held on Sept. 7.
Copyright 2022 KAIT. All rights reserved. | https://www.kait8.com/2022/09/05/deputy-with-decades-service-lost-cancer-battle/ | 2022-09-05 04:34:34 | 1 | https://www.kait8.com/2022/09/05/deputy-with-decades-service-lost-cancer-battle/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Biden signs landmark bipartisan gun measure, says 'lives will be saved.'
- Sid's Party Store to close by the end of June
- Reproductive Freedom for All petitions now circulating in Midland
- Crime log: Man calls cops after neighbor yells at him
- SHERIFF'S BLOTTER: Unknown woman allegedly walks into home, starts...
- Whitmer's lost case costs taxpayers $200,000
- Midland reacts to reproductive rights conversation sparks after Roe v...
- Meet the 2022 Daily News Baseball Dream Team
- Crime log: Man strongly advised to stay away from woman's house
Most Popular
- What's Happening in the Great Lakes Bay Region?
- MSU Extension of Midland County and cooperating parent educators sponsor the Parent’s Corner....
- Real estate transactions in Midland County from June 15 to June 21, 2022. 15 Lexington, $330,000...
- The chosen recipient was Meridian Public Schools kindergarten teacher Mariah Broka, who just... | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Alert-Biden-signs-landmark-bipartisan-gun-17265271.php | 2022-06-25 13:31:02 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Alert-Biden-signs-landmark-bipartisan-gun-17265271.php |
With access to sources including cookbooks and blogs, TikTok and TV, we live amid a virtual smorgasbord of food inspiration. But you can’t always be certain that amateurs on the internet — or even experienced chefs — are covering their food safety bases. Ill-conceived shortcuts and outdated practices can lead to real illnesses — especially if they go, well, viral.
“People have been taught a certain way, or they just aren’t aware of certain safety risks, and then they start to post on social media, which goes to many other people,” said Meredith Carothers, a U.S. Department of Agriculture food safety expert.
Carothers said she has seen more bad advice popping up online, especially as short-form platforms leave little room for safe-handling tips. Studies have found that cookbooks and television shows often fall short on food safety, too.
Millions of people suffer foodborne illnesses annually in the United States. Carothers said it’s often difficult to connect each case to a precise cause; the best prevention is following practices proved to keep disease-causing microbes at bay.
So, whether 2023 finds you diving spoon-first into the latest kitchen trend or simply eyeing an easy chicken dish on a food blog, here are some phrases — and some omissions — that should give you pause.
‘Rinse the chicken’
Cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, which you can confirm by sticking a food thermometer into the thickest part, kills illness-causing germs such as salmonella. Rinsing raw chicken, on the other hand, can spread them.
“There’s nothing that you can do to remove any of the harmful bacteria,” said Ben Chapman, who directs a food safety research program at North Carolina State University. “You’re only increasing risk by depositing it in your sink or around your sink.”
Food safety experts have long discouraged chicken rinsing, but a 2016 U.S. Food and Drug Administration survey found that 67 percent of consumers still wash chicken before cooking.
Carothers said the practice often moves, alongside treasured recipes, from generation to generation. It may be a vestige of a time when chickens arrived in homes dirtier, possibly with some feathers.
If you’re committed to rinsing chicken, Carothers advises cleaning and sanitizing your sink afterward (otherwise you risk contamination when you then, say, rinse an apple or wash a dish). But, she said, the USDA has found that most people either don’t clean the sink well enough to eliminate bacteria or don’t clean it at all.
When a recipe says “pat dry,” it’s not assuming you rinsed the chicken but suggesting you remove surface moisture so seasonings stick and the chicken browns nicely.
While we’re here: Rinsing any raw meat or seafood also can spread bacteria.
‘Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate’
When you’re finished with a hot dish, such as a stew, the food safety priority is keeping it hot or cooling it fast.
Disease-causing bacteria readily grow in what experts call the “danger zone,” between 40 and 140 degrees. But a type of bacteria that causes a common foodborne illness grows especially fast between 80 and 120 degrees, said Don Schaffner, a Rutgers University food microbiologist. This bacteria, often implicated when large, poorly cooled batches of food make people sick, typically survives the high heat of cooking as thick-walled, inactive spores, then transforms to regular, multiplying bacterial cells as the food drops into the danger zone.
“The more that you can do to get it out of that upper end of the danger zone as quickly as possible, the better,” Schaffner said.
So there’s no need to let food cool before refrigerating it. But quickly covering your pot and sticking it in the fridge isn’t ideal either; that traps heat, especially in deep dishes and dense foods.
To promote cooling, you can transfer food to shallow containers and then, ideally, leave the food uncovered in the fridge (covering once cooled). Assuming the food isn’t under raw meat, Schaffner said, the odds of contamination from an open dish in the fridge are less than the odds of disease-causing bacteria thriving in too-warm food. He also said leaving a pot out while you eat your meal is usually fine — it’s what he does at his house.
‘Cook until no pink remains’
“The only way to know whether something is cooked to a safe doneness is to use a thermometer,” Chapman said, noting that clear juices, browning and texture aren’t sufficient indicators. “If anybody is telling you in a recipe that there’s some other proxy for doneness, it’s not based on any science.”
For example, to kill pathogens such as E. coli, hamburger patties need to reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees; but a burger can lose its “pink” below that temperature.
That pink color comes from myoglobin, an oxygen-storing protein that can make raw beef appear purplish, red or brown (the liquid you see in packaged meat is myoglobin dissolved in water). Myoglobin typically denatures and browns in the vicinity of a food-safe temperature, but many factors — from the animal’s life experiences to whether you’ve frozen or salted the meat — can lead to an undercooked burger that looks thoroughly brown, or an overcooked burger that still has some pink.
Chapman noted that burgers are much riskier than steak if undercooked.
“I can cook a steak to a fairly rare level and know I’m reducing contamination,” he said. “I’m getting the outside really, really hot and I don’t expect there are pathogens inside.”
Conversely, he said, in a ground-beef patty, “I’m mixing it all up and now the outside becomes the inside,” so pathogens may not be killed if the patty is left rare. Tenderized and brine-injected cuts of meat also may harbor bacteria beneath the surface. So if you love rare meat, it’s a matter of weighing the risk.
Homemade oil infusions
It is possible to make a shelf-stable garlic or herb oil infusion at home, it’s just more involved than many people — possibly well-meaning social media posters suggesting an “easy DIY gift” — might assume.
“If you don’t follow a validated step-
by-step recipe … you can make someone really, really sick or even kill someone,” said Carla Schwan, the director of the National Center for Home Food Preservation. Because oil and garlic are stored at room temperature, people might wrongly believe that they can be mixed and stashed in a cabinet.
Spores of the bacteria that cause botulism are common and easily land on foods such as garlic and herbs, where we eat them without consequence. But under specific circumstances, such as the low-acid, room-temperature, anaerobic environment inside a bottle of oil, the spores can, over time, germinate into regular bacterial cells and produce toxins.
The right balance of acid prevents the spores from germinating. After a number of inquiries about oil infusions, Schwan recently posted a recipe.
Botulism is serious, but, fortunately, it’s also rare. Commercially jarred garlic products must comply with strict guidelines designed to prevent bacterial growth. And yes, pestos, stir fries and other dishes with garlic and oil are fine, as long as you keep them refrigerated and use them within a reasonable period (the USDA recommends four days for leftovers).
What the recipe doesn’t say
Most recipes don’t list “wash your hands” as the first step, but researchers have found that when recipes do include food safety steps, people are more likely to take precautions. For food writers out there, the Partnership for Food Safety Education offers a “safe recipe style guide.” Food safety folks like to see notes like these:
- Use a thermometer to ensure that food reaches a safe temperature.
- Avoid cross contamination. If a surface or utensil touches raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs, it should be washed before its next use. Same for your hands.
- Use pasteurized eggs in dishes where eggs aren’t fully cooked.
- Only use canning recipes from trusted sources, and avoid substitutions or adjustments.
Rachael Jackson is a D.C.-based writer and the founder of EatOrToss.com. Reach her at rachael@eatortoss.com. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/01/17/recipe-food-safety/ | 2023-01-17 15:21:25 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/01/17/recipe-food-safety/ |
A cohort study conducted in multiple nations found a connection between tea consumption and a lower risk of contracting type 2 diabetes.
The study was presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.
Presenters said last week they took away risk factors such as like age, sex, and physical inactivity in making their determination.
Initially, scientists struggled to find a connection between tea consumption and diabetes risk. But when the amount of tea was considered, the connection became clearer.
The study found that consuming 1-3 servings of tea a day cut the risk by 4%. But when a person consumes at least four servings of tea, the risk is reduced by 17%. Researchers said there did not appear to be any difference between different types of tea.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that there are 37 million Americans with diabetes, at least 90% of them with type 2.
The CDC said consuming more fruit, vegetables and water helps lower the risk.
“Our results are exciting because they suggest that people can do something as simple as drinking four cups of tea a day to potentially lessen their risk of developing type 2 diabetes”, says lead author Xiaying Li from Wuhan University of Science and Technology in China.
Another recent study in the U.K. from the National Cancer Institute Intramural Research Program found a lower risk of mortality among those who consume at least two cups of tea per day. The study involved nearly 500,000 people aged 40-69 from 2006 through 2010. Researchers then conducted a follow-up 11 years later. | https://www.kgun9.com/news/national/higher-tea-consumption-leads-to-lower-risk-of-type-2-diabetes | 2022-09-22 18:45:38 | 0 | https://www.kgun9.com/news/national/higher-tea-consumption-leads-to-lower-risk-of-type-2-diabetes |
Michelle Yeoh is anxiously awaiting the Crazy Rich Asians sequel like the rest of us.
While promoting her newest series, Netflix's The Witcher: Blood Origin, the actress gave an update on the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2018 Jon M. Chu hit.
"We are still waiting on it," she exclusively told E! News. "We know there's a writer on it, so we'll see. Fingers crossed."
The sequel would follow Kevin Kwan's book sequel, China Rich Girlfriend, which follows Nick (Henry Golding) and Rachel (Constance Wu) as they prepare for their California wedding. Yeoh would presumably reprise her role as Eleanor Sung-Young, a.k.a. Nick's domineering mother who works to keep them apart in Crazy Rich Asians.
Production has been up in the air for years, with writer Adele Lim leaving the project in 2019 due to pay disparity between herself and cowriter Peter Chiarelli. In March, Warner Bros. and Color Force announced that writer-director Amy Wang would be writing the sequel instead.
Yeoh isn't the only cast member who's clamoring for a sequel as Golding himself told E! News in March that he "can't wait to get back to Singapore," where the first film took place, to start working on the sequel.
"I always bug [Chu] about it and he tells him the same thing every time: They're trying to figure out the writing," he said. "I know they're working on it, but hopefully sooner than later."
In the meantime, Yeoh stars as the honorable sword-elf Scian in The Witcher: Blood Origin, which is set 1,200 years before the events of the original. And, as a longtime fan of The Witcher herself, Yeoh was eager to expand the series' already-wide canon.
"I get to play an elf, and you don't see an Asian-looking elf running around a lot," she explained. "I love this whole world of magic and monsters and defeating them, but I also wanted to learn why there were these monsters. In Blood Origin, you'll find out, and it was a really exciting journey to be a part of."
The Witcher: Blood Origin premieres Dec. 25 on Netflix. Crazy Rich Asians is available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV+. | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1357048/michelle-yeoh-gives-an-update-on-the-crazy-rich-asians-sequel | 2022-12-05 21:37:27 | 0 | https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1357048/michelle-yeoh-gives-an-update-on-the-crazy-rich-asians-sequel |
Oppressive heat will bake much of the US this weekend, with the Northeast expected to see triple-digit temperatures
By Aya Elamroussi, CNN
Relentless, oppressive heat will grip much of the US this weekend, with the Northeast region expected to bear the brunt amid forecasts for near-record temperatures across the region.
Nearly 80 million Americans from the central US to the Northeast are under heat warnings or advisories as officials across the country urge people to take precautions when outdoors.
“Sweltering heat over the Northeast US this weekend may lead 30+ stations to approach or exceed their record high temps by Sunday, w/ high humidity driving triple-digit heat indices along the I-95 corridor,” the Weather Prediction Center warned Friday.
Heat index values — what the air feels like — may reach at least 105 degrees this weekend in parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, aided by the suffocating humidity, the prediction center noted.
The dangerous temperatures — which experts note are becoming more common across the globe due to climate change— have led state and local leaders to take steps to help their residents cope with the oppressive conditions.
In New York, the governor is urging people to take advantage of cooling centers and check on particularly vulnerable communities.
“We need everyone to be on alert this weekend, keeping an eye out for any signs of heat-related illness and looking after one another,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release.
In Philadelphia — where the forecast high for Sunday is 101 degrees — officials extended a heat health emergency. Cooling centers, home visits by special teams and enhanced daytime outreach to people experiencing homelessness are available through Sunday.
A heat emergency is in effect in Washington, DC, until at least Monday morning as temperatures are expected to be 95 degrees or higher, the mayor announced. Shelters and cooling centers have also opened to serve those who need them, the mayor said.
This week saw at least 2 heat-related deaths in US
The extreme heat claimed at least two lives so far this week.
In Dallas, a 66-year-old woman who had underlying health conditions died due to heat-related issues, a county official said Thursday.
And on Wednesday, a 22-year-old hiker died due to possible dehydration and exposure in a South Dakota national park, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The hiker was flown to a hospital after running out of water while hiking on an unmarked trail in Badlands National Park.
Highs in the area this week have been in the upper 90s, according to the National Weather Service. Typically, highs are 92 degrees in July.
In Arizona, officials in Maricopa County reported at least 29 people died from heat-related issues since March — the majority of whom were outdoors. Last year, 16 heat-related deaths during the same period in 2021, the county’s public health department said. In the meantime, dozens of other deaths are under investigation in the county for heat-related causes.
Excessive heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US. The conditions climate change imposes have been making extreme weather events more deadly and more common.
In fact, heat deaths have outpaced hurricane deaths by more than 15-to-1 over the past decade, according to data tracked by the National Weather Service.
Meanwhile in New Mexico, two women died Thursday after flash flooding in San Miguel County, the sheriff said in a statement.
First-responders there found the bodies of the two women in a creek channel after seeing a car had capsized, Sheriff Chris Lopez said. A man was also reported missing in the flooding, he added.
85% of US will see high temperatures next week
About 85% of the US population — or 273 million people — could see high temperatures above 90 degrees over the next week. And about 55 million people could see high temperatures at or above 100 degrees over the next seven days.
On Saturday, “sizzling temperatures” will take hold of the Middle Mississippi Valley and Central Plains with temperatures forecast to surpass 100 degrees, the weather prediction center said.
Daytime temperatures could top 100 degrees across much of the Southwest, with some areas exceeding 110 degrees, according to the center.
The south-central region can expect to see high temperatures in the triple digits every day between Sunday and Thursday, the prediction center noted.
“There is some good news in the medium range (after the weekend) as an approaching cold front brings a brief injection of cooler temps to the Midwest and Northeast, but the core of the intense heat shifts to the South Central US and Pacific Northwest early next week,” the prediction center wrote.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Samantha Beech, Robert Shackelford, Rachel Ramirez, Rebekah Riess, Paradise Afshar and Allison Chinchar contributed to this report. | https://kion546.com/cnn-weather-environment/2022/07/22/oppressive-heat-will-bake-much-of-the-us-this-weekend-with-the-northeast-expected-to-see-triple-digit-temperatures-2/ | 2022-07-23 07:58:39 | 0 | https://kion546.com/cnn-weather-environment/2022/07/22/oppressive-heat-will-bake-much-of-the-us-this-weekend-with-the-northeast-expected-to-see-triple-digit-temperatures-2/ |
Missed out on winning the whopping $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot?
Don't worry -- there were a number of local Powerball breakout winners that are a few thousand dollars, even $1,000,000 richer!
A single ticket-holder in California won the largest lottery jackpot in world history, officials said Tuesday — a record-setting $2.04 billion prize, with estimated cash value of $997.6 million, despite a technicality-related drawing delay.
In the Garden State, three New Jersey Lottery tickets matched all the white balls drawn for the second-tier $1,000,000 prize.
The tickets were purchased in various counties of the state:
- Camden County: News Nook, 17 S Centre St., Merchantville;
- Mercer County: 7-Eleven #27890, 222 Dutch Neck Rd., Hightstown; and,
- Middlesex County: Atlantis Fresh Market #37, 421 US Highway 1 South, Edison.
Additionally, eight tickets matched four of the five white balls and the Powerball drawn winning the $50,000 third-tier prize. One of those tickets was a Power Play, which multiplied the prize to $100,000. Those tickets were sold at:
- Passaic County ($100,000): AL Super Mart LLC, 96 Mountainview Blvd., Wayne;
- Burlington County ($50,000): Medford News and Tobacco, 682 Stokes Rd., Medford;
- Mercer County ($50,000): Shoprite #500, 3373 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville;
- Middlesex County ($50,000): Krauszers, 525 Avenel St., Avenel;
- Middlesex County ($50,000): Costa & Joao Amoco, 756 Roosevelt Ave., Carteret;
- Middlesex County ($50,000): Atlantis Fresh Market #37, 421 US Highway 1 South, Edison;
- Middlesex County ($50,000): Tiger Paw Exxon, 912 Route 9 South, Parlin; and,
- Somerset County ($50,000): Wegmans Food Store, 724 Route 202 South, Bridgewater.
POWERBALL JACKPOT
Meanwhile, New York Lottery also announced that a Power Play Prize third place prize worth $100,000 and 22 third-prize winning tickets each worth $50,000.
The prize-winning tickets were purchased at the following New York locations:
- Mick's Deli in Otisville - Power Play winner of $100,000
- Stewart's Shops in Clifton Park
- Omsharda in Queens Village
- Bono's Deli in Manhattan
- Meadow Trading in Fresh Meadows
- Stewart's Shops in Cobleskill
- BJ's Wholesale Club in College Point
- East Islip Card & Gift in East Islip
- Kwik Fill store in Cheektowaga
- Stop & Shop in White Plains
- A & S Mini-Mart in Mahopac
- Kings Motor Super Pumper in Hauppauge
- 7-Eleven in Buffalo
- TU Bohio Grocery in Brooklyn
- Stop 1 Deli in Ozone Park
- Route 24 Deli in East Meadow
- 7-Eleven in Nanuet
- Lucky Choice Convenience in Manhattan
- Sam's Card and Gift Shop on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan
- Stop & Shop in Frankin Square
- 7-Eleven in Rockville Centre
- Lex Grocery in Manhattan
- 7-Eleven in Buffalo.
Additionally, in Connecticut, four third-place $50,000 prize-winning Powerball tickets were sold.
Although, these second- and third-tier prizes will make any winner happy, the amounts are nothing compared to the record-setting jackpot prize. The winning ticket for the world record jackpot was sold at Joe's Service Center on West Woodbury Road in the San Gabriel Valley community of Altadena, the California Lottery said.
The winning numbers for the Monday, November 7, drawing were: 10, 33, 41, 47, and 56. The Red Power Ball number was 10. The Power Play was 2X.
The odds of matching all five numbers and the Powerball number is 1 in 292.2 million, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association, which conducts the game.
The Powerball game is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/you-may-be-a-powerball-millionaire-if-you-played-in-nj-prizes-also-won-in-ny-and-ct/3946074/ | 2022-11-08 23:32:38 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/you-may-be-a-powerball-millionaire-if-you-played-in-nj-prizes-also-won-in-ny-and-ct/3946074/ |
The daughter of a woman accused of killing her stepson in Colorado, putting his body in a suitcase and dumping it off a bridge in Florida said Monday that she never suspected his body was in the van they drove in together across the country.
Testifying at Letecia Stauch's murder trial in Colorado Springs, Harley Hunt said it never crossed her mind that her mother was transporting the body of 11-year-old Gannon Stauch in a suitcase in their rented van after killing him, as prosecutors allege.
"I’m still in shock. I defended her for years. I just feel manipulated and lied to," Hunt said.
When pressed by the defense, Hunt said she never looked in the back of the van where their luggage was as they traveled through Texas and Louisiana on their way to Florida and then South Carolina in February 2020. She said she never smelled anything unusual. But Hunt also said her mother insisted on keeping the air conditioning on even when she complained of being too cold.
Prosecutors say Letecia Stauch stabbed Gannon 18 times and shot him before reporting him missing in January 2020 while her then-husband and Gannon's father, Albert Stauch, was away at a National Guard training. While the search for the boy continued, Letecia Stauch and her daughter, who was 17 at the time, left in a rented van with a vague plan to start a new life somewhere else.
COLORADO PARENTS ASKED TO STEP IN, GUARD MIDDLE SCHOOL AFTER NEARBY SHOOTINGS
Gannon’s remains were found by bridge inspectors in March 2020, in a suitcase under a bridge on the Florida Panhandle. Prosecutors suggested that Stauch snuck out from a hotel room where she was staying with her daughter in Pensacola to dispose of his body in the middle of the night. In answer to a question from the jury, Hunt said she did not remember if their van was parked in a different spot when they went to leave the hotel the following morning.
Stauch is charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence. She has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
The defense claimed she suffered a "major psychotic crack" as a result of childhood trauma when she killed Gannon. But prosecutors have been stressing during the trial that she did know right from wrong, a key element they must prove to defeat the insanity defense. They have been steadily asking witnesses like Hunt whether they thought Stauch was able to make decisions and plans.
Hunt testified that her mother booked their hotel rooms for one person, asking her daughter to sneak in on her own with their dogs so she did not have to pay for them, and that she requested a Ford Motor Company corporate discount because a relative worked for the company.
In answer to defense questions, Hunt acknowledged that she had sometimes found her mother crying in the closet while she was growing up.
Also, when Letecia Stauch was unhappily living with her then-husband and blended family in Alaska, where Albert Stauch was stationed, Hunt said her mother implied she was going to kill herself. Hunt said her mother told her to come have "your last dinner with me" and that she had already taken something to make that happen. But Hunt testified that nothing happened to her mother and they never spoke about it again. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/i-feel-manipulated-daughter-says-at-mothers-murder-trial/article_e6a16a6f-21cc-58e6-95f9-f84849838da7.html | 2023-04-18 21:20:53 | 0 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/i-feel-manipulated-daughter-says-at-mothers-murder-trial/article_e6a16a6f-21cc-58e6-95f9-f84849838da7.html |
Anti-Worker Case Before U.S. Supreme Court Will Only Embolden Workers
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien on today's release of the 2022 work stoppage numbers by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data showed work stoppages involving 1,000 or more workers increased by 44 percent compared to 2021.
"Workers are increasingly taking action and going on strike. There is a clear reason for this. America's workers are fed up and they are fighting back.
"The ability to strike is the most powerful tool workers have to demand better and safer working conditions.
"Greedy corporations and billionaires who would rather stockpile profits and reward shareholders than treat workers fairly will see their workers out on the picket lines.
"A worker's right to strike is under assault in the U.S. and across the globe. The Teamsters will never, ever stop demanding our fair share and we will not allow anyone or any institution to attack our rights to collective action.
"An anti-democratic case that is an affront to all hardworking Americans is currently being heard in the U.S. Supreme Court. Whatever the outcome of the Glacier Northwest case, millions of workers will remain emboldened to fight for their rights."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.2 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org to learn more. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610
kdeniz@teamster.org
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/02/22/obrien-americas-workers-are-fighting-back-exercising-right-strike/ | 2023-02-22 19:58:47 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/02/22/obrien-americas-workers-are-fighting-back-exercising-right-strike/ |
AUSTIN, Texas, HAMILTON, ON, and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Triumvira Immunologics, a clinical-stage company developing novel, targeted autologous and allogeneic T cell therapeutics that co-opt the natural biology of T cells to treat patients with solid tumors, today announced that it will be presenting clinical data on its lead asset TAC01-HER2 for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive solid tumors at the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer taking place in Barcelona, Spain, June 28 - July 1, 2023. The upcoming presentation will feature the latest clinical findings obtained from the ongoing Phase I/II trial of TAC01-HER2 (NCT04727151) among patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors.
"We are honored to share our latest advancements in precision cell therapy at ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer. Our innovative and well differentiated TAC01-HER2 cell therapy holds great promise in the treatment of HER2 positive solid tumors." said Deyaa Adib, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Triumvira Immunologics. "This phase 1 data presentation represents a significant step forward in our mission to transform cancer care through the natural potential of T cells. We look forward to contributing to the scientific dialogue and working towards a future where targeted T cell therapeutics redefine the landscape of cell therapies in solid tumors, specifically in late stage gastric and esophageal cancers which has been an area of significant unmet need for a long time."
"These positive results are encouraging for the potential safety and efficacy of TAC01-HER2 in patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors," said Dr. Ecaterina Dumbrava, assistant professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and investigator of the study. "These outcomes also warrant further investigation on the potential of TAC01-HER2 in this significant area of unmet clinical need."
ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer Presentation Details:
Title: A phase I/II trial investigating safety and efficacy of autologous TAC01-HER2 in relapsed or refractory solid tumors
Authors: Ecaterina Dumbrava
Category: Clinical Gastric Cancer
Subcategory: Metastatic Disease
Date and Time: June 29, 9:30 am – 17:40 pm
Abstract Number: P-31
Abstracts are currently available on the World Congress of Gastrointestinal Cancer website under the abstracts section. All abstracts will be published to the Annals of Oncology website on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 16:30 p.m. CEST.
About Triumvira Immunologics
Triumvira Immunologics, Inc. ("Triumvira") is a clinical-stage company developing unique, non-gene edited, first-in-class targeted autologous and allogeneic T cell therapeutics that co-opt the natural biology of T cells to treat patients with solid tumors. The company's proprietary T cell Antigen Coupler (TAC) technology is a robust and versatile platform that activates natural T cell functions differently from cell therapies such as CAR-T and engineered T cell receptor (TCR) therapies. Triumvira is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with research facilities in Hamilton, Ontario, and South San Francisco, California.
Media Contact
David Schull or Ignacio Guerrero-Ros, Ph.D.
Russo Partners
858-717-2310
646-942-5604
david.schull@russopartnersllc.com
ignacio.guerrero-ros@russopartnersllc.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Triumvira Immunologics | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2023/06/28/triumvira-immunologics-showcase-clinical-findings-tactic-2-clinical-trial-assessing-tac01-her2-2023-esmo-world-congress-gastrointestinal-cancer/ | 2023-06-28 13:38:01 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2023/06/28/triumvira-immunologics-showcase-clinical-findings-tactic-2-clinical-trial-assessing-tac01-her2-2023-esmo-world-congress-gastrointestinal-cancer/ |
WASHINGTON — A top ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is demanding fresh answers from the U.S. Capitol Police about security failures that led to a brutal attack on Pelosi’s husband last week, questioning the embattled agency about whether it can keep lawmakers and their families safe.
House Administration Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., sent a four-page letter to Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger on Wednesday, saying the attack on Paul Pelosi raises “significant questions about security protections for Members of Congress.” The man who beat Paul Pelosi with a hammer was looking for Nancy Pelosi and later told police that he wanted to hold her hostage and break her kneecaps to make a political point, authorities said.
The searing letter lays out a series of questions for Manger and orders the agency to lay out its plans for protecting lawmakers and their families, including how they are interacting with other law enforcement agencies, how officers are trained for such situations and whether there are special plans in place to protect lawmakers in the presidential line of succession, as Pelosi is.
The letter from Lofgren, whose panel oversees the Capitol Police, comes as the beleaguered agency is still trying to rebuild after the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, when hundreds of former President Donald Trump’s supporters overwhelmed officers and more than 100 were injured. Threats to lawmakers have skyrocketed in recent years — almost 10,000 threats were investigated last year — and the agency has struggled to protect lawmakers, their families and the Capitol campus with limited resources.
The Capitol Police issued a statement Wednesday saying they will “fast track” the work they had already been doing to protect members outside of Washington.
“Our brave men and women are working around the clock to meet this urgent mission during this divisive time,” the USCP statement said. “In the meantime, a significant change that will have an immediate impact will be for people across our country to lower the temperature on political rhetoric before it’s too late.”
The USCP said it has access to roughly 1,800 cameras, including one on Pelosi’s house that was not being monitored during the attack on Paul Pelosi because the speaker was not there. The Capitol Police video is expected to show an extended struggle by the intruder, David DePape, to break into the Pelosi house as he first worked to break a window in the rear of the home and moved around to break glass in doors on the side of the house, according to a person briefed on the situation who requested anonymity to discuss it.
The San Francisco Police Department often posted a patrol car at the Pelosi house, particularly after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, but there was no police car present at the home during the time of the attack, the person said. Among many other questions in the letter, Lofgren asked if the agency had any special agreements with San Francisco police to have security stationed outside of Pelosi’s house.
In a speech Wednesday night near the Capitol, Biden bemoaned “the dangerous rise of political violence and voter intimidation over the past two years.”
“There’s an alarming rise in the number of people in this country condoning political violence or simply remaining silent,” Biden added. “In our bones we know democracy is at risk, but we also know this: It’s in our power to preserve our democracy.”
DePape’s state case will continue Friday, though the defendant will not appear in the courtroom. His public defender entered a not guilty plea on his behalf Tuesday and vowed to pursue a “vigorous legal defense.” An arraignment on federal charges has not been scheduled.
Paul Pelosi remained in the Intensive Care Unit in a San Francisco hospital, and was receiving regular visits from Nancy Pelosi and other family members.
In a federal complaint released earlier this week, officials said DePape, 42, was carrying zip ties, tape and a rope in a backpack. He went upstairs where 82-year-old Paul Pelosi was sleeping, and demanded to talk to “Nancy.”
In the letter to the Capitol Police, Lofgren noted that the agency has previously reported that Pelosi receives the most threats of any member of Congress. She asked whether USCP has established protocols for the personal residences of lawmakers who are in the presidential line of succession — Pelosi as speaker and Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont as president pro tempore of the Senate. She also asked if the department has coordinated with the Secret Service to protect those lawmakers, in particular, and whether there is a plan to protect their families.
Members of Congress from both parties have expressed concerns about the increased threats in recent years and in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection, when Trump’s supporters broke into the Capitol and sent lawmakers running for their lives. People have showed up at their houses, threatened them online and even shot at them.
Five years ago, a left-wing activist opened fire on Republicans as they practiced for an annual charity baseball game, and Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana was critically wounded.
In 2011, then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot in the head at an event outside a Tucson grocery store.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who had a man show up at her house in Seattle over the summer carrying a pistol, is one member who has been aggressively pushing for more resources. This summer, she convened a call with other House Democrats to crowdsource how to stay safe while in their districts and out campaigning.
“It makes no sense for members of Congress to be doing that,” Jayapal said about the unofficial conversations with her colleagues.
“We fear for ourselves, we fear for our staff, and we really fear for our loved ones,” Jayapal said. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/nation-world/pelosi-attack-capitol-police-safety-concerns/507-6d89c6f2-cfbc-4473-8bc7-950aa48516a9 | 2022-11-03 15:21:33 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/nation-world/pelosi-attack-capitol-police-safety-concerns/507-6d89c6f2-cfbc-4473-8bc7-950aa48516a9 |
Heinz is asking for the public's help in tracking down a man who was rescued at sea and reportedly survived on only ketchup and spices.
According to the Colombian military, the man, identified as Elvis Francois, was rescued in December after someone noticed he had written "HELP" on the hull of his boat and called authorities.
The military says Francois, who is of Dominican descent, told them that he was making repairs to the sailboat when changing weather conditions dragged it out to the open sea.
Francois, who reportedly has no knowledge in navigation, was unable to maneuver the boat back to land. Officials said he was stuck at sea for 24 days before he was located 120 nautical miles away from Puerto Bolívar in the Caribbean Sea.
After hearing about Francois' story, Heinz said it wants to locate him so they can "celebrate his safe return home and help him buy a new boat."
Heinz said it has reached out to the government of Dominica and Colombian Navy, but noted that their attempts to track down Francois have been unsuccessful. | https://www.kxlf.com/news/national/heinz-trying-to-locate-man-who-survived-at-sea-on-nothing-but-ketchup-and-spices | 2023-02-22 18:01:23 | 0 | https://www.kxlf.com/news/national/heinz-trying-to-locate-man-who-survived-at-sea-on-nothing-but-ketchup-and-spices |
An outbreak of bird flu that has led to the deaths of 43 million chickens and turkeys this year across the U.S. has been found at a giant egg-laying operation in Ohio, state and federal agriculture officials said Wednesday.
The case confirmed over the weekend in Ohio's Defiance County has affected roughly 3 million chickens, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The egg-laying farm has started euthanizing all of its flock, said Dennis Summers, the state’s veterinarian.
The highly pathogenic disease has returned to the Midwest earlier than authorities expected after a lull of several months with cases in Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin within the past week. There also have been several detections in western states over the summer.
The disease is typically carried by migrating waterfowl, such as geese and ducks, Summers said. It only occasionally affects humans, such as farm workers, and the USDA keeps poultry from infected flocks out of the food supply.
The outbreak that earlier this year contributed to a spike in egg and meat prices appeared to be waning in June, but officials warned then that another surge could come back this fall. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/bird-flu-forces-egg-farm-to-euthanize-3-million-chickens/3356400/ | 2022-09-07 22:05:59 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/bird-flu-forces-egg-farm-to-euthanize-3-million-chickens/3356400/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Illinois Lottery's "Lucky Day Lotto" game were:
14-30-31-32-42
(fourteen, thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two, forty-two)
Estimated jackpot: $350,000
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Illinois Lottery's "Lucky Day Lotto" game were:
14-30-31-32-42
(fourteen, thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two, forty-two)
Estimated jackpot: $350,000 | https://www.sfgate.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Lucky-Day-Lotto-game-17337251.php | 2022-07-29 04:23:32 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Lucky-Day-Lotto-game-17337251.php |
As the founding drummer of Slayer, Dave Lombardo was known for speed, precision and brute force. His double-bass pedals felt like they were hammering directly on a listener's eardrums.
After four decades playing in thrash metal bands, Lombardo released his first solo album — Rites of Percussion — and it shows a very different side of one of metal's most punishing drummers.
"It's a journey through my rhythmic mind," Lombardo told NPR's A Martinez. "It's something I've always wanted to do because I've been influenced by so many other drummers and percussionists that weren't metal or thrash, you know? I wanted to express how deep my influence goes with rhythm."
Lombardo found inspiration in Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart's work with his Planet Drum project, Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, and even Latin jazz bandleader Tito Puente, who died in 2000. Strangely, Lombardo says he unwittingly felt Puente's influence during a key drum break in the classic Slayer song "Angel of Death."
Dave Lombardo was born in Cuba in 1965, but his family brought him to California as a toddler. Still, Cuban music was everywhere as he was growing up.
"My mom and dad used to go to these Cuban clubs. They would have matinees for kids, and then at nighttime, there would be a Cuban dance band for the parents," Lombardo recalled. "I would always sit and and watch the drummers, and they're just sweating, and people dancing and enjoying themselves. The horn section comes in and, you know, just the power! It was phenomenal. I'll never forget those days."
Lombardo says that influence is all over Rites of Percussion. "This album is inspired by my roots — and for the love of music from Cuba and the Caribbean in general."
Olivia Hampton edited the audio and digital version of this story.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wqcs.org/2023-05-05/from-slayer-to-tito-puente-drummer-dave-lombardo-changes-tempo | 2023-05-05 09:41:41 | 1 | https://www.wqcs.org/2023-05-05/from-slayer-to-tito-puente-drummer-dave-lombardo-changes-tempo |
Another big year for the reigning queens of daytime talk!
The 2023 Daytime Emmy Awards revealed the nominees for two key categories on Tuesday's Entertainment Tonight, including Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host.
Among those in the running for the coveted honor are Drew Barrymore, host of The Drew Barrymore Show, and Kelly Clarkson, host of The Kelly Clarkson Show, as well as Sherri Shepherd for her work on Sherri!
Additionally, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest are both nominated for their work on Live With Kelly and Ryan -- from which Seacrest just recently departed. Ripa is now hosting Live With Kelly and Mark, alongside her husband and co-host Mark Consuelos.
Tamron Hall is also nominated for her work on her eponymous daytime talk show.
ET has also learned the nominees for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress -- a category honoring TV's talented soap stars.
Three actresses from The Young and the Restless are recognized in this category, including Sharon Case (for her performance as Sharon Newman), Melissa Claire Egan, who plays Chelsea Lawson, and Michelle Stafford for her role as Phyllis Summers.
Finola Hughes is also nominated -- for her performance as Anna Devane on General Hospital -- as is Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, who stars as Steffy Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful.
The full list of nominations will be announced on Wednesday.
The 2023 Daytime Emmy Awards will be held June 16. The ceremony will broadcast live on CBS, and will stream on Paramount+.
RELATED CONTENT: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/daytime-emmys-2023-drew-barrymore-kelly-clarkson-sherri-shepherd-nominated-exclusive/603-212e1833-a596-4531-9dfd-2957c2a49068 | 2023-04-26 17:25:53 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/daytime-emmys-2023-drew-barrymore-kelly-clarkson-sherri-shepherd-nominated-exclusive/603-212e1833-a596-4531-9dfd-2957c2a49068 |
AUSTIN, Texas, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Retention.com, the industry-leading Shopify e-commerce solution for increasing revenue, is excited to announce a comprehensive rebrand including a fresh identity, an easier-to-use website, and transparent, straightforward product offerings.
This identity refresh comes on the heels of Retention.com's first million-dollar week.
The rebrand was born out of conversations with current and future customers to understand how Retention.com's team of e-commerce experts could best help them turn missed opportunities into revenue and grow their business.
"Our new branding and website design really deliver on the mission that every brand is a founder with a dream," said Julia Bouterakos, Director of Content Marketing. "We're here to help them get to that dream faster."
"The website is much easier to navigate and clearly shows how our solutions work. We want consumers to feel confident and good about the decisions that they make when they decide to work with us, and the content on our new website is designed to remove any barriers to achieving that," added Julia.
Retention.com worked with Marketwake to design and implement this revitalized brand strategy.
"We were presented with three great design identity options and ultimately selected our final choice based on the strength, excitement, and boldness associated with it," said Julia. "It truly represents the fundamental values our team brings to the table for ambitious e-commerce brands that want to move fast and build their future on good data."
"Retention.com takes pride in their bootstrapped beginnings, which closely aligns with the stories of their customers who have built their businesses brick by brick," said Brooke Beach MacLean, Marketwake CEO. "They wanted the new brand to reflect this grassroots ethos, embodying the grit and determination required to succeed in eCommerce"
Current customers sleep easier knowing that Retention.com's technology is helping them turn browsers into buyers and claim millions in unspent revenue opportunities. Future customers should find more transparency, clarity, and support with these new tools.
About Retention.com: E-commerce stores lose a total of $18 billion every year in potential revenue simply because shoppers leave before checking out. With Retention.com, shopping cart abandonment becomes a thing of the past. We enable email-based retargeting so that brands can re-engage lapsed audiences AND grow their email lists for the future. Learn more: Retention.com.
Media Contact: Julia Bouterakos - media@retention.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Retention.com | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/05/09/retentioncom-announces-rebrand-fresh-identity-new-website-updated-product-offerings/ | 2023-05-09 17:40:45 | 1 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/05/09/retentioncom-announces-rebrand-fresh-identity-new-website-updated-product-offerings/ |
5 policy areas where Trump broke ground — or evaded — in CNN town hall
Posted/updated on: May 11, 2023 at 7:11 pm(GOFFSTOWN, N.H.) -- Former President Donald Trump's town hall on CNN Wednesday featured no shortage of theatrics, from calling moderator Kaitlin Collins "nasty" to sparking laughs from a supportive audience with a jab against E. Jean Carroll, the author who accused him of rape and won a civil case in which a jury found him liable for battery and defamation.
But during the 70-minute forum, Trump also faced policy questions he either dodged or answered head-on, potentially revealing contours of a possible second Trump administration.
Here are five areas where Trump took new policy positions -- or evaded.
Abortion
Trump hailed the Supreme Court overruling Roe v. Wade a "great victory," taking credit because he nominated three of the conservative justices who voted to do so.
When it comes to what's next, though, Trump was evasive.
"President Trump is going to make a determination what he thinks is great for the country and what is fair for the country," Trump said when Collins pressed him on his position on some kind of national ban.
"I'm looking at a solution that's going to work."
Of last year's Supreme Court ruling, Trump said, "You know that they wanted to bring it back to the states but that was probably the least important part of that victory," but he didn't explicitly say that's what he'd support over federal legislation.
The comments served as a microcosm for the GOP's broader struggles with abortion after Democratic fury over last year's Supreme Court decision helped turn what was supposed to be a red wave midterm election into one that saw Democrats expand their Senate majority and minimize their House losses.
Trump has struggled to find his footing on the issue, sparking backlash from typically supportive evangelical and anti-abortion groups after blaming Republicans' underwhelming midterm results on candidates who supported stringent restrictions on the procedure.
The former president met last week with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a powerful anti-abortion advocacy group in the U.S., after which Marjorie Dannenfelser, the group's president, called the meeting "terrific."
Debt ceiling
Trump made waves with his comments on the debt ceiling, seeming to put a historic and potentially calamitous default firmly on the table if Republicans don't succeed in pushing for spending cuts.
"I say to the Republicans out there -- congressmen, senators -- if they don’t give you massive cuts, you're going to have to do a default," he said.
The remarks come as Republicans and Democrats negotiate over how to lift the limit on how much the government can borrow to pay its existing obligations.
Republicans are saying they'd only vote for an increase if President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats agree to significant spending cuts, while Democrats say a clean debt ceiling increase should pass Congress, warning the threat of default is too great to be negotiated over.
The talks were jumpstarted after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the government could run out of money to pay its expenses as early as June 1.
Trump, when pressed, doubled down on saying he would endorse default if negotiations reach a stalemate.
"We might as well do it now because you'll do it later," he said.
Ukraine
Trump claimed he would be able to bring a halt to the fighting in Ukraine but declined to come down firmly on Kyiv's side in the fight against Russia's invasion.
He boasted that if he were president, he could end the war in 24 hours but did not detail what he wanted an end to look like, dodging on whether he wanted Ukraine or Russia to win.
"I don't think in terms of winning and losing," he said. "I think in terms of getting it settled so we stop killing all these people."
The comments followed Trump's trend of being softer on Russia than many other Republicans.
During his administration, he said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin's assertion that Moscow didn't interfere in the 2016 election -- a stance at odds with the CIA's own findings. And Wednesday, he declined to call Putin a war criminal over the invasion of Ukraine, which has seen hundreds of civilians killed, including many children.
"If you say he’s a war criminal, it will be a lot tougher to get a deal to get this thing stopped," he said.
A possible return of family separations at the border
Trump sparked international backlash when he instituted a policy in 2018 that separated families at the border, ultimately rescinding the rule amid the outcry.
But on Wednesday, Trump admitted during the town hall that while the policy "sounds harsh," he wouldn't take it off the table.
"Well, when you have that policy, people don't come," he said. "If a family hears that they're going to be separated, they love their family, they don't come."
Pardons for insurrectionists
Trump, who is accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election, repeated false claims that the voting was marred by widespread fraud, but he broke new ground on how he'd handle those convicted and imprisoned over taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
"I am inclined to pardon many of them," Trump told Collins. "I can't say for every single one because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control."
Trump did not delineate what charge or activity would be considered too severe to not qualify for a pardon, though the comments mark the first time that Trump has said he would consider freeing the lion's share of the over 900 people who have been criminally charged over their involvement in or planning of the riot.
Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. | https://ktbb.com/post/?p=1225719 | 2023-05-12 00:25:38 | 1 | https://ktbb.com/post/?p=1225719 |
NEW YORK (AP) — A former Mexican presidential cabinet member was convicted in the U.S. on Tuesday of taking massive bribes to protect the violent drug cartels he was tasked with combating.
Under tight security, an anonymous New York federal court jury deliberated for three days before reaching a verdict in the drug trafficking case against ex-Public Security Secretary Genaro García Luna.
He is the highest-ranking current or former Mexican official ever to be tried in the United States.
“García Luna, who once stood at the pinnacle of law enforcement in Mexico, will now live the rest of his days having been revealed as a traitor to his country and to the honest members of law enforcement who risked their lives to dismantle drug cartels,” Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement.
García Luna, who denied the allegations, headed Mexico’s federal police and was later the country’s top public safety official from 2006 to 2012. His lawyers said the charges were based on lies from criminals who wanted to punish his drug-fighting efforts and to get sentencing breaks for themselves by helping prosecutors.
He showed no apparent reaction on hearing the verdict. His lawyer, César de Castro, said that the defense planned to appeal and that the case lacked “credible and reliable evidence.”
“The government was forced to settle for a case built on the backs of some of the most notorious and ruthless criminals to have testified in this courthouse,” de Castro said outside court.
García Luna, 54, was convicted on charges that include engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. He faces at least 20 years and as much as life in prison at his sentencing, set for June 27.
The case had political ramifications on both sides of the border.
Current Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has railed throughout the trial against ex-President Felipe Calderón’s administration for, at a minimum, putting García Luna in charge of Mexico’s security. López Obrador spokesperson Jesús Ramírez tweeted after the verdict that “justice has come” to a Calderón ally and that “the crimes committed against our people will never be forgotten.”
García Luna’s work also introduced him to high-level American politicians and other officials, who considered him a key cartel-fighting partner as Washington embarked on a $1.6 billion push to beef up Mexican law enforcement and stem the flow of drugs.
The Americans weren’t accused of wrongdoing, and although suspicions long swirled around García Luna, the trial didn’t delve into the extent of U.S. officials’ knowledge about them before his 2019 arrest. López Obrador has, however, pointedly suggested that Washington investigate its own law enforcement and intelligence officials who worked with García Luna during Calderón’s administration.
A roster of ex-smugglers and former Mexican officials testified that García Luna took millions of dollars in cartel cash, met with major traffickers in settings ranging from a country house to a car wash and kept law enforcement at bay.
He was “the best investment they had,” said Sergio “El Grande” Villarreal Barragan, a former federal police officer who worked for cartels on the side and later as his main job.
He and other witnesses said that on García Luna’s watch, police tipped off traffickers about upcoming raids, ensured that cocaine could pass freely through the country, colluded with cartels to raid rivals, and did other favors. One ex-smuggler said García Luna shared a document that reflected U.S. law enforcement’s information about a huge cocaine shipment that was seized in Mexico around 2007.
One ex-smuggler, Óscar “El Lobo” Nava Valencia, said he personally heard García Luna and a then-top police official say they would “stand with us” during a meeting with notorious Sinaloa cocaine cartel kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman’s associates amid a cartel civil war. That sit-down alone cost the drug gang $3 million, Nava Valencia said.
García Luna didn’t testify at the trial, although his wife took the stand in an apparent effort to portray their assets in Mexico as legitimately acquired and upper-middle-class, but not lavish. The couple moved to Miami in 2012, when the Mexican administration changed and he became a consultant on security issues.
The trial was peppered with glimpses of such narco-extravagances as a private zoo with a lion, a hippo, white tigers and more. Jurors heard about tons of cocaine moving through Latin America in shipping containers, go-fast boats, private jets, planes, trains and even submarines.
And there were horrific reminders of the extraordinary violence those drugs fueled.
Witnesses described cartel killings and kidnappings, allegedly including an abduction of García Luna himself. There was testimony about police officers being slaughtered and drug-world rivals being dismembered, skinned and dangled from bridges as cartel factions fought each other while buying police protection.
Testimony also aired a secondhand claim that Calderón, the former president, sought to shield Guzmán against a major rival; Calderón called the allegation “absurd” and “an absolute lie.”
García Luna was arrested after allegations of his alleged graft emerged at Guzman’s high-profile trial about four years ago in the same New York courthouse.
The former lawman also faces various Mexican arrest warrants and charges relating to government technology contracts, prison contracting and the bungled U.S. “Fast and Furious” investigation into suspicions that guns were illegally making their way from the U.S. to Mexican drug cartels. The Mexican government has also filed a civil suit against García Luna and his alleged associates and businesses in Florida, seeking to recover $700 million that Mexico claims he garnered through corruption.
Anticorruption activists gathered outside the courthouse to celebrate Tuesday’s verdict.
“My country is a grave. It’s now a cemetery … thanks to the corruption,” said Carmen Paes, who blamed drug lords in her native Mexico for the disappearance of a nephew decades ago.
___
Associated Press writer María Verza contributed from Mexico City. | https://www.qcnews.com/news/world-news/ap-mexicos-ex-public-security-chief-convicted-in-us-drug-case/ | 2023-02-22 10:57:35 | 1 | https://www.qcnews.com/news/world-news/ap-mexicos-ex-public-security-chief-convicted-in-us-drug-case/ |
NPR's Asma Khalid talks to Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia about efforts by a bipartisan group of senators to codify abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Copyright 2022 NPR
NPR's Asma Khalid talks to Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia about efforts by a bipartisan group of senators to codify abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-08-02/where-efforts-stand-on-capitol-hill-to-codify-abortion-protections | 2022-08-02 12:35:40 | 0 | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-08-02/where-efforts-stand-on-capitol-hill-to-codify-abortion-protections |
BEIRUT (AP) — Ramy Finge spent two years braving tear gas and rubber bullets, sometimes trying to scale the cement walls surrounding Lebanon’s parliament during anti-government protests.
Soon he’ll be able to walk in through the front door. The dentist from the northern city of Tripoli is among 13 independent newcomers who won seats in parliament in May 15 elections, building on the protest movement seeking to break the long domination by traditional parties.
The unexpectedly strong showing by civil society activists restored some hope among despairing Lebanese that change in their ailing country is possible.
But the nascent reform movement is fragmented, and faces enormous challenges in fighting an entrenched ruling clique.
Many worry the incoming parliament will exacerbate polarization and paralysis at a time when the country is dealing with one of the worst economic meltdowns in history. It is hobbled by divisions between the old guard and newcomers, as well as between supporters and opponents of the powerful militant group Hezbollah.
In the run-up to the elections, candidates drawn from the protest movement that formed in October 2019 ran on competing lists.
Broadly, they share the view that the decades-old grip on power by civil war-era warlords and sectarian-based political dynasties is the root cause behind rampant corruption, mismanagement, lack of services and lack of accountability that have driven the country into ruin.
But in the details, they are divided on almost everything, from their approach to reforming the economy and restructuring the collapsed banking sector, to their views on Hezbollah’s weapons and whether disarming the Iranian-backed group should be prioritized.
Still, it is no small accomplishment that they were able to break through despite an electoral law tailored for a ruling class with enormous power at its disposal. The elections were a setback for the Hezbollah-led coalition, which lost its majority in the 128-seat parliament, though it remains the largest bloc.
“This is the first achievement by the Thawra (Arabic for revolution) because we were able to get in,” Finge, 57, told The Associated Press at his modest home in Lebanon’s impoverished city of Tripoli this week.
“And from inside we will work with all our strength and courage to … dismantle this corrupt ruling class, which is destined to fall no matter how long it takes,” he said.
Like his colleagues from the protest movement, Finge was subjected to all kinds of pressure and intimidation in the past two years. He proudly recalled the exuberant protests in Tripoli and Beirut that filled the squares starting in late 2019, when police would fire volleys of tear gas and pellets at demonstrators who often tried to scale the giant security barriers around parliament.
In February 2021, he was summoned by security and questioned about a makeshift kitchen he had set up in Tripoli distributing food to protesters and the needy. He called it Matbakh al Thawra, or the Revolution Kitchen.
The independents who won seats are a motley group of doctors, professors, professionals and activists from across Lebanon and from a variety of religious sects.
Among them is Firas Hamdan, a 35-year-old lawyer and activist who was hit in the chest by a rubber bullet fired by parliament police during a protest. Elias Jaradeh, an eye surgeon, won a seat held for 30 years by a pro-Syrian politician. Najat Aoun, a chemistry professor and environmental activist, was one of four women independents who won, bringing the number of women in parliament from six to eight.
The newcomers say they plan to form a unified bloc to strengthen their influence in parliament, but that won’t be easy considering what they are up against.
Their mere presence in parliament is a decent start, but the challenge now is to organize and implement a program, Bilal Saab, senior fellow and founding director of the defense and security program at the Middle East Institute, wrote in an analysis.
“This obviously will be very difficult given the still considerable power of Hezbollah and its allies, and the next presidential race in October will show the immediate impact of these parliamentary elections,” he wrote.
The first test will be at parliament’s first meeting, expected in the coming days, when lawmakers must elect a speaker. The 84-year-old incumbent, Nabih Berri, has held the position for the past 30 years and is running again for a seventh term, so far uncontested. The powerful head of the Shiite Amal militia is seen by many as the godfather of Lebanon’s corrupt sectarian-based and elite-dominated political system.
Independents and some of the Christian parties in parliament have said they will not vote for him, risking his re-election with a much slimmer than usual majority from mainly Shiite parties. Some have speculated Berri may refrain from calling for the inaugural session, which according to the constitution must be held before June 6, if he is not assured of the desired number of votes he will get.
“For us, it’s clear that we will not elect any symbol of the ruling class, including Speaker Berri,” one of the new independents, 46-year-old architect Ibrahim Mneimneh, told AP. He acknowledged, however, that they have yet to develop a clear alternative course of action.
A bigger test will be formation of a cabinet that can win parliament’s confidence on key issues such as an economic recovery plan, finalizing a bailout deal with the IMF, resuming the stalled investigation into the 2020 blast at Beirut port, and how to deal with the longtime Central Bank governor. The top banker is being investigated locally and in several European countries on charges of money laundering and embezzlement. Backed by the ruling class, he remains in his position despite a financial meltdown.
Finally, the new parliament will have to elect a new president when President Michel Aoun’s six-year term ends on October 31, with no clear successor.
Analysts fear inability to agree on these milestones will lead to a protracted paralysis with disastrous economic and social consequences.
David Hale, former U.S. under-secretary of state for political affairs and a former ambassador to Lebanon, had a bleak view in a commentary for the Wilson Center headlined “Lebanon’s Election Offers no Salvation.”
“It is hard to insert a la carte independents into a system favoring fixed price menus, especially if independents don’t form coalitions of their own, as they failed to do,” he wrote.
Mneimneh said the traditional parties have many powerful tools through which they can pressure and obstruct.” The independents’ strongest tool is to try to rally the street, he said.
“I think this is the most difficult thing today because there is no equal balance between us and them.” | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/in-lebanon-a-nascent-reform-movement-faces-tough-road/ | 2022-05-26 16:27:43 | 1 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/in-lebanon-a-nascent-reform-movement-faces-tough-road/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — After watching Jesús Aguilar and Jesús Sánchez hit late-inning home runs to win games for the Miami Marlins over the weekend, Bryan De La Cruz was happy to get a similar chance Monday.
He made the most of it.
De La Cruz hit a two-run homer off the foul pole in the 10th inning to keep the Miami’s domination of the Washington Nationals going with a 3-2 victory.
“Just being able to do that with one swing, just put your team ahead, it’s a wonderful feeling,” he said through an interpreter. “It feels great just to do it for the whole team.”
The Marlins won the rare 11:05 a.m. start by beating the Nationals for the 12th time in 13 games this year, including seven in a row. They extended their winning streak to five and moved two games back of .500 at nearly the halfway point despite going 26-39 against everyone else.
“Essentially it seems that we’ve scored with these guys,” manager Don Mattingly said. “We seemed to have getting the outs we need to and getting some big hits when we need to.”
De La Cruz became the latest Miami player to come up with a big hit during this run, after Sánchez hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth Sunday and Aguilar homered and doubled Saturday. His fifth homer this season came off Tanner Rainey (1-3), who also gave up Sánchez’s shot to right less than 24 hours earlier.
It was the first time De La Cruz homered in the ninth inning or later in his major league career.
Miami’s Braxton Garrett cruised through seven innings on 61 pitches before things got away from him in the eighth. His first and only walk proved costly when Ehire Adrianza stole second and scored on Luis Garcia’s RBI single that sent Garrett to the showers.
“I was just efficient early,” Garrett said. “I was 0-1 a lot. And also our bullpen’s a little taxed. Our late-game guys have gone I think it was three days in a row, and it was in the back of my mind to try and get a few more innings out just for the bullpen.”
With top relievers Anthony Bass, Steven Okert and Tanner Scott unavailable after each pitching three days in a row, Mattingly pieced together eight outs with Zach Pop, Jimmy Yacabonis and Dylan Floro. Yacabonis (1-1) got the win after pitching a scoreless ninth, and Floro picked up his second save in as many days — his first two this season.
Washington’s Patrick Corbin made quick work of the Marlins for much of his seven innings, scattering eight hits and striking out four with one walk. The only run he gave up came in the third, when Luke Williams reached on a bunt single, advanced on Billy Hamilton’s sacrifice and scored on Jesús Aguilar’s single.
Corbin, one of baseball’s worst pitchers earlier this season, has a 2.37 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 19 innings over his past three starts.
“He’s been attacking the strike zone,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s actually throwing the slider a little harder, and it looks like his fastball coming in, so it’s been very effective.”
PATRIOTIC CRUZ
While Garrett was fired up to pitch on the Fourth of July, Washington’s Nelson Cruz celebrated the holiday in style with red, white and blue Stars and Stripes cleats.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Nationals grounded into three double plays, adding to their major league-leading total of 80 this season. One of those scored a run in the 10th, with second baseman Joey Wendle making a backhand flip from his glove to shortstop Miguel Rojas while falling after nabbing Garcia’s grounder.
SOTO PINCH-HITS
While Juan Soto was not in the Nationals lineup, the superstar outfielder pinch-hit in the eighth inning and drew a walk a day after leaving the game with tightness in his left calf. He was pulled immediately for a pinch-runner.
“He felt good enough to hit, but he couldn’t run and we didn’t want him to run,” Martinez said. “He got on base for us, and we had to get him out of there.”
Soto said an MRI did not show damage, and he figures he’ll take it day by day.
“Everything was fine,” Soto said. “They said it’s just a little tight, so just going to take a couple days and see how it goes.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: 1B Garrett Cooper was not in the lineup after taking misstep during the game Sunday. … Wendle, on an every-other-day playing schedule since returning Friday from a monthlong absence with a strained right hamstring, pinch hit.
Nationals: While Soto’s MRI showed good news, a look at Jackson Tetreault’s sore right throwing shoulder showed a stress fracture. The team put him on the 15-day inured list and called up RHP Jordan Weems.
UP NEXT
Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara (8-3, 1.95 ERA) makes his first start in July after being named NL pitcher of the month for June against RHP Noah Syndergaard (5-6, 3.86) and the Los Angeles Angels Angels on Tuesday in the opener of a two-game series in Miami.
Nationals: RHP Paolo Espino (0-1, 2.80) starts at LHP Christopher Sanchez and the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday in the start of a three-game series.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/de-la-cruz-homers-in-10th-marlins-beat-nationals-again/ | 2022-07-05 03:53:36 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/de-la-cruz-homers-in-10th-marlins-beat-nationals-again/ |
Unilever is urging people to throw away several brands of its dry shampoo because they might contain the carcinogen, benzene, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The recall includes dry shampoo aerosol products manufactured before Oct. 2021 from brands including Dove, Suave, Nexxus, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head) and TRESemmé.
These dry shampoo products were distributed nationwide. For a full list of affected products and UPC codes, click here.
An internal company investigation found the propellant to be the source of the problem. Unilever is working with the manufacturers, who supplied the propellants, to address the issue.
The company is urging those who purchased the affected products to stop using them and visit UnileverRecall.com to claim a refund.
They can also call Unilever U.S. at (877) 270-7412, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, if they have more questions.
The recall is the latest of half a dozen products this year contaminated with benzene, including sunscreen, deodorant and hand sanitizer.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. | https://www.nj.com/healthfit/2022/10/toss-these-dry-shampoos-away-they-might-contain-cancer-causing-chemicals.html | 2022-10-26 14:08:42 | 0 | https://www.nj.com/healthfit/2022/10/toss-these-dry-shampoos-away-they-might-contain-cancer-causing-chemicals.html |
WILSON, North Carolina — Less than a year ago, President Biden signed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. $108 Billion of that is set aside for public transportation. Right now, 45% of Americans are without some form of public transportation.
Most people across the United States have likely never heard of Wilson, North Carolina, but there is a community similar to it in states across the country. About 50,000 people live in this town and nearly every single one of them has somewhere they need to go. Rodger Lentz is the assistant city manager of the town. Their transportation issues have been going on for years.
"Really when I got here in 2007, transportation was an issue like getting people to work or getting people essential services, the bus runs just once an hour," Lentz said. "Our bus system wasn't even connecting people to the highest paying jobs in the community."
However, all changed two years ago when they embraced a microtransit model; replacing their city buses with ride share type vans that can be ordered on an app or called through a number, and only cost $1.50 to go anywhere in the city.
"I mean by the fourth week we already matched what the buses were doing and now were approaching 4,000 trips every week," Lentz said.
As a driver, Kutina Winston hears stories from riders every day about the freedom and access this partnership with Via has given them.
"I mean everybody that we drive, that's the first thing they say, I am so glad that you all are in place because the buses were horrible," Winston said. "Yes we take people to the grocery store but mainly to work and doctors appointments."
Wilson used to have five fixed bus routes that ran once an hour. They only reached 40% of the city but now with Via they reach 100%. Cities with more than 100,000 people like Arlington Texas, Cape Coral Florida and Broken Arrow Oklahoma have had no public transportation but organizations like Via are trying to change that. Chris Snyder, the co-COO of Via, acknowledges this microtransit model is by no means meant to replace public transit in every city.
"45% of Americans basically have no access to public transit, so it's sort of an equity issue," Snyder said. "There is one New York city in the country, there are thousands of Wilsons."
The idea is to keep what's working while also filling the necessary gaps. In Wilson that meant access.
"The question was how can we do more with the same budget and how can we expand access to many more people into a bigger part of the cities," Snyder said.
In a place like Jersey City, the problems were very different because of the expansive, successful transit systems in place.
"And the question was really more about how do we get people to that kind of core backbone of the public transit infrastructure which we need to enhance," Snyder said.
Via is now in over 600 cities across the world, providing individualized solutions to each city's transit needs.
"This was a blessing to Wilson and I know it can be a blessing to other cities and states as well," Winston said.
This concept is meant to be integrated into public transportation, keeping the systems affordable and equitable. | https://www.kivitv.com/news/national/microtransit-can-help-fill-transportation-gaps-in-cities-across-the-us | 2022-08-04 23:55:03 | 0 | https://www.kivitv.com/news/national/microtransit-can-help-fill-transportation-gaps-in-cities-across-the-us |
FLORENCE, Ala. — Authorities issued an arrest warrant Monday for a jail official who they say helped an inmate awaiting trial on a murder charge to escape from an Alabama jail. A search was on for the pair.
Inmate Casey Cole White, 38, was shackled and handcuffed when he and Vicky White, the facility's assistant director of corrections, left the Lauderdale County Detention Center in Florence, Alabama, on Friday morning. They have not been seen since, although the patrol vehicle that the pair used when leaving the detention center was found at a nearby shopping center parking lot after their absence was discovered.
Authorities have no idea where they are, although the inmate should be recognizable by his size. He stands 6 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs about 260 pounds. Authorities warned that anyone seeing the pair should not approach them.
“We consider both of them dangerous and in all probability, both individuals are armed," U.S. Marshal Marty Keely said at a press conference Monday. He noted that Casey White “will stand out” because of his size even if he is has changed his appearance.
Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said Monday that they had issued an arrest warrant for Vicky White on charges of permitting or allowing an escape. She is not related to White.
She violated a policy that required more than one official to be involved in transporting him, according to Singleton. The policy was put in place when White was jailed two years ago and authorities believed he was planning to escape.
“We know she participated, whether she did that willingly or if she was coerced, threatened somehow to participate in the case, not really sure. We know for sure she did participate,” Singleton said.
Vicky White told co-workers she was taking him to the courthouse for a mental health evaluation. But Singleton later said no such evaluation was scheduled. He said video showed the pair left the jail and went straight to that parking lot.
“Casey White, as you’ve heard me say over and over and over is an extremely dangerous person and we need to get him located and get him off the street,” Singleton said.
White was already serving a prison sentence for attempted murder and burglary when he disappeared. He was set to go to trial next month for stabbing a 58-year-old woman to death. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering up to $10,000 for information.
The sheriff said they were shocked by the events that transpired.
“This is not the Vicky White we know, by any stretch of the imagination,” the sheriff said.
Singleton said Vicky White had been an exemplary employee and jail employees are “just devastated.”
Vicky White had planned to retire and that Friday was to be her last day. He said she had sold her home about a month ago and “talked about going to the beach.”
The sheriff said they had no leads at this point on where the two are located.
“If we knew where they were at, we would be there and not here,” Singleton said.
The U.S. Marshals Service said anyone with information about Casey White’s location or Vicky White’s disappearance can call the service at 1-800-336-0102. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through the U.S. Marshals Tip App. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/crime/warrant-alabama-missing-jail-official/289-2912fbb2-4ef0-4d5d-a331-8ce5633bfc48 | 2022-05-02 23:00:16 | 1 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/crime/warrant-alabama-missing-jail-official/289-2912fbb2-4ef0-4d5d-a331-8ce5633bfc48 |
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Samsung Electronics said Friday it’s cutting the production of its computer memory chips in an apparent effort to reduce inventory as it forecasted another quarter of sluggish profit.
The South Korean technology giant in a regulatory filing said it has been reducing the production of certain memory products by unspecified “meaningful levels” to optimize its manufacturing operations, adding it has sufficient supplies of those chips to meet demand fluctuations.
The company predicted an operating profit of 600 billion won ($455 million) for the three months through March, which would be a 96% decline from the same period a year earlier. It said it sales during the quarter likely fell 19% to 63 trillion won ($47.7 billion).
Samsung, which will release its finalized first quarter earnings later this month, said the demand for its memory chips declined as a weak global economy depressed consumer spending on technology products and forced business clients to adjust their inventories to nurse worsening finances.
Samsung had reported a near 70% drop in profit for October-December quarter, which partially reflected how global events like Russia’s war on Ukraine and high inflation have rattled technology markets.
SK Hynix, another major South Korean semiconductor producer, said this week that it sold $1.7 billion of bonds that can be exchanged into the company’s shares to help fund its purchases of chipmaking materials as it weathers the industry’s downswing. SK Hynix had reported an operating loss of 1.7 trillion won ($1.28 billion) for the October-December period, which marked its first quarterly deficit since 2012.
“While we have lowered our short-term production plans, we expect solid demand for the mid- to long-term, so we will continue to invest in infrastructure to secure essential levels in clean room capacities and expand investment in research and development to strengthen our technology leadership,” Samsung said.
Samsung last month announced plans to invest 300 trillion won ($227 billion) over the next 20 years as part of an ambitious South Korean project to build the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturing base near the capital, Seoul.
The chip-making “mega cluster,” which will be established in Gyeonggi province by 2042, will be anchored by five new semiconductor plants built by Samsung near its existing manufacturing hub. It will aim to attract 150 other companies producing materials and components or designing high-tech chips, according to South Korea’s government.
The South Korean plan comes as other technology powerhouses, including the United States, Japan and China, are building up their domestic chip manufacturing, deploying protectionist measures, tax cuts and sizeable subsidies to lure investments. | https://www.koin.com/news/business/ap-business/samsung-cutting-memory-chip-production-as-profit-slides/ | 2023-04-07 04:52:16 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/news/business/ap-business/samsung-cutting-memory-chip-production-as-profit-slides/ |
The first big beat for newly merged Tapas Entertainment is set to take place this weekend in Seattle. Media kit including event images, AV, brand assets, cleared quotes and more to follow
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective August 1st, 2022, digital storytelling platforms, Tapas Media, Radish Fiction, and Wuxiaworld officially merged to form Tapas Entertainment. Tapas Entertainment will serve as the parent company overseeing the development and growth of all three platforms which will continue to operate individually under the continued leadership of Tapas Founder and CEO, Chang Kim.
Chang Kim shared, "This is a real moment for all of us. For Tapas, Radish, and WuxiaWorld to come together presents an invaluable opportunity for collective growth and creativity. It is an incredibly exciting time."
The multi-platform merger comes weeks prior to the highly-anticipated Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, WA. Tapas, a brand sponsor of the convention, is set to attend with a highly-visible presence, hosting multiple panels, creator signings, portfolio reviews and giveaways.
Tapas VP of Content, Michael Son: "Emerald City Comic Con is known as a creator's event so it is only natural that this is where Tapas needs to be. Our creators and readers most commonly come to us on-platform, but events like ECCC allow for us to come to the fans, meet them in person and offer memorable experiences and creative opportunities."
Emerald City Comic Con is Thursday, August 18th to Sunday, August 21st, 2022 to be held at Washington State Convention & Trade Center.
Tapas Media will be releasing a full-access media kit following Emerald City Comic Con on Monday, August 21, 2022. Branded assets, images, panel footage and video from the convention floor amongst other downloadable materials will be made available to interested members of the press.
Opt in HERE to receive the exclusive Tapas Emerald City Comic Con Media Kit.
Tapas Media is a leading digital publishing platform for webcomics and webnovels in North America. With a full-service suite of businesses, Tapas is a talent incubator, publisher, producer, and distributor for both independent creators and established storytellers, reaching more than 10 million registered users.
Radish is a mobile fiction platform for serialized storytelling, offering the literary equivalent of addictive TV drama series. Its wide variety of stories are published and read in bite-sized installments, optimized for the smartphone reader. Radish is revolutionizing the way that stories are consumed and produced. Readers can access thousands of serials across genres and connect directly with their favorite storytellers in live community chat rooms.
Amateur authors can publish their own original stories via user-submitted content, and Radish itself also produces Radish Originals, serials in a variety of genres designed specifically for its mobile platform and written by a talented team of Emmy Award-winning soap writers, authors and Radish's Content Team creators. Built to be both user and author-friendly, Radish strives to present the newest and brightest in entertaining, diverse serial fiction to readers while providing authors with innovative ways to build readerships and monetize their work.
For more information, visit www.radishfiction.com.
Wuxiaworld Limited Wuxiaworld Limited was founded in December 2014 by Jingping Lai, a passionate fan of Chinese fantasy martial arts novels (or "Wuxia"), to broaden the popularity of Wuxia novels among English speakers. The Wuxiaworld website and app quickly rose to prominence as the largest Chinese-to-English novel translation platform in the world, with millions of active users. Today, Wuxiaworld publishes translations of Chinese and Korean novels from a wide variety of authors in the fantasy/sci-fi genres, with seminal works including such as "Coiling Dragon" (盘龙), "I Shall Seal the Heavens" (我欲封天), "Overgeared" (템빨), and more.
For more information, visit www.wuxiaworld.com.
Chang Kim is the Founder and CEO of Tapas Media, the next-generation digital storytelling company specializing in web comics and novels. A veteran in the digital publishing industry, Kim has worked at Google (Blogger.com), TNC (leading Korean blog service), and overseeing Samsung Mobile's content strategy.
View original content:
SOURCE Tapas Media | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/tapas-entertainment-takeover-emerald-city-comic-con-2022-media-kit/ | 2022-08-18 21:40:54 | 0 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/tapas-entertainment-takeover-emerald-city-comic-con-2022-media-kit/ |
Bruce Willis has frontotemporal dementia. What is FTD?
(AP) - Bruce Willis’ family has announced that he has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
The announcement Thursday came about a year after his family said that Willis would step away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a brain disorder that leads to speaking, reading and writing problems.
Here’s some details on the condition:
WHAT IS FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA?
There are different types of dementia, and the frontotemporal form affects regions in the front and sides of the brain. Because it causes problems with behavior and language, aphasia can be a symptom.
It’s caused by damage to neurons, the brain’s information carriers, but the underlying reasons for a particular case are often unclear. People with a family history of the condition are more likely to develop it. It’s rare and tends to happen at a younger age than other forms of dementia, between ages 45 and 65.
The terms frontotemporal disorders and frontotemporal dementia are sometimes shortened to FTD.
WHAT ARE OTHER SYMPTOMS OF FTD?
Symptoms can include emotional problems and physical difficulties, such as trouble walking. Symptoms tend to worsen over time, though progression varies by person.
The statement from the actor’s family said communication problems “are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces.”
CAN FTD BE TREATED?
There are no treatments to slow or stop the disease, but some interventions can help manage symptoms.
Some patients receive antidepressants or drugs for Parkinson’s, which has some overlapping symptoms with frontotemporal dementia. Many also work with speech therapists to manage communication difficulties and physical therapists to try to improve movement.
People with the condition are more likely to have complications from things like falls, injuries or infections. The average life expectancy after symptoms emerge is seven to 13 years, according to researchers.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/02/17/bruce-willis-has-frontotemporal-dementia-what-is-ftd/ | 2023-02-17 18:20:52 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/02/17/bruce-willis-has-frontotemporal-dementia-what-is-ftd/ |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s nuclear energy operator said Tuesday that Russian forces were performing secret work at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, activity that could shed light on Russia’s claims that the Ukrainian military is preparing a “provocation” involving a radioactive device.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made an unsubstantiated allegation that Ukraine was preparing to launch a so-called dirty bomb. Shoigu leveled the charge over the weekend in calls to his British, French, Turkish and U.S. counterparts. Britain, France and the United States rejected it out of hand as “transparently false.”
Ukraine also dismissed Moscow’s claim as an attempt to distract attention from the Kremlin’s own alleged plans to detonate a dirty bomb, which uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste in an effort to sow terror.
Advertisement
Energoatom, the Ukrainian state enterprise that operates the country’s four nuclear power plants, said Russian forces have carried out secret construction work over the last week at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
Russian officers controlling the area won’t give access to Ukrainian staff running the plant or monitors from the U.N.'s atomic energy watchdog that would allow them to see what the Russians are doing, Energoatom said Tuesday in a statement.
Energoatom said it “assumes" the Russians “are preparing a terrorist act using nuclear materials and radioactive waste stored at” the plant. It said there were 174 containers at the plant’s dry spent fuel storage facility, each of them containing 24 assemblies of spent nuclear fuel.
“Destruction of these containers as a result of explosion will lead to a radiation accident and radiation contamination of several hundred square kilometers (miles) of the adjacent territory,” the company said.
It called on the International Atomic Energy Agency to assess what was going on.
The U.N. Security Council held closed-door consultations Tuesday about the dirty-bomb allegations at Russia’s request.
Advertisement
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia sent a five-page letter to council members before the meeting claiming that according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine’s Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences in Kyiv and Vostochniy Mining and Processing Plant “have received direct orders from (President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy’s regime to develop such a dirty bomb” and “the works are at their concluding stage.”
Nebenzia said the ministry also received word that this work “may be carried out with the support of the Western countries.” And he warned that the authorities in Kyiv and their Western backers “will bear full responsibility for all the consequences” of using a “dirty bomb,” which Russia will regard as “an act of nuclear terrorism.”
Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky was asked by reporters after the council meeting what evidence Russia has that Zelenskyy gave orders to develop a “dirty bomb.” He replied, “it is intelligence information.”
“We shared it in our telephone conversation with counterparts who have the necessary level of clearance,” he said. “Those who wanted to understand that the threat is serious, they had all the possibilities to understand that. Those who want to reject it as Russian propaganda, they will do it anyway.”
Polyansky said the IAEA can send inspectors to investigate allegations of a “dirty bomb.”
Britain’s deputy U.N. ambassador James Kariuki told reporters after the meeting that “we’ve seen and heard no new evidence” and the U.K., France and the U.S. made clear “this is a transparently false allegation” and “pure Russian misinformation.” He said, “Ukraine has been clear it’s got nothing to hide” and “IAEA inspectors are on the way.”
Advertisement
In a related matter, Russia asked the Security Council to establish a commission to investigate its claims that the United States and Ukraine are violating the convention prohibiting the use of biological weapons at laboratories in Ukraine.
Soon after Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, its U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, claimed that secret American labs in Ukraine were engaged in biological warfare — a charge denied by the U.S. and Ukraine.
Russia has called a Security Council meeting Thursday on Ukraine's biological laboratories and its allegations.
The Kremlin has insisted that its warning of a purported Ukrainian plan to use a dirty bomb should be taken seriously and criticized Western nations for shrugging it off.
The dismissal of Moscow's warning is “unacceptable in view of the seriousness of the danger that we have talked about,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Speaking during a conference call with reporters, Peskov added: “We again emphasize the grave danger posed by the plans hatched by the Ukrainians.”
At the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden was asked Tuesday if Russia is preparing to deploy a tactical nuclear weapon after making its claims that Ukraine will use a dirty bomb.
“I spent a lot of time today talking about that,” Biden told reporters.
The president was also asked whether the claims about a Ukrainian dirty bomb amounted to a false-flag operation.
Advertisement
“Let me just say, Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake if it were to use a tactical nuclear weapon,” Biden said. “I’m not guaranteeing you that it’s a false-flag operation yet ... but it would be a serious, serious mistake.”
Dirty bombs don’t have the devastating destruction of a nuclear explosion but could expose broad areas to radioactive contamination.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/26/world/ukraine-alleges-russian-dirty-bomb-deception-nuke-plant/ | 2022-10-26 06:12:59 | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/26/world/ukraine-alleges-russian-dirty-bomb-deception-nuke-plant/ |
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — Electric vehicles took two of three categories for the first time in this year’s North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year awards.
Ford’s F-150 Lightning electric pickup won the truck category, while Kia’s EV6 battery-powered EV was named the top SUV. The Integra, a small sedan from Honda’s Acura performance brand, won car of the year.
Six of the nine finalists were powered by batteries, and analysts say the more of the awards are likely to go to electric vehicles in the future as the industry spends billions to roll out multiple new EV models.
Fifty automotive journalists from the U.S. and Canada are judges for the three awards, which are announced every January. They’re chosen from dozens of candidates and must be new or substantially changed for the current model year. Automakers often use the awards in advertising.
The judges evaluate finalists on innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction, user experience and value. The selection process started last summer.
In addition to the Integra, finalists for the car of the year included the Genesis G80 electric sedan, and the Nissan Z sports car.
The Lightning’s finalist competitors were the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 off-road pickup and the Lordstown Motors Endurance electric commercial pickup.
Utility vehicle finalists included the Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV and the Genesis GV60 electric SUV. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-electric-vehicles-win-truck-utility-of-the-year-awards/ | 2023-01-12 16:29:04 | 1 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-electric-vehicles-win-truck-utility-of-the-year-awards/ |
Teen missed graduation after being shot, receives high school diploma in hospital bed
CLEVELAND (WOIO/Gray News) – A 17-year-old girl was unable to attend her high school graduation in Ohio after being shot in the chest on Mother’s Day.
Family members told WOIO Rai’nell Peterson was celebrating with friends before the graduation, and someone at the party started shooting.
According to police, she and another teen were shot.
“She wasn’t even the target. It was somebody else they were looking for,” Peterson’s grandmother Victoria Morris said.
Peterson, who is recovering at a Cleveland area hospital, received her diploma Thursday while lying in her hospital bed.
“I cry about every day since she’s been here. Right now, she is in so much pain. To see her in pain brings me pain,” Peterson’s dad Darnell Peterson said.
The recent high school graduate wants to work in the medical field, but her dad said she may have a different calling.
“She wants to write her book. She said she can be an activist about this,” Darnell Peterson said of the recent shooting.
Family members said they hope Rai’nell Peterson will be discharged from the hospital next week.
Copyright 2023 WOIO via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wcjb.com/2023/05/19/teen-missed-graduation-after-being-shot-receives-high-school-diploma-hospital-bed/ | 2023-05-19 16:31:20 | 0 | https://www.wcjb.com/2023/05/19/teen-missed-graduation-after-being-shot-receives-high-school-diploma-hospital-bed/ |
(The Hill) — Thousands of flights were delayed on Saturday and Sunday as rainstorms swept across the mid-Atlantic region and forced airlines to adjust travel times over the busy post-Thanksgiving Day weekend.
On Saturday, 4,400 flights were delayed and 67 canceled, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.
And another 3,722 flights were delayed on Sunday and 78 flights were canceled as of late afternoon.
The largest share of delays were in New York City, with 172 flights delayed and two flights canceled in the city on Sunday.
The National Weather Station in New York City said the region was expecting up to one inch of rainfall on Sunday with “heavy downpours” through the evening.
In Washington, D.C., four flights were canceled and another 115 were delayed. The Washington-Baltimore region was also experiencing rain and messy weather as well.
Republic Airways delayed 26 percent of its flights, or 227 flights on Sunday, according to FlightAware. Most of the airline’s flights were scheduled to take off from airports on the East Coast.
PSA Airlines delayed 23 percent of its flights on Sunday, or 125 flights, a majority of them at Reagan National airport in D.C.
Frontier delayed 110 flights, or 21 percent of its flights scheduled for takeoff across the country.
Airlines have come under intense scrutiny from the Biden administration and lawmakers this year, who have raised concerns about the large number of flight delays and cancellations amid reported staffing shortages.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg fined six airlines more than $7 million this month for failing to refund customers affected by delays and cancelations on time. | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/thousands-of-post-thanksgiving-flights-delayed-amid-messy-weather/ | 2022-11-28 21:28:57 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/thousands-of-post-thanksgiving-flights-delayed-amid-messy-weather/ |
WFO BOSTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, July 12, 2022
_____
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
542 PM EDT Tue Jul 12 2022
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN WINDHAM COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning remains well to
the west. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT
FOR NORTHERN HARTFORD COUNTY...
At 540 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Hartland, or 13
miles northeast of Torrington, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect wind damage to trees and power lines. Minor hail
damage to vehicles is possible.
Locations impacted include...
Hartford, West Hartford, Manchester, East Hartford, Enfield, Vernon,
Windsor, South Windsor, Simsbury, Bloomfield, Avon, Suffield, East
Longmeadow, Windsor Locks, Somers, Granby, East Windsor, Canton,
Southwick and East Granby.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/CT-WFO-BOSTON-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17300693.php | 2022-07-12 22:57:03 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/CT-WFO-BOSTON-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17300693.php |
JAY, Maine (AP) — Across the U.S., families are looking to the winter with dread as energy costs soar and fuel supplies tighten.
The Department of Energy is projecting sharp price increases for home heating compared with last winter and some worry whether heating assistance programs will be able to make up the difference for struggling families. The situation is even bleaker in Europe, with Russia’s continued curtailment of natural gas pushing prices upward and causing painful shortages.
In Maine, Aaron Raymo saw the writing on the wall and began stocking up on heating oil in 5-gallon increments over the summer as costs crept upward. He filled a container with heating oil as he could afford it, usually on paydays, and used a heating assistance program to top off his 275-gallon oil tank with the arrival of colder weather.
His family is trying to avoid being forced into a difficult decision — choosing between food or heating their home.
“It’s a hard one,” he said. “What are you going to choose for food, or what amount of fuel oil are you going to choose to stay warm?”
A number of factors are converging to create a bleak situation: Global energy consumption has rebounded from the start of the pandemic, and supply was barely keeping pace before the war in Ukraine further reduced supplies.
The National Energy Assistance Directors Association says energy costs will be the highest in more than a decade this winter.
The Energy Department projects heating bills will jump 28% this winter for those who rely on natural gas, used by nearly half of U.S. households for heat. Heating oil is projected to be 27% higher and electricity 10% higher, the agency said.
That comes against inflation rates that accelerated last month with consumer prices growing 6.6%, the fastest such pace in four decades.
The pain will be especially acute in New England, which is heavily reliant on heating oil to keep homes warm. It’s projected to cost more than $2,300 to heat a typical home with heating oil this winter, the energy department said.
Across the country, some are urging utilities to implement a moratorium on winter shut-offs, and members of Congress already added $1 billion in heating aid. But there will be fewer federal dollars than last year when pandemic aid flowed.
In Jay, where Raymo lives with his partner, Lucinda Tyler, and 8-year-old son, residents were already bracing for the worst before the local paper mill announced it’s going to close, putting more than 200 people out of work. That has the potential to wreak havoc on the town budget, and cause higher property taxes that will further eat into residents’ budgets.
Both Raymo and Tyler work full-time jobs. He works as many as 70 or 80 hours a week in an orthopedists’ office and she works from home in shareholder services for a financial services company. They don’t qualify for much help even though they’re scraping by to keep up with repairs, buy gas and put food on the table — and heat their 100-year-old home in a state known for bitter cold weather.
“We work significant hours but it seems that it’s not enough,” said Tyler, who wept with relief when she learned they qualified for even a modest amount of heating assistance.
Last month, Congress added $1 billion in funding to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, bringing the total to at least $4.8 billion and making additional heating aid available for the start of the winter season.
The third hottest summer on record already strained LIHEAP funding, “so I am glad that we were able to secure these new resources before the cold of winter sets in,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont.
But that level represents an overall reduction from last year, when federal pandemic relief pushed the total energy assistance package past $8 billion.
Some are seeking help who’ve never done so in the past. In Auburn, Maine, 72-year-old Mario Zullo said he worked all his life and never asked for help until last year when he received heating assistance last year. The program helped upgrade his heating.
“It came to us at a time when we needed it the most,” Zullo said.
Mark Wolfe, executive director of NEADA, said he fears the federally funded program won’t be enough because of the high cost of energy and continued instability in energy markets. It could be even worse if the winter is especially cold, he said.
“The crisis is coming,” he said. “There’s a lot of uncertainty and factors in play that could drive these prices higher.”
In Maine, the state has the nation’s oldest population and it’s the most reliant on heating oil, creating a double whammy.
“People are scared. They’re worried. They’re frustrated,” said Lisa McGee, who coordinates the heating aid program for Community Concepts Inc. in Lewiston, Maine. “There’s more anxiety this year.”
Follow David Sharp on Twitter @David_Sharp_AP | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/us-heating-worries-mount-amid-growing-costs-uncertainty/ | 2022-10-20 14:22:25 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/us-heating-worries-mount-amid-growing-costs-uncertainty/ |
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — If you’re looking to travel abroad and need a passport, you’re not the only one. Currently, the rush of applications has pushed the wait time to several months.
“We’re getting 500,000 applications a week for passports,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said March 24, calling the renewed demand for travel “unprecedented.”
The State Department warns it is taking 10 to 13 weeks to receive a passport and the expedited process, which costs an extra $60, will take seven to nine weeks. Staffing shortages are being blamed for some of the delays.
Trying to get an appointment at one of the 20 passport centers in Clark County, Nevada is leaving some people frustrated. Applicants say they are being told that an appointment may not be scheduled for months, and if you plan to walk in to submit an application, be prepared to wait hours.
The Secretary of State reports in the 2022 fiscal year, a record 22 million passport books were issued and the government is on track to break that record in 2023.
Passport demand always increases from March through the summer as travel ramps up but this year is unusual. The U.S. Travel Association reports 52% of Americans plan to travel in the next six months and with around 500,000 passport applications being submitted weekly, it probably won’t slow down any time soon.
“The processing times had been going down for the last couple of months but with the surge again for the seasonal travel it has bumped back up. So the problem is just the backlog of the number of people coming in. I guess the system just can’t handle it,” Windmill Library branch Manager Theron Nissen said.
If you need to renew your passport, you can mail your passport with a DS 82 form (renewal application) and a photo.
If you need a passport for an emergency, you can find contact information for the U.S. Department of State at this link.
Passport services are offered at some post offices, libraries, and government buildings. | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/us-passport-application-delays-surge-amid-unprecedented-demand/ | 2023-04-03 22:54:20 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/us-passport-application-delays-surge-amid-unprecedented-demand/ |
(WJBF) — Election Day is Tuesday, and everyone is entitled to get out and vote. If for one reason or another you can’t make it to the polls because of transportation, rideshare company Lyft is offering a discount to help you get there.
You can get 50 percent off a ride to and/or from the polls using promo code VOTE22. The code will be available to use during voting hours and will cover up to $10.
The company is also partnering with non-profits to provide access to free and heavily discounted rides in underserved communities.
This year, fellow rideshare company Uber isn’t providing any exclusive discounts to the polls except for election workers. According to People, the company will cover the full cost of rides to and from a poll worker’s assigned location for those who signed up via Power the Polls and will be available through Wednesday.
And if exercising your vote isn’t sweet enough during this critical election cycle, here’s how you can treat yourself to a free Krispy Kreme doughnut on Election Day. | https://www.koin.com/news/lyft-offering-discounted-rides-to-the-polls-on-election-day/ | 2022-11-08 02:15:35 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/news/lyft-offering-discounted-rides-to-the-polls-on-election-day/ |
Eagles
Phillies
Sixers
Flyers
Watch
Listen
Trending
Phillies Live Streams
Takeoff with John Clark
Flyers Draft
Wawa Welcome America
Podcasts
NHL | https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nhl/jones-yorks-future-is-now-he-belongs-here/212926/ | 2023-06-07 06:58:37 | 0 | https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nhl/jones-yorks-future-is-now-he-belongs-here/212926/ |
My blender gets a lot of reps all year, but even more during the warmer months, since I'll find any excuse not to turn on the stovetop or oven. Quick smoothies for breakfast and soups for lunch are just two examples of easy meals you can make in the blender. Right now, a powerful, midsized 1,000-watt GE blender is on sale at Best Buy if you're looking for a summer upgrade.
This small and sleek blender comes with two 16-ounce blender cups in addition to the main 64-ounce jar. The five-speed model normally sells for $119, but you can nab it for $79 plus free shipping or in-store pickup.
Read more: Best Gifts and Gadgets for a Home Chef | https://www.cnet.com/deals/save-40-on-ges-powerful-5-speed-blender/ | 2022-06-20 15:05:30 | 0 | https://www.cnet.com/deals/save-40-on-ges-powerful-5-speed-blender/ |
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Texas Lottery's "Pick 3 Evening" game were:
0-9-0, FIREBALL: 5
(zero, nine, zero; FIREBALL: five)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Texas Lottery's "Pick 3 Evening" game were:
0-9-0, FIREBALL: 5
(zero, nine, zero; FIREBALL: five) | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-3-Evening-game-17687800.php | 2023-01-01 01:17:45 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-3-Evening-game-17687800.php |
Some 100,000 people are dying each year from illegal street drugs. Now the White House says a synthetic drug cocktail of fentanyl and xylazine is poisoning even more Americans.
NPR addiction correspondent Brian Mann reports.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kasu.org/2023-04-12/white-house-warns-against-synthetic-drug-cocktail-causing-widespread-deaths-among-users | 2023-04-12 19:30:50 | 0 | https://www.kasu.org/2023-04-12/white-house-warns-against-synthetic-drug-cocktail-causing-widespread-deaths-among-users |
NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MomMed, a leading online baby and maternity supply store, has launched a new portable and wearable breast pump ergonomically designed for working mothers who are unable to take care of their children to bring a more convenient, affordable and dignifying experience. The perfectly fitted breast pump has functional upgrades that make it more invisible to use in office, cars and lounges, making breastfeeding more comfortable for every mother.
"We are not just helping women who want to become mothers, more importantly we care the new mother's wellbeing and everyday life, especially mothers in lactation, so they can enjoy life better," said Alex Lee, CEO of MomMed.
Users are raving about their experiences with the new product, with Samantha Carling saying, "I always pump the most between 7 and 9 AM, which is also when I'm getting my kids ready for school. It's so hard trying to find the time between it all since school has started. I told my husband this morning that with this pump, I can pump while helping them or even walking them to school. I feel so excited! The pump is fairly quiet & discreet. It fits very nicely in my bra & the flanges are so comfortable."
Another user Holly Newhof also noted that the pump is easy to use, "I like how customizable it is with the various modes and levels of suction. I love that I am able to pump while doing things around the house (clean, cook, get my toddle ready or chase him around) without issues. I haven't had any issue with leaking. Every working mother should enjoy life better and this is truly a life-changer."
For more information, please visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6C2X4DF?maas=maas_adg_DBFC1690B223B5181EBD59810CE0F7D7_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas&ref=myi_title_dp
About MomMed
Established in 2017, MomMed is dedicated to providing helpful products for women trying to conceive, expectant mothers, babies. In line with the brand's mission to equip every family with the most professional guidance and companionship. MomMed has accompanied more than 1.8 million women to their motherhood since its inception. The launch of new all-in-one breast pump marks a key milestone for MomMed' s mom care products. The company hopes to better serve and help mothers in breastfeeding with more comfort.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE MomMed | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/11/02/mommed-launches-new-all-in-one-breast-pump-designed-working-mothers/ | 2022-11-02 09:40:37 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/11/02/mommed-launches-new-all-in-one-breast-pump-designed-working-mothers/ |
'Spin Me Round' is an all-you-can-eat Olive Garden parody that doesn't quite satisfy
“Spin Me Round” isn’t the movie you think it’s going to be. That’s sometimes a good thing, but not always.
The unexpected and offbeat is a valuable quality in a film, as anyone who has seen a Jeff Baena film (“Horse Girl,” “The Little Hours”) knows. “Spin Me Round” has a promising premise and an outstanding cast, including Alison Brie, who co-wrote the film with Baena, as well as Aubrey Plaza (Baena’s wife), Molly Shannon and Fred Armisen. But the grab-bag nature of the plotting proves clunky in places.
It’s never not entertaining — the cast is just too good — but its cultural criticism is not as incisive as it might have been. It’s a little all over the place, in other words, and while all of those individual places have their charms, they don’t add up to a satisfying whole.
An Olive Garden parody of endless-breadstick proportions
Brie plays Amber, the manager of a Bakersfield, California restaurant called Tuscan Grove, which is best described as an Olive Garden knockoff that’s even more Olive Garden-y than the original.
For instance, the pasta Alfredo consists of noodles over which employees squirt a white sauce from a tube; it looks like the paste kindergarteners use on construction paper.
All you can eat, of course.
Amber, however, is dedicated to her job, so much so that her boss (Lil Rel Howery) rewards her by recommending her for a company program where she travels to Italy with other Tuscan Grove managers for a corporate retreat where they will learn the ins and outs of the plastic fantastic cuisine they serve.
Or so they think. Once the managers arrive, they learn they will not be staying in the fabulous villa they thought, but in a bland motel nearby. They’re met at the airport by Craig (Ben Sinclair), the program coordinator, who promptly collects their passports, the first of a field of red flags that pop up.
Taste test:Hot dog-flavored candy? Why Tailgate Candy Corn tastes like a mistake
An oddball crew of characters can't save a spotty plot
It’s an odd bunch. Deb (Shannon) is near-apoplectic because her luggage didn’t arrive; this turns out to be just a preview of what’s in store with her. Dana (Zach Woods) is a Tuscan Grove manager and groupie, better versed in the restaurant and its dishes than the people running the retreat. Tim Heidecker is hilarious as an impossibly arrogant manager trying mightily to impose his talents upon everyone else. A subtle, “This isn’t that kind of kitchen” after he asks for liquid nitrogen was one of the funniest bits in the movie.
Then Nick (Alessandro Nivola), the CEO and founder of the chain, shows up unexpectedly. He pulls his assistant Kat (Plaza) aside, and soon after she’s chatting up Amber — and the next day taking her to Nick’s yacht.
It’s creepy and it’s weird and one of many signs that something is off about the whole trip.
Amber senses this, but has a great time with Nick. Next thing you know she’s accompanying him to a party at the home of a sleazy sculptor (Armisen) and then ... not.
Soon, other managers on the trip go missing, or at least call out sick.
Gourmet Gab:This ASU grad's love of cooking helped make her a Food Network star
The highlight is a balancing act of absurdity and seriousness
What’s up?
Maybe not what you think, but Amber is determined to get to the bottom of it all. Part of her investigation, if it rises to that level, involves a night out with Kat, and it’s one of the best scenes in the film as they let loose.
Brie and Plaza are always good; the two of them together, balancing absurdity with a dose of seriousness, teetering on the brink of both, is a real highlight.
Too bad there’s not more of it. (That’s a buddy film I’d watch.)
The film overall can’t balance tone the way those two can, so the audience bounces around a bit till things are resolved. The result is a movie that’s fun in spots — a good dish here and there, you might say — that doesn’t add up to a fully satisfying meal.
'Spin Me Round' 3 stars
Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★
Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★
Director: Jeff Baena.
Cast: Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Alessandro Nivola.
Rating: Not rated.
Note: In theaters Aug. 19.
Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.
Subscribe to azcentral.com today. What are you waiting for? | https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/movies/billgoodykoontz/2022/08/15/spin-me-round-movie-review/10293811002/ | 2022-08-15 17:07:16 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/movies/billgoodykoontz/2022/08/15/spin-me-round-movie-review/10293811002/ |
Riverfront home sits on over an acre on John Anderson Drive
This stunning brick home is beautifully situated on over an acre of riverfront property on prestigious John Anderson Drive. The more than 200 feet of Intracoastal Waterway frontage make for spectacular views. Upon entering the foyer, you’ll be struck by the attention to detail in the finishes of this ideal family home. Perfect for entertaining, the downstairs living space opens to a huge Florida room and the pool overlooking the water. The first-floor primary suite is secluded from the rest of the home offering tons of privacy. Two staircases lead to the second floor, which holds four additional bedrooms and two baths, making the home ideal for a large family or many guests. If sunset and water views aren’t enough, this home has the perfect vantage point to watch Ormond Beach's fireworks. Plus, it’s just blocks to the beach, shopping, dining and a prestigious golf club.
ADDRESS: 190 John Anderson Drive, Ormond Beach
TOTAL LIVING SQUARE FEET: 4,417
LOT SIZE: 1.17 acre
BEDROOMS: 6
BATHROOMS: 4 full, 1 half
STORIES: 2
YEAR BUILT: 1998
PRICE: $3.4 million
CONTACT: Allison Gartrell, Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors, 386-334-8828 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/lifestyle/2022/08/13/market-real-estate-riverfront-home-sits-over-acree/10248153002/ | 2022-08-13 15:31:31 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/lifestyle/2022/08/13/market-real-estate-riverfront-home-sits-over-acree/10248153002/ |
Oleksandr Fedun had been in the Ukrainian army for two years when he got hit last May.
"The enemy reconnaissance did their job and they mined the roads," he says.
He was driving the first truck in a convoy. When he felt the explosion, Fedun says, he managed to swerve and block the road so none of his fellow soldiers would drive on into the mines. Then he started tying tourniquets on himself. Ukrainian medics saved him, but he lost both legs above the knee.
"Life doesn't stop at this," says Fedun, standing on two high-tech, full-leg prostheses, as he tries to stay upright while passing a medicine ball back and forth with his physical therapist in Silver Spring, Md.
Eight months after his injury, Fedun was flown here to get fitted for the legs and learn to use them. An array of charities paid for his trip: the Future for Ukraine and Revive Soldier Ukraine got him to the U.S.; United Help Ukraine is paying for lodging, transportation and support; Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics (MCOP) is fitting the prostheses and training him.
"The goal is to give him his life back," says Mike Corcoran, one of the founders of MCOP, and a prosthetics for over 30 years.
"We're giving them the equipment to live a normal life. They're tools, but they're not advancing him beyond what he lost," says Corcoran, leaning over a workbench covered in prosthetic feet.
Until just a few years ago, Corcoran says, his company was fully occupied with American military amputees coming from nearby Walter Reed — and some of the legs given to Ukrainian soldiers were donated by U.S. veterans. They're computerized and battery powered, but they're rugged, says Corcoran, and they'll help Fedun gain the confidence to use them every day.
"These are computer-controlled knees that learn how he walks. They recognize if he's going to stumble, and the knee stiffens up. And then as he switches from walking slow to medium to fast, they keep up with him. It provides him the stability, because if he's unstable and falling, he's not gonna walk," says Corcoran.
Since Russia invaded a year ago, it's believed that thousands of Ukrainians have lost limbs in the war, though the government in Kiev hasn't publicly confirmed the number killed or wounded. Corcoran says treating American military amputees was different — with a few exceptions, they were leaving war behind. The Ukrainians here don't have that option.
The three Ukrainian soldiers at MCOP in Maryland last month all said they want to find a way to return to the fighting
"My plan is just to go back to the war and kill the orcs," says Dmytro Sklyarenko, using the Ukrainian slur for Russian soldiers. Sklyarenko lost his right leg, high above the knee, to shrapnel from an artillery shell.
Others want to get ambulatory so they can bring some lessons learned to the Ukrainian army.
"I need to pass my experience to the other guys," says Ruslan Tyshchenko, who served 25 years in the army as a sapper — a combat engineer trained in defusing or setting up anti-tank mines. That's what he was doing last June 8, he says, when a Russian surveillance drone spotted him and gave targeting information to the same tanks Tyshchenko was laying mines for.
"I was almost done installing them when the tank turned toward me," he says.
The shell exploded near him and flipped him in the air. At first he didn't even know which way to run. Then his men started shouting, "Sapper! Sapper!"
When tried to get up and run toward them he found his legs were useless. Stabbing the ground with his commando knife, he dragged himself toward them for about 30 yards. Then his men reached him and started pulling him by the arms, not realizing that a heavy anti-tank mine was still attached and banging against his right leg, which was visibly broken. His left leg was gone.
Tyshchenko's amputation is so high up — above his left hip — that doctors in Ukraine told him his only option was a wheelchair. That was about 20 surgeries, and seven months ago. Here in Maryland, he's learning to walk on a prosthesis, practicing with a safety harness that's hooked into a rail in the ceiling. That way when he falls he doesn't have to worry about hitting the floor.
Mike Corcoran says he wants these guys to win their war — and then have a normal life as civilians.
"Eventually this war's going to end — no wars go on forever. And the reality of all of this is going back to work or doing something, his rehab and all that, it's a lifetime. Prosthetics will be part of his life for a considerable amount of time," he said.
Even now, with all the help and attention and positive energy — Tyshchenko says it's been hard to adjust even to the good news — that he can walk again.
"For half a year, you don't have a leg and you never believe you would walk. And finally, you can stand up on your own and you can walk — psychologically it's very hard to adjust to," he said.
Here in the states, near Walter Reed hospital, Tyshchenko says he's felt the support and respect that people have for severely wounded veterans. They act normal around him. That's something he's craving — and his family have noticed, says his wife Iryna Tyshchenko.
"I see very clearly that he resists very much my sympathy and he wants me to treat him as a normal person living normal life, and that requires a lot of effort on my side. And in our family, I want nothing to change compared to what it was before the injury," she says, "I feel he needs that."
In Ukraine, she says, civilians don't really know how to do that yet, but as the war drags on, it's something they may be forced to learn.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-02-07/ukrainian-soldiers-benefit-from-u-s-prosthetics-expertise-but-their-war-is-different | 2023-02-07 11:07:52 | 1 | https://www.kunm.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-02-07/ukrainian-soldiers-benefit-from-u-s-prosthetics-expertise-but-their-war-is-different |
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan lawmakers gave final approval to legislation banning so-called conversion therapy for minors as Democrats in the state continue to advance a pro-LGBTQ+ agenda in their first months in power.
The Michigan Senate approved the ban on a 21-15 vote — with one Republican siding with Democrats — late Tuesday after the state House previously approved the legislation. It now awaits final approval by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has previously called the therapy a “dangerous practice.”
Democratic state Rep. Jason Hoskins, a sponsor of the bills, told The Associated Press when the legislation was first introduced that conversion therapy “works on the false premise that LGBTQ+ children are wrong and they need to be fixed.”
“Banning it is just one less thing that LGBTQ children will have to worry about going forward in Michigan,” said Hoskins, who was the first LGBTQ+ person of color elected to the Michigan Legislature.
Michigan Democrats have made it a priority to further protect LGBTQ+ people since they took control of all levels of state government this year. In March, lawmakers codified LGBTQ+ protections into the state’s civil rights law, permanently outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in the state.
Republicans spoke out about the ban of conversion therapy on the Senate floor Tuesday night, with speeches often centering on transgender people.
“Hearing a bunch of straight people in the Senate lecture me about the journey of an LGBTQ person is the exact reason we should be banning conversion therapy,” Democratic Sen. Jeremy Moss, the state’s first openly gay state senator, said on the chamber’s floor Tuesday.
Under the bills passed Wednesday, conversion therapy includes any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. That does not include counseling that provides assistance to people undergoing a gender transition.
The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for the LGBTQ+ community earlier this month in response to what i called an “unprecedented and dangerous” spike in discriminatory legislation sweeping statehouses this year. The organization praised Michigan on Tuesday for passing the ban.
If signed by Whitmer, Michigan will become the 22nd state to ban conversion therapy, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a pro-LGBTQ+ rights think tank. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order Tuesday that prohibits state agencies from using funds to promote or facilitate conversion therapy.
In 2021, Whitmer signed an executive directive prohibiting the use of state and federal funds for conversion therapy on minors and to explore what further actions can be taken to protect minors from the practice. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/06/28/conversion-therapy-michigan-ban-lgbtq/27c5c898-15c5-11ee-9de3-ba1fa29e9bec_story.html | 2023-06-28 16:15:41 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/06/28/conversion-therapy-michigan-ban-lgbtq/27c5c898-15c5-11ee-9de3-ba1fa29e9bec_story.html |
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors in Nebraska is one final step from passing after lawmakers advanced it Thursday, but not before a promise was made behind closed doors to hammer out a compromise between supporters and opponents of the bill before it’s passed.
Opponents of the bill fell one vote short of the 17 they needed to successfully filibuster the bill and kill it for the year. It advanced 33-16. But that vote came only after Speaker of the Legislature Sen. John Arch took the extraordinary move of suspending business on the floor for nearly an hour to hash out the agreement behind closed doors with conservative lawmakers who dominate the unique one-house, officially nonpartisan Legislature.
Both Arch and the bill’s author, freshman Sen. Kathleen Kauth, said details of a compromise have yet to be worked out. But Kauth said she expected to sit down with a handful of supporters, opponents and medical experts in the coming days.
She doesn’t have much time. There are fewer than 30 days left in the 90-day session. The final round of debate on the bill has not yet been scheduled.
The vote was telegraphed by opponents who used their time in the final minutes of debate to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community and castigate lawmakers who supported the bill.
Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who has been among the most vocal in opposing the bill, sobbed on the mic.
“I am sorry,” she cried, addressing parents of transgender children. “I’m sorry there’s nothing more I can do in my power. You are loved. Your children are loved. You matter.”
The bill has proved to be the session’s most contentious, with Cavanaugh leading an effort to filibuster every bill before the Nebraska Legislature for weeks to protest it. That effort has largely hamstrung the body’s work. While lawmakers have managed to advance a number of bills, it had not passed a single bill by Thursday.
The trans health bill advanced from the first eight-hour round of debate last month after supporters and opponents angrily accused each other of being hateful and lacking collegiality.
Even before Thursday’s debate, opponents signaled that deliberations would become heated. Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt lashed out at supporters of the trans health ban Wednesday night. For Hunt, the debate is deeply personal; she shared on the floor of the Legislature during the bill’s first round that her teenage son is transgender. She has since refused to speak to lawmakers who voted to advance the proposal.
“Unless the bill is killed, every bill will be filibustered, and we will talk about LB574 every day on every bill,” Hunt said.
Opponents have noted that Nebraska’s bill is nearly identical to an Arkansas law that has been temporarily blocked by federal courts as a judge considers whether to strike that state’s ban as unconstitutional.
Cavanaugh laid bare the argument that such a ban is unconstitutional, noting that it targets a protected class of people. The bill does not keep teenage girls who identify as girls from getting breast reduction surgery, she said. Nor does it keep teen boys who identify as boys from having surgery to remove excess breast tissue.
“You don’t want to ban top surgery for minors. You want to ban top surgery for transgender minors,” Cavanaugh said. “That is targeting a group of people because of how they identify. And that is discrimination.”
Rhetoric around the bill again grew heated at times Thursday, with some conservative lawmakers suggesting that gender-affirming treatments have led to an increase in suicide and suicidal thoughts in transgender teens.
Sen. John Lowe of Kearney repeated a common refrain among conservative activists and politicians, saying children were “being groomed” in schools to develop gender dysphoria. Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering said those urging lawmakers to follow accepted science on transgender health care “are the same people who chanted ‘follow the science’ on COVID-19 until it was no longer fashionable to do so about a year ago.” Kauth referred to transgenderism in youth as “a social contagion.”
Hunt shot back at those assertions.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said. “By supporting this bill, you’re telling these kids that you reject them. And that’s what’s leading to suicidal ideation in kids.
“You are throwing gasoline on the fire.”
Kauth has maintained the bill is intended to protect children from undertaking gender-affirming treatments they might later regret as adults and called gender-affirming treatments experimental. She has relied on testimony from activists and some medical reports to say they cause long-lasting damage.
The American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association all support gender-affirming care for youths. Kauth insinuated Thursday that greed might be driving that support, saying “medicine is also a business.”
“There is not enough research to justify this kind of risk,” Kauth said. “My fear is that 10 years down the road, people will look back and say, ‘Where were the adults to say take it slow?’”
The bill was the genesis of a nearly three-week, uninterrupted filibuster carried by Cavanaugh, who followed through on her vow in late February to filibuster every bill before the Legislature — even those she supported — declaring she would “burn the session to the ground over this bill.” When the bill advanced anyway last month, several other lawmakers joined in the filibuster.
The Nebraska bill, along with another that would ban trans people from using bathrooms and locker rooms or playing on sports teams that don’t align with the sex listed on their birth certificates, are among roughly 150 bills targeting transgender people that have been introduced in state legislatures this year.
At least 13 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia. Bills await action from governors in Kansas, Montana and North Dakota. In addition to Arkansas’ ban, a federal judge has blocked enforcement of a similar law in Alabama, and nearly two dozen states are considering bills this year to restrict or ban care.
Despite the promise of a compromise, the bill’s two most vocal critics — Cavanaugh and Hunt — angrily declared after Thursday’s vote that they weren’t interested in compromise.
“You care more about legislating hate than anything else,” Cavanaugh yelled into the mic. “Actually, that’s not true. you care more about hurting me than you care about anything else.” | https://www.cenlanow.com/national/debate-resumes-on-nebraska-bill-to-ban-trans-care-for-minors/ | 2023-04-14 05:40:09 | 0 | https://www.cenlanow.com/national/debate-resumes-on-nebraska-bill-to-ban-trans-care-for-minors/ |
ATLANTA (WXIN) – Chick-fil-A has rolled out a few new menu items for the fall season.
The chicken chain is debuting an Autumn Spice Milkshake — its answer to the pumpkin-spice craze, seemingly — and bringing back its Grilled Spicy Deluxe Sandwich, described by Chick-fil-A as a “favorite seasonal sandwich.”
This limited-time shake is made with with fall-inspired flavors, including cinnamon and crunchy bits of brown sugar spice cookies, according to the company’s website.
“Guests love our milkshakes, especially our seasonal flavors, so we are excited to introduce the perfect treat to welcome the fall season,” said Leslie Neslage, director of menu and packaging at Chick-fil-A, in a press release.
The sandwich, meanwhile, is essentially a grilled version of Chick-fil-A’s spicy chicken sandwich, with lettuce, tomato and Colby-Jack cheese.
Chick-fil-A says the Autumn Spice Milkshake is being added to the menu at participating locations after a successful test in Salt Lake City, where it received an “overwhelming amount of positive feedback.”
“We’re eager for our Chick-fil-A milkshake enthusiasts to try the Autumn Spice Milkshake this fall,” said Neslage.
The Autumn Spice Milkshake will only be on the menu at participating restaurants for a limited time. Customers can also order through the Chick-fil-A app or online. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/chick-fil-a-introduces-new-shake-brings-back-spicy-sandwich/ | 2022-09-09 18:06:07 | 1 | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/chick-fil-a-introduces-new-shake-brings-back-spicy-sandwich/ |
Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars will become the first NFL team to play two international games in the same season when they spend back-to-back weeks in London this year.
The Jaguars will “host” the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 1 and “visit” the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 8. The Jaguars were set to play two designated home games in London in 2020 but the pandemic canceled those plans.
“Hosting the Falcons at Wembley Stadium will be awesome only to be followed by playing on the road against the Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium," Lawrence said in a statement. "I’m pumped for the experience and know the support from Duval will be strong at both games.”
The Jaguars have played nine games in London, including a 21-17 loss to the Denver Broncos last October in front of an NFL-record international crowd of 86,215 fans at Wembley Stadium. Under first-year coach Doug Pederson, who guided Philadelphia to a Super Bowl title in 2017, the Jaguars last year became the first team to win a playoff game after having the worst record the previous season.
The NFL also announced dates for three other international games.
The Tennessee Titans will “host” the Baltimore Ravens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 15. It’ll be the second trip to London for the Titans.
“It’s exciting to witness and play a role in the NFL’s rise in popularity across the globe," Ravens president Sashi Brown said. "This is an incredible opportunity to play in front of and connect with Ravens fans in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe.”
NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will “host” the Miami Dolphins in Germany at Eintracht Frankfurt Stadium on Nov. 5. The New England Patriots will “host” the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 12, also in Frankfurt.
“We are thrilled to be headed to Frankfurt this fall to play the Dolphins,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said. “The Chiefs have a long history of helping to grow the game of football around the world, and we have been eagerly anticipating our chance to play in Germany."
The Patriots are 3-0 in international games while the Chiefs are 2-0.
“Germany has some of the most passionate sports fans in the world and has always been an international leader in enthusiasm for American football and the NFL,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. “I’m thrilled to play a home game in this new market and to continue to build upon our team’s long history and engagement with German fans. Our goal is to connect with fans at the local level and I look forward to expanding that fan base and fostering additional relationships and opportunities for partnership in Germany as well as Austria and Switzerland.”
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Munich in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Germany last season.
There will be no international game in Mexico in 2023 because of renovations taking place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The five international games in 2022 set record-breaking attendance and viewership. Each game was sold out with a total of 356,116 in attendance.
“We are excited to bring three games to London once again, a city with a huge love for the sport and a passionate fan base across the UK," said Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice president, club business, major events and international. "We are also pleased to confirm that the two games in Germany will be played in Frankfurt, a city steeped in NFL heritage. We look forward to staging both games at Eintracht Frankfurt’s Stadium, building on the incredible atmosphere experienced at last season’s game in Munich.”
The NFL’s expansion to 17 regular-season games in 2021 gives teams a ninth home game in alternating seasons. Up to four of the teams from the conference whose teams are eligible for that ninth regular-season home game are designated to play a neutral-site international game each year.
The Jaguars host a game at Wembley Stadium as part of their multi-year commitment to playing in Britain.
“The addition of the road contest against Buffalo allows us to maximize the logistical efficiency of our travels to and from the United Kingdom, while maintaining a strong slate of games in our true home at TIAA Bank Field,” Jaguars President Mark Lamping said in a statement. ___
AP Pro Football Writer Mark Long contributed to this report.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/jaguars-will-play-twice-in-london-2-germany-18090479.php | 2023-05-10 12:21:30 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/sports/article/jaguars-will-play-twice-in-london-2-germany-18090479.php |
German amateur Soccer team FC Ente Bagdad has been fighting prejudice for nearly 50 years. The team brings together young people from all over the world who have ended up in the German City of Mainz and — through soccer — coaches them to understand the importance of diversity, acceptance, and equality, as well as in recognizing and understanding Jewish history and culture.
The team’s coach recently won an Obermayer Award, presented to him in the German parliament, for his tireless work.
Here & Now‘s Scott Tong speak to the coach Stefan Shirmer about the work he does, the players he coaches and why his work is more important than ever.
You can learn more about the Obermayer Awards and the organization that runs it Widen the Circle here.
Coach Stefan Shirmer. (Courtesy)
German soccer club FC Ente Bagdad. (Courtesy)
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kanw.com/2023-04-07/german-soccer-club-fc-ente-bagdad-fights-prejudice-one-game-at-a-time | 2023-04-07 19:25:52 | 0 | https://www.kanw.com/2023-04-07/german-soccer-club-fc-ente-bagdad-fights-prejudice-one-game-at-a-time |
WASHINGTON — President Isaac Herzog of Israel used an address to Congress on Wednesday to try to smooth over fresh tensions between his country and the United States, appealing to US lawmakers to continue investing in the “irreplaceable” relationship even as he acknowledged problems at home that have strained that bond.
Herzog kept his words strictly nonpartisan as he spoke about the strength of the security partnership between the United States and Israel, decried Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and thanked the United States for shepherding through the Abraham Accords, which he called a “game changer” for peace in the Middle East. And he elicited applause from both Republicans and Democrats as he lauded the vibrancy of Israel’s democracy and recalled the 75-year alliance with the United States.
Advertisement
“We are proud to be the United States’ closest partner and friend,” Herzog told lawmakers. “When the United States is strong, Israel is stronger. And when Israel is strong, the United States is more secure.”
The speech was an effort to solidify bipartisan support for Israel at a time when a growing number of Democrats have questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s embrace of right-wing policies that they see as undemocratic, and an emboldened left wing is openly accusing the country of imposing apartheid policies against Palestinians. It also appeared aimed at reassuring Israelis, who have taken to the streets by the thousands to protest Netanyahu’s policies, that the country still values its democratic, pluralistic legacy.
Israel “takes pride in its vibrant democracy, its protection of minorities, human rights and civil liberties, as laid down by its parliament, the Knesset, and safeguarded by its strong Supreme Court and independent judiciary,” Herzog said. He later added that the debates roiling the Israeli population were “the clearest tribute to the fortitude of Israel’s democracy.”
The reception for Herzog in the packed House chamber was staunchly supportive, with frequent standing ovations by the assembled lawmakers, including when he decried Palestinians for destroying the prospects for peace by supporting terrorist attacks against Israel.
Advertisement
“Israel cannot and will not tolerate terror, and we know that in this we are joined by the United States of America,” Herzog said.
But the camaraderie within the House chamber Wednesday masked a fraught debate over Israel’s policies raging just outside its doors, where a group of left-wing House Democrats who boycotted the speech have accused Israeli leaders of endorsing racist policies against Palestinians that have led to a system of apartheid.
On the eve of the speech, 10 left-wing House Democrats declined to vote for a widely backed resolution stating that Israel was neither racist nor an apartheid state, alongside declarations of strong support for Israel and a denouncement of antisemitism and xenophobia in all its forms. Republicans had written the resolution after Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a leading progressive, told a liberal audience over the weekend that Israel “is a racist state.”
Although Jayapal later walked back the comments — and voted for the resolution — the episode touched off a bitter standoff in Congress, as Republicans accused Democrats of tolerating antisemitism and Democrats charged that Republicans were trying to turn Israel into a partisan issue by driving a wedge among their members.
Herzog acknowledged the tensions only glancingly in his speech.
“I respect criticism, especially from friends, although one does not always have to accept it,” Herzog said. “But criticism of Israel must not cross the line into negation of the state of Israel’s right to exist.” He said that was “not legitimate diplomacy, it is antisemitism” — a line met in the chamber with thunderous applause.
Advertisement
None of the lawmakers criticizing Israel’s policies as apartheid this week questioned Israel’s right to exist. Instead, they cited the findings of various human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and a United Nations report, that have said that Israel’s unequal treatment of Jews and Palestinians under law, as well as its pursuit of settlement construction in the West Bank in violation of international law, amounts to apartheid.
“The facts are clear, and the international consensus is resounding — Israel is an apartheid state,” Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Cori Bush of Missouri, two of the Democrats who boycotted Herzog’s speech, said in a joint statement. They said it was “shameful to deliberately ignore — and even normalize — this racist and oppressive system of apartheid.”
Tlaib and Bush were joined by Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both of New York; André Carson of Indiana; Summer Lee of Pennsylvania; Ilhan Omar of Minnesota; Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts; and Delia Ramirez of Illinois, in voting against the resolution. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., voted “present,” declining to register a position.
Although Jayapal voted in favor of the resolution, she joined several of those members in skipping Herzog’s speech Wednesday, as did Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., who said the current Israeli government was “undermining” the right to self-determination for all people and diminishing the likelihood of a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
Advertisement
As a result, there was no hint of dissent in the chamber when Herzog stated that the United States and Israel “have always stood for the same values.”
“Our two nations are both diverse, life-affirming societies that stand for liberty, equality, and freedom,” Herzog said. “Both peoples seek to repair the cracks in our world.”
Lawmakers also demonstrated their approval and sympathy when Herzog paid tribute to Israeli citizens who disagree with the government’s policies, particularly proposals seeking to weaken the national court system and centralize power.
Several Democratic lawmakers, as well as President Biden, have expressed concerns in recent months about Netanyahu’s embrace of the measures, and Herzog has previously warned the backlash could pitch the country into a civil war. On Wednesday, he appealed to lawmakers — and Israelis — to see that debate playing out on the streets as democracy in action.
“Our democracy is also reflected in the protesters taking to the streets all across the country, to emphatically raise their voices and fervently demonstrate their point of view,” he said. “Although we are working through sore issues, just like you, I know our democracy is strong and resilient.” | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/19/nation/israeli-president-works-ease-tensions-with-us-calling-bond-irreplaceable/ | 2023-07-20 00:16:38 | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/19/nation/israeli-president-works-ease-tensions-with-us-calling-bond-irreplaceable/ |
For months you’ve heard warnings about the Very Bad Things that could happen if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling. U.S. government default! Market crash! Global financial crisis!
To be clear: There are many unknowns. Be skeptical of ultraprecise forecasts that quantify down to a tenth of a percentage point how much, say, unemployment would rise. Consequences will also vary depending on what markets think will happen. A 24-hour default during which a debt-limit deal appears imminent is different from one in which everyone believes lawmakers may have repudiated some debt forever.
One useful lens for thinking through possible consequences was suggested by Richard Berner, a senior Treasury official during the 2011 debt-limit crisis: The global financial system is like an upside-down pyramid, and the tip of that pyramid is the U.S. Treasury market. “Everything else rests upon it,” he told me.
With these disclaimers, here’s a summary of what market experts relayed. Our scenario assumes the U.S. government fails to pay for not only key services such as Social Security checks and military salaries but also principle or interest on at least some U.S. Treasury securities. (It’s unclear whether the government has technical capacity to effectively prioritize payments, anyway, or if ratings agencies would care.) On to the consequences, in seven terrifying steps:
1) Treasurys get downgraded — as does virtually every other asset on earth.
U.S. Treasury debt has long been considered risk-free, with the relative riskiness of other assets benchmarked against it. So the sudden realization that Treasurys are unsafe cascades through other assets, including bonds of U.S. corporations. These bonds would be downgraded, making it more expensive for companies to borrow.
2) Interest rates rise for U.S. consumers, businesses and the government. It becomes more expensive to buy a house or invest in new equipment. Our federal debt problems — the concern supposedly motivating default threats in Congress — also worsen as debt-service costs rise. (Merely flirting with default in 2011 increased government borrowing costs by $1.3 billion that year.)
3) Global investors likely would sell U.S. dollar-denominated assets as confidence in them evaporates; the dollar might lose value in foreign-exchange markets.
4) Stock markets plummet. Investments that are even slightly risky become less attractive to hold amid so much uncertainty.
5) Companies holding Treasurys suffer hits to both revenue and balance sheets.
Companies reliant on interest payments for revenue might now have a cash-flow problem. They’ll try to borrow more to cover costs — but banks will want to hoard cash, not give out more loans, during a crisis. So these companies may have trouble paying payroll, rent and other expenses.
This could have knock-on effects for anyone expecting payments from these cash-strapped companies.
6) There might be a scramble to close out trades that people would otherwise hold.
Spurred by post-financial crisis regulations, Treasurys are increasingly used as collateral when people engage in other kinds of transactions — for example, to back borrowing when purchasing bonds or mortgages. If that once-rock-solid collateral suddenly drops in value, more collateral might be demanded right away — or the transaction might have to be “closed out” immediately; i.e., the loan would have to be repaid in full or the full purchase amount for the asset delivered — ASAP.
This is known as a margin call.
Now, imagine hordes of people being told to close out at once because everyone’s collateral has lost value. This leads to a huge sell-off across other markets because everyone is racing to get the funds their broker or lender demands in time. (“It would be like a global margin call,” Berner said.)
7) If No. 6, happens, and everyone attempts to close out their trades at once, some of the infrastructure underpinning large parts of the financial system (called “central counterparty clearinghouses”) could essentially get overwhelmed and go down. Backup plans meant to kick in may not work, as they’re not really meant for a systemic shock of this kind.
These clearinghouses are tightly interconnected with each other and other institutions and markets; most people I interviewed said they are the fastest and scariest source of contagion to the rest of the world economy.
That’s just the early-stage damage. Longer term, the United States might permanently lose its privileged economic and standing and ability to influence global affairs as we now do.
If you’re not afraid yet, you should be. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/04/debt-ceiling-default-us-treasurys/ | 2023-05-04 22:25:09 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/04/debt-ceiling-default-us-treasurys/ |
LONDON (AP) — The chief executive of Coutts Bank, long known as the bankers for Britain’s royal family and nobility, has stepped down amid the furor surrounding populist politician Nigel Farage’s complaints that his account was closed because of his political views.
CEO Peter Flavel’s resignation came just a day after Coutts owner NatWest Group parted ways with its CEO, Alison Rose, the first woman to head one of Britain’s four big banks. Rose left after acknowledging that she had discussed Farage’s personal details with a journalist.
“In the handling of Mr. Farage’s case we have fallen below the bank’s high standards of personal service,” Flavel said in a statement. “As CEO of Coutts it is right that I bear ultimate responsibility for this, which is why I am stepping down.”
The controversy began two weeks ago when Farage, a right-wing talk show presenter and former leader of the pro-Brexit U.K. Independence Party, said Coutts had improperly closed his account because it disagreed with his political views.
The BBC then published a story, based on an anonymous source, saying that the account was closed because Farage did not meet Coutts’ 1 million pound ($1.3 million) borrowing requirement.
But Farage obtained documents from the bank showing that while officials had discussed his financial affairs, they also examined the “reputational damage” associated with keeping him as a customer.
Rose later acknowledged that she was the source of the BBC story.
Farage, a skilled attention seeker, has accused the bank of stomping on his freedom of speech. Conservative politicians and pundits have backed Farage, criticizing banks more broadly for using anti-money laundering laws to punish people with unpopular views. They have demanded that banking regulations be changed to ensure that everyone has the right to a bank account. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/business/ap-ceo-of-royal-banker-coutts-resigns-amid-furor-over-closure-of-politician-nigel-farages-account/ | 2023-07-27 15:20:19 | 0 | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/business/ap-ceo-of-royal-banker-coutts-resigns-amid-furor-over-closure-of-politician-nigel-farages-account/ |
PHOENIX (AP) — Backup Uber driver in 1st fatality involving fully autonomous vehicle pleads guilty to endangerment in Arizona.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/backup-uber-driver-in-1st-fatality-involving-fully-autonomous-vehicle-pleads-guilty-to-endangerment-in-arizona/ | 2023-07-28 19:35:08 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/backup-uber-driver-in-1st-fatality-involving-fully-autonomous-vehicle-pleads-guilty-to-endangerment-in-arizona/ |
The Second Annual BTL Scholar Draft awards $15,000 grants to five deserving student-athletes.
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BTL, a leading provider of innovative aesthetic and wellness solutions, and its providers were so moved by its inaugural BTL Cares Scholar Draft campaign, that they decided to make it an annual event. Today, BTL and Michelle Wie West are excited to announce the five winners of the second annual BTL Cares Scholar Draft.
The program awards each of the five student-athletes a $15,000 grant for tuition and college fees. The Scholar Draft was started to empower graduating high school and currently enrolled college students nationwide to pursue higher education and strengthen their path to successful future careers. The scholarship allows students to display their skills and creativity in a unique way. Entrants were asked to submit a 2-5-minute video sharing their aspirations and how they both find confidence in athletics and rise above the challenges they face. After reviewing hundreds of submissions, the BTL team and Michelle Wie West selected winners. The program kicked off last year on November 3rd and officially closed the submission portal on Bold.org on January 28.
"Each of these student-athletes excelled in and out of the classroom. Their individual performances weren't by chance. These student-athletes' academic excellence and athletic performances demonstrate a high level of determination and hard work. The underlying key to their success, despite how different each of the individuals are, is a commitment to improving and making themselves better," said John Ferris, BTL Aesthetics Vice President of Marketing. "Our intention with this grant is to invest in our future and empower these student-athletes to continue their journey towards success. We have no doubt each of these students will impact our communities and make them a better place."
"I really enjoyed watching each application that was submitted and learning about how driven and dedicated the younger generation to their academic careers," said professional golfer Michelle Wie West, "It's a promising future for them and I'm happy I can be a part of driving that forward."
The five lucky winners are based across the country, each playing different sports. The scholarship winners are Malachi Neal (Cherry Hill, NJ), Lily Barnett (Agawam, MA), Taela Elliot (Las Vegas, NV), Joshua Antoine (Prairieville, LA), and Timothy Robinson (Raleigh, NC).
For more information on BTL Aesthetics and their various body sculpting therapies, please visit www.bodybybtl.com.
ABOUT BTL
Founded in 1993, BTL has grown to become one of the world's major medical and aesthetic equipment manufacturers. With over 3,000 employees located in more than 75 countries, BTL has revolutionized the way to offer the most advanced non-invasive solutions for body-shaping, skin-tightening & other medical aesthetic treatments, including women's intimate health and wellness. BTL's brands include EMSCULPT NEO®, EMFACE®, EMSCULPT®, EMSELLA®, EMTONE™, EMFEMME 360™, BTL Exilis ULTRA™. Core to Floor, Taut and Toned, and Pelvic Power, as well as their proprietary HIFEM and HIFES energies. Additional information can be found at www.bodybybtl.com.
FOR ALL MEDIA INQUIRIES AND REQUESTS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO:
btlaesthetics@nouveaucommunications.com
Nouveau Communications
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE BTL Aesthetics | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/02/28/btl-industries-professional-golfer-michelle-wie-west-announce-winners-btl-cares-scholarship-program/ | 2023-02-28 14:59:36 | 1 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/02/28/btl-industries-professional-golfer-michelle-wie-west-announce-winners-btl-cares-scholarship-program/ |
CEO of the Largest Black-Owned Multi-Unit Franchise Group of Ben & Jerry's Wins Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Award
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PRIMO Partners LLC, a black-owned and operated company that are multi-unit franchisees with Ben and Jerry's and Starbucks, was recognized with the 2023 MVP Award from Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine. The winners, chosen from a long list of multi-unit franchisee nominees, are the country's best and brightest power operators, innovators, and creative thinkers who have demonstrated outstanding performance in growing both their organization and their brands. Antonio McBroom, the CEO and Visionary of PRIMO Partners, was recognized with the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Award for demonstrating exceptional commitment to the promotion of providing equal opportunities for marginalized communities.
"I am immensely honored to be this year's recipient of an award that is the exact representation of our work and what we strive to accomplish every day," said Antonio McBroom. "We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to ensure equal opportunities for all, to champion underrepresented voices, and to drive meaningful change within our industry. Together, we will create a future where diversity, equality, and inclusion are not just ideals to aim for, but the very essence of our success."
This year's outstanding multi-unit franchisees were each presented with a coveted MVP Award at the recent Multi-Unit Franchising Conference, held April 25–28 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas with 2,000 people in attendance.
Judges searched for the best, brightest, and most inspiring multi-unit franchisees before selecting 12 category winners. Each winner will be profiled in Multi-Unit Franchisee magazine.
"At every step of the PRIMO Partners journey, we have worked to break barriers and pave the way for others to succeed," added McBroom. "We believe that diversity is the foundation upon which greatness is built. By embracing the unique perspectives, talents, and experiences of our diverse team members, we have fostered a culture of empowerment, respect and collaboration."
For more information about PRIMO Partners, visit https://www.primopartners.com/ or call 877-600-6522.
About PRIMO Partners
The mission of PRIMO Partners, LLC, is to close the financial achievement gap by providing growth opportunities to people from all backgrounds. Primo Partners is a Black-owned and operated company that develops diverse businesses, diverse communities, and leaders.
About Franchise Update Media
Franchise Update Media has been a leader in the franchising space for 35 years. Founded in 1988, the company produces online franchise opportunity and educational websites, two quarterly print magazines, six newsletters, four annual conferences, independent research, and books, entirely focused on franchising. Targeting franchise audiences online, in print, and in person, Franchise Update Media delivers a unique combination of educational and lead generation sources to help franchisors, multi-unit franchisees, opportunity seekers, and suppliers achieve their growth objectives. For more information, visit franchising.com.
Media Contact: Tom Farrell, Fishman PR, tfarrell@franchiseelevator.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE PRIMO Partners LLC | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/06/06/primo-partners-honored-with-distinguished-2023-mvp-award-multi-unit-franchisee-magazine/ | 2023-06-06 19:31:51 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2023/06/06/primo-partners-honored-with-distinguished-2023-mvp-award-multi-unit-franchisee-magazine/ |
If you've been watching The Last of Us on HBO Max, you probably think the infected wouldn't make great dance partners. Star Pedro Pascal and a person dressed as one of the show's terrifying Clickers set out to prove otherwise in a video posted by Saturday Night Live's TikTok account on Wednesday, dancing together to Latto's "Big Energy."
The brief clip, also posted to SNL's Instagram Reels, came ahead of Pascal's SNL hosting debut on Feb. 4. There's twerking. A potential reference to Pascal's past acceptance of being the internet's "Daddy." It's everything a TikTok should be.
@nbcsnl♬ original sound - Saturday Night Live - SNL
HBO's The Last of Us is based on the acclaimed video game of the same name and stars Pascal and Bella Ramsey as survivors after a fungal pandemic destroys civilization.
SNL also released a promo earlier on Wednesday with Pascal and what appears to be the same gruesome Clicker. Pascal tries to take out the monster, but it turns out to be a cast member. | https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/the-last-of-us-clicker-twerks-with-pedro-pascal-on-tiktok/ | 2023-02-02 19:14:31 | 0 | https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/the-last-of-us-clicker-twerks-with-pedro-pascal-on-tiktok/ |
ANGEL, Megan Christine
Oct. 7, 1984 ~
Sept. 10, 2022 (age 37)
37, passed away on September 10, 2022. She was born October 7, 1984, in Hamilton, Ohio, to Claude and Terri (nee Carpenter) Angel. Megan was a 2003 graduate of Fairfield Senior High School. She held various positions during her career, with her last job at M.C. Tank. She is survived by her parents, her dedicated partner Bobby Miracle and his parents Lonnie and Donna Miracle, her adored son Ulric, sister Gretchen (Will) Price, her cherished niece Virginia, uncle and aunt Mike and Susan Carpenter, aunt Rebecca Angel, grandmother Jeanne Carpenter, grandfather Albert (Zella) Carpenter, and many cousins. She is preceded in death by her brother Brandon Angel, her grandparents William and Kathryn Angel and her uncle Robin Angel. Family and friends are invited to attend a gathering to celebrate Megan's life on Monday, September 19, 2022, from 4-7 pm at the Michael Colligan Lodge in Veterans Park, 20 New London Road, Hamilton, Ohio. Megan's family would like to give special thanks to her nurse Mike and all of the staff in MICU at UC Medical Center. | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/obituaries/angel-megan/SKVET6JVVBFTJOVMVCIISVVUVM/ | 2022-09-18 06:44:08 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/obituaries/angel-megan/SKVET6JVVBFTJOVMVCIISVVUVM/ |
A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed last weekend by a man who found the child in his car after it was stolen, Denver police said.
The man, who authorities did not identify, reported that his car had been stolen Sunday and told police that he was tracking the vehicle using an app, the Denver Police Department said in a release.
When the man found his car about ten miles away and approached the vehicle, he was "involved in an exchange of gunfire" with people sitting inside the vehicle, police said. Police did not provide further details on how or why the shooting broke out.
During the gunfire, the car owner shot the 12-year-old, who then drove off in the car, the release said. The young driver was found by police about two blocks away and was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, it said.
The vehicle owner has not been arrested "while the incident remains under investigation," police said.
Police believe the other occupants of the stolen vehicle ran from the scene before law enforcement arrived, the release said. Investigators are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
After the investigation is complete, police said, the findings will be shared with the Denver District Attorney's Office, who will determine any possible charges. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/a-denver-man-fatally-shot-a-12-year-old-who-was-allegedly-driving-his-stolen/article_4b637e08-d368-5af3-b548-ac4246f73060.html | 2023-02-09 03:46:16 | 1 | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/a-denver-man-fatally-shot-a-12-year-old-who-was-allegedly-driving-his-stolen/article_4b637e08-d368-5af3-b548-ac4246f73060.html |
The Owls are going to run it back.
Not only is rising star coach Dusty May returning following FAU’s surprise Final Four run earlier this year, but two key players who were testing NBA waters announced they would return to Boca Raton, as well.
Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin will both return to the Owls next year, withdrawing from NBA draft consideration, the school announced Wednesday.
Davis led FAU with 13.8 points per game last season, notching 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Martin averaged 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists last season.
Davis was named the Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year last season and to the all-conference first team. Martin was also named to the all-conference first-team and was the Conference USA Tournament most outstanding player.
Both players will be fourth-year juniors next season.
The only player from the 2022-23 team not returning is Michael Forrest, a Blanche Ely alum who is out of college eligibility. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/06/01/key-fau-players-return-after-cinderella-final-four-run/ | 2023-06-17 08:23:57 | 0 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/06/01/key-fau-players-return-after-cinderella-final-four-run/ |
STAMFORD, Conn. , Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola Power" or the "Company") (www.renesolapower.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading fully integrated solar project developer, announced today that it will report its unaudited financial results for the second quarter 2022 ended June 30, 2022 after the U.S. stock market close on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the financial results at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 (5:00 a.m. China Standard Time on Thursday, September 8, 2022).
What: ReneSola Power Second Quarter (ended June 30, 2022) Earnings Call
When: 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 (5:00 a.m. China Standard Time on Thursday, September 8, 2022)
Webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/3i4aejba
Participant Online Registration: https://register.vevent.com/register/BId0ee75eccaf2437a8ea3edc802522a73
Please register in advance to join the conference call using the link provided below and dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. Conference call access information will be provided upon registration.
A webcast of the conference call will also be available on the ReneSola Power website at http://ir.renesolapower.com. A webcast replay will be available on the ReneSola Power website at http://ir.renesolapower.com.
About ReneSola Power
ReneSola Power (NYSE: SOL) is a leading global solar project developer and operator. The Company focuses on solar power project development, construction management and project financing services. With local professional teams in more than 10 countries around the world, the business is spread across number of regions where the solar power project markets are growing rapidly and can sustain that growth due to improved clarity around government policies. The Company's strategy is to pursue high-margin project development opportunities in these profitable and growing markets; specifically, in the U.S. and Europe, where the Company has a market-leading position in several geographies, including Poland, Hungary, Minnesota and New York. For more information, please visit www.renesolapower.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE ReneSola Ltd. | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/renesola-power-release-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-september-7-2022/ | 2022-08-17 10:24:38 | 0 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/renesola-power-release-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-september-7-2022/ |
DENVER (AP) — Boulder County is urging residents to take additional safety measures because of a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.
In an announcement Friday, the county's public health department said the number of new cases per 100,000 people had exceeded 200 in the last week, shifting the county from a “low” community COVID-19 level to “medium”, under federal guidelines. It suggested that people get tested before visiting people who are at high risk for severe disease and get fully vaccinated, including getting booster shots, among other measures.
The city of Boulder said it would return to holding virtual city council meetings because of the increase in cases, noting that council members and staff contracted COVID-19 after attending an in-person meeting May 3.
City councilors have been meeting in person since mid-April but the public has only been allowed to participate online. The public had been scheduled to be allowed back to meetings Tuesday.
Libraries, recreation centers and other government buildings will remain open, the city said, but city-sponsored public events will be held outdoors or conducted virtually for the foreseeable future. People who are not vaccinated or who are at high risk for severe disease are asked to wear a well-fitting, medical-grade mask in public buildings. | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Boulder-County-rises-to-medium-COVID-19-level-17171803.php | 2022-05-13 21:05:23 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Boulder-County-rises-to-medium-COVID-19-level-17171803.php |
Legislation to allow Delawareans who are 16 and 17 years old to vote in school board elections has been tabled for now following a hearing held by the House Education Committee.
Representative Eric Morrison, D-Newark Glasgow area, introduced the measure earlier this session. Wednesday, he discussed the purpose of the bill, House Bill 96.
"Students have a strong vested interest in choosing school board members who make decisions directly affecting those students' everyday lives," Morrison said. "Studies show that the younger an individual is when they start voting, the more likely they are to become a lifelong voter."
Representative Rich Collins, R-Millsboro, raised concerns about social media and "kids doing Tik Tok challenges" as he explained his concerns. "We're talking about kids who eat Tide Pods to vote in school board elections."
"I think you have good intentions here, but let's let kids grow up a little bit before we give them this kind of legal responsibility," Collins said to Morrison.
"It is consistently discouraging for me that for someone who serves on the Education Committee, you seem to have such a low opinion of our young people," Morrison responded.
Also testifying in support was Claire Snyder-Hall, Executive Director of Common Cause Delaware. Common Cause describes itself as "a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy."
"While this is not the outcome I'd hoped for, I'm grateful that as many experts, advocates and every citizens showed up today to support this legislation," Snyder-Hall said in a statement after the hearing. "We had a great discussion, and hopefully we will be able to revive this bill moving forward. It really is a bold new idea and it would be great for the First State to be the first state to enact it." | https://www.wdel.com/news/supporters-opponents-spar-over-del-bill-to-reduce-voting-age-for-school-board-elections/article_7f1b1faa-ea12-11ed-81b3-abed32285579.html | 2023-05-04 02:56:05 | 0 | https://www.wdel.com/news/supporters-opponents-spar-over-del-bill-to-reduce-voting-age-for-school-board-elections/article_7f1b1faa-ea12-11ed-81b3-abed32285579.html |
Jackson State Tigers (1-12) at Alcorn State Braves (3-9)
The Tigers are 1-10 on the road. Jackson State ranks sixth in the SWAC scoring 29.2 points per game in the paint led by Romelle Mansel averaging 4.5.
The matchup Monday is the first meeting of the season for the two teams in conference play.
TOP PERFORMERS: Dominic Brewton is averaging 11.9 points for the Braves.
Ken Evans is scoring 11.8 points per game with 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Tigers.
LAST 10 GAMES: Braves: 2-8, averaging 59.7 points, 29.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 7.6 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 35.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.9 points per game.
Tigers: 1-9, averaging 63.3 points, 31.5 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 7.0 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 40.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.9 points.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/jackson-state-plays-alcorn-state-on-6-game-road-slide/2023/01/01/32a22df0-89a8-11ed-b5ac-411280b122ef_story.html | 2023-01-01 08:12:09 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/jackson-state-plays-alcorn-state-on-6-game-road-slide/2023/01/01/32a22df0-89a8-11ed-b5ac-411280b122ef_story.html |
Five-year anniversary gifts
Shop this article: Roses, I Love You Anniversary Card and 2-Stem Natural Wood Roses with Vase
Spending a half-decade together is a reason to celebrate. Roses, chocolate and champagne are fitting gifts for almost any anniversary or milestone. However, when you hit the five-year mark in your relationship, you might want to take things up a notch.
Sold by Amazon
Tradition dictates that the five-year wedding anniversary gift is wood and meant to signal long-lasting strength, wisdom and forgiveness. Still, nowhere does it say that you have to stick to that, and some great gift ideas include perfume, jewelry, shoes, bags and self-care options.
Five-year anniversary wooden gift ideas
I Love You Anniversary Card
If you’re a stickler for tradition and want to make sure you give a gift of wood, one simple way to achieve this is with your card. This laser-cut classic hearts design is more than just any old anniversary card. It’s a keepsake that can last for years to come.
Sold by Amazon
Kate Posh 5-Years of Marriage Photo Frame
Simple yet also sentimental. This wooden picture frame is engraved and comes in multiple sizes. It has a back-stand easel to display on a table and clips to mount it on the wall.
Sold by Amazon
2-Stem Natural Wood Roses with Vase
Carved from sugar wood and stained rich chocolate, this stylish, sentimental and symbolic anniversary gift comes with two wooden roses in an oak vase.
Sold by Amazon
The best fragrance gifts for her
With dazzling floral accents and woodsy notes, this scent exudes femininity and mystery. The may rose and jasmine with citrus notes and soft bourbon vanilla help create this sensual Chanel fragrance, making the perfect gift for a romantic anniversary.
Sold by Sephora
This scent oozes femininity without being overpowering, with an intoxicating blend of warm and spicy, with keynotes of jasmine, orange blossom and woods and patchouli. It’s also ageless, which makes it perfect for either your 5th or 50th anniversary.
Sold by Sephora
The best self-care gifts for her
Goop “The Martini” Emotional Detox Bath Soak
Treat your loved one to some peace and tranquility with a soothing bath to relax the mind and body. The pink salt will ease muscles. The chia seed oil hydrates and moisturizes the skin, while the wildcrafted frankincense will soothe the mind. This combination is just as good as a day at the spa.
Sold by Sephora
Give the gift that spoils your loved one night after night with this slip silk pillowcase that’s a known beauty secret of both beauty experts and dermatologists. Cover her pillow in the highest-grade mulberry silk to help create the ultimate night’s rest.
Herbivore Coco Rose Exfoliating Body Scrub
Pamper your partner with a body scrub made from virgin coconut oil, sugar and Moroccan rose to leave her skin moisturized and smelling of rose petals and coconuts. This luxe body scrub has been clinically tested and proven to offer softer, smoother and less dry skin.
The best jewelry gifts for her
TruMiracle Diamond Stud Earrings
These exquisite half-carat diamonds with side accents will dazzle and sparkle from every angle. They are available in 14-carat gold, white gold and rose gold.
Sold by Macy’s
Sarah Chloe Andi Initial Pendant Necklace in 14k Gold-Plate Over Sterling Silver
This is a delicate and sophisticated pendant necklace you can wear casually or when dressing to impress. It’s set in 14 carat-gold-plate over sterling silver, with a lobster clasp for closure and a beaded chain.
Sold by Macy’s
Le Vian Deep-Sea Blue Topaz & Diamond Statement Ring in 14k Rose Gold
Give her something she can’t help but show off with this dazzling deep-blue-sea topaz ring. It’s enhanced with nude and chocolate diamond rings that add to the color and sparkle. These gorgeous stones are set in a beautiful strawberry gold that will make your anniversary one to remember.
Sold by Macy’s
The best handbag gifts for her
Michael Kors Bedford Legacy Logo Ladies Leather Crossbody Bag
There’s just something about a new handbag that makes a girl smile, so make her grin ear-to-ear with a stylish yet practical black, leather crossbody. This sleek and structured silhouette is an ideal everyday bag to match all outfits while remaining chic.
Sold by Amazon
The best shoes gifts for her
Badgley Mischka Kiara Embellished Peep-Toe Evening Pumps
You can never go wrong with super sexy shoes, and these sapphire satin peep-toe pumps with embellished detail fit the bill. These showstoppers will make her feel like a million bucks and make for one extraordinary anniversary.
Nine West Women’s Toe Dress Pumps
These shoes will be a gift for you and your loved one because you won’t be able to keep your eyes off her when she’s in these ultra-sexy t-strap stilettos. A mix of faux leather and skinny straps from the toe to the ankle make this exotic heel a special occasion in itself.
Sold by Macy’s
Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews.
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Ryan Dempsey is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.ksn.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/tools-accessories-br/best-five-year-anniversary-gifts-for-her/ | 2023-07-30 11:59:38 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/tools-accessories-br/best-five-year-anniversary-gifts-for-her/ |
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Washington Lottery's "Hit 5" game were:
02-22-27-32-40
(two, twenty-two, twenty-seven, thirty-two, forty)
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the Washington Lottery's "Hit 5" game were:
02-22-27-32-40
(two, twenty-two, twenty-seven, thirty-two, forty) | https://www.ourmidland.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Hit-5-game-17609596.php | 2022-11-25 04:54:17 | 1 | https://www.ourmidland.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Hit-5-game-17609596.php |
Country
United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary
People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.herald-dispatch.com/obituaries/wv/carla-dee-bunn/article_c519056a-d130-5ca2-a132-ec0cb540876f.html | 2022-08-05 05:38:28 | 1 | https://www.herald-dispatch.com/obituaries/wv/carla-dee-bunn/article_c519056a-d130-5ca2-a132-ec0cb540876f.html |
The morning of June 18, 1983, hundreds of thousands of spectators awaited the Challenger space shuttle launch at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Some people in the crowd wore T-shirts inscribed with the Mustang Sally lyrics "Ride Sally Ride" because one of the astronauts on board mission STS-7 was about to make history.
Women in space
Mission specialist Sally Ride and four other NASA crew members lifted off on a six-day mission that would orbit Earth and deploy communications satellites. At 32 years old, Ride was not only the youngest astronaut on board, she was also the first American woman in space.
The first woman to orbit the earth was 26-year old Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963. In the 1970s, NASA began recruiting women for the space shuttle program.
In 1977, NASA partnered with actress Nichelle Nichols, known for her role as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on Star Trek. To aide the recruitment efforts of women and minority applicants, the agency released a video starring Nichols and astronaut Alan Bean.
NASA also took out advertisements in college and university student newspapers. During a guest lecture at UC Berkeley in 2011, Ride recalled seeing one of these ads in The Stanford Daily student newspaper while she was finishing her doctorate program at the university.
"And the moment I saw that ad," she said, "I knew that's what I wanted to do. I ripped it out of the newspaper and I literally applied that afternoon."
Out of over 8,000 applicants, Ride was one of 35 people selected for NASA's astronaut corps.
While at NASA, Ride helped develop a robot arm for the shuttle, the remote manipulator system. She also served as CapCom, the go-to communicator between Mission Control and astronauts in space.
In 1982, NASA announced that Ride would be the first American woman to go to space.
After completing that historic spaceflight in 1983, Ride spoke with journalist Gloria Steinem, remembering that the press seemed more concerned about her gender than the mission.
"Everybody wanted to know about what kind of makeup I was taking up," Ride said. "They didn't care about how well-prepared I was to operate the arm or deploy communications satellites."
In 1984, Ride went to space again for NASA mission STS-41G. This time, another female astronaut, Kathryn Sullivan, was on board the shuttle with her. This was the first time two women were in space together, and Sullivan became the first American woman to perform a spacewalk.
Ride after NASA
Ride was scheduled to return to space a third time. But her mission was cancelled after the Challenger shuttle explosion in 1986.
She joined the presidential commission investigating the disaster.
"I think it's very important that we try and rebuild the NASA — I don't want to say image because that sounds a little bit superficial — but really get back to basics at NASA and get back to what people expect us to be," Ride told NPR's Morning Edition later that year.
Ride left NASA in 1987. She became a physics professor at UC San Diego and wrote books about space for students and teachers. Ride continued to encourage children, especially young girls, in science and mathematics.
On July 23, 2012, Ride died at her home in California. She was 61 years old.
Nearly a decade after Ride's passing, her life partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy, spoke to NPR's Short Wave.
"You know, I almost have a picture of Sally in my mind, standing in our living room in La Jolla," O'Shaughnessy said. "And she's got on, you know, like, an old T-shirt that's kind of pulled over to one side. Her hair is kind of combed but kind of wild, you know, a pair of shorts and barefoot. She loved going barefoot. ... I loved looking at her when she was, you know, like that, when she wasn't intense and working hard. ... I loved that, you know, that she could be there with me in each moment."
Forty years ago, Sally Ride became the first American woman in space.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kasu.org/2023-06-16/40-years-ago-sally-ride-became-the-first-american-woman-in-space | 2023-06-16 20:34:19 | 0 | https://www.kasu.org/2023-06-16/40-years-ago-sally-ride-became-the-first-american-woman-in-space |
LAS VEGAS — Unless you know where it happened, it's tough to find the spot of America's most deadly mass shooting in the modern era.
The sprawling outdoor area is just across from the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino. That's where the gunman stayed, renting a suite on the 32nd floor, where he opened fire on the crowds attending Route 91 Harvest, an open-air country music concert below.
Today a sign at what is now an overflow parking lot for nearby Allegiant stadium promises a permanent memorial for the site - some day. It also says "please don't leave mementos in any form...items left here will be discarded." But some victims' family members have left rocks with the names of the dead clearly written at the bottom of the sign.
"It's crazy that five years later there's literally nothing but a sign there saying there's going to be something," says survivor and Las Vegas resident Heather Gooze.
She's a professional bartender who was working the festival that night. Her bar area became one of several bloody, makeshift triage centers for the wounded and dying. "There's a healing garden, which is amazing. But it's downtown miles away from the site."
Five years after that horrific night, survivors and the families of those who were killed are gathering this weekend to remember. They're paying tribute to strangers and those they loved. But it's difficult when there are signs all around that the tourist-dependent city has moved on.
"I think they (business community) want to make sure it's gone, erased from memory, so to speak, for the city," says local resident and survivor Chris Madsen.
As survivor Gooze notes, at the site, "Now, there's a [NFL Las Vegas Raiders] football parking lot where people were murdered. It's horribly upsetting."
Frustration remains for questions that aren't resolved
Fifty-eight people were killed that night. Two others later died from their injuries. The 64-year-old gunman killed himself.
Hundreds more were wounded and thousands traumatized. Some who faced the carnage up close that October evening still struggle with lingering psychological and physical fallout.
Survivors still have unanswered questions: Why wasn't security better at the Mandalay Bay hotel and resort? Why weren't exits better marked at the concert? And some are frustrated investigators found "no single or clear motivating factor" driving the gunman's rampage and subsequent suicide.
"I really believe most people that visit Vegas for tourism, I don't even think realize what happened there," says Las Vegas resident Chris Madsen, who was enjoying the concert near the stage with his then 9-year-old son Nick when the shooting began. He covered his son on the ground before both made a harrowing escape.
He credits ongoing therapy, his church, his son - and fellow survivors he has befriended from that night for helping him learn to live with the scars.
"We're going to go see them [this weekend] and hug them and take joyous pictures with them and these are all great things," he says. "So you can kind of take it as, 'hey, there's some great lifelong relationships we met from this.'"
But he adds, it's also impossible not to remember it or think of it or hear the bullets or hear the sounds of people being shot.
"That's never going to go away. I think it can dissipate, but it's never going to go away," Madsen says. "I mean, it's something that's forever, unfortunately, going to be part of me."
In 2019 MGM Resorts — owner of Mandalay Bay and the festival grounds – reached an $800 million dollar settlement with thousands of victims and survivors.
As part of the settlement, MGM Resorts acknowledged no liability.
Madsen and his son donated part of their settlement to a local women's shelter their church supports. "Out of darkness, light," Madsen says of his son's idea to donate to the women's charity.
Healing has been different for every survivor.
Li'Shey Johnson was working as a hospitality director at a VIP tent during the festival. She desperately wants to move on from that day. She's had multiple surgeries for a leg injury suffered that night. She sometimes has to use a cane. But it's the mental scars that seem hardest to heal. She sometimes still hears the sound of gunfire, sees the muzzle flashes and recalls the scent of a dead woman who was struck by an armor piercing round and fell in front of her.
"You know, as of today I could still smell her," she says tearing up. "And, you know, I asked the therapist, 'How long do I still smell it? I don't want to smell it anymore. How long am I going to be like this?' But, you know, nobody has any answers because time has to heal."
Johnson has tried talk therapy, medication and a trauma healing technique called EMDR. None seem to work very well. She has her good days. And bad. She says it's a daily struggle that gets harder when the massacre's anniversary rolls around.
"Just anxiety, can't sleep. I mean I'm literally sick to my stomach. So when someone says, 'how are you doing?' I just start crying," she told NPR. "And I just feel like mentally I cannot handle that."
That type of trauma is still there for more survivors than many people may realize, says Tennille Pereira director of the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center. It provides mental health and other support services for Route 91 survivors and family.
Five years on, the center still treats several hundred people a month. "People are still struggling, but I also want to emphasize that our people that have begun their healing journey," says Pereira. "There's no finish line in this. You know, that trauma doesn't go away. You find a way to cope with it and live with it and find joy again."
In her experience, the number of Route 91 survivors with significant symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is greater than the 10 percent experts predict for traumatic events.
"It's actually quite higher than that when it's a mass incident. The impact is much greater," Pereira says. "But I can't give you an actual percentage in this event because we still, to this day, do not have a full list of everyone that was there."
Finding love and support with each other
For hours the night of the shooting, bartender Heather Gooze stayed with several people who were dead or dying. She held one stranger's hand as cell phones in their pockets rang with relatives desperate to reach their loved ones.
Gooze is now friends with several of those relatives and fellow survivors. Her condo is filled with Route 91 memorabilia: cowboy and baseball hats, plaques, a whiskey bottle, art pieces, a planter, and more.
"This is a piece from the healing garden, this is a piece of the broken heart where the tree of life is," she points out.
These are not just trinkets. For Gooze, they represent a vibrant new community – family she calls them – of survivors and relatives she's grown close to and who are there for her online and often in person.
"The awesome people that I've met, the woman who gave me the plant — I never knew her before this all happened. And now she's one of my closest friends; she lives in Havasu, I see here all the time," she says, calling the new-found friends a huge silver lining in the horrors of the mass shooting.
"I honestly don't know if a lot of us would have survived the last five years if it wasn't for the family that we made because of the tragedy that happened," Gooze says while wiping away tears.
This weekend, she will spend time with that new "family," including the mother of victim Chris Hazencomb, one of the strangers Gooze stayed with that night as he lay mortally wounded.
"We'll cry, hug and maybe laugh, too," Gooze says of the bittersweet reunion, and she says they will raise a glass to the living and the dead.
Photographer Bridget Bennett contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.ctpublic.org/2022-10-02/las-vegas-mass-shooting-survivors-turn-to-each-other-to-find-strength-through-tragedy | 2022-10-02 21:59:42 | 0 | https://www.ctpublic.org/2022-10-02/las-vegas-mass-shooting-survivors-turn-to-each-other-to-find-strength-through-tragedy |
Fastest growing ethnic group in Texas highly motivated to vote; dissatisfied with economy
Will Asian Americans be Texas' 'deciding margin' this November?
AUSTIN – Asian Americans could be the "deciding margin" in Texas's upcoming midterm elections as the state's fastest-growing — and highly motivated — demographic of eligible voters, the president of an advocacy group told Fox News.
"Because this community is so highly motivated to vote, that means that we're going to be impacting elections and hopefully policy for generations to come," Asian Texans for Justice President Ashley Cheng said.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW TO LEARN HOW THE AMERICAN ASIAN VOTE COULD INFLUENCE ELECTIONS:
Nearly two-thirds of 2,700 Asian Texans polled said they felt "highly motivated" to vote in the state's midterm elections, according to an Asian Texans for Justice survey released on Sept. 28.
WATCH MORE FOX NEWS DIGITAL ORIGINALS HERE
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Over the past four years, the number of Asian American voters has grown by about a million — a 9% increase, making the demographic the fastest-growing group, according to Pew Research Center. Texas has the third most eligible Asian American voters in the country. | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-midterms-decided-one-fast-growing-voting-group | 2022-10-25 17:59:05 | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-midterms-decided-one-fast-growing-voting-group |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.