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The Feb. 20 Metro article “Md. grapples with sex education” brought to mind a study the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists commissioned with the Gallup organization in 1985 to determine the public’s attitude toward contraception. A carefully crafted question asked, “At what grade, if at all, should sex education be taught in schools?” The answers amazed us. Half of the respondents thought it should begin in elementary school. Another quarter believed junior high was an appropriate time to begin such instructions. Fewer than 1 in 10 answered it should not be taught at all.
If such a study were conducted today, we would have 1 in 10 reigning supreme.
Morton Lebow, Washington
The writer is a former public information officer for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/24/sex-education-schools-grade-level/ | 2023-02-24 19:51:37 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/02/24/sex-education-schools-grade-level/ |
By MAURICIO SAVARESE
AP Sports Writer
SAO PAULO (AP) — One of Pelé’s daughters said Wednesday she and her family are enduring moments of sadness and despair as the 82-year-old Brazilian soccer great’s hospitalization nears one month.
The three-time World Cup winner’s cancer has advanced and doctors at Albert Einstein hospital recently said he’s under “elevated care” related to “kidney and cardiac dysfunctions.”
Pelé was admitted to the Sao Paulo facility on Nov. 29. The hospital hasn’t published any updates in the past week.
“These moments are hard to explain. Sometimes it is a lot of sadness and despair, in other moments we laugh and speak about fun memories,” Kely Nascimento said on Instagram.
Other family members are also at the hospital.
“And what we learn the most from all of this is that we have to seek one another, hold each other tight. That’s the only way this is worth it. Everyone together,” she wrote.
One of Pelé’s sons, Edson Cholbi Nascimento, who is known as Edinho, visited on Saturday but returned on Tuesday to a southern Brazil city where he works as a soccer coach. He has not spoken to journalists since he left Sao Paulo.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who is globally known as Pelé, had a colon tumor removed in September 2021. Neither his family nor the hospital have specified whether it had spread to other organs.
Newspaper Folha de S.Paulo reported last weekend that Pelé’s chemotherapy was not working and that doctors had decided to put him on palliative care. Pelé’s family has denied that report.
Pelé led Brazil to victory in the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups and remains one of the team’s all-time leading scorers with 77 goals. Neymar tied Pelé’s record during the latest World Cup.
Several tributes and get-well soon wishes were made for the former footballer during the Qatar tournament, which was won by Argentina.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://wtmj.com/sports/2022/12/28/pele-nears-1-month-in-hospital-with-no-sign-of-improvement-3/ | 2022-12-28 21:45:24 | 1 | https://wtmj.com/sports/2022/12/28/pele-nears-1-month-in-hospital-with-no-sign-of-improvement-3/ |
Tucker Carlson is leaving Fox News. On Monday, it was announced that the primetime host and the network have mutually agreed to part ways.
The network shared the news in a surprise statement that read, "FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor."
Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 p.m. as an interim show with rotating Fox News personalities until a new host is named. On Monday, Brian Kilmeade will be the first host to fill in.
Carlson has been a fixture on the network since 2009. In 2016, the often controversial television personality began hosting the nightly show, Tucker Carlson Tonight.
The news of Carlson's departure from the network comes almost a week after Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems agreed to settle a $1.6 billion defamation case brought against the network that falsely claimed Dominion helped rig the 2020 presidential election against former President Donald Trump.
Dominion's lawyers said that Fox News would pay $787.5 million to settle the lawsuit soon after Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis announced that the "case has been resolved."
RELATED CONTENT: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/tucker-carlson-out-at-fox-news/603-fa8074cf-da19-4a93-bce6-2ea32b265132 | 2023-04-25 01:17:23 | 1 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/tucker-carlson-out-at-fox-news/603-fa8074cf-da19-4a93-bce6-2ea32b265132 |
City of Birmingham receives $8.4 million for Emergency Rental Assistance program
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - There’s new help available if you’re struggling paying rent in Birmingham.
City leaders have just announced millions more in funding to its Emergency Rental Assistance program.
Birmingham’s Emergency Rental Assistance program has already helped thousands of families and this latest round of money will help many more get back on their feet.
City leaders said Birmingham’s Emergency Rental assistance program is recognized as one of the most effect in the country providing assistance to the tune of $15 million so far.
“We’ve used the money thus far to support over 2,500 families and we’re just looking forward to being able to increase that number.”
Director of Community Development for the City of Birmingham, Dr. Meghan Venable-Thomas said city leaders have been good stewards over the money, which is why the program is getting funding for the fourth time.
“And that’s thanks to our partners at Aletha House and MoCaFi we’ve been able to get his additional $8.4 million, which is going to go to serving additional families here in the City of Birmingham,” Dr. Venable-Thomas explained.
She said this money will give the city another opportunity to support neighbors who have not had access to this money before, as well as those who may need additional support to stay in their homes.
“This money is for emergency rental assistance so it can go toward rent, utilities, etc. So those things that are really critical to people being able to remain in place and live healthfully and happily and so it’s really important that we’re able to provide this,” Dr. Venable-Thomas said.
To qualify for this assistance, you must be able to prove that you are having a financial hardship, and that you live in the City of Birmingham.
For more information about this program and details on how to apply, visit the city’s rental assistance website here, or call (205) 254-2309.
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/2023/02/22/city-birmingham-receives-84-million-emergency-rental-assistance-program/ | 2023-02-22 00:56:46 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/2023/02/22/city-birmingham-receives-84-million-emergency-rental-assistance-program/ |
Updated June 24, 2022 at 1:23 PM ET
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end the nationwide right to abortion has sparked speculation — including by President Biden — that other landmark rulings could now be on shakier ground, including those that legalized same-sex marriage and birth control.
"Roe recognized a fundamental right to privacy that has served as the basis for so many more rights that we have come to take for granted," Biden said at the White House on Friday, hours after the court struck down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision "The right to use birth control, a married couple in the privacy of their bedroom, the right to marry the person you love."
In the 78-page opinion, Justice Samuel Alito takes pains to say that the legal logic at the heart of the conservatives' decision to overturn Roe v. Wade would not apply to other cases.
"To ensure that our decision is not misunderstood or mischaracterized, we emphasize that our decision concerns the constitutional right to abortion and no other right. Nothing in this opinion should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion," he wrote.
Despite Alito's statement, Justice Clarence Thomas' concurrent opinion on Friday suggests otherwise.
"In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court's substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell," Thomas wrote, referring to court rulings that protect contraception, same-sex relationships, and same-sex marriage.
On Friday, Biden also called out Thomas' suggestions. "He explicitly called to reconsider the right to marriage equality, the right of couples to make their choices on contraception," the president said. "This is an extreme and dangerous path the court is now taking us on ."
Because of Thomas' remarks, the court's liberals remain wary.
"In saying that nothing in today's opinion casts doubt on non-abortion precedents, Justice Thomas explains, he means only that they are not at issue in this very case," wrote Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
Similarly, some legal experts say that Alito's language may not be enough to keep such a ruling from being used to challenge other rights down the road.
"Certainly contraception involves the idea of a possible pregnancy. He really overstates his case, I think, in many places," said Carol Sanger, a professor of family and abortion law at Columbia University, in a May interview with NPR.
Here are some of the other cases that are now in the spotlight:
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
Because the right to privacy is not directly outlined in the U.S. Constitution, it took years to develop the legal theory that has become central to these types of cases today. Griswold v. Connecticut, which first established the right to use birth control, was a key part of that process.
The Griswold case concerned a nearly century-old Connecticut law banning the use of all forms of contraception. The challenge, which focused on married couples, was brought by Estelle Griswold, the executive director of the Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut, after her arrest for opening a location in New Haven.
In a 7-2 vote, the justices ruled that marital privacy is in fact protected against state bans on contraceptives — and helped establish the idea that privacy is a constitutional right, even though the Constitution does not explicitly guarantee it.
"Would we allow the police to search the sacred precincts of marital bedrooms for telltale signs of the use of contraceptives? The very idea is repulsive to the notions of privacy surrounding the marriage relationship," wrote Justice William Douglas. "We deal with a right of privacy older than the Bill of Rights — older than our political parties, older than our school system."
Griswold has since become a major precedent, referenced later in opinions about abortion and same-sex marriage, all of which found that people have the right to be free from government intrusion when exercising fundamental rights.
Those subsequent cases have leaned on the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment, which says that state governments cannot deprive people of life, liberty or property without "due process of law."
In 2005, John Roberts, during his Supreme Court nomination hearing, said he agreed with the conclusions reached in Griswold and added, "It does not appear to me to be an area that is going to come before the court again."
By contrast, at her confirmation hearing in 2020, Amy Coney Barrett would not say whether she believed Griswold had been rightly or wrongly decided, because its conclusions "lie at the base" of other cases still being litigated, she said. But she added that Griswold was "very, very, very, very, very, very unlikely to go anywhere."
Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
One night in 1998, police were called to the home of John Lawrence, a gay man. Police entered his unlocked apartment, where an officer said he saw Lawrence having consensual sex with another man.
Under a Texas anti-sodomy law that banned two people of the same sex from having sex with each other, Lawrence and his partner, Tyron Garner, were arrested.
In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court voted to strike down the Texas law, overturning a previous decision from 1986 that had reached the opposite conclusion. The 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause was central to the overruling.
"The condemnation [of homosexual conduct] has been shaped by religious beliefs, conceptions of right and acceptable behavior, and respect for the traditional family. For many persons these are not trivial concerns but profound and deep convictions accepted as ethical and moral principles to which they aspire and which thus determine the course of their lives," wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy, who authored the majority opinion.
"These considerations do not answer the question before us, however. The issue is whether the majority may use the power of the State to enforce these views on the whole society through operation of the criminal law." The answer, the justices decided in Lawrence, was no.
Among those dissenting was Justice Clarence Thomas, who called the Texas law "uncommonly silly" but also said that he could find no "general right of privacy" in the Constitution.
Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)
Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. In Ohio, Jim Obergefell had brought suit in order to be recognized as the surviving spouse of his deceased partner, John Arthur.
The justices voted 5-4 to declare same-sex marriage a constitutional right, citing both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
"The right to marry is fundamental as a matter of history and tradition, but rights come not from ancient sources alone. They rise, too, from a better informed understanding of how constitutional imperatives define a liberty that remains urgent in our own era," wrote Kennedy, who joined the court's four liberals.
The conservatives, led by Roberts, wrote that the court had taken the 14th Amendment too far. The liberals' interpretation of the Due Process Clause — essentially, that it guarantees certain basic rights that are otherwise unaddressed by the Constitution — had crossed a line into "converting personal preferences into constitutional mandates," Roberts wrote.
Just as Alito has called on the historical record on abortion in his draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade, Roberts wrote in 2015 that a historical basis for same-sex marriage did not exist.
"The purpose of insisting that implied fundamental rights have roots in the history and tradition of our people is to ensure that when unelected judges strike down democratically enacted laws, they do so based on something more than their own beliefs," Roberts said.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wunc.org/2022-05-05/these-3-supreme-court-decisions-could-be-at-risk-after-roe-v-wade-was-overturned | 2022-07-02 14:05:01 | 0 | https://www.wunc.org/2022-05-05/these-3-supreme-court-decisions-could-be-at-risk-after-roe-v-wade-was-overturned |
UNION PARISH (KTVE/KARD) — According to officials, Trooper Kory York is planning to plead not guilty for his involvement in the fatal encounter with Ronald Greene during his court appearance on February 22, 2023. York is facing one count of Negligent Homicide and 10 counts of Malfeasance.
On December 15, 2022, criminal charges were brought against York, Chris Harpin, John Clary, Dakota DeMoss, and John Peters for their involvement in the death of Ronald Greene.
On May 10, 2019, 49-year-old Ronald Greene died after an encounter with Louisiana State Police following a high-speed chase in Union Parish, La. Greene’s family was informed that the fatality was due to a car crash during the police chase.
Since his death, Greene’s family has filed a wrongful-death civil lawsuit against Louisiana State Police, seeking damages for payment for all medical and funeral expenses. Authorities maintained that the fatality was crash-related; however, a video was released two years after the incident showing troopers assaulting Greene before he died in their custody. | https://www.cenlanow.com/crime/trooper-charged-with-negligent-homicide-in-ronald-greene-case-to-plead-not-guilty-in-february-court-appearance/ | 2023-01-09 21:39:48 | 1 | https://www.cenlanow.com/crime/trooper-charged-with-negligent-homicide-in-ronald-greene-case-to-plead-not-guilty-in-february-court-appearance/ |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Lettuce will be on the menu again this year for Florida manatees as part of an effort to slow the starvation deaths of the beloved marine mammals, wildlife officials said Wednesday.
Plans are already in place to resume an experimental feeding program at a warm-water power plant near Cape Canaveral. Last year, about 202,000 pounds (91,600 kilograms) of lettuce was fed to manatees that gather there by the thousands when the weather turns colder.
The greater goal is to reduce pollution from agriculture, urban and sewage sources that has triggered a die-off in the seagrass beds manatees depend on for food. One water management district found that there has been a 75% drop in seagrass in the critical Indian River Lagoon since 2009.
“It worked really well last year. We will continue at that site,” said Ron Mezich of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “We hope this is never a permanent situation. We don’t want to have to feed wild populations.”
The feeding program was launched last winter after a record 1,100 manatees died in 2021, mostly from starvation but also from collisions with boats. This year, through Nov. 4, 735 manatee deaths had been recorded, state statistics show.
Manatees are gentle round-tailed giants, sometimes known as sea cows, that weigh as much as 1,200 pounds (550 kilograms) and can live as long as 65 years. Manatees are Florida’s official state marine mammal but are listed as a threatened species.
Although the starvation deaths are of great concern, Mezich said manatees are not in danger of extinction in Florida.
Manatees in other parts of Florida are not in danger from lack of food and do not need the romaine and butterleaf lettuce the state will provide on the state’s east coast, officials said.
The exact date for the feeding program to begin hasn’t been set but it will likely happen in December.
Meanwhile, manatees suffering from chronic malnutrition continue to be rescued and rehabilitated at facilities around the country, including SeaWorld Orlando, zoos and other aquariums, said Terri Calleson, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She said about 80 are currently being cared for in these places, including some orphaned calves.
“It is still way higher than we were five years ago,” Calleson said. “We are already having emaciated manatees coming in.”
The long-term solution is improving water quality so that algae blooms and other pollution-related problems don’t kill the seagrass on which manatees depend, said FWC manatee program spokesman Tom Reinert.
Although water quality has improved along the state’s east coast and some seagrass is again growing naturally, it will take nursery-grown seagrass to restore the manatee food to acceptable levels, he said.
“It’s still going to take a number of years,” Reinert said. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/lettuce-again-on-the-florida-menu-to-slow-manatee-starvation/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 2022-11-16 17:57:16 | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/lettuce-again-on-the-florida-menu-to-slow-manatee-starvation/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Late one afternoon, Mazzy Walker gives a tour of her family's farm near Tahlequah, Okla., capital of the Cherokee Nation.
"Cows are walking, turkeys, a dog," she said, giggling at her role as tour-guide. "I don't know what!"
Mazzy is 9 years old. Walking through the grass, she wears a flowing red dress, huge eyeglasses and big boots. She's curious about everything.
"So I heard you live in New York?" she said to a reporter who had come to visit.
"Tell him why you want to go there, Mazzy," said Gary Walker, her dad. She grins and answers, "Because there's an American Girl doll store." Turns out Mazzy loves American Girl dolls.
Mazzy and her 6-year-old brother, Ransom, are both Cherokee, as is Gary. The kids are also both adopted. Their biological parents got caught up in the opioid crisis that has hit the reservation with devastating force.
"All of the children we've adopted or fostered have been because of that," said Cassie Walker, Gary's wife. So far, they've taken in nine Cherokee kids.
Asked about her first family, her biological mom and dad, Mazzy shrugs and laughs nervously, some of her boldness slipping away.
"I don't know, I never got to meet them," she said.
An epidemic of overdoses and broken families
This is a part of the opioid-fentanyl crisis that doesn't get talked about much. Fentanyl is now a leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 40.
Even when people survive, addiction is breaking up families, as far more parents lose custody of their kids.
The Cherokee nation's Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin says the drug crisis here is so intense, it threatens efforts to strengthen his people's way of life.
"That's such an important mission for the Cherokee nation, [restoring] our language and culture, and yet this drug problem is really hampering it."
According to Hoskin, so many Cherokee families are being disrupted that children wind up being fostered or adopted outside the tribal culture.
"Families not only being broken up, but children being removed from tribal lands, this is an additional pressure," he said. "Anything we can do to keep families whole means we can keep our children."
Gary Walker experienced this wave of addiction and despair up close, as he and Cassie worked with the foster care system.
"Going to court, I would sometimes sit there for four or five or six hours," he recalls. "I would watch 30 or 40 cases at the same time. It really hit me then just how big the problem was."
All the kids the Walkers have taken in, including Mazzy and Ransom, were exposed to drugs in the womb.
"Some of them were definitely opioid," Gary said. "One of them, it was 14 different drugs. I didn't even know 14 different drugs existed at the time. It's really heartbreaking."
That's meant health and developmental challenges for Mazzy and Ransom. As we talk, Mazzy listens closely and chimes in with a question for her parents.
"How old was I when I like learned to like talk and stuff?" she asked.
"You were closer to 3," said Cassie, who notes she has struggled at times to explain to the children how this drug crisis reshaped their lives.
"We always remind them that God gave them to us very special. Their parents were sick so we were able to raise them. There are mothers out there that did lose their child, and I was able to become their mother. So there is just a lot of emotions."
Vulnerable Native American communities fight back
Public health experts say it's not surprising Native American families have been so vulnerable to opioid addiction and other forms of addiction.
Across the U.S., many tribes like the Cherokee faced generational trauma, including genocide and forced relocation. Later, government boarding schools tore apart families and economic discrimination drove tribes into grinding poverty.
"This has wrought devastation on our traditional ways of life at key junctures in history," said Joseph Gone, a member of the Aaniiih-Gros Ventre tribal nation and a public health researcher at Harvard University. "One thing we've seen around the world is when someone's society collapses is a turn to substances of abuse."
Beginning in the late 1990s, drug companies began flooding many Native American towns with prescription pain pills.
Much of the public awareness during America's opioid crisis has focused on rural white towns. But Gone says Native communities suffered even higher rates of opioid addiction, overdose death and suicide.
"Deaths of despair were actually worse among American Indians and Alaska Natives for a longer period of time," he said.
A study Gone co-authored in The Lancet, a leading medical journal, found deaths among middle-age Native Americans rose at three times the rate of white Americans from 1999-2013, the period when prescription opioid sales boomed in the U.S.
New studies and drug distribution data released as part of opioid lawsuits show Native American towns like Tahlequah were swamped with prescription opioids.
"I'm completely convinced that the [drug] industry bears responsibility because of the number of pills that were dumped on the reservation," said Principal Chief Hoskin.
"That's not an accident. That's because there was profit to be gained."
One prescription, 10 years lost
Many of the families around Tahlequah tell stories of how prescription pills wrecked their lives and damaged their children.
Brenda Barnett, a Cherokee citizen, was pregnant with her son, Ryan, in the 1990s when the reservation was first flooded with opioids.
She says her family had already been scarred by her brother's addiction to pain pills and heroin.
"At that time, I was thinking, 'I can't go through what my Mama went through. I can't do it.' I was terrified," she recalled "That was one of the biggest fears I had in raising a child, and it happened."
Ryan was 15 when he hurt his hand in a car door. A doctor prescribed Oxycontin.
According to Ryan, that first opioid prescription, that first high, derailed his life. "I was like, this is great. I'll do whatever I got to do to feel this way forever," he said.
Ryan, who's 31 years old now, says he hates thinking about what followed. He lost 10 years to pills, heroin and fentanyl — and also lost many of his Cherokee friends to drugs.
"You know, I did take a big chunk of my life and throw it in the trash," he said. "You lose your best friends in this whole thing. If they're alive, they're in prison for the most part."
The Cherokee sued Big Pharma, winning $100 million
Over the past decade, thousands of governments around the U.S., including tribal governments, sued the drug industry for its alleged role fueling the opioid crisis.
In the end, most companies involved in the opioid trade, including name brand companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Walmart, agreed to national settlements, cash payouts worth more than $50 billion.
Principal Chief Hoskin says his tribe's share of that money, roughly $100 million dollars, has revolutionized addiction care for the Cherokee.
"The suffering would have continued, our inability to directly provide care would have been very limited. And now that's completely changed," he said.
At a ceremony last month, Cherokee leaders unveiled the first major project, an in-patient addiction recovery center planned for Tahlequah.
The ceremony was packed with tribal leaders and Cherokee, including Jennifer Janelle Pena Lassiter, who lost loved ones to overdoses and struggled with addiction.
"The opioid industry harmed millions of people. Thousands of Cherokees have been devastated by it all," Pena Lassiter said.
She lost custody of her children and spent time in prison during an 11-year struggle with opioid addiction that begin with a pain pill prescription.
"The road I went through was hell, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy," she said. "All of my twenties were gone. I missed things like starting a happy family. I missed college life. I missed milestones with my children which I will never ever get back. It rips families apart completely."
According to Pena Lassiter, the tribe offered healthcare and financial support to help her rebuild her life. She has her kids back and owns her own home.
She believes these new, much more ambitious addiction treatment facilities and programs will help people heal faster.
"I believe the Cherokee nation is doing right by this money they got from the settlement," she said.
Hope for healing but also anger — and new dangers
Some of the money is already at work. There's a new harm reduction clinic in Tahlequah where Cherokee can get clean needles, counseling and other support.
The tribal hospital now offers buprenorphine, a medication that helps people with opioid addiction avoid relapses. Roughly 400 Cherokee are getting treatment.
Over the next five years, the tribe plans to roll out a total of $75 million in new treatment facilities. The remainder will go toward the costs of running these sites as well as a scholarship fund. It's a huge change for a reservation with a population of roughly 150,000 Cherokee.
But while this is a hopeful time for the Cherokee, it's also a perilous one.
Over the last five years, fentanyl has largely replaced pain pills and heroin on the streets. Pena Lassiter says overdoses in her community have surged.
"It's terrible, it's everywhere. There are people dying here all the time," she said. "If I go into a gas station at any time, somebody could be dead in a bathroom."
As fentanyl deaths surged across the U.S. during the COVID pandemic, research funded by the the Centers for Drug Control and Prevention found the biggest spike in fatal overdoses was among Native Americans.
"American Indian youths started to have really dramatically increased rates of death and overdose," said Gone, the researcher at Harvard.
Given the scale of death and loss around Tahlequah, one thing that angers many Cherokee is the lack of an apology. While America's drug companies agreed to pay billions of dollars, none apologized or admitted wrongdoing.
Principal Chief Hoskin notes only a handful of drug company executives have been prosecuted for pushing opioid sales long after addiction rates soared.
"You know, justice is a relative term," he said. "But the way I look at it, in this moment we have an opportunity to save lives going forward. Getting these dollars now is important. So I feel good about the measure of justice we have."
A model for other communities hit hard by opioids?
Public health experts say it will be years before there's data showing whether these new programs reduce opioid addiction and bring down overdose deaths among the Cherokee.
But Gone of Harvard says Native American communities across the U.S. are doing innovative things to help their people heal from addiction.
"Our peoples are still around and are growing and are charting better futures," he said. "We need to recognize that peoples' resilience carries through."
Brenda Barnett says she hopes the Cherokee Nation will emerge as a model for how communities across the U.S. respond to the opioid-fentanyl crisis.
"We're poised to do a better job than anything out there. Our people, they're not throwaway because they have this disease," she said.
With financial help and healthcare from the tribe, her son, Ryan, is one of the success stories. He's been in recovery, drug-free for five years; at age 31 he's back in college.
As they sat at their kitchen table, Brenda put a hand on his arm and told him she's proud of his recovery.
"It makes me feel good to know she's proud, she trusts me," Ryan said.
Back on his farm, Gary Walker watches as his kids play out in the field and says he, too, is hopeful new programs funded by opioid settlement money will make a difference.
"I think it will help. I'm proud of our tribe," he said, noting that with support from the Cherokee Nation, Mazzy and Ransom are recovering.
"They are thriving. With treatment and help from the tribe and the state and different places, we went through therapies and they are currently thriving."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.ijpr.org/health-and-medicine/2023-03-19/opioids-are-devastating-cherokee-families-the-tribe-has-a-100-million-plan-to-heal | 2023-03-19 15:33:52 | 0 | https://www.ijpr.org/health-and-medicine/2023-03-19/opioids-are-devastating-cherokee-families-the-tribe-has-a-100-million-plan-to-heal |
BEIJING , Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NaaS Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: NAAS, "NaaS" or "the Company"), a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging service provider in China, and Tunghsu Group, recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement whereby both parties will begin comprehensive cooperation on the construction, operation and maintenance of charging stations, as well as supplying non-charging services to new energy vehicles.
Senior executives from both companies attended the ceremony, including Wang Chunxiang, Vice President of Newlink Group, Jiang Yi, Vice President of Operations, NaaS, Gao Chao, Executive Vice President of Tunghsu Group and Liu Guowei, Vice President of Tunghsu Group.
Gao Chao, Executive Vice President of Tunghsu Group , extended a warm welcome to the C-level guests from NaaS Technology Inc. Mr. Gao said, "Tunghsu Group has advantages in technology, talent and in its industry in the areas of semiconductor optoelectronic display materials and cutting-edge advanced materials, and has been committed to independently innovating in core equipment and materials in the related industries. Tunghsu Group has repeatedly broken up international monopolies and reduced the limits on China's key developing industries. The cooperation between our two companies, leaders in our respective industries would expedite the growth and facilitate the overall development of our businesses."
Wang Chunxiang, Vice President of Newlink, also expressed his agreement with the development strategy, the vision for both enterprises, the innovation of new technologies and the potential market applications for Tunghsu Group. "Newlink Group has continuously focused on the Internet of Things, new retail and other fields of new energy for many years now, and has established multiple business lines such as Tuanyou, NaaS, Newlink Enterprise Service, Nengcheng Technology (logistics), and Newlink Retail." He said, "This partnership will enable both companies to jointly help realize China's Dual Carbon goals, creating a better future for everyone in process."
According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAC), sales of new energy vehicles in China totaled 2.6 million for the first half of this year, representing a year-on-year increase of 1.2 times, accounting for 21.6 percent of the market, and is expected to exceed 5 million by the end of the year. The rapid increase in sales and inventory has resulted in a greater need to build new energy vehicle charging infrastructure, and has driven the rapid development of the charging industry. Data from the National Energy Administration shows that 1.3 million new charging piles were built in the first half of this year, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.8 times. Currently, both central and local governments are constantly developing new energy policies, which are being included in the seven key areas of their "new infrastructure construction" plan.
Tunghsu Group is a large high-tech group with businesses covering semiconductor optoelectronic display materials, high-end equipment manufacturing, environmentally friendly new energy, new energy vehicles and cutting-edge advanced materials, and has accumulated profound technological know-how, developing a strong presence in new energy vehicles, photovoltaic, energy storage, charging stations and other fields related to China's "Dual Carbon" goals. Tunghsu Group has been awarded the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award (First Class and Second Class), "Chinese Patent Gold Award" and the title of "Manufacturing Individual Champion Demonstration Enterprise."
As a leader in both the domestic production of core display materials and China's new materials industry, Tunghsu Group is committed to consistently improving its capacity for independent innovation in its core technologies, and to complement, extend and strengthen Tunghsu Group's multiple industry value chains to ensure that each industry value chain is self-supporting, and thereby contribute to the overall high-quality development of China's national industry.
NaaS Technology Inc. has integrated participants throughout the EV charging industry value chain, including charger manufacturers, operators and OEMs, improving the operational efficiency of all parties in the process through both online and offline charging and non-charging solutions. For commercial clients, NaaS helps operators to attract users with charger connectivity and traffic support. At the same time, NaaS provides one-stop solutions for charging station development to help reduce construction, operation and maintenance costs for charging stations. NaaS also provides professional operations management, and help improve charging station profitability by adding non-charging services such as car wash service and ancillary products.
As of June 30, 2022, NaaS operates in 358 cities across China and has connected to more than 400,000 chargers and 44,000 charging stations. On June 13, NaaS was officially listed on NASDAQ with the stock code "NAAS".
Industry experts say that the strategic cooperation between the two parties will promote the organic integration of the upstream and downstream portions of China's new energy charging industry value chain, facilitate the development of innovative cooperation models in the charging ecosystem, and build a more intelligent charging network. An important sector for achieving China's "Dual Carbon" goals, the new energy charging industry is now in a critical period of development. This cooperation is of great importance for promoting the development of the industry and for creating a new energy ecosystem in China. It will further advance China's new energy industry and contribute to achieving China's "Dual Carbon" goals through the respective strengths of both companies.
About NaaS Technology Inc.
NaaS Technology Inc. is one of the largest and fastest growing electric vehicle charging service providers in China. The firm is a subsidiary of NewLink, a leading energy digitalization group in China. NaaS offers a comprehensive one-stop shop to charger manufacturers and operators, OEMs, in-house delivery fleets as well as fleet operators, with online, offline, and non-electric services covering the entire EV industry value chain. As of June 30, 2022, NaaS operates in 358 cities across China and has connected to more than 400,000 chargers and 44,000 charging stations. On June 13, 2022, NaaS Technology Inc. was officially listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker NAAS.
For more information, please visit NaaS Technology Inc.
Media Contact
E-mail: pr@enaas.com
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SOURCE NAAS | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/naas-tunghsu-group-signs-strategic-cooperation-agreement-jointly-drive-towards-realization-chinas-dual-carbon-goals/ | 2022-08-23 12:06:40 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/naas-tunghsu-group-signs-strategic-cooperation-agreement-jointly-drive-towards-realization-chinas-dual-carbon-goals/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said the Kansas City Chiefs are “building a dynasty” as he hosted the team at the White House Monday to mark their Super Bowl victory in February.
Speaking on the South Lawn, Biden praised the team for playing with “the real joy of the game and love for each other and the great city you represent.” He also praised the team for their charitable work off the field, saying, “as these guys know about football, they know about life and how to use their platform to make a difference. ”
Biden joked that first lady Jill Biden, a “rabid” Philadelphia fan, is still not over the dramatic end to the game, which included a controversial holding penalty against the Eagles that set the Chiefs up for their game-winning field goal. The president added, “I have to be careful what I say today,” even thoughhis wife was out of the country.
Biden led the crowd in a moment of silence to mark the death Sunday of Norma Hunt, wife of the late team founder Lamar Hunt, saying he was sending “our condolences to the entire Hunt family.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the game’s most valuable player, and tight end Travis Kelce presented Biden with a personalized Kansas City Chiefs jersey before posing for a team photo with the president.
Before the ceremony, the team was given a tour of the White House. | https://www.qcnews.com/sports/biden-says-chiefs-building-a-dynasty-as-he-hosts-kansas-city-super-bowl-champs-at-white-house/ | 2023-06-06 10:53:40 | 0 | https://www.qcnews.com/sports/biden-says-chiefs-building-a-dynasty-as-he-hosts-kansas-city-super-bowl-champs-at-white-house/ |
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Tuesday ordered that a case between Planned Parenthood and the state of South Dakota be put on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court issues a decision in a separate case that could overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide.
The South Dakota lawsuit is over a rule pushed by Republican Gov. Kristi Noem that would require abortion-seekers to make three separate visits to a doctor to take abortion pills. Planned Parenthood, which operates the state's only clinic that regularly provides abortions, asserted that the rule would have ended its ability to provide medicine-induced abortions.
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against the rule in February, finding that it likely infringed on the right to an abortion. Noem appealed that decision.
But both sides motioned for the appeal to be held in abeyance until the Supreme Court issues a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
The legal fight over requirements to get abortion pills in South Dakota may soon become moot. South Dakota is one of 13 states with a trigger law that would ban abortions altogether if Roe is overturned. | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Noem-s-appeal-of-abortion-pills-order-put-on-hold-17162984.php | 2022-05-10 21:23:30 | 1 | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Noem-s-appeal-of-abortion-pills-order-put-on-hold-17162984.php |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Bad news for beer lovers. A Florida interstate was covered in cases of beer Wednesday morning after a crash involving multiple semi-trucks in Hernando County.
The crash happened shortly before 6:15 a.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 near milepost 296.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, two semi-trucks collided on the road after one of the drivers changed lanes.
Two other semi-trucks and a pickup truck were behind them, and were able to stop and avoid a collision. However, another semi-truck, which was carrying the beer, failed to stop and ran into the pickup truck.
The pickup went onto the shoulder of the roadway and hit one of the semis. Then the truck carrying beer hit another semi that was transporting concrete.
After the crash, the road was covered in concrete and cases of beer, troopers said.
The pickup truck driver suffered minor injuries, but no one else was hurt, according to the Highway Patrol.
The crash shut down the southbound lanes of the interstate for a couple hours, but the inside shoulder and travel lanes opened to traffic around 8:30 a.m., troopers said. | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/interstate-covered-in-coors-light-after-semis-collide-in-florida/ | 2022-09-21 17:31:21 | 1 | https://pix11.com/news/us-world-news/interstate-covered-in-coors-light-after-semis-collide-in-florida/ |
Florida Amber Alert: Suspect arrested in metro Atlanta, teen safe, police say
CHAMBLEE, Ga. - A 19-year-old man was arrested in Georgia in connection to an incident that prompted an Amber Alert in Florida on Tuesday.
Oliver Ramos, 19, was charged with statutory rape on Wednesday afternoon.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued the alert Tuesday evening after a 15-year-old girl was reportedly taken from a home in the 100 block of 4th Street in Jupiter, Florida on July 2.
According to police, Ramos has a history of verbal abuse, and they believed the girl was in danger.
The FBI said they were able to track the girl to an address about 600 miles north in Chamblee, Georgia. Investigators said they were able to pinpoint her location due to "recent communication between the missing 15-year-old and her caseworker in Florida."
The Chamblee Police Department on Wednesday morning was able to locate the girl safely inside an apartment off Plaster Road and take Ramos into custody without incident.
Ramos was booked into the DeKalb County Detention Center. | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/florida-amber-alert-suspect-arrested-in-metro-atlanta-teen-safe-police-say | 2022-07-08 21:24:54 | 0 | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/florida-amber-alert-suspect-arrested-in-metro-atlanta-teen-safe-police-say |
How to Watch Women's French Open Today : Live Stream and More - June 7
Published: Jun. 7, 2023 at 2:45 AM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
Today's menu at the French Open includes two matches in the quarterfinals, including Iga Swiatek (ranked No. 1) challenging Cori Gauff (No. 6). How to watch, you ask? Check out Tennis Channel for the live stream.
Watch live tennis and tons of other sports and shows without cable on all your devices with a seven-day free trial to Fubo!
French Open Information
- Tournament: The French Open
- Round: Quarterfinals
- Date: June 7
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
- Venue: Stade Roland Garros
- Location: Paris, France
- Court Surface: Clay
Watch the French Open Today - June 7
Watch live sports without cable! Sign up today for a free trial to Fubo and watch today's matches!
Today's Best Match Insights: Swiatek vs. Gauff
- Swiatek is 27-5 on the year, with two tournament titles.
- The 19-year-old Gauff, who is still seeking her first tournament victory of 2023, is 14-8 so far this year.
- Swiatek has played 32 matches so far this year (across all court types), and 16.1 games per match.
- Swiatek has played 14 matches on clay this year, and 18.3 games per match.
- Swiatek has won 82.6% of her service games this year, and 51% of her return games.
- Gauff is averaging 19.4 games per match through her 22 matches played this year across all court types, with a 52.5% game winning percentage.
- Gauff averages 19.8 games per match and 8.5 games per set in six matches on clay courts this year.
- Including all surfaces, Gauff's service game winning percentage is 70.1% (winning 150 of 214 service games) and her return game winning percentage is 34.7% (earning a win in 74 of 213 return games).
Bet on Swiatek or Gauff to win this match with DraftKings Sportsbook.
Yesterday's Match Results
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/06/07/french-open-wta-tennis-preview-how-to-watch-today/ | 2023-06-07 08:49:53 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/06/07/french-open-wta-tennis-preview-how-to-watch-today/ |
Lincoln Public Schools officials are defending the use of classroom signs supporting LGBTQ students despite criticism about their use and amid a legislative push by state senators to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
LPS recently approved the use of the signs, which display a rainbow pride flag above the words "all means all" and next to a brief statement in support of LGBTQ students. The small, card-sized signs, which are essentially designed to be displayed in windows of classroom doors, are available at all school buildings by request.
"LPS believes that 'all means all' encompasses our students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+)," the statement on the card reads. "We stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ students, staff and community members. The individual displaying this card is committed to advancing safety, equity and dignity for all."
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The district's Equity Committee approved the signage in the fall at the request of social workers in the district who wanted to display them. Staff who want one of the signs, which were handed out in the past two weeks, can now pick them up from social workers in their building.
The Equity Committee is a group of top district administrators "that comes together only to look at signage proposed by staff members that are intended to send supportive messages to students," Director of Communications Mindy Burbach said. The committee may include the associate superintendent of general administration and governmental affairs, director of student services and other top district leaders, Burbach said.
The committee reviews signage if it concerns a "societal issue related to students about which it is important for LPS to affirm its support of students in general or for a particular group of students." Decisions follow district rules regarding the distribution of printed materials on school property, which prohibits obscene or other inappropriate materials.
"All of our staff members are committed to serving each and every student — that’s why they are at Lincoln Public Schools," the district said in a statement. "These signs allow staff members to remind all students that they are a safe and trusted adult they can come to if they are experiencing issues at school. This is just one more way to communicate and reinforce that commitment."
At Tuesday night's Lincoln Board of Education meeting, however, critics said the signs amount to pushing gender ideology and sexual content onto children.
Luke Meduna, who has three elementary-age children in LPS, was one of about 20 people who spoke against the signs Tuesday. The card, which he said is in his fourth grader's classroom, sexualizes children, Meduna argued.
"These are sensitive issues that parents should be directly involved in discussing with their children at appropriate times, and not the responsibility of a passive poster on a classroom wall," he said.
Alaina Brouillette and Emmy Pollen, two Republicans running for school board in the May general election, likened the cards to the district distributing political materials in schools, which is prohibited.
"The pride flag is a political statement," Brouillette said. "It would be no different than if you were to hand out cards with a Democrat donkey."
Superintendent Paul Gausman said the signs are optional and do not mean the district offers less support to other students group. The signs are meant to show support to a marginalized group of students, said Gausman, pointing to the high rates of suicide for LGBTQ youths.
"Someone's LGBTQ status is not political. This is a human rights issue. We are not asking our staff or our students to change their personal beliefs," Gausman told the board Tuesday. "We respect the right of each person to hold their own beliefs. We also expect our staff and students to respect those who hold beliefs different from their own, which often happens in the diversity of a public school setting."
Gina Frank, an LPS parent, said the signs do not push a certain lifestyle on children but rather are affirming for LGBTQ students."
"People's identity is not up for debate," Frank said. "Public schools are for all kids, and LGBTQAI kids are under attack right now and their families are under attack right now."
The district's approval of the signs comes as a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors in Nebraska makes its way through the Legislature. LB574, introduced by Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth, would prohibit doctors from performing gender-altering surgery to anyone under the age of 19 or providing puberty blockers or hormone therapy.
On April 3, about 70 students at Lincoln Southeast High School walked out of class in opposition to the bill and in support of trans rights, following similar protests at the state Capitol and at Omaha Central High School.
Any staff member at LPS can suggest the use of a sign to their supervisor, who may forward it to the Equity Committee for consideration, Burbach said.
The Equity Committee considers a number of factors before approving a sign, including whether it aligns with district goals and is respectful of all student groups. Board regulations prohibit the distribution of materials that contain inappropriate content or that "amount to proselytizing, electioneering or lobbying."
The associate superintendent for general administration and governmental relations ultimately reviews the signage and may forward it to the superintendent and his top executives for final approval.
Other signage and messaging unrelated to a social issue goes through other departments, Burbach said. Health information, for example, goes through the district's Health Services Department. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/lps-defends-use-of-signs-supporting-lgbtq-students/article_2aebf6f2-d897-11ed-bb53-6b3459910656.html | 2023-04-12 02:12:42 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/lps-defends-use-of-signs-supporting-lgbtq-students/article_2aebf6f2-d897-11ed-bb53-6b3459910656.html |
After months of turmoil within his government that ultimately led to the resignation of much of his cabinet, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced he will step down. He says he will remain prime minister until his party, the Conservative Party, names a successor.
In reaction to the news, a popular online video game streamer pointed out in a now-viral tweet that Larry the Cat, the chief mouser of 10 Downing Street, has outlasted the last three prime ministers. “He holds the true power over the country,” the streamer joked.
THE QUESTION
Has Larry the Cat held his official position at the British prime minister’s office longer than the last three prime ministers?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
Yes, Larry the Cat will have held his official position at the British prime minister’s office longer than the last three British prime ministers — so long as he continues to be chief mouser after Boris Johnson’s replacement is chosen. There is no apparent effort to fire or replace Larry, and Larry has not expressed any interest in stepping down from his post.
WHAT WE FOUND
Larry the Cat, according to the British government’s page on the history of 10 Downing Street, has been in residence at 10 Downing Street as the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office since Feb. 15, 2011. He is the first cat at Number 10 to be given the official title of chief mouser.
His residence, 10 Downing Street, is the United Kingdom’s equivalent to the White House. British prime ministers have lived at the location since 1735.
In honor of Larry’s first year at the address, Number 10 posted an album of Larry pictures to its Flickr on Feb. 14, 2012.
When Larry moved in in 2011, David Cameron was prime minister. Cameron left the office and residence in July 2016. Since then, Theresa May and Boris Johnson have both been prime ministers of the United Kingdom, the British government’s website confirms. May held office until July 2019, when Johnson took over. All three prime ministers were of the Conservative Party.
Although Johnson has announced his resignation, he hasn’t yet officially stepped down from his role as prime minister. He says he will wait until his party has chosen his successor, much like his predecessor did. It was several weeks between May’s resignation and when Johnson replaced her. Johnson has not yet announced a timetable for the upcoming leadership election.
The BBC says Cameron was responsible for bringing Larry into 10 Downing Street based on a recommendation from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for his mousing skills. After receiving questions doubting his friendly relationship with Larry during his final days as prime minister, Cameron posted a picture of the cat sitting on his lap to Twitter.
Larry’s relationship with the next prime minister, who had hinted she was more of a dog person when she took her office, wasn’t as good, the BBC reported.
“Their relationship is unlikely to have improved after Larry was tactically extracted by police before Mrs. May's resignation speech amid fears he would upstage the departing PM,” the BBC said.
Reuters posted a video of the cat stalking around outside the front door of 10 Downing Street on July 6, 2022. “A reporter asked Downing Street's resident cat Larry if he has asked the prime minister to resign,” Reuters said.
According to the video’s title, Larry declined to comment.
More from VERIFY: Yes, there is an abandoned Burger King in a Delaware mall, but it isn’t newly discovered | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/verify/world-verify/larry-cat-outlasted-last-three-british-uk-prime-ministers-johnson-may-cameron/536-2aed10e6-8f29-4f0f-831b-bba9542f11c3 | 2022-07-07 22:50:13 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/verify/world-verify/larry-cat-outlasted-last-three-british-uk-prime-ministers-johnson-may-cameron/536-2aed10e6-8f29-4f0f-831b-bba9542f11c3 |
Which Under Armour football gloves are best?
Football players don’t have a lot of options for personalizing their uniforms, but they can show off their personality and style with football gloves. Thanks to high-quality construction and a wide range of design options, Under Armour football gloves are among the most popular brands.
For the best mix of style and performance, many players trust Under Armour’s F7 Adult Football Gloves.
What to know before you buy Under Armour football gloves
Purpose of football gloves
Football gloves do not deliver warmth when playing in cold weather. Instead, they protect the hands during collisions and provide some tackiness to help players catch the football successfully.
Position of players
Players who handle the football frequently need Under Armour football gloves that help them grip the ball and catch passes. These gloves have some tacky materials in the palms and the fingers. They also use thin fabrics that do not restrict the hand movements of the players.
Linemen and linebackers want football gloves that have some padding and that are thicker. These gloves may help to prevent injuries and abrasions from blocking and tackling.
Most UA football gloves work better for receivers and running backs. However, the Combat line of gloves from Under Armour delivers the highest level of padding and protection for linemen.
Style and color
Under Armour athletic gear is known for design styles and colors that grab attention, and its football gloves are no exception. UA has dozens of design options and color combinations for adult and youth players. Matching the design of your UA football glove to your personal style can make the game more exciting to play and can give you a boost of confidence.
If you like the look of the Under Armour logo, it’s prominently visible on every pair of the company’s football gloves.
What to look for in quality Under Armour football gloves
Breathable fabrics
Sweaty hands are a common problem for football players wearing gloves while practicing in the heat of summer and early fall. Under Armour offers gloves with breathable fabric, which the company calls ArmourMesh, on the back of the hand and fingers to keep them cooler. Since this part of the glove undergoes less stress than the palms, using breathable fabric in this area does not significantly affect the gloves’ durability.
Tackiness
UA football gloves use tacky material in the palms and fingers. This tackiness helps players keep a solid grip on the ball during running plays or while catching passes.
Gloves made for linemen also have tackiness in the palms, giving the linemen a better chance of maintaining contact with the opponent while blocking.
Adjustable wrist strap
Some Under Armour football gloves have a Velcro strap at the wrist that allows the player to tighten the fit as desired. This adjustable strap also makes it easier to pull the gloves on and take them off, eliminating unnecessary stress on the wrist cuff.
Durability
Under Armour football gloves offer good durability, as they are a trusted brand name that follows precise manufacturing tolerances. However, you may want to have an extra pair of gloves on standby in case of a tear during practices or games.
How much you can expect to spend on Under Armour football gloves
Under Armour packages gloves in pairs rather than offering single gloves. Expect to spend $20-$60 for a pair of UA football gloves.
Under Armour football gloves FAQ
How tight should my UA football gloves be?
A. All football gloves — including those from Under Armour — should fit tightly. They should feel like part of your hand. However, they shouldn’t be so tight that you cannot open and close your hand easily.
How long do UA football gloves last?
A. Most players can wear their UA football gloves for an entire season of practices and games. However, if you see any ripped seams or tears, replace the gloves immediately.
What are the best Under Armour football gloves to buy?
Top Under Armour football gloves
Under Armour Adult F7 Football Gloves
What you need to know: Wide receivers and other players who must catch the ball appreciate the tacky fabrics used for this pair of gloves.
What you’ll love: These durable gloves should last the entire season. The fabrics are breathable, so your hands won’t sweat excessively on hot days. Players can show off their style with numerous designs.
What you should consider: The UA logo is shown prominently on the palm of these gloves.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Top Under Armour football gloves for the money
Under Armour Youth Novelty F8 Football Gloves
What you need to know: These UA gloves have striking designs that kids will love to wear, and parents will love their reasonable prices.
What you’ll love: The designs make them stand apart from the rest, as almost any color combination is available. The tacky material in the palm and fingers helps younger players have more success when catching the ball.
What you should consider: These gloves don’t offer an adjustable closure strap at the wrist, so some younger children may struggle to pull them on by themselves.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
Worth checking out
Under Armour Adult Blur Football Gloves
What you need to know: This pair of gloves is among the most lightweight and comfortable that Under Armour offers.
What you’ll love: The breathable mesh fabric in the back keeps the hands cool. The adjustable strap at the wrist gives players the most secure fit. Several different color choices are available with metallic-colored highlights and accents.
What you should consider: The palm of the gloves has a large “U” and “A” rather than the traditional Under Armour logo.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/football-br/best-under-armour-football-gloves/ | 2022-06-29 08:11:55 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/football-br/best-under-armour-football-gloves/ |
HOUSTON, June 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Apache Industrial, a leading provider of industrial contracting services including scaffolding, coatings, fireproofing, insulation, and technical maintenance services has announced the promotion of Cathey Perkins to Senior Vice President of Specialized Technical Services. In her new role, Cathey will be leading all Specialized Technical Services for the organization, including Apache's forming and shoring technology, Allform.
For over three decades, Cathey Perkins has established herself as a recognized leader in the industrial contracting services industry. Cathey is highly regarded as an Association for Materials Protection and Performance's Senior Certified Coatings Inspector and Protective Coating Specialist. During her tenure at Apache, Cathey led the development of quality infrastructure and processes through training, knowledge sharing, coaching, and technical support that led to providing processes and procedures to drive the business forward.
"Cathey is a respected leader with over 30 years in the industry. She has the vision and the knowledge to lead the specialized technical services business unit into the future of the industry," said Stephen Hillier, Chief Executive Officer at Apache IS Holdings. "Cathey embodies what sets Apache apart in the industry, that we operate with excellence and deliver value to our clients."
"Our continued goal is to provide the processes, resources, and tools needed to allow our talented people to continue to excel and better their performance by meeting and exceeding the expectations of our internal and external customers," said Perkins. "Being proactive and responsive are quality attributes that drive improvement and excellence throughout our Apache organization and in our industry."
About Apache Industrial:
Apache Industrial is a leading provider of industrial craft services and is recognized for delivering exceptional services and keeping people safe. Apache maintains offices, operating centers, and laydown yards in multiple locations across the United States and Canada. To learn more about Apache Industrial, visit www.apacheip.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Annabella Bruzual
abruzual@apacheip.com
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SOURCE Apache Industrial | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/06/19/apache-industrial-holdings-promotes-cathey-perkins-senior-vice-president-specialized-technical-services/ | 2023-06-19 13:56:54 | 0 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2023/06/19/apache-industrial-holdings-promotes-cathey-perkins-senior-vice-president-specialized-technical-services/ |
How to get the best results when grilling outdoors
If you take a stroll through the neighborhood this time of year, you may salivate. As the weather heats up, more and more people move their cooking outdoors to the grill. While some depend on internet tips, others turn to essential and innovative products to get results. With such an abundance of outdoor cooking gear available, it can be challenging to find items that are truly the best. To help you out, here are 10 top products that Amazon users give the thumbs-up.
Shop this article: Meater Plus, Cuisinart Deluxe Grill Set and Weber Small Stainless Steel Vegetable Basket
What tools do you need for outdoor grilling?
Cooking out on the patio is a little different from cooking in the kitchen. While some of the products and tools you need to get the job done are similar, there are a few that are specific to outdoor cooking.
- Meat thermometer: When you grill, you don’t always know the exact temperature of the grill (or the meat). A meat thermometer ensures you cook everything to a safe temperature.
- Grill mat: Many foods don’t cook easily on a rack of thin bars. A grill mat gives you a flat surface so you can cook nearly anything on a grill that you would cook on a skillet or in an oven.
- Grilling basket: A grilling basket serves a similar purpose as a grill mat, only it doesn’t create a barrier between the heat source and your food. It’s a suitable alternative that some people like even more than a grill mat.
- Tongs: When cooking inside, you have a variety of tools that you can use to move and flip your food. Outside, a high-quality set of tongs is a no-brainer. They’re a multipurpose tool that lets you accomplish a wide variety of cooking tasks.
- Grilling gloves: When you cook outside, you’re frequently exposing your hands to heat (or even fire). To keep your skin from becoming well-done, you need a set of grilling gloves that offer protection without sacrificing dexterity or gripping ability.
- Grill brush and scraper: When you cook inside, you need to wash off the pans and utensils. When cooking on a grill, between each use, you must scrape off the built-up carcinogens. To do this, you need a grill brush and scraper.
- Fire extinguisher: Many people neglect purchasing this necessary piece of safety equipment. If you’re doing any type of cooking — either indoor or outdoor — a properly rated fire extinguisher is a must.
Best grilling products on Amazon
Meater Plus
This smart meat thermometer is 100% wire-free. It’s a long-range device that lets you monitor your cooking progress so you can reach and sustain the precise temperatures required to give you the perfect level of doneness. The long-lasting battery provides you up to 24 hours of continuous cooking per charge.
Sold by Amazon
Cuisinart Deluxe Grill Set
With a 4.7-star rating, consumers on Amazon agree with BestReviews: this is a top-quality grill set. This comprehensive collection comes with every piece of equipment you need to make your backyard cooking a success, and a durable aluminum carrying case is included in the price as well.
Sold by Amazon
Weber Small Stainless Steel Vegetable Basket
Not everything you love, such as vegetables, can be cooked directly on a grill. To do that, you need a grill basket. This highly rated model is purposely small so it can fit on any size grill. It’s made of durable stainless steel and is compact enough to use while grilling other items.
Sold by Amazon
Kona Best BBQ Grill Mat
Another option for cooking items that could slip between the grill bars is to use a grill mat. This nonstick product also reduces the risk of flare-ups and helps keep your grill clean. It can be reused over 1,000 times (per side) and is suitable for both pro and amateur grillers. Over 5,000 Amazon customers gave the Kona grill mat a five-star rating.
Sold by Amazon
Allwin-Houseware Premium Silicone Tongs
The beauty of these grilling tongs is their heat-resistant, non-slip, silicone-coated ends that are safe for temperatures up to 500 degrees. The tongs are BPA-free and odor-free. They have a locking clip and a built-in hanger. Purchase includes two sets of tongs: a 9-inch model and a 12-inch model.
Sold by Amazon
Cuisinart Nonstick Grilling Basket
Besides vegetables, this basket allows you to cook fish and other delicate food on the grill. It has a lid that locks, sealing the food inside so you can flip it without the need to shake and potentially lose items over the edge. The elongated heat-resistant handle lets you grill in comfort.
Sold by Amazon
Rapicca BBQ Gloves
If you want to grill without discomfort, a pair of grilling gloves is helpful. This offering can keep you safe at temperatures up to 900 degrees. The gloves are 14 inches long and are coated with a non-slip texture to make it easy for you to handle wet items or greasy meat.
Sold by Amazon
Weber Handle Grill ‘N Go Light
Even if you have string lights or a fire pit, they might not be bright enough to let you see what you’re doing after sunset. This popular grill light from Weber is bright enough to illuminate your entire cooking surface. The built-in motion sensor preserves battery life.
Sold by Amazon
GrillArt Grill Brush and Scraper
To keep your grill safe and in optimal working condition, you need to keep it clean. This grill brush and scraper is BestReviews’ favorite. It contains no wire bristles, so your food will remain metal-free. The wide scraper saves you time, while the flexible design lets you clean those hard-to-reach spots.
Sold by Amazon
First Alert Home1 Rechargeable Standard Home Fire Extinguisher
One last item that you never want to forget is a fire extinguisher. This multipurpose model is suitable for wood, paper, trash, plastics, gasoline, oil and electrical equipment fires. The metal pull pin helps prevent accidental discharge or tampering.
Sold by Amazon
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Allen Foster 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.krqe.com/reviews/br/patio-br/grilling-outdoor-cooking-br/10-products-for-outdoor-grilling-amazon-users-swear-by/ | 2023-06-08 19:15:00 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/reviews/br/patio-br/grilling-outdoor-cooking-br/10-products-for-outdoor-grilling-amazon-users-swear-by/ |
Whale safety research planned near East Coast's offshore wind farms
25 whales have died on the East Coast since Dec. 1
As dead whales continue to wash ashore on the U.S. East Coast — and particularly the Jersey Shore — officials and academics are planning a wide array of monitoring and research aimed at preventing or minimizing harm to whales and other marine life during construction and operation of offshore wind farms.
A dead whale washed ashore Thursday in New Jersey, a day after another was found in New York amid a continuing wave of whale deaths along the East Coast. Twenty-five of the animals have died since Dec. 1, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
A research and monitoring initiative announced last year by New Jersey environmental and utility regulators is launching numerous projects to establish a baseline of current ocean conditions, with plans for monitoring while wind farms are built and operated.
BIDEN ADMIN SCIENTIST RAISED ALARM ON OFFSHORE WIND HARMING WHALES MONTHS AGO
The $26 million program is funded — but not carried out — by the offshore wind companies Orsted and Atlantic Shores, which are required by the state to pay for the research as part of their projects.
Similar wind-related research is being carried out by states from Maine to South Carolina, officials said.
The research was announced well before a spate of whale deaths became politicized, with opponents of offshore wind blaming the deaths on site preparation work for wind farms off New Jersey and New York. Various elected officials are pushing for a pause or a total halt to offshore wind projects, citing the whale deaths.
But three federal scientific agencies — the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the Marine Mammal Commission — say there is no evidence linking offshore wind activities to whale deaths.
The federal government has been studying whale deaths since it declared an "unusual mortality event" involving humpbacks in 2016. Since then, 186 of the animals have died between Maine and Florida, with a high of 34 in 2017.
The New Jersey work includes placing listening devices on the ocean floor to record the presence of whales and other marine mammals in a specific area, and deploying an undersea glider equipped with sensors that can hear whale calls. It also includes tracking the movement of various fish species and using environmental DNA to tell which animals have been in specific areas of the ocean.
Some of the efforts are already underway, including a sound recorder operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute on a buoy off Atlantic City, while others are set to begin as soon as next month.
"We have the opportunity to get the lay of the land," said Kira Lawrence, of the state Board of Public Utilities, who gave an update this week on the projects. "It's important that we get a handle on what is out there and how is it changing right now. We can get a sense of when and where whales are around project areas."
Other work involved in the initiative includes the development of a special dredge for surf clams that can maneuver more easily in tight spaces around wind farms, supporting a regional multi-state wildlife study, and the possible use of wind turbine platforms as monitoring stations for wildlife and environmental conditions.
The update on the research work came amid a continuing wave of whale deaths along the East Coast.
Necropsies were conducted on 13 of the 25 whales that have washed ashore since Dec. 1, revealing that ship strikes were the likely cause of at least eight of the deaths, said NOAA spokesperson Andrea Gomez. The agency is awaiting the results of microscopic tissue samples on the remaining animals, she added.
The breakdown of deaths by species is: 18 humpback whales between New York and North Carolina; 3 sperm whales between New York and Florida; two North Atlantic right whales in North Carolina and Virginia; one sei whale in North Carolina and one minke whale in New York, according to NOAA.
DEAD HUMPBACK WHALE SEEN OFF NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY COAST
New York has several similar research projects underway, including the use of miniature transmitting tags for birds and bats near offshore wind farms, a study of how sea birds might interact with wind turbines, and creation of a database to incorporate anglers' knowledge into offshore wind decisions.
New Jersey projects not yet approved for funding, but which are envisioned, include sea turtle tagging to monitor their movements, and expanding studies of birds and bats.
During an online presentation of the initiative Monday by state officials, opponents of offshore wind renewed complaints about the wind turbines' visibility from shore and voiced fears that wind projects will harm or kill wildlife.
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"I just want to make sure we don't permanently remove these beautiful animals from our coastline," said Randall Snyder, a radiologist from Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island, one of several hotbeds of local opposition to offshore wind. | https://www.foxnews.com/us/whale-safety-research-planned-east-coasts-offshore-wind-farms | 2023-03-03 00:09:11 | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/whale-safety-research-planned-east-coasts-offshore-wind-farms |
SHANGHAI, March 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Technology Association (SAITA) announced the list of advanced enterprises to be commended of 2022. The categories of enterprise awards in 2022 offered by SAITA include Science & Technology Innovation Awards, Emerging Innovation Awards as well as Outstanding Contribution Awards. Among them, YouLianCloud Information Service (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("YouLianCloud" ) is recognized as the winner of "Outstanding Contribution of Year 2022".
As the industry-leading intelligent financial information engine in China, YouLianCloud takes ecological connection as the core, deeply cultivates the financial industry and AIGC. By combining natural language processing, big data and knowledge graph technology, YouLianCloud provides its users with intelligent applications for multiple scenarios such as sales, marketing, investment research and risk control.
With decades of deep understanding of the financial field and rich insight of the demanding, the team furthers its research in the field of financial AIGC. Embedded with natural language processing, knowledge graph and generative AI technologies, the platform reaches the produciton of Intelligent Content such as intelligent financial information and intelligent financial videos. Meanwhile, it also solves the difficulties of data capture, materials searching and inefficient creation.
At present, YouLianCloud has provided a wide range of digital and intelligent services for hundreds of large financial institutions and listed companies. It has been honored as the "Most Commercial Cooperation Value Winner of 2022 " in the field of Knowledge Graph.
View original content:
SOURCE YouLianCloud | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/03/06/shanghai-artificial-intelligence-technology-association-held-commendation-conference-youliancloud-achieved-outstanding-contribution-year-2022-award/ | 2023-03-06 05:08:48 | 1 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/03/06/shanghai-artificial-intelligence-technology-association-held-commendation-conference-youliancloud-achieved-outstanding-contribution-year-2022-award/ |
Joanna Simon, acclaimed singer, TV correspondent, dies at 85
NEW YORK (AP) — Joanna Simon, an acclaimed mezzo-soprano, Emmy-winning TV correspondent and one of the three singing Simon sisters who include pop star Carly, has died at age 85.
Simon, the eldest of four, died Wednesday, just a day before her sister Lucy died, according to Lucy’s daughter, Julie Simon. Their brother Peter, a photographer, died in 2018 at 71. All three had cancer.
“In the last 2 days, I’ve been by the side of both my mother and my aunt, Joanna, and watched them pass into the next world. I can’t truly comprehend this,” Julie wrote on Facebook.
Joanna Simon, who died of thyroid cancer, rose to fame in the opera world and as a concert performer in the 1960s. She was a frequent guest on TV talk shows. After her retirement from singing, she became an arts correspondent for PBS’s “MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour,” where she won an Emmy in 1991 for a report on mental illness and creativity.
“I am filled with sorrow to speak about the passing of Joanna and Lucy Simon. Their loss will be long and haunting. As sad as this day is, it’s impossible to mourn them without celebrating their incredible lives that they lived,” Carly Simon said in a statement Saturday.
She added: “We were three sisters who not only took turns blazing trails and marking courses for one another. We were each other’s secret shares. The co-keepers of each other’s memories.”
Joanna Simon was married to novelist and journalist Gerald Walker from 1976 until his death in 2004. She was the companion of Walter Cronkite from 2005 until his death in 2009.
On stage, she made her professional debut in 1962 as Cherubino in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” at the New York City Opera. That year, she won the Marian Anderson Award for promising young singers. Simon took on a range of material. As a concert performer, she leaned into classic and contemporary songs of her time.
The siblings were born to publishing giant Richard Simon and his wife, Andrea. Carly and Lucy once performed as the Simon Sisters, opening for other acts in Greenwich Village folk clubs.
“I have no words to explain the feeling of suddenly being the only remaining direct offspring of Richard and Andrea Simon,” Carly Simon said. “They touched everyone they knew and those of us they’ve left behind will be lucky and honored to carry their memories forward.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/10/22/joanna-simon-acclaimed-singer-tv-correspondent-dies-85/ | 2022-10-22 17:52:54 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/2022/10/22/joanna-simon-acclaimed-singer-tv-correspondent-dies-85/ |
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — After just one successful field goal of 50-plus yards all season, it was only fitting that the Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes came down to a 50-yard kick.
“I felt like I owed it to the guys,” said Jason Sanders, whose booming go-ahead kick with 18 seconds helped Miami squeak past the New York Jets 11-6 on Sunday to clinch a postseason berth for the first time since 2016.
Miami (9-8) snapped a five-game losing streak, and then had to wait a few minutes for Buffalo to defeat New England 35-23 to make the Dolphins’ playoff appearance official. “We’re In” was displayed on the videoboard at Hard Rock Stadium.
“Jason Sanders, to come through the way he did and have all the points, you have to be built different for that,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “I’m very, very happy with the entire locker room, the entire building, and I feel they wanted no part of this season to be over, and it’s not.”
Miami will play at Buffalo in the first round of the playoffs next Sunday. The AFC East rivals split the season series, with each winning at home.
The Jets (7-10) ended the season with six straight losses, finishing a disappointing collapse for Robert Saleh’s squad. New York failed to score a touchdown in its final three games.
“Next year, we’re going to be in December football and the challenge is going to be finish,” Saleh said. “Not just be satisfied with December football, but finishing December football.”
On the Jets’ last-ditch effort with time running out, they lateraled the ball a few times before Elijah Moore fumbled, the ball was recovered by Garrett Wilson and he was ruled to be tackled in the end zone for a safety.
“Everybody gave it their all,” Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “Comparing last year to now, there’s so much improvement, so much building to talk about.”
The Jets reached midfield with 7:28 left on a 27-yard penalty after a defensive pass interference call on Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou. That drive ended in a punt by an offense that finished with just 187 total yards.
The Jets had tied it with about 12 minutes left on a 35-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein. Joe Flacco led the team down the field on a 14-play, 75-yard drive.
Flacco completed 18 of 33 passes with 149 yards for the Jets in the place of Mike White, who is dealing with broken ribs.
In their most important game of the season, the Dolphins’ offense was limited with veteran left tackle Terron Armstead inactive and rookie Skylar Thompson at quarterback. But Thompson, with no turnovers and 152 yards passing, did just enough to get the first win of his career.
“Hasn’t always been perfect, but I believe everything that I went through set me up and prepared me for this moment,” Thompson said. “I had so much confidence coming into this game because looking back at this year, it was like, ‘What have I not experienced?’ I’m ready for this.”
Thompson started his second game of the season after replacing the injured Teddy Bridgewater in last Sunday’s loss at New England. Bridgewater, who dislocated the pinkie finger on his throwing hand, was in for Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa remains in the concussion protocol after sustaining his second known concussion of the season on Christmas against Green Bay. McDaniel did not say whether Tagovailoa might be available against the Bills.
Miami punted on two of its first four drives. The other two ended in a turnover on downs and a 37-yarder by Sanders.
Miami got close to the end zone midway through the third quarter, set up by tough runs of 14, 11 and 21 yards by Raheem Mostert. The Dolphins lost 11 yards on first down at the Jets 13, however, Thompson couldn’t connect with Tyreek Hill in the end zone on third-and 16, and the Dolphins settled for a field goal.
Hill was limited by an ankle injury sustained in the first half, but he only briefly left the game. He caught two passes on five targets for 23 yards, his fewest in a game this season.
Mostert and Jeff Wilson combined for 143 yards rushing, and tight end Mike Gesicki led the Dolphins with 46 yards receiving, including a 32-yard catch in the fourth quarter.
Garrett Wilson had 89 yards on nine catches for the Jets. Wilson had a 9-yard catch overturned in the fourth quarter after Miami’s first successful challenge of the season. New York ended up punting on the drive, and Sanders’ winning kick came a couple drives later.
SCOREBOARD WATCH
After Miami’s game went final, the video board immediately switched to the Bill-Patriots game.
McDaniel said he didn’t immediately realize the Bills won until a member of the Dolphins’ staff grinned knowingly at him.
“You don’t want it to always be this hard within the game or within the season, but at the same time, for you to do anything special, you have to go through adversity,” McDaniel said.
INJURIES
Jets: S Tony Adams was shaken up after taking a big hit that knocked his helmet off in the third quarter. He was later ruled out with a concussion.
Dolphins: Hill was in and out of the game with his ankle injury. … OL Liam Eichenberg left in the third quarter with an arm injury. … Mostert left in the fourth quarter with a thumb injury and did not return. … DL Brandon Shell left in the fourth quarter with ankle and knee injuries.
UP NEXT
Dolphins: Miami will face Buffalo next Sunday in the first round of the playoffs.
Jets: Enter the offseason with a big question mark at quarterback after Zach Wilson’s rough second NFL season.
—
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.kxnet.com/sports/ap-dolphins-clinch-playoff-berth-after-beating-jets-11-6/ | 2023-01-09 07:49:05 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/sports/ap-dolphins-clinch-playoff-berth-after-beating-jets-11-6/ |
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CHICAGO (AP) — Devin Singletary and James Cook ran for long touchdowns in the third quarter, and the Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC East title by beating the Bears 35-13 on Saturday in one of the coldest games played in Chicago.
Josh Allen ran for a TD and threw for another in the game’s closing minutes, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the most touchdowns in a player’s first five NFL seasons. It highlighted an otherwise subpar outing that helped the Bills (12-3) secure their third straight division title with their sixth win in a row.
Buffalo remained on track for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Bills remain tied with West leader Kansas City, which beat Seattle, but Buffalo owns the head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating the Chiefs in October.
Chicago’s Justin Fields threw for 119 yards and a touchdown, but ran for a season-low 11 yards after joining Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson as the only QBs with 1,000 yards rushing last week.
The temperature at kickoff was 9 with a minus-12 wind chill — only three degrees warmer than the record low for a Bears home game. It was Buffalo’s coldest road game by temperature since at least 1967.
A small gathering of bundled-up fans watched as the Bears grabbed a halftime lead. But Chicago (3-12) matched a franchise record with its eighth straight loss.
Singletary scored on a 33-yard run on the opening drive of the second half and finished with 106 yards in the game. Cook added 99, including a 27-yarder in the third following a fumble by the Bears’ David Montgomery, giving the Bills a 21-10 lead.
Chicago’s Cairo Santos kicked a field goal early in the fourth quarter that Nicholas Morrow set up by picking off an ill-advised pass. Allen scored from the 4 with just under four minutes remaining and threw a 13-yard TD to Dawson Knox with about a minute to play.
Allen finished with 172 yards, two TD passes and two interceptions while facing a short-handed secondary. He broke the tie with Marino when he hit Gabe Davis with a 19-yarder in the first quarter for his 172nd scoring pass.
Stefon Diggs caught just two passes for 26 yards. He wasn’t targeted in the first two quarters even though the Bears placed top cornerback Jaylon Johnson (ring finger) on Friday.
Dante Pettis had a touchdown catch for Chicago. Kyler Gordon intercepted a pass near the goal line early in the second quarter, and the Bears joined the 1978 and 2002 teams as the only squads in franchise history to drop eight in a row.
INJURIES
Bills: RG Ryan Bates (knee) was hurt while blocking for Allen on a scramble late in the second quarter. He returned in the third.
Bears: OL Michael Schofield III (thumb) was injured on the game's opening drive, but returned in the second quarter.
UP NEXT
Bills: Visit Cincinnati on Jan. 2.
Bears: Visit Detroit on Jan. 1.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/Singletary-Cook-lead-way-as-Bills-beat-Bears-for-17676202.php | 2022-12-24 23:19:25 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/Singletary-Cook-lead-way-as-Bills-beat-Bears-for-17676202.php |
Iraq's information minister, reading a statement he said was from Saddam Hussein, calls for a holy war against the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Meanwhile, Iraq's vice president insists the U.S. military has been unable to make progress in its march to Baghdad, and that Iraq has foiled U.S. war plans. Hear NPR's Anne Garrels.
Copyright 2003 NPR | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/2003-03-31/alleged-saddam-statement-calls-for-holy-war | 2022-05-01 21:03:52 | 0 | https://www.ijpr.org/npr-news/2003-03-31/alleged-saddam-statement-calls-for-holy-war |
Anxiety is an unpleasant emotion, but can it be useful? NPR's A Martinez talks to clinical psychologist and author Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, who calls anxiety a triumph of human evolution.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Anxiety is an unpleasant emotion, but can it be useful? NPR's A Martinez talks to clinical psychologist and author Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, who calls anxiety a triumph of human evolution.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-05-13/a-new-book-argues-that-anxiety-is-good-for-you-even-though-it-feels-bad | 2022-05-13 09:55:18 | 0 | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-05-13/a-new-book-argues-that-anxiety-is-good-for-you-even-though-it-feels-bad |
Since its debut in 1971, an anti-pollution ad showing a man in Native American attire shed a single tear at the sight of smokestacks and litter taking over a once unblemished landscape has become an indelible piece of TV pop culture.
It’s been referenced over the decades since on shows like “The Simpsons” and “South Park” and in internet memes. But now a Native American advocacy group that was given the rights to the long-parodied public service announcement is retiring it, saying it has always been inappropriate.
The so-called “Crying Indian” with his buckskins and long braids made the late actor Iron Eyes Cody a recognizable face in households nationwide. But to many Native Americans, the public service announcement has been a painful reminder of the enduring stereotypes they face.
The nonprofit that originally commissioned the advertisement, Keep America Beautiful, had long been considering how to retire the ad and announced this week that it’s doing so by transferring ownership of the rights to the National Congress of American Indians.
“Keep America Beautiful wanted to be careful and deliberate about how we transitioned this iconic advertisement/public service announcement to appropriate owners,” Noah Ullman, a spokesperson for the nonprofit, said via e-mail. “We spoke to several Indigenous peoples’ organizations and were pleased to identify the National Congress of American Indians as a potential caretaker.”
NCAI plans to end the use of the ad and watch for any unauthorized use.
“NCAI is proud to assume the role of monitoring the use of this advertisement and ensure it is only used for historical context; this advertisement was inappropriate then and remains inappropriate today,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “NCAI looks forward to putting this advertisement to bed for good.”
When it premiered in the 1970s, the ad was a sensation. It led to Iron Eyes Cody filming three follow-up PSAs. He spent more than 25 years making public appearances and visits to schools on behalf of the anti-litter campaign, according to an Associated Press obituary.
From there, Cody, who was Italian American but claimed to have Cherokee heritage through his father, was typecast as a stock Native American character, appearing in over 80 films. Most of the time, his character was simply “Indian,” “Indian Chief” or “Indian Joe.”
His movie credits from the 1950s-1980s included “Sitting Bull,” The Great Sioux Massacre,” Nevada Smith, “A Man Called Horse” and “Ernest Goes to Camp.” On television, he appeared in “Bonanza,” “Gunsmoke” and “Rawhide” among others. He also was a technical adviser on Native American matters on film sets.
Dr. Jennifer J. Folsom, a journalism and media communication professor at Colorado State University and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, remembers watching the public service announcement as a child.
“At that point, every single person who showed up with braids and buckskins, on TV or anywhere in the movies, I glommed on to that because it was such a rare thing to see,” said Folsom, whose areas of study include Native American pop culture. “I did see how people littered, and I did see how the creeks and the rivers were getting polluted.”
But as she grew up, Folsom noticed how media devoted little coverage to Native American environmental activists.
“There’s no agency for that sad so-called Indian guy sitting in a canoe, crying,” Folsom said. “I think it has done damage to public perception and support for actual Native people doing things to protect the land and protect the environment.”
She applauded Keep America Beautiful’s decision as an “appropriate move.” It will mean a trusted group can help control the narrative the ad has promoted for over 50 years, she said.
The ad’s power has arguably already faded as Native and Indigenous youths come of age with a greater consciousness about stereotypes and cultural appropriation. TikTok has plenty of examples of Native people parodying or doing a takedown of the advertisement, Folsom said.
Robert “Tree” Cody, the adopted son of Iron Eyes Cody, said the advertisement had “good intent and good heart” at its core.
“It was one of the top 100 commercials,” said Robert Cody, an enrolled member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona.
And, it reminded him of time spent with his father, said Cody, who lives at Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico.
“I remember a lot, even when he went on a movie set to finish his movies and stuff,” Cody said. “I remember going out to Universal (Studios), Disney, places like that.”
His wife, Rachel Kee-Cody, can’t help but feel somewhat sad that an ad that means so much to their family will be shelved. But she is resigned to the decision.
“You know, times are changing as well. You keep going no matter how much it changes,” she said. “Disappointment. … It’ll pass.” | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/rights-to-crying-indian-ad-to-go-to-native-american-group/ | 2023-02-27 13:09:39 | 0 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/rights-to-crying-indian-ad-to-go-to-native-american-group/ |
PULASKI COUNTY, Va. – Pulaski school leaders are putting student safety and school security on the top of their list of things to address this year, like many other schools in the region.
On Tuesday, the Pulaski County School Board completed a series of meetings that were held to evaluate and go over school policies and procedures for student safety and school security, according to a Pulaski County Public Schools press release.
The board and other leaders went over the following things during the meeting, according to the release:
- School security audits that were conducted by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police in 2018, to determine which of the remaining large ticket items could be addressed with funding,
- Principals of schools joined to discuss discipline data including specific incidents that were reported to law enforcement, as well as the types of consequences for major disciplinary infractions to determine if additional resources might be helpful,
- Each school’s safety plan that was created in July with input from local law enforcement, fire departments, and other first responders was reviewed and the board was presented with copies,
- Administrators went over the board’s policies that covered the student code of conduct, discipline for special education students, relations with local law enforcement, and guidelines for suspension & expulsion from school.
PCPS superintendent, Dr. Kevin Siers said that school safety is top-of-the-mind for Pulaski County.
“The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority going into each school year,” Siers said. “We are fortunate to be in a community that shares this priority which allowed us to be one of the first school divisions in the state to put a resource officer at each school. Thanks to a great working relationship with local law enforcement, our faculty, and staff members are some of the best-trained educators around and we will continue to work to make sure that our schools are as safe as possible.”
PCPS School Board Chairwoman, Dr. Paige Cash, added that the system has been improving and building relationships with local authorities to promote that safety.
“Pulaski County Public schools had state and local law enforcement complete a security audit of all county schools in the spring of 2018 and began making safety and security improvements immediately thereafter,” said Cash. “Working with the sheriff’s department, we were also able to place a school resource officer in every school in the county. With the cooperation of stakeholders in the community, we will continue to make our county schools as safe as they can possibly be.”
School leaders will begin to address some of the safety-related capital projects in preparation for the 2023-2024 budget year, according to the release. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/08/10/pulaski-school-leaders-putting-student-safety-school-security-first/ | 2022-08-10 08:58:19 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/08/10/pulaski-school-leaders-putting-student-safety-school-security-first/ |
FELTHAM, England, May 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nomad Foods, Europe's leading frozen food company, has today released its fifth annual sustainability report, focusing on the impact the business is having, covering the period January to December 2021.
The company's sustainability strategy, 'Eating for the Planet', is built around three pillars: Better Sourcing, Better Nutrition and Better Operations. The strategy sets out Nomad Foods' ambition in each area, supported by timebound targets and is designed to help the business drive progress in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
The report shows how the company is widening its focus to address its impact in key areas through innovation and collaboration, including supporting its top 75% of suppliers by emissions, to set science-based targets by 2025.
Stéfan Descheemaeker, Nomad Foods' Chief Executive Officer, said, "The global momentum for climate action has never been stronger and I am incredibly proud of the progress we are making across the Nomad Foods business as we strive to bring our purpose of "Serving the World with Better Food" to life and reach new milestones in a number of important areas such as nutrition and sourcing.
"With the food supply chain on course to overtake farming and land use, as the largest contributor to greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the agri-food sector[1], collaboration with peers, suppliers and expert partners will be vital to deliver the widespread transformation that is needed to create a more inclusive and resilient food system. At a time when many consumers are facing higher food and energy bills, we are also committed to providing them with great tasting, high quality, nutritious and sustainably sourced frozen food, at a price that is affordable."
2021 Impact Report Highlights
Better Nutrition
Nomad Foods is continuing to innovate to reach new milestones in important areas such as nutrition with 92% of its products now considered a healthier meal choice (HMC). Net sales of healthier meal choices have increased by more than €440m since 2017 when the company launched its nutritional commitment.
Nomad Foods was also included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index for the first time in 2021, listed in the top 14 percentile globally and as one of the top four companies in Europe within the food products industry group. The company also received a perfect score of 100 for Health and Wellbeing for the third consecutive year.
In addition, last year more than two million new households tried Nomad Foods' meat-free Green Cuisine range, which remains the fastest growing frozen meat-free brand in Europe. The range continues to champion plant-based versions of family favourites with successful launches of products such as Chicken-Free Nuggets and Fishless Fingers, helping consumers make food choices that are both good for them and for the planet.
Better Operations
In 2021, Nomad Foods announced plans to significantly reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in line with targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and in line with the Paris Climate Agreement as it stepped up efforts to help deliver a net-zero economy well before 2050.
As well as reducing Scope 1 and 2, and Scope 3 emissions in areas such as some purchased goods, transportation and distribution by 25% in absolute terms by 2025, from our 2019 baseline; Nomad Foods will also provide vital support to its suppliers, ensuring that the top 75% by emissions, develop their own science-based targets by 2025.
Compared to the 2019 baseline, Nomad Foods has reduced carbon emissions per ton of finished goods by more than 20% and absolute emissions by 14%. The company also committed to the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign and the UN's Race to Zero.
Nomad Foods also increased the percentage of its packaging that is recyclable to 90% (up from 83% in 2020) and delivered a 32% reduction in edible food waste versus its 2015 baseline.
Better Sourcing
Since co-founding the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) over 20 years ago, Nomad Foods has led the way in protecting fish stocks for future generations. 98% of the fish and seafood sourced for its brands now holds MSC or ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) certification. That figure puts the company very close to achieving one of its main sustainability goals to have 100% of its fish and seafood sourced from sustainable fishing and responsible farming by the end of 2025.
In addition, iglo Portugal, Findus Nordic and iglo Belgium portfolios are all on track to become 100% MSC or ASC certified by summer 2022.
As part of Nomad Foods' commitment to keep plastics out of the ocean, it joined the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) in 2020. In 2021, the company conducted a risk assessment to help understand which of its suppliers were most vulnerable to gear loss. Overall, the findings suggested that more than 99% of the fish and seafood it sources were low to low/medium risk of gear loss. Nomad Foods is now working with the GGGI to help reduce the risk of losing fish gear from the small proportion of fish supplies that are potentially more susceptible to gear loss.
Sustainably grown vegetables ensures the best quality produce grows without depleting the ecosystem and threatening future yields. By the end of 2021, 88% of Nomad Foods vegetables, potatoes, fruit, and fresh herbs were grown in line with the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform) Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) Silver Level or above.
Contact details
Media Contacts
Sam Fulton
Group Director of Corporate Affairs
sam.fulton@nomadfoods.com
+44 7936 924691
Oliver Thomas
Corporate Affairs Manager
oliver.thomas@nomadfoods.com
+44 7568 108744
About Nomad Foods
Nomad Foods (NYSE: NOMD) is Europe's leading frozen foods company. The company's portfolio of iconic brands, which includes Birds Eye, Findus, iglo, Ledo and Frikom, have been a part of consumers' meals for generations, standing for great tasting food that is convenient, high quality and nutritious. Nomad Foods is headquartered in the United Kingdom. Additional information may be found at www.nomadfoods.com.
[1] FAO: Pre- and post-production processes increasingly dominate greenhouse gas emissions from agri-food systems. Published 14 April 2022
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SOURCE Nomad Foods Limited | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/05/06/nomad-foods-highlights-new-milestones-its-sustainability-strategy-5th-annual-eating-planet-report/ | 2022-05-06 08:14:40 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/05/06/nomad-foods-highlights-new-milestones-its-sustainability-strategy-5th-annual-eating-planet-report/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — A three-year pause on student loan payments will end this summer regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on the White House plan to forgive billions of dollars in student loan debt.
If Congress approves a debt ceiling deal negotiated by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden, payments will resume in late August, ending any lingering hope of a further extension of the pause that started during the COVID pandemic. Even if the deal falls through, payments will resume 60 days after the Supreme Court decision.
That ruling is expected sometime before the end of June. No matter what the justices decide, more than 40 million borrowers will have to start paying back their loans by the end of the summer at the latest.
Here’s what to know to get ready to start paying back loans:
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR STUDENT LOANS PAYMENTS TO RESTART?
Betsy Mayotte, President of the Institute of Student Loan Advisors, encourages people not to make any payments until the pause has ended. Instead, she says, put what you would have paid into a savings account.
“Then you’ve maintained the habit of making the payment, but (you’re) earning a little bit of interest as well,” she said. “There’s no reason to send that money to the student loans until the last minute of the 0% interest rate.”
Mayotte recommends borrowers use the loan-simulator tool at StudentAid.gov or the one on TISLA’s website to find a payment plan that best fits their needs. The calculators tell you what your monthly payment would be under each available plan, as well as your long-term costs.
“I really want to emphasize the long-term,” Mayotte said.
Sometimes, when borrowers are in a financial bind, they’ll choose the option with the lowest monthly payment, which can cost more over the life of the loan, Mayotte said. Rather than “setting it and forgetting it,” she encourages borrowers to reevaluate when their financial situation improves.
WHAT’S AN INCOME-DRIVEN REPAYMENT PLAN?
An income-driven repayment plan sets your monthly student loan payment at an amount that is intended to be affordable based on your income and family size. It takes into account different expenses in your budget, and most federal student loans are eligible for at least one of these types of plans.
Generally, your payment amount under an income-driven repayment plan is a percentage of your discretionary income. If your income is low enough, your payment could be as low as $0 per month.
If you’d like to repay your federal student loans under an income-driven plan, the first step is to fill out an application through the Federal Student Aid website.
TALK TO AN ADVISER
Fran Gonzales, 27, who is based in Texas, works as a supervisor for a financial institution. She holds $32,000 in public student loans and $40,000 in private student loans. During the payment pause on her public loans, Gonzales said she was able to pay off her credit card debt, buy a new car, and pay down two years’ worth of private loans while saving money. Her private student loan payment has been $500 a month, and her public student loan payment will be $350 per month when it restarts.
Gonzales recommends that anyone with student loans speak with a mentor or financial advisor to educate themselves about their options, as well as making sure they’re in an income-driven repayment plan.
The Federal Student Aid website can help direct you to counselors, as well as organizations like the Student Borrower Protection Center and the Institute of Student Loan Advisors.
“I was the first in my family to go to college, and I could have saved money with grants and scholarships had I known someone who knew about college,” she said. “I could have gone to community college or lived in cheaper housing … It’s a huge financial decision.”
Gonzales received her degree in business marketing and says she was “horrible with finances” until she began working as a loan officer herself.
Gonzales’s mother works in retail and her father for the airport, she said, and both encouraged her to pursue higher education. For her part, Gonzales now tries to inform others with student loans about what they’re taking on and what their choices are.
“Anyone young I cross paths with, I try to educate them.”
CAN I SET UP A PAYMENT PLAN FOR MY STUDENT LOANS?
Yes — payment plans are always available. Even so, some advocates encourage borrowers to wait for now, since there’s no financial penalty for nonpayment during the pause on payments and interest accrual.
Katherine Welbeck of the Student Borrower Protection Center recommends logging on to your account and making sure you know the name of your servicer, your due date and whether you’re enrolled in the best income-driven repayment plan.
WHAT IF I CAN’T PAY?
If your budget doesn’t allow you to resume payments, it’s important to know how to navigate the possibility of default and delinquency on a student loan. Both can hurt your credit rating, which would make you ineligible for additional aid.
If you’re in a short-term financial bind, according to Mayotte, you may qualify for deferment or forbearance — allowing you to temporarily suspend payment.
To determine whether deferment or forbearance are good options for you, you can contact your loan servicer. One thing to note: interest still accrues during deferment or forbearance. Both can also impact potential loan forgiveness options. Depending on the conditions of your deferment or forbearance, it may make sense to continue paying the interest during the payment suspension.
HOW CAN I REDUCE COSTS WHEN PAYING OFF MY STUDENT LOANS?
— If you sign up for automatic payments, the servicer takes a quarter of a percent off your interest rate, according to Mayotte.
— Income-driven repayment plans aren’t right for everyone. That said, if you know you will eventually qualify for forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, it makes sense to make the lowest monthly payments possible, as the remainder of your debt will be cancelled once that decade of payments is complete.
— Reevaluate your monthly student loan repayment during tax season, when you already have all your financial information in front of you. “Can you afford to increase it? Or do you need to decrease it?” Mayotte said.
— Break up payments into whatever ways work best for you. You could consider two installments per month, instead of one large monthly sum.
ARE STUDENT LOANS FORGIVEN AFTER 10 YEARS?
If you’ve worked for a government agency or a nonprofit, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program offers cancellation after 10 years of regular payments, and some income-driven repayment plans cancel the remainder of a borrower’s debt after 20 to 25 years.
Borrowers should make sure they’re signed up for the best possible income-driven repayment plan to qualify for these programs.
Borrowers who have been defrauded by for-profit colleges may also apply for borrower defense and receive relief.
These programs won’t be affected by the Supreme Court ruling.
___
The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/business/ap-heres-how-to-prepare-to-start-paying-back-your-student-loans-when-the-pandemic-payment-freeze-ends/ | 2023-06-01 03:56:30 | 0 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/business/ap-heres-how-to-prepare-to-start-paying-back-your-student-loans-when-the-pandemic-payment-freeze-ends/ |
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Tens of thousands of fans descended upon the Swedish capital of Stockholm to celebrate the opening show of Beyoncé’s new world tour on Wednesday.
“Renaissance” is the superstar’s first solo tour since 2016 and shares the namesake of her 2022 dance-centric album, the success of which landed Beyoncé at the top of the Grammy throne as the ceremony’s most decorated artist in history.
Fans who had complained in recent months about the lack of music videos for “Renaissance” hits were in for a treat Wednesday as video projections and animations took center stage. The rapid succession of costume changes and decor shifts was baffling. The singer played on interactions between a digital and physical world where robotic devices make space for weird silver moon rovers or an inflatable horse. Even Queen Bey herself morphs into a cybernetic character. Seems confusing? It was.
Yet despite the impressive scale of the stage set, some moments still felt intimate. Beyoncé expressed heartfelt gratitude to fans for traveling from afar to witness her perform. She reached for songs spanning across her two-decade career, kicking off the show with “Dangerously in Love,” the title track of her 2003 first solo album, moving through 2011 female empowerment anthem “Run the World (Girls)” and dishing up a good selection of hits from “Renaissance” itself.
Wednesday’s show sold out the 46,000 tickets available; and if the audience’s reaction was anything to go on, the rest of the tour will be a hit. Beyoncé will make stops at more than 40 cities including London, Paris, Barcelona and Toronto before wrapping up the tour Sept. 27 in New Orleans. | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/beyonce-dazzles-fans-in-renaissance-world-tour-opening-concert/ | 2023-05-11 17:23:37 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/beyonce-dazzles-fans-in-renaissance-world-tour-opening-concert/ |
Silicon Valley-based Software-Defined Vehicle Startup Ranked #21
SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonatus, a global leader in software-defined vehicle technologies, today announced it has been recognized for the second year in a row by Forbes as one of America's Best Startup Employers in 2023. This recognition stems from the company's commitment to driving innovation and collaboration through a strong workplace culture. This year Sonatus was ranked #21 out of 2,600 qualified companies considered, which is a significant endorsement of the company's strong progress.
The exceptional talent at Sonatus is accelerating vehicle software innovation from concept to production deployment by developing groundbreaking software spanning from in-vehicle to the cloud. The resulting solutions can evolve and adapt in real-time, and ultimately build critical software foundation layers that will advance the future of transportation. Sonatus' technology is currently in production today in Hyundai and Genesis models and will be ramping to many more models and significant volume in 2023.
"At Sonatus we provide a positive work environment tailored around people and culture, where everyone from our software engineers to our marketing team can thrive and grow in their careers," said Scarlet Aid, Head of People Operations at Sonatus. "Our unique backgrounds, stories and interests are what make Sonatus an amazing place to work and we are grateful for our employees in helping us to be included on this list for the second year in a row."
Culture is a top priority for Sonatus, allowing employees to make a mark on the industry where both personal and professional growth are important, along with providing an inclusive and diverse work environment. Sonatus described the four core values of our company in a recent blog post:
- We lead future innovation
- We drive for customer success
- We execute on our commitments
- We practice inclusive collaboration
To further bring to life the dynamic team, Sonatus launched the "We are Sonatus" video series on YouTube to highlight employees' stories and experiences, which will be updated on an ongoing basis. To learn more about joining the team please visit www.sonatus.com/careers, and follow Sonatus on LinkedIn and Twitter for the latest updates.
Methodology
The list of America's 500 Best Startup Employers was developed in partnership with market research company Statista by evaluating 2,600 U.S. businesses with at least 50 employees on three criteria: employer reputation, employee satisfaction and growth. Statista considered any company founded between 2012 and 2019 that has at least 50 employees to be a startup. You can view the full list here.
ABOUT SONATUS
Sonatus is accelerating vehicle software innovation and the transition towards software-defined vehicles. Our platforms and products serve as the key building blocks that allow automotive companies and their ecosystem to innovate faster and deliver continuous improvements in costs, capabilities, reliability, and user experience over the vehicle lifespan. Sonatus' award-winning software platform is in production vehicles from Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, and will be on the road in millions more vehicles in 2023. The company has raised more than $110 million USD with world-class automotive, technology, and venture investors including Foxconn, Hyundai Motor Group's Kia Corporation, LG Electronics, Marvell, SAIC Capital, Translink Capital, UMC Capital, and Wanxiang Group Company. Sonatus is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, with offices in Paris and Seoul. For more information visit www.sonatus.com.
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SOURCE Sonatus | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/03/07/sonatus-named-by-forbes-one-americas-best-startup-employers-2023/ | 2023-03-07 18:02:37 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2023/03/07/sonatus-named-by-forbes-one-americas-best-startup-employers-2023/ |
New premium RV storage solar panels to produce approximately 2.4 million kilowatt hours of green energy per year
CHICAGO, Feb. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousand Trails continues to strengthen its environmental footprint with the installation of a new premium RV storage section topped with nearly 3,500 solar panels at the Wilderness Lakes Campground in Menifee, California.
The entire solar project is a 1,469 kilowatt solar system and is expected to produce roughly 2.4 million kilowatt hours of green energy per year. The solar panels are part of Thousand Trails' continuing efforts to increase renewable energy and will produce enough energy to facilitate about 50% of the total energy used across the campground which has more than 500 sites and common area amenities like a swimming pool, hot tubs, a clubhouse, fitness center, and game room.
The solar panels, installed in coordination with DSD Renewables and Black Bear Energy, cover roughly 82,000 square feet and cover the campground's newly installed RV storage facilities. The new storage area accommodates rig sizes of 30' and 45' and features controlled access, security cameras and month-to-month availability. RVs are protected from the elements with covered storage spaces which double as a solar array with the solar panel topped covers.
"Along with the many benefits these solar panels provide to our overall environmental initiatives, our guests and members at Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes can feel confident knowing that the energy they use is coming from a renewable source," said Monica Ferrer, senior director of energy and sustainability for Thousand Trails. "We're thrilled to have a high end amenity for guests and members that also highlights our ongoing focus on sustainability, renewable energy and environmental awareness."
The project concludes with an official ribbon cutting and tour of the new solar RV storage facility with the Menifee Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, February 21.
About Thousand Trails
Thousand Trails provides top RV resorts and campgrounds in North America with over 80 locations in 23 states and British Columbia, Canada. Thousand Trails and its affiliates offer RV and outdoor recreation enthusiasts opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in top vacation destinations, complemented with amenities and activities for the whole family. For more information, please visit ThousandTrails.com.
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SOURCE Thousand Trails | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/02/20/thousand-trails-wilderness-lakes-campground-goes-solar-with-renewable-energy-initiative/ | 2023-02-21 01:20:10 | 1 | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2023/02/20/thousand-trails-wilderness-lakes-campground-goes-solar-with-renewable-energy-initiative/ |
“A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” These are the words of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791.
They made some sense then. The framers wanted to make sure the newly created federal government would not run roughshod over the colonies that would become the states. State militias were thought to be a safeguard against that, although they were often more aspirational than real. To form militias, men needed arms. In addition, guns were a necessity to people who used them to hunt for their food, as well as for protection in an often lawless frontier.
That was then; this is now. Most of the rationale for the Second Amendment no longer applies. All states acknowledge our federalist system, which has been stable for more than 200 years. People still hunt, but not usually for food, and all parts of the country have enforceable laws.
Yet we now have more guns in this country than people, and they aren’t muskets that fire one cartridge at a time. Instead, modern Americans are acquiring semi-automatic assault weapons like the AR-15, which can spray 45 rounds a minute. These are the weapons used in mass school shootings like the one in Uvalde, Texas.
Incredibly, firearms are now the leading cause of death in American children, killing more of them than car crashes, accidental poisoning or cancer. No other advanced country has anything close to this level of slaughter of its children.
Still, Americans are devoted to their guns, ironically as a means to defend themselves against guns. People feel they have to have them because other people do. So we’re in a deadly spiral. Guns beget guns and paranoia begets paranoia. Even as children, boys learn to be enthralled with guns as a symbol of manhood, a message skillfully propagated by arms manufacturers. No surprise that mass shooters in recent years have been young men between the ages of 18 and 21. Some gun owners are almost religious in their zeal. I heard one refer to his “God-given” right to own guns. (One could only imagine what Jesus of Nazareth would make of that form of religiosity.)
Despite repeated mass shootings and obligatory presidential lamentations, nothing changes significantly as the deaths mount. There are repeated proposals to raise the minimum age to buy firearms and to implement universal background checks, and some states have curtailed the purchase of assault weapons (although weapons can easily be transported from state to state). But all the current proposals are merely nibbling at the edges of the problem, and none of them has been enacted by Congress.
Many gun enthusiasts, such as Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting, claim the problem is mental illness, not guns. But no matter how psychotic you are, you can’t carry out a mass shooting without the weapons to do it. Moreover, there is no way to screen every young man for mental illness, even if we knew how to do that, much less pick out the ones likely to commit mass murders. It simply can’t be done. Emphasizing mental illness is a distraction from focusing on guns — which is exactly what it is intended to be.
The truth is that ending gun violence will require going to the head of the snake — the anachronistic Second Amendment. We need to repeal it, a process spelled out in Article 5 of the Constitution, for which there is precedent (Amendment 18 was repealed by Amendment 21). The late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens called for its repeal in the New York Times four years ago. Without repeal, any serious attempt to control the proliferation of weapons will run into endless constitutional challenges in the courts.
Some who might like to see the Second Amendment repealed or greatly modified are unwilling to say that. When they call for reforms, they usually begin by ritually acknowledging their support for the Second Amendment. It’s reminiscent of the early 1950s when Sen. Joseph McCarthy was conducting his anti-communist witch hunt. Anyone criticizing him had to begin by saying, “I’m no communist, but …”
Now members of Congress who want to regulate firearms say, “I’m a supporter of the Second Amendment, but …” It will take time and courage to change that political calculus.
Repeal would permit us to regulate guns through the political process, just as we regulate alcohol and cigarettes. By eliminating the constitutional issue, which now deflects all serious attempts to reduce gun violence, we could regulate any aspect of the problem. Nothing would be off the table. For example, Congress could legislate what categories of weapons to permit and under what circumstances.
It’s time to act, instead of engaging in more hand-wringing after each mass shooting. There is nothing sacred about the Second Amendment. Let’s get rid of it. | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/commentary/we-dont-need-the-second-amendment/article_e32d2f76-eb33-11ec-a248-3b54736f4466.html | 2022-06-18 20:42:12 | 1 | https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/commentary/we-dont-need-the-second-amendment/article_e32d2f76-eb33-11ec-a248-3b54736f4466.html |
For dissident writers fleeing persecution overseas, the United States has long been a safe haven, a place where freedom of expression is tolerated and, even, valued.
That suddenly changed earlier this month, with the brutal attack on author Salman Rushdie at a speaking event in western New York.
"Oh my God! When I heard that, I was screaming," said Masih Alinejad, a writer and activist who has criticized the Iranian government. "I was just running corner to corner in my safe house and shouting and just calling my husband, 'I cannot believe this is happening in America, in New York.''
While literary writers in the U.S. increasingly face online threats, they rarely metastasize into actual physical attacks, said Karin Deutsche Karlekar, who directs the Writers at Risk program at PEN America. Authors routinely make public appearances with little or no security.
Such was the case with Rushdie. The India-born writer became the target of a Fatwa by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini in the late 1980s, over his depiction of the Prophet Muhammed in his book The Satanic Verses, and was forced into hiding.
He ultimately emerged and moved to New York. Over time, he began making personal appearances and, in the process, turned into an eloquent proponent of the right to free speech.
"Many of us who joined this field grew up being sort of galvanized by his case and what had happened to him," Karlekar said. "And in the decades, since he has really been this sort of stalwart defender of free expression for other writers at risk."
By this year, the dangers he faced appeared to have faded. Then, on Aug. 12, as Rushdie was about to begin a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution, a man rushed the stage and stabbed him repeatedly. The 75-year-old writer was severely injured but is expected to survive.
Police arrested 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, who is said to have pro-Iran sympathies.
The viciousness of the attack is forcing speaking venues that regularly host writers to rethink their security procedures, according to an official of one organization that often sponsors lectures.
But "unless you want to make every event like going to the airport," it's difficult if not impossible to completely eliminate risk, said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly.
As a result, dissident writers who had come to feel safe in the United States are questioning that assumption.
Osama Alomar, a Syrian poet who has criticized his government and was forced to flee into exile, lives in a house sponsored by a U.S. human-rights group, where he has felt safe. After the Rushdie attack, he's not as sure.
"I used to say it when I was in Syria that I'm worried about freedom of speech in Syria. Now I'm worried about that even here in America," he said.
For journalist and activist Alinejad, an outspoken critic of Sharia law, the attack follows several incidents in which her safety was threatened. Last year, the FBI said it had foiled a plot by Iranian intelligence officers to kidnap Alinejad at her Brooklyn home. On July 28, a man was arrested carrying an AK-47 assault rifle outside her home.
Then came the attack on Rushdie, whom she has come to admire.
"To be honest, Salman Rushdie changed my life," she said. As a teenager in Iran, she was furious at the writer, because she was "brainwashed" by government propaganda, she said.
"But when I started doing my own research about him, I was like, 'This is unbelievable. This is what I believe now, that I have to speak out,'" she said.
While the threats against her have made her feel "miserable," she is resolved to keep writing and speaking out against tyranny.
Her dream now is to one day appear at the Chautauqua Institution, on the same stage where Rushdie was so viciously attacked this month.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-08-24/exiled-writers-reflect-on-freedom-of-speech-in-america-in-light-of-rushdie-attack | 2022-08-24 21:21:50 | 0 | https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-08-24/exiled-writers-reflect-on-freedom-of-speech-in-america-in-light-of-rushdie-attack |
Also Welcomes Sports & Entertainment Agency, Rubicon Talent, to its Growing Client Roster
WEST CHESTER, Pa., May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeBrand welcomes Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers as their newest professional athlete brand ambassador and equity stakeholder and continues to expand its client roster with the addition of Rubicon Talent. Ekeler, a celebrated running back for the Los Angeles Chargers, will hold equity in the tech startup and use his influence to further promote LifeBrand's solutions. Rubicon Talent, a specialized sports marketing and sales agency representing dozens of professional and NCAA athletes, sports broadcasters, and Olympians, will offer LifeBrand's social media audit and brand management technology to their staff and client base. Rubicon is the first talent agency to fully onboard LifeBrand's solutions
"I'm so excited to partner with LifeBrand, especially since emerging social media technology is one of my passions," said Ekeler. "I believe LifeBrand's platform is an incredibly valuable resource and its technology will only continue to grow and evolve to allow for future applications. I'm also excited to help amplify their partnership with the Chargers in the upcoming season."
Founded in 2018, LifeBrand focuses on strengthening both individual and corporate brands by leveraging artificial intelligence to quickly detect potentially harmful social media content with the option to edit or delete. Ekeler joins LifeBrand's impressive brand ambassador lineup which includes Heisman Trophy winner and current Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver DeVonta Smith, PGA Tour Pro Golfer Dylan Frittelli, and NCAA standout Haley Jones who is currently a guard/forward for Stanford University.
"We are thrilled to work with LifeBrand, both as a brand partner and social media solution," said Brett Polinsky, Rubicon Talent's Director, Talent Marketing. "Social media is a public reflection of an individual as well as a corporation and LifeBrand's product ensures that the social media channels of our clients, agency, and employees display the highest quality content."
With roots on the East Coast, LifeBrand initially built strategic sports partnerships in the Philadelphia and Boston markets and is now focused on expanding into new markets across the country. In December, LifeBrand formed a partnership with the Los Angeles Chargers and plan to further their impact on the West Coast through Ekeler, a popular player with an active and engaged social media following.
"We are so happy to welcome Austin Ekeler and Rubicon Talent to the LifeBrand family," said Thomas J. Colaiezzi, LifeBrand's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Austin has incredible talent and is energized to introduce LifeBrand's technology to his fans. We are thankful for the team at Rubicon for the connection, for their trust and recognizing the benefits of our product."
To kick off the partnership, LifeBrand is offering individuals 30% off their basic access plan with promo code WELCOME30, a tribute to Ekeler who wears a number 30 jersey. This offer is running throughout the month of June at www.lifebrand.life.
For more information about LifeBrand, including their individual and business solutions or to schedule a product demo, please visit www.lifebrand.life.
ABOUT LIFEBRAND:
LifeBrand believes in the value of a strong personal brand on social media. LifeBrand has and will continue to develop the most advanced technology to detect and remove potentially harmful content from users' social media pages with secure AI-powered solutions for both individuals and businesses. With their patent-pending FCRA and EEOC compliant technology, they have built a safer, more compliant way to perform social media health checks and risk mitigation to protect the privacy and rights of employees and employers, and also provide a secure way for individuals to scan and analyze their social media accounts from the point of inception with a simple click.
ABOUT RUBICON TALENT:
Rubicon Talent is a specialized sports & entertainment management & marketing agency working at the intersection of talent representation, media, property sales and more. Rubicon works in concert with its clients to define, develop, and achieve meaningful partnerships.
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SOURCE LifeBrand | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/lifebrand-adds-los-angeles-charger-austin-ekeler-new-equity-stakeholder-brand-ambassador/ | 2022-05-31 15:17:22 | 0 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/lifebrand-adds-los-angeles-charger-austin-ekeler-new-equity-stakeholder-brand-ambassador/ |
West County Line Road section closed Thursday The Journal Gazette Jul 19, 2022 3 hrs ago Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save West County Line Road is to close from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday between Bass Road and Indiana 14 during crossover-pipe replacement, the Allen County Highway Department said today. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Most Popular Dr. John Crawford, former Fort Wayne councilman, has died Random killing of family shook city in 1983 Teen girl charged with attempted murder in Fort Wayne shooting Fort Wayne man faces 11 drug-related felonies Fort Wayne woman charged in daughter's Fentanyl overdose death Stocks Market Data by TradingView | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/west-county-line-road-section-closed-thursday/article_5d1e21a2-0770-11ed-8481-4fa37fe080b6.html | 2022-07-19 18:00:46 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/west-county-line-road-section-closed-thursday/article_5d1e21a2-0770-11ed-8481-4fa37fe080b6.html |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that counteroffensive and defensive actions are underway against Russian forces, asserting that his top commanders are in a “positive” mindset as their troops engaged in intense fighting along the front line.
The Ukrainian leader, at a Kyiv news conference alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, responded to a question about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comment a day earlier that Ukraine’s counteroffensive had started — and Ukrainian forces were taking “significant losses.”
Zelenskyy said that “counteroffensive, defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine. I will not speak about which stage or phase they are in.”
Top Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of announcing a full-blown counteroffensive was underway, though some Western analysts have said fiercer fighting and reported use of reserve troops suggests it was.
“I am in touch with our commanders of different directions every day,” he added, citing the names of five of Ukraine’s top military leaders. “Everyone is positive. Pass this on to Putin.”
Trudeau, the first foreign leader to visit Ukraine since devastating floods caused by a breach in a Dnieper River dam, offered up monetary, military and moral support. He pledged 500 million Canadian dollars ($375 million) in new military aid, on top of more than 8 billion Canadian dollars ($6 billion) that Canada has already provided since the war began in February 2022, and announced 10 million Canadian dollars ($7.5 million) for humanitarian assistance for the flood response.
Trudeau said the dam’s collapse was “a direct consequence of Russia’s war,” but he didn’t blame Moscow directly.
Ukraine’s General Staff said Saturday that “heavy battles” were ongoing, with 34 clashes over the previous day in the country’s industrial east. It gave no details but said Russian forces were “defending themselves” and launching air and artillery strikes in Ukraine’s southern Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Recent Western injections of billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment — some of it high-tech and top-of-the-line — to Ukraine has raised expectations about when it would be used, and to what effect against dug-in Russian lines.
For months, Ukrainian commanders in the eastern city of Bakhmut — which was largely devastated in a months-long fight that has been one of the bloodiest battles of the war — have used the language of counteroffensive and defensive operations to describe the activity there.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Friday that the epicenter of the fighting has been in the east, particularly in the Donetsk region, and cited “heavy battles” in Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka.
Valerii Shershen, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s armed forces in Zaporizhzhia, told Radio Liberty that they were searching for weaknesses in Russia’s defense in that region, to the west.
Ukraine’s nuclear energy agency Energoatom said the last operating reactor at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, had been placed in “cold shutdown” mode. That’s a process in which all control rods are inserted into the reactor core to stop the nuclear fission reaction and generation of heat and pressure.
The plant’s other five reactors already were in cold shutdown amid concerns about the plant’s exposure to the fighting.
Energoatom said in a statement late Friday that there was “no direct threat” to the Zaporizhzhia plant because of the breach of the Kakhovka dam further down the Dnieper River, which has forced thousands of people to flee flooding and also sharply reduced water levels in a reservoir used to help cool the facility.
Water levels in the Kakhovka reservoir, which feed the Zaporizhzhia plant, remained stable on Saturday, Energoatom said.
The site’s power units have not been operating since September last year. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is due to visit Ukraine in the coming days.
Ukrainian authorities reported Saturday that at least six civilians have died across the country as Russian forces launched Iranian-made Shahed drones, missiles, and artillery and mortar strikes.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that three people were killed and more than two dozen wounded overnight in an attack targeting the Black Sea port of Odesa. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern operational command, Natalia Humeniuk, said two children and a pregnant woman were among those wounded.
Two people were killed in a Russian attack on the town of Orekhova in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to governor Yuriy Malashko.
In Ukraine’s northeast, a 29-year-old man was killed as more than 10 drones targeted the Kharkiv region, its governor, Oleh Syniehubov, reported Saturday. He added that at least three other civilians were wounded.
The Ukrainian air force said that during the night, it had shot down 20 out of 35 Shahed drones and two out of eight missiles “of various types” launched by Russian forces.
The fighting and civilian casualties took renewed attention as authorities in southern Ukraine said water levels have been declining in a vast area beneath the ruptured dam.
Nearly one-third of protected natural areas in the Kherson region could be obliterated by flooding following the breach of the Kakhovka dam, the Ukrainian environment minister warned Saturday.
The U.N.’s humanitarian aid chief, Martin Griffiths, said in an Associated Press interview Friday that an “extraordinary” 700,000 people were in need of drinking water.
In other developments:
On Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he wants to continue speaking with Putin — whose order for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been criticized by many Western leaders — and plans to do so again “soon.” Scholz has spoken several times by phone with Putin since the invasion.
The chancellor said the basis for a “fair peace” between Russia and Ukraine is the withdrawal of Russian troops. “That’s needs to be understood,” he said.
The U.K. government said it will give 16 million pounds ($20 million) in humanitarian aid to those affected by the flooding. Most of the money is being channelled through international organizations such as the Red Cross and the United Nations, and the U.K. is also sending boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to Ukraine.
The U.K. has already given Ukraine 1.5 billion pounds in economic and humanitarian support since the war began, the government said, and has committed 4.6 billion pounds in military aid.
___
Jon Gambrell in Kyiv, Joanna Kozlowska and Jill Lawless in London, and Frank Jordans in Bonn, Germany, contributed to this story.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://wgntv.com/news/international/ap-international/last-reactor-shut-down-at-ukraines-largest-nuclear-plant-as-fighting-flooding-continues/ | 2023-06-11 06:14:16 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/news/international/ap-international/last-reactor-shut-down-at-ukraines-largest-nuclear-plant-as-fighting-flooding-continues/ |
Russian cruise missile attack on Ukraine city of Lviv kills 4 people and wounds more
LVIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia fired cruise missiles Thursday at a western Ukraine city far from the front line of the war, killing at least four people in an apartment building in what officials said was the heaviest attack on civilian areas of Lviv since the Kremlin’s forces invaded Ukraine last year.
The nighttime attack destroyed the roof and the top two floors of a residential building, injuring nine people as emergency crews with search dogs went through the rubble.
Debris and wrecked parked cars lined the street outside the building, which overlooks a small neighborhood park with swings and climbing frames amid trees.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said around 60 apartments and 50 cars in the area of strike were damaged.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink described the attack as vicious.
“Russia’s repeated attacks on civilians are absolutely horrifying,” she tweeted.
The Kremlin’s forces have repeatedly hit civilian areas during the war, though Russian officials say they choose only targets of military value.
Lviv is near the western border with Poland and is more than 500 kilometers (300 miles) from the front lines of the war in eastern and southern Ukraine, where Kyiv’s counteroffensive to dislodge Russian forces is in its early stages.
Ukraine’s air force reported it intercepted seven of the 10 Kalibr cruise missiles that Russia fired from Black Sea toward the Lviv region and its namesake city around 1 a.m. Thursday.
Sadovyi addressed residents in a video message, saying the attack was the largest on Lviv’s civilian infrastructure since the beginning of the full-scale invasion last year.
“Russians are hitting us. That’s how they love us. I’m sorry for those people who were killed. They were young. So sorry for them,” said Ganna Fedorenko, a local resident, holding her hands crossed on her chest. She received injuries on her face, and an adhesive plaster turned red with blood on her right cheek. “This is terrible. They hit civilians.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a reaction on Telegram, saying, “Unfortunately, there are wounded and dead. My condolences to the relatives! There will definitely be a response to the enemy. A tangible one.”
Sadovyi, the mayor, addressed residents in a video message, saying the attack was the largest on Lviv’s civilian infrastructure since the beginning of the full-scale invasion last year.
In the early days of the war, Lviv served as a main transit point for millions of refugees from different parts of the country that crossed the border to Europe. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians from the east and south remained in the calmer and safer Lviv.
Like the rest of the country, Lviv suffered power outages when Russia fired hundreds missiles over the winter, aiming to destroy Ukraine’s energy system. However, the attacks in the city were not as frequent as in the capital Kyiv, and Thursday’s strike was a deep shock for many in the city.
Ukrainians shared messages of support on social media for Lviv residents.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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/russian-cruise-missile-attack-on-ukraine-city-of-lviv-kills-4-people-and-wounds-more/ | 2023-07-06 08:44:04 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/russian-cruise-missile-attack-on-ukraine-city-of-lviv-kills-4-people-and-wounds-more/ |
Through the Medicare and Medi-Cal funded Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), WelbeHealth delivers fully integrated care that allows seniors to age in place
Both new locations are poised to meet the needs of an aging population across greater metro LA; thousands of residents local to the new centers are over 55 and eligible for PACE
See photos of the new spaces here
MENLO PARK, Calif., June 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the physician-led senior health services provider WelbeHealth announced the opening of its Rosemead and North Hollywood locations. The new locations will increase access to care in underserved communities where thousands of lower-income older adults qualify for health care through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a national Medicare and Medicaid program that offers seniors access to comprehensive at-home and community-based services.
The expansion marks a greater Los Angeles metro area presence for WelbeHealth, which also operates centers in Long Beach and Pasadena. Both WelbeHealth Rosemead and WelbeHealth North Hollywood will offer spaces for medical and dental care, social recreation, physical and occupational therapy, personal care, meals and nutritional counseling. Transportation and in-home care are also delivered as part of WelbeHealth's integrated services.
Aligned with WelbeHealth's commitment to holistic health, the new locations are thoughtfully designed contemporary spaces, inspiring an environment where participants can feel mentally rejuvenated while receiving high-quality medical care. Features like outdoor social spaces, hair salons and laundry rooms offer a respite from loneliness and limited access to personal care that many lower-income older adults experience.
"Welbe's purpose is to unlock the full potential of the most frail and vulnerable seniors through a model of clinical excellence, comprehensive social services and our courage to love culture, that values every one of our team members, our participants and their families. We see a huge need for services like this in the Rosemead and North Hollywood communities," said Si France, MD, Founder and CEO at WelbeHealth. "We know that caring for this population has ripple effects throughout their families and their communities, and we're honored to serve them."
Both centers are currently enrolling new participants, with services set to begin on July 1.
Over 9,000 seniors are eligible for PACE within a 20-minute drive of the two centers. The surrounding populations are highly diverse, with over half of local seniors primarily speaking a non-English language including Spanish and Chinese. To meet the needs of its participants, WelbeHealth has employed multilingual staff members across many positions. Culturally appropriate meal menus, activities, and other services have been made available to best serve the needs of the local communities.
"California's population is aging rapidly. We are expanding our presence in Southern California to meet the growing need for specially designed services that allow seniors to thrive in their communities while lowering costs compared to institutional care. Our mission to serve the most vulnerable seniors with better quality and compassion will lift the burden off family members and improve the lives of older adults," said Vaneesh Soni, MD, Chief Growth Officer at WelbeHealth.
In addition to the new North Hollywood and Rosemead centers, WelbeHealth operates programs across California, including in the cities of Modesto, Stockton, Pasadena, Long Beach and Fresno.
About WelbeHealth
WelbeHealth is a physician-led public benefit company founded in 2015 that provides comprehensive health care services for seniors through a fully integrated program that includes all medical and dental care, physical and occupational therapy, transportation to medical appointments, meals and personal care services. WelbeHealth addresses social determinants of health to keep the most vulnerable seniors living safely in their own homes. Services are delivered through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a national Medicare and Medicaid program.
For more information, please visit welbehealth.com.
Contact: Ryan Jackson, welbehealth@berlinrosen.com
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SOURCE WelbeHealth | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/06/01/welbehealth-continues-los-angeles-expansion-with-opening-new-pace-centers-rosemead-north-hollywood/ | 2023-06-01 17:36:46 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/06/01/welbehealth-continues-los-angeles-expansion-with-opening-new-pace-centers-rosemead-north-hollywood/ |
IRS reduces tax return backlog by 80% and is doing better job answering the phone
Washington – The IRS has processed tens of millions of tax returns faster this year compared with past years while getting through to customer service on the phone is slowly improving, according to a report to Congress released Wednesday.
But there is a huge need to update the agency's information technology services and have more workers answering calls. Still, it’s a vast improvement after years of backlogs and decades of underfunding.
The latest update on the IRS from National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins said the agency cut its backlog of unprocessed paper tax returns by 80%, from 13.3 million returns at the end of the 2022 filing season to 2.6 million at the end of the 2023 filing season. And now 35% of calls are answered, compared with 11% before.
“Overall, the difference between the 2022 filing season and the 2023 filing season was like night and day,” Collins said. “It marks a return to pre-pandemic levels.”
Through the climate, health care and tax legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden last year, the IRS received $80 billion for tax collection efforts. Agency leaders started using that money immediately to add employees to the IRS workforce, which had dwindled to 1970s levels through retirements, attrition and low pay that has not caught up with inflation.
Most recently, the agency lost some of that money after the president and Congress agreed to claw back more than $20 billion in exchange for suspension of the country's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling.
Biden administration officials have offered assurances that the spending cuts will have minimal impact on the agency’s operations over the next few years.
Collins' report said the IRS has tried to make do with the workers it has to achieve the Treasury Department's goals for customer service, and that has led to other problems. For instance, now it takes an average of 15 months for the number of identity theft victim assistance cases to be closed.
That is because the IRS in the pandemic years shifted workers assigned to the identity theft segment to accounts management to answer those phone lines. With fewer workers to answer identity theft calls, the IRS is “causing harm to taxpayers who were victims of identity theft.”
There are other nontax issues caused by identity theft that may take even longer to resolve, the report said. “The pandemic undoubtedly played a big role in delays, but policy decisions have also contributed to the problem," it said.
Earlier this year t he IRS, led by new Commissioner Daniel Werfel, released details on how it planned to use its influx of money for improved operations, pledging to invest in new technology, hire more customer service representatives and expand its ability to audit high-wealth taxpayers.
In the report, Collins' office urged the IRS to focus its efforts on modernizing outdated technology meant to improve the taxpayer experience.
“With adequate funding, leadership prioritization, and appropriate oversight from Congress, I believe the IRS will make considerable progress in the next three to five years in helping taxpayers comply with their tax obligations as painlessly as possible,” she said. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/21/irs-reduces-tax-return-backlog-by-80-and-is-doing-better-job-answering-the-phone/70341963007/ | 2023-06-21 15:09:43 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/21/irs-reduces-tax-return-backlog-by-80-and-is-doing-better-job-answering-the-phone/70341963007/ |
BEIRUT (AP) — Interpol has issued an international warrant for a Lebanese man suspected of trafficking stolen antiquities, weeks after he was questioned in Lebanon, judicial officials said Friday.
The Red Notice was unsealed 10 months after a criminal court in New York issued an arrest warrant for Georges Lotfi, 82, charging him with criminal possession of stolen property as well as possessing looted artifacts.
The officials did not give further details about the Interpol warrant, which is a non-binding request to law enforcement agencies worldwide that they locate and provisionally arrest a fugitive. The notice is not an arrest warrant and does not require Lebanon to arrest Lotfi.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said the American judiciary sent the case related to Lotfi to Lebanon and asked authorities in the Mediterranean nation to follow up on him.
When Lotfi was summoned for questioning by Lebanese authorities earlier this year, the officials said he denied charges that he had stolen antiquities, saying instead he had bought them from archeologists and sold them to a museum in the U.S.
They said it later became clear that the 27 antiquities were stolen in 1981 from a warehouse in Lebanon. The Interpol Red Notice that was posted online said Lotfi is charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree, second degree and third degree.
Lotfi currently lives in Lebanon, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites.
The officials said U.S. authorities said they would repatriate the antiquities to Lebanon on condition that Lebanese authorities put Lotfi under arrest.
The officials said that once Lebanon formally receives the Interpol warrant, authorities in the country should summon Lotfi for questioning and confiscate his passport.
Lotfi’s case is not the first of its kind. Smuggling and looting antiquities was not uncommon in Lebanon during the chaos of the 1975-90 civil war.
In 2018, Lebanon received a trio of ancient artifacts looted from the country during its civil war and recovered recently by New York authorities.
The treasures included a marble bull’s head dating to about 360 B.C. excavated at a Phoenician temple in south Lebanon decades ago. The other two were marble torsos from the 4th and 6th century B.C. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/u-s-world/interpol-issues-notice-for-lebanese-man-suspected-of-trafficking-in-looted-antiquities/ | 2023-06-17 03:28:01 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/u-s-world/interpol-issues-notice-for-lebanese-man-suspected-of-trafficking-in-looted-antiquities/ |
LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla., May 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 3 Mavins' Beer, one of South Florida's fastest-growing craft beer companies, in partnership with the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, today announces that the parties have entered into a strategic agreement that will activate the consumer CAUSE CODE "MSFOCUS". This code will enable users to register the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation as their cause of choice on the 3 Mavins' Mobile Application.
The agreement brings together two organizations whose mission of helping those in need and improving the lives of others are aligned.
"3 Mavins' was founded on three basic principles, make great tasting beer, giving back to our loyal consumers and to help those in need the most we can," said Kevin Thomas, CEO. "Each month we donate 3% of our profits back to causes our consumers care about most. Now through our partnership with the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and the activation of cause code "MSFOCUS" we have put the power of choice into the hands of the consumer. By simply downloading the 3 Mavins' App, registering and entering the cause code, every QR code scanned from a 3 Mavins' can will direct 3% of the profits from that can back to the Foundation."
The mission of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation is to provide programs and support services to those persons affected by MS that help them maintain their health, safety, self-sufficiency, and personal well-being; and to heighten public awareness of multiple sclerosis in order to elicit financial support for the Foundation's programs and services and promote understanding for those diagnosed with the illness. This agreement provides Supporters of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation with yet another vehicle in which they can show their support.
"We are delighted to partner with 3 Mavins. Kevin Thomas clearly understands the importance of philanthropic giving in the community, and we hope everyone will embrace this simple way to support MS Focus" said Traci Allyn Shur, director of philanthropy. For more information on how you can partner with MS Focus call 954-776-6805.
About 3 Mavins'
South Florida-based craft beer 3 Mavins' was created in an apartment kitchen in Lauderdale Lakes, FL in 2019 and now is commercially produced in Lakeland, Florida. The "Mavin" name comes from a combination of the founder's names: Kevin, Maja and their dog Windy. Kevin and Maja have tasted beer in more than 40 countries and applied their knowledge to 3 Mavins'. The American Style Amber Lager and "ENCORE" Session IPA, caters to regular beer drinkers who like to enjoy a fine, easy drinking beer with friends & family. For more information on South Florida's newest craft beer sensation, please go to www.3mavins.com and follow us on Instagram @3mavinsbeer.
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SOURCE 3 Mavins' Beer | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/05/13/3-mavins-announces-philanthropic-partnership-with-multiple-sclerosis-foundation-activates-consumer-cause-code-msfocus/ | 2022-05-13 14:53:28 | 1 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/05/13/3-mavins-announces-philanthropic-partnership-with-multiple-sclerosis-foundation-activates-consumer-cause-code-msfocus/ |
BELFAST, Maine — On Mike Hurley’s downtown Belfast office wall, scribbled movie names fill up a whiteboard calendar that shows four months of the Colonial Theatre’s schedule — but beginning on Monday, Sept. 19, there will be nothing but empty white squares.
That’s because the Colonial Theatre, a vibrant art deco movie palace at the heart of the community, is closing next month.
But movie lovers shouldn’t despair. The three-screen movie theater has been for sale since 2015, and co-owners Hurley and Therese Bagnardi hope it won’t be long before a buyer emerges and the Colonial re-opens. Closing the theater that has held pride of place in Belfast since it opened in April 1912, will be a wrench, but it’s just time for the couple to make a change, Hurley, 71, said Wednesday.
“How wonderful it’s been to be a part of this,” he said. “To think of movies as different as ‘Waking Ned Devine’ or ‘Pulp Fiction’ or ‘Amelie’ or ‘Toy Story’ or ‘Shrek.’ I remember so many people pouring into the movies. I’ve loved being a part of it. I love being a part of the community.”
He and Bagnardi, who are married, purchased the Colonial in 1995, on something of a whim. They figured that running a movie theater wasn’t much harder than selling tickets and making popcorn.
“Turned out, we had a lot to learn,” he told the Bangor Daily News in 2015.
They rose to the challenge, first sprucing up the movie theater’s color scheme from dull yellow and brown to the snazzy green, purple and pink it still sports today. They fixed the broken neon sign on the front marquee and then started on the interior.
Back then, the theater had already been converted from a single-screen movie house to a twin-screen. The original screen was cut off in the rear of the building, and Hurley and Bagnardi got the inspiration to tunnel below the other two screening rooms to restore access to the original, which they called Dreamland.
They also restored the lobby, replaced seats, created a new concession stand and switched from film to digital projection when the movie industry required that to happen.
When Perry’s Nut House, another Belfast institution, put some of its treasures on the auction block in 1997, the couple purchased two elephants to liven up the theater’s decor. They put Hawthorne, a trumpeting elephant made of fiberglass, on the roof. Baby Hawthorne, made of wood and much heavier, was carried by local strong men to the lower lobby, where he continues to delight children today.
After Hurley and Bagnardi put the theater up for sale — the list price is $1.3 million — potential buyers have kicked the tires on the business. But none have committed.
Knowledge that the Colonial is closing in September may change that, Hurley said.
“We’re lighting a fire. It’s time — that’s the bottom line,” he said. “We could keep on doing this, but I think if you keep feeding people, they don’t get hungry. Is it risky? Yeah. But we’re sparking a discussion.”
One solution would be for a non-profit organization to buy and manage the Colonial Theatre, similar to how other independent local cinemas are run in communities like Ellsworth, Waterville, Rockland, Bar Harbor and Bucksport.
“In my mind, that is the right, best choice for Belfast, at this point, to have a community-based organization that takes over the Colonial,” Hurley said. “I have so much faith in Belfast.”
The news that the Colonial will close has hit many in the community hard. On social media, the memories spanned generations, with people recalling their first movies at the theater, including ‘White Christmas’ in 1954, ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ in 1974 and ‘Beetlejuice’ in 1988.
Nathaniel Bernier, who lives in Lincolnville, said that the Colonial has been an important part of his life since his family moved to Belfast in 1985. He saw blockbusters there, had his first movie theater kiss there, and took his own children to their first movies there.
“I’ve lived in a lot of places in a lot of different states, and been to countless movie theaters,” he said. “But this one, this tiny little theater, is irreplaceable, unforgettable, timeless and will be sorely missed.”
Denis Howard II of Belfast, who owns Opera House Video, spent lots of time at the Colonial in his life. He worked there for a dozen years, and figures that he saw probably every single movie that was shown in that span of time.
“I just love the place,” he said. “There’s something about the communal feeling of being there when it’s crowded and everybody is experiencing a movie together. There’s a magic to that that is so much more powerful than all the other ways of seeing a movie. It’s a cultural experience.”
Hurley and Bagnardi are planning one last celebration before the projectors are unplugged. Beginning on Friday, Sept. 9, they will show 10 days of free movies, and have asked for the community to suggest their favorite films. They’ve been swamped with suggestions, getting 215 ideas so far — which is an indication of just how much the people of Belfast and surrounding towns love movies, and the Colonial, Hurley said.
Whatever is next for the Colonial, he expects that it will change from what it is right now. Small, owner-operated businesses have their own personalities, he said.
“When people say, ‘Oh, it’s going to be different — you bet it will,” he said.
But that’s OK. Change can be good, he said.
“Therese and I started talking about it a lot. All the memories of so many things. It’s hard to let it go,” he said. “But nothing can go on forever.” | https://www.bangordailynews.com/2022/08/10/news/midcoast/colonial-theatre-closing/ | 2022-08-10 22:32:49 | 1 | https://www.bangordailynews.com/2022/08/10/news/midcoast/colonial-theatre-closing/ |
Kings beat Jets to tie franchise record with point in 11th consecutive game
Kings coach Todd McLellan isn’t getting too enthused about his team tying the franchise mark for the longest point streak in franchise history.
Playing stout defense, though, is something the fourth-year coach can get excited about.
Not only did the Kings pick up a point in their 11th consecutive game with a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena, but they also extended their streak of giving up two or fewer goals in regulation to 10 games.
“That is something that we can hang our hats on and that we’re pleased about,” McLellan said. “We feel like we got to protect the goaltenders and help them out. … That we will acknowledge and keep preaching, for sure.”
Viktor Arvidsson scored two goals and Drew Doughty had a goal and an assist for the Kings (42-20-10), who have gone 9-0-2 during their streak. The last time the Kings had an 11-game point streak was 2013-14, when they won their second Stanley Cup.
The Kings have become one of the best teams in the West and young defenseman Mikey Anderson, 23, is a big reason. Playing next to Drew Doughty helps too.
Coincidentally, the current streak started with a 6-5 shootout win over the Jets on Feb. 28.
“I think that for the majority of these games we’ve won, we’ve kind of outplayed the other team for almost 60 minutes, and that’s an important thing to be able to do, to take into the playoffs,” said Doughty, who has scored in four of the last five games.
Alex Iafallo also scored for the Kings, and Joonas Korpisalo stopped 25 shots.
Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for Winnipeg (41-30-3), and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves. The Jets are four points in front of Calgary for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference but are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
“I think everyone is frustrated right now. Everyone wants to win. We can’t drop too many points,” Dubois said. “It was a big game for us to see where we’re at. We did some good things but can do a lot better.”
Arvidsson — who has scored 22 goals on the season — has four in the last four games.
His first goal came 82 seconds into the game. Trevor Moore won the faceoff in the offensive zone and made a backhand pass to Arvidsson, who snapped it into the net from the back of the left faceoff circle.
Arvidsson scored an empty-net goal late in the third period.
The Kings extended their lead to 2-0 five minutes into the second period on the power play. Phillip Danault made a great pass between Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon and Hellebuyck as Iafallo buried it into the short side of the net.
Twenty-seven seconds into the third period, Doughty extended the lead to 3-1 with a wrist shot from outside the right faceoff circle near the boards after Anze Kopitar won the faceoff.
Powering up
Winnipeg scored its first power-play goal in seven games with 1:23 remaining in the second period when Dubois took a cross-ice pass from Kyle Connor and scored from the left faceoff circle to get the Jets to within 2-1.
The Jets got a five-minute power play after the Kings’ Blake Lizotte received a five-minute match penalty for a vicious cross check to Josh Morrissey’s face. The goal came with 33 seconds left in the man advantage.
Morrissey said he had been going at it with Lizotte as the two skated up the ice and was expecting to fight him when the cross check happened.
“It was a careless play. I thought we were going to go and took a cross check to the chin,” Morrissey said. “It could have been my teeth, so thankfully not.”
Notes
Danault picked up his 300th career point and 200th assist. ... Winnipeg’s Connor set a career high for most assists in a season when he recorded his 47th on Dubois’ goal.
Up next
Jets: Travel to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
Kings: Host the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/story/2023-03-25/kings-beat-winnipeg-jets-nhl-game-recap | 2023-03-26 00:21:41 | 0 | https://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/story/2023-03-25/kings-beat-winnipeg-jets-nhl-game-recap |
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The latest jobs report released Friday shows the U.S. economy grew by more than 200,000 jobs in June.
“That means we regained all the jobs lost during the pandemic and created nearly four million additional jobs on top of that,” National Economic Council Deputy Director Joelle Gamble said.
That’s more than 13 million jobs added since President Biden took office, pushing the unemployment rate to just 3.6%.
“That’s because the President came in with a plan to grow the economy from the middle out and the bottom up,” Gamble said.
“I think today’s number probably was encouraging,” said Ron Hetrick, a senior economist at Lightcast.
Hetrick said although June’s job growth is a bit lower than expected, it’s still a good sign.
“I like a 200,000 gain because it’s the kind of gain that we would expect right now,” Hetrick said. “It’s still positive but it’s not something that indicates we’re out of control.”
Experts say the slower growth is just what the Federal Reserve is looking for.
“Too tight of an economy is the exact opposite the Fed’s looking for, and if it stays too tight, you’re going to see them still aggressively increasing interest rates,” Hetrick said.
But Bankrate senior economic analyst Mark Hamrick said the encouraging report is probably not enough to prevent another interest rate increase.
“My expectation right now is that the Fed will raise rates at the end of July,” Hamrick said. “Whether they deliver again at the following meeting in September really depends on the performance of the economy.” | https://www.kxnet.com/news/washington-dc/u-s-jobs-reports-cools-off-for-june-adds-209000-jobs/ | 2023-07-08 01:02:38 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/washington-dc/u-s-jobs-reports-cools-off-for-june-adds-209000-jobs/ |
Which Pokemon booster box is best?
The first Pokemon cards were released in the late 90’s and have since become one of the most popular trading card games in the world. Many of the cards have turned from trading cards into collectible items, some of which are worth a lot of money. Whether you’re competing with your friends or building your deck, Pokemon booster boxes are a great way to add to your collection. These boxes feature 36 packs that contain up to 210 individual cards.
The best Pokemon booster box is the Sun & Moon – Crimson Invasion Sealed Booster Box. This set includes 36 packs with 110 powerful cards mostly focused on Alolan Pokemon.
What to know before you buy a Pokemon booster box
TCG cards
Pokemon cards can be broken down into three basic types: Pokemon cards (creatures), trainer cards and energy cards. Pokemon cards themselves feature the lovable, albeit dangerous, creatures that we’ve all come to know and love. Pikachu is by far the most popular. Trainer cards are special because they allow players to add supportive elements to their fights by searching through their deck for cards that will assist their fight. Energy cards, on the other hand, work directly alongside Pokemon cards to add extra power to the creature’s abilities.
Theme decks
Theme decks are best for those that are new to Pokemon. These packs contain plenty of trainer and energy cards, which are essential for any player’s collection. Theme decks also come with a handbook that outlines the rules of the game, damage counters for keeping score, a play mat to keep your cards off the ground and, finally, a 60-card deck to get you right into the action.
Collectability
Over the years, Pokemon cards have become true collector’s items. Whether you’re competing or not, building up a collection is an important motive for many Pokemon fans. After all, the Pokemon motto is “Gotta catch ’em all!” for a reason. Pokemon booster boxes are a great way to quickly build up your collection because they contain so many cards. You will likely run into some duplicates, but you’ll also come across at least one rare card per booster box.
What to look for in a quality Pokemon booster box
Holofoil
Holofoil cards are the rarest cards that can be found in a booster box. These cards have a striking appearance that won’t go unnoticed. They are covered in a shiny foil that features a “holo” effect. Think of it like a thin foil layer but with a wash of color that reflects off the light. Because each booster box only comes with one rare card, finding a holofoil card is very unlikely. But, if you do happen to find that lucky card, you’re in for a very special surprise!
GX
Pokemon-GX cards are extra strong creatures that can take over most battles in the game. For those that are serious players, GX cards will be your go-to picks in fights. Not only are these cards extra powerful, but they also feature more elaborate illustrations. After all, admiring the artwork on Pokemon cards is half the fun.
Prism Star
Prism Star cards are unique because they apply to trainer, energy and Pokemon cards. These cards are also very rare. Just look for a diamond symbol at the end of your card name to know if they are Prism Stars. While these cards are very powerful, don’t get too excited to stack the deck with them. Prism Star cards can only be used in one deck at a time.
How much you can expect to spend on a Pokemon booster box
A Pokemon booster box can cost anywhere from $172-$220.
Pokemon booster box FAQ
How many different Pokemon cards are there?
A. There are currently around 9,100 English-version Pokemon cards. The Japanese versions contain around 7,000 different cards. Booster boxes are the best way to build up your collection if your goal is to collect every Pokemon card available.
What’s the best way to organize my Pokemon cards?
A. Traditional collectors use binders to store their cards. This is a good option because you can organize the cards based on your preferences, plus they’ll stay safe and crinkle-free. Luckily, the developers of the game have also created a convenient app called the Pokemon Trading Card Game Card Dex app. Here you can scan your cards digitally, which makes them easier to sift through and prevents you from handling the cards too often, leading to damage.
What’s the best Pokemon booster box to buy?
Top Pokemon booster box
Pokemon Sun & Moon – Crimson Invasion
What you need to know: The Crimson Invasion set includes a ton of powerful cards that will make your Pokemon arsenal very scary to your opponent.
What you’ll love: This set includes 110 cards through 36 booster packs. You’re also guaranteed eight Pokemon-GX cards for an added power boost.
What you should consider: Given the amount of cards in this set, you’ll likely find repeat cards.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Pokemon booster box for the money
Pokemon Sword & Shield – Rebel Clash
What you need to know: This beginner-friendly booster box includes the newest Pokemon expansion from Sword & Shield.
What you’ll love: With 190 cards over 36 booster packs, this booster box is surprisingly affordable, considering how many cards you receive. Plus, you’ll recognize many of the Sword & Shield elements from the latest Pokemon Nintendo Switch game.
What you should consider: Rebel Clash booster boxes will feature a handful of replica cards.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Pokemon Sword & Shield Booster Box
What you need to know: This is another excellent option from the popular Sword & Shield expansion. This set features brand-new creatures that fans will know from the popular video game, such as Wobbuffet V, Lapras V Max and Dhelmise V.
What you’ll love: This booster box includes a whopping 200 cards from 36 booster packs. The Sword & Shield box is one of the best boxes to add a substantial amount of cards to your collection.
What you should consider: Like many other larger booster boxes, you are likely to find duplicates.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/hobby-collectibles-br/best-pokemon-booster-boxes/ | 2022-11-27 04:05:19 | 0 | https://www.texomashomepage.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/hobby-collectibles-br/best-pokemon-booster-boxes/ |
PARCHMAN, Miss. — Nine big men sit attentively at their desks inside the Mississippi State Penitentiary—the once infamous prison labor colony known as Parchman Farm. They're wearing green-and-white striped pants, and shirts with "MDOC convict" stenciled on the back, for Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Their crimes range from drug possession to armed robbery to homicide. But inside this austere classroom, they're all college students.
The course is The Blues Tradition in American Literature.
They're exploring how the themes of blues lyrics—bad luck and trouble, sexual escapades, and euphoric freedom—get expressed in literary forms. They're listening to blues songs by Big Joe Williams, Ma Rainey, Little Walter, Hound Dog Taylor, and Bessie Smith. They're reading poetry from Langston Hughes and a play by August Wilson.
The feeling of the blues is all too familiar
For these inmate students, the course syllabus may be new but the feeling of the blues is all too familiar.
"Of course, the blues is not just the music, but it's also life lived hard," says Adam Gussow, professor of English and Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi. He is 65, with a shock of white hair, an intense pedagogical manner, and a deep love for the blues. He's taught this course for 25 years, usually to young undergraduates with limited life experiences. This is the first time he's had a classroom full of grown men who live in confinement.
"I've taught them things about the music, per se, that they may not have known," he says. "But they've taken that term and applied it to the life challenges they've had and the negativity they've dealt with."
Ledale Williams, 46, hometown Vicksburg, Miss.: "I never looked at the blues the way I look at the blues now. This is trials and tribulations just being here for almost 29 years since I was a child. So that's the blues in itself."
Mitchell Price, 55, Dallas: "My mother's the daughter of a sharecropper and that's what they did in the fields, they sung the blues. At the end of the rows, at break time, when they're eating baloney and crackers and cheese. They were singin' blues and somebody would play the harmonica. It's part of my history because I used to hear my family talk about these things."
Joseph Westbrooks, 63, Pontotoc, Miss.: "It's more to it than listenin' to the blues, when you live the blues. That's our everyday life. You oppressed daily by being incarcerated."
On this day, Prof. Gussow is teaching Zora Neale Hurston's masterpiece, Their Eyes Were Watching God, about a Black woman's turbulent coming of age in 1930s rural Florida. The protagonist, Janie, goes through three husbands. The last one is a rogue and a blues musician named Tea Cake.
"Tea Cake deepens Janie's blues feelings," Gussow lectures. "Tea Cake teaches Janie all about the blues in a particular way. He loves her and then he leaves her, and then he comes back. That's an incredibly bluesy moment and I'm going to connect it with some music."
Connecting life's challenges to music
He opens his laptop and clicks on a link to Bumble Bee Blues, recorded by Memphis Minnie nearly a hundred years ago.
"Bumblebee, bumblebee, where you been so long?" she sings, to a haunting acoustic guitar, "You stung me this mornin', I been restless all day long."
Gussow exhorts his students: "This is a song about a man putting desire in a woman, right?" The men respond, "uh-huh," in knowing voices.
"They're just sayin' that when he leave, she miss him," says Christopher Bradley, 48, from Moss Point, Miss. "It's like sayin, 'Hey, I miss my baby. I be glad when she get home from work.' "
Parchman Prison sprawls across 28 square miles of America's musical bottomland. This is the Mississippi Delta. Beyond the tall fences and concertina wire, past the green crop fields now tilled by contract farmers, are the tiny agricultural towns that produced some of the greatest bluesmen who ever lived: B.B. King, Albert King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Son House, and Robert Johnson.
They knew to stay out of Parchman. Life in the prison farm was brutal. The institution was set up in 1901 as a huge, state-run plantation. Chain gangs did mandatory field work. Harsh discipline was meted out by the guards and by trusty convicts.
The Delta bluesman Bukka White served time for assault in Parchman and sang about it in his classic, Parchman Farm Blues, released in 1940.
We got to work in the mornin', just at dawn of day,
We got to work in the mornin', just at dawn of day,
Just at the settin' of the sun, that's when the work is done.
I'm down on ole Parchman farm, I sho' wanna go back home,
I'm down on ole Parchman farm, I sho' wanna go back home,
But I hope some day, I will overcome.
"The penitentiary here in Parchman was called camps for a reason," says inmate Mitchell Price, who remembers those times. "They were work camps which you would say symbolizes slave camps. They put them here to pick cotton and they would whip them with actual whips."
Melvin Johnson, 62, Jackson, Miss., was also doing time back in those days.
"About 5:30, you gotta be goin' out there to that field," he says. "Sometime it's so cold out there they don't care. All they want you to do is pick that cotton. You gon' go out there or else. And sometime it so hot there you pass out. They didn't care."
Forced farm labor at Parchman ended in the mid-2000s. But problems persist.
Last year, the U.S. Justice Department released results of an investigation that "uncovered evidence of systemic violations that have generated a violent and unsafe environment for people incarcerated at Parchman." A spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections said that report does not reflect improved conditions at the prison in recent years. He pointed to accreditation in January by the American Correctional Association—the first time in nine years.
Using education to re-enter society
The University of Mississippi has offered college courses inside Parchman on Shakespeare, Mississippi writers, the civil rights movement, and now, the blues. The award-winning program is called the Prison-to-College Pipeline.
Patrick Alexander, associate professor of English and African American Studies at Ole Miss, is the program's director and co-founder. He says education can play a role in how well an offender does when they re-enter society.
"We have one student who's gone to Mississippi College," Alexander says, "and he traces not just the assignments and the books but the opportunity to be seen as a leader [in the classroom]. Something that is not necessarily going to happen when you're inside of Parchman."
These students will don caps and gowns in mid-May and attend a graduation ceremony inside the prison for completing the three course hours.
In addition to learning about the blues literary tradition, they get a taste of playing the blues. The students get harmonica lessons on Blues Harps donated by the Hohner Company. But they can't take their mouth harps back to their living quarters so they have to practice in class. Gussow not only has a Ph.D. in English from Princeton, but he is a world-class harmonica player who teamed up with bluesman Sterling "Mr. Satan" Magee for more than three decades.
"I'm gonna tap my foot and I'm gonna take the four draw. Can everybody go..." ...he plays a note and the students follow. He plays another note and the students follow. Pretty soon they're tooting a primitive riff.
"All right, give yourselves a round of applause!" Gussow says with a laugh. "That's the best we've done."
A muscular man with a white goatee and glasses suddenly stands up out of his desk at the back of class. Arthur Gentry, 65, from Houston, has been locked up at Parchman for more than four decades. In a husky voice, he breaks into a spontaneous version of the Parchman Prison Blues, breathing new life and new pain into a venerable musical tradition.
I got the penitentiary blues,
day in and day out,
all through the night,
I got the blues,
we all got the blues.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.knau.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-05-13/the-blues-returns-to-mississippis-parchman-prison-farm | 2023-05-13 14:38:33 | 0 | https://www.knau.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-05-13/the-blues-returns-to-mississippis-parchman-prison-farm |
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Katie Ledecky extended her record haul of medals from the world swimming championships to 22 with her latest 800-meter freestyle win on Friday.
Ledecky clocked 8 minutes, 8.04 seconds to win the event for the eighth consecutive time at a worlds or Olympic Games.
“I think back to London,” Ledecky said of her first win at the 2012 Olympics. “I made it a goal to not be a one-hit wonder and here we are 10 years later, so I’m really proud of that and still excited for the future as well.”
Ledecky finished more than 10 seconds ahead of her rivals. Australia’s Kiah Melverton was 10.73 behind in second and Italy’s Simona Quadarella 10.96 behind for third.
Ledecky was under four seconds off the world record she set at the 2016 Olympics.
“I’m happy with that,” she said. “Fastest I’ve been in a couple of years. So really good end to a great week.”
Ledecky is the first swimmer to win a specific individual event at five successive worlds.
It’s her 19th gold at a worlds and her fourth this week. She helped the United States win the 4×200 freestyle relay final on Wednesday, two days after she won the 1,500 freestyle, which came two days after she won the 400 freestyle on the first day of racing in Budapest.
She completed the 400/800/1,500 triple for the fourth time at a single worlds, more than all the other swimmers who managed the feat combined. Germany’s Hannah Stockbauer, Australia’s Grant Hackett and China’s Sun Yang each managed it only once.
Ledecky has the most medals for a female swimmer in world championships history. Only Michael Phelps, who won 26, has more.
And she’s not finished yet.
“This is just the start, which is tremendously exciting for me,” said Ledecky, who added changes to her approach are paying off.
“There have been a couple of things that are a little different – training with the men, Bobby (Finke) and Kieran (Smith) and Trey (Freeman), who are all here, to try to keep up as much as I can and they push me,” Ledecky said. “I hope that they feel that they’ve benefited from me being there, and just a lot of work on my stroke and and my rhythm.”
With one day of racing remaining at Duna Arena, the United States has 37 medals, just one short of the record 38 it claimed the last time Budapest hosted the worlds in 2017.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://wgntv.com/sports/ap-sports/ledecky-stretches-22-medal-record-at-worlds-with-800-title/ | 2022-06-25 05:08:28 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/sports/ap-sports/ledecky-stretches-22-medal-record-at-worlds-with-800-title/ |
Hobbs wins Arizona governor’s race, flipping state for Dems
PHOENIX (AP) — Democrat Katie Hobbs was elected Arizona governor on Monday, defeating an ally of Donald Trump who falsely claimed the 2020 election was rigged and refused to say she would accept the results of her race this year.
Hobbs, who is Arizona’s secretary of state, rose to prominence as a staunch defender of the legitimacy of the last election and warned that her Republican rival, former television news anchor Kari Lake, would be an agent of chaos. Hobbs’ victory adds further evidence that Trump is weighing down his allies in a crucial battleground state as the former president gears up for an announcement of a 2024 presidential run.
She will succeed Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who was prohibited by term limit laws from running again. She’s the first Democrat to be elected governor in Arizona since Janet Napolitano in 2006.
A onetime Republican stronghold where Democrats made gains during the Trump era, Arizona has been central to efforts by Trump and his allies to cast doubt on Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory with false claims of fraud. This year, many Trump-endorsed candidates faltered in general elections in battleground states, though his pick in the Nevada governor’s race, Republican Joe Lombardo, defeated an incumbent Democrat.
Before entering politics, Hobbs was a social worker who worked with homeless youth and an executive with a large domestic violence shelter in the Phoenix area. She was elected to the state Legislature in 2010, serving one term in the House and three terms in the Senate, rising to minority leader.
Hobbs eked out a narrow win in 2018 as secretary of state and was thrust into the center of a political storm as Arizona became the centerpiece of the efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost. She appeared constantly on cable news defending the integrity of the vote count.
The attention allowed her to raise millions of dollars and raise her profile. When she announced her campaign for governor, other prominent Democrats declined to run and Hobbs comfortably won her primary.
She ran a cautious campaign, sticking largely to scripted and choreographed public appearances. She declined to participate in a debate with Lake, contending that Lake would turn it into a spectacle by spouting conspiracy theories and making false accusations.
She bet instead that voters would recoil against Lake, who picked verbal fights with journalists as cameras rolled and struck a combative tone toward Democrats and even the establishment Republicans who have long dominated state government.
Pre-election polls showed the race was tied, but Hobbs’ victory was still a surprise to many Democrats who feared her timidity would turn off voters. She overcame expectations in Maricopa and Pima counties, the metro Phoenix and Tucson areas where the overwhelming majority of Arizona voters live. She also spent considerable time in rural areas, looking to minimize her losses in regions that traditionally support Republicans.
Lake is well known in much of the state after anchoring the evening news in Phoenix for more than two decades. She ran as a fierce critic of the mainstream media, which she said is unfair to Republicans. She earned Trump’s admiration for her staunch commitment to questioning the results of the 2020 election, a stand she never wavered from even after winning the GOP primary.
She baselessly accused election officials of slow-rolling the vote count this year and prioritizing Democratic ballots as she narrowly trailed Hobbs for days following the election.
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said he increased security around the elections center Monday in anticipation that the race would be called and emotions could run hot, though he said there was no specific threat. Demonstrators have gathered outside the building for several days but have remained peaceful, he said.
“I think we’re getting close to the end game so I want to be sure that we’re prepared,” Penzone told reporters in a news conference hours before the race call.
The sheriff’s office was caught off guard two years ago when armed and angry protesters descended on the elections building in downtown Phoenix after Fox News and The Associated Press called Arizona for Biden, marking the first time a Democrat won the state in more than two decades.
___
Learn more about the issues and factors at play in the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections. And follow the AP’s election coverage of the 2022 elections at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections.(AP) -
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/11/15/hobbs-wins-arizona-governors-race-flipping-state-dems/ | 2022-11-15 03:00:58 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/2022/11/15/hobbs-wins-arizona-governors-race-flipping-state-dems/ |
California reparations amount, if any, left to politicians
By JANIE HAR
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The leader of California’s first-in-the-nation reparations task force on Wednesday said it won’t take a stance on how much the state should compensate Black residents whom economists estimate may be owed more than $800 billion for decades of over-policing, disproportionate incarceration and housing discrimination.
The $800 billion is more than 2.5 times California’s $300 billion annual budget and does not include a recommended $1 million per older Black resident for health disparities that have shortened their average life span. Nor does the figure count compensating people for property unjustly taken by the government or devaluing Black businesses, two other harms the task force says the state perpetuated.
“All forms of discrimination should be considered in reparations,” Thomas Craemer, a public policy professor at the University of Connecticut, told the panel Wednesday. “The task force should feel free to go beyond our loss estimates, and determine what the right amount would be.”
Black residents may not receive cash payments anytime soon, if ever, because the state Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom will ultimately decide whether any reparations are to be paid. The task force faces a July 1 deadline to recommend the forms of compensation to be awarded and who should receive it, along with other remedies to repair the harm.
But the panel’s chair, Kamilah Moore, said Wednesday it’s up to the state Legislature to ascribe a restitution amount based on the methodology economists recommended, and which the task force approved on Wednesday.
“The task force is pretty much done regarding the compensation component. Our task was to create a methodology for calculation for various forms of compensation that correspond with our findings,” she said in an e-mail.
For those who support reparations, the staggering $800 billion estimate underscores the long-lasting harm Black Americans have endured, even in a state that never officially endorsed slavery.
Several people who gave public comment Wednesday spoke of the urgent need to pay Black Americans for all that was taken from them.
“My family came from the South because they were running for their lives, they were fearful of being lynched, just for voting,” said Charlton Curry of Sacramento, California, who discusses reparations on his Big C Sports podcast.
“Cash payments are necessary. Money talks,” he said, noting that white people benefited from free U.S. government land through the 1862 Homestead Act, and Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II and Jewish Holocaust victims received reparations.
Critics pin their opposition partly on the fact that California was never a slave state and say current taxpayers should not be responsible for damage linked to events that germinated hundreds of years ago.
Bob Woodson, a prominent Black conservative, calls reparations impractical, controversial and counterproductive.
“No amount of money could ever ‘make right’ the evil of slavery, and it is insulting to suggest that it could,” he said in an email to The Associated Press, adding that Black communities relied on faith and family to build thriving communities following slavery. “Some of these communities only began coming apart after we lost sight of these values, which also hold the key to these communities’ restoration.”
Financial redress is just one part of the package being considered. Other proposals include paying incarcerated inmates market value for their labor, establishing free wellness centers and planting more trees in Black communities, banning cash bail, and adopting a K-12 Black studies curriculum.
Reparations talks are stalled at the federal level, but the idea flourished in California as well as U.S. cities and counties following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police. Newsom signed legislation in 2020 creating the reparations task force.
An advisory committee in San Francisco has recommended $5 million payouts, as well as guaranteed income of at least $97,000 and personal debt forgiveness for qualifying individuals. Supervisors expressed general support, but stopped short of endorsing specific proposals. They’ll take up the issue later this year.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday said from Ghana that she and President Joe Biden support a reparations study, but the president has so far sidestepped calls from advocates to create a federal commission.
The $800 billion estimate in California includes $246 billion to compensate eligible Black Californians whose neighborhoods were subjected to aggressive policing and prosecution in the “war on drugs” from 1970 to 2020. That would translate to nearly $125,000 for every person who qualifies, the consultants wrote.
The numbers are approximate, based on modeling and population estimates. The economists also included $569 billion to make up for the discriminatory practice of redlining in housing loans. That would amount to about $223,000 per eligible resident from 1933 to 1977. The $569 billion is considered a maximum and assumes all 2.5 million Californians who identify as Black would be eligible.
But they won’t all be. People must meet residency and other requirements for monetary compensation. They also must be descendants of enslaved and freed Black people in the U.S. as of the 19th century, which leaves out Black immigrants.
The task force on Wednesday also endorsed methodologies for devaluation of black businesses and unjust property takings. Those methodologies have no numbers due to a lack of data.
——————
AP White House reporter Chris Megerian contributed from Accra, Ghana
——————
This story has been corrected to reflect that the task force is not required to recommend specific compensation amounts in its July 1 report to the Legislature. It is required to make recommendations on what form compensation should take and who should be eligible. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/03/29/reparations-for-black-californians-could-top-800-billion-2/ | 2023-03-30 03:13:26 | 1 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/03/29/reparations-for-black-californians-could-top-800-billion-2/ |
WFO BROWNSVILLE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, January 16, 2023
_____
HIGH SURF ADVISORY
Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
1201 PM CST Mon Jan 16 2023
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED...
* WHAT...For the Coastal Flood Advisory, minor coastal flooding.
For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents.
* WHERE...Kenedy Island, Willacy Island and Cameron Island
Counties.
* WHEN...For the Coastal Flood Advisory, until 9 PM CST this
evening. For the High Rip Current Risk, until 6 PM CST this
evening.
* IMPACTS...Nuisance flooding is expected, with water reaching
or pushing into the dunes on South Padre Island. Vehicles,
except those with four wheel drive and high wheel bases, will
be unable to be driven on the beach. This includes locations
north of Public Beach Access #3. Minor to moderate beach
erosion is expected. Rip currents can sweep even the best
swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be
closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of
unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone
property.
Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-BROWNSVILLE-Warnings-Watches-and-17721088.php | 2023-01-16 18:53:33 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-BROWNSVILLE-Warnings-Watches-and-17721088.php |
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation revealed Tuesday it is investigating men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter for a 1991 confrontation in which he kicked the woman who later became his wife.
The federation said it learned of the allegation on Dec. 11 and hired the law firm Alston & Bird to investigate. The USSF said Berhalter and his wife Rosalind had “spoken openly” about the matter, and Berhalter admitted to the kick in a statement Tuesday.
“Through this process, U.S. Soccer has learned about potential inappropriate behavior towards multiple members of our staff by individuals outside of our organization,” the USSF said, adding the investigation also includes those allegations.
The USSF said it will announce “in the coming days” who will coach the team for exhibitions against Serbia on Jan. 25 and Colombia three days later. These are the first matches for the Americans since they were eliminated by the Netherlands last month in the World Cup round of 16.
Berhalter’s statement said: “During the World Cup, an individual contacted U.S. Soccer, saying that they had information about me that would ‘take me down’ — an apparent effort to leverage something very personal from long ago to bring about the end of my relationship with U.S. Soccer.
“In the fall of 1991, I met my soulmate,” Berhalter went on. “We had been dating for four months when an incident happened between us that would shape the future of our relationship. One night, when out drinking at a local bar, Rosalind and I had a heated argument that continued outside. It became physical and I kicked her in the legs.
“There are zero excuses for my actions that night; it was a shameful moment and one that I regret to this day. At the time, I immediately apologized to Rosalind, but understandably she wanted nothing to do with me. I told my parents, family and friend what had happened because I wanted to take full responsibility for my behavior. Rosalind also informed her parents, family and friends.
“While the authorities were never involved in this matter, I voluntarily sought out counseling to help learn, grow and improve — one of the most valuable decisions that I ever made. To this day, that type of behavior has never been repeated,” he said.
Berhalter, 51, was hired in December 2018 after the U.S. failed to qualify for that year’s World Cup. He has led the team to 37 wins, 11 losses and 12 draws, and the Americans earned the third and final automatic World Cup berth from the North and Central American and Caribbean region.
Berhalter is the first American to play for and coach the U.S. at a World Cup. His contract ran through December.
“I am looking forward to continuing my conversations with U.S. Soccer about the future,” he said.
USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone and sporting director Earnie Stewart have not discussed the coaching situation with media since the World Cup. The USSF said its “full technical review” of the program and the investigation were both ongoing and results of the investigation will be made public.
Berhalter was a defender from 1994 until 2011 for Zwolle, Sparta Rotterdam and Cambuur Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, Crystal Palace in England, Energie Cottbus and 1860 Munich in Germany and Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy. He coached Hammarby in Sweden and the Columbus Crew of MLS before taking the U.S. job.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wivb.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-us-mens-coach-berhalter-admits-kicking-future-wife-in-1991/ | 2023-01-04 19:10:03 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-us-mens-coach-berhalter-admits-kicking-future-wife-in-1991/ |
Mountain Dew releases limited-edition Baja Blast hot sauce
Published: Jan. 20, 2023 at 11:26 AM CST|Updated: 52 minutes ago
(CNN) - Mountain Dew Baja Blast has long been a fan favorite beverage. Now, it’s being made into a limited-edition hot sauce.
In celebration of National Hot Sauce Day, which is this Sunday, Mountain Dew teamed up with Houston-based sauce shop iBurn to create Baja Blast hot sauce.
It takes the soda’s fruity, tropical flavor and adds a blast of heat from habanero peppers, jalapeño peppers and green chiles.
Here’s the catch – only 750 bottles of the Baja Blast hot sauce were made.
If you’d like the chance to win your own bottle, visit the Mountain Dew website here and complete the entry form.
Copyright 2023 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kalb.com/2023/01/20/mountain-dew-releases-limited-edition-baja-blast-hot-sauce/ | 2023-01-20 18:19:42 | 1 | https://www.kalb.com/2023/01/20/mountain-dew-releases-limited-edition-baja-blast-hot-sauce/ |
Man drops 250 pounds, plans to cycle across state: ‘Dedication over motivation’
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG/Gray News) - An Iowa man says his fitness journey started more than eight years ago and continues today.
Heath Thompson shared with KCRG that it has taken a lot of hard work at the gym to drop more than 250 pounds, but he is currently down to about 265 pounds and 32% body fat.
“I couldn’t weigh myself at the beginning, even at the doctor’s office,” Thompson said. “I topped off the scales higher than what they showed. I imagine it was over 500 pounds for sure.”
However, Thompson said it’s all about a person’s mindset.
“Motivation is something that comes and goes, but being dedicated to a better, healthier version of yourself is something you can control,” Thompson said. “Dedication over motivation all day long. It is nice to have motivation, but when it fades, you still have to be dedicated to being a healthier version of yourself.”
Thompson said he hits the gym and finds other ways to stay fit by mixing up his fitness routine.
“Keeping things interesting, because as soon as you’re bored, you have to find something interesting,” he said. “I am a huge fan of photography and love to go hiking. You have to find things in the gym to keep yourself on track.”
Thompson said he sets new fitness goals every year, and this year he is working towards an unassisted pull-up.
“For active people a pull-up is nothing, but to somebody who used to weigh over 500 pounds, you never dreamed of being able to pull your body weight with just your arms,” he said.
Another goal of Thompson this year is to ride in the RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
“That is the goal,” he said. “I am going to train for the RAGBRAI 2023.”
Thompson said he wants to help others by sharing his fitness journey on social media.
“I have close to 18,000 followers. What I aspire to do is inspire,” he said. “I can’t make somebody be motivated to better themselves, but they can use my story as a tool to inspire them to make changes.”
Copyright 2023 KCRG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kold.com/2023/01/04/man-drops-250-pounds-plans-cycle-across-state-dedication-over-motivation/ | 2023-01-04 21:44:14 | 1 | https://www.kold.com/2023/01/04/man-drops-250-pounds-plans-cycle-across-state-dedication-over-motivation/ |
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Sept. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mission Wealth has expanded their east coast presence to include an office location in historic downtown Boston, Massachusetts. The establishment of the Boston office enables their advisors to now serve firm clients from a total of 25 convenient locations across the United States.
The new Boston location is positioned in the heart of downtown Post Office Square and the Financial District, minutes from the waterfront, South Station Train Terminal, and major highways. Boston clients and advisors will enjoy inspiring views of the city skyline, the Boston Harbor, and the Rose R. Kennedy Greenway from the 26th floor office at 225 Franklin Street.
"Mission Wealth is delighted to open our new office in Boston, and to work alongside families in and around this industrious and historic region. I am excited and honored to help establish Mission Wealth's footprint in the New England market. I am looking forward to creating many new relationships and expanding our reach here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts" said Jared Sweeney, local Boston Client Advisor.
With almost 20 years of experience in the financial industry, Sweeney joins Mission Wealth with backgrounds from both premier private banks and boutique family offices.
"We are thrilled to add Jared Sweeney to our team of talented advisors on the east coast. Mission Wealth continues our commitment to proactive and comprehensive client service delivered with a caring, client-first approach and driven by our cutting-edge technology platform. From our early conversations, I knew that Jared's technical, investment, and planning expertise as well as his passion for client service would be a tremendous fit here at Mission Wealth" said Matthew Adams, CEO.
Founded in 2000, Mission Wealth, a national Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), proudly serves over 2,150 families and manages over $4.8 billion in assets/administration across the United States. Headquartered in Santa Barbara, the firm has 24 additional offices located in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. Mission Wealth's service offerings include financial planning, investment management, estate planning and charitable giving, tax planning, retirement planning and family office services. For more information, visit www.missionwealth.com.
To meet with a Mission Wealth financial advisor in the Boston metro area, please call 617-227-4743.
00464581 09/22
Media Contact:
Michelle Winkles
(949) 293-9038
mwinkles@missionwealth.com
View original content:
SOURCE Mission Wealth Management, LP | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/19/top-ria-mission-wealth-continues-grow-east-coast-presence/ | 2022-09-19 12:57:03 | 1 | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/09/19/top-ria-mission-wealth-continues-grow-east-coast-presence/ |
(NEXSTAR) – It may not feel like summer in much of the country, but gas pumps nationwide are starting to deliver their summer blends. Though it has environmental benefits, the switch may hurt your wallet.
Within a week, prices at pumps across Wisconsin jumped by roughly 20 cents, sending the cost of a regular gallon of gasoline from around $3 to as much as $3.27, Nexstar’s WFRV reports. A spokesperson for AAA said the rollout of the summer fuel blend may be partially to blame for the price hikes.
It isn’t just Wisconsin that receives special fuel for the warmest time of the year.
AAA spokesperson Devin Gladden tells Nexstar the summer blend stems from regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that were enacted by Congress in 1990.
“The EPA sets regulations in the summer for communities that suffer from high and rather poor air condition based on smog and other particulate matter,” Gladden explains. “In the summer, that can become particularly more toxic and more pollutants can get trapped because it’s hot.”
From June 1 to September 15, the EPA regulates gasoline based on its “Reid vapor pressure,” or RVP. Because gasoline can evaporate easier during these warm summer months, the EPA requires gasoline to have a lower vapor pressure, which reduces air pollution. Winter-grade gasoline has a higher vapor pressure so your engine can start more easily.
Gas must meet a maximum per-gallon RVP, or Reid vapor pressure, of 9.0 psi unless the fuel is being sold in an area required to meet a lower RVP. Areas in Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah are required to meet a lower RVP of 7.8 psi. California has its own fuel, California reformulated gasoline, that is specially formulated to burn cleaner.
The switch to the summer blend will cost you more because producing the summer-grade gas is more expensive, Patrick De Haan, lead petroleum analyst at GasBuddy, told Nexstar.
Even during this transition period, prices at the pumps may rise as refineries tend to perform maintenance during spring to ensure they’re ready for summer’s high demand.
As of Thursday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline, according to AAA, is $3.47.
Alix Martichoux contributed to this report. | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/summer-blend-fuel-what-it-is-and-why-its-more-expensive/ | 2023-03-10 16:29:12 | 1 | https://www.localsyr.com/news/national/summer-blend-fuel-what-it-is-and-why-its-more-expensive/ |
VENICE, Calif., Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Inc. revealed that MagicLinks is No. 876 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
"We are incredibly honored to once again rank in the Top 20% of the Fastest Growing Companies in America. We pride ourselves on empowering the world's leading brands to strategically leverage their full marketing and social commerce capabilities in partnership with more than 25,000 creators on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Our three-year revenue growth of 724% illustrates the tremendous impact of our team's dedication to empowering both our brand partners and creators within the social commerce space; and demonstrates that our unique mix of proprietary creator data, powerful matching algorithms, and incredible employee talent is resonating with our 5,000+ brand partners who leverage our insights to scale their businesses," said Brian Nickerson, CEO, and Co-Founder of MagicLinks.
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144 percent. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine, which will be available on August 23.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
Since 2015, MagicLinks' 25,000+ influencers have driven $3B+ GMV in eCommerce transactions with over 375K+ videos, 30B+ views and 1.5B+ in fan reach.
Over the past 24 months, MagicLinks has ranked on the Los Angeles Business Journal's list of "Fastest-Growing Private Companies in LA" in 2020 and 2021. So far in 2022, the company has ranked on the Financial Times list of "Fastest Growing Companies in America", Los Angeles Business Journal's "Best Places To Work in Los Angeles" - Medium Sized Companies, and on BuiltinLA's list of "Best Small Companies to Work for in Los Angeles."
MagicLinks is an award-winning Certified B Corporation that powers social commerce through an exclusive platform for video influencers and the world's leading brands.
MagicLinks is an award-winning Influencer Marketing Platform and Certified B Corporation powering social commerce with Creators and the world's leading consumer brands. MagicLinks' proprietary technology, Match Intelligence™, provides strategic Creator matching for Brands looking to drive awareness, engagement, and sales across social media. The platform provides scalable, data-backed campaign solutions with dependable ROI and full-funnel reporting, while also providing Creators a reliable way to earn and grow their business.
To learn more about MagicLinks, please visit www.magiclinks.com.
CONTACT:
Alexis Papadopoulos
Alexis.Papadopoulos@magiclinks.com
(626) 802-0740
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine's September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across various channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced yearly since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best companies an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.
For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, visit http://conference.inc.com/.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE MagicLinks | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/third-consecutive-year-magiclinks-appears-inc-5000-with-three-year-revenue-growth-724/ | 2022-08-16 20:36:08 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/third-consecutive-year-magiclinks-appears-inc-5000-with-three-year-revenue-growth-724/ |
(NewsNation) — If you’ve recently been out to eat during the day, you may have noticed that your lunch costs more.
Although it has shown signs of moderating, inflation, which has plagued industries from fuel to agriculture, is still likely to remain far above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Consumer prices have seen an 8.3% leap in the last year. Now, some economists have come up with a new term — “Lunchflation” — to describe the effect inflation is having on the cost of people’s mid-day meals.
Food prices were up by 9.4% last month, according to the Labor Department. The food index saw its seventeenth consecutive monthly increase in April as well, going up by 0.9%.
Popular salad maker SweetGreen raised its prices back in January by 6%, while sandwich restaurant Potbelly raised its prices in February by 5.4%.
The payment company Square in March calculated the price of some popular lunch items in major cities.
It found prices went up between March 1, 2020 to March 1, 2022 for the following foods:
- Wraps by 13%
- Sandwiches by 15%
- Tacos by 19%
- Salads by 9%
- Burgers by 9%
- Soup by 28%
Square attributed the increased price of lunch for consumers to rising costs restaurants are facing, as they’ve seen labor and ingredient costs go up.
According to Business Insider, a national labor shortage means restaurants have raised wages to attract more staff after record resignations during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the industry’s low pay, lack of benefits and poor working condition. As Insider reported, supply chain shortages in the U.S. and major droughts in countries such as Brazil and Argentina haven’t helped matters.
“Restaurants have been among the hardest-hit businesses over the past few years, and now they’re facing rising costs across all parts of their business due to labor shortages and supply chain constraints,” said Bryan Solar, Head of Restaurants at Square, said the company’s report. “While technology offers many solutions, business from and relationships with the customer continue to be key to restaurants’ survival.” | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/lunchflation-means-the-cost-of-your-meal-is-going-up/ | 2022-06-01 17:19:33 | 0 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/lunchflation-means-the-cost-of-your-meal-is-going-up/ |
SAN FRANCISCO — A California man who pleaded guilty to plotting to firebomb the state Democratic Party’s headquarters and other buildings in Northern California must undergo a psychiatric examination, a judge said.
The court wants more information about the mental state of Ian Benjamin Rogers before he is sentenced, Senior U.S. District Judge Charles E. Breyer wrote in an order filed in San Francisco on Friday.
Prosecutors said Rogers and another man conspired to attack targets they associated with Democrats after former President Donald Trump’s defeat in the November 2020 presidential election, including the California governor’s mansion and buildings for social media companies Facebook and Twitter.
Breyer on Friday ordered sentencing documents turned over to a psychiatrist to “assess the defendant’s mental condition, recommend an appropriate course of treatment, if any, and assess the defendant’s dangerousness,” according to the order cited Monday by the Sacramento Bee.
A report is due within 60 days. Rogers' Oct. 27 sentencing date was postponed.
Rogers, of Napa, pleaded guilty in May to conspiring to destroy the building in Sacramento by fire or explosives, possessing an explosive device and possessing a machine gun as part of an agreement that could bring him seven to nine years in federal prison.
But three weeks ago, Breyer rejected the proposed plea agreement, saying he was concerned that Rogers hadn't shown any remorse for his actions and had told probation officials for a pre-sentencing report that he only felt bad for putting himself in a situation ”that allowed the government to destroy my life.”
The judge said: “I have to say in ... 23 years I’ve never seen that type of statement. I’ve never seen a defendant come in and simply say I regret I was caught.”
A co-defendant, Jarrod Copeland, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and destruction of records. He also was scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 27.
WATCH ALSO: | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/politics/man-who-wanted-to-blow-up-democratic-hq-psych-exam/103-7ddc8d6c-b5de-4fdc-b923-a44ff7f827b0 | 2022-10-18 05:42:32 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/politics/man-who-wanted-to-blow-up-democratic-hq-psych-exam/103-7ddc8d6c-b5de-4fdc-b923-a44ff7f827b0 |
WFO SAN DIEGO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Thursday, April 13, 2023
_____
WIND ADVISORY
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service San Diego CA
207 PM PDT Tue Apr 11 2023
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM WEDNESDAY TO 11 AM PDT
THURSDAY...
* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 55 mph expected
along the desert mountain slopes and immediately below mountain
passes with gusts elsewhere to 40 mph.
* WHERE...San Bernardino County Mountains, Riverside County
Mountains, San Diego County Mountains, Apple and Lucerne
Valleys, Coachella Valley, San Diego County Deserts and San
Gorgonio Pass Near Banning.
* WHEN...From 2 PM Wednesday to 11 AM PDT Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Difficult travel for high profile vehicles. Blowing
dust reducing visibilities. Gusty winds could blow around
unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.
_____
Copyright 2023 AccuWeather | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/ca-wfo-san-diego-warnings-watches-and-advisories-17891705.php | 2023-04-11 21:54:12 | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather/article/ca-wfo-san-diego-warnings-watches-and-advisories-17891705.php |
Shop this segment
This toy is known for standing up to large dogs and aggressive chewers. It has a hole through the center, so you can fill it with treats.
These balls are designed to bounce and float, making them an excellent choice for any terrain. Many reviewers said their dogs will play with them for hours at a time.
Petstages Dogwood Tough Dog Chew Toy
This is made from a synthetic wood material that looks, feels and tastes like natural wood. Although they aren’t built to stand the test of time, many reviewers said they stood up to aggressive chewers for several months.
This flavored toy is made of a durable nylon material. It has ridges and bumps that clean your dog’s teeth as it chews.
Copyright 2023 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/reviews/br/pets-br/small-animal-supplies-br/top-products-for-national-pets-week/ | 2023-03-28 14:29:55 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/reviews/br/pets-br/small-animal-supplies-br/top-products-for-national-pets-week/ |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Join Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) as we honor the nation's veterans in our virtual Veterans Day Show premiering Friday, Nov. 11. The Veterans Day show, presented by DISH Network, will air on WWP's Facebook and YouTube channels at noon EST, and at 5 p.m. EST on WWP's Twitch page. It will also broadcast on DISH Studio Channel 102 starting at 1:45 p.m. EST and continuing throughout the day. Hosted by former NFL player and TV host Jesse Palmer, national recording artists Lee Greenwood, known for his patriotic ballad "God Bless the U.S.A.," and a cappella group Straight No Chaser will appear in the show.
In addition to celebrity musical performances, the WWP Veterans Day Show will look at one of the first ways veterans often experience WWP through the organization's team in Germany. Viewers will also be treated to heartwarming interviews with veterans spanning generations. The show will highlight the importance of warriors connecting in their communities and spotlight ways veterans continue to serve others after service.
"Veterans Day is a chance to recognize the men and women who volunteered to protect our nation," said WWP CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Linnington. "Our online special gives you a chance to show support for veterans from your home, in case you cannot make one of the great parades around the nation."
"Our partnership with Wounded Warrior Project allows us to amplify the stories of men and women who have so bravely served," said Erik Carlson, president and chief executive officer, DISH Network. "We're proud to sponsor such an impactful initiative and to continue to provide the highest level of support for veterans and active military members."
The virtual Veterans Day Show is just one way WWP will connect, serve, and empower veterans around the nation this month. WWP continues its sponsorship of the NYC Veterans Day Parade, as it has for more than a decade. Veterans and families WWP serves will participate in parades around the country, including in New York City, Dallas, and Pittsburgh. WWP is also bringing veterans and families together during the week through service projects, sporting events, kayaking, group bicycle rides, and more. WWP's free programs and services in mental health, connection, physical health and wellness, financial wellness, and long-term rehabilitative care change lives.
About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more.
About DISH
DISH Network Corporation is a connectivity company. Since 1980, it has served as a disruptive force, driving innovation and value on behalf of consumers. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides television entertainment and award-winning technology to millions of customers with its satellite DISH TV and streaming SLING TV services. In 2020, the company became a nationwide U.S. wireless carrier through the acquisition of Boost Mobile. DISH continues to innovate in wireless, building the nation's first virtualized, O-RAN 5G broadband network. DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) is a Fortune 200 company.
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SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/11/09/wounded-warrior-project-honor-veterans-with-special-show-parades-more/ | 2022-11-09 14:05:55 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/11/09/wounded-warrior-project-honor-veterans-with-special-show-parades-more/ |
If you live in an apartment or in a city but love to garden, a hydroponic system will let you grow vegetables, fruits and herbs without taking up a lot of space. Best of all, you don’t even need to have a green thumb.
Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil. The planting medium can be vermiculite, perlite, coconut coir or other natural materials. Typically, the best hydroponic system for indoor gardening will utilize LED lights, which are not only highly efficient, but don’t emit as much heat (or use as much energy) as traditional light bulbs.
Another perk? No dirt. Or insects. Or fungal infestations that can arise from growing plants in soil. Hydroponics is an ideal solution for those without easy access to an outdoor gardening plot.
What’s Nice About Hydroponics
Unlike traditional outdoor gardening, you don’t have to rely on the weather with hydroponics. Indoor hydroponic plants can grow year-round. In fact, hydroponic plants typically grow 20% faster than those in soil — and with higher yields. With fewer barriers between the plants’ roots and the water, nutrients and oxygen, plants flourish faster.
Hydroponic gardening even requires less water than conventional gardening!
Experts recommend starting with greens like lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard and kale. Easy-to-grow herbs include basil, mint, oregano, parsley and cilantro. Hot peppers, strawberries and tomatoes are also easy wins for hydroponics rookies.
The Best Hydroponic System
Hydroponic systems for beginners grow plants in one of three ways: wick, water culture, and ebb and flow. Advanced systems might also include a nutrient film technique and an aeroponic system.
When you’re looking for the best hydroponic system, choose one with smart technology. This will require little effort once the plants are initially set up. Some systems automatically pump the water and nutrients and adapt the light and oxygen levels. And some do even more than that!
We suggest considering semi-permanent fixtures, such as ones that can be moved once started, so think about how much space you’ll need at first in your kitchen or spare bedroom. When you’re first starting out, opt for a smaller garden. Some systems are expandable, so keep an eye out for that feature if you want to take advantage of it.
Wick System
Beginner hydroponic growers will like the wick system — no moving parts or electrical components are required — and you can even make them yourself. Microgreens, herbs and peppers thrive in these types of systems. Word to the wise: Don’t try to grow water-hungry plants like tomatoes or lettuce in wick systems. They might suck up the nutrient solution faster than the wicks can move it.
To begin, set up a water reservoir that will sit beneath the tray that holds your plants. Then, connect the wicks to the growing tray through holes in the bottom of the tray. (Use a drill or screwdriver to create the holes if they aren’t there already.) The wicks will soak up the water from below, drawing it to the growing medium in the tray above. Place seedlings and your growing medium of choice in the growing tray like perlite, soilless mix or vermiculite. Lastly, place your system in a window sill or set up a light fixture. For incandescent bulbs, set the light 24 inches from the plants. LED lights can be six inches from plants while fluorescent lights work well about 12 inches away.
While the initial investment on a good hydroponic system won’t be cheap, it can really pay off once your garden is in full bloom.
This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money. Checkout Don't Waste Your Money for product reviews and other great ideas to save and make money. | https://www.kivitv.com/best-hydroponic-system-grow-plants-indoors | 2022-05-24 17:24:25 | 0 | https://www.kivitv.com/best-hydroponic-system-grow-plants-indoors |
Powell to face Senate grilling on Fed rates and inflation
If measures of the U.S. economy keep coming in hot, as they did in January, the Federal Reserve will likely have to raise interest rates even higher than it has already signaled — and keep them there longer — Chair Jerome Powell will likely warn in testimony to Congress on Tuesday.
Powell's first appearance before Congress in nine months coincides with recent signs that the economy remains resilient and inflation still stubbornly high. In the past year, the Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate at the fastest pace in four decades, to about 4.6%, its highest level in 15 years. But consumer spending, hiring and growth have yet to cool.
Several Fed officials said last week that they would favor raising the Fed's key rate above the 5.1% level they had projected in December if growth and inflation stay elevated. When the Fed raises its key rate, it typically makes mortgages, auto loans, credit card rates and business lending more expensive. It’s a trend that can slow spending and inflation but also risks sending the economy into a recession.
In his two days of semi-annual testimony to Congress — Powell will address the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday — the Fed chair will have to navigate a treacherous path: He will likely be pressed by Democrats concerned that ever-higher borrowing rates will tip the economy into recession and Republicans who have urged the Fed to act aggressively to slow price acceleration.
Inflation, as measured year over year, has slowed from its peak in June of 9.1% to 6.4%. But its progress stalled in January: The Fed's preferred measure of price increases rose from December to January by the most in seven months.
Powell has noted that so far, most of the slowdown in inflation reflects an unraveling of supply chains that have allowed more furniture, clothes, semiconductors and other physical goods to reach U.S. shores. By contrast, inflation pressures remain entrenched in numerous areas of the economy's vast service sector.
Rental and housing costs, for example, remain a significant driver of inflation. At the same time, the cost of a new apartment lease is growing much more slowly, a trend that should reduce housing inflation by mid-year, Powell has said.
But the prices of many services — from dining out to hotel rooms to haircuts — are still rising rapidly, with little sign that the Fed's rate hikes are having an effect. Fed officials say the costs of those services mainly reflect rising wages and salaries, which companies often pass on to their customers in the form of higher prices.
As a result, the Fed's monetary policy report to Congress, which it publishes in conjunction with the chair's testimony, said that quelling inflation will likely require “softer labor market conditions" — a euphemism for fewer job openings and more layoffs. | https://www.wmur.com/article/powell-senate-fed-rates-and-inflation/43229439 | 2023-03-07 13:25:54 | 1 | https://www.wmur.com/article/powell-senate-fed-rates-and-inflation/43229439 |
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A plan by Oregon’s largest county to distribute tin foil and straws for fentanyl users and glass pipes for methamphetamine and crack users has been halted after opposition from Portland’s mayor and other officials.
“Our health department went forward with this proposal without proper implementation protocols,” Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said in a statement to KGW-TV. “And in that light, I am suspending the program pending further analysis.”
The Multnomah County Health Department earlier this month updated its harm reduction program to include the distribution of smoking materials to people using drugs after noticing a drop in the number of drug users who sought out clean syringes from county workers. The workers also provide the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan and attempt to point users to possible treatment options.
“If they’re not coming into any health services at all, if we’re not engaging them at all, quite honestly people die in the shadows,” Jessica Guernsey, Multnomah County’s public health director, told KGW-TV, “and that’s what we’re trying to avoid.”
Like many states around the country, Oregon has grappled with a surge in opioid overdose deaths. In Portland, the county seat, police this year have investigated more than 130 overdose deaths — many of them fueled by fentanyl, a highly addictive and potentially lethal drug.
On July 7, the Multnomah County Health Department confirmed plans to begin distributing smoking materials and “snorting kits” to those who inhale drugs.
But high-ranking government leaders in Portland — including Mayor Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Rene Gonzalez — soon opposed the plans.
“There was no notification to me or to any of my colleagues,” Wheeler told KGW-TV. “Obviously, this is something we would have wanted to have a voice in. We would have opposed it.”
In a statement following the pause, a Multnomah County Health Department spokesperson said the office would focus on “expanding our legal analysis to deepen our confidence and assurance in the scope of our operations.” | https://cbs4indy.com/health/ap-health/ap-oregon-county-pauses-plan-to-distribute-tin-foil-straws-for-fentanyl-users/ | 2023-07-11 18:49:00 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/health/ap-health/ap-oregon-county-pauses-plan-to-distribute-tin-foil-straws-for-fentanyl-users/ |
Ben Shelton 2023 cinch Championships Odds
A match in the cinch Championships round of 16 is coming up for Ben Shelton, and he will be playing Lorenzo Musetti. Shelton's odds to win it all at The Queen's Club are +2200.
Find all the latest odds for the 2023 cinch Championships and place your bets with a new user bonus from BetMGM.
Shelton at the 2023 cinch Championships
- Next Round: Round of 16
- Tournament Dates: June 16-25
- Venue: The Queen's Club
- Location: London, United Kingdom
- Court Surface: Grass
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Shelton's Next Match
Shelton has advanced to the round of 16, where he will play Musetti on Wednesday, June 21 at 7:00 AM ET (after getting past Jeffrey John Wolf 7-6, 7-6).
Shelton is currently listed at +155 to win his next contest against Musetti. Check out the latest odds for the entire field at BetMGM.
Want to bet on Shelton? Head to BetMGM using our link for a bonus bet special offer for new players!
Shelton Stats
- In the Round of 32 on Monday, Shelton beat No. 47-ranked Wolf, 7-6, 7-6.
- Shelton has not won any of his 17 tournaments over the past year, with an overall record of 11-17.
- Shelton has played 29.0 games per match in his 28 matches over the past year across all court surfaces.
- When it comes to serve/return winning percentages over the past 12 months, Shelton has won 81.7% of his games on serve, and 16.7% on return.
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wafb.com/sports/betting/2023/06/16/ben-shelton-cinch-championships-betting-odds/ | 2023-06-20 03:31:42 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/sports/betting/2023/06/16/ben-shelton-cinch-championships-betting-odds/ |
JULY 8- JULY 14, 2022
From the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, to Novak Djokovic winning his seventh Wimbledon tennis championships in London, to cost-of-living protests in Nairobi, this photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Europe and Africa.
The selection was curated by AP photographer Ben Curtis in Nairobi.
Follow AP visual journalism:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
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AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-online/2022/07/15/ap-week-in-pictures-europe-and-africa | 2022-07-15 06:55:00 | 1 | https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/ap-online/2022/07/15/ap-week-in-pictures-europe-and-africa |
New Watch Page Helps Tax Practitioners Understand and Implement New Provisions
ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg Tax today announced the availability of a new Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Watch Page to help tax practitioners understand and execute needed changes due to key tax elements in the new budget reconciliation law H.R. 5376. For more information and to schedule a demo, visit http://onb-tax.com/SWHe50Kw2Ye.
The new Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Watch Page covers key tax provisions, including extension of the expanded Affordable Care Act health plan premium assistance program through 2025, an excise tax on stock buybacks, increased funding for IRS tax enforcement, expanded energy incentives, and a new corporate alternative minimum tax.
The new Watch Page features a Roadmap, which distills down the key tax components of the legislative changes in this sweeping social spending and tax package, with links to the updated Internal Revenue Code sections and other key documents. Bloomberg Tax's team of analysts and reporters provide the latest news, practitioner Insights, and OnPoints, which highlight key considerations for planning and impacts on businesses. Practitioners can leverage the tools on the Watch page and Bloomberg Tax's expert-written portfolios to navigate the significant changes made by the new law and optimize their position through scenario analysis.
"Bloomberg Tax's new Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Watch Page is a key resource for tax planning," said Heather Rothman, vice president for analysis and content, Bloomberg Tax & Accounting. "Placing all of this essential content together in one place allows practitioners to quickly find what they need on critical tax provisions including the $10,000 cap extension on SALT deductions, the 15% minimum tax on the income corporations report on their financial statements, the extension of Affordable Care Act health insurance premium tax credits, and dozens of other tax law changes."
About Bloomberg Tax & Accounting
Bloomberg Tax & Accounting provides practitioner-driven research and technology solutions that deliver timely, strategic insights to enable smarter decisions. From our unparalleled Tax Management Portfolios to technology designed to streamline the most complex planning and compliance scenarios, we deliver essential news and analysis, practical perspectives, and software that help tax and accounting professionals around the globe mitigate risk and maximize business results. For more information, visit Bloomberg Tax.
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SOURCE Bloomberg Tax & Accounting | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/new-resource-bloomberg-tax-inflation-reduction-act-2022/ | 2022-08-31 15:58:53 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/new-resource-bloomberg-tax-inflation-reduction-act-2022/ |
US reports another Takata air bag death, bringing toll to 33
DETROIT (AP) — U.S. safety regulators and Honda Motor Co. are urging drivers once again to make sure their vehicles haven’t been recalled after another person was killed by an exploding Takata air bag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday that the person was killed in a crash involving a 2002 Honda Accord when the driver’s air bag inflator ruptured and hurled shrapnel. Honda said the crash occurred on Feb. 22 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The identity of the victim wasn’t available Friday.
The death, which was recently confirmed, brings the number of people killed by the air bags to 33 worldwide, including at least 24 in the U.S.
Takata used ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical can become more volatile over time when exposed to moisture in the air and repeated high temperatures. The explosion can rupture a metal canister and hurl shrapnel into the passenger compartment.
Most of the deaths and about 400 injuries have happened in U.S. states with warmer weather.
NHTSA urged all owners to check to see if their vehicles have an unrepaired Takata air bag recall. Drivers can go to https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and key in their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if they have any open recalls.
“If this air bag ruptures in a crash, it could kill you or someone you love, or leave them with critical, life-altering injuries,” NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson said in a statement. “Every day that passes when you don’t get a recalled air bag replaced puts you and your family at greater risk of injury or death.”
The agency says even minor crashes can cause air bags to inflate with the potential for explosions that can kill or hurt people.
Potential for the dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with at least 67 million Takata inflators recalled. The U.S. government says that millions have not been repaired. About 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide. The exploding air bags sent Takata Corp. of Japan into bankruptcy.
Most of the deaths have been in the U.S., but they also have occurred in Australia and Malaysia.
The first death caused by a Takata inflator occurred in Oklahoma in 2009.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kswo.com/2022/12/09/us-reports-another-takata-air-bag-death-bringing-toll-33/ | 2022-12-09 19:55:07 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/2022/12/09/us-reports-another-takata-air-bag-death-bringing-toll-33/ |
Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 86F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..
Tonight
Thunderstorms. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by thunderstorms in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 86F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..
Tonight
Thunderstorms. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
BETTY J. NEAL, 88, of Franklin Furnace, Ohio, died July 15 at River Run Care Center. Per her wishes she will be cremated. Memorial donations should be made to your favorite charity.Brown Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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Obituaries for the Wayne County News, which publishes on Wednesday, must be received by 1 p.m. Tuesday. | https://www.herald-dispatch.com/obituaries/oh/betty-j-neal/article_b427a932-41d5-5f46-be8a-dc9fe4c53a08.html | 2022-07-17 07:16:19 | 1 | https://www.herald-dispatch.com/obituaries/oh/betty-j-neal/article_b427a932-41d5-5f46-be8a-dc9fe4c53a08.html |
A man in Houston, Texas, was caught on video trying to steal several packs of steaks from a grocery store during 4th of July.
According to police, the ordeal took place on 4th of July shortly before 5 p.m., when police said a man walked inside a Kroger supermarket and took steaks and other items from the meat section, NBC affiliate KPRC-TV reported.
Police said the man then began walking out of the store without paying for the items.
Surveillance video released by Houston police shows the man running to the exit with the items before a store employee tried to take some of them but was pushed away.
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Two store security guards were then able to stop the man and take the items back. The suspect then fled the location on foot.
Police are now offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with any information that leads to the charging and/or arrest of the suspect. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/video-shows-would-be-steak-thief-leaving-texas-store-empty-handed/4536300/ | 2023-07-26 01:46:44 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/video-shows-would-be-steak-thief-leaving-texas-store-empty-handed/4536300/ |
The long-anticipated Barbie movie is finally hitting theaters, and the stars aren't the only ones who can earn some cash from Barbie's big comeback.
Interest and values in older Barbie dolls are spiking this summer, which means if you have a Barbie doll, Ken doll, or accessories, now just might be the best time to cash in.
Sherry Smiley is not just a Barbie fan. This owner of a collectible doll shop -- O'Smiley's Dolls and Collectibles -- has hundreds of Barbie dolls in her collection.
She says the new movie is sparking interest in the dolls, especially brightly colored 90s Barbies that match the movie's look. And prices are rising on those.
"This doll we have priced at $149.99," she said, of one pristine condition doll from roughly 1995.
Smiley says you should check your closet for those big hair dolls that look like Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the new movie.
"Hollywood Hair Barbie is one of them," she said, "and Totally Hair Barbie."
"The movie is reflecting all of these dolls," she added.
Earlier and later dolls do not match the movie as much.
Look for trendy Barbies, houses, and accessories
Nationally renowned antique appraiser Dr. Lori of Netflix's "King of Collectibles" and The History Channel's "Pawn Stars" told us she's also seeing a much higher demand for Barbie appraisals. And it is no longer just for Barbies from the '60s or '70s.
"Sometimes it's the newer, trendier stuff that's more valuable," she said.
Dr. Lori says the search is on, not just for dolls but also for Barbie's friends and accessories.
"You look for the early houses, which are cardboard, very brightly colored."
But make sure it's the real thing. When buying a doll, Dr. Lori says to make sure it is legitimate and not a cheap copy: Barbies are clearly marked, usually on the back.
"Mattel did a very good job," she said, "of making sure that their dolls were actually marked."
As for clothing, "She has a label on her clothing, just like all the great designers," she said.
For sellers, she said condition is key, but a Barbie may be more valuable with
- The original box
- A doll stand
- And original clothing or accessories that she came with
If a little girl (or boy) cut the hair off and smeared lipstick all over the doll, making it look like something Sid played with in the original "Toy Story" movie, it is probably not worth more than a few dollars. But Smiley warns some Barbies many people think are most valuable -- the annual Holiday Barbies -- are not.
That's because millions of them never left their boxes, and there is now an oversupply of untouched dolls that today's 30-year-old women have no interest in,
"Why would they buy a Holiday Barbie," she said, "if their only memory is bad, how they did not get to play with them?"
So Smiley says check your closet for Barbies that look like the new movie. If it is a big-haired Barbie from the 80s or 90s, it may be going up in value. Look on eBay for recent pricing, and talk to a local toy or collectible store like hers to see if they may be interested.
And that way you don't waste your money.
_______________________
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For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com | https://www.kxlf.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/these-barbie-dolls-are-spiking-in-value-thanks-to-the-new-barbie-movie | 2023-07-19 13:16:28 | 1 | https://www.kxlf.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/these-barbie-dolls-are-spiking-in-value-thanks-to-the-new-barbie-movie |
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Rihanna was pregnant with her second child as she performed her Super Bowl halftime show Sunday.
The singer’s representative confirmed the pregnancy shortly after she ended her 13-minute set at Super Bowl 57. She hovered high at times as she performed a number of hits including “We Found Love,” “Diamonds” and “Work” during a halftime break between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The baby bump that was visible in the tight clothes she wore under her baggy red jumpsuit set off a wave of social media speculation that she might be pregnant again.
Rihanna, 34, has a 9-month-old son with rapper A$AP Rocky.
During her media preview Thursday, Rihanna said she was initially unsure about taking on the challenge of performing during a time when she was three months postpartum and wondered “should I be making major decisions like this right now? I might regret this.”
“But when you become a mom, there’s something that just happens where you feel like you can take on the world, you can do anything,” Rihanna said. “The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages of the world. As scary as that was, because I hadn’t been on stage in seven years, there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all.”
Rihanna said had to figure out how to fit some of her biggest songs into her 13-minute set.
“The setlist was the biggest challenge,” she said. “That was the hardest, hardest part. Deciding how to maximize 13 minutes but also celebrate — that’s what this show is going to be. It’s going to be a celebration of my catalog in the best way that we could have put it together.’
A nine-time Grammy Award-winner, Rihanna has 14 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, including “We Found Love,” “Work,” “Umbrella” and “Disturbia.” | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/entertainment-news/ap-rihanna-is-pregnant-again-rep-says-after-super-bowl-show/ | 2023-02-13 21:16:19 | 1 | https://www.conchovalleyhomepage.com/entertainment-news/ap-rihanna-is-pregnant-again-rep-says-after-super-bowl-show/ |
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the road to the World Series goes through Houston.
That is shaping up to be the case again this year as the Astros became the first American League club to clinch a playoff spot.
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The Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-0, Monday at Tropicana Field, to clinch their fifth AL West title in six years.
At 97-51, the Astros have an eight-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League. The Yankees, you may remember, had their playoff dreams dashed in 2017 and 2019 by the Astros, who enjoyed home-field advantage both seasons, giving them the edge in the American League Championship Series each year.
Thanks to Monday’s win, the Astros are playoff bound for the sixth straight year.
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Tampa Bay (82-65) is in position for the second of three AL wild card berths, one game behind the Toronto Blue Jays (83-64) and a half-game ahead of the Seattle Mariners (81-65).
The Rays are in third place in the American League East, 6.5 games behind the Yankees. The Blue Jays are in second place, 5.5 games back.
MORE MLB:
- Yankees, Mets set to pay luxury tax
- Mets clinch playoff spot behind dominating performance from Max Scherzer
- Ex-Yankees coach: ‘I love Aaron Judge like a son’ but he’s not the MVP
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. | https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/09/yankees-watch-astros-clinch-playoff-spot-road-to-world-series-goes-through-houston.html | 2022-09-20 11:52:42 | 1 | https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/09/yankees-watch-astros-clinch-playoff-spot-road-to-world-series-goes-through-houston.html |
NEW YORK, July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of Rain Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ: RAIN) between July 20, 2021 and May 19, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 12, 2023.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Rain securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Rain class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17859 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 12, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Rain concealed risks inherent in the design of its Phase 3 MANTRA study particularly with regard to proceeding directly to Phase 3 from Phase 1; and (2) as a result, Rain's statements about the trial and the likelihood of U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approval were materially misleading during the Class Period. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Rain class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17859 mailto:or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
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Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
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SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/28/rain-notice-rosen-trusted-top-ranked-investor-counsel-encourages-rain-oncology-inc-investors-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-rain/ | 2023-07-28 19:27:08 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/28/rain-notice-rosen-trusted-top-ranked-investor-counsel-encourages-rain-oncology-inc-investors-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-rain/ |
POTOMAC, Md., June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Curbio, the nation's leading fix now, pay-at-closing home improvement solution for real estate agents and their clients, today announced the addition of Thrive Real Estate Group to its brokerage partnerships program. Thrive Real Estate Group is a boutique firm focused on Denver real estate and the surrounding cities.
With this partnership, Thrive Real Estate Group has created its new REjuvenate program, powered by Curbio. The REjuvenate program is a true concierge service that not only fronts the costs for all updates, but also handles all the details from proposal to punch list, quickly transforming homes into the move-in condition buyers want while maximizing the value for sellers.
"We are so excited to be partnering with Thrive Real Estate Group, to help their real estate agents and clients get any listing ready for market and sold for top dollar with ease. With Curbio, Thrive Real Estate Group and their agents have gained access to a completely customizable concierge solution that will help their clients to achieve their listing goals, with no payment due until the property sells," said Olivia Mariani, VP of Marketing at Curbio.
With Curbio's brokerage partnerships program, brokerages gain a true partner in their business. In addition to gaining a custom concierge solution, partnered brokerages receive personalized onboarding and support from the Curbio team, including ongoing trainings and exclusive events. Partnerships can be leveraged not only as a tool for improving the client experience, but also to help brokerages recruit and retain top agent talent.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Curbio to create our new REjuvenate program, which will be an incredible resource for our agents and clients. This will be an invaluable partnership for us as we strive to continue providing our clients with tools and resources that are second to none, helping them to sell their homes in minimum time and for maximum value," said David Ness, President and Managing Broker of Thrive Real Estate Group.
Curbio was founded in 2017 to transform the multi-billion-dollar home improvement industry and has quickly become the nation's leading pay-at-closing home improvement solution. The company partners exclusively with real estate agents and their clients to get any home ready for the market, allowing it to sell faster and for top dollar. Using technology to power their service, Curbio completes pre-listing home improvement projects of any size quickly and without hassle, from start to finish, with zero payment due until the home sells. Curbio is trusted by thousands of realtors and brokerages nationwide, and has been continuously recognized for its exemplary solution, receiving nods in HousingWire, Qualified Remodeler and Comparably, to name a few.
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SOURCE Curbio | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/curbio-announces-brokerage-partnership-with-thrive-real-estate-group/ | 2022-06-08 16:59:16 | 0 | https://www.kswo.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/curbio-announces-brokerage-partnership-with-thrive-real-estate-group/ |
CA Medford, OR Zone Forecast for Wednesday, August 24, 2022
_____
329 FPUS56 KMFR 250934
ZFPMFR
Zone Forecast Product for Southern Oregon and Northern California
National Weather Service Medford, OR
234 AM PDT Thu Aug 25 2022
CAZ080-252300-
Western Siskiyou County-
Including the cities of Somes Bar, Happy Camp, Callahan, Etna,
Fort Jones, Greenview, and Scott Bar
234 AM PDT Thu Aug 25 2022
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s. Southeast winds
around 5 mph shifting to the west late this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s. Northwest winds
5 to 10 mph shifting to the northeast after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s. East winds
around 5 mph shifting to the northwest in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the north around 5 mph
after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy.
Highs in the lower 70s to lower 80s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 70s to
mid 80s. Lows in the lower 50s to lower 60s.
.MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the lower 80s
to lower 90s. Lows in the mid 50s to mid 60s.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s to lower 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s
to lower 60s. Highs in the lower 80s to lower 90s.
$$
CAZ081-252300-
Central Siskiyou County-
Including the cities of Hilt, Klamath River, and Yreka
234 AM PDT Thu Aug 25 2022
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs 90 to 100. Southeast winds around 5 mph
shifting to the south.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 60s. Northwest winds
10 to 15 mph shifting to the north around 5 mph after midnight,
then shifting to the northeast well after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s. Southeast winds
around 5 mph shifting to the north in the late morning and early
afternoon, then shifting to the northwest late in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
North winds 10 to 15 mph decreasing to around 5 mph well after
midnight.
.SATURDAY...Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s to lower 80s.
North winds 5 to 10 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the lower 80s
to lower 90s. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
.MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 80s to
mid 90s. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s
to lower 60s. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s.
$$
CAZ082-252300-
South Central Siskiyou County-
Including the cities of Mount Shasta, Dunsmuir, and McCloud
234 AM PDT Thu Aug 25 2022
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s. East winds
around 5 mph shifting to the south this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower 50s to lower 60s. Southwest
winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the north after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s to lower 90s. Northeast
winds around 5 mph shifting to the south in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s to lower 60s.
West winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the north after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s to lower 80s. North
winds around 5 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Colder. Lows in the lower 40s to
lower 50s.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 70s to
mid 80s. Lows in the mid 40s to mid 50s.
.MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the lower 80s
to lower 90s. Lows in the lower 50s to lower 60s.
.TUESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s to lower 90s.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Cooler. Lows in the mid 40s to mid
50s.
.WEDNESDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s to lower 90s.
$$
CAZ083-252300-
North Central and Southeast Siskiyou County-
Including the cities of Pondosa, Bray, and Tennant
234 AM PDT Thu Aug 25 2022
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s to lower 90s. South winds
around 5 mph shifting to the southwest 10 to 15 mph late this
afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the mid 50s to lower 60s. West winds
10 to 15 mph decreasing to around 5 mph well after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s to lower 90s. Northeast
winds around 5 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s to lower 60s.
West winds 10 to 15 mph decreasing to around 5 mph after
midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s to lower 80s. West
winds 10 to 15 mph.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Cooler. Lows in the mid 40s to
mid 50s.
.SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 70s to
mid 80s. Lows in the mid 40s to mid 50s.
.MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower
50s to lower 60s. Highs in the lower 80s to lower 90s.
$$
CAZ084-252300-
Northeast Siskiyou and Northwest Modoc Counties-
Including the cities of Newell, Tulelake, Dorris, and Macdoel
234 AM PDT Thu Aug 25 2022
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs around 90. Southeast winds around 5 mph
shifting to the southwest late this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 50s. West winds 5 to
10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s. Southwest
winds around 5 mph early in the morning becoming light, then
becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the west around 5 mph
after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s. West winds
5 to 10 mph shifting to the northwest around 15 mph late in the
afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s to lower
50s.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs around 80. Lows in
the mid 40s to lower 50s.
.MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 80s to
lower 90s. Lows in the mid 40s to mid 50s.
$$
CAZ085-252300-
Modoc County-
Including the cities of Day, Lookout, Adin, Alturas, Canby,
Davis Creek, and Likely
234 AM PDT Thu Aug 25 2022
.TODAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s. South winds
around 5 mph shifting to the southwest late this afternoon.
.TONIGHT...Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 50s. Southwest winds
10 to 15 mph decreasing to around 5 mph well after midnight.
.FRIDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s. Southwest
winds 5 to 10 mph.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower to mid 50s. West
winds 10 to 20 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight.
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s. Southwest
winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the west 10 to 20 mph late in the
afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s to lower
50s.
.SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 70s
to mid 80s. Lows in the mid 40s to mid 50s.
.TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 80s
to lower 90s. Lows in the lower to mid 50s.
$$
Visit us at www.weather.gov/Medford
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/CA-Medford-OR-Zone-Forecast-17397059.php | 2022-08-25 10:27:17 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/CA-Medford-OR-Zone-Forecast-17397059.php |
WEST MONROE, La. (KTVE/KARD) — The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office is attempting to located 53-year-old R.L. Axton Jr. who was last seen leaving his West Monroe residence on June 19, 2022. According to deputies, Axton is described as a White male, standing six feet, and weighing 170 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes.
He is believed to be traveling in a olive green 2013 GMC Terrain with pearl gold flaking and chrome wheels. If you know the whereabouts of Axton contact the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-329-1200. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/top-stories/missing-person-authorities-attempting-to-locate-missing-west-monroe-man/ | 2022-06-22 18:26:37 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/top-stories/missing-person-authorities-attempting-to-locate-missing-west-monroe-man/ |
NATICK, Mass., Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AffyImmune Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company using its Tune & Track platform to develop CAR T cells for the treatment of solid cancers, announced today that serial biotech entrepreneur Robert Forrester has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Mr. Forrester's biotech experience spans more than two decades as a chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief executive officer, and board member. He brings decades of corporate leadership experience and an established track record of scaling startups from early stage to their growth phase.
"It gives me great pleasure to welcome Robert to AffyImmune's Board of Directors to help steer and govern the company as it scales up its clinical development from advanced thyroid cancers to additional indications. Robert's management experience, strategic mindset, industry connectivity and strong interest in AffyImmune will make him a valuable addition. The Board and team are both committed to bringing true patient benefits to those who suffer from solid tumors by using our proprietary Tune & Track CAR T technology," said Simone Song, Chair of AffyImmune's Board of Directors and the founding partner of ORI Capital and ORI Healthcare Funds. "As AffyImmune continues its growth, ORI Capital will continue to incubate, support, and add value, particularly through the attraction and development of top-tier talent."
"AffyImmune's technology and team make it uniquely positioned to be an industry leader, bringing the promise of CAR T cell therapy to patients with solid tumors," Mr. Forrester explained. "It is an honor to join this team and this board as we bring hope to patients facing dire diagnoses with limited treatment options. In my previous work with ORI-incubated companies, I have seen firsthand their dedication to excellence, and that is reflected in the expert management team now assembled to lead AffyImmune into the next phase of their clinical and corporate development. I look forward to drawing on my experience and network to assist the AffyImmune team through this next phase, provide input to and help guide key strategic decisions, and provide counsel to management."
"Robert brings a wealth of experience to AffyImmune, and our management team will certainly benefit from lessons learned in his time as an executive and a director throughout the biotech sector. He has rapidly become a trusted partner to our management team, and we look forward to working with him in the years to come," said AffyImmune President Matt Britz.
Mr. Forrester is a co-founder of EQRx. He is also a co-founder and serves on the board of IDRx, Brixton Biosciences and EyeCool Therapeutics. He also serves on the boards of Pillar Biosciences and Deciduous Therapeutics. He holds law degrees from the University of Bristol and University of Law Guildford in the United Kingdom.
AffyImmune is realizing the potential of cancer immunotherapy by extending the anti-cancer activity of CAR T cell therapy to solid tumors. AffyImmune's Tune & Track platform finely tunes the affinity of CAR T cells to reduce toxicity and increase CAR T cell longevity while allowing in vivo monitoring through a proprietary tracking system. The company was founded in 2016 and in 2020 began enrolling patients in its Phase 1 trial to treat advanced thyroid cancer.
Contact Information:
Matt Britz
AffyImmune Therapeutics, Inc.
508-654-3600 x2
mbritz@affyimmune.com
View original content:
SOURCE AffyImmune Therapeutics | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/affyimmune-therapeutics-adds-serial-entrepreneur-robert-forrester-board-directors/ | 2022-09-29 15:58:00 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/29/affyimmune-therapeutics-adds-serial-entrepreneur-robert-forrester-board-directors/ |
chrysalis
margarita sugar
Music By Chrysalis · March 19, 2022
It’s a distinctive, yet uncommon skill to be able to sing powerfully polished on a recording and on stage, but that’s exactly what Isa Ansin, professionally known as chrysalis, does. In fact, pressing play on any of their songs is nothing short of hearing them perform live. Despite studying full-time amongst fellow young musicians at Berklee College of Music, the singer-songwriter also frequently performs at local music venues in Boston. They’ve even achieved widespread acclaim and recognition for their original music and covers on TikTok and their supporting acts for Kat Cunning and VÉRITÉ on tour.
In mid-March, they released their debut EP, margarita sugar, which consists of five tracks riveting with passion. The minuscule moments of their shuffling guitar and the screech of its strings is what makes each song on the project incredibly raw and unfiltered. Notably, the harmonic build up of their background vocals as well as the eccentric plucking and strumming rhythms of their guitar playing immediately proves the release to be a successful merge between folk, indie-pop, and neo-soul.
Even though their lyrics are quite literal, they include vivid imagery and metaphors that are beautifully clever. In “200 miles,” this writing style is exemplified within the lyric “Something ‘bout leaving you always leaves me feeling less than whole.” It’s essentially a song emulating a memory which anyone who’s dealt with the personal difficulties of being away from their partner can relate to. The song doesn’t hold back from being a reflection on unfortunate circumstances, but it’s delivered in a manner that’s impressively self-aware.
With “july,” their sound slightly picks up speed with brighter instrumentals which encourages listeners to move to the beat. But, there’s no doubt that chrysalis’ voice is a subject in itself. The vocal runs in their songs embellish the vulnerability of their lyrics, yet holds incredible control. “You’ve been the missing puzzle piece I’ve been looking for” is a lyric in the song that is like an eye-opening insight into a love letter. Ansin consistently remains on theme with reference to expressing themselves about their romantic relationship.
The pains of processing unexpected change is also present in their music, especially in “unknown.” The lyrics “Penny for my thoughts?/You’re gonna need a couple dimes” and “I don’t wanna be alone/I don’t fit in the unknown” are heart-wrenching, yet honest. The complexities of accepting loss is a concept chrysalis explores in the verses and chorus. They demonstrate the ability to face their inner struggles regardless of how hard it can be. Towards the tail end of the song, chrysalis introduces listeners to softer tones which sonically transitions into a lullaby due to its whisper-like components.
Their debut single and title track of the EP, “margarita sugar,” has gained more than 15,000 streams on Spotify since its initial release in February. The song repeatedly switches between the narrative of rationalizing a falling out and considering a rekindlement. “Was I crazy to think that you and I were in sync?” and “But I know I’ll see you again” are lyrics that not only emphasize their overwhelming emotions, but demonstrate the depth of their songwriting. They’ve also experimented with a more complex song structure at this point in the EP.
An outpour of feelings which function as a climactic confession is elegantly conveyed in “dreaming in the day.” The song is dynamically diverse with steady beats that are overlapped with the rise and fall of chrysalis’ voice. It begins on a hopeful note with uplifting whistles, but shifts into a somber realization with the lyrics “I made the mistake of skipping the break/I rushed to fill hole and the mess that you made.” The song is like a calm closing scene to what completes margarita sugar as a whole.
In an interview with Hug the Tree Foundation, chrysalis describes their music to be “very intimate.” They also aim for listeners to consider their songs to be “welcoming” and “something to relate to.” Despite just recently putting out music on multiple streaming platforms, they regularly work alongside an all-queer band in order to maintain a creative, yet collaborative space. Ansin also consistently makes patchwork for mutual aid aside from performing shows. In the meantime, there are high hopes for what’s to come next on chrysalis’ future projects. | https://wrbbradio.org/2022/04/27/chrysalis-margarita-sugar-is-an-astounding-debut-ep/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chrysalis-margarita-sugar-is-an-astounding-debut-ep | 2022-05-05 17:52:42 | 1 | https://wrbbradio.org/2022/04/27/chrysalis-margarita-sugar-is-an-astounding-debut-ep/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chrysalis-margarita-sugar-is-an-astounding-debut-ep |
- State-of-the-art shelf checking AI solution utilizes Google's recognition of billions of products
- Google Cloud's Discovery AI solutions launches new AI features to power ecommerce sites with modern browsing capabilities, personalized shopping experiences, and better product recommendations
NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of NRF 2023, the retail industry's largest event, Google Cloud today introduced four new and updated AI technologies to help retailers transform their in-store shelf checking processes and enhance their ecommerce sites with more fluid and natural online shopping experiences for customers.
A new shelf checking AI solution, built on Google Cloud's Vertex AI Vision, utilizes Google's database of facts about people, places and things, giving retailers the ability to recognize billions of products to ensure in-store shelves are right-sized and well-stocked. Furthermore, in an update to its Discovery AI solutions, Google Cloud introduced a new personalization AI capability and new AI-powered browse feature to help retailers upgrade their digital storefronts with more dynamic and intuitive shopping experiences. Finally, Google Cloud's Recommendations AI solution launched new machine learning capabilities that empower retailers to dynamically optimize product ordering and recommendations panels on their ecommerce pages and deliver personalized suggestions for repeat purchases.
"Upheavals over the last few years have reshaped the retail landscape and the tools retailers need to be more efficient, more compelling to their customers, and less exposed to future shocks," said Carrie Tharp, VP of Retail and Consumer, Google Cloud. "Despite uncertainty, the retail industry has enormous opportunity. The leaders of tomorrow will be those who address today's most pressing in-store and online challenges with the newest technology tools, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning."
The problem of low or no inventory on in-store shelves is a troubling one for retailers. According to a NielsenIQ analysis of on-shelf availability, empty shelves cost U.S. retailers $82 billion in missed sales in 2021 alone. While retailers have tried different shelf-checking technologies for years, their effectiveness has often been limited by the resources needed to create reliable AI models to detect and differentiate products—from the different flavors of jam and jelly, to the dozens of types of toothbrushes.
Now available in preview globally, Google Cloud's new AI-powered shelf checking solution can help retailers improve on-shelf product availability, provide better visibility into what their shelves actually look like, and help them understand where restocks are needed. Built on Google Cloud's Vertex AI Vision and powered by two machine learning models—a product recognizer and tag recognizer—the shelf checking AI enables retailers to solve a very difficult problem: how to identify products of all types, at scale, based solely on the visual and text features of a product, and then translate that data into actionable insights.
Retailers don't have to expend time, effort, and investment into data collection and training their own AI models. Leveraging Google's database of billions of unique entities, Google Cloud's shelf checking AI can identify products from a variety of image types taken at different angles and vantage points—an especially difficult task. Retailers will have a high degree of flexibility in the types of imagery they can supply to the shelf checking AI. For example, a retailer can use imagery from a ceiling-mounted camera, an associate's mobile phone, or a store-roaming robot on shelf-checking duty.
Now in preview, this technology is expected to be generally available to retailers globally in the coming months. Importantly, a retailer's imagery and data remains their own and the AI can only be used for the identification of products and price tags.
People don't always know what they want. That's why they window shop or browse through websites, looking for inspiration.
To help retailers make the online browsing and product discovery experience more modern, faster, intuitive, and fulfilling for shoppers, Google Cloud today introduced a new AI-powered browse feature in its Discovery AI solutions for retailers. The capability uses machine learning to select the optimal ordering of products on a retailer's ecommerce site once shoppers choose a category, like "women's jackets" or "kitchenware."
Over time, the AI learns the ideal product ordering for each page on an ecommerce site using historical data, optimizing how and what products are shown for accuracy, relevance, and likelihood of making a sale. The feature can be used on a variety of ecommerce site pages, from browse, brand, and landing pages, to navigation and collection pages.
Historically, ecommerce sites have sorted product results based on either category bestseller lists or human-written rules, like manually determining what clothing to highlight based on seasonality. This browse technology takes a whole new approach, self-curating, learning from experience, and requiring no manual intervention. In addition to driving significant improvements in revenue per visit, it can also save retailers the time and expense of manually curating multiple ecommerce pages. The new tool is now generally available to retailers worldwide supporting 72 languages.
Research commissioned by Google Cloud found that 75% of shoppers prefer brands that personalize interactions and outreach to them, and 86% want a brand that understands their interests and preferences.
To help retailers create more fluid and intuitive online shopping experiences, Google Cloud today introduced a new AI-driven personalization capability that customizes the results a customer gets when they search and browse a retailer's website. The technology turbo-charges the capabilities of Google Cloud's new browse offering and existing Retail Search solution.
The AI underpinning the new personalization capability is a product-pattern recognizer that uses a customer's behavior on an ecommerce site, such as their clicks, cart, purchases, and other information, to determine shopper taste and preferences. The AI then moves products that match those preferences up in search and browse rankings for a personalized result. A shopper's personalized search and browse results are based solely on their interactions on that specific retailer's ecommerce site, and are not linked to their Google account activity. The shopper is identified either through an account they have created with the retailer's site, or by a first-party cookie on the website.
As with all Google Cloud solutions, customers own and control their data—information on customer preferences stays with the retailer. This technology is now generally available to retailers worldwide.
Product recommendation systems are now a critical component of any retailer's ecommerce strategy for good reason: online retail sales are expected to reach more than $8 trillion by 2026. However, retailers have long had difficulty determining which panels to display on their websites, how to effectively arrange them, and how to coordinate content that is both relevant and personalized. Google Cloud's Recommendations AI solution uses machine learning to help retailers bring product recommendations to their shoppers.
New upgrades to Recommendations AI, announced today, can make a retailer's ecommerce properties even more personalized, dynamic and helpful for individual customers. For example, a new page-level optimization feature now enables an ecommerce site to dynamically decide what product recommendation panels to uniquely show to a shopper. Page-level optimization also minimizes the need for resource intensive user experience testing, and can improve user engagement and conversion rates.
In addition, a recently added revenue optimization feature uses machine learning to offer better product recommendations that can lift revenue per user session on any ecommerce site. A machine learning model, built in collaboration with DeepMind, combines an ecommerce site's product categories, item prices, and customer clicks and conversions to find the right balance between long-term satisfaction for shoppers and revenue lift for retailers. Finally, a new buy-it-again model leverages a customer's shopping history to provide personalized recommendations for potential repeat purchases.
Compared to baseline recommendation systems used by Google Cloud customers, Recommendations AI has shown double digit uplift in conversion and clickthrough rates in experiments controlled by retailers using the technology. The new page-level optimization, revenue optimization and buy-it-again models are now globally available to retailers.
Google Cloud's shelf checking AI tool is now in preview globally. The new ecommerce technologies, including the personalization AI capability, browse feature, and updates to Recommendations AI (page level optimization machine learning model, revenue optimization model, and buy-it-again model) are all now globally available to retailers. NRF event attendees can learn more about the latest, AI-driven innovations for retailers at Google's event booth #5607.
Google Cloud accelerates every organization's ability to digitally transform its business. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology – all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems.
View original content:
SOURCE Google Cloud | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/13/google-cloud-unveils-new-ai-tools-retailers/ | 2023-01-13 13:29:17 | 0 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/13/google-cloud-unveils-new-ai-tools-retailers/ |
WASHINGTON — Lance Reddick's wife has broken her silence following her husband's unexpected death.
Stephanie Reddick posted on her late husband's Instagram account on Saturday and thanked fans for their "overwhelming" support. The "John Wick" actor died of natural causes on Friday morning at the age of 60.
"Lance was taken from us far too soon. Thank you for all your overwhelming love, support and beautiful stories shared on these platforms over the last. day," Stephanie wrote. "I see your messages and can't begin to express how grateful I am to have them."
In tribute to her late husband, the actor's wife shared several photos. She even included a picture of Commander Zavala, which Reddick voices in the video game "Destiny."
"And to the thousands of Destiny players who played in special tribute to Lance, thank you. Lance loved you as much as he loved the game," she added.
Stephanie said donations can be made to momcares.org in Baltimore, Maryland, Reddick's hometown.
Reddick’s death comes just days before the theatrical release of "John Wick: Chapter 4," which he stars in.
“John Wick — Chapter Four” will be dedicated to Reddick, said director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves, who said in a statement they were “deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss.”
The latest installment of the franchise had Reddick reprise his role as Charon, the multi-skilled Continental Hotel concierge.
His upcoming projects include 20th Century’s remake of “White Men Can’t Jump” and “Shirley,” Netflix’s biopic of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. He was also slated to appear in the “John Wick” spinoff “Ballerina,” as well as “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.”
He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Reddick, and children, Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/nation-world/lance-reddicks-wife-instagram-post-husband-death/507-fbe2f71e-206c-40a2-b9cc-716d87bdbf47 | 2023-03-19 11:52:19 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/nation-world/lance-reddicks-wife-instagram-post-husband-death/507-fbe2f71e-206c-40a2-b9cc-716d87bdbf47 |
HOUSTON — A Texas police officer was acquitted Tuesday of an assault charge related to the 2019 fatal shooting of Pamela Turner, a woman with a history of mental illness, after the two struggled over his stun gun.
Delacruz, who is Hispanic, shot Turner after a struggle with the 44-year-old Black woman that a bystander captured on video. Authorities say the confrontation began after Delacruz tried to arrest Turner on warrants for several misdemeanor charges.
The footage showed Delacruz standing over Turner and reaching down to try to grab her arms. Turner then yells, “I’m pregnant.” Moments later, something flashes as she reaches her arm out toward the officer. Suddenly, Delacruz pulls away and fires five gunshots.
The verdict upset Turner’s family. Her family and Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said jurors were prevented by the judge from hearing evidence related to past encounters Turner and Delacruz had and his knowledge about her struggles with mental illness.
“This is not fair, and we are tired of it,” said Antoinette Dorsey-James, Turner’s sister.
Ogg called Turner’s death a tragedy and said that when “the jury isn’t able to receive all the evidence, it’s hard for justice to be heard.”
Greg Cagle, one of Delacruz’s attorneys, said that the police officer shot Turner in self-defense only after she used his stun gun against him and that he feared for his life.
“Pamela Turner made a decision to evade arrest, to resist arrest, take a weapon from a police officer, not only take it but then use it against him,” Cagle told jurors Monday.
During closing arguments Monday, prosecutors questioned whether Delacruz was in danger, saying that he had been able to move several feet away after the confrontation and that he shot Turner while she was still on the ground.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Turner’s family, has said she was not pregnant but had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
“She wasn’t perfect, and we’ve not tried to hide that from you guys today,” prosecutor Timothy Adams told jurors. “But the fact is she did not deserve to die on the sidewalk, a few feet from her home.”
Crump, who in recent years has represented victims of police brutality and vigilante violence and has been the lawyer for the families of Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, called the jury’s verdict “a setback in the effort for equal justice under the law in America.”
After her death, rallies critical of the police shooting were held by Black Lives Matter Houston and community activists.
Delacruz, who has been with the Baytown police department since 2008, did not face any disciplinary action after the shooting and was placed on administrative assignment within the police department while awaiting his trial.
In a statement, the Baytown police department said it’s still doing an internal review of the shooting.
“While there may be differing opinions on the verdict, this case was tried in a court of law before a jury of Harris County citizens. We ask for respect of this legal process and for citizens to express themselves in a peaceful manner,” the police department said.
If he had been convicted, Delacruz would have faced from five years to life in prison.
A federal civil rights lawsuit Turner’s family has filed against Delacruz and the city of Baytown remains pending.
___
Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-officer-acquitted-of-assault-in-fatal-2019-shooting/2022/10/11/7204a02c-49a2-11ed-8153-96ee97b218d2_story.html | 2022-10-11 22:25:47 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-officer-acquitted-of-assault-in-fatal-2019-shooting/2022/10/11/7204a02c-49a2-11ed-8153-96ee97b218d2_story.html |
Greater Omaha Packing organized the logistical feat, set to feed more than 270,000 people
OMAHA, Neb., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- When Henry Davis, CEO of Greater Omaha Packing, saw photos of war-torn Ukraine, he mobilized the company to action. Now, 27,600 pounds of ground beef have arrived on Ukrainian soil in two separate shipments, and an additional shipment of 40,000 pounds is set to arrive in July.
Greater Omaha Packing employees embraced the logistical feat of delivering beef to a war-torn country. The first shipment of several arrived April 27, 2022, via air freight delivery, and the second arrived in Ukraine June 13, 2022. One additional shipment will occur in July, providing a total of 67,600 pounds of beef - enough beef to feed more than 270,000 people.
"At Greater Omaha Packing, we live in a country where freedom and opportunity enable us to produce the finest beef and for our employees to provide for their families," Davis said. "It is a natural extension of our company's mission to help Ukrainians fight for those same opportunities in their own country."
Greater Omaha Packing has engaged partners in each step of the supply chain, from ensuring the meat was marked as humanitarian aid to recommending preservation practices to keep beef safe amidst unreliable refrigeration. For many Ukrainians, this may be their first time eating meat in months.
"It was a privilege to put our familiarity with the supply chain to good use while delivering beef to Ukraine," said Mike Drury, Greater Omaha Packing president. "Greater Omaha Packing has customers in 70 countries around the world, and our employees mobilized those networks to accomplish this logistical feat."
About Greater Omaha Packing Company
From pasture to plate, since 1920, Greater Omaha Packing Co. has been known for the finest quality beef products, service, and delivery. As a single-source supplier of the highest quality beef in the world, Greater Omaha Packing Co. processes 2,400 head of the nation's finest, high-quality cattle each day for customers in retail, foodservice, and manufacturing. With more than $1.8 billion in annual sales, nearly 1,450 employees, and beef shipments to more than 70 countries around the world, quality is an all-encompassing attitude at Greater Omaha Packing Co. To find out more, visit greateromaha.com.
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SOURCE Greater Omaha Packing | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/nebraskan-company-donates-67600-pounds-beef-ukraine/ | 2022-06-23 15:42:09 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/nebraskan-company-donates-67600-pounds-beef-ukraine/ |
Former Seattle Mariners pitching star joins Mariano Rivera, Barry Larkin, Adrián Beltré, and Elvis Andrus as co-owner and investor in new Dubai-based professional baseball league
DUBAI, UAE, April 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseball United, the first-ever professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, announced today that former Seattle Mariners legend, Felix Hernandez, has joined its investment and ownership group. Spending his entire 15-year career in Seattle, Hernandez went to six All-Star games, won a Cy Young award, and is the Mariners career leader in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, ERA, and WAR for pitchers. His 2,524 career strikeouts rank 37th in Major League Baseball history.
Hernandez is also the last Major League Baseball pitcher to throw a perfect game – one of the rarest feats in baseball in which no batters reach base and a pitcher records 27 straight outs within nine-innings. Hernandez became just the 23rd pitcher in history to accomplish this feat on August 15, 2012 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Widely regarded as one of the best pitchers in franchise history, "King Felix" will be inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame on August 12, 2023.
"It's such an honor to add Felix to our ownership team," said Kash Shaikh, President, CEO and Co-Owner of Baseball United. "Felix is one of the most dominant and successful pitchers of our generation, and an icon in Seattle as well as his home country of Venezuela. On the field, he has done everything from pitching a perfect game, to throwing an immaculate inning, to hitting a grand slam. Off the field, he's an intelligent entrepreneur with a passion for growing the game. Our team and I look forward to partnering with Felix as we launch our league in Dubai later this year."
Baseball United begins play with its Dubai Showcase this November, which will feature the league's first four franchises and several baseball, brand, and government partners. The Middle East and Indian Subcontinent is the epicenter of Bat and Ball sports, with tens of millions of avid baseball fans in search of a professional league within their region. Baseball United is creating that ecosystem behind the strength of the legendary baseball players in its ownership ranks.
"I am very excited and grateful to join the Baseball United family," said Hernandez. "I believe that the opportunity to grow the game – especially in a part of the world that's always interested me – represents the next chapter in my baseball journey. I'm inspired by the great work that Kash and the Baseball United team have done, and I'm ready to dive in to help wherever needed."
To learn more about Baseball United, visit baseballunited.com.
About the Baseball United
Baseball United is the first-ever professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent, beginning play November 2023 in Dubai, UAE. Our mission is to inspire two billion new fans to fall in love with baseball. The ownership group includes award-winning business leaders and inspiring baseball legends, including Mariano Rivera, Barry Larkin, Adrián Beltré, and Felix Hernandez. In addition to our professional league, the Baseball United ecosystem spans youth development, federation partnerships, media and content production, merchandise, and non-profit outreach. With over 30 nationalities represented on our team rosters and a new suite of entertainment-based game changes, Baseball United is working to create a new future for baseball in one of the fastest growing and most culturally rich regions in the world. Learn more at baseballunited.com.
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SOURCE Baseball United, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/04/24/six-time-mlb-all-star-cy-young-award-winner-felix-hernandez-joins-baseball-united-ownership-group/ | 2023-04-24 13:54:47 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/04/24/six-time-mlb-all-star-cy-young-award-winner-felix-hernandez-joins-baseball-united-ownership-group/ |
NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SportsGrid announced today Warren Sharp has signed a multi-year agreement to join the network as a lead pro football analyst. Sharp will provide live reports featuring his statistical insights and actionable analytics across the SportsGrid weekday and weekend live programming. Now with master control operating at its headquarters at Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ, SportsGrid's audience has more than doubled to 496,000 average daily impressions on CTV and OTT platforms over the past quarter. Live reports will include his expert commentary, breaking news, and game-specific odds and lines opportunities. Sharp, previously with NBC Sports, will be a regular contributor across the SportsGrid live programming line-up, along with providing insights and analysis to SportsGrid's content, social media efforts, and more.
The Sharp reports will cover the NFL regular season and playoffs appearing on Ferrall Coast to Coast, Pro Football Today, and In-Game Live All Access. Sharp will now headline SportsGrid's talent roster including Scott Ferrall, Craig Mish, Gabe Morency, Ben Stevens, Kevin Walsh, Andrew Andersson, and more.
"We are elated to welcome Warren Sharp to the SportsGrid team just in time for the start of the NFL season. Warren's well-known insights and deep analysis of the NFL teams, players, and betting markets have developed his reputation as one of the foremost experts in the sports betting industry. We are extremely pleased and excited to add him to our NFL coverage for multiple years," said Adam Kaplan, Chief Operating Officer at SportsGrid.
Sharp, a national media personality and leader in advanced analytics for professional football said, "When I look at the future of sports gambling coverage, I see SportsGrid as an outstanding place to reach the fans who want the NFL insight I provide on a regular basis. SportsGrid's content strategy gives me the freedom to provide that information with the personality and style that I believe resonates with NFL fans and particularly NFL fans who gamble. I'd like to thank Adam Kaplan and the rest of the team at SportsGrid for giving me that opportunity."
In addition to his hosting and network appearances, Sharp will contribute to SportsGrid's new app launch and be a contributor to the SportsGrid social media strategy, amplifying content, making picks and posting betting-related video content on his and SportsGrid's social media channels.
SportsGrid, Inc. is the multimedia content and technology platform providing innovative digital solutions for the convergence of sports content, gaming, and NextGen technology. The SportsGrid multimedia destinations include SportsGrid Streaming Video Network, SportsGrid Radio, SportsGrid.com, DailyRoto, and SportsGrid Studios. SportsGrid statistics and data sourced from Sportradar enables the network to integrate real-time delivery of news, storylines, data, odds, statistics, and betting intelligence across the daily original program schedule. For more information, please visit sportsgrid.com.
Media Contact
Charles Theiss
SportsGrid, Inc.
charles@sportsgrid.com
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SOURCE SportsGrid | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/warren-sharp-joins-sportsgrid-lead-pro-football-analyst/ | 2022-08-16 13:22:01 | 0 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/08/16/warren-sharp-joins-sportsgrid-lead-pro-football-analyst/ |
MADISON, Wis. — Administrators at a Wisconsin elementary school stopped a first-grade class from performing a Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton duet promoting LGBTQ acceptance because the song "could be perceived as controversial."
Students at Heyer Elementary School in Waukesha had prepared a rendition of "Rainbowland" for their spring concert, but school officials struck the song from the lineup last week. Parents in the district say the decision was made because the song encourages LGBTQ acceptance and references rainbows.
Superintendent James Sebert, who did not immediately return a call on Monday, confirmed to Fox6 that administrators had removed "Rainbowland" from the first-grade concert because it might not be "appropriate for the age and maturity level of the students." He also cited a school board policy against raising controversial issues in classrooms.
Sebert has previously prohibited rainbows and pride flags from being displayed in Waukesha classrooms and suspended the school district's equity and diversity work in 2021.
"Let's all dig down deep inside, brush the judgment and fear aside," the song from Cyrus' 2017 album "Younger Now" goes. "Living in a Rainbowland, where you and I go hand in hand. Oh, I'd be lying if I said this was fine, all the hurt and the hate going on here."
First-grade teacher Melissa Tempel said she chose the song because its message seemed universal and sweet. The class concert's theme was "The World" and included other songs such as "Here Comes the Sun," by The Beatles and "What a Wonderful World," by Louis Armstrong.
"My students were just devastated. They really liked this song and we had already begun singing it," Tempel said Monday.
Administrators also initially banned the song "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppets but later reversed that decision, according to Tempel.
Parents have been angered by the song's removal, Tempel said. But she was more concerned about what the ban and other district policies against expressing LGBTQ support meant for students.
"These confusing messages about rainbows are ultimately creating a culture that seems unsafe towards queer people," she said.
Spokespersons for Parton and Cyrus did not immediately respond to emails on Monday asking the artists' thoughts on the ban.
Wisconsin school boards races, including in Waukesha, have become increasingly partisan in recent years. Republicans saw big gains across the state's school board races in 2022 and have used the positions to challenge policies from rules about transgender kids to COVID-19 restrictions.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/2023-03-29/wisconsin-school-bans-miley-cyrus-dolly-parton-duet-from-class-concert | 2023-04-18 05:29:07 | 1 | https://www.wboi.org/npr-news/2023-03-29/wisconsin-school-bans-miley-cyrus-dolly-parton-duet-from-class-concert |
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Nov. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) will participate in the 5th Annual Evercore ISI Virtual HealthCONx Conference on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. Rob Michael, vice chairman and president, Jeffrey R. Stewart, executive vice president, commercial operations, Scott Reents, senior vice president and chief financial officer, and Tom Hudson senior vice president, R&D and chief scientific officer, will present at 9:55 a.m. Central time.
A live audio webcast of the presentation will be accessible through AbbVie's Investor Relations website at investors.abbvie.com. An archived edition of the session will be available later that day.
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, and women's health, in addition to products and services across our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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SOURCE AbbVie | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/23/abbvie-present-evercore-isi-healthconx-conference/ | 2022-11-23 13:59:17 | 0 | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/11/23/abbvie-present-evercore-isi-healthconx-conference/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Heardle, the name-that-tune game inspired by the Wordle craze, is being dropped by Spotify less than a year after the music-streaming giant acquired it.
“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to say goodbye to Heardle,” Spotify said Saturday in a statement. A similar announcement was posted on the Heardle homepage.
First appearing in February 2022 amid a surge of games that used the format of Wordle, which the New York Times bought in January of that year, Heardle plays fleeting moments of a song and challenges users to see how quickly they can guess it. Saturday’s mystery song was (spoiler alert) 1998’s “Why Don’t You Get a Job” by the Offspring.
After Spotify bought Heardle in July, users could go from revealing the song to playing it on the app. That sort of music discovery, or rediscovery, was Spotify’s intention in acquiring the game from its creators, according to the blog post announcing the acquisition.
But the statement on the game’s end said Spotify plans to “focus our efforts on other features for music discovery.”
The company did not give further details on why it was ending the game, and it’s not clear whether Heardle may continue life elsewhere. Spotify did not identify the apparently publicity-shy creator and seller when it announced the purchase.
Variety identified the man as a “London-based web and app designer” in a May 2020 interview, but he declined to be identified further. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/name-that-tune-game-heardle-dropped-by-spotify-after-a-year/ | 2023-04-16 20:35:07 | 0 | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/name-that-tune-game-heardle-dropped-by-spotify-after-a-year/ |
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
It's been about five months since a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals crashed in East Palestine, a town right on the edge of the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, a little south of Youngstown. A number of the cars were carrying hazardous materials. And in an attempt to avoid a possible explosion, there was a controlled dayslong burn of those chemicals. Residents within a mile radius of the crash were evacuated. Days later, the evacuation order was lifted, and some residents say they developed rashes and nausea. The crash became a national flashpoint and a hot-button issue on both sides of the aisle. Not long after the derailment, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw found himself in front of Congress, being grilled by a group of bipartisan lawmakers. In March, Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts asked Shaw whether he would support legislation requiring two-person train crews at minimum. Shaw didn't answer.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ALAN SHAW: Senator, we'll commit to using research and technology to ensure the railroad operates safely.
ED MARKEY: Will you commit to a two-person crew on all trains?
SHAW: Senator, we're a data-driven organization, and I'm not aware of any data that links crew size with safety.
DETROW: The Railway Safety Act of 2023 proposed stricter safety regulations, including mandating two-person crews on freight trains. Here's the co-sponsor of the bill, Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, speaking in May.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
J D VANCE: What happened in East Palestine cannot be undone. We cannot reverse it. We cannot change it. We cannot undo the psychological, economic and physical toll of the derailment in East Palestine. But I guarantee you, whether it's tomorrow or next week or next year, there will be another East Palestine in this country if we do not pass the Railway Safety Act. It's that simple.
DETROW: And back at that March hearing, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said life in East Palestine stopped being normal.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MIKE DEWINE: Members of the committee, Norfolk Southern has an obligation to restore this community. It was their train, their tracks, their accident. They're responsible for this tragedy.
DETROW: The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, and cleanup efforts are still ongoing. The residents of East Palestine are still in limbo. Alan Shaw, the CEO of Norfolk Southern, insists the company is continuing their commitment to help East Palestine recover and that Norfolk Southern is now on the forefront of improving safety in the rail industry. I sat down with Alan Shaw to talk about all of this.
SHAW: Scott, it's a pleasure to be here. Thank you for hosting me.
DETROW: And I want to start with that gold standard line, because we've heard you say it a lot in recent months. What specifically does it mean?
SHAW: You know, for me, it means we're going to continue to enhance safety at Norfolk Southern. We recognize the role that we play in the U.S. economy, and we take safety very, very seriously. So I look for inspiration, and I look outside of the industry. And I decided to hire the former - an admiral, who was a former head of the Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program, as an independent consultant reporting directly to me. And so he's put together a team, which includes several former admirals, all with Navy nuke experience. And they're going to help us enhance our safety culture at Norfolk Southern. We know that the Navy Nuclear Program is the gold standard of safety, and we will be the gold standard of safety in the rail industry.
DETROW: Have there been any specific changes that you've made since you've started getting that consultation from that expert group?
SHAW: Yeah, we've done a number of things. You know, in March, we implemented a six-point safety plan. You've seen me on the Hill engaging proactively with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle, advancing various railway safety bills. You know, there are a lot of things that make a lot of sense to us, and we're not waiting to act. We've hired the Navy Nuclear Program. You've seen me engage personally with the heads of our labor unions. I wrote an open letter to all 20,000 Norfolk Southern employees, talking about collaborating with my union colleagues on safety. And it was jointly signed by the heads of 12 of our labor unions.
DETROW: The February crash got a lot of attention, as you certainly know, but this is a broader issue, right? If you look at Norfolk Southern, you look at the other big rail lines, there were 286 train derailments last year. That's about every other day on average - more than every other day on average. And that's on the mainlines. You know, that's not counting the rail yard derailments, things like that. It's just that they're not carrying toxic chemicals in towns in the way that happened in East Palestine. What's the big-picture problem here? Why does this keep happening at this level, and how do you get those numbers down?
SHAW: You know, rail is the safest, most efficient and most sustainable form of transporting goods across land, and we can do better. You know, last year at Norfolk Southern, the number of derailments was the lowest in two decades. You know, we can do better. And last year, the employee injury rate at Norfolk Southern was the lowest in a decade, and we can do better.
DETROW: This bill, it's not quite stalled on the Senate right now, but there's an open question of, does it have 60 votes to go forward? Do you want to see something pass the Senate? Do you want to see some sort of rail safety legislation get to President Biden's desk and signed?
SHAW: Yes, we are for bipartisan solution to rail safety. And we understand that it's a industry-wide approach, and it's - it includes shippers, it includes customers, it includes railcar owners, and it certainly includes the railroads themselves. And again, we're not waiting to act.
DETROW: I want to talk about the two-crew minimum, though, because that is a piece of this legislation. That was a component of a law that Ohio put in place after the crash. And that's something that the industry has pushed back on, even filing a lawsuit to block that aspect of Ohio's law. Where are you on mandating two-crew minimums?
SHAW: You know, what we're really interested in is focusing on quality of life for my union colleagues. And there is a component of a ground-based conductor that would improve a predictable work schedule.
DETROW: And ground-based conductor - this is a conductor who's not physically on the train?
SHAW: Correct. And so, you know, we - since I became CEO about a year ago, I've made it a real point to engage with my union colleagues. And we were the first railroad to have paid sick leave for all of our union employees. We're the first railroad to have assigned days off for all of our union employees. Since I became CEO of Norfolk Southern, we've been on a hiring spree. And right now, we've got about 1,500 more union employees than we did when I became CEO.
DETROW: I guess - I have a couple follow-up questions on that. And first of all, can you just explain the idea of a ground-based conductor a little more? Because I think a lot of people hearing this might think, wait a second, how does this work? How does somebody who's not on the train help make sure the train is safe?
SHAW: Well, a ground-based conductor will be at various points along the route. The ground-based conductor will have a very predictable schedule and know when they're - when they'll be able to go home. And they'll be able to assist the engineer with switching cars at local industry.
DETROW: So that's a future where there's one person on the train, there's one person assisting the train, but not physically on the train.
SHAW: Correct.
DETROW: I want to stick with the crew just for one more moment because it's something that certainly a lot of the labor groups involved in freight rail have talked a lot about. It's something that's been one of the higher-profile points of contention here. I guess, thinking about this from somebody who lives in a town that the freight train is coming through, somebody who's not an expert in the field, who doesn't know a lot of the details, they might be thinking, these trains are up to three miles long. Doesn't it make sense to have more people on the train?
SHAW: You know, we have not seen a link between crew size and safety. We invest in safety at Norfolk Southern. We've invested over a billion dollars a year in safety. And, you know, we're investing in engagement with our craft colleagues as well, as I noted, because we're investing in the future.
DETROW: We're talking about working with the labor unions, and you've been doing that and having those conversations. And I saw that letter that you signed, along with various unions that work on Norfolk Southern saying, we're going to have a conversation. We don't always need to agree, and that's OK. It's a little bit of a paraphrase, but you basically had that message in there. And I know you've been having a lot of internal conversations, but I just wanted to play some criticism from you - from somebody. This is Clyde Whitaker, the Ohio state legislative director for one of the big rail employee unions. This was speaking at a Senate hearing about East Palestine, and I wanted to just listen to this and get your response.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
CLYDE WHITAKER: This derailment did not have to happen, and it makes it so much more frustrating for us to know that it was very predictable. And yet our warnings and cries for help over the last seven years have fallen on deaf ears, and the outcome was exactly as we feared.
DETROW: I know we were talking kind of broadly about these trends, but what's your specific response to that, that something that happened like what happened in February was predictable, as he put it?
SHAW: Yeah. When I became CEO, I charted it, of course, for Norfolk Southern. And we are investing in our employees. We're investing in safety. We're investing in the long-term health of our customers and the communities that we serve. And employee engagement is a big part of that. And I am very encouraged by the fact that our employees feel - they feel that they are welcome to raise their hand and offer suggestions for improvement. That's a big part of our safety program. I'm looking for 20,000 voices at Norfolk Southern advocating for safety.
DETROW: It's been about - more than five months at this point since the derailment. Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently? What could the company have done differently, either leading up to the derailment or in the immediate aftermath of the derailment?
SHAW: I'm really proud of our response in East Palestine. We had a family assistance center set up the day following the derailment. We have committed over $63 million to East Palestine, which includes a $25 million park revitalization project. We're working really closely, under the direction of the EPA and the IEPA on the environmental remediation, and we're investing in the community to help the community thrive. I go back almost every week, and I sit and listen to the community about what we can do to help invest in the community and help it thrive. And I'll keep going back in each - each and every day, we're going to do the next right thing.
DETROW: Let me try that a little differently. What is a lesson you've learned? Not necessarily something you'd do differently, but what is a lesson you have learned that hadn't quite materialized in your head before, after dealing with this experience very intensely?
SHAW: You know, I think what it does for me is it reaffirms my commitment to working in the best interest of our employees and our customers and the communities we serve, which is the commitment that I rolled out in December of last year.
DETROW: That's Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw. Thanks so much for talking to us.
SHAW: Thank you, Scott.
DETROW: And Frank Morris was listening in to that conversation. Frank covers the rail industry from member station KCUR in Kansas City. Frank, what did you hear in that conversation? What jumped out to you about what Shaw said and what Shaw didn't say?
FRANK MORRIS, BYLINE: Yeah, what he didn't say was that railroads really hate this two-person mandate that's baked into this Railway Safety Act. They feel that that's just not germane to the wreck in East Palestine - there were three people in that crew, for instance - and that it's not a safety issue. They say that they don't have data to back up the assertion that two people are better than one in the cab. Now, that's a very popular idea and it makes intuitive sense. And there are anecdotal, you know, instances of two people - the conductor helping the engineer through a heart attack or, you know, backstopping them on safety issues. But the railroads hate that idea because they are facing a future of autonomous vehicles, driverless trucks, and they don't want to have a statutorily mandated economic disadvantage going forward in perpetuity because of this Railway Safety Act.
DETROW: He didn't quite answer when I said, do you oppose the two-person requirement? But it was clear from what he said that it seemed like he did. And as you're saying, this has been a really big area of pushback from the rail industry, going as far as to sue Ohio to block that part of that state law from taking effect.
MORRIS: Yeah, the American Association of Railroads sued Ohio, and they'll probably be suing other states, too, because there are other states, like Kansas, who are proposing the exact same thing. You know, mandating two people in a cab or a train, again, makes sense intuitively. The unions are solidly behind it, and they say it's a safety issue. But the railroads are, again, facing this driverless vehicle future, and they don't want to be locked in to that requirement.
DETROW: I noted to Shaw that there were 286 train derailments on mainlines in 2022, and he responded that derailment numbers are overall down from several years ago. Was that accurate?
MORRIS: That is true, but there's a caveat. So in terms of the rate of accidents, it's up a little bit per mile. But the actual number of derailments is down.
DETROW: That's Frank Morris, who covers the rail industry from member station KCUR. Frank, thanks so much.
MORRIS: Thank you, Scott. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. | https://www.wdiy.org/2023-07-22/norfolk-southern-ceo-on-freight-rail-safety-in-the-aftermath-of-east-palestine | 2023-07-23 21:01:15 | 1 | https://www.wdiy.org/2023-07-22/norfolk-southern-ceo-on-freight-rail-safety-in-the-aftermath-of-east-palestine |
Supreme Court to decide how states can bring home the bacon
A California food fight reaches the high court.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday about a California law regulating how pork, veal and eggs are sold in the state. Pork producing and farming advocates say California’s law is too much of a burden for other states to comply with. California officials say if you don’t want to follow our rules, go do business somewhere else.
In 2018, California voters approved Proposition 12, an initiative banning the sale of pork within the state if breeding pigs do not have 24 square feet to move around in their stalls. That goes for all pork producers and farmers even if their pigs are raised in other states. The main parts of the law went into effect at the beginning of the year.
“If you’re looking for an example of an unconstitutional law, Proposition 12 is it,” said Chief Legal Strategist Michael Formica with the National Pork Producers Council.
The NPPC and the American Farm Bureau Federation say Proposition 12 is not fair because nearly all pork sold in California comes from out of state while Californians make up 13 percent of the nation’s pork consuming market.
“California can regulate what happens in California but they can’t regulate how a business or a farm is run in, you know in, Indiana or in Iowa or in Minnesota, in Tennessee, in Georgia. That’s left to the people of those states,” said Formica.
California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, the named defendant in the case, refused to comment. However, a spokesperson for California’s Attorney General pointed to their legal argument that says, “The only Proposition 12-compliant pork that out-of-state businesses must produce is the pork they choose to supply to California’s market; they are free to produce as many other pork products as they want, and to sell them to markets outside of California.”
The question before the court is whether California’s law violates part of the interstate commerce clause by making business with other states excessively burdensome.
Jennifer Zwagerman, Director of the Drake Agricultural Law Center, said the case has major implications, not just for how one state’s pork production laws affects another but also other health, safety and welfare issues.
“There’s just a host of things that people are really concerned to see if California is successful, what’s next,” questioned Zwagerman.
As for the case, lower courts have previously sided with California by saying increased compliance costs are not a significant burden on interstate commerce.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/10/10/supreme-court-decide-how-states-can-bring-home-bacon/ | 2022-10-10 18:21:11 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/2022/10/10/supreme-court-decide-how-states-can-bring-home-bacon/ |
Rehab on hold: COVID devastated prison learning programs
By AARON MORRISON
AP National Writer
CHOWCHILLA, California (AP) — Joseph Sena has spent nearly half his 27 years in prison for manslaughter. For almost as long, he’s been striving to make himself a better man than when he first arrived.
He has taken courses in creative writing, addressed his addictions, and attended school in prison, hoping to be judged fit for parole and ready to return home to Los Angeles if he’s ever freed.
But when the coronavirus pandemic hit, tearing through prisons and killing thousands, it severely disrupted or shut down the very programs prisoners most desperately need to prepare them for eventual release.
Trauma counseling, training in carpentry, masonry and barbering, and college courses were slow to adjust to pandemic learning. Isolation and uncertainty replaced creative outlets and mental health therapies, for months on end.
Sena grew depressed and anxious. He began to doubt that he’d be known for anything other than taking a life when he was 15.
He remembered the words of a poem he wrote to the man he was convicted of killing.
“I know you’re not here. I’ll remember your name. For you I will live. For us, I will change.”
He was afraid he’d never get the chance.
In a nation that incarcerates roughly 2 million people — a disproportionate number of them Black and Hispanic — the COVID pandemic was a nightmare for prisons. Overcrowding, subpar medical care, staffing shortages and the ebb and flow of prison populations left most places unprepared to manage the spread of the highly contagious virus. At least 3,181 prisoners and 311 correctional staff died of virus-related causes through mid-January of this year, according to a COVID tracking project by the law school at the University of California in Los Angeles.
The 10 largest state prison systems suspended or severely curtailed in-person visitation for an average of 490 days before such restrictions were lifted, based on information and records obtained by The Associated Press. That meant no family visits, and no volunteers coming in to lead rehabilitation programs.
At the worst of times, prisoners said they were locked in their cells for weeks on end, their otherwise normal activities like phone calls to loved ones left up to the whims of correctional officers. And when things seemed to return to normal, just one COVID-positive case in their living quarters would send them back into isolation for weeks.
Some prisons expanded mail correspondence learning for prisoners in GED or college programs and introduced learning via mobile tablets where they could.
But prisoners said it wasn’t the same as the in-person classes.
“People weren’t prepared for this,” said Oscar Martinez, a resident of Valley State Prison. “I believe it created a lot of trauma for people, on top of the trauma they already had. The cell that you have in your mind, when you start suffocating in there, it’s just like cage after cage after cage.”
It’s hard to overstate the positive impact of educational and skills training on prisoner rehabilitation, said Margaret diZerega, who directs the Vera Institute of Justice’s Unlocking Potential initiative, which is focused on expanding college in prison. Given that 90% of people who are incarcerated in the U.S. will return to their communities, prisoner access to rehabilitative programming should matter to everyone, she said.
“We know from the research that these kinds of programs reduce recidivism rates. They improve safety in the prisons, there are fewer violent incidents, which is positive for the staff who work at the prisons and for the people who live in the prisons,” diZerega said.
A comprehensive review of in-prison education by the RAND Corporation found that prisoners who participate in any kind of courses while behind bars are up to 43% less likely to commit more crime and return to prison.
“It’s hugely important that people have hope and that we, as a society, care about their human dignity and their potential,” diZerega said.
Education and rehabilitation programs can also help a prisoner’s parole eligibility. Many parole commissioners consider earning diplomas and certifications, along with prisoners’ record of good behavior.
“I know that I have to go to a board, in front of these commissioners, and I don’t want these commissioners to say, ‘So what happened in these two years?’” said Sena who, as of this month, becomes eligible for parole in 2024.
——— Bobby Gonzalez parked his car in the visitors’ lot at Valley State Prison and sat for a few minutes to process complex emotions. The 35-year-old was released on parole from the prison in September of 2019, after serving 16 years of a 25-to-life sentence for a gang-related murder.
While incarcerated in Chowchilla, he piloted an art and music therapy program that has been modeled across the state prison system in collaboration with its mental health department.
Some of the men he was about to reunite with had been residents of the prison for the entirety of the coronavirus pandemic, so he didn’t presume he knew what they’d been through.
But his mission was clear, he said: “I’m coming to rejuvenate them. Keep going, like we always have, because I know I am.”
Lead With Love, an activist arts and entertainment company, organized Gonzalez’s visit as part of a touring initiative to bring rehabilitative programming into prisons across California. The Nov. 4 stop on the tour included an advance screening of director Sol Guy’s deeply personal film, “ The Death of My Two Fathers,” which began airing on PBS stations late last month.
The screening at Valley State Prison was held in the prison’s gymnasium which, until that day, had been closed for recreational activities like basketball as part of ongoing COVID restrictions. About 150 prisoners were allowed in for the film — individual paper bags of buttered popcorn and cold sodas included with admission — their excitement palpable after months of isolation.
Just before the screening, the prisoners sat silently in metal folding chairs, their eyes shut, through guided meditation, breathwork and interfaith prayers. They were primed for an emotional reception of Guy’s film, in which the filmmaker unpacks the meanings of fatherhood, family, race and identity around the death of his Black father and white stepfather.
Several men found Guy, who had been standing in the back of the gym during the screening, and pulled him into tearful hugs and expressed their gratitude.
“When we talk about the power of story in generations, in loving, forgiving and healing, wrestling and facing our fears, and overcoming, we’re changing the community,” said Daniel Henson, a 40-year-old resident of Valley State Prison who was incarcerated for murder at age 16. He became parole eligible in 2021.
“Sol coming in here proves the point of all of us who believe in restorative justice,” Henson said. “People can go from the worst to the best.”
———
Things are almost back to normal at prisons across the U.S., with most returning to regular day-to-day education and rehabilitative programs. Some were able to restart earlier, but new variants of the virus and surges in cases made reopening tricky.
Corrections officials told the AP they’re committed to the rehabilitation programs.
“We know that even just some programming positively impacts the likelihood of someone’s success in their reentry to the community,” Dana Simas, press secretary for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said in an email.
Guy said it’s not just on prisons to ensure the programs are available and plentiful.
“It’d be really easy to say, ‘Well, the California Department of Corrections should do better.’ But that’s half of the circle. The other half is, we in society should ask more questions and knock on the doors,” the filmmaker said.
Sena, the juvenile offender from Los Angeles, was recently transferred to a medium security facility closer to his mother and younger sisters in Los Angeles, which he sees as an encouraging step in his journey.
Sena said he held onto lessons he learned from InsideOUT Writers, an arts-based healing program that helped him pen the poem to his victim.
He doesn’t make excuses for his crime — in late July of 2010, he exchanged gunfire with 25-year-old Julian Obdulio Romero; the car crashed and Romero died at the scene.
Esperanza Sanchez, Sena’s mother, who was only 13 when she gave birth, said she encourages her son to share his story of transformation.
“I know you have a purpose,” she recalled telling her son. “You’ve been in prison, you’ve been in jail, you’ve been in juvenile hall. You have that story. Your testimony is very important for others.”
Sena credits the prison programs for helping him find a sense of purpose and inner peace.
“My teacher from InsideOUT Writers told me it’s not about becoming a new person — it’s finding the person that you really are,” he said. “I want to find Joseph, the little kid that loves everybody, who was curious and loved to hug people, and loved to see people smile. That’s the Joseph that I want back.”
____
Follow Aaron Morrison on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aaronlmorrison. | https://kion546.com/news/ap-california/2023/03/02/rehab-on-hold-covid-devastated-prison-learning-programs/ | 2023-03-02 16:57:20 | 0 | https://kion546.com/news/ap-california/2023/03/02/rehab-on-hold-covid-devastated-prison-learning-programs/ |
Off-duty volunteer firefighter rescues sleeping neighbor from house fire
MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP, N.J. (WPVI) - A volunteer firefighter in New Jersey sprang into action when his neighbor’s house caught fire, kicking down the door and rescuing a person inside.
One neighbor says she and her son saw smoke from their sunroom around 6:40 p.m. Sunday, just 10 minutes after a fire started at a two-story home in Mansfield Township, New Jersey.
“He saw the flames shooting up and realized it was his best friend’s house that was on fire,” the neighbor said.
A fast-thinking, off-duty volunteer firefighter who lives nearby stepped in to help, neighbors say.
“He was able to come over, kick the door in and get the kid out because he was asleep upstairs… I’m just glad he was able to do that for him,” the neighbor said.
Multiple fire agencies throughout Burlington County were called to help, with more than 50 firefighters assisting. The firefighters first on scene arrived at the home in less than five minutes, but by that time, the man inside was safe.
However, the damage to the home was severe, and it was deemed a total loss. The homeowner’s pets – two bunnies and a snake – died in the fire.
But neighbors say it could have been worse if it wasn’t for the brave volunteer firefighter.
“Houses can be rebuilt. I’m just grateful that my son’s friend and all his friends are OK,” the neighbor said.
The county fire marshal is leading the investigation into the case.
Copyright 2022 WPVI via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kait8.com/2022/08/23/off-duty-volunteer-firefighter-rescues-sleeping-neighbor-house-fire/ | 2022-08-23 06:10:42 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/2022/08/23/off-duty-volunteer-firefighter-rescues-sleeping-neighbor-house-fire/ |
The day Christopher Nolan called Cillian Murphy about his new film, “Oppenheimer,” Murphy hung up the phone in disbelief.
The Irish actor, though a regular presence in Nolan films going back almost two decades, had always been a supporting player. This time, Nolan wanted him to lead.
“He’s so understated and self-deprecating and, in his very English manner, just said, ‘Listen, I’ve written this script, it’s about Oppenheimer. I’d like you to be my Oppenheimer,’” Murphy, 46, told The Associated Press earlier this year. “It was a great day.”
For Murphy, it is never not exciting to get a call from Nolan. It’s just hard to predict if he’s going to. He knows there are some movies he’s right for and some movies he isn’t.
“I have always said publicly and privately, to Chris, that if I’m available and you want me to be in a movie, I’m there. I don’t really care about the size of the part,” he said. “But deep down, secretly, I was desperate to play a lead for him.”
Murphy first met Nolan in 2003. He was brought in to screen test for Batman — not just the movie, the character. Murphy knew he wasn’t right for the Dark Knight, but he wanted to meet the man who’d directed “Insomnia” and “Memento.” They hit it off and Murphy got to tap into a sinister intensity to play the corrupt psychiatrist Dr. Crane/Scarecrow, who would go on to appear in all three films. Nolan would also call on Murphy to be the conflicted heir to a business empire in “Inception” and a traumatized soldier in “Dunkirk.”
“We have this long-standing understanding and trust and shorthand and respect,” Murphy said. “It felt like the right time to take on a bigger responsibility. And it just so happened that it was a f—ing huge one.”
Soon after the phone call, Nolan flew to Dublin to meet Murphy and hand him a physical copy of the script, which he devoured right there in Nolan’s hotel room. It was, he said, the best he’d ever read.
Then the scale of it started to sink in.
This would be a film about the charismatic and controversial theoretical physicist who helped create the atomic bomb. Oppenheimer and his peers at Los Alamos would test it on July 16, 1945, not knowing what was going to happen. There was a non-zero chance that the heat from the explosion could set off a chain reaction that would ignite the atmosphere and literally set the world on fire.
It didn’t, but several weeks later the United States would drop those bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing tens of thousands of people and leaving many with lifelong injuries. Soon, the United States was at work to strengthen its nuclear arsenal, developing plans to work on an even more catastrophic weapon: the hydrogen bomb.
As Nolan has said, “Like it or not J. Robert Oppenheimer is the most important person who ever lived.”
“Oppenheimer,” which opens in theaters on July 21, features a starry cast including Emily Blunt as Oppenheimer’s wife Kitty, Matt Damon as the man who hired Oppenheimer for the job at Los Alamos, Robert Downey Jr. as a founder of the Atomic Energy Commission and many more rounding out the pivotal players in and around this tense moment in history.
“You realize this is a huge responsibility. He was complicated and contradictory and so iconic,” Murphy said. “But you know you’re with one of the great directors of all time. I felt confident going into it with Chris. He’s had a profound impact on my life, creatively and professionally. He’s offered me very interesting roles over and I’ve found all of them really challenging. And I just love being on his sets.”
Murphy continued: “Any actor would want to be on a Chris Nolan set, just to see how it works and to witness his command of the language of film and the mechanics of film and how he’s able to use that broad canvas within the mainstream studio system to make these very challenging human stories.”
Over the years, Murphy has come to appreciate that with Nolan there’s always something deeper to discover than what’s literally on the page. “Dunkirk,” he recalled, was only 70 pages and there wasn’t much to his character, not even a name.
“He said, ‘Look, let’s figure it out together and you and me can find an emotional journey for the character.’ And we did it. We did it out in the water on that boat. That comes from trust and respect,” Murphy said. “I’m really proud of that performance.”
As with all Nolan endeavors, secrecy around “Oppenheimer” is vitally important. Murphy loves the “old-fashioned approach” that builds interest and anticipation.
“There’s an awful lot to talk about when we can talk freely,” Murphy said with a smile.
The difference from other Nolan originals, even “Dunkirk,” is that “Oppenheimer” is rooted in historical fact and actual transcripts. You can read the book it’s based on, Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.” You can watch the 1981 documentary “The Day After Trinity” on The Criterion Channel.
And you can try to parse Nolan’s words for clues. He’s talked about recreating the Trinity test, the fascinating paradoxes, the twists, turns and ethical dilemmas; for him, the story is cinematic and both dream and nightmare. But ultimately, it’s something that just needs to be seen.
“The question will be how Chris presents it,” Murphy said. “I think people will be very surprised and wowed by what he does. Anything I say will just seem a bit lame as compared to seeing this in an IMAX theater.”
The time for discussions will be after the movie comes out. But Murphy did offer up that they worked hard to get Oppenheimer’s look right, from the narrow silhouette to the pipe and the porkpie hat. Oppenheimer, he said, “seemed aware of his own potential mythology.” But, again, those conversations will have to wait.
“I’m really proud of the movie and I’m really proud of what Chris has achieved. This was, for sure, a special one, certainly because of the history with me and Chris. We were not walking around the set high-fiving, but it did feel special.” Murphy said. “It’s an event every time he releases a film, and rightly so. Whether I’m in them or not, I always go to see his movies.”
___
A version of this story first moved on May 3, 2023. It’s being sent again in advance of the film’s release next week. | https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/in-oppenheimer-cillian-murphy-finally-gets-to-lead-a-christopher-nolan-film/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_seattle-news | 2023-07-13 14:16:14 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/in-oppenheimer-cillian-murphy-finally-gets-to-lead-a-christopher-nolan-film/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_seattle-news |
NEW YORK (AP) — Million-selling author Leigh Bardugo has reached a blockbuster deal with Macmillan Publishers, an eight-figure agreement for more than a dozen books across several imprints.
According to Macmillan, the books will comprise a “variety of formats, age categories and genres.” Bardugo is best known for her Grishaverse fantasy novels, which include “Shadow and Bone,” the basis for a Netflix series of the same name that begins its second season this week. She also has written the adult fantasy novel “Ninth House” and its recently released sequel “Hell Bent.”
“Macmillan took a chance on me over a decade ago and they’ve been my home ever since. When no one in YA was interested in epic fantasy, they welcomed ‘Shadow and Bone,’” Bardugo said in a statement Tuesday. “When everyone wanted books about kings and queens, they rolled the dice on my team of six outcasts (in her novel ‘Six of Crows’) trying to pull off an impossible heist.”
“And when I wanted to go someplace far darker, they backed me in welcoming readers to Ninth House,” she added. “Publishing is a tough business and it’s no small thing to be able to write the stories I’m most passionate about.” | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/entertainment/ap-entertainment/author-leigh-bardugo-reaches-blockbuster-deal-with-publisher/ | 2023-03-14 17:09:04 | 1 | https://www.wearegreenbay.com/entertainment/ap-entertainment/author-leigh-bardugo-reaches-blockbuster-deal-with-publisher/ |
White House promises crackdown on migrant child labor
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Monday that it is creating a new task force to crack down on an explosion of the illegal exploitation of migrant children for labor in the U.S.
Hundreds of companies that employed nearly 4,000 children last year were found in violation of federal labor laws, a dramatic increase in the last five years.
The growing problem has put Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in the hot seat, with concerns mounting that migrant children have been discharged from shelters and out of federal custody too quickly, pushing them into vulnerable situations where they’re more likely to become victims of child labor.
In a new video that’s been circulating, first reported by The New York Times, the secretary urged his staff to discharge children from the federal government’s broken system of shelters faster.
“If Henry Ford had seen this in his plants, he would have never become famous and rich,” Becerra told staff during a meeting last summer in a recording. “This is not the way you do an assembly line.”
The Times’ investigation identified more than 100 migrant children, some as young as 12 years old, who say they’re working overnight shifts and dangerous jobs for companies big and small throughout the U.S.
President Joe Biden still has “full confidence” in Becerra, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday when asked about the secretary’s job in light of the new report.
“Of course the president does not believe that processing migrants should be treated like an assembly line, and neither does Secretary Becerra,” she said.
Becerra has long been viewed as an advocate for immigrants. He often talks about his own parents’ experience immigrating from Mexico to the U.S.
The administration has struggled with how to respond to a surge of migrants, including children who travel alone, at the U.S. border since Biden first took office. In the fiscal year that ended last September, migrants were stopped 2.38 million times, up 37% from 1.73 million times the year before. The total was more than twice the highest level during Donald Trump’s presidency in 2019.
HHS and the Department of Labor rolled out new policies and the task force on Monday, while also promising stronger follow up for children who are moved from shelters to live with sponsors in the U.S. The agency will help migrant children register for school. It will also now require staff to follow up with children who call the Office of Refugee Resettlement National Call Center to report safety concerns.
The Labor Department also threatened to halt the shipment of products made with child labor.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wafb.com/2023/02/28/white-house-promises-crackdown-migrant-child-labor/ | 2023-02-28 02:59:47 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/2023/02/28/white-house-promises-crackdown-migrant-child-labor/ |
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department on Friday charged 28 members of Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa cartel, including sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, in a sprawling fentanyl-trafficking investigation.
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the charges Friday alongside Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram and other top federal prosecutors. The charges were filed against cartel leaders, as well alleged chemical suppliers, lab managers, fentanyl traffickers, security leaders, financiers and weapons traffickers.
The indictments announced Friday charge three of Guzman’s sons — Ovidio Guzmán López, Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar and Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Sálazar — who are known as the Chapitos, or little Chapos, and who have earned a reputation as the more violent and aggressive faction of the cartel.
Only Guzmán López is in custody, in Mexico.
The indictments also charge Chinese and Guatemalan citizens accused of supplying precursor chemicals required to make fentanyl. Others charged in the cases include those accused of running drug labs and providing security and weapons for the drug trafficking operation, prosecutors said.
Nearly 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2021. The Drug Enforcement Administration says most the fentanyl trafficked in the United States comes from the Sinaloa cartel.
The Sinaloa cartel’s notorious drug lord was convicted in 2019 of running an industrial-scale smuggling operation. At his trial, prosecutors said evidence gathered since the late 1980s showed he and his murderous cartel made billions of dollars by smuggling tons of cocaine, heroin, meth and marijuana into the U.S.
In outlining the charges, Garland described the violence of the Sinaloa cartel, describing how its members have tortured perceived enemies, including Mexican law enforcement officials. In some cases, cartel members have also fed victims, some some still alive, to tigers owned by Guzman's sons, Garland said.
Eight of those charged in Friday's case have been arrested and remain in custody of law enforcement officials outside of the U.S. The U.S. government is offering rewards for several others charged in the case.
Ovidio Guzmán López, one of Guzmán's sons, was arrested in January in the Sinaloa capital of Culiacan. Ovidio Guzmán, nicknamed “the Mouse,” had not been one of El Chapo’s better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years earlier. This time Mexico successfully got Guzmán out of Culiacan. In 2019, authorities had him, but released him after his gunmen began shooting up the city.
Some 30 people among authorities and suspected gunmen died in the operation that unleashed hours of shootouts shutting down the city’s airport. The U.S. government is currently awaiting the younger Guzmán’s extradition.
Ovidio Guzmán López and his brother Joaquín Guzmán López allegedly helped moved the Sinaloa cartel hard into methamphetamines, producing prodigious quantities in large labs. They were previously indicted in 2018 in Washington on drug trafficking charges.
The other two sons Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar and Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Sálazar, are believed to have been running cartel operations together with Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. They were previously also charged in the U.S. in Chicago and San Diego.
Zambada had been rumoured to be be in poor health and isolated in the mountains leading the sons to try to assert a stronger role to keep the cartel together.
The DEA said it investigated the case in 10 countries: Australia, Austria, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Greece, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and the United States.
“Death and destruction are central to their whole operation,” Milgram said of the cartel.
__
Sherman reported from Mexico City. | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2023/04/14/us-charges-28-members-of-sinaloa-cartel-sons-of-el-chapo/ | 2023-04-14 16:04:56 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2023/04/14/us-charges-28-members-of-sinaloa-cartel-sons-of-el-chapo/ |
Police in Germany are warning residents to limit time outside after an apparent lion was seen running near the outskirts of Berlin.
Authorities said they were alerted by multiple people overnight who said they'd seen what appeared to be a big cat chasing a wild boar just outside Berlin city limits. Some of the informants also provided video evidence. Upon examination, police determined the animal was a lioness.
Helicopters, drones, and infrared cameras are being used to survey the area where the animal was seen, but the search was still ongoing as of Thursday afternoon.
"The escaping wild animal has NOT been found yet," the Brandenburg Police Department said on Twitter. "We still ask you not to leave the house."
Veterinarians and hunters are also aiding in search efforts, and warning alerts were issued in the Teltow, Kleinmachnow, and Stahnsdorf areas.
"We ask the population in the areas mentioned to act with appropriate caution and to avoid staying in the adjacent forest areas," authorities said in a press release. "If you see the animal, seek shelter immediately and call the emergency number 110 to inform the police."
Officials say they've also reached out to local zoos, circuses, and animal protection facilities, but none of them have reported a missing big cat. Police suspect it may have come from someone who was keeping it as a pet.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.kgun9.com/german-police-search-for-suspected-lion-on-the-loose-near-berlin | 2023-07-20 19:13:37 | 0 | https://www.kgun9.com/german-police-search-for-suspected-lion-on-the-loose-near-berlin |
Innovation Agri-Tech Group Welcomes Bannatyne As Non-Executive Director
LONDON, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Duncan Bannatyne brings his expertise and entrepreneurial skill to agricultural technology company, Innovation Agri-Tech Group ('IAG'), having joined the Board of the Company as a Non-Executive Director.
Bannatyne, best known for founding the Bannatyne Group which in 2006 became the largest independent chain of Health Clubs in the UK, has a unique set of entrepreneurial skills, a bank of knowledge, and true business dexterity.
Having joined the Royal Navy at just 15, Bannatyne started his business career at the young age of 20 on Jersey, buying an ice cream van for just £450, before eventually selling the business in order to fund Quality Care Homes – a care home business he sold for £26 million in 1996 – and a children's nursery chain Just Learning, which was sold for £22 million. Bannatyne is a philanthropist and author of seven books, and famous for being a business angel on BBC TV's 'Dragon's Den'. In 2004, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to charity. His vision, values and passion for enabling successful business launches in the UK and globally, make him such a valuable addition to the board.
Mr Bannatyne joins the IAG board as a Non-Executive Director, having been impressed by the technology developed by the team at IAG and how the future of vertical farming is set to revolutionise the way that we grow food on a global scale.
Duncan Bannatyne, Non-Executive Director at IAG, comments: "On visiting the IAG farm, I was quite amazed at how simple it is to grow food indoors and – importantly – vertically. There is no denying the massive issues effecting people today – such as the terrible situation in Ukraine. However, this isn't by any means the sole factor when considering the global food shortage which has been apparent for decades. As populations continue to grow, we need a new way of producing food as traditional farming methods alone aren't meeting demand, and in my opinion vertical farming is the perfect solution. It complements the work farmers around the world are already doing, and by using aeroponic technology it combats the issues of soil degradation, food miles, seasonality and water usage.
"While many might see vertical farming as some strange Sci-Fi project, it's certainly anything but. Once set up, it's easy to use and can quickly grow a range of produce which is high in nutrition, as well as tasting fantastic. This is exciting – and it's only the beginning. I'm looking forward to the journey with IAG – and how vertical farming will play an increasingly vital role in the food chain supply moving into the future.
Jaz Singh, CEO, Innovation Agri-Tech Group says: "We're delighted to welcome Duncan to the board of IAG. Having such a fantastic ambassador for vertical farming can only be beneficial for us as we look to take our business from the R&D phase to market. It's a really exciting moment and we genuinely believe that vertical farming is the technology of the future."
About Innovation Agri-Tech
British agricultural technology company, IAG, provides cutting-edge solutions to complement the traditional challenges of farming, specialising in Indoor Vertical Aeroponics, which means they use up to 95% less water than conventional farming, and 70% less water than in hydroponics. IAG has the ability to create urban food production, therefor reducing food miles and offering the opportunity to provide fresh clean, nutritious food closer to the consumer.
IAG's patented flagship system, the GrowFrame, is unique to the global vertical farming market. A modular system, the GrowFrame uses aeroponic irrigation and closed loop water recycling to provide water and highly precise nutrients with no pesticides, as well as being proven to produce a healthier root system and superior crop growth – up to 15 harvesting cycles per year. The roots of plants grown this way are free to absorb the maximum amount of oxygen, without the restrictions of soil compaction. This allows the plants to generate the oils and sugars that give them their flavour much more efficiently, creating strong, vigorous crops that taste delicious and grow much faster with extended shelf life compared to conventional methods.
Contact: Chloe Yates; chloe@iagri-tech.partners ; +44 0203 883 5532
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1855310/Duncan_Bannatyne.jpg
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SOURCE Innovation Agri-Tech Group | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/duncan-bannatyne-endorses-world-vertical-farming/ | 2022-07-07 17:14:04 | 0 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/duncan-bannatyne-endorses-world-vertical-farming/ |
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