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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida deputy who was caught on video pointing a gun at a pregnant Black woman during a traffic stop has resigned, authorities tell WFLA.
Deputy Jason Desue left the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office after the incident, which occurred around midnight on Friday, Aug. 12, First Coast News reported.
The mother, Ebony Washington, who is four months pregnant, told WJAX she and her four children were on their way home to Jacksonville from Gainesville when Desue tried to pull her over for speeding. She was going 75 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone, according to reports.
Washington said she was looking for a safe, well-lit place to pull over, and turned on her hazard lights and kept driving until she got to a convenience store.
“It was dark and I was with my kids. I felt uncomfortable, and I didn’t want to be able to not have anyone else around,” she recalled.
Body camera video released by the sheriff’s office shows Desue follow her into the parking lot, get out of his patrol car and immediately point his gun at her van.
“If you make a move that’ll be the last mistake you make. Do not move,” Desue told Washington.
“I didn’t know he had a gun until I told him my seatbelt was still on and he said, ‘Get out. I have my gun. I’m not worried,’” the mother recalled.
After Desue ordered her to step out of the vehicle, Washington exited the van with her hands raised and tried to explain why she didn’t stop in time.
“Your excuse means nothing to me right now,” Desue said.
“I’m trying to tell you the only reason why I didn’t stop,” she told him. “I’m a very educated woman with a master’s degree … It’s dark out and I have three kids with me. I’m pregnant, and I did not want them to feel uncomfortable.”
“Just shut up about the why,” Desue said. “I don’t care about why.”
One of Washington’s children recorded video of the incident. Another could be heard crying as the deputy pointed a gun at their mother, First Coast reported.
“I was scared he was going to either take her to jail or that he might hurt her,” Washington’s daughter, Saige Washington, told WJAX. “Why is he so upset? She wasn’t doing anything.”
“Had I have done any movement outside of what he told me to do that would’ve been the opportunity for him to pull the trigger,” Washington said. “Him having power, the badge, the gun and the authority to do things, I think sometimes officers, like himself, they take advantage.”
The deputy gave Washington a speeding ticket and eventually let her go. When she apologized again, he told her to “apologize to herself for not thinking.”
In a statement provided to WFLA by his spokesman, Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith said he had already accepted Desue’s resignation while “continuing the internal investigation into his conduct.”
“I am disturbed and disheartened how Jacob Desue handled the traffic stop on Ebony Washington. She responded in a manner that was totally understandable in this circumstance,” Smith said. “Jacob Desue should have deescalated the situation but disappointingly was unable to respond in the appropriate manner.”
Smith told First Coast Washington did exactly what he would tell his daughter, wife or anyone else who feels uncomfortable during a traffic stop to do, “You reduce your speed, you turn on your flashing lights, be acknowledged,” he said.
“The whole thing would upset my children, my grandchildren,” the sheriff added. “So a lot of things that should have been done weren’t done. And at the end of the day, we determined that was something that we didn’t need representing us, or protecting our community.”
Although Smith said Washington did things right, she still blames herself for how things unfolded.
“None of this would’ve happened had I not been speeding,” she told First Coast. “My husband always says … ‘Why you so in a rush?’” | https://www.wane.com/news/florida-deputy-resigns-after-pointing-gun-at-pregnant-black-woman/ | 2022-08-23 15:12:50 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/florida-deputy-resigns-after-pointing-gun-at-pregnant-black-woman/ |
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KOCHI, India (AP) — Eloor smells like it is dying.
Once it was an island of rich farmland on the Periyar River, 17 km (10.5 miles) from the Arabian sea, teeming with fish. Now, a stench of putrid flesh permeates the air. Most of the fish are gone. Locals say people living near the river are hardly even having children anymore.
Yet here is Shaji, alone in his small fiber boat, fishing with his handmade rod, the southern Indian state of Kerala’s massive industrial smokestacks behind him.
Some 300 chemical companies belch out dense fumes, almost warning people to stay away. The waters have taken on dark hues. Shaji, a fisherman in his late 40s who only uses one name, is among the few who remain.
“Most of the people here are trying to migrate from this place. If we look at the streets, it’s almost empty. There are no jobs and now we cannot even find work on the river,” said Shaji, displaying the few pearl spot fish he managed to catch during an entire day in March.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is part of a series produced under the India Climate Journalism Program, a collaboration between The Associated Press, the Stanley Center for Peace and Security and the Press Trust of India.
Many of the petrochemical plants here are more than five decades old. They produce pesticides, rare earth elements, rubber processing chemicals, fertilizers, zinc-chrome products and leather treatments.
Some are government owned, including Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore, established in 1943, Indian Rare Earths Limited, and Hindustan Insecticides Limited.
Residents say the industries take in large amounts of freshwater from the Periyar and discharge concentrated wastewater with almost no treatment.
Anwar C. I., who uses initials for his last name in the custom of southern India, is a member of a Periyar anti-pollution committee and a private contractor who lives in the area. He said residents have grown accustomed to the reek that seems to hang over the area like a heavy curtain, enveloping everything and everyone.
The groundwater is now fully contaminated and the government’s contention that the businesses benefit people is wrong, he said.
“When they claim to provide employment to many people through industrialization, the net impact is that the livelihood of thousands is lost,” Anwar said. People cannot make a living from ruined land and water.
Residents have periodically risen up against the factories in the form of protests. Demonstrations began in 1970, when the village first witnessed thousands of fish dying. Both die-offs and protests happened again many times after that, said Shabeer Mooppan, a long-time resident who has often demonstrated.
“Some of the early protest leaders are now bedridden” in advanced age, Mooppan said, emphasizing just how long people in the community have been trying to get the river cleaned up.
Now Shabeer is trying to improve surveillance, to catch those responsible for fouling the river. It’s a method used by riverkeepers and baykeepers in other cities around the world. He is also pursuing legal cases against polluting industries.
The state Pollution Control Board downplayed the industrial pollution in the Periyar River, blaming it on sewage from homes, commercial institutions and markets upstream.
“We have not found any alarming rate of metals in the river water. All the levels are within the limits,” said Baburajan P K, chief environmental engineer of the board.
Baburajan said only five major companies of the over 300 industrial plants in the region are allowed to discharge wastewater into the river, and it must be treated. The rest must treat their wastewater, reusing or disposing it on their own land. He said hefty environmental levies have been imposed on violators.
Research also tells a story of a river in distress.
As far back as 1998, scientists at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies found some 25 species of fish had disappeared from the region. Experts have found contamination in vegetables, chicken, eggs, fruits and tuber crops from the region.
Chandramohan Kumar, a professor in Chemical Oceanography at Cochin University of Science and Technology, has researched Periyar River pollution in several studies.
“We have observed pollution from various organic fertilizers, metallic components. Toxic metals like cadmium, copper, zinc and all the heavy metals can be detected there,” Kumar said.
India also has a special environmental court called the National Green Tribunal. A decade ago, it ordered the government to create an action plan to restore water quality in the river to protect the environment and public health. It also ordered the formation of a monitoring committee.
More recently, the Tribunal was worried enough to initiate its own proceeding on the pollution. It cited studies going back to 2005, carried out by the environmental non-profit group Thanal, that showed “hundreds of people living near Kuzhikandam Creek at Eloor were afflicted with various diseases such as cancer, congenital birth defects, bronchitis, asthma, allergic dermatitis, nervous disorders and behavior changes.”
The court cited another survey of 327 families in the region that showed hazardous chemicals, including DDT, hexachlorochyclohexane, cadmium, copper, mercury, lead, toluene, manganese and nickel had been discharged into into Kuzhikandam Creek “and adversely affected the health condition of people in Eloor.”
Kumar said the remedy for this pollution is onsite treatment at each facility, and it comes down to money. “If they are ready to invest, the effluent discharge can be resolved," he said.
The Pollution Control Board responded that it recently began a study that could lead to curbing air pollution and reducing the intolerable stench in the area largely caused, it said, by bone meal fertilizer factories and meat rendering plants. It is expected to be finalized in May.
The board dismissed allegations that it does not actively pursue polluters and said it ensures no untreated waste liquids are discharged into the river.
Trainees with the Pollution Control Board do daily trips to collect samples from six different points along the river.
“But we don’t know what happens to those samples,” said resident Adam Kutty. “What’s the point of having all the money in the world and no water to drink?”
Omana Manikuttan, a long-time resident of Eloor, said for years she and her neighbors have not eaten fish from the river. Eating them leads to serious diarrhea and tastes like pesticides, even after cooking, Manikuttan said.
As the blame game continues, the grass and trees in the area appear wilted as if scorched by the noxious fumes. The birds seem to have been driven away by the air. Without official action, the pall over the region and its residents is unlikely to lift soon. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/world/article/india-residents-try-to-save-a-river-officials-17889856.php | 2023-04-11 03:10:32 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/world/article/india-residents-try-to-save-a-river-officials-17889856.php |
The World's First Dual-Camera Color-Match Product Captures the Most Accurate and Vivid Colors on Screen
HONG KONG, Sept. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Govee, a global leader in smart lighting and RGBIC technology, announced the launch of the TV Backlight T2, the world's first dual-camera color-match TV backlight with enhanced color-matching accuracy. Its innovative dual-camera design and patented Govee Envisual technology ensure industry-leading accuracy and provide users with an elevated home entertainment experience. The Envisual-supported TV Backlight T2 provides a "wow" factor for TV viewers through exact, vibrant color-matching lights designed to amplify any movie, show or game.
The First-Ever Dual-Camera TV Backlight to Upgrade The Home Theater Experience
Improving upon Govee's original model that captured 171K pixel dots every half-second, the dual-camera TV Backlight T2 captures 354K pixel dots in the same time frame, increasing the color-matching accuracy by 40%.
Using Govee's patented color-match Envisual technology and algorithm, the T2 uses a "zone-division" capture method to divide the screen into several zones for the most accurate, vibrant color matching to align with what's on-screen. Moreover, the backlight automatically adjusts its algorithm according to different types of video, delivering customized and specific lighting effects for every piece of content.
Vivid and Smooth Effects to Create a Truly Immersive Environment
The Govee TV Backlight T2 is ultra-dense with 60 RGBIC light beads per meter (double of the amount in the previous generation) providing for a large wall washing effect. It also incorporates IC (Independent Control) chips in the individual lights to simultaneously display multiple colors and effects in a single segment. This provides a more natural and smooth lighting experience between scenes. Additionally, the combination of lighting sequences with color changes on the monitor creates a visual effect that essentially erases the border between the monitor and the wall. This makes the monitor appear bigger and reduces eye strain.
Users can pair the TV Backlight T2 with DreamView mode through the Govee Home App, syncing to other Govee smart lights for an even more impactful viewing experience. The Govee TV Backlight T2 is easy to install and works seamlessly with voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It's also compatible with CEC, HDMI, DolbyVision, 8K screens, and select streaming services.
Availability
Market availability dates and pricing for the 55-65 inch model are as follows:
- United States: Sept. 26, 2022 for $139.99
- Germany: Sept 30, 2022 for 149.99€
- United Kingdom: Nov. 14, 2022 for 149.99£
The 75-85 inch version will be available in the United States in early October with wider market availability to be announced at a later date. Both models will be available through Govee.com and Amazon.
About Govee
Since November 2017, Govee has created cutting-edge lighting and home products for consumers from around the world and is committed to upholding the highest standards in quality for our smart home technology. Our products are consistently rated as Amazon's Choice with highly rated reviews from our consumers. The Govee Home App, our corresponding app for all of our products, has a growing community of over 10 million registered users. We have also received rave reviews from trusted publications. For more information, please visit our website at govee.com.
Media Contact: Xiaomin Qin, marketing@govee.com
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SOURCE GOVEE MOMENTS LIMITED | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/09/26/govee-debuts-redesigned-tv-backlight-with-envisual-technology-an-immersive-home-theater-viewing-experience/ | 2022-09-26 13:03:33 | 1 | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/09/26/govee-debuts-redesigned-tv-backlight-with-envisual-technology-an-immersive-home-theater-viewing-experience/ |
THEATER
A Big Day for Baseball: A Magic Tree House Adventure: Jack and Annie are back in this musical journey, based on the book “A Big Day for Baseball” from the acclaimed Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. 10:15 a.m.; March 3-4, March 7-8; Orlando Shakes, 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando; $12-$18; 407-447-1700; orlandoshakes.org
28th Annual Film Celebration at East Campus, School of Arts and Entertainment: 2:30 p.m.; March 4; Valencia College East Campus, 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando; events.valenciacollege.edu
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill: In this powerful musical production, you’ll laugh as much as you cry while Billie Holiday sings her most famous songs. 7:30 p.m.; March 3-5; Orlando Shakes, 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando; $25-$60; 407-447-1700; orlandoshakes.org
[ See all the winners of the 2023 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards ]
The Mikado: You will not want to miss New York Gilbert & Sullivan Player’s new and critically acclaimed production of “The Mikado.” 7:30 p.m.; March 4; Clermont Performing Arts Center, 3700 S. Highway 27 in Clermont; $27.50-$37.50; 352-394-4800; clermontperformingarts.com
Much Ado About Nothing: National Theatre Live is the National Theatre’s groundbreaking project to broadcast the best of British theatre from the London stage to cinemas worldwide. 10:30 a.m.; March 4; Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave. in Maitland; 407-629-1088; enzian.org
Musical Theatre: Broadway Rhythm (3-8 grades): From harmonies to high notes and belting to step ball changes — in this fun and supportive atmosphere, students develop vocal and movement skills, connect to a character and activate text. 4:30 p.m.; March 8; Orlando Repertory Theatre, 1001 E. Princeton St. in Orlando; $260; orlandoatplay.com
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Orange Blossom Opry Superstar Showcase Contest: Be a part of the all-new 2023 Orange Blossom Opry’s Thursday Night Showcase. 7 p.m.; March 9; Orange Blossom Opry, 16439 S.E. 138th Terrace in Weirsdale; $15-$24; obopry.com
Performance Workshop: The Claw (3-8 grades): When an out-of-order claw game suddenly turns back on, all of the toys are ecstatic! Well… all of the toys except for Dot, a terrified stuffed cow. 9:30 a.m.; March 4; Orlando Repertory Theatre, 1001 E. Princeton St. in Orlando; $285; orlandoatplay.com
Pretty Woman — The Musical: 2 p.m.; March 4-5; Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando
Swordplay On Stage!: Orlando Shakes’ youth and teen classes focus on skill sets that benefit youth and teens on stage and in everyday life. 9 a.m.; March 4; Orlando Shakes, 812 E Rollins St. in Orlando; free; orlandoatplay.com
100 Years of Broadway: History, Drama and Song: By Floyd Love, Master Theatre. 1:30 p.m.; March 3; Rath Senior ConNEXTions Center, 934 South Blvd. in Lakeland; $60; 863-220-7002; TheRathCenter.org
A Quarter of a Century... and then some: 7:30 p.m.; March 9; Fringe ArtSpace, 54 W. Church St. in Orlando; $5-$32; 407-436-7800; orlandofringe.thundertix.com
The Addams Family: A comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, “The Addams Family” features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. 8 p.m.; March 3-4, March 7-9; Inside the Fashion Square Mall, 3201 E. Colonial Drive in Orlando; $20-$55; 407-613-2991; newgentheatrical.org
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Best of Broadway: 1965-1974: The Breakthrough Theatre Company presents their annual “Best of Broadway” musical revue, this year featuring songs from shows opening on Broadway from 1965-1974. 8 p.m.; March 3-6; Breakthrough Theatre, 6900 Aloma Ave. in Winter Park; $12-$20; 407-920-4034; breakthroughtheatre.com
Middletown: “Delicate, moving, piercing, tart, funny, gorgeous. Mr. Eno’s gift may be unmatched among writers of his generation.” 7:30 p.m.; March 3-5; Fringe ArtSpace, 54 W. Church St., Suite 201, in Orlando; $5-$32; orlandofringe.thundertix.com
Musical Theatre Revue: Featuring Music from Broadway’s Golden Age. 7:30 p.m.; March 4; Southeastern University, 1000 Longfellow Blvd. in Lakeland; free; 863-667-5144; music.seu.edu
DANCE
Things to Do
Dance Express: A high energy, crowd pleaser playing old school music, Motown and current top 40. 5 p.m.; March 5; Brownwood Paddock Square, 2705 Brownwood Blvd. in The Villages; thevillagesentertainment.com
DJ BMF: De La Soul / Native Tongues Video Tribute: This event is for those 21 and older. 10 p.m.; March 3; Lil’ Indies, 1036 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando; free
Father-Daughter Dance: 5:30 p.m.; March 7; Tavares Pavilion on the Lake, 200 S. Disston Ave. in Tavares; tavares.org
Legacy Dance Championships: March 3-5; RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St. in Lakeland; rpfundingcenter.com
Motown with a Twist: Are you ready for a brand-new beat? Don’t miss Motown with a Twist. 7:30 p.m.; March 7; RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St. in Lakeland; $31-$86; 863-834-8111; rpfundingcenter.com
Motown with a Twist: Featuring celebrity pros from “Dancing with the Stars.”: 7 p.m.; March 6; Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, 1051 Main St. in The Villages; thesharon.com
Line Dancing: 5 p.m.; March 8; Union Hall, 1023 Florida Ave S. in Lakeland; unionhallevents.com | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/events/os-et-theater-dance-things-to-do-orlando-calendar-listings-feb-17-20230302-5fijpwwo5jgprjhnrgdcihpem4-story.html | 2023-03-02 09:05:59 | 1 | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/events/os-et-theater-dance-things-to-do-orlando-calendar-listings-feb-17-20230302-5fijpwwo5jgprjhnrgdcihpem4-story.html |
Philadelphia surgical pioneer joins Dan Hilferty's advisory firm
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dune View Strategies today announced that Dr. Anthony V. Coletta, M.D., MBA, former CEO of Tandigm Health and former president of facilitated health networks and executive vice president of Independence Blue Cross, will be joining the strategic advisory firm as a partner.
With more than two decades of experience as a board-certified general surgeon who pioneered laparoscopic surgeries in the Philadelphia region, Dr. Coletta will bring a depth of knowledge in equitable healthcare and accountable care to the firm. Having previously worked at Independence Health Group (Independence) while Daniel J. Hilferty served as president and chief executive officer, the two healthcare business leaders will once again team up to advise and invest in small to mid-size healthcare companies and start-ups as they bring their transformational services, technologies and products to the market.
"For more than 30 years as a surgeon and then physician executive, my goal has been to restore and maintain balance within our healthcare ecosystem by achieving better outcomes, lowered costs and enhanced care for patients," said Dr. Coletta. "Joining Dan and the Dune View team as partner is yet another amazing opportunity to help transform the healthcare landscape in our country."
Dr. Coletta has been continually recognized throughout his career as an innovator in the evolution of Philadelphia-area healthcare. After 25 years in the operating room at Bryn Mawr Hospital, which included the region's first minimally invasive gall bladder removal, appendectomy and colon resection, Dr. Coletta received his MBA from Temple University's Fox School of Business and pivoted to a non-clinical role as chief medical officer and executive vice president at Holy Redeemer Health System.
In 2014, Coletta led the creation of Tandigm Health, a population health and physician management services organization, where he has served as president, CEO and more recently executive chairman of the company. Coletta worked alongside Hilferty at Independence as executive vice president and later as president of facilitated health networks, where he led the transformation from volume to value for the regional health insurer overseeing more than $7 billion of annual medical costs.
"When I was considering candidates to join our team, Dr. Coletta was one of the first names to come to mind," said Hilferty, founder of Dune View Strategies. "As an innovator and disruptor in the movement towards value-based care, Tony's unique perspective, clinical expertise and executive acumen will surely guide our clients to great success."
A heavily connected leader in the broader healthcare community, Dr. Coletta also serves as venture partner at Empactful Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Doylestown and Nashville. He sits on the board of directors of Care Continuity Inc., a leader in patient navigation and care transitions, and the board of trustees at Redeemer Health Systems and Cristo Rey High School in Philadelphia. He is also the former chairman of Tandigm Scholars and has led general surgery teams on mission trips to Haiti since 2007 through Blue Sky Surgery, a non-profit organization that he also chairs.
Later this week, Dune View Strategies will co-host the inaugural HealthKey Summit in Philadelphia on November 2-4, 2022. Dr. Coletta will moderate a panel discussion on the emergence of digital solutions in the mental and behavioral health space, one of the core sectors that Dune View Strategies will focus on.
For more information or to contact Dune View Strategies, please visit duneviewstrategies.com. For more information about the HealthKey Summit's agenda, speakers and locations, please visit www.healthkeysummit.com.
About Dune View Strategies
Dune View Strategies is a strategic advising firm that accelerates opportunity and growth for emerging healthcare companies. The firm's trusted and experienced advisors help small and mid-size organizations as well as start-ups and entrepreneurs as they bring their transformational services, technologies and products to the market.
Contact:
Kristen Love
klove@briancom.com
609-828-1165
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SOURCE Dune View Strategies | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/10/31/dune-view-strategies-welcomes-dr-anthony-coletta-partner/ | 2022-10-31 13:46:46 | 0 | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/10/31/dune-view-strategies-welcomes-dr-anthony-coletta-partner/ |
What’s the difference between translation tools and language learning systems
Some people may seem to have an aversion to learning other languages. For Americans, this could be because English is by far the most popular second language worldwide. When traveling, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find someone who also speaks English. Even if you can’t find someone, many translation devices can offer you assistance.
However, there is a big difference between using a translation tool, such as Meta’s No Language Left Behind, and learning another language’s nuances via a language learning system. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. It is important to know the difference so you can choose which is best for you.
What is No Language Left Behind
No Language Left Behind is an open-source project that seeks to tear down language barriers without changing the way an individual expresses themselves. It is an artificial intelligence-powered translating tool that seeks to attain global inclusion in online communities. Currently, No Language Left Behind can deliver high-quality translations between 200 languages.
How does AI work when applied to translate languages?
From a very high-level perspective, AI recognizes patterns in data sets and analyzes how these patterns are used in different contexts to solve a specific problem. Since language is built on a series of patterns that individuals use to communicate, AI can be harnessed to recognize similar patterns in different languages to provide a better translation. In other words, instead of translating “la pelota del chico” to “the ball of the boy,” it translates to “the boy’s ball,” which sounds much more natural.
Why is AI language translation better?
Meta’s belief is that using open-source AI-powered translation tools will provide the context needed to understand complex sentence structure and phrases and interpret tone, slang and humor successfully. The goal is to create an online community of inclusion, where no one is left out because they cannot adequately express themselves in another language.
What is a language learning system?
A language learning system is a systematic way of learning a language. It is a comprehensive approach that includes a broad scope of skills. For instance, there is much more to a language learning system than simply memorizing endless vocabulary lists. You study reading, writing, speaking and listening, so you have an in-depth, practical and balanced understanding of all aspects of the language. In short, using a language learning system ensures you develop a well-rounded set of skills.
AI translation tools vs. language learning systems
While some people speculate that AI translators may eventually take the place of language learning systems, there are many reasons why that isn’t a likely scenario.
AI Translation tools and a language learning system are two different things
AI translating tools are just that: tools. A language learning system, on the other hand, teaches you how to utilize those tools best. It is the difference between going to an art museum and admiring a finished painting versus knowing what to do with a blank canvas, a set of oils and brushes. Each has its purpose, and one will never fully replace the other.
Language is alive and ever-evolving
Language constantly evolves. Even if an AI translator perfected translation between two languages, over time, those languages would change, making the algorithms that were once so effective, not as accurate.
The best way to understand your native language is to learn a foreign language
If you really want to understand the various parts of speech and their function in communicating, study the structure of a foreign language. This shakes things up and forces you to relearn what you picked up over the years through context so you have a deeper understanding of how and why.
Learning a second language has benefits beyond communicating
Even if you never plan on leaving your hometown, there are a few important reasons to learn a second language. Learning a language engages areas of your brain that might be otherwise under-developed. People who know a second language tend to do better in school and lower the risk of degenerative brain diseases. Besides helping you gain a better perspective of other cultures, learning a second language can improve your concentration, memory and listening skills.
Best language learning systems
Rosetta Stone (Lifetime Access)
Rosetta Stone is one of the top language learning systems available. This lifetime subscription gives you access to 24 languages, allowing you to switch freely between them without additional fees.
Sold by Amazon
Babbel Language Learning Software (Lifetime Access)
This lifetime subscription to Babble lets you choose from 14 languages with courses designed with over 100 linguistic experts. The concise 10 to 15-minute lessons let you move at your own pace whenever convenient.
Sold by Amazon
The beauty of Pimsleur is all you need to unlock the lessons is a subscription to Audible Premium Plus. These 30-minute lessons can be done in your car, on vacation, in your home with Alexa or anywhere you want because you can stream or download each lesson. When you purchase a lesson, you also get an accompanying PDF.
Sold by Amazon
With Udemy, you scroll through the list of available courses and click on whatever catches your interest. This takes you to a page that gives you an overview of the course and lets you know if you will receive any certificates so you can decide if it is right for you. This method allows you only to purchase the courses you want to take so that the cost may be significantly lower than other options.
Sold by Udemy
Pocketalk Classic Language Translator Device
If you aren’t interested in learning another language but want to be able to hold your own during a conversation in a foreign country, this portable translator is for you. The device translates as you speak to help break down language barriers so you can focus on enjoying your travel adventures.
Sold by Amazon
EdX gives you access to online learning from over 160 member universities, such as Harvard, Berkeley, MIT and more. After signing up, you will receive access to courses in English, Mandarin, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and more. The courses range from improving your grammar to helping you conduct business in foreign countries.
Sold by EdX
Rosetta Stone offers online learning courses in 25 languages. For almost 30 years it has helped people gain fluency in a second language. It offers plans for individuals, schools and enterprises.
Sold by Rosetta Stone
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/as-metas-new-ai-translation-tools-make-waves-these-language-learning-systems-are-still-the-best/ | 2022-07-26 10:57:18 | 1 | https://cw33.com/reviews/as-metas-new-ai-translation-tools-make-waves-these-language-learning-systems-are-still-the-best/ |
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UTICA, N.Y. – The Rome police department hierarchy is looking a bit different, today.
Nine officers jumped the ranks to either captain, lieutenant, sergeant and detective as the department rewarded them for their work.
"It shows the amount of dedication and hard work," Chief of Rome Police David Collins said. "Their level of commitment to the police department. So, they put in the time, the effort, the extra step, the sacrifice so it feels good to take that time to go ahead and reward them with what they had coming to them." | https://www.wktv.com/news/nine-rome-police-officers-promoted-to-higher-ranks/article_d2d4b184-0934-11ed-87a7-9be1b763cda6.html | 2022-07-21 23:28:23 | 1 | https://www.wktv.com/news/nine-rome-police-officers-promoted-to-higher-ranks/article_d2d4b184-0934-11ed-87a7-9be1b763cda6.html |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who opened combat jobs to women and ended a ban on transgender people serving in the military, has died at age 68.
Carter died Monday evening after suffering a heart attack in Boston, his family said in a statement Tuesday.
Known as a defense thinker and strategist, Carter was a nuclear expert, three-time Pentagon executive, budget guru and academician who had served as a defense civilian in the building over a period of 35 years.
Gen. Martin Dempsey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted at Carter's retirement ceremony in 2017 that his focus on the less glamourous aspects of the job such as people management had made him known as the “most important, least known figure in Washington.”
Carter had not previously served in the military but mastered the nuts and bolts of the Defense Department, a skill set that helped him quietly shape notable change, particularly when it came to who was allowed to serve in uniform.
In December 2015, after three years of study and debate, Carter ordered the military to open all jobs to women, removing the final barriers that kept women from serving in combat, including the most dangerous and grueling commando posts.
“I made the decision to admit women to all military specialties without exception," Carter said in a later interview on the decision. "They are 50% of the population. We can’t afford to leave off the table half of the population who can, if they’re the ones who have the best qualifications, do the job."
The following year, Carter, was responsible for ending the ban on transgender troops, saying it was the right thing to do.
“Americans who want to serve and can meet our standards should be afforded the opportunity to compete to do so,” Carter said in June 2016, laying out a one-year plan to implement the change. “Our mission is to defend this country, and we don’t want barriers unrelated to a person’s qualification to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine who can best accomplish the mission.”
Before Carter was named the Defense Department secretary, he served in President Barack Obama’s administration as the Pentagon's top procurement officer and oversaw the department’s effort to speed more than 24,000 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to Iraq and Afghanistan during the height of both conflicts to better protect U.S. troops.
At the time, thousands of U.S. troops were being maimed or killed by roadside bombs because there was not adequate protection in the vehicles they were operating. Carter frequently mentioned the rapid development and procurement of those vehicles as one of his proudest accomplishments.
“At peak production, the United States shipped over 1,000 MRAPs a month to theater. And there, they saved lives,” Carter said at a 2012 ceremony marking the completion of the vehicle production. “And you all know me, I would have driven one in here today, if I could get it through the door.”
Carter, a native of Philadelphia, served as the 25th defense secretary and “loved nothing more than spending time with the troops, making frequent trips to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit U.S. forces with his wife Stephanie,” his family said in a statement. “Carter always set politics aside; he served presidents of both parties over five administrations.”
Carter was sworn in as defense secretary in February 2015. He was immediately confronted with the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria and China's rapid militarization of islands in the South China Sea. During his tenure Carter oversaw the Obama administration’s “Pivot to the Pacific,” an attempt to rebalance military resources and focus on a rising China. He traveled multiple times to U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific as the U.S. increased its naval presence there to counter Beijing’s own more aggressive stance.
However, his continued focus on process reform and military modernization, including the establishment of a new defense innovation hub to get Silicon Valley more directly tied to the Pentagon, was sometimes criticized as out of touch as the military shifted again into an intensified conflict in the Middle East.
“I think he will be long remembered in the halls of the Pentagon as a visionary,” said former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, who led the Air Force during Carter’s tenure as defense secretary as they announced the Pentagon would develop the nation’s first new strategic stealth bomber in decades, the B-21 Raider. It is scheduled to be unveiled to the public this December.
Carter earned bachelor’s degrees in physics and in medieval history, summa cum laude, at Yale University, and received a doctorate in theoretical physics from Oxford University. Carter was a Rhodes Scholar, a physics instructor at Oxford University, and a post doctoral fellow at Rockefeller University and M.I.T., and an experimental research associate at Brookhaven and Fermilab National Laboratories.
Carter had most recently served as the director of Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie ,and two children.
Credit: Alex Brandon
Credit: Alex Brandon | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/ash-carter-defense-secretary-who-opened-jobs-to-women-dies/AGHVPI5UUJGQTH4RHWXHW2WLXI/ | 2022-10-25 17:05:24 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/ash-carter-defense-secretary-who-opened-jobs-to-women-dies/AGHVPI5UUJGQTH4RHWXHW2WLXI/ |
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch was asleep and smelled of alcohol when Las Vegas police found him in his damaged sports car and arrested him on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to an arrest report made public Thursday.
Lynch’s attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, responded in a statement that Lynch’s car “was safely parked and not in operation” when police arrived early Tuesday and a driving while intoxicated charge won’t stick.
“Marshawn was not pulled over for a DUI,” the statement said. “We are confident that when all evidence is presented, this will not be a DUI under Nevada law.”
The arresting officer, Kevin Barker, reported that Lynch’s black 2020 Shelby GT500 was “undriveable,” with one missing front wheel and the rear driver’s side and front passenger wheels badly damaged.
The arrest report said investigators found markings suggesting the vehicle “hit sidewalk areas” before stopping in an industrial section of downtown Las Vegas not far from Main Street.
“The driver was asleep behind the wheel with the driver’s door open leaning back in the seat,” the report said, “with bloodshot, watery eyes and had one shoe on and one shoe off.”
The 7:30 a.m. Tuesday arrest came the morning after the Seattle Seahawks — the team for which Lynch played most of his 12 NFL seasons — announced that Lynch had been hired as a broadcast special correspondent.
Lynch also played for the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders.
The arrest report said Lynch, 36, was uncooperative with officers and fell asleep several times during questioning. Jail officers “had to use a restraint chair to force a blood draw” after a judge issued a warrant, the report said.
Lynch was later released from Las Vegas City Jail pending a Dec. 7 court date in Las Vegas Municipal Court.
Results of his blood test were not immediately made public. Nevada law bans driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08% or more.
Court records show that Lynch entered a no-contest plea to a misdemeanor vehicle parking charge and fined $750 in April in a case that saw charges of failing to report or remain at the scene of an accident dismissed.
Schonfeld, who represented Lynch in that case, declined Thursday to comment about it.
Lynch’s attorneys said in their statement that he “appreciates and is thankful for everyone’s concern and support.”
Lynch had 10,413 career rushing yards and 85 rushing touchdowns from 2007-19 and was chosen for the Pro Bowl five times. He won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2013. | https://who13.com/sports/ap-sports/police-marshawn-lynch-was-asleep-car-damaged-before-arrest/ | 2022-08-12 04:08:13 | 0 | https://who13.com/sports/ap-sports/police-marshawn-lynch-was-asleep-car-damaged-before-arrest/ |
Hard to read? Oregon GOP boycott comes down to reading level
Republicans blocking votes on bills about abortion, gun control and gender-affirming healthcare in Oregon this week have based their boycott on an obscure, 44-year-old state law that requires bill summaries to be written at the reading level of an 8th- or 9th-grader.
GOP leadership says their walkout — now entering day three — is about “every bill” but that two bills that would expand protections for abortions and transgender health care and place more limitations on gun ownership “specifically don’t qualify” under the 1979 law.
Democrats say Republicans didn’t take issue with the writing style of bipartisan bills they backed earlier in the session until hot button issues were on the table. The fate of the contested bills is now unclear; under a new voter-approved law, Oregon legislators who have 10 unexcused absences are banned from re-election.
“This is about abortion, guns and transgender rights,” said Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber. “The timing of this is such that they’re walking out on important legislation that Oregonians sent us here to do.”
The 1979 law in question specifically requires bill summaries to have an eighth- or ninth-grade reading level – measured by a score of at least 60 on something called the Flesch readability test. It’s unclear if it was ever followed or consulted for past bill summaries, but it was dusted off recently by a Republican Senate employee who dug it out the Capitol archives.
“It’s important that we follow the law because, if we’re passing laws today, are we just expecting in, you know, 20, 30, 40 years that people are just going to ignore the laws that we have on the books that we all passed? I don’t think we would appreciate that,” said Senate Republican leader Sen. Tim Knopp.
“And so I’m pretty sure that the legislators that did that back then also wanted the law followed”
The namesake of the Flesch test was Rudolf Flesch, a Vienna-born psychologist and readability expert specializing in the art of plain talk.
Designed in the 1940s to measure how easy it is to read and understand a text, the Flesch readability test factors word and sentence length to determine the grade level of a text. Scores range from 1 to 100, with 100 being the easiest to read and 1 being the most difficult. A score between 60 and 70 indicates an eighth- or ninth-grade reading level.
Flesch’s readability formula eventually inspired lawmakers across the country in the 1970s to use the test to make insurance policies easy-to-read for everyday consumers. In 1975, scientist J. Peter Kincaid refined the formula into the Flesch-Kincaid Readability test to help U.S. Navy personnel improve technical documents.
By 1979 in Oregon, lawmakers had figured out a way to use the Flesch test to shape legislation with plain language, too. Senate Bill 543 passed with overwhelming bipartisan support at the time.
Gary Wilhelms, the Oregon house minority leader in 1979, was one of 31 bipartisan votes to pass the readability bill. On Monday, the 85-year-old Republican addressed the resurfacing of the law decades after it’s passage in a statement released by the GOP senators.
“Transparency prevailed then as it should today,” Wilhelms said. “The law is the law, and I’m glad the Senate Republican Caucus is attempting to enforce this statute today.”
In an interview with The Associated Press, Wilhelms said his memory of the political moment in 1979 that shaped the readability law is fuzzy. He described it as “minor legislation.”
Justin Brecht is the senior policy analyst for the Senate Republican caucus who knocked the dust off the law four decades later. But even with that legislation, it would take more digging and a legal opinion to understand how it fit into the GOP playbook.
“Well, at first it was, ‘Well, what’s this statute that it says these measure summaries have to comply with?’” Brecht said. “Most don’t even know what the Flesch readability standard is.”
Republican lawmakers have until May 12 before those with 10 unexcused absences will be banned from re-election under the new law passed by 70% of Oregon voters last year.
____
Associated Press Writers Andrew Selsky and Claire Rush in Salem, Oregon, contributed to this report.
___
The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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/hard-to-read-oregon-gop-boycott-comes-down-to-reading-level/ | 2023-05-05 04:20:54 | 1 | https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/hard-to-read-oregon-gop-boycott-comes-down-to-reading-level/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in September, suggesting that the American labor market is not cooling as fast as the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve hoped.
Employers posted 10.7 million job vacancies in September, up from 10.3 million in August, the Labor Department said Tuesday. Economists had expected the number of job openings to drop below 10 million for the first time since June 2021.
For the past two years, as the economy rebounded from 2020’s COVID-19 recession, employers have complained they can’t find enough workers. With so many jobs available, workers can afford to resign and seek employment that pays more or offers better perks or flexibility. So companies have been forced to raise wages to attract and keep staff. Higher pay has contributed to inflation that has hit 40-year highs in 2022.
In another sign the labor market remains tight and employers unwilling to let workers go, layoffs dropped in September to 1.3 million, fewest since April. But the number of people quitting their jobs slipped in September to just below 4.1 million, still high by historical standards.
“By all the key metrics in this report, the labor market is resilient,” said Nick Bunker, head of economic research at the Indeed Hiring Lab. “Job openings still vastly outnumber unemployed workers, the quits rate remains elevated and layoffs are still well below pre-pandemic levels.”
To combat higher prices, the Federal Reserve has hiked its benchmark interest rate five times this year and is expected to deliver another increase Wednesday and again at its meeting in December. The central bank is aiming for a so-called soft landing — raising rates just enough to slow economic growth and bring inflation down without causing a recession.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell has expressed hope that inflationary pressure can be relieved by employers cutting job openings, not jobs. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-us-job-openings-rise-to-10-7m-bad-news-for-inflation-fight/ | 2022-11-01 21:26:54 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-us-job-openings-rise-to-10-7m-bad-news-for-inflation-fight/ |
JUPITER, Fla. - Infielders Yuli Gurriel and José Iglesias agreed to minor league contracts with the Miami Marlins.
The 38-year-old Gurriel won his second World Series with the Astros last year after hitting .242 with 40 doubles, eight home runs and 53 RBIs last year, down from 81 RBIs in 2021. In the postseason, Gurriel had 17 hits with a pair of home runs to help the Astros win their second title in six seasons.
Gurriel adds infield depth, and the Marlins could look for him to add offense for a team that ranked in the bottom five in runs and slugging in 2022.
Born in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, Gurriel has a career .284 batting average.
It’s unclear where the Marlins could use Gurriel. Miami acquired 2022 AL batting champion Luis Arraez from Minnesota to play second base and moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. from second to center field.
Iglesias, 33, batted .292 last season with Colorado and had a .981 fielding percentage as he made 116 starts at shortstop. Iglesias, who was born in La Habana, Cuba, has a .279 batting average. and .982 fielding percentage over 11 major league seasons. He has played for six teams.
Both players were to join the Marlins on Friday at their spring training facility. Miami opens the season on March 30 at home against the New York Mets. | https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/gurriel-iglesias-agree-to-minor-league-deals-with-marlins | 2023-06-30 23:31:34 | 1 | https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/gurriel-iglesias-agree-to-minor-league-deals-with-marlins |
BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Colombians were on edge Friday as a search continued for four Indigenous children who might have survived a deadly plane crash in the Amazon jungle 19 days ago.
The accident occurred in the early hours of May 1 when a Cessna C206 with seven passengers on board declared an emergency due to engine failure. Shortly after, the small aircraft fell off radar and a frantic search for survivors began.
Colombian troops found the wreckage Tuesday along with the bodies of three adults: the pilot, a guide and the children's mother. But there was no sign of the youngsters.
The children, members of the Uitoto Indigenous community, were identified as Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 13; Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 9; Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, 4; and Cristin Neriman Ranoque Mucutuy, 11 months.
On Wednesday, there appeared to be a breakthrough when Colombian President Gustavo Petro took to Twitter to announce that the four children had been found alive. But any elation was deflated hours later when Petro deleted the tweet, acknowledging that the children had in fact not been found.
“I have decided to delete the tweet because the information provided by the ICBF (Colombian Institute of Family Welfare) could not be confirmed,” Petro wrote. “I regret what happened. The Military Forces and the Indigenous communities will continue in their tireless search to give the country the news it is waiting for.”
Dozens of military personnel, supported by Indigenous people from nearby communities, are combing the area where the plane crashed.
Colombians have been debating various finds in the search and whether they might be linked to the children, including a baby bottle discovered one day and a pair of scissors found the next day in what seemed to be a makeshift shelter of leaves.
In addition, the company that owned the plane said in a statement that one of its pilots who was in the area had heard from some members of a local Indigenous community that the children were on their way to a nearby village on board a boat that was moving along one of the rivers. That did not happen.
Another version claimed the children had boarded a boat on the Apaporis River, towards Cachiporro, an Amazonian village. However, when the boat arrived at its destination, the children were not on board. | https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/colombia-on-edge-as-search-continues-for-4-18109561.php | 2023-05-19 23:44:47 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/colombia-on-edge-as-search-continues-for-4-18109561.php |
TORONTO, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Spin Master Corp. ("Spin Master" or the "Company") (TSX: TOY) (www.spinmaster.com), a leading global children's entertainment company, today announced its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. The Company's full Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and posted on the Company's web site at www.spinmaster.com/financial-info.php. All financial information is presented in United States dollars ("$", "dollars" and "US$") and has been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand, except per share amounts and where otherwise indicated.
"We are very pleased with our strong revenue growth this quarter across all three creative centres amidst a shifting macroeconomic environment," said Max Rangel, Spin Master's Global President & CEO. "Our Toy business continued to grow ahead of the industry with the strong performance of our diversified toy portfolio including innovative IP, evergreen franchise brands and popular licensed partnerships. Looking to the balance of the year, we remain confident in our ability to execute on our strategy of reimagining everyday play for children globally, powered by our deep expertise across toys, entertainment and digital games. We believe we are well positioned to manage through external market dynamics to deliver profitable growth and long-term shareholder value, while continuing to invest in growth initiatives."
"In the second quarter, we maintained our momentum in revenue growth and delivered record margins and profitability," said Mark Segal, Spin Master's Chief Financial Officer. " We are committed to our financial framework for value creation, underpinned by our formula for innovation and disciplined global growth across all of our creative centres. Given our strong financial position and operational outlook, we are pleased to introduce our first-ever quarterly dividend. We continue to remain focused on increasing opportunities to leverage our diverse and global platform for organic growth and accretive acquisitions."
- Revenue was $506.3 million, an increase of 29.6% from $390.8 million primarily due to an increase in Toy revenue of 34.1%. Digital Games revenue increased by 9.2% and Entertainment revenue increased by 3.3%. Constant Currency Revenue1 was $514.7 million, up from $390.8 million, an increase of 31.7%
- Operating Income was $118.2 million compared to $46.9 million.
- Operating Margin2 was 23.3% compared to 12.0%.
- Adjusted Operating Income1 was $97.6 million compared to $57.7 million.
- Adjusted Operating Margin1 was 19.3% compared to 14.8%.
- Adjusted EBITDA1 was $113.7 million compared to $81.8 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA Margin1 was 22.5% compared to 20.9%.
- Cash provided by operating activities was $111.6 million compared to $94.2 million.
- Free Cash Flow1 was $84.1 million compared to $69.0 million.
- Unutilized liquidity of approximately $1,068 million, comprised of $558 million in cash and cash equivalents and $510 million under the Company's credit facilities.
- Strong capital position and operational outlook led to the declaration of a quarterly dividend in respect of the third quarter of 2022.
- Revenue was $930.5 million, an increase of 31.5% from $707.4 million driven by growth in Toy revenue of 35.5% and Digital Games revenue of 28.7%, offset by a decrease in Entertainment revenue of 7.0%. Constant Currency Revenue1 increased by 33.5%2 to $944.3 million from $707.4 million.
- Operating Income was $179.9 million compared to $53.6 million.
- Operating Margin was 19.3% compared to 7.6%.
- Adjusted Operating Income1 was $174.9 million compared to $71.3 million.
- Adjusted Operating Margin1 was 18.8% compared to 10.1%.
- Adjusted EBITDA1 was $209.4 million compared to $118.5 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA Margin1 was 22.5% compared to 16.8%.
- Cash provided by operating activities was $48.7 million compared to $103.2 million.
- Free Cash Flow1 was $4.7 million compared to $62.5 million.
Toys Segment Results
The following table provides a summary of Toys segment operating results, for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
- Toy revenue increased by $111.2 million or 34.1% to $437.6 million driven by growth in Preschool and Dolls & Interactive, Wheels & Action, Activities, Games & Puzzles and Plush, offset by a decline in Outdoor.
- Toy Gross Product Sales increased by $125.4 million or 34.9%, to $484.4 million from $359.0 million. Constant Currency Toy Gross Product Sales1 increased by $131.2 million or 36.5%2 to $490.2 million, up from $359.0 million. The improvement was driven by an increase in shipments in the second quarter compared to the prior year as a result of customers ordering earlier, as well as strong customer demand.
- Operating Margin was 14.3% compared to 8.7%.
- Adjusted EBITDA Margin1 was 19.0% compared to 14.5%.
- The improvement in Operating Margin and Adjusted EBITDA Margin1 was driven by improved gross margin from favourable changes in product mix and price increases, as well as lower administrative and distribution expenses as a percentage of revenue, offset in part by inflation on product costs and ocean freight.
Entertainment Segment Results
The following table provides a summary of Entertainment segment operating results, for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
- Entertainment revenue increased by $0.9 million or 3.3% to $28.4 million, from higher distribution revenue related to the PAW Patrol series.
- Operating Margin was 61.6% compared to 45.5%.
- Adjusted Operating Margin1 was 63.4% compared to 45.8%.
- The improvement in Operating Margin and Adjusted Operating Margin1 was driven primarily by fewer Entertainment content deliveries in the current period, which resulted in lower amortization expense.
Digital Games Segment Results
The following table provides a summary of Digital Games segment operating results, for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
- Digital Games revenue increased by $3.4 million or 9.2% to $40.3 million due to higher in-app purchases in Toca Life World. Constant Currency Digital Games Revenue1 increased by $6.1 million or 16.5% to $43.0 million, up from $36.9 million.
- Operating Margin was 20.8% compared to 34.7%.
- Adjusted Operating Margin1 was 24.8% compared to 37.1%, due to higher product development and personnel costs related to the investment in future products, as well as higher marketing costs to acquire users, partially offset by higher revenue from in-app purchases in Toca Life World.
The Company continues to expect 2022 Toy Gross Product Sales, in constant currency1, to increase low double digits compared to 2021, consistent with prior guidance on May 4, 2022.
The Company continues to expect 2022 Revenue, in constant currency1, to increase low double digits compared to 2021 Revenue, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue1 of $26.0 million, consistent with prior guidance on May 4, 2022.
The Company continues to expect 2022 Adjusted EBITDA Margin1 to be in line with 2021 Adjusted EBITDA Margin, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue1 of $26.0 million, consistent with prior guidance on May 4, 2022.
The Company's Board of Directors has authorized and declared a quarterly dividend of C$0.06 per outstanding subordinate voting share and multiple voting share of Spin Master in respect of the third quarter of 2022. The dividend will be paid on October 14, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 30, 2022. This dividend is designated to be an eligible dividend for purposes of section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).
Certain statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this Press Release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the Securities Act (Ontario), and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date on which the statements are made in this Press Release. The words "plans", "expects", "projected", "estimated", "forecasts", "anticipates", "indicative", "intend", "guidance", "outlook", "potential", "prospects", "seek", "strategy", "targets" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain future conditions, actions, events or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "can", or negative versions thereof, "be taken", "occur", "continue" or "be achieved", and other similar expressions, identify statements containing forward-looking information. Statements of forward-looking information in this Press Release include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the Company's outlook for 2022; future growth expectations in 2022 and beyond; the Company's dividend policy; drivers and trends for such growth and financial performance; the successful execution of its strategies for growth; financial position, cash flows and financial performance; and the creation of long term shareholder value.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as a number of specific factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date on which the statements are made in this Press Release, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies which could result in the forward-looking statements ultimately being incorrect. In addition to any factors and assumptions set forth above in this Press Release, the material factors and assumptions used to develop the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the Company's dividend payments being subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and dependent on a variety of factors and conditions existing from time to time; seasonality; ability of factories to manufacture products, including labour size and allocation, tooling, raw material and component availability, ability to shift between product mix, and customer acceptance of delayed delivery dates; the steps taken will create long term shareholder value; the expanded use of advanced technology, robotics and innovation the Company applies to its products will have a level of success consistent with its past experiences; the Company will continue to successfully secure broader licenses from third parties for major entertainment properties consistent with past practices; the expansion of sales and marketing offices in new markets will increase the sales of products in that territory; the Company will be able to successfully identify and integrate strategic acquisition and minority investment opportunities; the Company will be able to maintain its distribution capabilities; the Company will be able to leverage its global platform to grow sales from acquired brands; the Company will be able to recognize and capitalize on opportunities earlier than its competitors; the Company will be able to continue to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships; the Company will maintain its status as a preferred collaborator; the culture and business structure of the Company will support its growth; the current business strategies of the Company will continue to be desirable on an international platform; the Company will be able to expand its portfolio of owned branded intellectual property and successfully license it to third parties; use of advanced technology and robotics in the Company's products will expand; access of entertainment content on mobile platforms will expand; fragmentation of the market will continue to create acquisition opportunities; the Company will be able to maintain its relationships with its employees, suppliers, retailers and license partners; the Company will continue to attract qualified personnel to support its development requirements; and the Company's key personnel will continue to be involved in the Company products and entertainment properties will be launched as scheduled and that the risk factors noted in this Press Release, collectively, do not have a material impact on the Company.
By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. Known and unknown risk factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this Press Release. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the magnitude and length of economic disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the factors discussed in the Company's disclosure materials, including the Annual or subsequent, most recent interim MD&A and the Company's most recent Annual Information Form, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). These risk factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company and investors are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Max Rangel, Global President and Chief Executive Officer and Mark Segal, Chief Financial Officer will host a conference call to discuss the financial results on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. (ET).
The call-in numbers for participants are (647) 792-1240 or (800) 437-2398. A live webcast of the call will be accessible via Spin Master's website at: http://www.spinmaster.com/events.php. Following the call, both an audio recording and transcript of the call will be archived on the same website page.
Spin Master Corp. (TSX:TOY) is a leading global children's entertainment company, creating exceptional play experiences through it's three creative centres: Toys, Entertainment and Digital Games. With distribution in over 100 countries, Spin Master is best known for award-winning brands PAW Patrol®, Bakugan®, Kinetic Sand®, Air Hogs®, Hatchimals®, Rubik's Cube® and GUND®, and is the global toy licensee for other popular properties. Spin Master Entertainment creates and produces compelling multiplatform content, through its in-house studio and partnerships with outside creators, including the preschool franchise PAW Patrol and numerous other original shows, short-form series and feature films. The Company has an established presence in digital games, anchored by the Toca Boca® and Sago Mini® brands, offering open-ended and creative game and educational play in digital environments. Through Spin Master Ventures, the Company makes minority investments globally in emerging companies and start-ups. With over 30 offices in close to 20 countries, Spin Master employs more than 2,000 team members globally. For more information visit spinmaster.com or follow-on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @spinmaster.
For further information
Sophia Bisoukis
Vice President, Investor Relations
sophiab@spinmaster.com
Spin Master Corp.
Condensed consolidated interim statements of financial position
Spin Master Corp.
Condensed consolidated interim statements of earnings and comprehensive income
Spin Master Corp.
Condensed consolidated interim statements of cash flows
In addition to using financial measures prescribed under IFRS, references are made in this Press Release to the following terms, each of which is a non-GAAP financial measure:
- Toy Gross Product Sales
- Constant Currency Toy Gross Product Sales
- Constant Currency Digital Games Revenue
- Constant Currency Revenue
- Adjusted EBITDA
- Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)
- Adjusted Net Income (Loss)
- Free Cash Flow
- Revenue, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue
- Adjusted EBITDA, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue
Non-GAAP financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
Additionally, references are made in this Press Release to the following terms, each of which is a non-GAAP financial ratio:
- Sales Allowance as a percentage of Toy Gross Product Sales
- Percentage change in Constant Currency Toy Gross Product Sales
- Percentage change in Constant Currency Digital Games Revenue
- Percentage change in Constant Currency Revenue
- Adjusted EBITDA Margin
- Adjusted Operating Margin
- Adjusted Basic EPS
- Adjusted Diluted EPS
- Adjusted EBITDA Margin, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue
Non-GAAP financial ratios are ratios or percentages that are calculated using a Non-GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP financial ratios do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
Management believes the Non-GAAP financial measures and Non-GAAP financial ratios defined above are important supplemental measures of operating performance and highlight trends in the business. Management believes that these measures allow for assessment of the Company's operating performance and financial condition on a basis that is consistent and comparable between reporting periods. The Company believes that investors, lenders, securities analysts and other interested parties frequently use these Non-GAAP financial measures and Non-GAAP financial ratios in the evaluation of issuers.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Toy Gross Product Sales represent Toy revenues, excluding the impact of Sales Allowances. As Sales Allowances are generally not associated with individual products, the Company uses Toy Gross Product Sales to provide meaningful comparisons across product category and geographical results to highlight trends in Spin Master's business. For a reconciliation of Toy Gross Product Sales to Revenue, the closest IFRS measure, refer to the revenue tables for the three months and year ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the same period in 2021 in this Press Release.
Constant Currency Toy Gross Product Sales, Constant Currency Digital Games Revenue and Constant Currency Revenue represent Toy Gross Product Sales, Digital Games revenue and Revenue presented excluding the impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, respectively. The current period and prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than the US dollar are translated using consistent exchange rates, rather than using the actual exchange rate in effect during the respective periods. The difference between the current period and prior period results using the consistent exchange rates reflects the changes in the underlying performance results, excluding the impact from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Management uses Constant Currency Toy Gross Product Sales, Constant Currency Digital Games Revenue and Constant Currency Revenue to measure the underlying financial performance of the business on a consistent basis over time. Refer to the "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section for a reconciliation of these metrics to Revenue, the closest IFRS measure.
Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as Net Income (Loss) before finance costs, income tax expense (recovery) and depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) excluding adjustments that do not necessarily reflect the Company's underlying financial performance. These adjustments include restructuring and other related costs, foreign exchange gains or losses, share based compensation expenses, acquisition related contingent consideration, impairment of intangible assets, impairment of goodwill, investment distribution income, loss on Minority interest and other investments, acquisition related deferred incentive compensation, net unrealized gain on investment, impairment of property, plant and equipment, legal settlement, transaction costs, gain on disposal of asset and bad debt recovery. Adjusted EBITDA is used by management as a measure of the Company's profitability. Refer to the "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below for a reconciliation of this metric to Operating Income (Loss), the closest IFRS measure.
Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is calculated as Operating Income (Loss) excluding adjustments (as defined in Adjusted EBITDA). Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is used by management as a measure of the Company's profitability. Refer to the "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below for a reconciliation of this metric to Operating Income (Loss), the closest IFRS measure.
Adjusted Net Income (Loss) is calculated as Net Income excluding adjustments (as defined in Adjusted EBITDA), the corresponding impact these items have on income tax expense. Management uses Adjusted Net Income (Loss) to measure the underlying financial performance of the business on a consistent basis over time. Refer to the "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below for a reconciliation of this metric to Operating Income (Loss), the closest IFRS measure.
Free Cash Flow is calculated as cash flows provided by/used in operating activities reduced by cash flows used in investing activities and adding back cash used for business acquisitions and investment in limited partnership and Minority interest and other investments, net of investment distribution income. Management uses the Free Cash Flow metric to analyze the cash flows being generated by the Company's business. In the third quarter of 2021, the calculation of this metric was revised to include the impact of investment distribution income as Management believes this composition to be relevant to investors, lenders, securities analysts and other interested parties of the Company. Refer to the "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section for a reconciliation of this metric to Cash flow from operating activities, the closest IFRS measure.
Revenue, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue is calculated as revenue excluding distribution revenue of $26.0 million related to PAW Patrol: The Movie recognized in 2021. Revenue, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue is used to measure the underlying financial performance of the business on a consistent basis over time. Refer to the "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section for a reconciliation of this metric to Revenue, the closest IFRS measure.
Adjusted EBITDA, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA excluding distribution revenue of $26.0 million related to PAW Patrol: The Movie recognized in 2021. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue is used by management as a measure of the Company's profitability on a consistent basis over time. Refer to the "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below for a reconciliation of this metric to Net Income, the closest IFRS measure.
Non-GAAP Financial Ratios
Sales Allowance as a percentage of Toy Gross Product Sales is calculated by dividing Sales Allowance by Toy Gross Product Sales. Management uses Sales Allowance as percentage of Toy Gross Product Sales to identify and compare the cost of doing business with individual retailers, different geographic markets and amongst various distribution channels.
Percentage change in Constant Currency Toy Gross Product Sales is calculated by dividing the change in Toy Gross Product Sales excluding the impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates by the Toy Gross Product Sales of the comparative period. Management uses Percentage change in Constant Currency Toy Gross Product Sales to measure the underlying financial performance of the business on a consistent basis over time excluding the impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Percentage change in Constant Currency Digital Games Revenue is calculated by dividing the change in Digital Games revenue excluding the impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates by the Digital Games revenue of the comparative period. Management uses Percentage change in Constant Currency Digital Games Revenue to measure the underlying financial performance of the business on a consistent basis over time excluding the impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Percentage change in Constant Currency Revenue is calculated by dividing the change in Revenue excluding the impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates by the Revenue of the comparative period. Management uses Percentage change in Constant Currency Revenue to measure the underlying financial performance of the business on a consistent basis over time excluding the impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Adjusted EBITDA Margin is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Revenue. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA Margin to evaluate the Company's performance compared to internal targets and to benchmark its performance against key competitors.
Adjusted Operating Margin is calculated as Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) divided by Revenue. Management uses Adjusted Operating Margin to evaluate the Company's performance compared to internal targets and to benchmark its performance against key competitors.
Adjusted Basic EPS is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Adjusted Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income (Loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, assuming the conversion of all dilutive securities were exercised during the period. Management uses Adjusted Basic EPS and Adjusted Diluted EPS to measure the underlying financial performance of the business on a consistent basis over time.
Adjusted EBITDA Margin, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue divided by Revenue, excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA Margin excluding PAW Patrol: The Movie Distribution Revenue to evaluate the Company's performance compared to internal targets and to benchmark its performance against key competitors on a consistent basis over time.
The following table presents a reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income, and cash from operating activities to Free Cash Flow for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
The following table presents a reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Net Income, and cash from operating activities to Free Cash Flow for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
The following tables present reconciliations of Revenue to Constant Currency Toy Gross Product Sales, Revenue to Constant Currency Digital Games revenue and Revenue to Constant Currency Revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021:
The following tables present the composition of Percentage change in Constant Currency Toy Gross Product Sales, Percentage change in Constant Currency Digital Games Revenue and Percentage change in Constant Currency Revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021:
Segment Results
The Company's results from operations by reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
Effective January 1, 2022, the Company revised its reportable operating segments to align with its current business structure and how the Company's new CODM reviews operations and makes decisions. The following table presents 2021 segments in the same format that the Company presents its operating segments in 2022.
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SOURCE Spin Master Corp. | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/spin-master-reports-q2-2022-financial-results-announces-dividend/ | 2022-07-27 22:16:56 | 1 | https://www.wlbt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/spin-master-reports-q2-2022-financial-results-announces-dividend/ |
MIES, Switzerland (AP) — Russia has been excluded from qualification for the men’s Olympic basketball tournament in Paris next year, basketball’s international governing body FIBA said Tuesday.
The decision was widely expected since FIBA has suspended Russia’s teams from international play since shortly after the invasion of Ukraine last year. The International Olympic Committee favors allowing individual athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus to compete as neutrals, but not as national teams, like in basketball.
Russia’s world ranking was high enough for it to play Olympic pre-qualifying tournaments this year, but that place will be given to Bulgaria as the next-highest-ranked team from Europe, FIBA said in a statement citing the IOC’s recommendations.
The Russian women’s team already missed out on qualification when it was suspended from the World Cup and EuroBasket qualification last year. Belarus cannot qualify men’s or women’s teams.
There was no information Tuesday from FIBA about 3-on-3 basketball, which is also an Olympic event.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/olympics/russia-excluded-from-mens-basketball-at-2024-olympics/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_olympics | 2023-04-18 16:24:50 | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/olympics/russia-excluded-from-mens-basketball-at-2024-olympics/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_olympics |
Eight Israelis were reportedly wounded after a Palestinian man rammed his car into a crowded bus stop in Tel Aviv and began stabbing people.
The attack is being seen as a response to Israel’s deadly raids in the occupied West Bank, which stretched into a second day Tuesday.
We speak with NPR’s Daniel Estrin, who’s in Jerusalem for the latest.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-04/several-wounded-in-tel-aviv-as-palestinians-retaliate-against-israels-ongoing-raid-in-the-west-bank | 2023-07-04 18:30:57 | 1 | https://www.kvpr.org/2023-07-04/several-wounded-in-tel-aviv-as-palestinians-retaliate-against-israels-ongoing-raid-in-the-west-bank |
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) — Twelve people have been arrested in an undercover operation targeting child predators in Polk County, Florida, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The sting, titled Operation Child Protector II, was done in collaboration with the Auburndale and Winter Haven police departments.
Deputies said four of the suspects went to a location to have sex with girls they thought were 13 or 15 years old. Instead, they were greeted by undercover law enforcement.
The other eight suspects were arrested on warrants that alleged they groomed girls by sending them sexually explicit content.
One suspect, Zachary Hudson, was identified as a bus driver for Walt Disney World. Sheriff Grady Judd said Hudson would have sexually charged chats while on the job at Disney World.
“So if your bus was running late at Disney, he was busy taking pictures of himself and talking trash to what he thought was a little girl,” Judd said.
Two of the suspects weren’t from Florida, according to deputies. Judd said one suspect — George Elec Matthews, 66, of Ozark, Alabama — was arrested by military police while heading to work at Fort Rucker in Alabama.
The sheriff said Matthews had these chats both at home and at work.
“I hope he didn’t get so carried away with his chats that he forgot to put all the parts back on the Black Hawk helicopters,” Judd said. “That could be a real problem.”
“He’s not going to be flying here on a helicopter; I’ll guarantee that,” he added.
The 12 suspects face 49 felony charges in total. The suspects were identified as:
- Lawrence Neu, 67, of Lakeland — charged with one count traveling to meet a minor for sex (F2), one count attempted lewd battery, four counts transmission of material harmful to minor (F3), one count use of a computer to seduce a child – enhanced, and one count use of a computer to misrepresent age and seduce a child
- Francis Butler, 62, of Palm Beach Gardens — charged with one count traveling to meet a minor for sex, one count attempted lewd battery, and one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony
- Timothy King, 26, of Clermont — charged with one count traveling to meet a minor for sex, one count attempted lewd battery, and one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony
- Nando Catellar, 20, of Orlando — charged with one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony (F3), and one count transmission of material harmful to a minor (F3)
- Roger Fleury, 40, of Saint Clair, Michigan — charged with one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony and one count transmission of material harmful to a minor
- John Hughley, 43, Lehigh Acres — charged with one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony and one count transmission of material harmful to a minor
- Christopher Sean Velez, 33, of Tampa — charged with one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony and three counts transmission of material harmful to a minor (F3)
- Zachary Clark, 26, of Tampa — charged with one count traveling to meet a minor for sex, one count attempted lewd battery, one count use of a computer to seduce a child, and one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony
- Zachary Hudson, 30, of Reunion — charged with one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony and one count transmission of material harmful to a minor
- Michael Occhino, 57, of Kissimmee — charged with one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony, three counts transmission of material harmful to a minor, and one count interference with custody
- George Elec Matthews, 66, of Ozark, Alabama — charged with one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony and two counts transmission of material harmful to a minor (F3)
- Cameron Ohlin, 26, of Tallahassee — charged with one count use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony and six counts transmission of material harmful to a minor
According to Judd, nine of the suspects had no prior criminal record.
“Wherever you are in the world, if you’ve been talking nasty and sending nasty pictures to what you thought was a child, we’re after you,” Judd said. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/disney-bus-driver-among-12-arrested-in-florida-child-predator-sting-sheriff-says/ | 2022-06-18 01:13:33 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/disney-bus-driver-among-12-arrested-in-florida-child-predator-sting-sheriff-says/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, anchors at the afternoon extension of ABC’s “Good Morning America,” are leaving the network after their romance was reported in November.
The pair were taken off the air and placed on temporary hiatus after photos surfaced of them holding hands and spending time together. Both were married to other people at the time but had separated.
“After several productive conversations with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, about different options, we all agreed it’s best for everyone that they move on from ABC News,” an ABC News spokesperson said in a statement. “We recognize their talent and commitment over the years and are thankful for their contributions.”
In a memo sent to network staff at the time, network president Kim Godwin announced the anchors would remain off the air pending the results of an internal review. She called the romance a “distraction.” | https://www.myarklamiss.com/entertainment-news/ap-tv-anchors-t-j-holmes-amy-robach-leave-abc-amid-romance/ | 2023-01-28 23:45:35 | 0 | https://www.myarklamiss.com/entertainment-news/ap-tv-anchors-t-j-holmes-amy-robach-leave-abc-amid-romance/ |
ATLANTA (AP) — Before the 2020 presidential election, certifying election results in the states was routine and generated little public attention. That has changed.
Attempts to delay presidential certification in Michigan in 2020 and primary results in New Mexico earlier this year have brought new scrutiny to a process that typically takes place quietly in the weeks after Election Day.
Members of certification boards have raised unsubstantiated claims of fraud or other wrongdoing, focusing new attention on a process that could be manipulated if either side didn’t like an election outcome.
Whether partisan actors might try to block or delay certification at the local or state level is a growing concern among election officials, both for the upcoming November midterm voting and then the 2024 presidential election. Here is how election officials prepare for certification, who is involved and what might happen if a county refuses to certify its results.
HOW ELECTION OFFICIALS PREPARE FOR CERTIFICATION
Voting is over when polls close on Election Day, but the work to count and verify the results is just beginning. Through the canvass and certification process, local election officials check to ensure all votes were cast and counted correctly before results become official.
The canvass includes checking lists of voters in pollbooks against the number of ballots cast and researching any discrepancies. Those often are due to clerical errors or mistakes such as someone failing to sign the pollbook.
“There are all these little human errors that can happen that could lead to mismatch or discrepancies in the accounting,” said Jennifer Morrell, a former local election official who now advises election offices. “Best practice is to show them and do your best to account for them and explain them.”
It’s this reconciliation that election officials also use to detect potential voter fraud, flagging for authorities any issues such as a voter attempting to cast more than one ballot. During this time, many election offices also test equipment and audit the results to make sure the votes were tallied correctly. Others might take those steps after certification.
Most states have deadlines for when the canvass and certification must be completed.
WHO CERTIFIES RESULTS?
Partisan officials are involved in certifying elections, something experts worry about after nearly two years of conspiracy theories falsely claiming the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Republican former President Donald Trump. There is no evidence of widespread fraud or manipulated voting machines, and reviews in battleground states confirmed Democrat Joe Biden’s win.
In 45 states, the local boards that handle election certification are either party-controlled or commissions where the members are elected on a partisan basis, according to research by the advocacy group Election Reformers Network.
Once certified at the local level, results are sent to the state for further certification. In virtually every state, officials with ties to political parties play some role, according to the group. This typically involves a board comprised of statewide officials such as the secretary of state and governor, although in some states it’s the secretary of state who has sole authority to certify an election. Hawaii is the only state where certification is overseen by a nonpartisan chief election official appointed by a bipartisan commission.
THE PROCESS OF CERTIFICATION
Certification involves a public meeting during which election officials report to the local board charged with certifying the results. Those reports detail the number of voters who cast ballots, how many ballots were cast and counted, and any discrepancies that surfaced during the canvass.
It’s a ministerial task, meaning those handling certification do not have authority to investigate allegations of fraud or other wrongdoing. That’s up to prosecutors and the courts, which handle challenges filed by candidates or parties. Judges can delay or halt certification if there are questions surrounding an election.
That did not happen in 2020, as numerous judges including some appointed by Trump dismissed his claims.
DISPUTES ARISE AMID PARTISAN INFLUENCES
Local certification is typically handled by a county commission or board of elections. In some places, a separate board of canvassers is formed to handle certification. In Michigan, the county canvassing board is comprised of two Republicans and two Democrats. In Wayne County, which includes Detroit, Republican board members initially voted against certifying the 2020 election but later reversed course.
The Republican members then sought to rescind their vote to certify after receiving calls from Trump. State officials said there was no way to do that, and ultimately the election was certified at the state level.
“The law is very clear that the board must certify,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “It doesn’t say they may or can consider, they must. And so we have the law on our side.”
If such a dispute arises again, the state Board of Canvassers has the authority to review and certify a county’s election, Benson said. If the state board, which is likewise comprised of two Republicans and two Democrats, similarly deadlocks, Benson said she would seek a court order to compel certification.
That happened recently when the state board deadlocked along partisan lines on whether an abortion measure should appear on the November ballot, and the state supreme court subsequently allowed it.
HAS THIS HAPPENED ELSEWHERE?
Commissioners in a rural New Mexico county initially refused to certify the results of their June primary. They cited distrust of the voting systems used to tally the vote even though the county’s election official said there were no problems.
A tiny county in Nevada didn’t certified its primary results until it completed a hand count of all ballots.
In the New Mexico case, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver petitioned the state Supreme Court, which issued an order directing the local commissioners in Otero County to certify. They ultimately did so in a 2-1 vote. The dissenting vote was by commissioner Couy Griffin, who had dialed into the meeting from Washington, D.C. Hours earlier he had been sentenced for entering restricted grounds during the attack on the Capitol, where Congress was meeting to certify Biden’s victory.
During the meeting, Griffin acknowledged he had no evidence to support his vote against certification, saying, “It’s only based on my gut feeling and my own intuition.” He has since been removed from office.
If the commission would have refused to abide by the court order, the state was prepared to seek another order to allow the state board to certify the county’s results, said Alex Curtas with the secretary of state’s office.
“We weren’t just going to let some 8,000 people who had voted in Otero County be disenfranchised because their county commission refused to certify their votes,” Curtas said.
GUARDRAILS TO PREVENT PARTISAN INTERFERENCE
Election officials in various states say they are prepared to intervene and have the legal means to compel certification if needed.
“No county official can just say that she or he just feels or believes or has a vibe or a hunch that something went wrong and feel free to just not certify an election,” said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon.
In Colorado, a new law requires the secretary of state to review any results not certified by a local board by the deadline and certify them if there is no reason not to. But most states have to rely on the courts.
Sylvia Albert, director of voting and elections with Common Cause, said voter advocacy groups are prepared to intervene should partisan actors interfere with certification without justification or if a secretary of state refuses to seek a court order compelling a local board to act.
“That is why we are here, and there will be lot of advocates and lawyers willing and able to step in and file if the secretary is not interested in using their authority or their position to ensure that the votes of their constituents are counted,” Albert said.
___
Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ap_politics | https://www.yourbasin.com/political/ap-explainer-trying-to-get-politics-out-of-election-certifying/ | 2022-10-12 22:15:33 | 1 | https://www.yourbasin.com/political/ap-explainer-trying-to-get-politics-out-of-election-certifying/ |
(NEXSTAR) – A woman was airlifted to a hospital with “significant injuries” after she was gored by a bison at Yellowstone National Park, officials said Monday.
The 47-year-old woman from Phoenix was walking with another person in a field near the Lake Lodge Cabins on Monday morning, a news release from the park explained. The pair told officials they saw two bison and turned to walk away from the animals.
Unfortunately, one of the bison charged and gored the woman. She suffered “significant injuries to her chest and abdomen,” according to officials, and was airlifted to an Idaho hospital.
Yellowstone rangers say they haven’t yet determined how close the woman and her companion were to the bison when it charged, and the incident remains under investigation. Additional details weren’t immediately available.
The park warns that between mid-July and mid-August, bison are in mating season and “can become agitated more quickly.”
“Bison are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans,” rangers said.
The National Park Service reminds that park regulations require visitors to remain more than 25 yards from large animals like bison, elk, sheep, moose, and deer, and at least 100 yards from bears and wolves. Violating those regulations could result in fines, or more seriously, injury and death.
This is the first reported bison goring of 2023, according to Yellowstone rangers. The last reported incident happened in June 2022 when a 34-year-old Colorado Springs man was gored and suffered an arm injury. Rangers said the man was walking with his family on a boardwalk near Giant Geyser at Old Faithful when the bison charged them. The family did not leave the area, and the bison proceeded to charge and gore the man.
Just days later, a 71-year-old woman was gored by a bison she and her daughter “inadvertently approached” in Yellowstone. Months earlier, a 25-year-old woman was tossed 10 feet into the air by a bison she approached while walking near Old Faithful.
Yellowstone officials note that if you see a visitor in person or online doing something that “might hurt them, others, or the park” to report it to a ranger or, if you’re in the park, dial 911. | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/woman-gored-by-bison-at-yellowstone-national-park-suffers-significant-injuries/ | 2023-07-17 22:06:17 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/woman-gored-by-bison-at-yellowstone-national-park-suffers-significant-injuries/ |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, a coalition of right-wing and religious parties that came to power in December, has made overhauling the country’s judicial system a top priority. Its plan has sparked massive protests mostly by secular Israelis in the center and on the left who argue that the proposals would undermine the country’s democracy. The fight over the issue provoked Israeli President Isaac Herzog to warn that a civil war is “within touching distance.”
1. Why does the government want to change the judicial system?
The government complains that the Supreme Court has become overly interventionist, such that judges are usurping powers that rightfully belong to elected officials. In recent decades, as the right triumphed politically, the court — a last bastion of progressivism — has waded increasingly into political matters by expanding the kinds of cases it takes on. It lowered so-called threshold requirements that had previously filtered out cases — for example those that weren’t tangible disputes between two parties. And for the first time in 1995, it declared that it had the power to strike down legislation it found incompatible with rights established by Israel’s Basic Laws, which together form the closest thing the country has to a constitution. In reviewing actions by the executive branch, critics say the court has applied the test of reasonableness — would a reasonable public authority make such a decision? — in a way that goes beyond that typically used in other common law countries.
2. What sort of rulings does the government object to?
For the far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition, court decisions supporting the rights of Palestinians are particularly unpalatable. For example, in 2020, the court struck down a law that had authorized the government to expropriate private land owned by Palestinians if Jewish settlers had built on it. The two parties in the coalition that represent ultra-orthodox Jews object to the court’s invalidation of laws exempting men from their community from mandatory military service. Further annoying one of the parties, Shas, the court in January applied the reasonableness standard to rule that its leader, Aryeh Deri, could not serve in Netanyahu’s cabinet given that he’d promised not to enter public service as part of a plea deal in his conviction for tax offenses.
3. What’s the government’s plan?
The overhaul is made up of a number of separate initiatives requiring the approval of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. They include:
• Preventing legal authorities from declaring a prime minister unfit to rule and removing him from office. A law approved March 23 stipulates that only the Knesset and cabinet can force out the country’s leader.
• Removing the Supreme Court’s ability to use the reasonableness test as a way of reviewing decisions by elected officials. The Knesset July 24 approved a bill to that effect.
• Limiting judicial review of legislation. Under a proposed change, the Supreme Court could only invalidate legislation if it plainly violates a provision of the Basic Laws. Currently, the court interprets the legal guarantee of the dignity of the person as also protecting the right to equality, freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but those rights aren’t explicitly provided for. A decision to quash legislation would require a unanimous vote of the court under one version of the plan or 80% of the 15 justices in another version. Currently, such decisions require a simple majority of a panel of judges.
• Allowing the Knesset to override judicial reviews of legislation. Currently, the court’s word is final. Under the government’s plan, the Knesset could vote, by a simple majority, to preempt any judicial review of legislation or to annul it after the fact.
• Changing the way judges are chosen. Currently, Supreme Court justices are selected by a committee made up of two ministers, two lawmakers (one of whom is traditionally from the opposition), two members of the bar association and three justices. Under the government’s plan, lawmakers from the government coalition would hold a majority on the committee. The court’s presidency would be opened up to candidates who had not served on the court and who aren’t judges.
4. What do critics say about the plan?
Even many opponents of the overhaul acknowledge there is a case to be made for rethinking the Supreme Court’s power, notably the dominant role judges play in selecting their successors and the open-ended rules about which cases it takes. At the same time, critics worry that the government’s plan will remove the only significant check on the power of the executive branch. In Israel’s political system, to form a government requires having a majority in the Knesset. Because Knesset members are elected not as individuals but on party slates, they owe their allegiance to their parties. Thus, a ruling coalition can pass any law it wants, unless it is checked by the court.
5. What are the specific worries?
Given the nature of the current government — which includes ministers who have openly dismissed equal rights for Arabs, women and LGBTQ people — critics fear that it will undermine human rights and give greater privileges to the ultra-orthodox community at the expense of other Israelis. Critics say the law governing who can declare a prime minister unfit is meant to protect Netanyahu, who is on trial on charges of corruption, all of which he denies. Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has warned Netanyahu that any involvement by him in the effort to change the legal system is a conflict of interest.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/07/24/what-is-israel-s-proposed-judicial-reform-and-why-are-people-protesting-it/73d5e7d0-2a2a-11ee-a948-a5b8a9b62d84_story.html | 2023-07-24 15:00:19 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/07/24/what-is-israel-s-proposed-judicial-reform-and-why-are-people-protesting-it/73d5e7d0-2a2a-11ee-a948-a5b8a9b62d84_story.html |
VANCOUVER, BC, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Entrée Resources Ltd. (TSX:ETG) (OTCQB:ERLFF) (the "Company" or "Entrée") is pleased to announce the results of voting at its annual general meeting of shareholders which was held today (the "Meeting"). All matters submitted to shareholders for approval as set out in the Company's Notice of Meeting and Information Circular, both dated May 12, 2022, were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the Meeting.
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
Shareholders approved setting the number of directors at six.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The details of the voting results for the election of directors are set out below:
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants was re-appointed auditors of the Company for the ensuing year at the remuneration to be fixed by the directors.
Detailed voting results for the Meeting are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
ABOUT ENTRÉE RESOURCES LTD.
Entrée Resources Ltd. is a well-funded Canadian mining company with a unique carried joint venture interest on a significant portion of one of the world's largest copper-gold projects – the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia. Entrée has a 20% or 30% carried participating interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture, depending on the depth of mineralization. Royalty North Partners, Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources are major shareholders of Entrée, holding approximately 25%, 9% and 7% of the shares of the Company, respectively. More information about Entrée can be found at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com.
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SOURCE Entrée Resources | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/entre-resources-announces-2022-agm-results/ | 2022-06-17 00:24:24 | 0 | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/entre-resources-announces-2022-agm-results/ |
A military aide was arrested Thursday after he brought a loaded gun to an entrance of the White House, the United States Secret Service confirms to News4.
Patrick Tansey, 54, was charged with carrying a pistol without a license, The Washington Post was first to report.
Tansey works at the White House military office and is authorized and credentialed to work at the White House, but he doesn't have authority to have a weapon there, a spokesperson for the Secret Service said.
According to charging documents, a pistol was inside Tansey's backpack, which he placed into a Secret Service X-ray screener.
Tansey does not have a license to carry a gun in Washington, D.C., charging documents said.
He said in an interview with detectives that the gun belongs to him.
News4 has reached out to Tansey for comment.
U.S. & World
Stay with News4 for updates to this developing story. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/military-aide-arrested-after-bringing-gun-to-white-house-secret-service/3080119/ | 2022-09-24 00:22:52 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/military-aide-arrested-after-bringing-gun-to-white-house-secret-service/3080119/ |
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II's family are traveling to Balmoral Castle in Scotland after the monarch's doctors announced on Thursday they were "concerned" for her health.
In a rare statement on the Queen's health, Buckingham Palace said Thursday the monarch was advised to remain under medical supervision because of the doctors' concerns.
"The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral (Castle)," the statement added.
The announcement came just hours after Buckingham Palace announced the Queen, 96, had postponed a virtual meeting of her Privy Council on Wednesday after being advised by doctors to rest.
The monarch was scheduled to attend the gathering after formally appointing Liz Truss as the new UK Prime Minister. Truss is the 15th prime minister appointed by the Queen during her 70-year reign.
The Queen's four children have traveled to, or are already at, Balmoral. Prince Charles, the Queen's oldest son and the heir apparent to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived at Balmoral earlier on Thursday, according to a statement from Clarence House.
The Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, known as the Princess Royal, was already at the Scottish castle, a royal source told CNN. The source added that Prince Edward, the Queen's youngest son, and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, were traveling to Balmoral. A source close to Prince Andrew said the Duke of York was also heading there.
Kensington Palace said Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, who is second in line for the throne, was en route, while his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, has remained at Windsor, where their three children are at their first day at a new school.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, were also on their way to Balmoral, a spokesperson for the couple said.
There have been concerns over the Queen's health ever since a brief hospital stay last October. The monarch has experienced episodic mobility issues, which have at times caused her to withdraw from official engagements.
The Queen's meeting with Truss would traditionally have taken place at London's Buckingham Palace, but the monarch has significantly reduced her duties and travel in recent months because of the mobility issues. Instead, the new prime minister traveled to Scotland for her audience with the Queen.
Truss tweeted Thursday that "the whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime."
"My thoughts -- and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom -- are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time," Truss added.
Appointing a new prime minister is one of the Queen's core ceremonial responsibilities as Head of State -- with others being the State Opening of Parliament and the signing of parliamentary bills into law.
In May, the Queen missed the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years. The palace cited the monarch's "episodic mobility problems" but declined to divulge further details citing patient confidentiality.
Instead, Princes Charles and William took center stage at the event, with the heir to the throne reading the government's legislative agenda for the year ahead on his mother's behalf.
The announcement from Buckingham Palace sparked a flood of messages expressing concerns and well wishes from across the UK and around the world.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby extended his prayers to the Queen on Thursday, saying: "May God's presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral."
"My prayers, and the prayers of people across the Church of England and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today," Welby said on Twitter.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that her thoughts and wishes were with the Queen, while First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford said he was "concerned" to hear the news from Buckingham Palace, and sent "best wishes" to the Queen.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was "deeply concerned" by the news about the Queen's health.
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer said on Thursday that he was "deeply worried" by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon. "
To get updates on the British Royal Family sent to your inbox, sign up for CNN's Royal News newsletter.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wxow.com/news/top-stories/queens-family-travel-to-balmoral-castle-as-doctors-announce-concerns-for-her-health/article_7fd8a0b3-a131-580d-970f-70711914c2ea.html | 2022-09-08 17:37:08 | 0 | https://www.wxow.com/news/top-stories/queens-family-travel-to-balmoral-castle-as-doctors-announce-concerns-for-her-health/article_7fd8a0b3-a131-580d-970f-70711914c2ea.html |
The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a new rule Thursday that is expected to reduce cancer-causing pollution from chemical plants by 96 percent.
EPA administrator Michael Regan made the announcement in St. John the Baptist Parish, an area of Louisiana saturated with dozens of petrochemical plants and refineries. The proposal, which is being reviewed, aims to significantly reduce emissions of toxic and other harmful air pollution from chemical plants, including the highly toxic chemicals ethylene oxide (EtO) and chloroprene.
If successful, the rule will pull approximately 6,000 tons of pollution out of the air.
“I pledged to prioritize and protect the health and safety of this community and so many others that live in the shadows of chemical plants,” Regan said Wednesday. “I’m proud that this proposal would help deliver on that commitment.”
The proposal marks the beginning of a new era of environmental enforcement in the Cancer Alley region. Previous White House administrations and state officials had largely ignored decades of pleas from residents to do something about the pollution and high cancer rates.
St. John the Baptist Parish is west of New Orleans on the edge of the Mississippi River and forms part of what environmental activists call “Cancer Alley.” Cancer rates in the area are higher than in the rest of the country, according to Louisiana State University’s interactive cancer maps.
Although the area is 55 percent white and 40 percent Black, many of the 150 petrochemical plants and refineries are primarily located in neighborhoods of color. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against two companies over a plant located in the area, alleging they have violated the Clean Air Act and “present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and welfare.”
Last week, several Black women-led environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit against the leaders of neighboring St. James Parish, alleging environmental racism.
Dionne Delli-Gatti, an associate vice president at the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund, said in a press release that the new proposal was a “vital measure” in efforts to reduce “toxic petrochemical pollution” and to protect the people who have “borne the brunt of the health threats.”
She added: “Toxic air pollution from petrochemical facilities has been poisoning communities, especially the many low-income areas and communities of color that live in the shadow of these facilities.” | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/reckon/2023/04/new-epa-rule-could-eliminate-up-to-6000-tons-of-cancer-causing-air-pollution-annually.html | 2023-04-07 20:18:28 | 0 | https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/reckon/2023/04/new-epa-rule-could-eliminate-up-to-6000-tons-of-cancer-causing-air-pollution-annually.html |
Some fishing options for the shore-bound angler
When fishing the beaches, plan your trips early or late, avoid crowds and bathers and be courteous with the folks who live there
With the price of fuel sky high these days and boat engines being notorious gas guzzlers, I'm sure many of you are looking to find a way to enjoy a day of angling without burning a hole in your pocket.
Thankfully, we live in a place at a time of year where there are plenty of options for the shore-bound angler. Some of these options include world-class gamefish as well.
Manatee County is home to the 'World's Longest Fishing Pier' — the remains of the south end of the old Skyway span.
This is a venue where folks can drive their vehicle right to their spot and literally tailgate while pursuing some of the sportiest and finest eating fish we have available 24/7. All this without spending hundreds gassing up a boat.
Late spring through the fall months are also some of the most productive times to fish the miles and miles of beaches of the Suncoast. Our beaches can be accessed at many public access points and Florida law allows the public to use and traverse the beaches seaward of the mean high water mark. This is usually the vegetation line. There are places where erosion problems would not make this possible, so using good sense is imperative.
When fishing the beaches, plan your trips early or late, avoid crowds and bathers and be courteous with the folks who live there. Bring in a minimum of gear and leave with what you brought.
Kayakers and waders have had a leg up on this high-fuel situation way ahead of time and I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot more folks getting into the program.
John Stevely dies at 72
It is with a great deal of regret to note the passing of another giant on our local marine scene far too soon at 72 . John Stevely served as the Manatee County Marine Extension/Florida Sea Grant Agent for years before his recent retirement.
John served this area far beyond his job description by working with numerous environmental/conservation-oriented groups and non-profits. John was a friend and colleague and will be missed. Ave atque vale. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/sports/2022/06/08/some-fishing-options-shore-bound-angler/10001793002/ | 2022-06-08 18:49:56 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/sports/2022/06/08/some-fishing-options-shore-bound-angler/10001793002/ |
"It's very hard to narrow the list," admits Katherine Malone-France, the Chief Preservation Officer of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Malone-France, in heavy spectacles and a winsome air, is now describing the 11 most endangered historic places in the United States, per her organization's annual survey. It relies, she quickly points out, upon nominations from the general public.
The National Trust has generated this list since 1988 to draw attention to places in danger of being torn down or irreparably damaged. Sometimes, she says, those places are aesthetically grand. Others are humble in appearance but not in history.
"The most endangered historic places list looks like America," Malone-France says. "It tells our layered and interconnected stories. Each site on it, of course, is a powerful place in its own right. But I think there are also common themes, like creativity and entrepreneurship, perseverance, cultural exchange. There are sites that are deeply sacred. All of the sites have multi-generational narratives, and there are sites where descendants are stewarding the legacies of their ancestors. There are sites that include tiny villages in rural areas, and there are sites that include neighborhoods and buildings in large cities and everything in between."
Two of this year's sites are historic Chinatowns on opposite sides of the country. Philadelphia's Chinatown dates back to 1871. Seattle's Chinatown-International District cannot be traced to a specific year of origin, but it's one of the oldest Asian-American neighborhoods on the West Coast. Both are centrally located in downtown districts, irresistible to developers in recent decades.
Seattle's CID has been a battlefield between transit advocates bullish on adding a new light rail station to the neighborhood and local activists resistant to redevelopment and gentrification. The CID neighborhood remains scarred from the massive infrastructure addition of a highway constructed in the 1960s.
Philadelphia's Chinatown is currently threatened by a new stadium proposal from the city's NBA team. The owner of the 76ers wants to build a billion-dollar basketball arena on the neighborhood's southern end; local groups oppose the project.
"I'm proud to say that I was born and raised in Chinatown," says John Chin, executive director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation. He believes a new stadium would result in the sort of deleterious effects that other big sports developments have wreaked on communities across the country. "This issue raises awareness that these rare communities of color like Chinatown still exist, and the importance of sustaining and preserving it," Chin says. "Chinatown is part of the social fabric of the diversity of the city. It's got a really meaningful economic and social reason to exist. Chinatowns across the country play this same role."
The National Historic Trust's annual list has helped save numerous sites in the past, says chief preservation officer Katherine Malone-France. She points to Camp Naco, in Bisbee, Ariz., as one example. "The camp had been decommissioned in 1923, and it faced a number of different challenges: vandalism, exposure, erosion, fire," she says. "But for the past 20 years, a group of local advocates has been fighting for this place. We listed it on the 2022 list, and since then, over $8 million in grants have been awarded to Camp Naco and the site is now being restored and programmed for community use."
She says all these endangered sites are extraordinary places where preservation, she believes, can help build a better future.
"The West Bank of St. John the Baptist Parish is the last undeveloped 11 miles along the Mississippi River, south of Baton Rouge," Malone-France says. "It is a place that is densely layered in historic sites, in archaeological sites that tell the full history of this country. It is a place where the descendants of people who were enslaved there are fighting for the preservation of its landscape, of its villages, of its archeological resources, of its culture and its stories. And it is threatened by the construction of a 275-foot grain elevator to store grain that is shipped down the Mississippi."
"To lose this place is to lose a story that is important to every single American," she says. "To lose this place is to lose a piece of ourselves. It is not lost yet. We can do things differently here."
And, she adds, at every one of the 11 sites on this year's list. Here are the rest:
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.knkx.org/2023-05-09/heres-the-latest-list-of-the-11-most-endangered-historic-places-in-the-u-s | 2023-05-09 21:09:11 | 0 | https://www.knkx.org/2023-05-09/heres-the-latest-list-of-the-11-most-endangered-historic-places-in-the-u-s |
WEST GLACIER, Mont. — The bodies of two Montana climbers who went missing in Glacier National Park over the weekend were found.
The National Park Service said a helicopter search crew found the bodies of the two men, both 67, on Monday.
In a press release, park officials said the men were set to climb Dusty Star Mountain on Thursday and planned on hiking out on Friday.
They were reported missing Sunday, park officials said.
According to park officials, park rangers found the missing climber's vehicle at a trailhead Sunday.
"An air search began on July 24 in the Dusty Star Mountain area on the east side route of approach where vegetation is extremely dense with potentially dangerous terrain," park officials said.
Park officials said a plan to recover the climbers' bodies and belongings is underway.
The identities of the men have not been released. | https://www.kgun9.com/news/national/bodies-of-2-missing-montana-climbers-found-in-glacier-national-park | 2022-07-26 18:02:51 | 0 | https://www.kgun9.com/news/national/bodies-of-2-missing-montana-climbers-found-in-glacier-national-park |
Who let the dogs in? NJ borough backtracks on anti-canine park law
After 20 years, dogs are again welcome in public parks in Fanwood after a vote by the Borough Council on Monday night.
The Borough Council in Fanwood adopted an ordinance Monday night by a 5-1 vote allowing dogs that are leashed, licensed and non-aggressive into the borough’s three public parks: LaGrande Park, Forest Road Park and Carriage House Park.
People who bring a dog to the parks are responsible for picking up after the dog or face a fine.
The ordinance made headlines this year after NJ.com reported that a resident had called the police on dogwalkers nearly two dozen times in a year.
Before the vote, Carolyn Brink, a resident who has been pushing for the ordinance for two years, addressed concerns raised by resident Phyllis Mahoney who saw dogs leave droppings that were not picked up in Forest Road Park and then children playing in the same spot.
Brink said she is confident that residents of the "decent, kind community" will follow the rules and pick up garbage in the park not the responsibility of dogs.
"My husband and I walked through the park yesterday and picked up pizza wrappers, Burger King wrappers, Chick-fil-A wrappers. They weren’t left by my dog. They were left people using the park. It happens. We police ourselves," Brink told the council.
Reasons to vote no
The lone vote against the ordinance was cast by Patricia Walsh who said that the parks are too small to accommodate both canine and human visitors.
"I believe that instead of worrying about dogs' rights to use the parks and the dogs' safety we should really be thinking about the people and the children and everyone that use the parks. I know that some people may think dogs have the same rights as residents. I do not agree," Walsh said.
Walsh also said she was concerned about the enforcement. Police will not be in the park and and the Department of Public Works said they don't have the staff for extra park cleanup.
"And our rec committee that we usually take their recommendation from has recently voted again six out of six against changing the ordinance," Walsh said.
The ordinance took effect immediately and will be reviewed after a year.
Brink told NJ.com that she was taking her dog Beckett on a celebratory walk Monday night.
Linden, Roselle Park and Springfield are the only Union County communities that still ban dogs from their parks.
Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
A great "Jersey fresh" summer meal
LOOK: 31 breathtaking images from NASA's public library
This has to be the best farmers market in New Jersey
- Adventure Kitchen
- Angel Planet Foods
- Anita's Baked Wonders
- Bull 'N Bear Brewery
- Fit Fed Puppy
- Foraged Feast
- Hummus Boss
- Jana's Jammy
- Java's Compost
- Kariba Farms
- Louis Organics
- Luxx Chocolat
- Made with Clay
- Mangalitsa
- Our Woods Maple Syrup
- Roaming Acres Farm
- Spice Sisters
- Stefan's Polish Foods
- Sustainable Haus
- Valley Shepherd Creamery
- WoodsEdge Farm | https://nj1015.com/who-let-the-dogs-in-nj-borough-backtracks-on-anti-canine-park-law/ | 2022-07-19 17:57:32 | 1 | https://nj1015.com/who-let-the-dogs-in-nj-borough-backtracks-on-anti-canine-park-law/ |
The College Football Playoff will include 12 teams, starting with the 2024 season.
An expansion plan that was crafted for two years and haggled over for another 18 months finally cleared all the obstacles needed to go from idea to reality.
The CFP announced Thursday that the current four-team system would be tripling in size.
There are still a few more details to work out, like exact dates of some of the games, but college football is two years away from another dramatic change to its postseason.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
The 10 conferences that play major college football also run the College Football Playoff. Essentially, the conferences agreed to add eight more teams to the system that has been used to determine a champion since 2014.
There were plenty of delays and disagreements — some downright petty — on the way to consensus.
Flipping the format to 12 with a couple years still left on the original 12-year media rights contract with ESPN that expires after the 2025-26 season required rescheduling of games and unspooling of bowl contracts.
But now it’s done.
WOW! WHO GETS RICH?
The conferences and schools that share the hundreds of millions of dollars of annual revenue generated currently by the playoff will now be making even more.
Expanding two years before the end of the current contract with ESPN is expected to bring in an estimated $450 million in additional gross revenue.
“ESPN has the opportunity to broadcast these games,” CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock said. “And we’re just into this today, of course, and so we don’t know yet whether they will exercise their rights. We’re just going to have to wait and see.”
That’s unlikely to be a problem.
Hancock said the current revenue distribution plan will “philosophically” remain the same.
Last year, each Power Five conference received $74 million. The other five Bowl Subdivision conferences shared $95 million. Notre Dame received $3.55 million, and the other six FBS independents shared $1.88 million.
Currently, conferences of teams that make the CFP earn a $6 million bonus.
All of those figures will go up.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRES
Everybody involved with the College Football Playoff has expressed a desire to explore having multiple television partners in the next deal, not just ESPN.
ESPN will no doubt still want in. Expect Fox to also bid, and maybe others like NBC, which just added the Big Ten to its lineup that includes Notre Dame.
One projection had the next CFP media rights deal reaching $2 billion annually.
WHERE AND WHEN ARE THE GAMES?
The first round of the playoff in 2024 will take place on campus sites matching teams seeded 5-12 the week ending Saturday, Dec. 21. Exact dates are still to be determined.
The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in the bowls that have been rotating as hosts of the semifinals in the current format: Rose, Sugar, Orange, Peach, Cotton and Fiesta.
The championship game for the 2024 season will be played Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta.
A similar schedule will be used for the 2025 season, with a title game to be played Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Florida.
WHAT TEAMS GET IN?
The model is referred to as six and six. The six highest ranked conference champions get a spot, with the four highest ranked champs earning first-round byes.
A selection committee will also pick the six best at-large teams, chosen regardless of conference.
To get an idea of what it would look like, using the latest CFP rankings and assuming the current conference leaders win out, Georgia, Michigan, TCU and USC would be the top-four seeds.
Clemson and Tulane would also make it as champions of their conferences.
The at-large selections would be Ohio State, Alabama, Tennessee, Penn State, Kansas State and Utah.
First-round matchups would be Tulane at Ohio State; Utah at Alabama; Kansas State at Tennessee and Clemson at Penn State.
WILL THE CFP EXPAND EVEN MORE?
Hancock was jokingly asked when the playoff would expand to 16. He laughed off the question, but he did make an important point.
The first two seasons of the 12-team format in 2024 and ’25 will be like a test drive. Thing could look different when new contracts are set for 2026 and beyond. Maybe more games will be played on campus and fewer in neutral site bowl games.
But Hancock said university presidents and chancellors who oversee the playoff and have final say in what it will look like are firmly behind the number of teams and the composition of the field.
“Every one is solid on 12, six, six and there hasn’t been any conversation about changing that,” Hancock said. “I would be stunned if that were changed.”
It would also be stunning if the next playoff contract extends as far out as the last one, so figure the next round of expansion talk is at least six years away.
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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | https://www.qcnews.com/sports/ap-explainer-how-will-college-football-playoff-expansion-work/ | 2022-12-02 10:49:34 | 0 | https://www.qcnews.com/sports/ap-explainer-how-will-college-football-playoff-expansion-work/ |
Trial opens for QAnon follower who chased officer at Capitol
WASHINGTON (AP) - An Iowa man who was part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol believed a conspiracy theory that law enforcement officers would be arresting “all the corrupt politicians,” starting that day with then-Vice President Mike Pence, a defense attorney told jurors Tuesday.
Doug Jensen wore a shirt bearing the letter “Q” to express his adherence to the QAnon conspiracy theory when he joined the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. A viral video recorded by a reporter’s cellphone showed Jensen running after a Capitol Police officer who was retreating from a crowd of rioters up a flight of stairs.
A federal prosecutor showed jurors the video at the start of Jensen’s trial. They also saw a photograph of Jensen with his arms extended as he confronted a line of police officers near the Senate chambers, one of the most memorable images from the riot.
“This is not a whodunit case,” defense attorney Christopher Davis said during the trial’s opening statements. “Literally, the whole case is on video.”
But he stressed that none of the video shows Jensen engaging in any violence or property damage.
“You will not see this man lay a hand on anyone,” Davis said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Allen told jurors they will hear testimony by Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman. Jensen was at the front of a group of rioters who followed Goodman as the officer ran up the stairs.
Goodman “approached them with his hand on his gun because he had no way of knowing what they were capable of doing,” Allen said. “And he knew that he was desperately outnumbered and alone.”
Davis said Jensen, a construction worker, was motivated by his “100%” belief in QAnon, a conspiracy theory that spread beyond the dark fringes of the internet to penetrate mainstream Republican politics.
QAnon has centered on the baseless notion that former President Donald Trump was secretly fighting a Satan-worshipping cabal of “deep state” enemies, prominent Democrats and Hollywood elites during his time in the White House. Another core tenet of QAnon is the apocalyptic prophesy that “The Storm” was coming and would usher in mass arrests and executions of Trump’s foes.
Before the riot, Trump and his allies spread the false narrative that Pence somehow could have overturned the results of the 2020 election. Davis told jurors they will hear Jensen implore police officers to “do their job” and arrest Pence, who was presiding over the Senate on Jan. 6.
“He believed they were obligated to do it,” Davis said. “He believed that martial law was going to be instituted.”
After scaling the outer walls of the Capitol, Jensen climbed through a broken window to enter the building. He was one of the first 10 rioters to enter the building, according to prosecutors.
Allen said Jensen learned from a friend’s text message that Pence was about to certify the election results.
“That’s all about to change,” Jensen replied.
Jensen is charged with seven counts, including charges that he obstructed the joint session of Congress to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory, that he interfered with police and that he engaged in disorderly conduct inside the Capitol while carrying a knife in his pocket.
Allen said Jensen “got what he came for” in Washington on Jan. 6.
“The proceedings in Congress stopped,” she said. “That’s why he was there.”
Jenson drove back home to Des Moines, Iowa, a day after the riot. The following day, he walked six miles to a police station and showed up unannounced, saying he was probably a wanted man. But there weren’t any warrants for his arrest when two FBI agents questioned him at the station.
Jensen told the agents he considered himself a “digital soldier” who was “religiously” following QAnon. He said he worked his way to the front of the crowd because he “wanted Q to get the attention.”
“I basically intended on being the poster boy, and it really worked out,” he said, according to a transcript of the interview on Jan. 8, 2021.
Jensen told the FBI agents his belief in QAnon cost him friends and family members who think he is “insane.” One of the agents asked him if he had any regrets about his actions on Jan. 6.
“I don’t know. It depends on if the outcome I wanted happens, then it would have been worth it. But if nothing happens except for negativity from this, and I’m a rioter, then, yeah, I completely regret it,” he said.
Jensen asked U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly to suppress statements he made to the FBI and the evidence seized from his cellphone. The judge denied his request earlier this month.
The first government witness for Jensen’s trial is scheduled to testify Wednesday. Kelly said the trial could conclude later this week.
More than 870 people have been charged with federal crimes for their conduct on Jan. 6. Approximately 400 of them have pleaded guilty. Juries have convicted eight Capitol riot defendants after trials. None of the defendants who had jury trials was acquitted of any charges.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wafb.com/2022/09/21/trial-opens-qanon-follower-who-chased-officer-capitol/ | 2022-09-21 04:09:28 | 1 | https://www.wafb.com/2022/09/21/trial-opens-qanon-follower-who-chased-officer-capitol/ |
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stepan Company (NYSE: SCL), announced today the completion of its acquisition of the surfactant business and associated assets of PerformanX Specialty Chemicals, LLC. The acquisition includes intellectual property, commercial relationships, and inventory. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
"Alkoxylates are a core surfactant technology critical to Stepan's agriculture, oilfield, construction and household end use markets," said Scott R. Behrens, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stepan Company. "We are pleased to have closed the acquisition of PerformanX and welcome PerformanX's customers to Stepan."
Corporate Profile
Stepan Company is a major manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in a broad range of industries. Stepan is a leading merchant producer of surfactants, which are the key ingredients in consumer and industrial cleaning and disinfection products and in agricultural and oilfield solutions. The Company is also a leading supplier of polyurethane polyols used in the expanding thermal insulation market, and CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, and Elastomers) industries.
Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, Stepan utilizes a network of modern production facilities located in North and South America, Europe and Asia.
The Company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol SCL. For more information about Stepan Company please visit the Company online at www.stepan.com.
More information about Stepan's sustainability program can be found on the Sustainability page at www.stepan.com.
Contact: Luis E. Rojo 847-446-7500
Certain information in this news release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include statements about Stepan Company's plans, objectives, strategies, financial performance and outlook, trends, the amount and timing of future cash distributions, prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. As a result, Stepan Company's actual financial results, performance, achievements or prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "guidance," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would," "should," "illustrative" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Stepan Company and its management based on their knowledge and understanding of the business and industry, are inherently uncertain. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and stockholders should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond Stepan Company's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among other factors, the risks, uncertainties and factors described in Stepan Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports and exhibits to those reports, and include (but are not limited to) risks and uncertainties related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; accidents, unplanned production shutdowns or disruptions in manufacturing facilities; reduced demand due to customer product reformulations or new technologies; our inability to successfully develop or introduce new products; compliance with laws; our ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates and successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; global competition; volatility of raw material and energy costs and supply; disruptions in transportation or significant changes in transportation costs; downturns in certain industries and general economic downturns; international business risks, including currency exchange rate fluctuations, legal restrictions and taxes; unfavorable resolution of litigation against us; maintaining and protecting intellectual property rights; our ability to access capital markets; global political, military, security or other instability; costs related to expansion or other capital projects; interruption or breaches of information technology systems; our ability to retain executive management and key personnel; and our debt covenants.
These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and Stepan Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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SOURCE Stepan Company | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/09/26/stepan-company-completes-acquisition-us-surfactants-producer/ | 2022-09-26 11:14:44 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/09/26/stepan-company-completes-acquisition-us-surfactants-producer/ |
Heat wave could break Vegas record as visitors stay inside chilled casinos and ER doctors are busy
Las Vegas — Visitors to Las Vegas on Friday stepped out momentarily to snap photos and were hit by blast-furnace air. But most will spend their vacations in a vastly different climate — at casinos where the chilly air conditioning might require a light sweater.
Meanwhile, emergency room doctors were witnessing another world, as dehydrated construction workers, passed-out elderly residents and others suffered in an intense heat wave threatening to break the city’s all-time record high of 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47.2 degrees Celsius) this weekend.
Few places in the scorching Southwest demonstrate the surreal contrast between indoor and outdoor life like Las Vegas, a neon-lit city rich with resorts, casinos, swimming pools, indoor nightclubs and shopping. Tens of millions of others across California and the Southwest, were also scrambling for ways to stay cool and safe from the dangers of extreme heat.
“We’ve been talking about this building heat wave for a week now, and now the most intense period is beginning,” the National Weather Service wrote Friday.
Nearly a third of Americans were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings. The blistering heat wave was forecast to get worse this weekend for Nevada, Arizona and California, where desert temperatures were predicted to soar in parts past 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.8 degrees Celsius) during the day, and remain in the 90s F (above 32.2 C) overnight.
Sergio Cajamarca, his family and their dog, Max, were among those who lined up to pose for photos in front of the city’s iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. The temperature before noon already topped 100 F (37.8 C).
“I like the city, especially at night. It’s just the heat,” said Cajamarca, 46, an electrician from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
His daughter, Kathy Zhagui, 20, offered her recipe for relief: “Probably just water, ice cream, staying inside.”
Meteorologists in Las Vegas warned people not to underestimate the danger. “This heatwave is NOT typical desert heat due to its long duration, extreme daytime temperatures, & warm nights. Everyone needs to take this heat seriously, including those who live in the desert," the National Weather Service in Las Vegas said in a tweet.
Phoenix hit 112 degrees F (44.4 C) on Friday, marking the city’s 15th consecutive day of 110 degree-plus (43.3 C) temperatures and putting it on track to beat the longest measured stretch of such heat. The record is 18 days, recorded in 1974.
“This weekend there will be some of the most serious and hot conditions we’ve ever seen,” said David Hondula the city's chief heat officer. “I think that it's a time for maximum community vigilance.”
The heat was expected to continue well into next week as a high pressure dome moves west from Texas.
“We’re getting a lot of heat-related illness now, a lot of dehydration, heat exhaustion,” said Dr. Ashkan Morim, who works in the ER at Dignity Health Siena Hospital in suburban Henderson.
Morim said he has treated tourists this week who spent too long drinking by pools and became severely dehydrated; a stranded hiker who needed liters of fluids to regain his strength; and a man in his 70s who fell and was stuck for seven hours in his home until help arrived. The man kept his home thermostat at 80 F (26.7 C), concerned about his electric bill with air conditioning operating constantly to combat high nighttime temperatures.
Regional health officials in Las Vegas launched a new database Thursday to report “heat-caused” and “heat-related” deaths in the city and surrounding Clark County from April to October.
The Southern Nevada Health District said seven people have died since April 11, and a total of 152 deaths last year were determined to be heat-related.
Besides casinos, air-conditioned public libraries, police station lobbies and other places from Texas to California planned to be open to the public to offer relief at least for part of the day. In New Mexico’s largest city of Albuquerque, splash pads will be open for extended hours and many public pools were offering free admission. In Boise, Idaho, churches and other nonprofit groups were offering water, sunscreen and shelter.
Temperatures closer to the Pacific coast were less severe, but still made for a sweaty day on picket lines in the Los Angeles area where actors joined screenwriters in strikes against producers.
In Sacramento, the California State Fair kicked off with organizers canceling planned horseracing events due to concerns for animal safety.
Employers were reminded that outdoor workers must receive water, shade and regular breaks to cool off.
Pet owners were urged to keep their animals mostly inside. “Dogs are more susceptible to heat stroke and can literally die within minutes. Please leave them at home in the air conditioning,” David Szymanski, park superintendent for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the wildfire season was ramping up amid the hot, dry conditions with a series of blazes erupting across California this week, Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, said at a media briefing.
Global climate change is “supercharging” heat waves, Crowfoot added.
Stefan Gligorevic, a software engineer from Lancaster, Pennsylvania visiting Las Vegas for the first time said he planned to stay hydrated and not let it ruin his vacation.
“Cold beer and probably a walk through the resorts. You take advantage of the shade when you can,” Gligorevic said. “Yeah, definitely.”
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Watson reported from San Diego. AP reporters John Antczak in Los Angeles, Anita Snow in Phoenix and Susan Montoya in Albuquerque, New Mexico contributed to this report. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/14/heat-wave-could-break-vegas-record-as-visitors-stay-inside-chilled-casinos-and-er-doctors-are-busy/70416235007/ | 2023-07-15 01:17:13 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/14/heat-wave-could-break-vegas-record-as-visitors-stay-inside-chilled-casinos-and-er-doctors-are-busy/70416235007/ |
A coalition of groups is calling on Maine to enact a family and medical leave policy guaranteeing workers paid time off to care for loved ones or themselves.
On Tuesday, Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, was among the dozens of advocates who gathered at the State House to call for passage of such a state law. It’s been 30 years since passage of a federal law allowing workers to take unpaid medical and family leave. But Cloutier recalled how her own family’s experience caring for her mother as she battled Alzheimer’s disease spurred her current work toward passage of a paid family and medical leave program in this state.
As the disease advanced, her mother's care fell largely on Cloutier and her husband even as they worked full-time and raised their daughter. Now a Democratic leader in the Maine House, Cloutier co-chaired a recent state commission that just released a more than 200-page report recommending potential options for a paid family and medical leave policy in Maine.
"I was blessed to have this time with my mother and I would not change our decision to take her into our home,” she said during a State House press conference. “I only wish that we had been able to take some time away from our jobs to do it as I have no doubt our time together would have been less stressful and more meaningful for all of us."
That report calls for creating a paid leave program that would be funded by up to a 1 percent wage tax. Both employers and employees would pay into the program starting next January.
"Maine family caregivers need a family medical leave program and they need it now," said Carl Bucciantini, the volunteer president of AARP-Maine. Bucciantini and others called on lawmakers to join the roughly one dozen states with similar laws – a policy that would help Maine's estimated 181,000 family caregivers.
And Sessa Salas, who runs a childcare and pre-school program in Camden, said passage of such a law will help childcare workers who are critical to keeping Maine's broader economy going.
"It is time to make sure that those who need this funding and support receive it,” Salas said. “Eighty-five percent of Maine caregivers are women. We are the ones who are taking care the children in the state of Maine and this country. It's time to take care of us."
According to federal statistics, less than one-quarter of private sector workers across the country have access to paid family and medical leave. The recommendations in the Maine report released this week will be incorporated into a bill for the Legislature to consider this year. Although specific language has yet to be drafted, the commission recommends exempting small businesses with fewer than 15 employees.
Business groups are watching closely and already raising some concerns, including the length and cost of the leave benefit, as well as the employer-employee funding breakdown.
"We're interested to see how this proposal compares to those other states," said Curtis Picard is a lobbyist for the Maine Retailers Association, which represents 350 businesses employing roughly 85,000 people. "And certainly we'd have concerns if this proposal went beyond what other states are doing," he said.
Picard says his organization is eyeing whether the benefits offered in the legislation will exceed those in the leave policies in other states, particularly the four New England states with laws on their books.
The Legislature's Paid Family Leave Commission has discussed a range of options, including 12 weeks of leave and benefits that are 80-90% of wages. The breakdown of the payroll tax to fund the benefit is also an important discussion, Picard says. The commission says workers and employers could split the costs 50-50, or workers could be asked to shoulder a somewhat larger share of the cost.
Peter Gore, a consultant hired by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, agreed that the funding breakdown is key. But he also worried that an overly generous leave proposal will incentivize workers to use it and exacerbate the state's ongoing workforce shortage.
"They (businesses) have to keep operating, they have to keep doing what they're doing in order to stay in business," Gore said. "And that means if you can't find somebody you got to redistribute that work amongst your remaining employees and that in other places has caused hard feelings. It's tough. So, manageability and the issue around workforce is a real issue and a real concern and I would rank it right up there with cost."
Republican Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, said his caucus is also waiting for the details.
"There's a general concern though – and it's not just shared by our caucus but certainly in the business community as well and it should be a concern for employees and workers to – that any institution of a new tax on them and their wages or on businesses in Maine is probably not going to be received well by Maine people,” Stewart said. “I don't know of anybody that's really excited about that prospect."
But Democratic Sen. Mattie Daughtry of Brunswick, who co-chaired the commission with Rep. Cloutier of Lewiston, said a statewide, paid leave program will actually help her brewery and be a "equalizer" for businesses.
"This will help businesses like mine be able to not only attract but retain quality, amazing workers,” Daughtry said.
Some of the progressive groups that organized Tuesday’s State House rally, including the Maine People’s Alliance, are also collecting signatures to send the issue to voters on a statewide ballot. But they're hoping the Democratic-controlled Legislature will make that unnecessary.
The office of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, meanwhile, isn’t endorsing any proposals yet. But Mills sponsored – and then signed into law – a 2019 bill that that requires companies with more than 10 employees to offer earned sick leave. Small businesses and seasonal employees are exempt. And two years ago, Mills supported the bill to create the commission that studied the issue.
“The Governor understands the importance of paid family leave, and she believes it is important that discussions before the Legislature take into consideration the landscape of Maine’s economy and the perspective of Maine employers, particularly small businesses,” spokesman Ben Goodman said in a statement. “She looks forward to reviewing the Commission’s report and engaging with the Legislature in the months ahead.” | https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2023-02-07/groups-rally-at-state-house-for-paid-family-and-medical-leave-in-maine | 2023-02-07 23:27:13 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2023-02-07/groups-rally-at-state-house-for-paid-family-and-medical-leave-in-maine |
RAPIDES PARISH, La. (WNTZ) – On February 19th , 2023, Patrol Deputies answered to a criticism in connection with prison sexual conduct involving a juvenile. Deputies took the preliminary document and Detectives with the RPSO Special Victims Unit started their investigation into the allegations.
From their investigation, Detectives have been ready to spot James Dyess, 28 of Elmer because the suspect. Through the investigation, which integrated an interview of the sufferer during the Rapides Children’s Advocacy Center, enough possible motive was once established to strengthen the unique allegations in addition to different alleged crimes. Detectives have been ready to acquire warrants for Dyess’s arrest at the fees however no longer sooner than he left the realm, so the warrants have been entered into the nationwide database (NCIC).
On May 17th, 2023, Dyess was once situated in Dumas, Texas and brought into custody at the energetic warrants by means of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office. On May 19th, 2023, Dyess was once extradited again to Rapides Parish and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center for sexual battery, indecent habits with juveniles, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Dyess stays in prison on the time of this free up, being hung on a $225,000.00 bond.
Detectives say their investigation is ongoing and if any individual has any information in this case, they’re requested to touch Detective Tamiko Paulk, RPSO SVU at 318-473-6755.
“ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.” | https://blackchronicle.com/louisiana-man-arrested-for-alleged-sexual-conduct-with-juvenile-in-texas/ | 2023-05-29 03:37:45 | 0 | https://blackchronicle.com/louisiana-man-arrested-for-alleged-sexual-conduct-with-juvenile-in-texas/ |
Baltimore crossing guard retires after over 40 years of service
A Baltimore City crossing guard is retiring after more than 40 years of service. Janice Janicki, 85, has become a pillar on the corner of South Highland Avenue and Foster Avenue.
She helps kids get to Archbishop Borders School safely. WBAL-TV joined her Monday morning, for her last day of work.
Janicki carried her stop sign and wore her bright yellow vest with pride for the last time. For the past 44 years, she has dedicated her mornings and afternoons to keeping kids safe, greeting them with smiles and love as they cross her intersection of South Highland and Foster Avenues.
"I really enjoyed my job. I'll put it that way. I love kids and I make sure they're safe and I give them all hugs in the morning," Janicki said, "I feel like a celebrity. They really make me feel great."
Janicki became a crossing guard when her son started school and she's loved it ever since. She treats every kid like her own.
"I love my kids, believe me, and I've seen many kids grow up, get married. I'm really going to miss them," Janicki said.
The feeling is mutual for students, staff and parents alike.
"Mrs. Janice knows the kids by name. She knows the parents and they're always looking forward to giving her hugs just like that," Kristina Collins a former teacher and parent at Archbishop Borders School, said.
"The whole community is going to feel the loss. There was a group of parents who got together to put something together for her and posted it on Facebook and there were tons of comments just basically saying how much she meant to everyone and people who had been crossing with her years ago," Therese Cole, an Archbishop Borders parent said.
On Monday, the community showed Janicki just how much she means to them. From flowers and cards to gifts such as Bingo daubers.
All to send Janicki into retirement with as much love as she has shown them.
"Now I'm going to rest, hopefully," Janicki said.
But she's not saying goodbye to this corner for good, she said she'll still stop by every now and then to greet her kids with a big smile, a big hug and a whole lot of love. | https://www.wbaltv.com/article/baltimore-crossing-guard-retires-after-40-years-service/41820674 | 2022-10-31 18:29:22 | 0 | https://www.wbaltv.com/article/baltimore-crossing-guard-retires-after-40-years-service/41820674 |
WFO MEDFORD Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, June 13, 2022
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FREEZE WARNING
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Medford OR
912 AM PDT Mon Jun 13 2022
...FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM PDT
TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 21 expected.
* WHERE...In California, portions of northeast Siskiyou and
Modoc counties, including Macdoel, Dorris, Alturas, Canby, and
Likely. In Oregon, portions of Klamath and Lake counties,
including Klamath Falls, Chiloquin, Modoc Point, Lorella,
Midland, Chemult, Crescent, Silver Lake, Bly, Sprague River,
Christmas Valley, Beatty, and Lakeview.
* WHEN...2 AM to 9 AM PDT Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other
sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
plumbing.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The Freeze warning ending Monday morning
has expired, but another freeze warning remains in effect.
* View the hazard area in detail at
https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent
freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should
be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have
in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-
ground pipes to protect them from freezing.
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Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-MEDFORD-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17238204.php | 2022-06-13 16:42:37 | 0 | https://www.ourmidland.com/weather/article/CA-WFO-MEDFORD-Warnings-Watches-and-Advisories-17238204.php |
TOKYO (AP) — The head of a major Japanese boys-group talent agency has released a YouTube video apologizing for the sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by her predecessor and promised to prevent a recurrence.
Allegations against Johnny Kitagawa, a powerful figure in Japanese entertainment and the founder of Johnny & Associates, have been tossed around for more than 20 years, although he was never charged with crimes. He died in 2019.
The allegations resurfaced as a hot topic of scrutiny after BBC News did a special earlier this year, focusing on several people who said they were sexually abused.
“More than anything, I apologize very deeply to the victims,” said a solemn Julie Keiko Fujishima, bowing four times during a one-minute video released late Sunday.
The scandal has served as a wake-up call for Japan’s lagging fight against sexual harassment. A consumer boycott has begun against Johnny’s, as the company is also known, making for an extensive list, as dozens of the “tarento,” or “talent,” appear in various advertisements. A petition drive expressing outrage has collected thousands of signatures.
Fujishima apologized for the “disappointment and worries” fans must be feeling. In an additional written statement, she stressed she had not known of any wrongdoing, although acknowledging that was no excuse. Compliance teams and counseling have been set up, she said, while stopping short of lining up an outside third-party investigation.
According to the allegations, Kitagawa asked fledgling singers and dancers, many of them children, to stay at his luxury home. When he told one of them to go to bed early, everyone knew “it was your turn.”
That kind of testimony from musician Kauan Okamoto, appearing at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo last month, raised the level of criticism against Johnny’s. Okamoto was the first accuser who appeared before reporters under his real name to share his story and be photographed.
He had been part of the backup group Johnny’s Jr., which also worked as a talent pool for Johnny & Associates. The company has under its wing some of Japan’s top actors.
Fujishima recently met with Okamoto.
She could not say with certainty whether his allegations were accurate or not. But she sees people are alleging abuse, and such a thing “should never happen again.”
“We are barely getting started, but he has given us an opportunity to change,” she said.
Okamoto’s reaction to his first meeting with Fujishima, whom he called “Julie san,” was overwhelmingly positive. It was like talking to a mom, he added. He understood she was genuinely sorry but had privacy and legal concerns.
Some critics said Fujishima’s apology was not sufficient, the company should hold a news conference, and she should resign to take responsibility.
Others have slammed mainstream Japanese media for long being silent, suggesting they feared retaliation and losing access to the talent pool. Shukan Bunshun, a weekly magazine, has been an exception, aggressively covering the Johnny’s scandal from the start.
Japanese entertainers have been facing serious competition from neighboring South Korea, where groups like BTS have met far greater international success. Some Johnny’s stars have been leaving the company over the years, including Okamoto.
“Everyone should come forward and tell the truth,” Okamoto said in his latest YouTube video.
He had been afraid of being rejected by Japanese society, when he had simply wanted love, as a person and a musician.
“It’s not easy to deliver dreams though entertainment and to truly move people,” Okamoto said.
___
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama | https://www.fox16.com/entertainment-news/head-of-japanese-entertainment-company-mired-in-sex-abuse-scandal-apologizes-promises-fix/ | 2023-05-15 13:17:26 | 1 | https://www.fox16.com/entertainment-news/head-of-japanese-entertainment-company-mired-in-sex-abuse-scandal-apologizes-promises-fix/ |
US jet shoots down ‘unidentified object’ over northern Canada, Trudeau says
By Paula Newton and Haley Britzky, CNN
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that an “unidentified object” had been shot down by a US fighter jet over Canadian airspace on his orders.
“I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object,” Trudeau said on Twitter.
The object was “cylindrical” and smaller than the suspected Chinese balloon shot down last weekend, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Saturday evening.
Later on Saturday, the White House confirmed that Trudeau and US President Joe Biden authorized the shoot-down and the Pentagon said the object was first spotted over Alaska on Friday evening.
Trudeau said that he spoke with Biden on Saturday and that Canadian forces will lead the object recovery operation.
The object shot down Saturday marks the third time in one week that US aircraft have shot down an object in North American airspace. Saturday’s incident follows the downing of another unidentified object on Friday over Alaska, and the shoot-down of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon on February 4 by a US F-22 fighter jet.
Both Biden and Trudeau authorized the take-down of the object, a White House readout of a call between the two leaders said on Saturday. And according to the statement regarding the call, the leaders “discussed the importance of recovering the object in order to determine more details on its purpose or origin.”
A statement from Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said the object shot down on Saturday was first noticed over Alaska on Friday evening. Two F-22 fighter jets “monitored the object” with the help of the Alaska Air National Guard, Ryder’s statement said, “tracking it closely and taking time to characterize the nature of the object.”
“Monitoring continued today as the object crossed into Canadian airspace, with Canadian CF-18 and CP-140 aircraft joining the formation to further assess the object. A U.S. F-22 shot down the object in Canadian territory using an AIM 9X missile,” his statement added.
“As Canadian authorities conduct recovery operations to help our countries learn more about the object, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will be working closely with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,” Ryder said in his Saturday statement.
Anand tweeted Saturday that she had discussed the incident with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “and reaffirmed that we’ll always defend our sovereignty together.”
“The object was flying at an altitude of approximately 40,000 feet, had unlawfully entered Canadian airspace and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight. The object was shot down approximately 100 miles from the Canada-United States border over Canadian territory in central Yukon,” Anand said in a news conference on Saturday evening.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command said earlier Saturday it was monitoring “a high altitude airborne object” over northern Canada, and military aircraft were operating in the area from Alaska and Canada, according to a news release from the agency.
Airspace over Montana briefly closed before being reopened
Airspace over Montana was also closed on Saturday evening “to support Defense Department activities,” according to a FAA spokesperson, but it was quickly reopened. The reasons for closing it are unclear.
It is not clear what the object shot down over Canada is or whether it is related to the spy balloon shot down last week or the unidentified object shot down over Alaska on Friday.
Global News reported on NORAD’s detection of the object earlier Saturday.
On Friday, the US military shot down a “high-altitude object” over Alaska after US officials determined that it posed a “reasonable threat to civilian air traffic” as it was flying at 40,000 feet. The object was brought down by fighter aircraft assigned to US Northern Command, and Biden referred to the operation as a “success.” Recovery teams are now attempting to retrieve the debris that is sitting on top of ice in US territorial waters.
While officials have given no indication so far that the object shot down over Alaska is at all related to the Chinese spy balloon, details have been scarce.
A week earlier, US military fighter jets shot down the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon over the Atlantic Ocean, ending a remarkable public drama that prompted a diplomatic fallout between Washington and Beijing as the American public tracked the balloon from Montana all the way to the Carolinas.
The Biden administration has been subjected to a slew of questions this week about the timing of the president’s decision to shoot the spy balloon.
The balloon was spotted after entering the US Air Defense Identification Zone over Alaska on January 28 before flying over Canada, a Department of Defense official told lawmakers last week. It then reentered continental US airspace three days later.
Officials said that the risk of intelligence collection against the US was low, while the risk to people and property on the ground, if the balloon were to be shot down over the US, was high given the balloon’s size and weight.
Instead, the military ultimately shot it down over water after it crossed over the East Coast of the US.
The second object was first spotted on Thursday, officials said, and F-35 fighter jets were sent up to examine the object further. The object was flying at 40,000 feet, which posed a “reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flight,” John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said on Friday.
Biden was first briefed on this object on Thursday evening, Kirby said.
A statement Saturday from US Northern Command said search and recovery operations for the object shot down over Alaska were ongoing.
“Recovery activities are occurring on sea ice,” the statement said. “We have no further details at this time about the object, including its capabilities, purpose, or origin.”
This story and headline have been updated.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2023/02/11/object-over-northern-canada-shot-down-trudeau-says/ | 2023-02-12 03:03:27 | 1 | https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2023/02/11/object-over-northern-canada-shot-down-trudeau-says/ |
Michael Cohen, former President Trump’s onetime personal lawyer and the key witness against him in his New York state indictment, was denied early release from his probation following his three-year prison term Friday.
U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman in Manhattan said that Cohen has continued to lie in recent comments, citing comments he made in a book and on television in March when he said he hadn’t committed tax fraud, his charges were "all 100 percent inaccurate" and that he was "threatened" by prosecutors into pleading guilty.
Cohen is a regular on cable news problems, often giving his opinion on Trump.
Cohen’s lawyer David M. Schwartz claimed he had "clearly demonstrated" his rehabilitation after being a "model prisoner" who had "substantially cooperated with all government authorities."
TRUMP SUES FORMER ATTORNEY MICHAEL COHEN FOR $500 MILLION
In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to several charges, including tax evasion, campaign finance violations, lying to Congress and several banks to obtain campaign financing and was sentenced to three years in prison.
CONVICTED FELON, KEY WITNESS MICHAEL COHEN CLAIMS TRUMP SEEKS ‘VIOLENT CLASH’ AHEAD OF INDICTMENT
New York prosecutors relied on Cohen’s testimony before indicting Trump earlier this year on 34 charges connected to alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal after federal prosecutors declined to bring charges against him. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Cohen has also spoken out against Trump in two memoirs: "Disloyal" in 2020 and "Revenge" in 2022.
He worked as Trump’s personal lawyer for more than a decade.
Cohen ended up serving nearly two-thirds of his three-year prison sentence at home due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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Cohen told the Associated Press he will issue a statement Monday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/michael-cohen-trump-s-former-lawyer-and-witness-against-him-denied-release-from-probation/article_92ccf536-04e7-5da6-b8d1-974066e2e9c2.html | 2023-06-18 00:49:13 | 1 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/national/michael-cohen-trump-s-former-lawyer-and-witness-against-him-denied-release-from-probation/article_92ccf536-04e7-5da6-b8d1-974066e2e9c2.html |
NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lions Lingerie Group is announcing their full package design and manufacturing program for startup lingerie brands looking for a full service manufacturing for lingerie and sleepwear.
New York based lingerie manufacturing management company Lions Lingerie Group is a one stop shop for new and emerging lingerie brands. With the rising MOQs of India and China for lingerie production, Lions is providing a solution for smaller, ethnical brands. Lions Lingerie Group is able work with emerging brands so they can work with a domestic team. Lions Lingerie Group has a turn key approach by offering product development (lingerie design), manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.
Lions Lingerie Group works as the project management team to oversee all elements of the lingerie production. Offering eco sustainable fabric and mass production abilities. All faculties of production have ink sublimation, printing of fabric, custom lace and hardware abilities. With virtual assisting Lions Lingerie Group can accept brands that are not just NYC based. Lions Lingerie Group has virtual project management system and each client is assigned a Project Manager who will assist them with updates and can do virtual meetings and fittings. For more information visit their site at www.lionslingeriegroup.com
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SOURCE Lions Lingerie Group | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/10/11/lions-lingerie-group-full-service-lingerie-manufacture-management-new-york/ | 2022-10-11 10:42:48 | 1 | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/10/11/lions-lingerie-group-full-service-lingerie-manufacture-management-new-york/ |
Three of the last six Sears stores in Louisiana are set to close.
Hometown stores in Eunice, Mansura and Luling have begun liquidation sales and will be part of about 100 stores across 30 states that the struggling retail brand will close, according to Facebook posts Tuesday.
Transformco, which bought the Sears Hometown and Outlet stores in 2019, did not officially announce the closures. Instead each store posted it to social media.
Transformco acquired Sears after it filed for bankruptcy in 2019.
In a statement last fall after announcing store closures, Transformco said it "go-forward store strategy for Sears and Kmart is to operate a diversified portfolio consisting of a small number of larger, premier stores with a larger number of small format stores."
The Eunice store, 340 E. Laurel Ave., is a franchised store that sells Sears line of appliances and hardware along with Whirlpool, Craftsman, Kenmore and Die Hard items.
Sears retains its Home & Life store in Lafayette, 4405 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, one of only three in the country. The 195,000-square-foot former Sears space in the Acadiana Mall remains empty. | https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/business/article_d736cb48-e1b8-11ec-874b-37f1bb090fe6.html | 2022-06-01 14:59:17 | 1 | https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/business/article_d736cb48-e1b8-11ec-874b-37f1bb090fe6.html |
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Iran has been suspended from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. This came as a reaction by the U.S. and other countries to Iran's crackdown on women's rights protesters.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Iran has been suspended from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. This came as a reaction by the U.S. and other countries to Iran's crackdown on women's rights protesters.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.kbia.org/2022-12-14/iran-is-suspended-from-the-u-n-commission-on-the-status-of-women | 2022-12-14 22:45:10 | 1 | https://www.kbia.org/2022-12-14/iran-is-suspended-from-the-u-n-commission-on-the-status-of-women |
NEW YORK, March 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ideanomics (NASDAQ: IDEX) ("Ideanomics" or the "Company") announces that it will conduct a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2022 financial results at 4:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. The Company's senior management team will give prepared remarks followed by a question-and-answer session.
CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION
Webcast Link:
https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=hBcFTSn0
Dial-in Number:
(Toll-Free US & Canada): 877-407-3107 or 201-493-6796
A replay of the webcast and earnings materials will be available on the Company's investor relations website: https://investors.ideanomics.com
About Ideanomics
Ideanomics (NASDAQ: IDEX) is a global group with a simple mission: to accelerate the commercial adoption of electric vehicles. By bringing together vehicles and charging technology with design, implementation, and financial services, we provide solutions needed for the commercial world to commit to an EV future. To keep up with Ideanomics, please follow the company on social @ideanomicshq or visit https://ideanomics.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and include the statement regarding the completion of the business combination within a certain period of time, if ever. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, such as risks related to: our ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and similar disclosures in subsequent reports filed with the SEC, which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risk factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
Investor Relations and Media Contact
Ideanomics, Inc.
Tony Sklar, SVP of Investor Relations
1441 Broadway, Suite 5116 New York, NY 10018.
Email: ir@ideanomics.com
Theodore Rolfvondenbaumen
Communications Director
Email: trolfvondenbaumen@ideanomics.com
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VISALIA, Calif. (AP) — Authorities are searching for at least two suspects who shot and killed six people — including — at a central California home Monday in what called a “horrific massacre” related to drugs and gangs.
Few details were available Tuesday, including which gangs may have been involved and the results of a narcotics search warrant that sheriff’s deputies executed at the home last week in Goshen, a semirural community of about 3,000 residents in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley.
“We also believe this was not a random act of violence. We believe this was a targeted family,” Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said Monday at a news conference.
Samuel Pina said his granddaughter, 16-year-old Alissa Parraz, and her 10-month-old baby, Nycholas Nolan Parraz, were among those killed.
“I can’t wrap my head around what kind of monster would do this,” he told The Associated Press.
Pina said Parraz and her baby were living with her father’s side of the family in Goshen, and that her dad’s uncle, her dad’s cousin, her grandmother and her great-grandmother were also killed.
He said the family is in shock.
“It comes in big waves,” he said.
Boudreaux told the it appeared Alissa Parraz and her child were shot in the head as she tried to run away. A deputy found the bodies of the infant, cradled in his mother’s arms, in a ditch outside the home. An elderly woman appeared to be shot in the head while she slept.
Boudreaux told the newspaper that he believes the violence is connected to a cartel, but did not name which organization investigators are looking into.
“If (they) are specifically shooting everyone in the head, they know what they are doing … (and) they are comfortable with what they are doing,” the sheriff told the Times.
Deputies responded around 3:30 a.m. Monday to reports of multiple shots fired at the residence in unincorporated Goshen, some 35 miles (56 kilometers) southeast of Fresno.
“Actually the report was that an active shooter was in the area because of the number of shots that were being fired,” Boudreaux said at the news conference.
Deputies found two victims dead in the street and a third person fatally shot in the doorway of the residence, Boudreaux said.
Three more victims were found inside the home, including a man who was still alive but later died at a hospital, he said.
The sheriff’s office previously said the teen mother was 17 and her child was 6 months old.
Rural California is no stranger to drug-related violence. In 2020, where the property had been used for an illegal marijuana growing operation — a common practice in that area.
The following year, a man accidentally shot himself while working at His father and two brothers were accused of moving his body to prevent investigators from discovering the grow site.
__
Associated Press Researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report. | https://www.timesleader.com/wire/nation-world/1596921/search-for-suspects-in-california-massacre-of-6-continues | 2023-01-17 22:14:38 | 1 | https://www.timesleader.com/wire/nation-world/1596921/search-for-suspects-in-california-massacre-of-6-continues |
Georgia becomes latest to ban TikTok from state computers
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday immediately banned the use of TikTok and two popular messaging applications from all computer devices controlled by Georgia’s state government, saying the Chinese government may be able to access users’ personal information.
Kemp also banned the messaging apps WeChat and Telegram, saying their control by Chinese and Russian companies poses similar risks.
“The state of Georgia has a responsibility to prevent any attempt to access and infiltrate its secure data and sensitive information by foreign adversaries such as the CCP,” Kemp wrote in a memo, using an acronym for the Chinese Communist Party. “As such, it is our duty to take action to preserve the safety and security of our state against the CCP, entities it controls and other foreign cyberthreats.”
Kemp cited comments by FBI Director Chris Wray earlier this month that China could use the app to collect data on its users that could be used for spying operations.
Kemp became the latest Republican governor to take such an action, part of a wave that also includes calls for Congress to ban the use of the programs from federal government computers.
Some agencies swiftly took action. Within an hour, the state Department of Transportation posted a farewell video on TikTok to its 2,834 followers, saying “Follow us on Instagram, we will no longer be posting to TikTok! Thank you all for the engagement.” The department had posted more than 80 videos since October 2021.
Andrew Isenhour, a spokesperson for Kemp, said guidelines to be issued by the Georgia Technology Authority later Thursday would include exceptions that would allow law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to access the platforms with special permission.
But the ban would also apply to state colleges and universities, many of which use TikTok to court potential new students and communicate with current students and athletic fans. At least 20 public Georgia universities and four-year colleges appear to have TikTok accounts, although some have never posted. Valdosta State University, for example, appears to have eight separate accounts.
Other states that have issued bans include Alabama, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Utah.
The U.S. Senate passed a bill in 2020 to ban TikTok, but it never passed the House. Other bills to regulate or ban TikTok and other apps are also pending in Congress. The U.S. armed forces have prohibited the app on military devices.
Critics say they fear the Chinese government is gaining access to critical information through the application and could be using it to spread misinformation or propaganda.
While there has been much debate about whether the Chinese government is actively collecting TikTok data, observers say TikTok would have to comply with any potential requests from Chinese security and intelligence requests to hand over data because the company’s owner ByteDance is a Chinese company.
ByteDance moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020.
TikTok spokesperson Jamal Brown told The Associated Press earlier this month that the bans “are largely fueled by misinformation about our company.”
TikTok Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Pappas, based in Los Angeles, has said the company protects all American users’ data and that Chinese government officials have no access to it.
Former President Donald Trump issued blanket orders against Chinese tech companies that sought to block new users from downloading WeChat and TikTok in 2020, but lost in court. President Joe Biden has taken a narrower approach, ordering a Commerce Department review of security concerns. U.S. officials and the company are now in talks over a possible agreement that would resolve American security concerns.
A researcher with the conservative Heritage Foundation last month called on government officials to ban TikTok from operating entirely in the United States. But some other experts say the threat is overstated and that China gains little advantage from TikTok information that isn’t publicly available.
___
Follow Jeff Amy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jeffamy.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/12/15/georgia-becomes-latest-ban-tiktok-state-computers/ | 2022-12-15 19:47:46 | 0 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/12/15/georgia-becomes-latest-ban-tiktok-state-computers/ |
As public support for reparations for African Americans remains stubbornly low, a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll reveals one major roadblock: Donald Trump voters believe that racism against white Americans has become a bigger problem than racism against Black Americans.
The survey of 1,638 U.S. adults, which was conducted from July 13-17, shows that among 2020 Trump voters, 62% say that racism against Black Americans is a problem today — while 73% say that racism against white Americans is a problem.
Asked how much of a problem racism currently is, just 19% of Trump voters describe racism against Black Americans as a “big problem.” Twice as many (37%) say racism against white Americans is a big problem.
Trump voters and self-identified Republicans — overlapping but not identical cohorts — are the only demographic groups identified by Yahoo News and YouGov who are more likely to say racism against white Americans is a problem than to say the same about racism against Black Americans. A majority (51%) of white Americans, for instance, think racism against people who look like them is a problem — but overall, far more white Americans (72%) say racism against Black Americans is a problem.
Politics, in other words, is the dividing line here — and political dynamics go a long way toward explaining why reparations for Black Americans continue to be so unpopular in the U.S.
The new Yahoo News/YouGov poll follows the dismissal earlier this month of a lawsuit put forth by the three remaining survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre seeking reparations for ongoing harm caused by the racist rampage that destroyed their once-thriving majority-Black community a century ago. The trio of survivors had sued under Oklahoma's public nuisance law, claiming that the ripple effects of the massacre continue to affect the Greenwood community today.
Many supporters saw the Oklahoma suit as a potential blueprint for reparation efforts around the country. But the latest ruling, which dismissed the case with prejudice — meaning it cannot be filed again — is seen as a stinging setback. The survivors and their attorneys have promised to appeal.
Yet the reality is that even with qualifications, most U.S. adults oppose reparations for Black Americans. According to the Yahoo News/YouGov poll, just a quarter of them (24%) say Black Americans should receive “restitution or reparations from the government — not necessarily direct cash payments — as a result of inequities caused by racism and slavery,” while 56% say they should not.
Support is only marginally higher (29%) when respondents are asked specifically about reparations for “descendants of enslaved Black Americans” rather than all "Black Americans." And even when questioned about reparations for the “three remaining survivors of the Tulsa race massacre” — that is, living people who were directly harmed by racial violence — less than half of Americans are in favor (45%). Most are either opposed (33%) or unsure (22%).
What happened in Tulsa?
The massacre at the center of the court case took place on May 31, 1921, when an angry white mob beat and killed hundreds of Black residents in Greenwood, which had earned the nickname "Black Wall Street" because of the success of its Black residents. Earlier that day, the Tulsa Tribune reported that a Black man had raped a white woman, although there were varying accounts of the incident. Confrontations between Black and white people broke out near the courthouse as the case was being heard.
Over the next two days, 35 city blocks went up in flames. There were widespread reports of looting and more than 1,250 homes burned; 300 people were killed and 800 others were injured as the white mobs outnumbered Black residents who were forced to retreat into the Greenwood district. Generations of Black progress were wiped out in less than 48 hours.
Property claims documenting $1.8 million worth of damage, the equivalent of about $27 million today, were deemed obsolete, according to a 2001 state commission report. With most insurance paperwork and bank documents lost in the riot, almost all Greenwood residents had no restitution for their homes or businesses, and couldn't retrieve their funds from the banks.
The chief motive for the attack, experts say, was white resentment over Black advancement. But it's translated into little restitution for what was lost.
The big political hurdle
To be clear, reparations for Black Americans are not particularly popular across the political spectrum. Republicans are opposed 84% to 8%; Independents are opposed 62% to 8%. Democrats favor reparations by a 21-point margin (49% to 28%) — but even that’s not majority support, and much of it is attributable to overwhelmingly pro-reparations sentiment (69% to 11%) among Black Americans themselves, who tend to identify as Democrats.
Among white Americans, meanwhile, just 17% say yes to reparations; 66% say no.
Still, the major outliers when it comes to race are on the right-wing. When asked how big a problem racism against Black Americans was in the past, Biden and Trump voters basically agree, with 93% of the former and 85% of the latter agreeing that it was a problem.
The disagreement is over whether it's still a problem today — or rather, as Trump voters seem to believe, whether it's less of a problem than racism against white Americans, which reparations, in their view, would only exacerbate. When Trump voters are asked why Black Americans shouldn't receive reparations, the top answer isn't that "racism never held Black Americans back" (13%); it's that "racism is no longer holding Black Americans back" (62%). Reparations, they say, would only "increase racial divisions" (57%) because "other Americans have [also] faced inequities because of racism" (60%).
Similarly, Trump voters are the only group (other than Republicans at large) who are more likely than not to say there isn’t any “problem with systemic racism in America” (61%) and to disagree with the idea that “racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies” (55%) — issues that reparations are intended to ameliorate.
A pathway for reparations
Tatishe Nteta, a professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and director of the UMass Poll, who’s been surveying how Americans feel about reparations for two years, acknowledges the low popularity of reparations, but notes it’s bigger than public opinion.
“Reparations policy is not necessarily about public opinion,” Nteta told Yahoo News. “It’s about the recognition by a private institution, individuals or governments. It’s about atoning for the mistreatment directed at a particular group.”
Pointing to success at the local level in passing reparations initiatives and programs in progressive cities and towns like Evanston, Ill., Amherst, Mass. and Detroit, Nteta says that any racial and economic redress in those cities could create a domino effect, which could convince other more moderate cities and states to consider.
“If reparations achieves the goal of creating some level of racial equality, and the recipients of reparations are also happy with the atonement by whatever the institution is, then you could use this as a model going forward. You could find more moderate cities or moderate states passing reparations programs once you’ve seen the success in these smaller localities.”
____________
The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,638 U.S. adults interviewed online from July 13-17, 2023. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondent’s most recent answer given prior to March 15, 2022, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (32% Democratic, 27% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 2.7%. | https://www.wftv.com/news/national/poll-trump-voters/VMV4EWX6GJ7V6ZJFSAN4FNI3TE/ | 2023-07-21 09:52:39 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/national/poll-trump-voters/VMV4EWX6GJ7V6ZJFSAN4FNI3TE/ |
First responders are training for rescues near the Salinas River and HWY 41 in Atascadero Wednesday.
The California Highway Patrol joins the Atascadero Fire Department's North County Urban Search & Rescue team to practice rescues using a helicopter.
Training started Wednesday morning and was scheduled to end by 1 p.m.
Atascadero Fire shared on Facebook: "We want everyone to know that the activity is training and there is no emergency in the area and no reason to call the Atascadero Police Department." | https://www.ksby.com/news/local-news/helicopter-training-in-the-salinas-river-wednesday | 2023-04-05 17:13:05 | 1 | https://www.ksby.com/news/local-news/helicopter-training-in-the-salinas-river-wednesday |
NEW YORK (PIX11) — Starting Friday, New York City will be routing asylum seekers through to the Roosevelt Hotel in an effort to simplify the arrivals process, PIX11 has learned.
PIX11’s Katie Corrado has more in the video player.
NEW YORK (PIX11) — Starting Friday, New York City will be routing asylum seekers through to the Roosevelt Hotel in an effort to simplify the arrivals process, PIX11 has learned.
PIX11’s Katie Corrado has more in the video player. | https://pix11.com/news/local-news/manhattan/nyc-to-route-asylum-seekers-through-roosevelt-hotel/ | 2023-05-19 04:02:55 | 0 | https://pix11.com/news/local-news/manhattan/nyc-to-route-asylum-seekers-through-roosevelt-hotel/ |
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Louisiana Lottery's "Pick 5" game were:
9-6-7-8-2
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(nine, six, seven, eight, two)
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the Louisiana Lottery's "Pick 5" game were:
9-6-7-8-2
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Article continues below this ad
(nine, six, seven, eight, two)
By The Associated Press | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-5-game-17629827.php | 2022-12-04 05:52:03 | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Pick-5-game-17629827.php |
BEIJING, May 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Youkuai Group International, a leading plant-based food company in China, has agreed to a strategic partnership with Usource, a Beijing based food distributor, to expand the availability of plant-based meat products across North China.
The strategic alliance is a significant first step for both companies as they set up for a burgeoning market for alternative protein products in China. In order to realize the mission of creating a "More Good" world and providing healthier and more sustainable dining options to consumers, Youkuai and Usource will supply its diverse range of Zrou plant-based meat products to top diners, breweries, hotels, and other food outlets across Beijing and Tianjin, as well as in other regions of North China.
Zrou, a brand created by chefs, is a favorite of top F&B professionals across China. Some of its best-known products are ground meat, burger patties, meatballs, and chicken nuggets. In 2021 Zrou announced a strategic alliance with Accor Group to bring innovation to the hospitality dining arena. Already Zrou has been served in over 160 locations across 18 cities, from school and corporate canteens to five-star hotels and popular restaurants.
Usource is an importer, processor and distributor of all-natural fresh foods headquartered in Beijing, whose clients include hundreds of leading hotel, restaurant, supermarket, and e-commerce platforms. Previously Usource was a distributor for Zhen Meat and Beyond Meat in Northern China. "We're extremely excited to roll out Zrou to our existing customers, who demand the highest quality products," says Will Kerins, Usource's co-founder. "Zrou's brand and products have been on our radar since they started, and we believe their latest product iterations are the tastiest in the market. Given Zrou's product quality and brand strength, we're extremely excited to bring them on board and offer them to our customers. "
Usource is also incubating its plant-based cheese brand "Grassroots", the first of its kind in China. "Grassroots is in the process of building out its production capabilities for products including shredded mozzarella, sliced cheddar, chèvre, and dulce de leche, among others," says Will. "Business synergies are an essential part of our corporate strategy, and Zrou will serve as a great complement to both our established and developing product pipelines."
"This is the start of a new food movement, and it's going to be driven by better products at great value for the Chinese customer," says Franklin Yao, Founder and CEO of Youkuai. "Finding partners that care about the entire customer experience as much as we do continue us on a path to addressing food safety and food security, one dish at a time."
Media contact: info@youkuaifood.com
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SOURCE Youkuai Group International | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2023/05/04/plant-based-meats-china-are-just-getting-started/ | 2023-05-04 14:53:50 | 0 | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2023/05/04/plant-based-meats-china-are-just-getting-started/ |
HENDERSON, Nev., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Research Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSSS), a pioneer in providing cloud-based workflow solutions for R&D driven organizations, will hold a conference call to discuss its financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2022, on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET. A press release containing the company's financial results will be issued following the market close and prior to the call.
Research Solutions President and CEO Roy W. Olivier and CFO Bill Nurthen will host the conference call, followed by a question and answer period.
Date: Thursday, February 9, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT)
Dial-in number: 1-631-891-4304
Conference ID: 10020971
Please dial into the conference 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay via the investor relations section of the company's website at http://researchsolutions.investorroom.com.
A replay of the conference call will be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through March 9, 2022. To access the replay, dial 1-412-317-6671 and use replay ID 10020971.
About Research Solutions
Research Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSSS) provides cloud-based technologies to streamline the process of obtaining, managing, and creating intellectual property. Founded in 2006 as Reprints Desk, the company was a pioneer in developing solutions to serve researchers. Today, more than 70 percent of the top pharmaceutical companies, prestigious universities, and emerging businesses rely on Article Galaxy, the company's SaaS research platform, to streamline access to the latest scientific research and data with 24/7 customer support. For more information and details, please visit www.researchsolutions.com
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SOURCE Research Solutions, Inc. | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/01/26/research-solutions-announce-second-quarter-fiscal-2023-results-thursday-february-9-2023/ | 2023-01-26 17:47:52 | 0 | https://www.valleynewslive.com/prnewswire/2023/01/26/research-solutions-announce-second-quarter-fiscal-2023-results-thursday-february-9-2023/ |
S.E.A. Crab House is giving away 9,999 eggs in Astoria and Bend in an epic egg drive on June 12th and 14th, 2023.
ASTORIA and BEND, Ore. , June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- S.E.A. Crab House, the renowned restaurant chain celebrated for its mouthwatering seafood boils infused with Southeast Asian flavors, is thrilled to announce an extraordinary event. Prepare yourselves for an eggstravaganza as they seek to give away a staggering 9,999 eggs in Astoria and Bend, OR. Save the dates: June 12 in Astoria and June 14 in Bend.
This eggstravaganza affair is inspired by S.E.A. Crab House owner, Pattaporn "Patta" Lorwatcharasophon's promise to the revered Thai deity, Ai-Kai. Following the successful launches of two new locations in Beaverton and Seattle, Patta vowed to offer 9,999 as a gesture of gratitude. She wholeheartedly delivers on her promise, expressing gratitude to the Astoria and Bend communities that showed unwavering support during S.E.A. Crab House's expansions.
"Kai means egg in Thai," Patta said on Wednesday. "Ai-Kai is the guardian of treasures and success, and I owe him because he gave us success. The deal was 9,999 eggs per location."
The Ai-Kai Legend is a story from Thailand passed down for generations. It tells the tale of Ai-Kai, a child from a small village who used to play in a nearby temple called Wat Chedi. Unfortunately, he had a tragic accident and drowned. Legend has it that his spirit remains bound to the temple. According to some accounts, a revered teacher named Reverend Grandfather Tuad embarked on a pilgrimage and settled where the abandoned temple stood. Over time, this temple became the present-day Chedi Temple. It is believed that during his time there, Reverend Grandfather Tuad encountered the spirit of a boy aged 9-10, who became his disciple. Within the temple premises, there lie numerous ancient ruins containing valuable treasures. To ensure their protection, Reverend Grandfather Thuat assigned Ai Khai to safeguard these treasures by staying at Chedi Temple.
About the S.E.A. Crab House
The S.E.A. Crab House dining experience brings life to every meal. Our live crab and lobster may not sing and dance, but they certainly bring the wow factor to diners of all ages. Our seafood boils feature Southeast Asian (S.E.A.) influences and tastes, creating a unique experience to a beloved dining style. We currently have locations in Astoria, Seattle, Bend, and Beaverton, and soon Bellevue and Boise. Join us at one of our seafood restaurants today!
Contact: Christophe Adrien, christophe@seacrabhouse.com
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SOURCE SEA Crab House | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2023/06/08/sea-crab-house-give-away-9999-eggs-astoria-bend-epic-egg-drive/ | 2023-06-08 01:32:18 | 1 | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2023/06/08/sea-crab-house-give-away-9999-eggs-astoria-bend-epic-egg-drive/ |
Bespoke menswear brand sources exclusively from family-owned, Italian businesses
MIAMI, July 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bespoke menswear brand Hive & Colony recognizes the importance of attention to detail from creating a custom suit to expertly accessorizing a client's look. The brand's uniqueness lies in its selection of handcrafted accessories, and how and where those accessories are sourced.
"Accessories can elevate your style and add personality to your look. At Hive & Colony, we believe it is important to ensure our accessories have the same level of intricate detail and excellent quality as the suits we create for our clients," said Brittanie Gigler, Head of Product Development and Design.
Working exclusively with family-owned, Italian businesses, Hive & Colony spent copious amounts of time in Italy building carefully curated relationships with suppliers who share the brand's level of passion. Each of Hive & Colony's accessory suppliers are brands that have been passed down through generations and hold an unparalleled devotion to creating a pristine product.
- Cufflinks – Created by a family company in Florence, Italy, Hive & Colony's cufflinks are detailed with Mother of Pearl, Lapis Lazuli, and Tiger's Eye, to name a few, manufactured and sourced in Florence.
- Shoes – Handmade off the coast of Italy in Montegrano, Hive & Colony footwear features double-leather half-soles with double stitching and a focus on quality and comfort.
- Belts – Designed by a third-generation beltmaker, Hive & Colony belt accessories are sourced from local Italian suppliers and woven in Villadossola.
- Ties, Bowties & Pocket Squares – Handcrafted, designed and sourced directly from Milan, the Hive & Colony collection of ties, bowties, and pocket squares are available in jacquard, silk, or wool.
All accessories are available for same-day purchase at Hive & Colony's showrooms. "We welcome you to visit one of our showrooms and let us add the finishing touches to your custom suit with our handcrafted, Italian accessories," added Gigler.
Visit hiveandcolony.com to explore their collection of Italian accessories, locate the nearest showroom, and begin the bespoke process.
About Hive & Colony
From the streets of Manhattan to its first showroom in Boston, Hive & Colony has pollinated its vision of redefined menswear from coast to coast. Through the utilization of 1,000+ rich materials and 3D measurement technology, Hive & Colony has tailored a custom shopping experience as unique as it is luxurious. Sophistication is never sacrificed through Hive & Colony's array of hand-crafted Italian accessories or custom suits and tuxedos. To book an individualized experience at a showroom visit hiveandcolony.com or follow on Instagram at @hiveandcolony.
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SOURCE H&C Retail Management LLC | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/24/hive-amp-colony-elevates-looks-with-expert-accessories/ | 2023-07-24 13:06:54 | 1 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/24/hive-amp-colony-elevates-looks-with-expert-accessories/ |
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AP) — A fan ran onto the field in PSV Eindhoven’s match against Sevilla and punched the Spanish team’s goalkeeper in the face before being wrestled to the ground on Thursday.
The incident happened late in the Europa League match at the PSV Stadium in Eindhoven and goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović carried on playing, apparently unhurt.
After being hit, Dmitrović subdued the fan, who was quickly surrounded by players from both teams and then led away as many supporters in the stadium booed.
The Serbian goalkeeper was a late inclusion in Sevilla’s starting lineup after Yassine Bounou felt ill before the match.
PSV won the second-leg match 2-0 but was eliminated 3-2 on aggregate and now likely awaits punishment from UEFA for the fan’s actions.
Former Sevilla player Luuk de Jong scored for PSV in the 77th minute and Fabio Silva made it 2-0 deep in stoppage time.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/ap-fan-punches-sevilla-goalkeeper-in-europa-league-match-at-psv/ | 2023-02-24 20:42:57 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/ap-fan-punches-sevilla-goalkeeper-in-europa-league-match-at-psv/ |
BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mostly higher in Europe and Asia on Monday after Wall Street closed out another bumpy week marked by uneasiness over the outlook for inflation and interest rates.
Germany’s DAX gained 0.1% in early trading to 15,494.14 and the CAC 40 in Paris also was 0.1% higher, at 7,354.01. Britain’s FTSE 100 climbed 0.2% to 8,016.05. The futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were 0.1% lower.
U.S. markets will be closed for a holiday Monday.
China left its benchmark lending rate, the loan prime rate, unchanged as expected. The 1-year rate was kept at 3.65% while the 5-year rate is 4.3%.
In Asian trading, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gained 0.8% to 20,886.96 while the Shanghai Composite index jumped 2.1% to 3,290.34. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 edged up 0.1% to 27,531.94.
India’s Sensex slipped 0.5% to 60,702.28. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.2% to 2,455.12 and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.1% at 7,351.50. Shares in Southeast Asian markets declined, apart from in Bangkok, where the SET gained 0.4%.
Recent data have revived worries that inflation in the United States is not cooling as quickly as hoped. That has shaken hopes the Federal Reserve might take it easier on interest rate hikes and avoid tipping the economy into recession.
That has added to turbulence on Wall Street after the year started off with solid gains.
“There was not a lot of major news, but in the back of every traders’ mind was the thought that this whole ‘high inflation/Fed hiking’ scenario, may not actually be over as soon as many hoped,” Clifford Bennett, chief economist at ACY Securities, said in a commentary. “The troubles may be far from over.”
On Friday, the S&P fell 0.3% and the Dow industrials rose 0.4%. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.6%.
Reports recently have shown more strength than expected in everything from the job market to retail sales to inflation itself, raising worries that the Federal Reserve will have to get tougher on interest rates. That extra resilience has reassured investors that the economy may avoid a worst-case recession.
Jobs are still plentiful, and shoppers are still spending to prop up the most important part of the economy, consumer spending. That’s helped the S&P 500 index hold onto a gain of 6.2% since the start of the year.
The fear is that if inflation proves stickier than expected, it could push the Fed to get even more aggressive than it’s prepared the market for. Such movements have been most clear in the bond market, where yields have soared this month on expectations for a firmer Fed.
This week, an updated estimate Thursday of U.S. economic growth in October-December will provide more insight into how businesses and consumers are faring. The forecasts are that growth will have slowed to 2.8% or 2.9% from the previous quarter, down from 3.2%.
In other trading Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 74 cents to $77.29 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It sank $2.19 on Friday to $76.55 per barrel.
Brent crude oil, the pricing basis for international trading, picked up 84 cents to $83.84 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar slipped to 134.27 Japanese yen from 134.28 yen. The euro rose to $1.0690 from $1.0681. | https://www.krqe.com/news/business/ap-asian-shares-mostly-higher-as-inflation-worries-dog-wall-st/ | 2023-02-20 21:20:39 | 1 | https://www.krqe.com/news/business/ap-asian-shares-mostly-higher-as-inflation-worries-dog-wall-st/ |
LAS VEGAS — The third time was a charm for Alexandre Pantoja.
After beating Brandon Moreno twice earlier in his career, he did it a third time on Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena, winning a split decision to dethrone Moreno.
Judges had it 48-47 twice for Pantoja, with the third judge seeing the bout for Moreno by an absurdly wide 49-46. Yahoo Sports scored it 48-47 for Pantoja.
The third round was extraordinarily close and could have gone either way. The fifth was close, as well, as Moreno’s striking carried the first half of the final round while Pantoja’s grappling controlled the second half of it.
“Hey guys, if you know my story, you're gonna love me,” Pantoja said after defeating Moreno for the third time in as many tries. “I'm working so hard for that. Gabriela, my wife, my kid, I'm working so hard for that. You don't get mad at me, do you? I can touch now. I can touch now. I can feel.
“For real, it involves so much, bro. I didn't expect one tough guy like that tonight. But I'm working so hard, like I said. I started training when I was 12, now I'm 33. I pass for everything in my life. I pass for everything. Last two years, I worked so hard. I brought my family to the U.S. I started my camp in the American Top Team. I left everything I have. My Mom [took] care of me and my two brothers alone, you know. Now, Dad, you're proud of me, Dad. You're proud of me.”
It was one of the best fights of this or any year, as the pace was insane from the opening bell and didn’t slow until nearly the end. Both fighters’ faces were cut, bloody and full of welts. Both fighters’ fathers would have been proud of the effort they gave in pursuit of victory.
The difference, though, may have been the grappling advantage that Pantoja held, getting close to a rear naked choke several times in the final two rounds.
It was a back and forth struggle that was deserving of its place on a card that had already been memorable, filled with sensational finishes.
Pantoja controlled the first round but Moreno turned it around in the second, shocking his challenger.
“In the first round, I thought Moreno was done,” Pantoja said. “But he come back in the second round, and made tough rounds with me. This guy deserves all this love from Mexico. And he deserves my respect, too, you know. Always, I respected Moreno and his family. He’s a great kid. But now, I worked so hard for that, now it's my moment. I want to enjoy everything.”
It’s going to hurt for Moreno, but he’ll be able to enjoy eventually one of the best performances of his life. But he faced a guy with just as much heart and just as much talent and together, they put on a classic show that will live in the history books forever. | https://www.star945.com/news/national/ufc-290-alexandre/63LVORVGZUCCQX6635Y6OFFGBU/ | 2023-07-09 04:57:08 | 0 | https://www.star945.com/news/national/ufc-290-alexandre/63LVORVGZUCCQX6635Y6OFFGBU/ |
CombiSet SMARTECH™ Offers Innovative New Design and Simplifies Use
WALTHAM, Mass., July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresenius Medical Care North America's (FMCNA) Renal Therapies Group today announced the availability of the CombiSet SMARTECHTM, the first available single-use bloodline with an integrated Crit-Line® blood chamber (CLiC™) that simplifies use by reducing the number of manual connections required. The CLICTM Blood Chamber is built into the bloodline itself and is designed to provide optimal performance with the 2008® series hemodialysis machines.
Crit-Line technology is designed to continuously monitor the percent change in blood volume, plasma refill, oxygen saturation and other key parameters during the hemodialysis treatment. This data can guide the clinician to intervene, if necessary, by adjusting the ultrafiltration rates to provide a more effective dialysis treatment. Fluid overload, or hypervolemia, is a common complication of kidney disease, particularly in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis. It is often associated with adverse outcomes including hypertension, exacerbation of congestive heart failure (CHF), and increased risk of death.1
"By combining these two components into one bloodline, we are simplifying the set-up process which will hopefully encourage increased use of Crit-Line technology," said Dr. Mike Anger, SVP and Chief Medical Officer for FMCNA's Renal Therapies Group. "This new bloodline is designed to make fluid management even easier, providing insights that can help better manage the fluid status of dialysis patients."
The CombiSet SMARTECH offers key advantages when providing hemodialysis to patients in outpatient or acute settings:
- Increased Ease of Use: Less product to manage at point of care; less inventory to maintain.
- Fewer Connections: The new integrated bloodline line has only one connection, eliminating the need for additional components and simplifying the connection process.
"This introduction of this new bloodline is part of our commitment to bring innovations to market that improve patient care, making the dialysis process simpler and safer for our patients," said Pat McCarthy, SVP of FMCNA's Renal Therapies Group. "This new integrated system is a step forward within our already trusted and reliable bloodline product offerings."
For more information about CombiSet SMARTECH, along with the benefits and features of the Crit-Line technology, visit https://fmcna.com/combiset-smartech.
About Fresenius Medical Care North America
Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) is the premier healthcare company focused on providing the highest quality care to people with renal and other chronic conditions. Through its industry-leading network of dialysis facilities and outpatient cardiac and vascular labs, Fresenius Medical Care North America provides coordinated healthcare services at pivotal care points for hundreds of thousands of chronically ill customers throughout the continent. As the world's largest fully integrated renal company, it offers specialty pharmacy and laboratory services, and manufactures and distributes the most comprehensive line of dialysis equipment, disposable products, and renal pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit the FMCNA website at https://fmcna.com/.
Disclaimer
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, including changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.
Media Contact:
Fresenius Medical Care North America
Scott Sayres
Corporate Communications
scott.sayres@freseniusmedicalcare.com
(940) 297-5678
1 Arneson TJ, et al., Hospital treatment for fluid overload in the Medicare hemodialysis population. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010;5(6):1054-1063.
Indication for Use:
Crit-Line Technology is designed to non-invasively measure hematocrit, oxygen saturation and percent change in blood volume. The technology employs a sensor clip which emits multiple wavelengths of light to trans-illuminate the blood in the Crit-Line blood chamber. The differences in light absorption between blood constituents allow for the identification and measurement of the hematocrit. The measurement of hematocrit, percent change in blood volume and oxygen saturation in real-time during hemodialysis is intended to provide a more effective treatment for both the dialysis patient and the clinician. Based on the data that the monitor provides, the clinician/nurse, under physician direction, can intervene (i.e., by increasing or decreasing the rate at which fluid is removed from the blood) to remove the maximum amount of fluid from the dialysis patient without the patient experiencing the common complications of dialysis which include nausea, cramping and vomiting. The technology is available as a stand-alone device (Crit-Line IV Monitor) or as an optional module on the 2008T hemodialysis machine series (CLiC™ device).
CombiSet SMARTECH Hemodialysis Blood Tubing Set
- The Blood Tubing Set is a sterile, single use, disposable indicated for use with a prescribed hemodialyzer. The suitability of a particular bloodline/hemodialyzer configuration is the responsibility of the physician.
- The Blood Tubing Set is intended for acute and chronic hemodialysis therapy.
- The Blood Tubing Set is intended to be used with Fresenius Medical Care 2008® Series K, K2, and T Hemodialysis Machines equipped with Crit-Line hardware.
- The Crit-Line Blood Chamber is an optical cuvette designed for use with the Crit-Line monitor's sensor clip during acute and chronic hemodialysis therapy to noninvasively measure hematocrit, percent change in blood volume, and oxygen saturation.
Caution: Federal (US) law restricts these devices to sale by or on the order of a physician.
Note: Read the Instructions for Use for safe and proper use of these devices. For a complete description of hazards, contraindications, side effects and precautions, see full package labeling at www.fmcna.com.
© 2021 Fresenius Medical Care. All Rights Reserved. Fresenius Medical Care, the triangle logo, Fresenius Renal Technologies, 2008, Crit-Line CLiC, CombiSet, and CombiSet SMARTECH are trademarks of Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., or its affiliated companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/fresenius-medical-care-north-america-introduces-first-single-use-integrated-bloodline-support-fluid-management-dialysis/ | 2022-07-27 12:41:32 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/fresenius-medical-care-north-america-introduces-first-single-use-integrated-bloodline-support-fluid-management-dialysis/ |
LAGOS, Nigeria, June 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PalmPay, a pioneering Africa-focused fintech platform, celebrates a significant landmark in its journey, marking 25 million users on its app and an extensive network of 500,000 mobile money agents and 300,000 merchants in its payments ecosystem.
This rapid growth within just four years of its market entry in Nigeria is testament to the company's robust strategy centered on offering secure, user-friendly and inclusive financial services.
"We are proud to be a driving force of financial inclusion and cashless payment adoption in Nigeria.", stated Sofia Zab, Global CMO of PalmPay. "PalmPay's growth validates our approach and illustrates the increasing demand for innovative fintech solutions that address the unique needs of Africa's underserved population."
PalmPay's user-friendly application simplifies digital transactions, making them swift and convenient. This has driven a shift in consumer behaviour from cash to digital payments. Today, the company processes more than 5 billion USD per month.
The PalmPay app offers a comprehensive suite of financial services that empower its customers with tools to manage their finances in one place.
This week, the company is launching its savings service, which include a 20% annual interest savings plan available to all users. The fintech also provides banking services for businesses, equipping them with dedicated apps, web portal and POS.
PalmPay's efforts in promoting financial inclusion have been notably impactful, with around 30% of its users stating that their first-ever financial account was created on the app.
Its expansive network of mobile money agents help users deposit and withdraw money and guide consumers on how to use the PalmPay app. Its agents also serve consumers who do not have access to smartphones by transacting on their behalf, thereby extending access to PalmPay's services to millions of additional people.
The company's success in Nigeria has been propelled by its proprietary payment infrastructure, which offers unmatched reliability in a market that has long grappled with unstable financial systems. The platform boasts a 99.5% 10-second transaction success rate, distinguishing PalmPay in a highly competitive fintech space.
"PalmPay is more than a digital wallet - we are building a comprehensive platform to offer consumers all the tools they need to thrive financially. As we move forward, our aim is to become Africa's financial superapp. ", added Zab. "Our partners benefit from our robust payment infrastructure and data-driven approach, which enables us to connect their offerings directly to their target customers, fostering mutual growth within our digital ecosystem."
The company's next strategic step is to bridge the gap between consumers and businesses by digitising merchant payments. PalmPay is onboarding tens of thousands of offline retailers every month, many of whom are spurred to join the platform following requests from its customers who want to be able to pay with transfer.
"The consumer base has now become one of the major driving forces of wider cashless adoption in the Nigerian payments ecosystem", said Chika Nwosu, PalmPay Nigeria Managing Director, "We see an enormous potential in digitising payments for the retail and informal economy, which reduces their cost of doing business and helps them build the digital track record to qualify for credit and other financial services."
Looking ahead, PalmPay is extending its operations to more countries and plans to offer cross-border transactions in future. The company is already piloting services in Ghana and is preparing launch plans for several other African markets.
About PalmPay
Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to 25 million users. Over 300,000 merchants are part of its cashless payment ecosystem.The company has raised $140m USD.
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SOURCE PalmPay | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/06/28/palmpay-celebrates-25-million-user-milestone-nigeria-network-800000-mobile-money-agents-merchants/ | 2023-06-28 08:38:42 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2023/06/28/palmpay-celebrates-25-million-user-milestone-nigeria-network-800000-mobile-money-agents-merchants/ |
Gunfire into funeral procession in suburban Chicago wounds 4, police say
OAK PARK, Ill. (AP) — Shots were fired into vehicles as a funeral procession passed through a Chicago suburb, badly wounding two people and hurting two others, police said.
The shooting happened about 1 p.m. Saturday when a white pickup truck pulled alongside a vehicle and someone inside opened fire as the procession traveled from Chicago through the suburb of Oak Park just west of the city, Oak Park police said.
Two people in the vehicle were taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said. Two people in another vehicle that was part of the procession were also struck by the gunfire and were treated at a hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening.
No bystanders were hurt in the shooting and police made no immediate arrests. Oak Park police said the department had received no warning of risks concerning the funeral procession.
Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said the department didn’t believe there was any additional threat to the public.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kait8.com/2023/06/11/gunfire-into-funeral-procession-suburban-chicago-wounds-4-police-say/ | 2023-06-11 16:16:44 | 1 | https://www.kait8.com/2023/06/11/gunfire-into-funeral-procession-suburban-chicago-wounds-4-police-say/ |
CANNES, France (AP) — The Cannes Film Festival red carpet sprang to life Tuesday with the premiere of the Louis XV period drama “Jeanne du Barry,” with Johnny Depp, as the French Riviera movie pageant launched a star-studded and potentially controversy-rife 76th edition.
Throngs of onlookers shouted “Johnny!” as Depp, in purple-hued sunglasses signed autographs and edged back into the spotlight following his explosive trial last year with ex-wife Amber Heard. “Jeanne du Barry,” directed and co-starring Maïwenn, has been billed as Depp’s comeback — though his prominent presence at Cannes has been hotly debated.
A coterie of stars streamed down Cannes’ famous red carpet for the opening night ceremony, including Brie Larson, Uma Thurman, Gong Li, Elle Fanning, Naomi Campbell, Catherine Deneuve (who graces this year’s festival poster) and a blue-haired Helen Mirren, who carried a fan labeled #worthit.
During the opening ceremony, Michael Douglas received an honorary Palme d’Or, with his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones and their daughter, Carys Zeta Douglas, looking on from the audience.
“I’m even older than the festival,” said Douglas, 78, after receiving a warm standing ovation.
Douglas and Deneuve officially declared open a festival that promises a Côte d’Azur buffet of spectacle, scandal and cinema set to be served over the next 12 days. It’s unspooling against the backdrop of labor unrest. Protests that have roiled France in recent months over changes to its pension system are planned to run during the festival, albeit at a distance from the festival’s main hub.
Meanwhile, an ongoing strike by screenwriters in Hollywood could have unpredictable effects on the French Riviera festival.
“My wife is currently picketing with my 6-month-old, strapped to her chest,” Paul Dano, a juror, said Tuesday, referencing Zoe Kazan. “I will be there on the picket line when I get back home.”
But with a festival lined with some much-anticipated big-budget films, including James Mangold’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny” and Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the party is sure to go on, regardless. Stars set to hit Cannes’ red carpet in the next week and a half include Natalie Portman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Sean Penn, Alicia Vikander, Scarlett Johansson and Abel Tesfaye — also known as the Weeknd.
Earlier Tuesday, the jury that will decide the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or, was introduced. Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund, a two-time Palme winner who last year won for the social satire “The Triangle of Sadness,” is presiding over a jury including Dano, Larson, Argentine filmmaker Damián Szifron, Afghan director Atiq Rahimi, French actor Denis Ménochet, Moroccan filmmaker Maryam Tourzani, Zambian-Welsh director Rungano Nyoni and French director Julia Ducournau, who in 2019 became the second female filmmaker to win the Palme d’Or for “Titane.”
Östlund, 49, wondered whether he might have been handed the opportunity a decade too soon. But while addressing the press, Östlund — whose “The Triangle of Sadness” was nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards — made it clear where his allegiances lie.
“If I can choose between an Oscar and a Palme d’Or, it’s an easy choice,” said Östlund. “I would rather have one more (Palme) than have an Oscar.”
The opening night selection has attracted some controversy. “Jeanne du Barry,” which simultaneously opened in French theaters Tuesday, was produced following the much-watched 2022 trial during which both Depp and Heard accused each other of physical and verbal abuse. A civil jury awarded Depp $10 million in damages and $2 million to Heard.
Maïwenn has made headlines recently, too. The French actor-director has been accused of spitting at prominent French journalist Edwy Plenel. Earlier this month, she confirmed that she assaulted him in a restaurant.
In remarks to the press Monday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux defended the choice, praised Depp as an actor and said he paid no attention to the trial.
“To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it’s the freedom of thinking, the freedom of speech and the freedom to act within a legal framework,” said Fremaux. “If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldn’t be here talking about it.”
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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
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For more coverage of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival | https://www.koin.com/entertainment-news/cannes-film-festival-kicks-off-tuesday-with-johnny-depp-and-jeanne-du-barry/ | 2023-05-17 09:22:28 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/entertainment-news/cannes-film-festival-kicks-off-tuesday-with-johnny-depp-and-jeanne-du-barry/ |
The Mozel Sanders Foundation is gearing up for the annual Thanksgiving meal, and they are searching for volunteers to help bake cookies!
Dawn Jordan Jones and Mike Ruggiero from the Mozel Sanders Foundation joined us today to discuss the urgent request.
Volunteers are needed at The Flannery House today and Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
To volunteer in this effort, contact CIBO Catering & Events. Chef Whitney (317) 213-6361. www.positivefoodievibes.com. | https://www.wishtv.com/mozelsanders/mozel-sanders-seeks-volunteers-to-help-make-cookies-for-thanksgiving-meal/ | 2022-11-21 21:32:48 | 1 | https://www.wishtv.com/mozelsanders/mozel-sanders-seeks-volunteers-to-help-make-cookies-for-thanksgiving-meal/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Want to spend summer on the waves? Well now you can and you don’t even need to own a boat.
The Freedom Boat Club started in 1989 in Florida and has since spread across the U.S. and they just opened their newest location on the Columbia River.
Offering several membership plans, the Freedom Boat Club trains members and then gets them out on the waters in one of their boats.
KOIN 6 News’ Kohr Harlan visited the boat club to see how they are making waves in the boating game.
Watch the full video in the player above for more. | https://www.koin.com/local/kohr-explores-freedom-boat-clubs-sets-sail-on-the-columbia-river/ | 2023-06-28 13:20:25 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/kohr-explores-freedom-boat-clubs-sets-sail-on-the-columbia-river/ |
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amidst a national youth behavioral health crisis, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is partnering with Molina Healthcare, County Behavioral Health, the Offices of Education in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and select local school districts and charter schools to implement the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP).
The three-year program is in accordance with the California Department of Health Care Services' (DHCS) goal to expand prevention and early intervention behavioral health services in schools and provides financial incentives to partnering school districts and charter schools. A total of $389 million has been allocated for California. Between both IEHP and Molina Healthcare, up to $50,845,334 can be utilized to support this program.
According to the American Psychological Association, one in five young women and one in ten young men experience a major depressive episode before the age of 25. The COVID Collaborative also notes one in 330 California children have lost either a parent or caregiver in the last two years, adding significant stress and trauma to the lives of California's youth, along with stay-at-home orders and remote learning.
"If the past few years have taught us anything, it's that we need to be proactive in addressing mental health and wellness needs early on, before traumas have a chance to manifest later in life," said Amrita Rai, IEHP's clinical director of community behavioral health.
Through SBHIP efforts, existing mental health initiatives will be bolstered, and coordination between schools, managed care plans, county behavioral health and community partners aim to address the equity gap and improve access to mental health prevention and treatment for students. Resources will be directed to fill gaps in these areas throughout the participating schools and their respective communities. Services will be limited to schools who are participating in SBHIP and who receive funding.
"We are well into a crisis when it comes to the mental health and wellness of our youth. Now is the time to be bold and work tirelessly for our children because what we do now will affect generations to come," said Rai. "Why not focus our resources, our passion, and our commitment back into the community and schools? Our children spend most of their lives in school, which makes this multi-organizational partnership so worthwhile."
Partnerships with local education agencies and school sites include San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS); Riverside County of Education; Palm Springs Unified School District; Hemet Unified School District; San Bernardino City Unified School District; Rialto Unified School District; Victor Valley Union High School; Ontario-Montclair School District; Leadership Military Academy; Nuview Union School District; Provisional Accelerated Learning Academy; and Riverside County Office of Education Alternative Education Program. While the initiative will begin at these partner sites, it is anticipated that learnings would benefit other schools and districts interested in implementing similar programs in the future.
"San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools recognizes the growing mental health crisis among our youth and supports this joint effort to address this critical issue," said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. "SBCSS seeks to build capacity within countywide systems and increase access to much needed support to ensure every child receives the services they need when they need them."
"Educators at the Riverside County Office of Education and within all Local Educational Agencies (LEA) in Riverside County, are vitally interested in addressing the needs of the whole student beyond the classroom. Linking arms with partners across the county via the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP) will equitably provide mental health services to those who might not otherwise have access to this level of support," said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez.
Selection of school districts and charter schools was dependent on DHCS guidelines and considered specific criteria, such as the number of students who received Medi-Cal, were foster youth or English learners, received free or reduced priced meals, were interested in participating in the program and other factors.
"It's the right thing to do. This program gives us a great opportunity to extend both heart and hand to children in our community," said Dr. Takashi Wada, IEHP's chief medical officer. "Working together, we can equip them with necessary skills, habits and care they can use today and through adulthood, setting them up for a healthier and happier tomorrow."
"The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and elevated behavioral health needs in our communities, including in young people. Mental and emotional wellbeing make up a significant portion of overall health and healthy youth lead to improved community wellness. We are proud to partner with IEHP, local offices of education and mental health professionals to address the youth behavioral health crisis in tangible, preventative ways." said Dr. Sayeed Khan, chief medical officer at Molina Healthcare.
Program preparation began this year and will support a January 2023 launch at all 10 participating local education agencies. Through careful planning and implementation, the program will aim to build and support a sustainable system beyond the life of the program, which will end in December 2024.
With a mission to heal and inspire the human spirit, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is one of the top 10 largest Medicaid health plans and the largest not-for-profit Medicare-Medicaid plan in the country. In its 26th year, IEHP is supporting more than 1.5 million residents in Riverside and San Bernardino counties who are enrolled in Medicaid or Cal MediConnect Plans and has a growing network of over 7,800 providers and nearly 2,500 Team Members. Through dynamic partnerships with Providers and Community Organizations, paired with award-winning service and a tradition of quality care, IEHP is fully committed to their vision: We will not rest until our communities enjoy optimal care and vibrant health. For more information, visit iehp.org.
Molina Healthcare of California has been providing government-funded care for over 40 years. The Company serves members through Medi-Cal, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Covered California (Marketplace). Molina's service areas include Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Orange County, and Imperial counties. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, served approximately 5.2 million members as of December 31, 2021. For more information about Molina Healthcare of California, visit www.MolinaHealthcare.com.
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SOURCE Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/statewide-initiative-supports-behavioral-health-ie-youth/ | 2022-05-31 19:06:05 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/statewide-initiative-supports-behavioral-health-ie-youth/ |
Biden to mark anniversary of Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Joe Biden on Thursday is set to mark the 13th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Biden will give remarks from the White House on the key accomplishments of the landmark bill.
He is expected to highlight how the law has resulted in quality health care for more than 40 million Americans and lowered costs for families.
Biden will also mention steps he has taken as president to boost the legislation, including capping out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare.
The president is expected to slam House Republican proposals the White House dubbed a “five-alarm fire.”
Specifically, Biden will call out the House Freedom Caucus’ proposed budget, which he says will increase health care costs and push the biggest cut to Medicare in decades.
Copyright 2023 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/03/23/biden-mark-anniversary-affordable-care-act/ | 2023-03-23 15:18:38 | 1 | https://www.newschannel6now.com/2023/03/23/biden-mark-anniversary-affordable-care-act/ |
For the first time, the American Psychological Association has issued recommendations for guiding teenager's use of social media. The advisory, released Tuesday, is aimed at teens, parents, teachers and policy makers.
This comes at a time when teenagers are facing high rates of depression, anxiety and loneliness. And, as NPR has reported, there's mounting evidence that social media can exacerbate and even cause these problems.
"Right now, I think the country is struggling with what we do around social media," says Dr. Arthur Evans, CEO of the APA. The report, he says, marshals the latest science about social media to arm people "with the information that they need to be good parents and to be good policy makers in this area."
The 10 recommendations in the report summarize recent scientific findings and advise actions, primarily by parents, such as monitoring teens' feeds and training them in social media literacy, even before they begin using these platforms.
But some therapists and clinicians say the recommendations place too much of the burden on parents. To implement this guidance requires cooperation from the tech companies and possibly regulators.
"We're in a crisis here and a family's ability or a parent's ability to manage this right now is very limited," says Robert Keane, psychologist at Walden Behavioral Care, an inpatient facility that helps teens with eating disorders. "Families really need help."
Screening, monitoring and training
While social media can provide opportunities for staying connected, especially during periods of social isolation, like the pandemic, the APA says adolescents should be routinely screened for signs of "problematic social media use."
"Is it getting in the way of your child's sleep and physical activity? Is it getting in the way of their school, or other activities that are important in their development?" Evans asks. "Or is it hard for them to detach from social media? Do they lie so they can engage with it?" Those are the kinds of things that parents should be on the lookout for when they're monitoring their child's social media use, Evans says.
The APA recommends that parents should also closely monitor their children's social media feed during early adolescence, roughly ages 10-14. Parents should try to minimize or stop the dangerous content their child is exposed to, including posts related to suicide, self-harm, disordered eating, racism and bullying. Studies suggest that exposure to this type of content may promote similar behavior in some youth, the APA notes.
This type of content is more common in children's feeds than parents may realize. A recent survey of teenage girls found that 40% see harmful images and videos related to suicide at least once a month on Instagram and TikTok, and about a third say they see content related to eating disorders at least once a month on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube.
Another key recommendation is to limit the use of social media for comparison, particularly around beauty — or appearance-related content. Research suggests that when kids use social media to pore over their own and others' appearance online, this is linked with poor body image and depressive symptoms, particularly among girls.
As kids age and gain digital literacy skills they should have more privacy and autonomy in their social media use, but parents should always keep an open dialogue about what they are doing online.
"As children become older, you're going to be spending more time coaching, talking, and helping to educate your child," Evans says.
The report also cautions parents to monitor their own social media use, citing research that shows that adults' attitudes toward social media and how they use it in front of kids may affect young people.
A bigger problem than parents can tackle
But some psychologists say the guidance is missing tangible, actionable advice. For example, where does a parent find social media training for their child?
"This isn't like teaching your kid to drive a car," Keane says. "This is completely new information for many parents and their kids. I would say this is not a level playing field. Your kids are actually much more advanced in this than you are."
And how do they monitor an app that their child knows more about than they do? "You can't – you can't– monitor kids' utilization on these platforms," he emphasizes. "As a parent, these feeds get away from you."
Keane and his colleagues say dangerous material really shouldn't be in children's feeds in the first place. "It's a little hard for me to imagine that these recommendations can be implemented without coordination with big tech companies or even regulations through congress," says Kameron Mendes, a therapist who works with Keane at Walden Behavioral Care.
"So while it's a great start, I think we still have a long way to go before it trickles down to real change," he says.
The APA's report does contain recommendations that could be picked up by policy makers seeking to regulate the industry. For instance it recommends the creation of "reporting structures" to identify and remove or deprioritize social media content depicting "illegal or psychologically maladaptive behavior," such as self-harm, harming others, and disordered eating.
It also notes that the design of social media platforms may need to be changed to take into account "youths' development capabilities," including features like endless scrolling and recommended content. It suggests that teens should be warned "explicitly and repeatedly" about how their personal data could be stored, shared and used.
Emma Lembke, 19, founded LogOFF, an initiative to help adolescents manage their social media use and reconnect with their offline life. She says that teens should be involved in making these kinds of recommendations or creating social media trainings.
"They have to be built out with young people at the table as active participants rather than passive onlookers," she says. "I think a lot of these curricula are created by individuals who do not understand what it's like to grow up as a digital native, a naive young person in the online world."
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.kvpr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-05-08/psychologists-issue-health-advisory-for-teens-and-social-media | 2023-05-09 11:22:52 | 0 | https://www.kvpr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-05-08/psychologists-issue-health-advisory-for-teens-and-social-media |
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), which recently shut down a human-staffed helpline, is suspending its use of a chatbot that activists say shared weight loss advice with people who used the service.
In screenshots of the conversation seen by The Washington Post, Maxwell asked the bot specific questions about weight loss, to which it suggested using a scale once a week. Tessa also recommended that Maxwell track her body measurements and brought up skinfold calipers without those topics being specifically introduced by Maxwell.
When Maxwell asked, “Where can I access a skin fold caliper? I used to use one of those back when I was in my eating disorder,” the chatbot said one could be purchased online or from a sporting goods store.
When asked to suggest the right foods for weight loss, Tessa responded by praising Maxwell for wanting to make “healthy choices.” It added that it might be helpful to track calories, though it also warned against rapid weight loss and suggested getting professional advice.
“Acceptance and weight loss are not mutually exclusive,” it said at one point.
Experts on eating disorders caution against a heavy focus on weight loss.
The National Eating Disorders Collaboration of Australia warns that increasing focus on weight or body shape puts one at greater risk of an eating-disorder relapse. Other warning signs include repeated self-weighing and counting calories, according to the group, which advises the Australian government. The mention of specific weights, measurements, weight loss and quantities around food should also be avoided around people with a history of eating disorders, according to the InsideOut Institute at the University of Sydney.
Although Tessa’s advice might sound “benign to the general public,” it is likely to be harmful to people with eating disorders, who are the most likely users of the service, Maxwell said.
NEDA chief executive Elizabeth Thompson said in an email that Tessa was deployed after a randomized clinical trial with 700 women over three years and had been live on the group’s website since February 2022. It was developed by X2AI, part of a Mountain View, Calif.-based nonprofit organization that says it helps vulnerable people access care. The X2 Foundation did not immediately return a request for comment early Thursday.
The eating-disorder nonprofit said it is investigating claims that the bot “may have given information that was harmful and unrelated to the program.” Thompson added that she had been advised by X2AI that “bad actors can and will try to fool chatbots.”
“We’ll continue to work on the bugs and will not relaunch until we have everything ironed out,” she said.
Thompson said the chatbot was not intended as a replacement for its advice hotline. NEDA said in March that it would be shutting down that service, according to a statement by a union that represents staff who worked for the hotline.
The announcement came four days after staff legally notified NEDA that their union had been federally recognized, according to the statement. The union said the employees were told “the helpline would be replaced with a chatbot and our jobs were being eliminated.”
NPR reported in May that it had obtained audio of Geoffrey Craddock, NEDA’s board chair, saying that the organization would “wind down” the helpline and “transition to Tessa, the AI-assisted technology expected around June 1.”
Thompson denied that the decision to shut down the hotline was linked to the unionization vote. She said the organization “had business reasons for closing the Helpline and had been in the process of that evaluation for three years.”
“We see Tessa, a program we’ve been running on our website since February 2022, as a completely different program and option,” she said. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/06/01/eating-disorder-chatbot-ai-weight-loss/ | 2023-06-01 09:14:14 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/06/01/eating-disorder-chatbot-ai-weight-loss/ |
Photo via Columbia Savings & Loan Association
Port Washington State Bank Investment
L-R Ernest Jones, CSLA Board Chair-Pres. & CEO; Will Martin, CSLA Exec. VP; James Schowalter, PWSB Pres. & COO; Ron Knaus, VP-Business Development Officer
Port Washington State Bank announced on Monday a partnership to aid Wisconsin's only Black-owned financial institution, Columbia Savings & Loan Association. The new investment helps the institution in modernizing its technology and expanding its outreach to low-to-moderate-income families seeking to become homeowners. The bank donated $10,000 towards the Centennial Fund, which was announced in February, during Black History Month.
Headquartered in Wisconsin's poorest zip code, Columbia Savings & Loan Association designed the Centennial Fund to help defray the costs of overhauling its technology and implementing online and mobile banking for its customers. Financial technology, or fintech, is one of the largest administrative expenses for banks, and contributions from Port Washington State Bank and other corporate partners will enable Columbia to use technology to expand access to capital for families of color and underserved areas of the community that it cannot reach today.
Milwaukee's African-American population has the second-lowest homeownership rate among the nation's major metropolitan areas, and Columbia Savings & Loan Association has been at the forefront of helping families of color become homeowners. Ernest Jones, Board Chair, stated that contributions from Port Washington State Bank and other corporate partners would enable Columbia to expand its reach to more families and substantially increase equity and inclusion in underserved areas of the community.
James Schowalter, President & COO of Port Washington State Bank, expressed his pride in supporting Columbia Savings & Loan Association's mission to make homeownership a reality for more Milwaukee families. He challenged other banks and corporations to match his financial institution's lead contribution, saying that by coming together and contributing to Columbia's Centennial Fund, they could all be a part of substantially increasing equity and inclusion in underserved areas of the community.
Will Martin, Executive Vice President of Columbia Savings & Loan Association, explained that homeownership is the first step toward generational wealth, and home equity is an important source of capital for starting a business. He stated that thanks to Port Washington State Bank and Centennial Fund contributors to come, Columbia will have the technology needed to launch a new century of service to future homeowners and small business entrepreneurs.
Columbia's Centennial Fund aims to raise $1.5 million by December 2024, and other corporate contributions are currently pending. With the support of Port Washington State Bank and other corporate partners, Columbia Savings & Loan Association can use technology to expand its reach and make homeownership a reality for more families in underserved areas of the community. | https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/port-washington-state-bank-and-columbia-savings-loan-partner/ | 2023-03-20 19:43:15 | 1 | https://shepherdexpress.com/news/community-news/port-washington-state-bank-and-columbia-savings-loan-partner/ |
NEW YORK, Nov. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Enviva Inc..
Shareholders who purchased shares of EVA during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
CLASS PERIOD: February 21, 2019 to October 11, 2022
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Enviva had misrepresented the environmental sustainability of its wood pellet production and procurement; (ii) Enviva had similarly overstated the true measure of cash flow generated by the Company's platform; (iii) accordingly, Enviva had misrepresented its business model and the Company's ability to achieve the level of growth that defendants had represented to investors; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
DEADLINE: January 3, 2023 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/enviva-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=33953&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of EVA during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is January 3, 2023. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/11/28/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-enviva-inc-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-january-3-2023-nyse-eva/ | 2022-11-28 11:21:10 | 0 | https://www.wbay.com/prnewswire/2022/11/28/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-enviva-inc-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-january-3-2023-nyse-eva/ |
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s prime minister said Monday that the prolonged stay of more than 1 million Rohingya refugees in crowded camps in the country has become a serious security and stability concern.
“Apart from their own miseries, their prolonged presence is causing a serious impact on the economy, environment, security and sociopolitical stability of Bangladesh,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said at the opening ceremony of a three-day meeting of military officials from 24 countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
The United States is the co-host of the gathering, called the Indo-Pacific Armies Management Seminar, along with the Bangladesh army.
While the militaries of the participating countries are discussing disaster management, transnational crime, security issues and women's empowerment, Bangladesh is using the platform to highlight the issue of Rohingya refugees who have fled from violence in Myanmar.
Participants in the meeting, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Vietnam, will visit the sprawling Rohingya refugee camps to see their plight firsthand, said Gen. S.M. Shafiuddin Ahmed, chief of Bangladesh army.
Ahmed said the military leaders are being taken to the camps in Cox’s Bazar district to give them “a clear perception” of the gravity of the refugee crisis and why their repatriation to Myanmar is necessary.
Last month, the refugees marked the fifth anniversary of a mass exodus of more than 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh who were fleeing a harsh crackdown by Myanmar’s military. In total, Bangladesh is hosting more than 1 million Rohingya refugees.
Hasina has said that repatriation is the only solution to the crisis, but that Bangladesh would not force them to go back to Myanmar.
Bangladeshi officials have expressed frustration after at least two attempts to repatriate the refugees failed under a bilateral agreement brokered by China. The Muslim Rohingya have said that conditions remain too dangerous in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where they face extensive discrimination.
Charles A. Flynn, commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific, told reporters that he could not reply to policy questions such as how militaries can help repatriate the Rohingya to Myanmar, but thanked Bangladesh for arranging the trip for the delegation to the refugee camps.
“What I will say is this. I am thankful that the chief of the Bangladesh army has found a way in the program to bring us to Cox’s Bazar and to see the magnitude of the humanitarian assistance that Bangladesh has provided for five years to that situation,” he said.
The Rohingya crisis has gone to international courts, where Myanmar has denied any wrongdoing.
Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. remains “committed to advancing justice and accountability” for Rohingya and all people of Myanmar. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Bangladesh-leader-Prolonged-Rohingya-stay-17435285.php | 2022-09-12 12:36:50 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Bangladesh-leader-Prolonged-Rohingya-stay-17435285.php |
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Application & Enrollment Practices | https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/features-of-medicaid-online-accounts/ | 2023-05-02 22:53:38 | 1 | https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/features-of-medicaid-online-accounts/ |
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin privately laid flowers at Mikhail Gorbachev’s coffin on Thursday, snubbing the weekend’s public funeral in a move reflecting the Kremlin’s uneasiness about Gorbachev’s legacy.
Just before departing for a working trip to Russia’s western-most Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, Putin visited a Moscow hospital where Gorbachev’s body was being kept before Saturday’s funeral.
Russian state television showed Putin walking to Gorbachev’s open casket and putting a bouquet of red roses next to it. He stood in silence for a few moments, bowed his head, touched the coffin, crossed himself and walked away.
“Regrettably, the president’s working schedule wouldn’t allow him to do that on Saturday, so he decided to do that today,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.
Gorbachev, who died Tuesday at the age of 91, will be buried at Moscow’s Novodevichy cemetery next to his wife, Raisa, following a farewell ceremony at the Pillar Hall of the House of the Unions, an iconic mansion near the Kremlin that has served as the venue for state funerals since Soviet times.
The Kremlin stopped short of declaring a state funeral, with Peskov saying the ceremony will have “elements” of one, such as honorary guards, and the government will help organize it. He wouldn’t elaborate, however, on how the ceremony will differ from a full-fledged state funeral.
If the Kremlin had declared a state funeral for Gorbachev, it would have made it awkward for Putin to snub the official ceremony. A state funeral would also oblige the Kremlin to send invitations to foreign leaders, something that Moscow would be reluctant to do amid soaring tensions with the West after sending troops into Ukraine.
Putin’s decision to pay a private visit to the hospital while staying away from Saturday’s public ceremony, combined with uncertainty surrounding the funeral’s status, reflect the Kremlin’s dichotomy about the legacy of Gorbachev. The late leader has been lauded in the West for reforms that put an end to the Cold War but reviled by many at home for actions that led to the 1991 Soviet collapse and plunged millions into poverty.
While avoiding explicit criticism of Gorbachev, Putin in the past has repeatedly blamed him for failing to secure written commitments from the West that would rule out NATO’s expansion eastward — an issue that became a major irritant in Russia-West ties for decades and fomented tensions that exploded when the Russian leader sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24.
In Wednesday’s letter of condolence released by the Kremlin, Putin praised Gorbachev as a man who left “an enormous impact on the course of world history.”
“He led the country during difficult and dramatic changes, amid large-scale foreign policy, economic and society challenges,” Putin said. “He deeply realized that reforms were necessary and tried to offer his solutions for the acute problems.”
Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin political analyst, observed that Putin’s decision to privately pay tribute to Gorbachev reflected both “security problems and utter unpopularity of Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies.” At the same time, Putin wanted to show his respect to the former head of state, Markov said.
The Kremlin’s ambivalent view of Gorbachev was mirrored by state television broadcasts, which paid tribute to Gorbachev as a historic figure but described his reforms as poorly planned and held him responsible for failing to safeguard the country’s interests in dialogue with the West.
The criticism echoed earlier assessments by Putin, who has famously lamented the collapse of the Soviet Union as the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.”
On Wednesday, Peskov said that Gorbachev was an “extraordinary” statesman who will “always remain in the country’s history,” but noted what he described as his idealistic view of the West.
“Gorbachev gave an impulse for ending the Cold War and he sincerely wanted to believe that it would be over and an eternal romance would start between the renewed Soviet Union and the collective West,” Peskov said. “This romanticism failed to materialize. The bloodthirsty nature of our opponents has come to light, and it’s good that we realized that in time.”
The Russian public has remained deeply divided over Gorbachev’s legacy, with some praising him for ending the Cold War and offering political freedoms after seven decades of totalitarian rule and others accusing him of betrayal.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s richest man who spent a decade in prison on fraud and tax evasion charges widely seen as a political vendetta for challenging Putin’s power, hailed Gorbachev for dismantling the repressive Communist system.
“In Russia, Gorbachev will be remembered, on the one hand as the man who was able to give the country freedom; on the other hand, he will be remembered as the man who was not able to help Russia make use of this freedom,” Khodorkovsky, who lives in London, said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Khodorkovsky described the Russian military action in Ukraine as a redux of the Russian imperial past that Gorbachev sought to demolish.
“What is happening now, the war between Russia and Ukraine, is an extension of the process of imperial collapse,” Khodorkovsky said.
___
AP journalist Susie Blann in London contributed to this report.
___
More AP stories on Mikhail Gorbachev here: https://apnews.com/hub/mikhail-gorbachev | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-kremlin-putin-wont-attend-gorbachev-funeral-pays-tribute/ | 2022-09-01 23:52:44 | 1 | https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-kremlin-putin-wont-attend-gorbachev-funeral-pays-tribute/ |
Lagos is the commercial capital of Africa's most populous country, but the booming city is unprepared for the influx of those searching for a better life.
Copyright 2023 NPR
Lagos is the commercial capital of Africa's most populous country, but the booming city is unprepared for the influx of those searching for a better life.
Copyright 2023 NPR | https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-04-05/lagos-nigerias-coastal-megacity-is-experiencing-a-population-boom | 2023-04-05 12:01:52 | 1 | https://www.mainepublic.org/2023-04-05/lagos-nigerias-coastal-megacity-is-experiencing-a-population-boom |
Fireworks blasted throughout the skies over Highland High School on homecoming, but on the field it was the Hawks defensive line and run game dominating the Desert Edge Scorpions.
In Highland’s first home game since winning the Conference 6A championship, they defeated Desert Edge of the 5A conference 27-6. Despite a three possession final score, the game was within one possession until six minutes in the fourth quarter.
In a back in forth first half, each team struggled to find rhythm in the offense.
Despite winning the field possession battle the game had turned into early, the Hawks turned the ball over twice. A late 69 yard touchdown pass from Hawks junior quarterback Joseph Walter to senior Cooper Scott put the Hawks up 6-0 right before halftime.
After a low scoring first half the second half got started quickly. Highland’s Chance Cauthen punched in a touchdown run set up by the dominant running of the Hawks main ball carrier Carson Mullenaux, only to be answered. The Scorpions scored their only touchdown on a Christopher Cordero touchdown scamper minutes later on a quick drive, making it a 13-6 game early in the third quarter.
Scott found success in the pass rush as well, the senior duo of Scott and Gage Wilcock combined for six sacks in the Hawks victory, with three apiece.
Scorpions quarterback Hezekiah Millender was sacked for a total of six times.
The Scorpions offense got inside the Hawks’ 30 yard line three times in the loss, with only 6 points coming out of it.
“We had to have our outside contain and force him in,” Wilcock said. “Great game by everyone.”
The Hawks ran the ball well and with many different ball carriers. Between the direct snap and Walter handing the ball off, seven different Hawks carried the ball for over 100 yards.
“In order to win games we are going to have to be able to run the ball, that’s who we are,’ Farrel said. “We have seniors up front, we got good running backs. There were some signs of life in the first. I think we can start to push them as they got tired and we got stronger.”
Highland had struggled to find offensive rhythm in the first half, but play caller and Hawks head coach Brock Farrel stuck with the run and it set them up in the second half. The direct snap was used in the first half, but after a turnover and a lack of rhythm Highland stayed away from it in the second half.
“It gives us an element we need,” Farrel said. “We had success under center so I wanted to stay with that.”
After almost a quarter of field possession battle the Hawks put the game away with a 15 yard touchdown run for Cauthen’s second of the day. Junior Eli Kerby ran one in to wrap up the scoring at 26-7.
In a final homecoming for seniors Scott and Wilcock, combining for six sacks allowed the back half of the Hawks defensive unit to play patiently and not give up big plays.
“This dude man, I missed a couple,” Scott said. “You have to keep your feet. I probably could've had like six or seven sacks if I stayed on my feet and his outside hip.”
The Hawks travel to Brophy Prep in Phoenix next week, while the Scorpions host a matchup with Tucson’s Ironwood Ridge.
“Next week, next game, that’s it,” Scott said. | https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sports/highland-pass-rush-holds-off-desert-edge/article_cbc7cdaa-365b-11ed-8d7b-c7ced9dd8095.html | 2022-09-17 16:36:54 | 1 | https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sports/highland-pass-rush-holds-off-desert-edge/article_cbc7cdaa-365b-11ed-8d7b-c7ced9dd8095.html |
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas was still heavily segregated in 1946 when Herman Moody became the city’s first Black police officer.
He served for more than three decades in the role, continuing to mentor officers long after he retired in 1977. Moody died Feb. 25 at his home in the Historic Westside, the heart of the city’s Black community near downtown Las Vegas. He was 98.
Family, friends and police officers will gather Thursday in Las Vegas to remember a man they praised as a dedicated lawman, a mentor for “young people of any color” and a man of religious faith.
“I hope he will serve as an icon, an example, a motivating factor for the generations to come,” said Dolores Brown, the eldest of Moody’s five daughters.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department credits Moody for helping improve policing standards at a time when there was no police academy and Black families were forced to live and work west of the railroad tracks.
Moody was self-taught, reading countless books about Nevada law and the profession. He widely shared what he learned with other officers. But because of the color of his skin, his police work was confined to the Westside, which had dirt roads at the time and no running water or sewage lines.
Nearly eight decades since Moody began his barrier-breaking career, police agencies across the nation are still confronting a lack of diversity amid challenges in recruiting and retaining officers.
About 10% of the Las Vegas police force is Black compared with 56% white. About 12% of the city’s population is Black.
Nationwide, about 17% of officers are Black, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That figure drops to 5% for police supervisors and detectives. The U.S. population is about 14% Black.
Moody himself was a detective when he retired. But he never reached a higher rank despite his years of seniority and having passed the exams needed to be promoted.
While reflecting on his career in 1976, Moody told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that his supervisors had promoted white officers with less experience over him throughout his career. Moody got the sense that the department’s leadership “was not ready for a Black officer of rank.”
“Since he never got promoted, he wanted to help others be the best cops, the best detectives, the best traffic officers, the best sergeants, lieutenants and chiefs they could be,” said retired Assistant Sheriff Greg McCurdy.
By the time McCurdy joined the police department in 1983, Moody had retired but was still mentoring police officers.
“He laid out a stack of books in front of me when I was a young cop,” McCurdy said, “and he told me, ‘Read these books, and you will be fine.’”
Moody served in the Navy during World War II and aspired to be an engineer before he was recruited to law enforcement by a police inspector who remembered Moody as a high school athlete.
When several more Black officers were hired in Las Vegas, Moody trained them at his home using the same books that taught him how to be a policeman.
Clark County commissioners honored Moody last year for his impact on southern Nevada. Commissioner William McCurdy praised Moody for being a “beacon of light and a role model for young people of any color.”
Moody wore a sweater that read “BLACK EXCELLENCE.” His family told stories of Moody’s love for policing and community, and the importance of reputation.
Moody died in the house he built for his wife, Magnolia, and their daughters — in the same neighborhood as his parent’s home affectionately known as the Moody House. It sits along a trail celebrating the Westside’s history, with a marker recognizing its famous resident.
“Moody insisted that most residents wanted and appreciated good police protection,” the marker reads, “and for thirty-one years he gave it to them.” | https://wgntv.com/news/national/ap-us-news/1st-black-vegas-officer-role-model-for-people-of-any-color/ | 2023-03-09 05:26:15 | 1 | https://wgntv.com/news/national/ap-us-news/1st-black-vegas-officer-role-model-for-people-of-any-color/ |
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the New York Lottery's "Numbers Evening" game were:
5-8-3
(five, eight, three)
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the New York Lottery's "Numbers Evening" game were:
5-8-3
(five, eight, three) | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Numbers-Evening-game-17259704.php | 2022-06-23 04:19:58 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Numbers-Evening-game-17259704.php |
Thursday’s Top Stories
- APD: Major supplier of guns and drugs for homeless busted
- Albuquerque man facing life in prison for sexually assaulting family members
- “Do or Die” last chance season approaching for former Cleveland star
- Albuquerque housing market seeing slowdown
- New Mexico man sentenced to 5 years in prison for crash that injured woman
- When will Ketanji Brown Jackson be sworn in as a Supreme Court justice?
- Russia and China slam NATO after alliance raises alarm
Thursday’s Five Facts
[1] Mississippi abortion clinic moving to New Mexico – By the end of July, the Mississippi abortion clinic at the center of the Supreme Court’s decision will be moving to New Mexico. Shannon Brewer is the executive director of Jackson Women’s Health, also known as the “Pink House.” It’s Mississippi’s last clinic that performs abortions. She decided on New Mexico, where there are no restrictions on abortion and secured a facility in Las Cruces, now known as “Pink House West.” She says she hopes the proximity to the El Paso airport will allow easy access for patients and doctors coming from out of state. Jackson Women’s health is slated to close in Mississippi on July 6.
[2] City of Albuquerque removes speed camera after thieves strike – The Albuquerque Police Department is looking for the person who stole one of their new speed cameras, just two weeks after it was put in place. The city unveiled its second wave of speed cameras earlier this month, which included cameras on Lead and Coal near the University of New Mexico. Monday morning, someone ripped the camera on Lead right off its base. APD has also removed the camera on Coal for now, while they determine how to better protect the cameras from vandalism.
[3] New Mexico sees one more dry day, more storms through weekend – Thursday morning is dry and sunny, aside from some spotty showers in southwest Colorado near Cortez and Durango. Temperatures are mild in the morning and hot in the afternoon, with temperatures warming up a few degrees from Wednesday’s highs. Western New Mexico will see more showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. These will move north/northeast, bringing a chance for rain to the Four Corners. The northern mountains will see more isolated storms than Wednesday, the south central mountains and lower Rio Grande Valley can expect some isolated storms. The Metro and middle Rio Grande Valley, along with all of the eastern plains will stay dry.
[4] PNM ordered to reduce customer rates by 10% – By the end of the summer, PNM customers can expect a drop in their electric bills. New Mexico’s Public Regulation Commission ordered the utility to cut rates by 10% when the San Juan Generating Station goes offline at the end of September. At that point, PNM will no longer be paying to operate the plant. The state also says PNM is authorized to issue bonds to make up for the lost revenue from the plant’s closure. The state is ordering PNM to issue those bonds and pass the savings on to customers.
[5] BioPark invites community to participate in plastic-free July – The Albuquerque BioPark wants to help visitors go plastic-free. The plastic-free eco challenge encourages participants to cut plastic use during the month of July by stopping use of plastic bags, using reusable utensils and more. Team members can enter their daily action on the challenge website and earn points. | https://www.krqe.com/news/newsfeed/krqe-newsfeed-abortion-clinic-moving-to-nm-speed-camera-stolen-weekend-rain-pnm-cuts-rates-plastic-free-challenge/ | 2022-06-30 14:15:44 | 0 | https://www.krqe.com/news/newsfeed/krqe-newsfeed-abortion-clinic-moving-to-nm-speed-camera-stolen-weekend-rain-pnm-cuts-rates-plastic-free-challenge/ |
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Three conservative appeals court judges, each with a history of supporting restrictions on abortion, will hear arguments May 17 on whether a widely used abortion drug should remain available.
The case involves a regulatory issue — whether the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, and subsequent actions making it easier to obtain, must be rolled back. The appellate hearing follows an April ruling by a federal judge in Texas, who ordered a hold on federal approval of mifepristone in a decision that overruled decades of scientific approval. His ruling was stayed pending appeal. The case was allotted to a panel made up of Jennifer Walker Elrod, James Ho and Cory Wilson.
The three judges of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals won’t rule immediately. Their decision, whatever it is, is also unlikely to have an immediate effect pending an expected appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Here’s a look at who the judges are and their track records.
JENNIFER WALKER ELROD
Nominated to the court in 2007 by Republican President George W. Bush, Elrod was among several 5th Circuit judges allowing Texas to temporarily ban abortions as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in early 2020.
Elrod also was co-author of the opinion when the full 5th Circuit upheld in 2021 a Texas law outlawing an abortion method commonly used to end second-trimester pregnancies.
That same year, she wrote for a panel that refused to order Louisiana to issue a long-stalled license for a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in New Orleans, saying “there is no free-standing federal right to receive an abortion-clinic license.”
In the Texas case involving pandemic restrictions, she was part of a panel allowing what amounted to a ban on abortions — including medication abortions — by classifying them as non-essential procedures legally postponed under an order by Gov. Greg Abbott. The 2020 order was in effect for about a month.
Elrod was in favor of decisions upholding Texas and Louisiana laws requiring doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals — a move abortion rights advocates said would force some clinics to close.
When the full court narrowly refused to let Louisiana officials cut off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood facilities in the state, Elrod wrote the dissent.
Elrod also boasts a high profile in 5th Circuit decisions on regulatory issues. One, if upheld by the Supreme Court, could limit the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission to impose hefty fees and fines. Another, eventually struck by the Supreme Court, held that the “individual mandate” in former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law had been rendered unconstitutional by congressional action.
JAMES HO
A former Texas solicitor general, Ho is the first Asian-American to serve on the 5th Circuit and is a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He was nominated to the 5th Circuit in 2017 by Republican President Donald Trump. His opposition to abortion and abortion rights was clear early in his tenure, including referring to abortion as a “moral tragedy” in one 2018 opinion.
In 2019, he wrote a 15-page grudging concurrence in a ruling that said a Mississippi abortion ban had to be struck down under then-existing court precedent. “Nothing in the text or original understanding of the Constitution establishes a right to an abortion,” he wrote.
He went on to cite “the racial history of abortion advocacy as a tool of the eugenics movement.” He harshly criticized a lower court for declining to consider arguments that a fetus can feel pain, and for displaying “an alarming disrespect for the millions of Americans who believe … that abortion is the immoral, tragic, and violent taking of innocent human life.”
That opinion was written in the case the Supreme Court ultimately used to overturn Roe v. Wade.
CORY WILSON
Nominated to the federal appeals court in 2020 by Trump, Wilson is a former Mississippi appeals court judge who had a strong anti-abortion record when he served in the Mississippi House from January 2016 to February 2019 as a Republican. Abortion rights supporters opposed his confirmation to the federal appeals court. They noted he had expressed support for “complete and immediate reversal” of the Roe v. Wade decision in a questionnaire from Mississippi Right to Life’s political action committee.
Wilson voted for anti-abortion measures in 2016, including one to stop Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood facilities in the state — a measure rejected in court. In 2018 he voted for the Mississippi law that ultimately led to the demise of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The law prohibited most abortions after 15 weeks.
At the 5th Circuit, Wilson joined Elrod, Ho and a majority of the full court in 2021 in upholding a Texas law outlawing an abortion method commonly used to end second-trimester pregnancies. He had voted for a similar law in the Mississippi Legislature.
___
Associated Press reporter Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi, contributed to this report. | https://cbs4indy.com/health/ap-health/3-judges-who-chipped-away-abortion-rights-to-hear-federal-abortion-pill-appeal/ | 2023-05-17 04:18:27 | 0 | https://cbs4indy.com/health/ap-health/3-judges-who-chipped-away-abortion-rights-to-hear-federal-abortion-pill-appeal/ |
CHICAGO, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Coates Group, a global technology company specializing in digital merchandising solutions, was named as McDonald's single global Digital Menu Board (DMB) Content Management System (CMS) provider and one of two approved Digital Menu Board hardware providers alongside Acrelec Group.
While Coates Group has been providing solutions to McDonald's around the world for 50 years, this new appointment is the largest partnership engagement to date and follows an extensive, multiple-round RFP process in which several providers were evaluated.
"After thorough review of best-in-class CMS providers, it was clear that Coates Group was the best positioned technology partner for this critical phase of our digital evolution. Our goal was to find one global provider that could deliver our digital CMS vision, which is to enable a consistent ordering experience to all our customers around the world through a single, cohesive hardware and software solution. We're confident that Coates Group will deliver on that vision, and we look forward to a long-term partnership that empowers our markets with flexibility within a globally standardized framework," said Hashim Amin, Vice President of Global Product & Engineering at McDonald's.
The five-year agreement will enable McDonald's first, globally-standardized DMB solution. The comprehensive solution provides McDonald's markets with Coates' dynamic Switchboard™ CMS to power their content and marketing strategies. While Coates Group will manage the overall partnership and be the sole CMS provider, the total solution offers markets a choice of DMB hardware as well as installation and support services from Coates or Acrelec. This holistic global solution enables McDonald's desired technology standardization while also accommodating individual market's unique requirements for customization, in addition to significant cost efficiencies for markets.
"We couldn't be prouder to continue the great momentum we've built with McDonald's in the digital merchandising space over the last 10 years and to take our partnership to new, innovative heights. As a long-term partner of McDonald's, we are thrilled about the continued growth and success we've seen together and are excited to deliver in this new capacity, beginning with the transition of the US market to the Coates CMS solution," said Leo Coates, CEO of Coates Group.
Coates Group first formed a partnership with McDonald's in Australia in the 1970s as a traditional signage and merchandising provider. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the partnership grew into Asian and European markets with the introduction of new signage technology. Following Coates' evolution into the digital merchandising space in the 2010s, the partnership expanded even further across the world. In 2017, Coates Group was awarded the Outdoor Digital Menu Board hardware rollout for McDonald's US, which was the largest QSR menu board rollout completed to date. Today, Coates is supporting 50 McDonald's markets – including the US, Canada, Australia, France, and the UK – with digital merchandising solutions such as CMS, DMB and self-order kiosk.
Acrelec was founded by two former McDonald's employees in early 2000, Jacques Mangeot and Jalel Souissi, who aimed to reimagine the customer experience through innovative self-order kiosks and drive thru technology and solutions. Acrelec counts over 80,000 installations in 80 countries.
To learn more about the partnership, please contact Emily Loebig – Chief Brand Officer – at emily.loebig@coatesgroup.com.
Coates Group is redefining the way brands engage with their customers. For over 55 years, Coates has been driving constant innovation and delivering unrivaled merchandising solutions – indoor and outdoor digital hardware, traditional signage, and a proprietary content management system, Switchboard™. This is done with one goal in mind – to create immersive brand experiences.
Switchboard™ content management system is a web-based, data-driven, scalable platform created by Coates specifically for QSR environments. It's a key component in Coates' complete digital merchandising solution designed to create, distribute, and display digital media to generate customer engagement. Switchboard™ uses real time data and rich analytics to orchestrate a seamless customer journey by showing the right product, to the right customer, at the right time, all while increasing revenue and driving ROI.
Coates Group
Emily Loebig
+1 630-728-5727
Emily.Loebig@CoatesGroup.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Coates Group | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/coates-group-named-mcdonalds-global-provider-digital-menu-board-content-management-system/ | 2022-08-11 17:55:27 | 0 | https://www.wbrc.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/coates-group-named-mcdonalds-global-provider-digital-menu-board-content-management-system/ |
GSC expands service capabilities with acquisition of 54-year-old transloading powerhouse
OAKLAND, Calif., July 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today GSC, a nationwide provider of 3PL services, announced the acquisition of MacMillan-Piper, one of the largest and most established specialty transloaders in the Pacific Northwest. MacMillan-Piper has provided reliable, quality services to importers and exporters for over 50 years. With the acquisition, GSC bolsters its portfolio with a network of proprietary rail transload facilities, additional warehousing capacity, and expanded transloading capabilities with expertise in agricultural, paper, lumber, steel, dry bulk commodities and more.
The acquisition strengthens GSC's service offerings in the Pacific Northwest market by adding five warehouse facilities encompassing over 380,000 sq. ft with 80 railcar spots and more than 100 dock doors. The combined MacMillan-Piper and GSC Transport fleet will now exceed 100 trucks to further enhance GSC's known transportation reliability. Additionally, the acquisition creates an ideal new network of terminals, yards and chassis strategically located within two miles of both the Seattle and Tacoma ports for GSC.
"We're excited to grow our footprint in the Pacific Northwest so we can offer our 'gold star service' to an even larger client base. MacMillan-Piper is a powerhouse in the Pacific Northwest and together our companies have over 85 years of experience in the logistics industry," said Scott Taylor, CEO and Chairman of the Board, GSC.
"While some companies are scaling back and minimizing services, we're excited to be in the position to significantly grow our service capabilities in the vital PNW supply chain gateway. The combined synergies of GSC and MacMillan-Piper will also accelerate our nationwide expansion plans while providing a broader portfolio of service offerings," said David Arsenault, President, GSC.
"We're excited about the resources and scalability this will bring the MacMillan-Piper team and our clients. GSC's leadership team is fully committed to providing the support that will enable us to reach new heights," said Mark Miller, President, MacMillan-Piper. "Like MacMillan-Piper, GSC is also a family-owned business, and we share the same ethics and principles. GSC has also developed the resources that are required to service Fortune 100 companies and scale our operations."
Miller, previously the owner, CEO and President of MacMillan-Piper, will continue to lead the MacMillan-Piper team as President and serve on GSC's executive leadership team. MacMillan-Piper will continue providing the level of expertise and service clients have come to expect.
To learn more about drayage, transloading and warehousing provided by the GSC family of companies, please visit our blog or www.GoGSC.com.
About GSC
GSC is a leading third-party logistics provider (3PL) that provides fully integrated transportation, logistics and transloading solutions nationwide through our network of companies headquartered in Oakland, CA. The company was founded in 1988 to provide ocean and intermodal drayage, domestic and import/export cross-dock deconsolidation, overweight transportation, D.C. bypass programs, refrigerated, brokerage and dry truckload services. GSC's family of companies also offer a host of unique value-added services designed to reduce costs, increase velocity, and improve supply chain efficiency. To learn more about GSC please visit us at www.GoGSC.com.
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SOURCE GSC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/24/gsc-grows-its-pacific-northwest-footprint-with-macmillan-piper-acquisition/ | 2023-07-24 13:24:48 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/24/gsc-grows-its-pacific-northwest-footprint-with-macmillan-piper-acquisition/ |
Molly Sampson's favorite Christmas present was the one she went out and got for herself that morning: a 5-inch-long Otodus megalodon tooth from a shark that lived millions of years ago.
The 9-year-old Maryland girl and her older sister, Natalie, had asked for and received insulated waders and fossil sifters so they could go shark tooth hunting further out in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay near the Calvert Cliffs, recalls Molly's mother, Alicia Sampson.
They immediately put on their new waders and went out hunting with their dad, Bruce Sampson, in 10-degree weather around 9:30 a.m. It was low tide, meaning they could go out further to find fossils. Molly, who hopes to be a paleontologist when she grows up, announced matter-of-factly that she was going to look for a meg — a nickname for the massive shark from the Miocene Epoch. She's always wanted to find one.
Less than half an hour later, in knee-deep water, she looked out and saw something strange.
"I went closer, and in my head, I was like, 'Oh, my, that is the biggest tooth I've ever seen!'" Molly says excitedly during an interview Wednesday. "I reached in and grabbed it, and dad said I was shrieking."
Bruce has been fossil hunting since he was little and has taken his daughters since they were very young, too, Alicia says. He also dreams of finding giant teeth, but his largest find — about 3 inches — looks like a "baby tooth" compared to Molly's, Alicia says.
A little over a week after Molly's discovery, the family took the fossil to the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Md., to confirm its identity.
Staff was busy disassembling a shark exhibit when they came in, says Stephen Godfrey, curator of paleontology at the museum and Molly's former science teacher at vacation Bible school.
It wasn't the first treasure the Sampsons had taken to him, but it was the biggest.
"It's a spectacular specimen," Godfrey says. "It's one of the larger ones that's probably ever been found along Calvert Cliffs" and might be a "once-in-a-lifetime kind of find."
While the Calvert Cliffs are famously fossil-producing, megalodon teeth this big are hard to come by, and there are none in the Calvert Marine Museum's collection over six inches.
The tooth came from the upper left jaw of a megalodon that was probably 45 to 50 feet long and lived about 15 million years ago, Godfrey says. The shark — a macropredator, meaning it can't swallow its prey whole — both scavenged and actively hunted whales and dolphins with its specialized, serrated teeth.
"It basically evolved those kinds of teeth so that it could cut out pieces, just like great white sharks do," Godfrey says. "They sort of chomp the carcass of their prey" rather than swallowing it whole.
Godfrey says he hopes the story of Molly's big find helps inspire other kids to take an interest in science and to explore the natural world.
And based on the emails her family has gotten so far, it seems to be doing just that, says her mom.
"It's kind of cool that she was motivating other kids to get outside and explore," Alicia says.
Molly has already been out fossil hunting again a few times since Christmas, adding to her collection of over 400 teeth, where the megalodon tooth remains. With her new waders, she's not stopping anytime soon.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.knau.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-01-12/maryland-girl-finds-ancient-tooth-from-a-50-foot-long-megalodon-in-the-chesapeake-bay | 2023-01-12 12:18:54 | 0 | https://www.knau.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-01-12/maryland-girl-finds-ancient-tooth-from-a-50-foot-long-megalodon-in-the-chesapeake-bay |
Democrat promises more taxes if the party stays in power: report
Rep. Richard Neal said Democrats will look to raise corporate and individual tax rates next year
Democratic Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts suggested that the House would increase tax rates if his party remains in power following the upcoming midterm elections this fall, according to a congressional reporter.
Neal, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said Democrats, should they keep power in the House, will look to raise corporate and individual tax rates in 2023, according to a Bloomberg reporter.
The Inflation Reduction Act, a social spending and tax increase measure that is expected to pass in the House on Friday, includes a proposed expansion of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The expansion includes an $80 billion boost to the IRS over a 10-year period, with more than half intended to help the agency crack down on tax evasion.
If the bill is passed, the money allotted would go toward filling 87,000 IRS positions, more than doubling the agency's current size. The Treasury Department says some of the new hires would replace 50,000 employees who are expected to retire in the next five years.
The measure passed in the Senate on Sunday along party lines, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting a tie-breaking vote, after it was introduced last month and agreed upon by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
President Biden repeatedly pledged on the campaign trail to not raise taxes on Americans earning less than $400,000.
Earlier this week, during an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box," White House economic adviser Jared Bernstein was questioned about the impact the Inflation Reduction Act will have on taxpayers and whether the IRS agents that get hired would audit individuals making less than $400,000 a year.
"I want to be clear, is the president guaranteeing nobody making under $400,000 will be audited [by the new agents]?" asked host Brian Sullivan.
"No, no, no. That's not what I said," Bernstein responded. "Nobody making under $400,000 will pay higher taxes under the Inflation Reduction Act."
"If they are doubling the size of the IRS, then who are they going to go after?" asked Sullivan, while also mentioning small businesses.
Bernstein did not answer the question regarding who the extra IRS agents would audit, and instead restated his pledge that people making under $400,000 per year will not pay more in taxes.
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According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, Americans making less than $10,000 per year would see a 0.3% tax hike starting in 2023. Overall, starting in 2023, taxes would increase by $16.7 billion for Americans earning less than $200,000.
Fox News did not receive an immediate response from Neal's office.
Fox News' Jessica Chasmar, Joe Silverstein and Megan Henney contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrat-promises-more-taxes-party-stays-power | 2022-08-12 18:26:56 | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democrat-promises-more-taxes-party-stays-power |
WASHINGTON — A month ago, the government dropped a bombshell jobs report that showed that America's employers added a sizzling half-million-plus positions in January — twice the December gain and far more than economists had expected.
The February jobs report, to be released Friday, will be closely watched by economists who are eager to know whether the January blowout was a one-time blip or some sign of a strengthening economy.
The answer could heavily influence what the Federal Reserve does in the coming months. A second month of robust hiring could amplify fears that inflation is re-accelerating after months in which it had appeared to be steadily easing. The Fed, in response, would likely pursue a more aggressive pace of rate hikes beginning with its next policy meeting in two weeks.
Some economists say they think the central bank will announce a substantial half-point increase in its key short-term interest rate, rather than a quarter point hike as it did at its meeting in February. In testimony to Congress this week, Chair Jerome Powell made clear that the Fed would increase the size of its rate hikes if evidence continued to point to a robust economy and persistently high inflation
When the Fed raises its benchmark rate, it typically leads to higher rates on mortgages, auto loans, credit card borrowing and business loans. The goal in raising loan rates is to cool borrowing and spending and slow inflation.
Economists have estimated that employers significantly slowed their hiring in February, with a gain of 208,000 jobs, according to a survey by the data provider FactSet. Though that figure would be far below January's gain, it would still be consistent with a healthy economy.
Rapid hiring typically leads businesses to offer higher pay to attract or keep workers, and their higher labor costs are often passed on to their customers through higher prices. It's a cycle that tends to keep inflation elevated.
“We have two or three more very important data releases to analyze before” the Fed's next meeting, Powell told the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday. “Those are going to be very important.”
Besides Friday's jobs report, those data releases include Tuesday's report on consumer inflation in February. Last month's report on January inflation had raised alarms by showing that consumer prices reaccelerated on a month-to-month basis.
January's vigorous hiring data was the first in a series of reports to point to an accelerating economy at the start of the year. Employers added 517,000 jobs, the most in nearly a year, and the unemployment rate reached 3.4%, the lowest level since 1969. Sales at retail stores and restaurants also jumped, and inflation, according to the Fed's preferred measure, rose from December to January at the fastest pace in seven months.
The stronger data reversed a cautiously optimistic narrative that the economy was cooling modestly — just enough, perhaps, to tame inflation without triggering a deep recession. Now, the economic outlook is hazier.
High borrowing rates have cratered the housing market, with home sales having dropped for 12 straight months, a consequence of the average mortgage rate nearly doubling over that time. Manufacturing is also showing signs of weakness. Higher rates have made it harder for businesses and consumers to borrow to buy major factory goods, from machinery to cars to appliances.
By contrast, spending for services — things like traveling, dining out and attending entertainment events — remains strong. Many Americans continue to engage in activities that were restricted during the COVID lockdowns.
One reason why hiring likely slowed in February, analysts say, is that some of the outsize hiring in January had reflected one-time factors. The weather, for example, was unusually warm, which likely caused more people to go out and spend and allowed more construction projects to continue. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco has estimated that the weather added about 120,000 jobs to January's total.
And a strike by workers at the University of California system ended, adding 36,000 jobs to January's total. Subtracting those two factors would have lowered job growth in January to about 360,000, matching the average gain for the past six months.
Hiring even at that rate is about triple the level the Fed would prefer. Job gains of about 100,000 a month would be just enough to keep up with population growth and prevent unemployment from rising. A figure that low would also mean that employers weren't so desperate for workers and wouldn't have to keep raising wages.
Higher pay is great for employees, of course. But Fed officials say it is contributing to higher inflation, particularly in labor-intensive service industries like restaurants, health care and hotels.
"Strong wage growth is good for workers but only if it is not eroded by inflation," Powell said in testimony to Congress on Wednesday. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/nation-world/february-jobs-report-inflation/507-bd6672a2-5b06-4b32-9b19-767bb3da74e2 | 2023-03-10 07:32:56 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/nation-world/february-jobs-report-inflation/507-bd6672a2-5b06-4b32-9b19-767bb3da74e2 |
MILAN (AP) — Italian designer Sabato De Sarno has been named the new creative director of Gucci, and will unveil his first collection during Milan Fashion Week next September, Gucci and parent company Kering announced Saturday.
De Sarno has previously worked for Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino, where he was most recently fashion director overseeing both men’s and women’s collections.
“I am delighted that Sabato will join Gucci as the house’s new creative director, one of the most influential roles in the luxury experience," said Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri, noting his experience “with a number of Italy’s most renowned luxury fashion houses.
Speculation has been rife in the fashion world over who would succeed Alessandro Michele after he stepped down from the role unexpectedly last fall, after nearly eight years in which he redefined the brand’s codes with gender fluid, romantic and eclectic looks.
Like Michele when he was promoted from the in-house team in 2015, De Sarno is a relative unknown in the wider fashion world, having worked primarily behind the scenes.
De Sarno, a native of Naples, will join Gucci as soon as he completes current obligations and will be responsible for all the brand's collections: women’s, men’s, leather goods, accessories and lifestyle. In the meantime, Gucci collections, including the womenswear Fall-Winter 2023-24 collection to be previewed next month in Milan, are being designed by the in-house team.
De Sarno said he was “touched and excited to contribute my creative vision for the brand,'' which he said ”has been able to welcome and cherish the values I believe in." | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/sabato-de-sarno-named-new-gucci-creative-director-17747954.php | 2023-01-28 11:24:48 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/sabato-de-sarno-named-new-gucci-creative-director-17747954.php |
Police: Man imprisons, assaults woman at motel for 3 days
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/Gray News) - Police in Florida arrested a man after they said he beat and imprisoned a woman over a three-day period.
Panama City Police said they responded to a call on Sunday about a woman who had allegedly been beaten at a motel.
When they arrived, detectives said they learned the victim had been hit in the face with open and closed fists, strangled, and smothered. She was also denied the use of a cell phone and was unable to leave the motel for several days.
Police said 27-year-old Richard Lawrence Buckler threatened the victim with a knife, a flashlight and repeated assaults. They also said he attempted to rape the woman.
Somehow, the woman was able to send a text to a friend on the third day of her capture and tell them to call 911.
Police said Buckler was arrested and charged with battery, domestic battery by strangulation, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment of an adult, tampering with a victim, preventing communication with law enforcement, and attempted sexual battery. He was booked into Bay County Jail.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Panama City Police Department at 850-872-3100, or they can report tips anonymously via the Tip411 app.
Copyright 2022 WJHG via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wafb.com/2022/12/13/police-man-imprisons-assaults-woman-motel-3-days/ | 2022-12-13 03:26:32 | 0 | https://www.wafb.com/2022/12/13/police-man-imprisons-assaults-woman-motel-3-days/ |
Machine learning simplifies hiring process for front-line leaders
CINCINNATI, Oct. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Paycor HCM, Inc. ("Paycor") (Nasdaq: PYCR), a leading provider of human capital management (HCM) software, today announced the acquisition of Talenya, a cutting-edge, AI-driven recruiting platform that automatically sources quality talent faster and at a significantly lower cost. Talenya's innovative platform will allow Paycor customers to reduce time to fill critical roles by sourcing both candidates that are actively looking to change jobs and passive candidates that are not actively seeking a new role. In addition, the award-winning AI recruiting platform will help companies executing against their DE&I strategy by placing an emphasis on diverse candidates that are often overlooked by traditional recruiting systems.
"Given the importance of recruiting and retaining top talent in this highly competitive labor market, Paycor is dedicated to giving leaders the technology and expertise they need to develop winning teams," said Raul Villar, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Paycor. "This AI-powered technology will enhance our industry-leading talent solution, making it even easier for frontline leaders to proactively find skilled and diverse talent quickly and cost effectively. We are excited to welcome Talenya to the Paycor family."
"Finding, interviewing, and hiring qualified candidates quickly is one of the biggest challenges facing our customers today," said Swati Garodia, Chief Strategy Officer of Paycor. "Talenya's virtual recruiter will enable our clients' front-line leaders to attract, assess, and hire top talent faster, so they can focus more time on leading, coaching and engaging their teams. AI recruiting is another strategic differentiation for our platform and another example of how Paycor continues to transform modern, cloud HCM."
"We are proud of what the Talenya team has accomplished in the last few years," said Gal Almog, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Talenya. "We are thrilled to join forces with Paycor, a leader in HCM, and help leaders find and hire the right talent in a more efficient way. Paycor, with its unique focus on frontline leaders, is the ideal partner to help us drive growth and scale."
Paycor expects to begin offering an integrated solution in the first quarter of 2023.
Paycor's human capital management (HCM) platform modernizes every aspect of people management, from recruiting, onboarding and payroll to career development and retention, but what really sets us apart is our focus on leaders. For more than 30 years, we've been listening to and partnering with leaders, so we know what they need: a unified HR platform, easy integration with third party apps, powerful analytics, talent development tools and configurable technology that supports specific industry needs. That's why more than 29,000 customers trust Paycor to help them solve problems and achieve their goals.
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SOURCE Paycor | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/10/14/paycor-acquires-talenya-extend-industry-leading-technology-platform-with-ai-recruiting/ | 2022-10-14 12:34:00 | 1 | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/10/14/paycor-acquires-talenya-extend-industry-leading-technology-platform-with-ai-recruiting/ |
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Washington Lottery's "Daily Game" game were:
9-8-8
(nine, eight, eight)
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Washington Lottery's "Daily Game" game were:
9-8-8
(nine, eight, eight) | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Daily-Game-game-17678680.php | 2022-12-27 05:22:07 | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Daily-Game-game-17678680.php |
INNSBRUCK, Austria, Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AV-Comparatives has released the results of 18 consumer and enterprise security products from its 2022 Advanced Threat Protection Test
"Our test results show that the best security programs are very effective at preventing targeted attacks, and that more and more vendors are improving their products in order to combat them."— Peter Stelzhammer, co-founder, AV-Comparatives
The Advanced Threat Protection Test is an add-on test on top of the AV-Comparatives' Main Test Series, which includes the Malware Protection Test, Real-World Protection Test, and Performance Test and checks each security product's ability to protect a computer against targeted attacks, which are known as "advanced persistent threats" (APTs).
These are complex, multi-stage attacks that are aimed at a specific individual or organisation. Whilst the majority of such attacks may be ultimately aimed at infiltrating enterprise networks, an obvious means of doing this is to target the personal computers of staff members within the organisation. Additionally, cybercriminals may launch targeted attacks against individuals for other reasons. This means that protection against such attacks should be provided by consumer security programs, as well as corporate endpoint protection software. All the tested products, consumer and enterprise, had to defend against 15 different complex targeted attacks.
Tested enterprise endpoint security products include:
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud with Advanced Security Pack; Avast Ultimate Business Security; Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Premium; CrowdStrike Falcon Pro; ESET PROTECT Entry with ESET PROTECT Cloud; G Data Endpoint Protection Business; Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business – Select with KSC; Microsoft Defender Antivirus for Business; VMware Carbon Black Cloud Endpoint Standard.
All the enterprise products listed above blocked at least eight out of fifteen advanced attacks, and so received AV-Comparatives' ATP Enterprise Certification.
Tested consumer security products include:
Avast Free Antivirus; AVG Antivirus Free; Avira Prime; Bitdefender Internet Security; ESET Internet Security; G Data Total Security; Kaspersky Internet Security; McAfee Total Protection; Microsoft Defender Antivirus.
Of these 9 products, seven products reached either the ADVANCED or the ADVANCED+ rating.
AV-Comparatives' Advanced Threat Protection Test uses a variety of different attack scenarios, which the tested programs must defend against. Targeted attacks employ various techniques to avoid detection by security software. These include file-less attacks, code obfuscation, and the use of legitimate operating-system tools. Disguising malicious code also makes it hard for a security program to recognise it. The misuse of legitimate system programs for malicious purposes also makes it easier for cybercriminals to stay under the radar of security measures.
In the Advanced Threat Protection Tests, AV-Comparatives uses hacking and penetration techniques that allow attackers to access internal computer systems. All tests use a subset of the TTP (Tactics, Techniques, Procedures) listed in the MITRE ATT&CK® framework. A false alarm test is also included in the reports.
Like all AV-Comparatives' public reports, the report of the 2022 Advanced Threat Protection Test for enterprise products can be downloaded free of charge from the institute's website: https://www.av-comparatives.org/testmethod/advanced-threat-protection-tests/
About AV-Comparatives
AV-Comparatives is an independent organisation offering systematic testing to examine the efficacy of security software products and mobile security solutions. Using one of the largest sample collection systems worldwide, it has created a real-world environment for truly accurate testing.
AV-Comparatives offers freely accessible av-test results to individuals, news organisations and scientific institutions. Certification by AV-Comparatives provides a globally recognised official seal of approval for software performance.
Media Contact - Peter Stelzhammer, media@av-comparatives.org, +43 720115542
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1958178/AV_Comparatives_Test_Results.jpg
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1958180/AV_Comparatives_Test_Results.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1093032/AV_Comparatives_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE AV-Comparatives | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/11/30/av-comparatives-tested-advanced-threat-protection-21-consumer-enterprise-it-security-solutions-endpoints-cep-eep-simulation-full-chain-attacks/ | 2022-11-30 10:01:19 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/11/30/av-comparatives-tested-advanced-threat-protection-21-consumer-enterprise-it-security-solutions-endpoints-cep-eep-simulation-full-chain-attacks/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed into law Friday a bill that finances the federal government through mid-December and provides another infusion of military and economic aid to Ukraine after lawmakers acted to avert a partial government shutdown set to begin after midnight.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 230-201 earlier in the day. Republicans overwhelmingly opposed the measure. Some wanted to extend government funding into January when, based on the results of the midterm elections, it’s possible they’ll have more leverage over setting federal spending for the full fiscal year. Others argued the measure needed to do more to address border security.
Democrats said passing the bill was important to helping Ukraine as well as victims of recent natural disasters in the U.S., including Hurricane Ian, as it provides a Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster fund with a year’s worth of money up front rather than for two-and-a-half months.
“Turn on the news. Look what’s happening in Florida right now. Look at what happened to Puerto Rico. Look at what’s happening in Alaska. I mean, people need help,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. “And look at what’s happening in Ukraine. Do we support helping preserve democracy in Ukraine or not? That’s what’s at stake here.”
But Republicans complained the bill brought to the floor was not subject to bipartisan negotiations in the House and didn’t reflect their priorities.
“We know we have a crisis on the southern border. You can turn on the television every night. You can look at the fentanyl pouring into the country, You can see the tragedy of human trafficking. Is there anything in this bill that asks us to do anything different, anything new?” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. “No, you just ask, ‘please allow us to continue the current state of affairs on the southern border.’ That is a travesty.”
In the end, support for the bill was unanimous among Democratic lawmakers. Only 10 Republican lawmakers joined them in voting yes.
Later Friday, former President Donald Trump responded to the bill’s passage with a racist message on his social media platform attacking Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and his Asian American wife, who also served in Trump’s administration as a Cabinet secretary. Trump ominously wrote that McConnell has a “death wish.”
The bill finances the federal government through Dec. 16 and buys lawmakers more time to agree on legislation setting spending levels for the 2023 fiscal year. The bill generally keeps spending at current levels, though it does provide more than $12.3 billion in Ukraine-related aid. The money will go to provide training, equipment and logistics support for the Ukraine military, help Ukraine’s government provide basic services to its citizens and replenish U.S. weapons systems and munitions.
“This contribution ensures we continue upholding our moral responsibility to support the people of Ukraine in the face of a vicious invasion that continues to demand decisive action by us,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the Democratic chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
Disaster assistance was also attached to the stopgap bill, including $2.5 billion to help New Mexico communities recover from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the largest wildfire in the state’s history; $2 billion for a block grant program that aids the economic recovery of communities impacted by recent disasters; and $20 million for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements previously authorized for Jackson, Mississippi.
“We cannot leave communities behind that are still picking up the pieces from disastrous floods, wildfires and hurricane, and even basic water system failures,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.
The bill would provide an additional $1 billion for a program that helps low-income households heat their homes. And it would transfer $3 billion from a Pentagon aid program to the State Department for continued Afghan resettlement operations.
Lawmakers also included a reauthorization of the Food and Drug Administration’s user fee agreements for five years, which ensures the agency can continue critical product safety reviews and won’t need to issue pink slips for thousands of employees working on drug and medical device applications.
One thing missing from the bill is the billions of dollars in additional funding that Biden sought to aid the response to COVID-19 and monkeypox. Republicans criticized the health spending as unnecessary. The White House said the money would have been used to accelerate the research and development of vaccines and therapeutics, prepare for future COVID variants and support the global response. | https://phl17.com/us-news/ap-us-news/ap-house-oks-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown-aid-ukraine/ | 2022-10-01 10:03:30 | 1 | https://phl17.com/us-news/ap-us-news/ap-house-oks-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown-aid-ukraine/ |
Hesston doubles pairing wins 3-1A state tennis; Collegiate’s Hawley retires after 59 championships
WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - Hesston’s duo of senior Micah Dahlsten and Asher Deutschendorf won a 3-1A doubles championship Saturday afternoon at Riverside Tennis Center, though it didn’t happen how they hoped.
The pair took the opening set 6-3 against Kansas City Christian’s James Vander Ark and Jackson Newman. They jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the second set, though the Panthers roared back for a 4-2 lead before Newman went down with cramps, causing a 20-minute delay in action.
The Swathers came back to win the next two sets, evening the second set at 4-4. With Dahlsten serving and a 40-40 game in action, Newman went down with cramps again and was forced to retire from the match, giving Hesston the state championship.
“You wanna play the full match. I guess it’s a bittersweet feeling,” said Dahlsten, who helped deliver a state title on the final day his father, Mark, would coach the team. “State champions - that’s really nice - but you wanna play the match all the way through.”
Deutschendorf and Dahlsten took third a year ago and knew the importance of playing their best at the right time.
“I think coming to state, we have been playing our best tennis recently and that’s what got us here,” Deutschendorf said.
Collegiate’s legendary coached calls it a career
Dave Hawley, the 46-year coach who led Collegiate to a Kansas state record 59 state titles, led the Spartans for the final time Saturday. He filed his retirement paperwork following the girl’s team championship in the fall, and rode off with a second-place finish for the boys.
He has coached 35 singles champions and helped guide 47 doubles pairs to titles between the boys and girls teams.
“(I) outlasted a lot of people,” Hawley joked. “Just a tremendous amount of wonderful memories. I started in Wichita here in the summer teaching lessons at Riverside while at Collegiate, so this place has a special meaning to me.”
Hawley will continue coaching the middle school program for at least one more year while also continuing to teach lessons.
Area placers
6A
Singles - Alvarado, Dodge City, 12th. Doubles - Morren/Kleysteuber, Garden City, 9th; Bowman/Carrillo, Derby, 11th.
5A
Singles - Ritchie, Maize, 2nd; Steven, Bishop Carroll, 3rd; Judkins, Kapaun, 5th. Doubles - O’Donnell/O’Donnell, Ark City, 2nd; Musser/Franz, Newton, 3rd; Grizzell/Krumm, Maize South, 5th; Wilson/Strickland, Andover Central, 6th; Huber/Sagehorn, Andover Central, 7th; Herrera/Baleriola-Lopez, Maize, 8th; Arnett/Brantley, Ark City, 11th.
4A
Singles - Spies, Buhler, 3rd; Harder, Buhler, 4th; Cornejo, Wellington, 7th; Elder, McPherson, 10th; Archer, McPherson, 11th. Doubles - Davis/Everett, Winfield, 3rd; Berger/McVicker, McPherson, 4th; Hilger/Woleslagel, Buhler, 7th; Pfiefer/Ruddle, Augusta, 8th; Wright/Worley, Wellington, 9th; Norton/Palmer, Winfield. 11th; Bleich/Foes, Circle, 12th.
3-1A
Singles - Ryan, Central Plains, 2nd; Gentile, Wich. Collegiate, 3rd; Drumright, Wich. Collegiate, 5th; Henderson, Trinity Academy, 6th; Douglas, Sacred Heart, 7th; Doom, Wich. Classical, 9th; White, Hesston, 10th; Frank, Scott Community, 12th. Doubles - Dahlsten/Deutschendorf, Hesston, 1st; Graham/Yourdon, Wich. Classical, 3rd; Clennan/Hageman, Hutch Trinity, 4th; Cunningham/Fujinuma, Wich. Collegiate, 5th; Anderson/Bourbon, Ellsworth, 6th; Sebits/Bryant, Trinity Academy, 7th; Noll/Stoecklein, Scott Community, 8th; Duff/Franco, Scott Community, 10th; Madhavan/Rasberry, Wich Collegiate, 11th.
Team finishes
5A
T-3rd - Maize
4A
3rd - Buhler; 4th - McPherson
3-1A
2nd - Wichita Collegiate; 3rd - Hesston; 4th - Wichita Classical
Copyright 2023 Catch it Kansas. All rights reserved. | https://www.kwch.com/2023/05/14/hesston-doubles-pairing-wins-3-1a-state-tennis-collegiates-hawley-retires-after-59-championships/ | 2023-05-14 00:31:48 | 0 | https://www.kwch.com/2023/05/14/hesston-doubles-pairing-wins-3-1a-state-tennis-collegiates-hawley-retires-after-59-championships/ |
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., June 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Angela Zepeda, chief marketing officer (CMO) of Hyundai Motor America, was selected to Forbes' prestigious annual list of the World's Most Influential CMOs. Zepeda was one of 50 CMOs, and the only mass automobile brand CMO, to be recognized for her talent in shaping business, culture and society. This is the second time that Zepeda has been distinguished as one of Forbes' World's Most Influential CMOs. She was first selected in 2021.
The honor comes just three weeks after her recognition at the Choose Creativity Awards, where she was presented with the Intuitive Leadership Award. In April, Zepeda was also recognized as on Forbes' Entrepreneurial 50 CMO list.
"Being selected as one of the most influential CMOs' in the world is a tremendous recognition of Angela's passion for marketing our current products and future mobility solutions," said José Muñoz, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America. "Angela's commitment to creativity and innovation, and her desire to lead Hyundai Motor America to new heights is inspiring to all of us who are lucky enough to work beside her."
Since assuming the CMO position in 2019, Zepeda and her Hyundai marketing team have helped transform the brand and build deeper connections with consumers.
- In January, Hyundai launched the all-new marketing campaign for IONIQ 6.
- At the New York Auto Show, Hyundai celebrated its official automotive partnership for Disney's 100th anniversary with the IONIQ 5 Disney100 Platinum Concept.
- Hyundai, in partnership with its multi-cultural agencies launched a series of all-new campaigns including Choose Yours for the African-American market, the first bilingual campaign focused on "The Miles that Unite Us" and its first Asian American campaign "My Love, My Son-in-Law" for the Tucson SUV.
Forbes' annual CMO ranking is based on 30 digital and social channels analyzed by primary research partner Sprinklr, along with additional data and analysis from LinkedIn.
Hyundai Motor America focuses on 'Progress for Humanity' and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 830 dealers sold more than 724,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com.
Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok
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SOURCE Hyundai Motor America | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/06/29/hyundai-motor-america-cmo-angela-zepeda-named-one-worlds-most-influential-cmos-by-forbes/ | 2023-06-29 23:35:50 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/06/29/hyundai-motor-america-cmo-angela-zepeda-named-one-worlds-most-influential-cmos-by-forbes/ |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE: VMC), the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates, today announced that it will webcast its Investor Day event on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. ET. The presentation will be led by Tom Hill, Vulcan's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and will include presentations from other members of the management team on the Company's strategy, performance and financial outlook.
Investors and other interested parties can listen to the webcast at the Company's website, www.vulcanmaterials.com. The event will be recorded and available for replay approximately two hours after its conclusion. Pre-registration is available by clicking here or by visiting the Company's website.
Vulcan Materials Company, a member of the S&P 500 Index with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, is the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates – primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel – and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials, including asphalt mix and ready-mixed concrete. For additional information about Vulcan, go to www.vulcanmaterials.com.
Investor Contact: Mark Warren (205) 298-3220
Media Contact: Janet Kavinoky (205) 298-3220
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SOURCE Vulcan Materials Company | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/19/vulcan-materials-webcast-investor-day-2022/ | 2022-09-19 23:32:28 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/09/19/vulcan-materials-webcast-investor-day-2022/ |
House Republicans to make protecting women's sports a 'priority' if they retake majority
Rep. Jim Banks tells Fox News Digital: 'Protecting women’s sports is a winning issue for House Republicans'
FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans will make protecting women’s sports a "priority" should they take back the lower chamber after the 2022 midterms, Fox News Digital has learned.
The Republican Study Committee (RSC) is pushing to bring the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, led by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., to the House floor via a discharge petition.
A senior GOP aide told Fox News Digital that "protecting women's sports will be a priority of a Republican majority."
EMMA WEYANT: SECOND-PLACE FINISHER IN LIA THOMAS’ NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP RACE WON OLYMPIC MEDAL IN 2021
A leadership aide also told Fox News Digital that Republican members view the issue as an important one.
Republican members are gearing up to tackle the issue should the House flip in November, with RSC Chairman Jim Banks of Indiana telling Fox News Digital, "Americans overwhelmingly support allowing girls to compete on an even playing field."
"Protecting women’s sports is a winning issue for House Republicans and we are more united than ever around it," Banks said. "For the sake of millions of female athletes, this bill absolutely should be a part of our post-2022 agenda."
Banks gave props to Steube for his leadership on the measure, thanking him, "Leader McCarthy and the over one hundred House Republicans who signed the Republican Study Committee’s discharge petition."
Steube told Fox News Digital that he had initially filed an amendment in the House Judiciary Committee for the Equality Act – which he said "completely redefined what a woman is and didn't keep the protections for Title IX" – that failed on a party-line vote.
The Florida Republican said after the amendment’s failure, he filed a standalone bill as well as made a motion to recommit on the House floor.
"And there's become so much attention to this issue because there are circumstance and example after example all over the country where this is happening," Steube said. "Every day, women are losing scholarships."
Steube pointed to the case of University of Virginia swimmer Emma Weyant, the collegiate swimmer who came in second place behind transgender Penn swimmer Lia Thomas, noting that Weyant is from his district in Florida.
The Florida Republican said the measure would need the support of "at least five" Democrats to pass the House before heading into the 50-50 split Senate.
"And that's the whole point: let's put everybody on record as to where they stand on this issue," Steube said. "Do you think the biological men should be able to compete against biological women in competitive athletic sports? And put everybody on the board of it on it."
Steube said he believes the issue of trangendered biological men competing in women’s sports "is going to be a piece to show how far the left has gone with their very far left progressive policies that the majority of Americans don't support."
The congressman also noted that his legislation is "obviously a bill that President Biden is not going to sign" and that he "would think that this administration would support, even if we were able to pass it through the House and the Senate."
"So I do think this is going to be an issue that's going to go on for the next several years," he added.
House Education and Labor Committee ranking member Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., told Fox News Digital that political "arsonists on the far left will stop at nothing to decimate women’s sports – even it means subjugating women and girls entirely."
"Republicans will be the ones to stop the left’s political assault on women. We can't let women's sports become collateral damage in radical progressives’ campaign against a traditional, science-based understanding of sex and gender," the long-serving Republican continued.
With the need of five Democrats to get out of a full House vote alone, Republicans will have to garner the support of moderate blue members to have a hope of passing the bill.
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However, should the measure pass the House, it is unlikely to clear the split Senate without support in the upper chamber.
That support is currently in short supply, though, as the Democrats are already feeling the pressure ahead of a tough midterm election and will likely not want to hand a win over to the GOP. | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-republican-majority-protecting-womens-sports | 2022-05-16 16:38:04 | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-republican-majority-protecting-womens-sports |
LEHIGH COUNTY, Pa., Aug. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania joined Lehigh County officials and PA Dole Fellow Georgette Wenton as Lehigh County became a Hidden Heroes County, joining the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's network of nearly 200 communities nationwide committed to identifying military caregivers and increasing awareness and support.
The Hidden Heroes Cities and Counties Program is part of The Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Hidden Heroes Campaign. The program was launched in 2016 by Senator Elizabeth Dole, Campaign Chair Tom Hanks, and nearly 200 military caregivers representing virtually every state in the union as a way to engage with leaders at the local level to raise awareness about the issues military caregivers face, bring critical resources to our nation's "hidden heroes" caring for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans, and connect military caregivers to a community of their peers.
AARP has a long history of supporting those who have served in the United States armed forces and has partnered with the Dole Foundation for several years. This partnership has included creating the Respite Relief Program for Military and Veteran Caregivers nationwide in February 2021. This free program grants family caregivers access to no-cost, short-term assistance to help those caring for wounded, ill or injured veterans or service members at home.
"Whether a parent, spouse, sibling, or other loved one, a veteran's caregiver needs to know they are supported as they help those who sacrificed the most for us," said AARP PA State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh. "On behalf of our 1.8 million members, AARP Pennsylvania is proud that another Keystone State community is making that support more visible in Lehigh County."
Lehigh County Executive Philips Armstrong signed the Resolution Friday, making Lehigh County the 5th Hidden Heroes county in Pennsylvania, joining the counties of Allegheny, Berks, Monroe and Wyoming, along with the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
"Lehigh County is pleased to have been recognized for our work to help veterans and members of our armed services," said Armstrong. "These brave men and women fought for us, so in Lehigh County, we fight for them."
As a 2021 Dole Caregiver Fellow, Georgette Wenton represents a select group of Dole Foundation in a formal capacitity, including advocacy, sharing their stories, and connecting other caregivers with information and resources. In recognition of the Lehigh County designation as a Hidden Heroes County, Ms. Wenton commented, "Being a part of the Hidden Heroes Caregiver Community reinforces that I am not alone in this journey—in both the emotions I feel and the challenges of being a caregiver… Being my husband's caregiver means I have the opportunity to make sure he feels loved and cared for on a daily basis."
Individuals caring for someone who served, or those who wish to support the campaign can visit HiddenHeroes.org for more information.
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation's 5.5 million military caregivers – the spouses, parents, family members, and friends — who care for America's wounded, ill or injured service members and Veterans at home. Founded by Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the Foundation adopts a comprehensive approach in its support and advocacy, working with leaders in the public, private, nonprofit, and faith communities to recognize military caregivers' service and promote their well-being. The Foundation's Hidden Heroes campaign brings vital attention to the untold stories of military caregivers and provides a network for military caregivers to connect with their peers and access carefully vetted resources. Visit www.hiddenheroes.org for more information.
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members - including 1.8 million in Pennsylvania - AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol @AARPadvocates and @AliadosAdelante on social media.
CONTACT: TJ Thiessen, (202) 374-8033, tthiessen@aarp.org
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SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2022/08/12/lehigh-county-joins-growing-movement-nearly-200-communities-nationwide-committed-empowering-military-caregivers-their-hometowns/ | 2022-08-12 22:12:56 | 1 | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2022/08/12/lehigh-county-joins-growing-movement-nearly-200-communities-nationwide-committed-empowering-military-caregivers-their-hometowns/ |
AgeWell to offer MyndVR's Virtual Reality Therapy Technology to CareWell ISNP Members
NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MyndVR, the award-winning provider of VR-based, digital therapeutic experiences designed for the aging population, has announced the latest integration of their technology - for the first time ever, MyndVR will be covered by insurance. A pioneering partnership for MyndVR, AgeWell New York's CareWell members will now have access to MyndVR's virtual reality therapy sessions.
AgeWell New York is a specialty managed care organization serving Medicare and Medicaid populations in the New York metropolitan area, including the Bronx, New York (Manhattan), Queens, Kings (Brooklyn), Nassau, Westchester, and Suffolk counties. As of January 1, CareWell plan members have access to virtual reality alternative therapies.
"Our members are enthusiastic about their ability to use MyndVR," said Agewell New York Lead Senior Benefits Advisor, Constance Harris-Fields. "We see this program helping with isolation, anxiety, and depression, while stimulating memories, conversation, and socialization, which is especially important in the wake of the pandemic." AgeWell New York's CareWell Plan members can use MyndVR headsets to enjoy virtual travel, special adventures, entertainment and more. They can also share their experience in real time with family members near and far. "We've seen first-hand how visiting a special place can brighten the outlook of our skilled nursing facility members. The MyndVR benefit enhances our personalized approach to health care."
"It is monumental to our mission to bring on board our first health insurance provider, to help broaden access to the impactful results of MyndVR to CareWell members," said MyndVR CEO and Founder, Chris Brickler. "As we continue spreading awareness of the importance of therapeutics in VR being covered by insurance, this is an exciting step in the right direction – only further proving why the Access to Prescriptive Digital Therapeutics Act has a growing need to be passed by Congress."
The partnership marks a major milestone for MyndVR as the company looks to expand coverage of its groundbreaking technology amongst Medicare Advantage plans and Managed Medicaid plans. The company also recently announced its DitigalTherapyNow.org coalition in support of the Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act, which would formally recognize digital therapeutics at a federal level. The coalition provides information, updates, resources, and a growing petition to support the successful passing of the bill.
For more information, please visit: www.myndvr.com
About MyndVR
MyndVR is the leading provider of Virtual Reality solutions for senior living communities, home care agencies, Veteran homes, and individual adults aging in their own homes across the US, Canada, and Australia. The company is also a proud Allied Partner with We Honor Veterans. MyndVR is building the most advanced portfolio of original and licensed therapeutic VR content. In extending the company's reach, MyndVR announced strategic distribution partnerships with Select Rehabilitation, the largest contract therapy company in the US, and Omega Healthcare Investors, the largest REIT in senior care. MyndVR enables older adults to interact with the outside world in genuinely innovative ways that promote engagement, wellness, and above all, positive outcomes. MyndVR is also a co-creator of DigitalTherapyNOW.org – a purpose-driven coalition of academic and industry partners designed to educate lawmakers to support the successful passing of the Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act of 2022. For more, visit MyndVR.com.
About AgeWell New York
AgeWell New York offers high quality and affordable Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans for individuals with Medicare, Medicare and Medicaid, and a Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) Plan for those who need community based long-term care services and supports in the home. AgeWell New York launched in 2012 to help seniors and vulnerable adults live well, feel well and age well in New York by delivering value in health care coverage and care management services. For more information, visit agewellnewyork.com, call 1-866-237-3210 or email info@agewellnewyork.com.
Disclaimer:
AgeWell New York, LLC is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan with a Medicare contract. AgeWell New York, LLC has a State Medicaid Agency Contract with the New York State Department of Health, and a New York State Medicaid contract for AgeWell New York Advantage Plus (HMO D-SNP). We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Other providers are available in the network. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Enrollment in AgeWell New York, LLC depends on contract renewal. AgeWell New York complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. AgeWell New York cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. ATTENTION: If you speak Spanish, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Call 1-866-237-3210 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-662-1220). ATENCIÓN: si hablas español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-866-237-3210 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-662-1220). Assistance services for other languages are also available free of charge at the number above 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, or email info@agewellnewyork.com, or visit agewellnewyork.com.
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SOURCE MyndVR Inc. | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/myndvr-partners-with-agewell-new-york-first-health-care-coverage-plan/ | 2023-01-31 14:40:31 | 1 | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2023/01/31/myndvr-partners-with-agewell-new-york-first-health-care-coverage-plan/ |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pledged on Monday to pass legislation to raise the nation's debt ceiling — but on condition of capping future federal spending at 1% — as he lashed out at President Joe Biden for refusing to engage in budget-cutting negotiations to prevent a debt crisis.
In a high-profile speech at the New York Stock Exchange, McCarthy, the Republican leader who is marking his 100th day as speaker, said the nation’s debt load is a “ticking time bomb” and Biden is “missing in action” as the deadline nears to raise the debt limit.
“Since the president continues to hide, House Republicans will take action," McCarthy said.
His Wall Street address comes as the Washington is heading toward a potential fiscal crisis over the need to raise the nation's debt limit, now at $31 trillion, and avert a federal default. The Treasury Department has said it is taking “extraordinary measures” to continue paying its bills, but money will run short this summer.
McCarthy faces his own challenges. With his slim majority and less-than-strong grip on power, he has been unable to rally his troops around a budget-cutting proposal that he could offer the White House as a starting point in negotiations.
Still, McCarthy vowed to pass a bill through the House that would raise the nation's debt limit for one year — putting the issue squarely in the 2024 presidential election — coupling it with a plan to roll back federal spending to fiscal 2022 levels and cap future spending at no more than 1%.
Republicans also want to attach policy priorities, including cuts to benefit programs in the federal safety net for poorer Americans.
The White House said ahead of McCarthy's address that “a speech isn't a plan," dismissing his overture and reupping pressure on the Republican leader to approve a debt ceiling increase with no strings attached.
“There is one responsible solution to the debt limit: addressing it promptly, without brinksmanship or hostage taking," said White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates.
Once a routine matter, the need for Congress to pass legislation raising the nation's debt limit to continue paying already accrued bills has increasingly become a political weapon wielded particularly by Republicans as leverage for their policy priorities.
McCarthy is working furiously to unite the “five families” — the various caucuses including the Freedom Caucus, Republican Study Committee and others within the House Republican majority — around a plan that could be presented to Biden to kickstart negotiations.
Federal spending skyrocketed during the COVID-19 crisis, rising to $7.4 trillion in 2021, before sliding back to $6.2 trillion in fiscal 2022, according to Treasury Department data. The nation’s debt load has also climbed steadily, doubling during the George W. Bush administration with the 9/11-era wars overseas and spiking again during the Obama administration as spending rose and tax revenue plummeted during the Great Recession.
The nation runs more than $1 trillion in annual deficits, and the last time the federal budget balanced was 2001.
McCarthy noted that President Ronald Reagan similarly warned of government spending. The cuts the House Republicans want to make are not “draconian,” McCarthy said.
Once, his speech was interrupted by applause from the executives and others at the stock exchange.
The White House and Democrats in Congress have been unwilling to engage in talks with the Republicans, saying Congress must simply raise the debt limit without conditions.
The split screen on display in New York, though, showed the challenges ahead for McCarthy in focusing on budget matters.
As the speaker delivered his speech, his hard-charging Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan was convening a New York City field hearing focused partly on District Attorney Alvin Bragg who indicted former President Donald Trump on campaign finance and other charges related to alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and a Playboy model who contend he had sexual relations with them.
___
Associated Press White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/article/speaker-mccarthy-vows-to-pass-debt-bill-with-17901640.php | 2023-04-17 16:15:58 | 0 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/politics/article/speaker-mccarthy-vows-to-pass-debt-bill-with-17901640.php |
BEIJING, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dongguan, a coastal city located in southern China's Guangdong province, is increasingly known for its young culture. Accordingly to the latest population census, the average age of Dongguan's population here is something like 33 years, almost equivalent to the city's age.
Dongguan produced one third of the animation derivatives made in China, which contributes 80% to the global production of the same kind. Piececool is one of the most popular brands in Dongguan, which resembles Lego and integrates Chinese elements. The intricate design and creative material tell that the products are definitely not for playing but for collecting. And this is the latest craze in China.
Lion dance is another very traditional performance in China, especially during festival. But now Dongguan gives it a modern twist by using electronic music and lighting. Josh visits a group of young people who are injecting this folk art with a much-needed enthusiasm and youthful energy. This new style of performance isn't meant to detract from traditional culture but rather enhance it.
Finally, he visits a guest who is now leading camping trend in the city. At the camping place, people make new friends and spend time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is an identity to Dongguan with its creativity and innovation. But a city like this will continue to evolve and change with the times.
Contact: Zhong Lei
Tel:008610-68996566
E-mail: ervinz@cnmatters.com
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1735490/China_Matters_Logo.jpg
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8oRqyJwkUo
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SOURCE China Matters | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2022/10/06/china-matters-feature-dongguan-city-by-young-young/ | 2022-10-06 10:36:26 | 0 | https://www.wsaz.com/prnewswire/2022/10/06/china-matters-feature-dongguan-city-by-young-young/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — General Mills and Audi are the latest big advertisers to pause ads on Twitter as questions swirl about how the social media platform will operate under new owner Elon Musk.
Spokesperson Kelsey Roemhildt on Thursday confirmed the move by the Minneapolis-based maker of food brands such as Cheerios and Annie’s macaroni and cheese.
“As always, we will continue to monitor this new direction and evaluate our marketing spend,” she said.
Audi spokesperson Whaewon Choi-Wiles said the German automaker is pausing ads and “will continue to evaluate the situation.”
Advertisers are concerned about whether content moderation will remain as stringent under Musk — a self-described “free speech absolutist” — as it has been, and whether staying on Twitter might tarnish their brands.
Shortly before taking over the San Francisco company last week, Musk issued a vow to advertisers that he would not allow Twitter to become a “free-for-all hellscape,” an indication there would still be consequences for violators of its rules against harassment, violence, or election and COVID-related misinformation.
But since then some users have posted racial slurs and recirculated long-debunked conspiracy theories in an apparent attempt to see if the site’s policies were still being enforced. The NAACP said this week it has expressed to Musk its concerns about “the dangerous, life-threatening hate and conspiracies that have proliferated on Twitter” under his watch.
Last week, General Motors announced that it had temporarily paused its Twitter advertising while it works to “understand the direction of the platform.” GM described the pause as a normal step it takes when a media platform undergoes significant change.
IPG Mediabrands sent a recommendation to clients on Monday that they pause advertising on Twitter for a week until more clarity emerges about brand safety on the site, according a person who had seen the recommendation.
Other big Twitter advertisers like Warner Discovery, Coca-Cola and Nestle did not respond to requests for comment about their advertising plans.
Some could evaluate their plans after Twitter’s new “content moderation council” meets. Musk has said he will not reinstate any accounts or make major content decisions before it is convened. No date has been announced for that meeting.
About 90% of Twitter’s revenue comes from advertisers but it’s far from the biggest platform that advertisers turn to for digital marketing. Google, Amazon and Meta account for about 75% of digital ads, with all other platforms combined making up the other 25%.
Twitter will account for 0.9% of worldwide digital ad spending in 2022, according to projections by Insider Intelligence. Meta will account for 21.4% in 2022.
Twitter has lost most of its top executives in the past week, including the one in charge of advertising sales.
Sarah Personette, the site’s chief customer officer, tweeted earlier this week that she resigned on Friday from Twitter and her work access was officially cut off Monday night. Days earlier, she said she had a “great discussion” with Musk and expressed optimism about the company’s future. In announcing her resignation Tuesday, she said she still believes Twitter’s new administration understands the importance of upholding the “brand safety” standards she sought to champion. | https://www.wishtv.com/news/business/general-mills-audi-pause-twitter-ads-will-evaluate-site/ | 2022-11-04 01:25:18 | 1 | https://www.wishtv.com/news/business/general-mills-audi-pause-twitter-ads-will-evaluate-site/ |
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